The influence of environment,sex, and innate timing mechanisms on body temperature patterns of free-ranging black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Mechanisms that influence body temperature patterns in black-tailed prairie dogs are not well understood. Previous research on both free-ranging and laboratory populations of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) has suggested that reductions in ambient temperature and food and water deprivation are the primary factors that stimulate torpor in this species. In other species, however, torpor has been shown to be influenced by a multitude of factors, including innate circadian and circannual timing mechanisms, energy status, and reproductive behaviors. Our objective was to clarify the influence of weather, sex, and intrinsic timing mechanisms on the body temperature patterns of free-ranging black-tailed prairie dogs. We monitored body temperatures of eight adult (>1 yr) prairie dogs from November 1999 to June 2000. Prairie dogs showed distinct daily and seasonal body temperature patterns, which reflected changes in ambient temperatures that occurred during these periods. These patterns of daily and seasonal heterothermy suggest that body temperature patterns of black-tailed prairie dogs may be driven by an innate timing mechanism. All prairie dogs entered torpor intermittently throughout winter and spring. Torpor bouts appeared to be influenced by precipitation and reductions in ambient temperature. Our results also suggest that reproductive behaviors and circadian timing may influence torpor in this species.     

Immunomodulatory effects of probiotic bacteria DNA: IL-1 and IL-10 response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

A new therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel diseases is based on the administration of probiotic bacteria. Prokaryotic DNA contains unmethylated CpG motifs which can activate immune responses, but it is unknown whether bacterial DNA is involved in the beneficial effects obtained by probiotic treatment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors were incubated with pure DNA of eight probiotic strains and with total bacterial DNA from human feces collected before and after probiotic ingestion. Cytokine production was analyzed in culture supernatants. Modification of human microflora after probiotic administration was proven by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Here we show that Bifidobacterium genomic DNA induced secretion of the antiinflammatory interleukin-10 by PBMC. Total bacterial DNA from feces collected after probiotic administration modulated the immune response by a decrease of interleukin-1 beta and an increase of interleukin-10.     

Activity and stability of hyperthermophilic enzymes: a comparative study on two archaeal β-glycosidases

Sβgly and CelB are well-studied hyperthermophilic glycosyl hydrolases, isolated from the Archaea Sulfolobus solfataricus and Pyrococcus furiosus, respectively. Previous studies revealed that the two enzymes are phylogenetically related; they are very active and stable at high temperatures, and their overall three-dimensional structure is very well conserved. To acquire insight in the molecular determinants of thermostability and thermoactivity of these enzymes, we have performed a detailed comparison, under identical conditions, of enzymological and biochemical parameters of Sβgly and CelB, and we have probed the basis of their stability by perturbations induced by temperature, pH, ionic strength, and detergents. The major result of the present study is that, although the two enzymes are remarkably similar with respect to kinetic parameters, substrate specificity, and reaction mechanism, they are strikingly different in stability to the different physical or chemical perturbations induced. These results provide useful information for the design of further experiments aimed at understanding the structure–function relationships in these enzymes. Received: May 20, 1999 / Accepted: January 10, 2000     

Characterization of the Porphyridium cruentum Chl a-binding LHC by in vitro reconstitution: LHCaR1 binds 8 Chl a molecules and proportionately more carotenoids than CAB proteins

The Porphyridium cruentum light harvesting complex (LHC) binds Chl a, zeaxanthin and -carotene and comprises at least 6 polypeptides of a multigene family. We describe the first in vitro reconstitution of a red algal light-harvesting protein (LHCaR1) with Chl a/carotenoid extracts from P. cruentum. The reconstituted pigment complex (rLHCaR1) is spectrally similar to the native LHC I, with an absorption maximum at 670 nm, a 77 K fluorescence emission peak at 677 nm (ex. 440 nm), and similar circular dichroism spectra. Molar ratios of 4.0 zeaxanthin, 0.3 -carotene and 8.2 Chl a per polypeptide for rLHCaR1 are similar to those of the native LHC I complex (3.1 zeaxanthin, 0.5 -carotene, 8.5 Chl a). The binding of 8 Chl a molecules per apoprotein is consistent with 8 putative Chl-binding sites in the predicted transmembrane helices of LHCaR1. Two of the putative Chl a binding sites (helix 2) in LHCaR1 were assigned to Chl b in Chl a/b-binding (CAB) LHC II [Kühlbrandt et al. (1994) Nature 367: 614–21]. This suggests either that discrimination for binding of Chl a or Chl b is not very specific at these sites or that specificity of binding sites evolved separately in CAB proteins. LHCaR1 can be reconstituted with varying ratios of carotenoids, consistent with our previous observation that the carotenoid to Chl ratio is substantially higher in P. cruentum grown under high irradiance. Also notable is that zeaxanthin does not act as an accessory light-harvesting pigment, even though it is highly likely that it occupies the position assigned to lutein in the CAB LHCs.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of 4wk of hindlimb suspension on skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration in rats

Yajid, Fatima, Jacques G. Mercier, Béatrice M. Mercier, Hervé Dubouchaud, and Christian Préfaut.Effects of 4 wk of hindlimb suspension on skeletal musclemitochondrial respiration in rats. J. Appl.Physiol. 84(2): 479-485, 1998.We investigated inrats the effect of 4 wk of hypodynamia on the respiration of mitochondria isolated from four distinct muscles [soleus,extensor digitorum longus, tibial anterior, and gastrocnemius(Gas)] and from subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF)regions of mixed hindlimb muscles that mainly contained the four citedmuscles. With pyruvate plus malate as respiratory substrate, 4 wk ofhindlimb suspension produced an 18% decrease in state3 respiration for IMF mitochondria compared with thosein the control group (P < 0.05). TheSS mitochondria state 3 were notsignificantly changed. Concerning the four single muscles, themitochondrial respiration was significantly decreased in the Gasmuscle, which showed a 59% decrease in state3 with pyruvate + malate(P < 0.05). The other musclespresented no significant decrease in respiratory rate in comparisonwith the control group. With succinate + rotenone, there was nosignificant difference in the respiratory rate compared with therespective control group, whatever the mitochondrial origin (SS, orIMF, or from single muscle). We conclude that 4 wk of hindlimbsuspension alters the respiration of IMF mitochondria in hindlimbskeletal muscles and seems to act negatively on complex I of theelectron-transport chain or prior sites. The muscle mitochondria mostaffected are those isolated from the Gas muscle.

     

Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1C toxin on the metabolic rate of Cry1C resistant and susceptible Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract. The effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1C toxin on the metabolic rate of Cry1C resistant and susceptible Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are investigated using closed‐system respirometry. Mechanisms of resistance to the Bt toxin may be associated with an energetic cost that can be measured as an increase in metabolic rate compared with Bt‐susceptible insects. This hypothesis is tested using third‐ and fifth‐instar larvae and 1–7‐day‐old pupae. Metabolic rate is measured as the amount of O₂ consumed and CO₂ produced. V?_O2 and V?_CO2 (mL g^?1 h^?1) of third‐instar Cry1C resistant larvae reared continuously on a diet containing 320 µg Cry1C toxin per g diet (CryonT) are significantly greater than third‐instar Cry1C resistant larvae reared on toxin for 5 days and reared thereafter on untreated diet (Cry5dT), Cry1C resistant larvae reared on untreated diet (CryReg) and the susceptible parental strain (SeA) reared on untreated diet. There are no differences in V?_O2 and V?_CO2 (mL g^?1 h^?1) among treatment groups for fifth‐instar larvae. CryonT larvae and pupae weigh significantly less than larvae and pupae receiving other treatments. Smaller body mass may be an important biological cost to individuals exposed continuously to Bt toxin. One‐day‐old pupae of all treatment groups exhibit a high V?_O2 (mean approximately 0.174 mL g^?1 h^?1) with CryonT having a significantly greater value than all other treatments; there are no differences among the other treatments. Pupal metabolic rates of all treatment groups decline to a minimum between days 2 and 4 then increase linearly between days 4 and 7 until adult emergence. These results demonstrate no difference in metabolic rates, and possibly fitness costs, between resistant (CryReg and Cry5dT) and susceptible (SeA) S. exigua except when larvae were reared continuously on toxin (CryonT).     

Synthesis,biological evaluation,and SAR study of novel pyrazole analogues as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Part 2. Synthesis of rigid pyrazolones

Two series of novel rigid pyrazolone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis. Two of these compounds showed a high activity against MTB (MIC = 4 μg/mL). The newly synthesized pyrazolones were also computationally investigated to analyze if their properties fit the pharmacophoric model for antitubercular compounds previously built by us. The results are in agreement with those reported by us previously for a class of pyrazole analogues and confirm the fundamental role of the p-chlorophenyl moiety at C4 in the antimycobacterial activity.     

Fish Biodiversity of the Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain,Southwestern Atlantic: An Updated Database

Despite a strong increase in research on seamounts and oceanic islands ecology and biogeography, many basic aspects of their biodiversity are still unknown. In the southwestern Atlantic, the Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain (VTC) extends ca. 1,200 km offshore the Brazilian continental shelf, from the Vitória seamount to the oceanic islands of Trindade and Martin Vaz. For a long time, most of the biological information available regarded its islands. Our study presents and analyzes an extensive database on the VTC fish biodiversity, built on data compiled from literature and recent scientific expeditions that assessed both shallow to mesophotic environments. A total of 273 species were recorded, 211 of which occur on seamounts and 173 at the islands. New records for seamounts or islands include 191 reef fish species and 64 depth range extensions. The structure of fish assemblages was similar between islands and seamounts, not differing in species geographic distribution, trophic composition, or spawning strategies. Main differences were related to endemism, higher at the islands, and to the number of endangered species, higher at the seamounts. Since unregulated fishing activities are common in the region, and mining activities are expected to drastically increase in the near future (carbonates on seamount summits and metals on slopes), this unique biodiversity needs urgent attention and management.