Differential expression of several E2-type ubiquitin carrier protein genes at different developmental stages inArabidopsis thaliana andNicotiana sylvestris

We characterized three genes encoding different E2-type ubiquitin carrier proteins involved in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolytic pathway:UbcAt3 shows homologies to the yeastCDC34 gene andUbcAt4a andUbcAt4b are two different genes homologous to theUbc1/4/5 subfamily in yeast. Their accumulation was analysed and compared with that of the different families encoding polyubiquitins, as well as the monoubiquitin fusion protein, which is considered as a marker for cell division, during various developmental stages including GO/S transition and senescence of higher plant cells. Our results imply that theseUbc genes are under the control of complex mechanisms, and are differentially regulated, but not necessarily co-regulated with ubiquitin genes. Even the closely relatedUbcAt4a andUbcAt4b genes of the same multigene subfamily are controlled by distinct regulatory mechanisms.     

Nanodiamond-promoted white light emission in Eu,Dy, and Cu-containing phosphate glass: quantitative analysis and colorimetric study

A thorough analysis of glass containing Eu₂O₃ and Dy₂O₃, or Eu₂O₃, Dy₂O₃, and CuO melted together with nanodiamond powder was pursued based on measurements of optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) emission and excitation spectra, and colorimetry. Nanodiamond facilitated the stabilization of Cu⁺ and Eu²⁺ ions with blue-emitting characteristics that, along with yellow-emitting Dy³⁺ and red-emitting Eu³⁺ led to the white light-emitting glass. Novel intensity notations implemented in intensity-based spectral ratios, and difference intensity correlation analysis were proposed for the assessment of PL properties. The chromaticity and correlated colour temperature of the emission were ultimately investigated as a two-parametric problem based on: (1) the different ionic components; and (2) the various excitation wavelengths employed. The optical analysis approach adds to the characterization methods to further fundamental understanding and provide helpful analytical tools for designing materials for tunable white light-emitting devices.     

Upper thermal limits predict herpetofaunal responses to forest edge and cover

Amphibians and reptiles are sensitive to changes in the thermal environment, which varies considerably in human-modified landscapes. Although it is known that thermal traits of species influence their distribution in modified landscapes, how herpetofauna respond specifically to shifts in ambient temperature along forest edges remains unclear. This may be because most studies focus on local-scale metrics of edge exposure, which only account for a single edge or habitat patch. We predicted that accounting for the combined effect of multiple habitat edges in a landscape would best explain herpetofaunal response to thermally mediated edge effects. We (1) surveyed herpetofauna at two lowland, fragmented forest sites in central Colombia, (2) measured the critical thermal maximum (CT_max) of the species sampled, (3) measured their edge exposure at both local and landscape scales, and (4) created a thermal profile of the landscape itself. We found that species with low CT_max occurred both further from forest edges and in areas of denser vegetation, but were unaffected by the landscape-scale configuration of habitat edges. Variation in the thermal landscape was driven primarily by changes in vegetation density. Our results suggest that amphibians and reptiles with low CT_max are limited by both canopy gaps and proximity to edge, making them especially vulnerable to human modification of tropical forest. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Vegetative growth and productivity ofEichhornia azurea with special emphasis on leaf dynamics

The lifeform and the biological production of pure stands ofEichhornia azurea Kunth in three lakes in tropical Brazil were studied. The lifeform ofE. azurea is termed ‘semi-emergent’, because the plant has well developed trailing stems just under the water, and the aerial lamina emerges with the thick petiole. The density of shoot apices was 9.9, 17.2 and 17.1 m⁻² in Lake Dom Helvecio, Lake Jacaré and Lake Carioca, respectively. The mean daily increment of the apical shoot biomass was between 1.8 and 4.8 g m⁻² day⁻¹. The mean leaf life-span in Lake Dom Helvecio, Lake Jacaré and Lake Carioca was estimated to be 78, 49 and 64 days in the wet season and 73, 70 and 73 days in the dry season, respectively. The stem life-span was estimated to be about 28 months. Starch content in the current years' stem ranged from 24 to 118 mg g⁻¹ dry matter with fluctuations, the amplitude of which decreased with age. The differences for most of the growth parameters, such as density of shoot apices, daily increment of biomass and leaf life-span, between dry and wet season are smaller than those among the three lakes. Both the decrease in daily dry matter production and the increase in leaf life-span occurred in order from Lake Dom Helvecio to Lake Jacaré and Lake Carioca. The low productivity ofE. azurea is considered to be related to a low leaf area index, a long time interval for the emergence of new leaves, long leaf life-span and a low capacity for branching.     

Evaluation of Probiotic Properties of Novel Brazilian Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Beneficial effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains have been widely reported. Knowing that the effects of probiotic bacteria are strain-dependent,...     

Transcription of a zebrafish gene of the hairy-Enhancer of split family delineates the midbrain anlage in the neural plate

her5 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein with all features characteristic of the Drosophila hairy-E(spl) family. her5 is expressed in a band of cells within the neural anlage from about 90% epiboly on to at least 36 h postfertilization (hpf). After completion of brain morphogenesis, her5-expressing cells are located in the caudal region of the midbrain, at the boundary with the rhombencephalon. Labelling of cells within the her5 expression domain in the neural plate by injection of fluorescein-dextran allows their labelled progeny to be localized in the 36-hpf-old embryo using an anti-fluorescein antibody. This shows that the her5 expression domain corresponds to the midbrain primordium, including both the tectum and the tegmentum, in the neural plate. A possible function for her5 in regionalization of the brain and/or control of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary is discussed.     

Effect of water-miscible aprotic solvents on kyotorphin synthesis catalyzed by immobilized α-chymotrypsin

Summary Immobilized -chymotrypsin was used as catalyst to synthesize a kyotorphin derivative (Bz-Tyr-Arg-OEt) in the presence of five water-miscible aprotic solvents (dimethylsulphoxide, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, acetone and tetrahydrofurane) at 30 °C. By using a kinetically-controlled approach, the maximum synthetic activity was obtained when Arg-OEt was used as nucleophile donor at a concentration 1.5-times higher than the acyl-acceptor substrate (Bz-Tyr-OEt). The water-miscible aprotic solvents enhanced greatly the synthetic activity proportionally to their hidrophilicity properties adequately measured by the log P parameter. At the optimum solvent concentration for the enzymatic peptide synthesis, both the water activity (Aw) of the media and the water content of the immobilized derivative showed a saturation profile against the log P parameter. As a function of the solvent hydrophilicity, these water parameters were shown as key parameters for the increase in the synthetic activity of the enzyme by the presence of these solvents.     

Inhibition by trifluoperazine of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis by particulate and soluble mitochondrial F1: Competition with H2PO 4 −

The effect of trifluoperazine (TFP) on the ATPase activity of soluble and paniculate F₁ATPase and on ATP synthesis driven by succinate oxidation in submitochondrial particles from bovine heart was studied at pH 7.4 and 8.8. At the two pH. TFP inhibited ATP hydrolysis. Inorganic phosphate protected against the inhibiting action of TFP. The results on the effect of various concentrations of phosphate in the reversal of the action of TFP on hydrolysis at pH 7.4 and 8.8 showed that H₂PO ₄ ^– is the species that competes with TFP. The effect of TFP on oxidative phosphorylation was studied at concentrations that do not produce uncoupling or affect the aerobic oxidation of succinate (<15M). TFP inhibited oxidative phosphorylation to a higher extent at pH 8.8 than at pH 7.4; this was through a diminution in theV _max, and an increase in theK _m for phosphate. Data on phosphate uptake during oxidative phosphorylation at several pH showed that H₂PO ₄ ^– is the true substrate for oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, in both synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP, TFP and H₂PO ₄ ^– interact with a common site. However, there is a difference in the sensitivity to TFP of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis; this is more noticeable at pH 8.8, i.e. ATPase activity of soluble F₁ remains at about 40% of the activity of the control in a concentration range of TFP of 40–100M, whereas in oxidative phosphorylation 14M TFP produces a 60% inhibition of phosphate uptake.