Diversity of settlement-stage reef fishes captured by light-trap in a tropical south-west Atlantic Ocean coastal reef system

This study reports the results of 5 years of monitoring reef fish post-larvae using light traps in the Bay of Tamandaré, north-east Brazil. An annotated checklist of pre-settlement fish species, their frequency of occurrence and taxonomic characteristics are provided. In total, 4,422 post-larval fishes belonging to 36 families, 56 genera and 76 species were captured. The most species-rich families were Carangidae (7), Lutjanidae (6) and Pomacentridae (4), while the families Gerreidae (30.47%), Holocentridae (16.54%), Blenniidae (12.01%), Labrisomidae (8.36%), Lutjanidae (8.29%) and Acanthuridae (5.95%) were the most abundant. This is the first study of the taxonomic diversity and assemblage structure of settlement-stage reef fishes in the tropical south-west Atlantic Ocean. Although a few common species were not captured due to selectivity of light traps, the composition and taxonomic diversity of this first collection suggests that light traps are useful for studies of the early life history of a wide range of pre-settlement reef fishes.     

Length–weight relationship of thirteen demersal fishes from the tropical Brazilian continental shelf

This study provides the length‐weight relationship (LWR) for 13 demersal fish species belonging to 11 families and 8 orders. Data were collected in the northeast Brazilian continental shelf during two scientific surveys (2015 and 2017) using a bottom trawl net (side length of body mesh: 40 mm, side length of cod‐end mesh: 25 mm) at 35 stations between 15 and 60 m of depth. We provide novel LWRs for four species and expand the size range of 9 relationships previously established.     

Chiral discrimination by ligand-exchange chromatography: A comparison between phenylalaninamide-based stationary and mobile phases

The copper(II) complexes of two new diastereomeric ligands, N²-(R)- and N²-(S)-2′-hydroxypropyl-(S)-phenylalaninamide [(R, S)-1 and (S, S)-1], have been used as additives to the eluent in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) reversed phase for the chiral separation of DNS-amino acids. The aim was that of comparing the separation process obtained by the chiral eluent with that obtained by an analogous bonded stationary phase containing (S)-phenylalaninamide, previously studied [CSP-(S)-Phe-NH₂]. The affinity of the ternary complexes for the C₁₈ column was determined by adsorption experiments in HPLC. It was shown that the two systems (chiral eluent, chiral stationary phase) work according to different mechanisms. Ternary complex formation in solution was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. It was shown that chiral separation with the Cu(II) complexes added to the eluent was determined by the relative affinities of the ternary complexes for the column-stationary phase rather than by their stabilities in solution. With CSP-(S)-Phe-NH₂ the separation is accounted for by the relative stabilities of the ternary complexes, which depends mainly on the “allowed” geometry of the complex and on the steric repulsion of the amino acid side chain with the spacer. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mitochondrial Group II Introns, Cytochrome c Oxidase, and Senescence in Podospora anserina

Podospora anserina is a filamentous fungus with a limited life span. It expresses a degenerative syndrome called senescence, which is always associated with the accumulation of circular molecules (senDNAs) containing specific regions of the mitochondrial chromosome. A mobile group II intron (alpha) has been thought to play a prominent role in this syndrome. Intron alpha is the first intron of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COX1). Mitochondrial mutants that escape the senescence process are missing this intron, as well as the first exon of the COX1 gene. We describe here the first mutant of P. anserina that has the alpha sequence precisely deleted and whose cytochrome c oxidase activity is identical to that of wild-type cells. The integration site of the intron is slightly modified, and this change prevents efficient homing of intron alpha. We show here that this mutant displays a senescence syndrome similar to that of the wild type and that its life span is increased about twofold. The introduction of a related group II intron into the mitochondrial genome of the mutant does not restore the wild-type life span. These data clearly demonstrate that intron alpha is not the specific senescence factor but rather an accelerator or amplifier of the senescence process. They emphasize the role that intron alpha plays in the instability of the mitochondrial chromosome and the link between this instability and longevity. Our results strongly support the idea that in Podospora, "immortality" can be acquired not by the absence of intron alpha but rather by the lack of active cytochrome c oxidase.     

Pioglitazone preserves pancreatic islet structure and insulin secretory function in three murine models of type 2 diabetes

Thiazolidinediones may slow the progression of type 2 diabetes by preserving pancreatic beta-cells. The effects of pioglitazone (PIO) on structure and function of beta-cells in KKA(y), C57BL/6J ob/ob, and C57BL/KsJ db/db mice (genetic models of type 2 diabetes) were examined. ob/ob (n = 7) and db/db (n = 9) mice were randomly assigned to 50-125 mg.kg body wt-1.day-1 of PIO in chow beginning at 6-10 wk of age. Control ob/ob (n = 7) and db/db mice (n = 9) were fed chow without PIO. KKA(y) mice (n = 15) were fed PIO daily at doses of 62-144 mg.kg body wt-1.day-1. Control KKA(y) mice (n = 10) received chow without PIO. Treatment continued until euthanasia at 14-26 wk of age. Blood was collected at baseline (before treatment) and just before euthanasia and was analyzed for glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and plasma insulin. Some of the splenic pancreas of each animal was resected and partially sectioned for light or electron microscopy. The remainder of the pancreas was assayed for insulin content. Compared with baseline and control groups, PIO treatment significantly reduced blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Plasma insulin levels decreased significantly in ob/ob mice treated with PIO. All groups treated with PIO exhibited significantly greater beta-cell granulation, evidence of reduced beta-cell stress, and 1.5- to 15-fold higher levels of pancreatic insulin. The data from these studies suggest that comparable effects would be expected to slow the progression of type 2 diabetes, either delaying or possibly preventing progression to an insulin-dependent state.     

Subcellular distribution of the V-ATPase complex in plant cells,and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> localisation of the 100 kDa subunit VHA-a within the complex

Background  

Vacuolar H⁺-ATPases are large protein complexes of more than 700 kDa that acidify endomembrane compartments and are part of the secretory system of eukaryotic cells. They are built from 14 different (VHA)-subunits. The paper addresses the question of sub-cellular localisation and subunit composition of plant V-ATPase in vivo and in vitro mainly by using colocalization and fluorescence resonance energy transfer techniques (FRET). Focus is placed on the examination and function of the 95 kDa membrane spanning subunit VHA-a. Showing similarities to the already described Vph1 and Stv1 vacuolar ATPase subunits from yeast, VHA-a revealed a bipartite structure with (i) a less conserved cytoplasmically orientated N-terminus and (ii) a membrane-spanning C-terminus with a higher extent of conservation including all amino acids shown to be essential for proton translocation in the yeast. On the basis of sequence data VHA-a appears to be an essential structural and functional element of V-ATPase, although previously a sole function in assembly has been proposed.