FGF-dependent generation of oligodendrocytes by a hedgehog-independent pathway

During development, spinal cord oligodendrocyte precursors (OPCs) originate from the ventral, but not dorsal, neuroepithelium. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) has crucial effects on oligodendrocyte production in the ventral region of the spinal cord; however, less is known regarding SHH signalling and oligodendrocyte generation from neural stem cells (NSCs). We show that NSCs isolated from the dorsal spinal cord can generate oligodendrocytes following FGF2 treatment, a MAP kinase dependent phenomenon that is associated with induction of the obligate oligogenic gene Olig2. Cyclopamine, a potent inhibitor of hedgehog signalling, did not block the formation of oligodendrocytes from FGF2-treated neurosphere cultures. Furthermore, neurospheres generated from SHH null mice also produced oligodendrocytes, even in the presence of cyclopamine. These findings are compatible with the idea of a hedgehog independent pathway for oligodendrocyte generation from neural stem cells.     

A cluster of genes for the biosynthesis of spinosyns, novel macrolide insect control agents produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa

Spinosyns A and D are the active ingredients in a family of insect control agents produced by fermentation of Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosyns are 21–carbon tetracyclic lactones to which are attached two deoxysugars. Most of the genes involved in spinosyn biosynthesis are clustered in an 74 kb region of the S. spinosa genome. This region has been characterized by DNA sequence analysis and by targeted gene disruptions. The spinosyn biosynthetic gene cluster contains five large genes encoding a type I polyketide synthase, and 14 genes involved in modification of the macrolactone, or in the synthesis, modification and attachment of the deoxysugars. Four genes required for rhamnose biosynthesis (two of which are also required for forosamine biosynthesis) are not present in the cluster. A pathway for the biosynthesis of spinosyns is proposed.     

Extended Survival and Persistence of Campylobacter spp. in Water and Aquatic Biofilms and Their Detection by Immunofluorescent-Antibody and -rRNA Staining

In water microcosm experiments, the survival times of Campylobacter isolates differed by up to twofold, as determined by culturing; this difference increased to fourfold when particular combinations of temperature and oxygenation were used. The mean survival times were much longer at 4 and 10°C (202 and 176 h, respectively) than at 22 and 37°C (43 and 22 h, respectively). The influence of anaerobiosis on survival time was less dramatic and differed considerably between isolates. In a two-stage water distribution model preparation containing a biofilm consisting of standardized autochthonous water microflora, Campylobacter isolates continued to differ in survival time. However, the survival times of cultures were considerably longer in the presence of the autochthonous water microflora (strains CH1 and 9752 survived 700 and 360 h, respectively, at 4°C) than in the sterile microcosms (strains CH1 and 9752 survived 230 and 157 h, respectively). Although increased temperature and oxygenation were generally detrimental to culturability, the interaction of these two factors influenced the two strains examined differently. When the organisms were grown aerobically at 30°C, the survival of the two strains was reversed; aerobiosis decreased the survival time of strain CH1 by 30%, but unexpectedly improved the persistence time of strain 9752 by more than threefold. Persistence times within biofilms were much longer when they were determined by detection methods not involving culturing. Immunofluorescent-antibody staining demonstrated that the pathogen persisted up to the termination of the experiments after 28 and 42 days of incubation at 30 and 4°C, respectively. The specificity of detection within intact biofilms was reduced because of high background fluorescence. However, preliminary studies with a Campylobacter-specific rRNA probe revealed the same extended persistence of the pathogen within the biofilms.     

Symplastic Solute Transport and Avocado Fruit Development: A Decline in Cytokinin/ABA Ratio is Related to Appearance of the Hass Small Fruit Variant

Studies on the effect of fruit size on endogenous ABA and isopentenyladenine(iP) in developing avocado (Persea americana Mill. cv. Hass)fruit revealed that ABA content was negatively correlated withfruit size whilst the iP/ABA ratio showed a linear relationshipwith increasing size of fruit harvested 226 d after full bloom.The effect of this change in hormone balance on the relationshipbetween symplastic solute transport and appearance of the smallfruit variant was examined following manipulation of the endogenouscytokinin (CK)/ABA ratio. Application of ABA caused seed coatsenescence and retarded fruit growth but these effects wereabsent in fruit treated with equal amounts of ABA plus iP. Thus,the underlying physiological mechanisms associated with ABA-inducedretardation of Hass avocado fruit growth appeared to be inextricablylinked to a decline in CK content and included: diminution ofmesocarp and seed coat plasmodesmatal branching, gating of mesocarpand seed coat plasmodesmata by deposition of electron densematerial in the neck region, abolishment of the electrochemicalgradient between mesocarp and seed coat parenchyma, and arrestof cell-to-cell chemical communication. (Received February 25, 1998; Accepted July 28, 1998)     

Microinjection of pollen‐specific actin‐depolymerizing factor, ZmADF1, reorientates F‐actin strands in Tradescantia stamen hair cells

Maize actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) binds both monomeric and filamentous actin and increases actin dynamics in vitro. To test its effects in vivo, recombinant pollen ADF1 was expressed in bacteria and microinjected into Tradescantia stamen hair cells. Initially, all cytoplasmic streaming ceased and the central, longitudinal transvacuolar strands were disrupted. After 20–45 min, streaming resumed but in the form of conspicuous transverse pathways of movement in the cortex. Staining the actin filaments by a second injection of fluorescein-conjugated phalloidin showed that the longitudinal actin cables seen in controls had been replaced by a thickening of the transverse cortical arrays, whose orientation matched the new pattern of streaming. Microinjection of rhodamine–tubulin confirmed that the microtubules also formed a transverse cortical array and it is suggested that the spatial cues for re-modelling the actin after ADF1 injection may be provided by the microtubular system.     

Effects of climate change on nitrogen dynamics in upland soils. 2. A soil warming study

A new warming technique has been developed in a field experimental study of the potential effects of climatic change on N leaching from hill land plant/soil systems. Thermocouple compensating cable has been utilized to provide a small cross-section, flexible, low voltage heating cable, mounted on a framework of stainless steel mesh, to provide uniform heating at the vegetation/soil interface of zero-tension lysimeters and surrounding turf. We describe a specially designed heat controller capable of maintaining a temperature differential of 3 °C above ambient at a soil depth of 0.8 cm. The equipment raises temperatures down the soil profile and within the grass sward, whilst tracking normal diurnal temperature variation. Results presented here illustrate the efficacy of the warming technique, together with the consequences for the release of nitrate from lysimeters. The responses of soil solution concentrations of nitrate varied markedly between soil types, but showed a significant decrease in the brown earth during the first 5 months of additional heating. This suggests that increased nutrient release is masked by plant uptake in this soil, but the responses in the other two soils were less marked.     

Generic and infrageneric nomenclature of annual Poaceae: Poeae related to Vulpia and Desmazeria

The 26 generic and 63 infrageneric names which have been applied to the approximately 47 species belonging to the Vulpia–Desmazeria group of annual Poaceae: Poeae are listed, together with their bibliographic, nomenclatural and typological details. A synopsis of the classification of this group adopted by the author, involving twelve genera and five extra sections, follows, and includes a new combination at the sectional level: Vulpia sect. Apalochloa (Dumort.) Stace. Although not closely related to this group of grasses, the genus Sclerochloa is included as it has been very widely confused taxonomically, nomenclaturally and typographically with Scleropoa.     

Arabidopsis Cortical Microtubules Are Initiated along,as Well as Branching from,Existing Microtubules

The principles by which cortical microtubules self-organize into a global template hold important implications for cell wall patterning. Microtubules move along bundles of microtubules, and neighboring bundles tend to form mobile domains that flow in a common direction. The bundles themselves move slowly and for longer than the individual microtubules, with domains describing slow rotary patterns. Despite this tendency for colinearity, microtubules have been seen to branch off extant microtubules at ∼45°. To examine this paradoxical behavior, we investigated whether some microtubules may be born on and grow along extant microtubule(s). The plus-end markers Arabidopsis thaliana end binding protein 1a, AtEB1a-GFP, and Arabidopsis SPIRAL1, SPR1-GFP, allowed microtubules of known polarity to be distinguished from underlying microtubules. This showed that the majority of microtubules do branch but in a direction heavily biased toward the plus end of the mother microtubule: few grow backward, consistent with the common polarity of domains. However, we also found that a significant proportion of emergent comets do follow the axes of extant microtubules, both at sites of apparent microtubule nucleation and at cross-over points. These phenomena help explain the persistence of bundles and counterbalance the tendency to branch.     

Article Watch: December 2015

This column highlights recently published articles that are of interest to the readership of this publication. We encourage ABRF members to forward information on articles they feel are important and useful to: Clive Slaughter, GRU-UGA Medical Partnership, 1425 Prince Ave., Athens, GA 30606, USA. Tel: (706) 713-2216; Fax: (706) 713-2221; E-mail: cslaught@uga.edu; or to any member of the editorial board. Article summaries reflect the reviewer’s opinions and not necessarily those of the association.