Phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical honeycreepers and the evolution of feeding morphology

Phylogenetic relationships among Neotropical honeycreepers were studied by using cytochrome b sequence data. Although honeycreepers were once placed in their own family (Coerebidae), these species did not form a monophyletic group in any of the phylogenies in this study. Thus, our results indicate that nectar-feeding evolved independently multiple times among these birds. The Neotropical honeycreepers are best considered disparate members of a larger radiation of tanagers and finches, in which bill size and shape, and associated feeding behaviors have changed frequently to fill a variety of niches. Our phylogenies also provide specific taxonomic recommendations on the placement of each honeycreeper genus. The use of the taxon Coerebidae is no longer warranted given the well-supported relationships between different honeycreeper species and a variety of tanagers and finches.     

Follicular placenta and embryonic growth of the viviparous four-eyed fish (Anableps)

In the four-eyed fish, Anableps (Atheriniformes, Anablepidae), eggs are fertilized and embryos develop to term within the ovarian follicles. Development is highly matrotrophic. During gestation, the largest term embryo of A. anableps examined had grown to a total length of 51 mm and attained a dry weight of 149 mg. The postfertilization weight increase is 298,000%. The largest term embryo of A. dowi examined had grown to a total length of 77 mm and attained a dry weight of 910 mg. The postfertilization weight increase is 843,000%. Embryonic weight increases result from nutrient transfer across the follicular placenta. This structure is formed by apposition of the maternal follicular epithelium to absorptive surface cells of the embryo's pericardial trophoderm. The latter, a ventral ramification of the pericardial somatopleure, replaces the yolk sac during early gestation. The external surface of the pericardial trophoderm develops hemispherical projections, termed vascular bulbs. Within each bulb, the vascular plexus of the trophoderm expands to form a blood sinus. Cells of the external surface of the bulbs possess microplicae. Microvilli are absent. During middle to late gestation, the juxtaembryonic follicular epithelium differentiates into two regions. One region consists of shallow, pitlike depressions within which vascular bulbs interdigitate in a “ball and socket” arrangement. Follicular pits are formed by the curvilinear distortion of the apical surfaces of follicle cells. The second region in contact with the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the embryo, is comprised of villous extensions of the hypertrophied follicular epithelium. In both regions, follicle cells appear to constitute a transporting rather than a secretory epithlium. In terms of percentage of weight increase, the follicular placenta of Anableps appears to be the most efficient adaptation for maternal-embryonic nutrient transfer in teleost fishes and closely approaches the efficiency (1.2 × 10⁶%) of oophagy and embryonic cannibalism in lamnoid sharks.     

Stoichiometry, ATP/2e values, and energy requirements for reactions catalyzed by nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The stoichiometry of the nitrogenase ATP-dependent H2 evolution and ecetylene reduction reactions using S2O4(2-) as an electron source was studied by various techniques. For each mole of S2O4(2-) oxidized to 2SO3(2-) by the enzyme-catalyzed reactions at 25 degrees and pH 8, 1 mol of H2 (1 mol of ethylene for acetylene reduction) and two protons are produced. Under these conditions, 4.5 mol of ATP was hydrolyzed to ADP and inorganic phosphate for each S2O4(2-) oxidized. ATP/S2O4(2-) (ATP/2e) values determined at 5 degree intervals from 10 to 35 degrees were found to go through a minimum at 20 degrees. This effect is explained in terms of possible enzyme structure modifications. Calorimetric measurements for the enzyme-catalyzed H2 evolution and acetylene reduction reactions gave deltaH values of -32.4 and -75.1 kcal/mol of S2O4(2-), respectively.     

Potentiation of synaptic responses in slices from the chick forebrain.

Coronal slices, containing part of the medial hyperstriatum ventrale (MHV), were cut from the left forebrains of domestic chicks and maintained in vitro. Records were made of the field responses evoked in the MHV by local electrical stimuli provided at 0.1 Hz. Two 1 min periods of stimulation at 5 Hz, separated by 10 min, were used in attempts to induce a persistent increase in the size of the postsynaptic response to test stimulation at 0.1 Hz. This procedure produced a potentiation which usually lasted longer than 2 h. The probability of inducing this persistent potentiation of the response (PPR) is not distributed evenly over the whole anteroposterior length of the MHV but is higher in slices that also contain the septo-mesencephalic tract ventrally. These are the slices that contain the intermediate part of the medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV); an area that is essential for early behavioural learning. At this level PPR is not confined to the IMHV. It can also be produced in the lateral neostriatum in response to similar local stimulation at 5 Hz. No PPR was observed in either the caudal ectostriatum, or the paleostriatum.     

HSP90 inhibition targets autophagy and induces a CASP9-dependent resistance mechanism in NSCLC

Macroautophagy/autophagy has emerged as a resistance mechanism to anticancer drug treatments that induce metabolic stress. Certain tumors, including a subset of KRAS-mutant NSCLCs have been shown to be addicted to autophagy, and potentially vulnerable to autophagy inhibition. Currently, autophagy inhibition is being tested in the clinic as a therapeutic component for tumors that utilize this degradation process as a drug resistance mechanism. The current study provides evidence that HSP90 (heat shock protein 90) inhibition diminishes the expression of ATG7, thereby impeding the cellular capability of mounting an effective autophagic response in NSCLC cells. Additionally, an elevation in the expression level of CASP9 (caspase 9) prodomain in KRAS-mutant NSCLC cells surviving HSP90 inhibition appears to serve as a cell survival mechanism. Initial characterization of this survival mechanism suggests that the altered expression of CASP9 is mainly ATG7 independent; it does not involve the apoptotic activity of CASP9; and it localizes to a late endosomal and pre-lysosomal phase of the degradation cascade. HSP90 inhibitors are identified here as a pharmacological approach for targeting autophagy via destabilization of ATG7, while an induced expression of CASP9, but not its apoptotic activity, is identified as a resistance mechanism to the cellular stress brought about by HSP90 inhibition.     

An increase in the abundance of anchovies and sardines in the north-western North Sea since 1995

Trawl data from Scottish research vessels dating from January 1925 show that catches of the warm water pelagic species, anchovy ( Engraulis encrasicholus ) and sardine ( Sardina pilchardus ), increased suddenly after 1995. Most were observed in the first quarter of each year, with 1998 and 2003 having the largest numbers, although few data are available for the last quarter. The authors believe that these long-term changes are related to rising sea temperatures although the exact causal mechanism is not clear.     

Fungal parasitism in a freshwater copepod: Components of the interaction between Aphanomyces and Boeckella

The transmission of Aphanomyces infection among carriers (host females), host mortality, recovery from infection, and stages in the infection process were investigated in Boeckella dilatata (Copepoda: Calanoida) at 15°C in the laboratory. Over a 4-week period, 57.9% female B. dilatata became infected after being paired with carrier females and 3.8% lost their infection hyphae. Mortality was higher among carrier females (41%) than noncarriers (18.2%) but may be related to the age of the females. There was no difference in body size or clutch size between carrier and noncarrier females. However, host females carried clutches for shorter periods and had correspondingly longer intervals between clutches than did noncarriers. The time course of development of infection at 15°C is described.     

Purification and characterization of the central segment of prothymosin-alpha: methodology for handling highly acidic peptides.

Prothymosin-alpha is a highly acidic protein consisting of 110 amino acids. The central segment of this protein, residues 51-89, is thought to be involved in metal binding which may be necessary for its physiological function. To carry out studies of this peptide, this central segment was synthesized in a linear fashion using Fmoc-based methods on rink amide MBHA resin. However, this peptide could not be purified with the typical straightforward approach of RP HPLC followed by negative mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This was attributed to the high proportion of acidic residues: 26 out of the 39 residues are aspartic and glutamic acids. The acidity of the peptide prevented retention on the RP HPLC column. Additionally, the ability of the highly negatively charged peptide to retain sodium ions prevented molecular weight determination with ESI-MS. A systematic approach to the purification of this highly acidic peptide was undertaken. Ultimately, strong anion exchange chromatography was used to purify the peptide. Extensive desalting using dialysis was required prior to ESI-MS, and the choice of the buffer proved to be critical. In the end, a purification method was devised that yielded a highly purified peptide and is readily compatible with analysis by ESI-MS.