Length variation and secondary structure of introns in the Mlc1 gene in six species of Drosophila

A nearly universal feature of intron sequences is that even closely related species exhibit a large number of insertion/deletion differences. The goal of the analysis described here is to test whether the observed pattern of insertion/deletion events in the genealogy of the myosin alkali light chain (Mlc1) gene is consistent with neutrality, and if not, to determine the underlying forces of evolutionary change. Mlc1 pre-mRNA is alternatively spliced, and one constraint is that signals necessary for tissue-specificity of directed splicing must be conserved. If the total length of an intron is functionally constrained, then the distribution of indels on branches of the gene genealogy should reflect a departure from randomness. Here we perform a phylogenetic analysis, inferring ancestral states wherever possible on a phylogeny of 29 alleles of Mlc1 from six species of Drosophila. Observed patterns of indels on the genealogy were compared to those from simulated data, with the result that we cannot reject the null hypothesis of neutrality. A clear departure from a neutral prediction was seen in the excess folding free energy predicted for the introns flanking the alternatively spliced exon. Relative rate tests also suggest a retardation in the rate of Mlc1 sequence evolution in the simulans clade.      

A likelihood approach for comparing synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution rates, with application to the chloroplast genome

A model of DNA sequence evolution applicable to coding regions is presented. This represents the first evolutionary model that accounts for dependencies among nucleotides within a codon. The model uses the codon, as opposed to the nucleotide, as the unit of evolution, and is parameterized in terms of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution rates. One of the model's advantages over those used in methods for estimating synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates is that it completely corrects for multiple hits at a codon, rather than taking a parsimony approach and considering only pathways of minimum change between homologous codons. Likelihood-ratio versions of the relative-rate test are constructed and applied to data from the complete chloroplast DNA sequences of Oryza sativa, Nicotiana tabacum, and Marchantia polymorpha. Results of these tests confirm previous findings that substitution rates in the chloroplast genome are subject to both lineage-specific and locus-specific effects. Additionally, the new tests suggest tha the rate heterogeneity is due primarily to differences in nonsynonymous substitution rates. Simulations help confirm previous suggestions that silent sites are saturated, leaving no evidence of heterogeneity in synonymous substitution rates.      

Adaptive change in protective coloration in adult striated shieldbugs Graphosoma lineatum (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): test of detectability of two colour forms by avian predators

1. Protective coloration in insects may be aposematic or cryptic, and some species change defensive strategy between instars. In Sweden, the adult striated shieldbugs Graphosoma lineatum (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) undergo a seasonal colour change from pale brown and black striation in the pre‐hibernating adults, to red and black striation in the same post‐hibernating individuals. To the human eye the pre‐hibernating adults appear cryptic against the withered late summer vegetation, whereas the red and black post‐hibernating adults appear aposematic. This suggests a possibility of a functional colour change. However, what is cryptic to the human eye is not necessarily cryptic to a potential predator. 2. Therefore we tested the effect of coloration in adult G. lineatum on their detectability for avian predators. Great tits (Parus major) were trained to eat sunflower seeds hidden inside the emptied exoskeletons of pale or red G. lineatum. Then the detection time for both colour forms was measured in a dry vegetation environment. 3. The birds required a longer time to find the pale form of G. lineatum than the red one. The pale form appears more cryptic on withered late summer vegetation than the red form, not only to the human eye but also to avian predators. The result supports the idea that the adult individuals of G. lineatum undergo a functional change from a cryptic protective coloration to an aposematic one.     

Self-consistent electron and ion flows in a fast Z-pinch

Results are presented from experimental studies of fast Z-pinches produced in plasmas of high-Z elements. An analysis of a plasma structure emitting X radiation and time-resolved measurements of the electron emission showed that a self-consistent regime of electron and ion motion is established in the plasma channel of the discharge. It was found that, in this regime, the electron component makes a negative contribution to the net current and an electrically neutral supersonic plasma flow propagates along the discharge axis in the direction of the net current.     

Experimental Study of a Vacuum Spark Discharge over a Dielectric Surface

A decrease in the amplitude of the current of a vacuum spark discharge over a dielectric surface with increasing discharge gap length is established. It is shown that, in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field, the leading edge of the discharge voltage pulse is extended, whereas the clearly pronounced current pulse transforms into a train of alternating current oscillations. The discharge is found to decelerate when the spark is preceded by a low-current discharge.     

Expression of the nucleotide sequence for the M2e peptide of avian influenza virus in transgenic tobacco plants

The M2e peptide of the H5N1 A/Chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 avian influenza virus was successfully synthesized in transgenic tobacco plants. The amino-terminal segment of the M2 protein, comprised of 22, 30, or 43 amino acids, including the M2e peptide (M122, M130, and M143 variants, respectively), was translationally fused with the N-terminus of β-glucuronidase in the pBI121 plant expression vector. The nucleotide sequence of the target fragment was synthesized by ligation from synthetic oligonucleotides; its codon composition was adapted for expression in plants. Tobacco plants were successfully transformed with the obtained vectors (pBIM122, pBIM130, and pBIM143, respectively). In the plants transformed with pBIM143, the Ml43-β-glucuronidase fusion protein was not produced, probably due to the presence of the M2 protein transmembrane domain (25–43 aa of M2) in this construct. In the pBIM122- and pBIMl30-transformed plants, the target M2e peptide was expressed as a component of the Ml22-β-glucuronidase and M130-β-glucuronidase fusion proteins, respectively, as was detected by Western blot analysis. These proteins were detected as bands of the expected size without apparent degradation. As a result, the M2e peptide of the H5N1 avian influenza virus was successfully synthesized for the first time in nuclear-transformed transgenic plants. The results obtained in this study will be used for developing a transgenic plant-based edible antiinfluenza vaccine.     

Population diversity of the pygmy shrew

A morphogenetic comparison of pygmy shrews (Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766) from two geographical regions in the North of European Russia, located 1000 km apart, showed a relatively high stability in all of their parameters.     

Agrobacterial Transformation of Tobacco with a Genetic Module of the Biosynthesis of the Antimalarial Agent Artemisinin

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - Artemisinin-based medicines are the most effective treatment for malaria. To date, wormwood plants (Artemisia annua L.) are the main source of artemisinin....     

Activated fibronectin-secretory phenotype of mesenchymal stromal cells in pre-fibrotic myeloproliferative neoplasms

We characterized bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) from patients with pre-fibrotic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). MPN-BMSC showed decreased capacity to stimulate the proliferation of colony-forming units of normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and displayed increased matrix remodelling (in particular fibronectin deposition) compared to control BMSC. This finding was confirmed in pre-fibrotic MPN bone marrow biopsies in a tissue microarray (n?=?34), which stained positive for fibronectin in the absence of reticulin as a standard myelofibrosis marker. Fibronectin expression correlated significantly with reduced haemoglobin levels in MPN-patients (p?=?0.007; R2?=?0.42). Our data show significant cell-intrinsic alterations in MPN-MSC and suggest that Fibronectin expression might be applicable as a biomarker for the identification of early myelofibrotic transformation in reticulin-negative MPN.