Selective predation of the pike Esox lucius: comparison of lateral plates and some metric features of the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Selective predation of Esox lucius on Gasterosteus aculeatus in a natural assemblage of fish of a stream in Central Poland is described and analysed. The number of lateral plates, the standard length and four size-dependent traits were significantly smaller for sticklebacks from stomach samples than for those from population samples. Thc remaining three metric traits were not significantly different among the samples. The regressions of five metric features (out of seven) on the standard length were significantly different between the sample of caten sticklebacks and that from the free-living population. This supports the supposition that the selectivity of pikc predation with respect to metric traits is not attributable to selection on body size of the prey. Thus, it is reasonable to claim that the sample of caten sticklebacks is selectively taken from the natural population. It justifies the selective predation assumption of some hypotheses of the causes of the pattern of geographic variation in the three-spined stickleback.     

Thermodynamics of 2'-ribose substitutions in UUCG tetraloops

The ribose 2'-hydroxyl group confers upon RNA many unique molecular properties. To better appreciate its contribution to structure and stability and to monitor how substitutions of the 2' hydroxyl can alter an RNA molecule, each loop pyrimidine ribonucleotide in the UUCG tetraloop was substituted with a nucleotide containing either a fluorine (2'-F), hydrogen (2'-H), amino (2'-NH2), or methoxy (2'-OCH3) group, in the context of both the C:G and G:C loop-closing base pair. The thermodynamic parameters of these tetraloop variants have been determined and NMR experiments used to monitor the structural changes resulting from the substitutions. The modified riboses are better tolerated in the G[UUCG]C tetraloop, which may be due to its increased loop flexibility relative to the C[UUCG]G loop. Even for these simple substitutions, the free-energy change reflects a complex interplay of hydrogen bonding, solvation effects, and intrinsic pucker preferences of the nucleotides.     

Interaction mode specific reorganization of gel phase monoglyceride bilayers by beta-lactoglobulin.

The interaction between beta-lactoglobulin and sonicated aqueous dispersions of the gel phase forming monoglyceride monostearoylglycerol were studied using isothermal titration calorimetry, direct binding experiments, differential scanning calorimetry, leakage of a fluorescent dye and solid-state (31)P- and (2)H-NMR. In the absence of a charged amphiphile, monostearoylglycerol forms a precipitate. Under these conditions, no interaction with beta-lactoglobulin was observed. In the presence of the negatively charged amphiphile dicetylphosphate, the gel phase monostearoylglycerol formed stable and closed, probably unilamellar, vesicles with an average diameter of 465 nm. beta-Lactoglobulin interacts with these bilayer structures at pH 4, where the protein is positively charged, as well as at pH 7 where the protein is negatively charged. Under both conditions of pH, the binding affinity of beta-lactoglobulin is in the micromolar range as observed with ITC and the direct binding assay. At pH 4, two binding modes were found, one of which is determined with ITC while the direct binding assay determines the net result of both. The first binding mode is observed with ITC and is characterized by a large binding enthalpy, a decreased enthalpy of the MSG L(beta) to L(alpha) phase transition and leakage of a fluorescent dye. These characteristics are explained by a beta-lactoglobulin induced partial L(beta) to coagel phase transition that results from a specific electrostatic interaction between the protein and the charged amphiphile. This explanation is confirmed by solid-state (2)H-NMR using 1-monostearoylglycerol with a fully deuterated acyl chain. Upon interaction with beta-lactoglobulin, the isotropic signal in the (2)H-NMR spectrum of the monostearoylglycerol-dicetylphosphate mixture partially transforms into a broad anisotropic signal which could be assigned to coagel formation. The second binding mode probably results from an aspecific electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged bilayer and the positively charged protein and causes the precipitation of the dispersion. At pH 7, only the first binding mode is observed.     

Density-independent resource limitation and the transmission of an insect pathogen

The effects of resource limitation on the transmission of a pathogen were explored. Resource limitation was achieved by replacing part of the host’s diet with an indigestible bulking agent. Populations of the pyrallid moth, Plodia interpunctella, raised on high- and low-quality food regimes were exposed to a granulosis virus. Moths subjected to a lower food quality were more likely to become infected, despite the fact that in previous studies, individuals showed no increased susceptibility when exposed individually to the virus. This effect is suggested to be due to a higher exposure to the pathogen due to a faster feeding rate and longer developmental period. The implications of resource levels to the population dynamics of host-pathogen interactions are discussed. Received: 8 July 1999 / Accepted: 14 February 2000     

Direct immobilization of gangliosides onto gold-carboxymethyldextran sensor surfaces by hydrophobic interaction: applications to antibody characterization

We describe a novel immobilization technique to investigate interactions between immobilized gangliosides (GD3, GM1, and GM2) and their respective antibodies, antibody fragments, or binding partners using an optical biosensor. Immobilization was performed by direct injection onto a carboxymethyldextran sensor chip and did not require derivatization of the sensor surface or the ganglioside. The ganglioside appeared to bind to the sensor surface by hydrophobic interaction, leaving the carbohydrate epitope available for antibody or, in the case of GM1, cholera toxin binding. The carboxyl group of the dextran chains on the sensor surface did not appear to be involved in the immobilization as evidenced by equivalent levels of immobilization following conversion of the carboxyl groups into acyl amino esters, but rather the dextran layer provided a hydrophilic coverage of the sensor chip which was essential to prevent nonspecific binding. This technique gave better reactivity and specificity for anti- ganglioside monoclonal antibodies (anti-GD3: KM871, KM641, R24; and anti-GM2: KM966) than immobilization by hydrophobic interaction onto a gold sensor surface or photoactivated cross-linking onto carboxymethydextran. This rapid immobilization procedure has facilitated detailed kinetic analysis of ganglioside/antibody interactions, with the surface remaining viable for a large number of cycles (>125). Kinetic constants were determined from the biosensor data using linear regression, nonlinear least squares and equilibrium analysis. The values of kd, ka, and KAobtained by nonlinear analysis (KAKM871 = 1.05, KM641 = 1.66, R24 = 0.14, and KM966 = 0.65 x 10(7) M- 1) were essentially independent of concentration and showed good agreement with data obtained by other analytical methods.      

Baseline criteria and the evolution of hosts and parasites: D0, R0 and competition for resources between strains

Our understanding of the evolution of diseases has been greatly aided by the use of baseline criteria. Here we examine the theoretical and biological relationships of the well known baseline criteria for the evolution of disease (R0) and the recently introduced corresponding criterion for the evolution of resistance in hosts (D0). We show that there is a formal theoretical equivalence between the two criteria and discuss the characteristics of seperability that determine whether the criteria define the course of evolution. These theoretical determinants correspond biologically to whether strains compete for resources or not. We discuss the biological application of the criteria and argue that D0 may be less widely applicable than R0, but does determine the evolution of resistance in populations with fixed carrying capacities.     

Humanized mice as a model for rheumatoid arthritis

Genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common autoimmune disease, is associated with certain HLA-DR4 alleles. Treatments are rarely curative and are often tied to major side effects. We describe the development of a humanized mouse model wherein new, less toxic, vaccine-like treatments for RA might be pretested. This model includes four separate transgenes: HLA-DR*0401 and human CD4 molecules, a RA-related human autoantigenic protein (HCgp-39), and a T-cell receptor (TCRalphabeta) transgene specific for an important HCgp-39 epitope, eliciting strong Th1 responses in the context of HLA-DR*0401.     

Oxidized quercetin reacts with thiols rather than with ascorbate: implication for quercetin supplementation

When an antioxidant scavenges a reactive species, i.e., when it exerts its antioxidant activity, the antioxidant is converted into potentially harmful oxidation products. In this way, the antioxidant quercetin might yield an ortho-quinone, denoted as QQ, which has four tautomeric forms, i.e., the ortho-quinone and three quinonmethides. We evaluated the interaction of QQ with ascorbate or glutathione (GSH). Ascorbate recycles QQ to the parent compound quercetin, while GSH forms two adducts with QQ, i.e., 6-GSQ and 8-GSQ. When both GSH and ascorbate are present, QQ is converted exclusively into GSQ. In the absence of GSH, protein thiols will be arylated by QQ. This protein arylation is not prevented by ascorbate. Thiol arylation by quinones and quinonmethides can impair several vital enzymes. This implies that the product formed when quercetin displays its antioxidant scavenging effect is toxic in the absence of GSH. Therefore, an adequate GSH level should be maintained when quercetin is supplemented.