Palynology of the perigoniate Aroideae: Zamioculcas,Gonatopus and Stylochaeton (Araceae)

The pollen of the perigoniate Aroideae sensu Mayo et al. (1997) ( Zamioculcas Schott, Gonatopus Hook. f. ex Engl. and Stylochaeton Lepr.) differs ultrastructurally from that of the aperigoniate Aroideae in several important exine and aperture characters. The almost identical zona-aperturate pollen of Zamioculcas and Gonatopus has outside the aperture an elaborated, thick ectexine, while the aperture consists of a thin, but continuous ectexine and a thick, lamellate endexine. In contrast, the omniaperturate pollen of Stylochaeton has a thin, not clearly stratified ectexine and a thin, heterogeneous endexine below. However, the zona-aperturate pollen of Zamioculcas and Gonatopus deviates significantly from the superficially similar zona-aperturate pollen of the unrelated Monstereae (e. g., Monstera Adans., Amydrium Schott): in the apertures of Monstera or Amydrium both the thin, but continuous ectexine and the lamellate endexine, which are typical features for Zamioculcas and Gonatopus , are absent. The palynological data underline not only the present classification of Zamioculcas , Gonatopus and of Stylochaeton into two tribes (Zamioculcadeae and Stylochaetoneae) and the differences of both tribes from the other Aroideae, but show also significant deviations in the respective zona-aperturate condition in Monstereae (Monsteroideae) and Zamioculcadeae (Aroideae).     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of curcumin-derived arylheptanoids for glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cytotoxicity

Using an innovative approach toward multiple carbon–carbon bond-formations that relies on the multifaceted catalytic properties of titanocene complexes we constructed a series of C1–C7 analogs of curcumin for evaluation as brain and peripheral nervous system anti-cancer agents. C2-Arylated analogs proved efficacious against neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH & SK-N-FI) and glioblastoma multiforme (U87MG) cell lines. Similar inhibitory activity was also evident in p53 knockdown U87MG GBM cells. Furthermore, lead compounds showed limited growth inhibition in vitro against normal primary human CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells. Taken together, the present findings indicate that these curcumin analogs are viable lead compounds for the development of new central and peripheral nervous system cancer chemotherapeutics with the potential for little effects on normal hematopoietic progenitor cells.     

Effects of AKAP5 Pro100Leu Genotype on Working Memory for Emotional Stimuli

Recent investigations addressing the role of the synaptic multiadaptor molecule AKAP5 in human emotion and behavior suggest that the AKAP5 Pro100Leu polymorphism (rs2230491) contributes to individual differences in affective control. Carriers of the less common Leu allele show a higher control of anger as indicated by behavioral measures and dACC brain response on emotional distracters when compared to Pro homozygotes. In the current fMRI study we used an emotional working memory task according to the n-back scheme with neutral and negative emotional faces as target stimuli. Pro homozygotes showed a performance advantage at the behavioral level and exhibited enhanced activation of the amygdala and fusiform face area during working memory for emotional faces. On the other hand, Leu carriers exhibited increased activation of the dACC during performance of the 2-back condition. Our results suggest that AKAP5 Pro100Leu effects on emotion processing might be task-dependent with Pro homozygotes showing lower control of emotional interference, but more efficient processing of task-relevant emotional stimuli.     

Disentangling the role of management,vegetation structure,and plant quality for Orthoptera in lowland meadows

Seminatural grasslands provide habitats for various species and are important for biodiversity conservation. The understanding of the diverse responses of species and traits to different grassland managenient methods is therefore urgently needed. We disentangled the role of grassland management (fertilization and irrigation), vegetation structure (biomass, sward height) and plant quality (protein and fiber content) for Orthoptera communities in lowland hay meadows in Germany. We found vegetation structure to be the most important environmental category in explaining community structure of Orthoptera (species richness, total individuals, fiinctional diversity and species composition). Intensively used meadows (fertilized, irrigated, high plant biomass) were characterized by assemblages with few species, low functional diversity, and low conservation value. Thereby, the relatively moderate fertilizer inputs in our study system of up to -75 kg N/ha/year reduced functional diversity of Orthoptera, while this negative effect of fertilization was not detectable when solely considering taxonomic aspects. We found strong support for a prominent role of plant quality in shaping Orthoptera communities and especially the trait composition. Our findings demonstrate the usefulness of considering both taxonomic and functional comp on ents (functio nal diversity) in biodiversity research and we suggest a stronger involvement of plant quality measures in Orthoptera studies.     

Tropical rainforest flies carrying pathogens form stable associations with social nonhuman primates

Living in groups provides benefits but also incurs costs such as attracting disease vectors. For example, synanthropic flies associate with human settlements, and higher fly densities increase pathogen transmission. We investigated whether such associations also exist in highly mobile nonhuman primate (NHP) Groups. We studied flies in a group of wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys atys) and three communities of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. We observed markedly higher fly densities within both mangabey and chimpanzee groups. Using a mark–recapture experiment, we showed that flies stayed with the sooty mangabey group for up to 12 days and for up to 1.3 km. We also tested mangabey‐associated flies for pathogens infecting mangabeys in this ecosystem, Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis (Bcbva), causing sylvatic anthrax, and Treponema pallidum pertenue, causing yaws. Flies contained treponemal (6/103) and Bcbva (7/103) DNA. We cultured Bcbva from all PCR‐positive flies, confirming bacterial viability and suggesting that this bacterium might be transmitted and disseminated by flies. Whole genome sequences of Bcbva isolates revealed a diversity of Bcbva, probably derived from several sources. We conclude that flies actively track mangabeys and carry infectious bacterial pathogens; these associations represent an understudied cost of sociality and potentially expose many social animals to a diversity of pathogens.     

An Acinetobacter baumannii,Zinc-Regulated Peptidase Maintains Cell Wall Integrity during Immune-Mediated Nutrient Sequestration

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A mutation of keratin 18 within the coil 1A consensus motif causes widespread keratin aggregation but cell type-restricted lethality in mice

Mutations in genes encoding epidermal keratins cause skin disorders, while those in internal epithelial keratins, such as K8 and K18, are risk factors for liver diseases. The effect of dominant mutations in K8 or K18 during embryonic development and tissue homeostasis has not been examined so far. Here we demonstrate that the dominant mutation hK18 R89C, that is highly similar to hK14 R125C, causing EBS in humans, leads to cell type-specific lethality in mice, depending on the ratio of mutant to endogenous keratins. Mice expressing hK18 R89C in the absence of endogenous K19 and K18 died at mid-gestation from defects in trophoblast giant cells, accompanied by haematomas. A single, endogenous K18 allele rescued embryonic lethality but caused aggregation of keratins in all adult internal epithelia, surprisingly without spontaneous cell fragility. Closer analysis revealed that both filaments and aggregates coexisted in the same cell, depending on the ratio of mutant to endogenous keratins. Our results demonstrate that balanced overexpression of a wild-type keratin rescued the lethal consequences of a dominant-negative mutation. This has important implications for therapy approaches of keratinopathies, suggesting that suppressing the mutant allele is not necessary in vivo.     

A cell surface protein controls endocrine ring gland morphogenesis and steroid production

Identification of signals for systemic adaption of hormonal regulation would help to understand the crosstalk between cells and environmental cues contributing to growth, metabolic homeostasis and development. Physiological states are controlled by precise pulsatile hormonal release, including endocrine steroids in human and ecdysteroids in insects. We show in Drosophila that regulation of genes that control biosynthesis and signaling of the steroid hormone ecdysone, a central regulator of developmental progress, depends on the extracellular matrix protein Obstructor-A (Obst-A). Ecdysone is produced by the prothoracic gland (PG), where sensory neurons projecting axons from the brain integrate stimuli for endocrine control. By defining the extracellular surface, Obst-A promotes morphogenesis and axonal growth in the PG. This process requires Obst-A-matrix reorganization by Clathrin/Wurst-mediated endocytosis. Our data identifies the extracellular matrix as essential for endocrine ring gland function, which coordinates physiology, axon morphogenesis, and developmental programs. As Obst-A and Wurst homologs are found among all arthropods, we propose that this mechanism is evolutionary conserved.