Nest building by lowland gorillas in the Lopé Reserve,Gabon: Environmental influences and implications for censusing

We analyzed data from 373 fresh nest-sites (containing 2435 nests) of lowland gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla)during a 4-year period in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon, to determine whether the observed variability in nest building was due to environmental influences. We recognized and defined seven types of nest in terms of the degree of construction and the raw materials used. Overall, nests built on the ground from herbaceous plants are the most common type (40%), followed by tree nests (35%). Frequencies of the different nest-types vary significantly between eight habitat-types. In habitat-types with high densities of understory herbs, ground nests predominated, but when herbs were rare, the majority of nests were in trees. A general preference for sleeping in herbaceous ground nests is indicated since trees are abundant in all habitat-types, except savanna. The frequency of nesting in trees shows a significant positive correlation with rainfall, but effects of climate are confounded by seasonal variation in use of different habitat-types. When elephants were attracted to the same localized food sources as gorillas, many tree nests were built even when herbs were available. We conclude that different nest-types reflect a variety of solutions to maximize comfort, depending on available raw materials and the probability of rainfall or disturbance by elephants or both factors. Nests are a powerful tool for population censuses and demographic studies of great apes, but problems exist in interpreting data on lowland gorilla nests. Results from this analysis show that only a third of nest-sites accurately reflects group size (of weaned individuals) and that 26% of all gorilla nest-sites could be mistaken for those of chimpanzees, as all nests, or all those visible from a transect, were in trees. Gorilla nests at Lopé were nonrandomly distributed with respect to habitat-types, and nest construction varied seasonally, thereby introducing sources of bias to transect nest counts. We discuss these problems and ones related to assessing the decay rate of nest-sites and make recommendations relevant to census work.     

Cloning and characterization of a sialidase from the murine histocompatibility-2 complex: low levels of mRNA and a single amino acid mutation are responsible for reduced sialidase activity in mice carrying the Neula allele

The Neu1 locus, in the S region of the murine histocompatibility-2complex, regulates the sialic acid content of several liverlysosomal enzymes. Three alleles, Neu1^a, Neu1^b, and Neu1^c, havebeen described on the basis of differential sialylation of theenzyme liver acid phosphatase. The Neu1^a allele occurs in asmall number of mouse strains, e.g., SM/J and is associatedwith sialidase deficiency. We recently described G9, a sialidasegene in the human major histocompatibility complex (Milner etal. (1997) J. Biol. Chem., 272, 4549–4558), and we nowreport the characterization of the equivalent gene in mouse.The protein product of the murine G9 gene is 409 amino acidsin length and is 83% identical to its human orthologue. Expressionof the murine G9 protein in insect cells has confirmed thatit is a sialidase, with optimal activity at pH 5. To elucidatethe basis of sialidase deficiency in mouse strains carryingthe Neu1^a allele, we have sequenced the G9 coding regions frommice carrying the three Neu1 alleles and hence defined the aminoacid sequence characteristic of each allotype. Of particularinterest is a Leu-209 to Ile mutation that is unique to theNeu1^a allotype and is associated with reductions in sialidaseactivity of 68% and 88% compared to the Neu1^b and Neu1^c allotypes,respectively, when these three protein variants are expressedin insect cells. Additional factors, such as differential expression,may also influence the activities of the Nen1 allotypes in vivo.We have observed that the level of G9 mRNA is substantiallyreduced in mice carrying the Neu1^a allele compared to the Neu1^b(85–95% reduction) and Neu1^c (70% reduction) alleles. H2 complex MHC Neu1 sialidase     

Proteolytic activity of proteasome on myofibrillar structures

The physiologic function of proteasome remains unclear. Evidence suggests a role in degradation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates, MHC antigen presentation, and some specificity of substrate within certain cell types. To explore further the properties of proteasome we have examined its effect on a well defined structure, the myofibril. We find that despite its large size (20S) proteasome is able to degrade myofibrils and intact, permeabilized muscle fibrils. The proteins degraded showed some specificity because actin, myosin and desmin were degraded faster than -actinin, troponin T and tropomyosin. Changes in ultrastructure were slow and included a general loss of structure with Z and I bands effected before the M band and costameres.     

Molecular basis and PCR-DNA typing of the Fya/fyb blood group polymorphism

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDL) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized in affected males by short stature resulting from a growth defect of the vertebral bodies. We have extended our earlier studies by analyzing 15 families with newly identified microsatellite DNA markers; analysis of recombination events with these markers indicates that the gene responsible for SEDL is located in Xp22 between DXS 16 and DXS 987 on an interval spanning approximately 2 Mb.     

Prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis by assay of amniotic fluid microvillar enzymes

Summary Activities of the microvillar enzymes -glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGTP), aminopeptidase M (APM), phosphodiesterase and maltase have been examined in second-trimester amniotic fluid as possible aids to the early prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). The two peptidases, GGTP and APM, gave best results. If the fifth percentile of the normal range is used as an action line, the sensitivity of a positive test (low GGTP value) is 78% and the predictability 84%. At the tenth percentile the sensitivity is 100% and the predictability 77%. These approximate figures apply only to pregnancies where there has been a previous affected child. Until the primary protein defect in CF is discovered, this may prove an acceptable form of prenatal diagnosis to the high-risk mother.     

Steroid glucuronides: Human circulatory levels and formation by LNCaP cells

We studied the relationship between circulating androsterone glucuronide, androstane-3,17β-diol glucuronide and androstane-3β,17β-diol glucuronide concentrations and adrenal as well as testicular C-19 steroids in men. Among the three 5-reduced steroid glucuronides, androsterone glucuronide is the predominant C-19 steroid measured in plasma and its levels are markedly elevated compared to those of the non-conjugated steroid. The marked rise in testosterone during puberty was strongly correlated with the increase in both androsterone glucuronide and androstane-3,17β-diol glucuronide, thus suggesting that testicular C-19 steroids are the main precursors of the steroid glucuronides. We also found that the presence of testicular androgen in plasma contributes to approx. 70% of plasma androsterone glucuronide and androstane-3,17β-diol glucuronide. Our data suggest that the adrenal C-19 steroids remaining in circulation after castration in men are converted into potent androgen which are then glucuronidated by UDP-glucuronyltransferase. We also demonstrated that the human prostate cell line LNCaP is capable of converting to a large extent androstenedione into androsterone glucuronide. Our data further confirm that glucuronidation is a major pathway of steroid metabolism in steroid target tissues.