Genetic differentiation and connectivity of morphological types of the broadcast‐spawning coral Galaxea fascicularis in the Nansei Islands,Japan

Population connectivity resulting from larval dispersal is essential for the maintenance or recovery of populations in marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Studies of species diversity and genetic connectivity within species are essential for the conservation of corals and coral reef ecosystems. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequence types and microsatellite genotypes of the broadcast‐spawning coral, Galaxea fascicularis, from four regions in the subtropical Nansei Islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Two types (soft and hard types) of nematocyst morphology are known in G. fascicularis and are significantly correlated with the length of a mitochondrial DNA noncoding sequence (soft type: mt‐L; hard type: mt‐S type). Using microsatellites, significant genetic differentiation was detected between the mitochondrial DNA sequence types in all regions. We also found a third genetic cluster (mt‐L+), and this unexpected type may be a cryptic species of Galaxea. High clonal diversity was detected in both mt‐L and mt‐S types. Significant genetic differentiation, which was found among regions within a given type (F _ST = 0.009–0.024, all Ps ≤ 0.005 in mt‐L; 0.009–0.032, all Ps ≤ 0.01 in mt‐S), may result from the shorter larval development than in other broadcast‐spawning corals, such as the genus Acropora. Nevertheless, intraspecific genetic diversity and connectivity have been maintained, and with both sexual and asexual reproduction, this species appears to have a potential for the recovery of populations after disturbance.     

Langerhans cells in the lymph node: mirror section and immunoelectron microscopic studies.

Cells immunostained with antibodies against both OKT-6 and S-100 protein were observed only in superficial and hilar lymph nodes draining tissues with predominantly squamous epithelia. In contrast, in mesenteric lymph nodes and the spleen, only S-100 protein-positive, but OKT-6-negative cells were found. We suspect that the S-100 and OKT-6-positive cells might be Langerhans cells (LC) and the S-100-positive, OKT-6-negative cells, interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC). We further postulate that the LC in superficial and hilar lymph nodes might migrate from squamous epithelia, with which contact is required for the formation of Birbeck granules.     

Alternate Changes of Surface Antigen(s) in Adenovirus Type 12-Transformed and Tumor Cells1

Alternate changes of specific surface antigen(s) (S antigen) were examined in transformed and tumor cells induced by human adenovirus type 12. All of the hamster and mouse cells transformed in vitro showed ring-form membrane fluorescence staining by anti-S antigen rabbit sera, whereas tumor cells, either induced by the virus in vivo or produced by inoculation with the S(+)-transformed cells, did not show any fluorescence. When the S(–) tumor cells were serially subcultured in vitro, all of them converted to S(+) cells, although more than ten subcultures were necessary. For the S(+) cells to form tumors in hamsters about ten times as many cells were necessary as the S(–) cells. This difference became greater when tumor formation was tested in preimmunized hamsters, while little, if any, when tested in X-irradiated hamsters. In addition, immunogenicity of the S(+) cells was suggested to be higher than that of the S(–) cells. These findings indicate that the S(+) cells are more immunosensitive and immunogenic than the S(–) cells, and that in vivo conversion from S(+) to S(–) may be due to selection of S(–)-mutant cells. In vitro conversion from S(–) to S(+) was also suggested to be due to the appearance of S(+)-mutant cells.     

Close Association of Virus-Specific Cell Surface (S) and H-2 Antigens in Ad12-Infected and -Transformed Mouse Cells

A virus-specific cell surface (S) antigen in adenovirus type 12 (Ad12)-transformed mouse cells has been assumed to be a direct target for cytotoxic thymus-derived lymphocytes (CTL). In this study, the spatial proximity between the S and H-2 antigens was determined by three different methods, the proximity and co-capping tests, and the test for blocking of CTL-mediated lysis by anti-H-2 serum. In the proximity test with Ad12-infected thymic and splenic lymphocytes, and an Ad12-transformed line of C3H/He (H-2^k) mouse cells, anti-H-2^k and anti-S sera reciprocally inhibited fluorescent-antibody staining of the opposite antigens. By contrast, anti-Thy-1, 2 serum as well as anti-Ia and anti-Ig sera failed to show any appreciable effect in this test, when paired with anti-S serum. In addition, the S and H-2 antigens co-capped in the infected thymic lymphocytes, and CTL-mediated lysis of the transformed cells was abrogated equally by treatment of cells with anti-S and anti-H-2 sera. These results clearly demonstrate that there is a close proximity between the S and H-2 antigens on the surface of Ad12-infected and -transformed mouse cells.     

Microtropiosides A–F: ent-Labdane diterpenoid glucosides from the leaves of Microtropis japonica (Celastraceae)

From a 1-BuOH-soluble fraction of a MeOH extract of the leaves of Microtropis japonica, collected in the Okinawa islands, six ent-labdane glucosides, named microtropiosides A–F, were isolated together with one known acyclic sesquiterpene glucoside. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations determined by application of the β-d-glucopyranosylation-induced shift-trend rule in ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and the modified Mosher’s method.