Use of electrophoretic techniques and specific antibodies to analyse tubulin isotypes in rabbit testis and spermatozoa

Multiple tubulin isotypes have been described in vertebrate cells and they are known to be tissue specific (Cleveland and Sullivan, 1985; Cowan and Dudley, 1983). In this study, tubulin heterogeneity has been analysed in rabbit testis and spermatozoa by isoelectric focusing, two dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting performed using antibodies with different specificities. These biochemical techniques evidenced a small number of tubulin isotypes expressed by immature testis and fully maturated testis and spermatozoa of rabbit, and showed that the alpha isotypes are less acidic than the beta ones and present the post-translational detyrosinated form.     

On the preservation of carapaces of some limnic ostracods: An exercise in actuopalaeontology

The way in which the ostracod carapace decomposes through biological and physico-chemical processes is illustrated with Recent and Neogene non-marine ostracods (candonines, herpetocyprines and cytherids) from lacustrine and groundwater habitats. The degree of carapace preservation for Recent Candoninae, in the Mondsee (Austria) is shown to be dependent on the sedimentary microenvironment. The carapaces of herpetocyprines, because of their special morphological structure, decay very easily. This could explain the rare occurrrence of this ostracod group in Palaeogene deposits in Europe.     

Prevention of tubulin/aldose reductase association delays the development of pathological complications in diabetic rats

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - In recent studies, we found that compounds derived from phenolic acids (CAFs) prevent the formation of the tubulin/aldose reductase complex and,...     

Calleida desenderi, new species from Ecuador (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiinae)

Calleida desenderi Casale, sp. n., is described from Ecuador, Napo Province, surroundings of San Rafael. The new taxon is mostly characterized by the head and appendages rufous, the disc of elytra with marked metallic green reflection, the median lobe of aedeagus ring-like, and the endophallus with a long, twisted flagellum. A key for identification of the closer Neotropical species described so far is also provided.     

Two new Typhloreicheia species from Sardinia and their biogeographical significance (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Scaritinae)

Typhloreicheia monachasp. n. and Typhloreicheia ilianaesp. n. are described from two caves of Central-Eastern Sardinia (Nuoro province): the Bue Marino cave and the Nurra 'e Pradu cave, respectively. Both caves are located in the part of the island where many highly specialised subterranean carabid beetles are localised. Typhloreicheia monacha is apparently related to two other species of the same area, i.e. Typhloreicheia onnisi Casale & Magrini, 2004 and Typhloreicheia elegans (Dodero, 1916); Typhloreicheia ilianae is closely related to Typhloreicheia henroti Jeannel, 1957, known from a cave near Dorgali. Relationships and diagnostic features among these taxa are discussed and illustrated, and a key for identification of the specialised subterranean Typhloreicheia species of Sardinia is provided. The hypothesis of adaptive radiation of Reicheiina species in Sardinia, recently proposed by the senior author of this contribution, is further elaborated in light of new data.     

Signal transduction: how rad53 kinase is activated

Recent studies have elucidated the activation mechanism of the Rad53 checkpoint kinase and the role of Rad9-like adaptor proteins in mediating signal transduction from PIKK sensor kinases that detect DNA damage to the effector kinases that play a part in mending that damage.