Fruit Traits in Baboon Diet: A Comparison with Plant Species Characteristics in West Africa

Primate fruit choice among plant species has been attributed to different morphological plant and fruit characteristics. Despite a high abundance of animal-dispersed plant species in the savanna–forest mosaic of West Africa, few data are available on the interplay between morphological fruit traits and primate fruit consumers in this ecosystem. We tested whether olive baboons (Papio anubis) at Comoé National Park, north-eastern Ivory Coast, prefer fruit species with particular characteristics relative to the availability of these traits among the woody plant species at the study site. Specifically we were interested in the suites of traits that best predict fruit choice and seed handling by baboons. The baboons ate fruit/seeds from 74 identified plant species, representing 25 percent of the regional pool of woody plant species. They preferred trees to shrubs and lianas as fruit sources. Otherwise, baboons seemed to consume whatever fruit type, color, and size of fruit and seeds available, though they especially included larger fruit into their diet. Against expectations from the African bird–monkey fruit syndrome of brightly colored drupes and berries, baboons ate mostly species having large, dull-colored fruit. Fruit type and color best described whether baboons included a species into their diet, whereas fruit type and seed size best predicted whether baboons predated upon the seeds of their food plant species. As most plant species at the study site had medium-sized to large fruits and seeds, large frugivores like baboons might be particularly important for plant fitness and plant community dynamics in West African savanna–forest ecosystems.     

In vitro anticancer studies of α- and β-d-glucopyranose betulin anomers

Four derivatives of betulin containing a d-glucopyranosyl moiety at C3 position were synthesized and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. The crystal structure of 28-O-acetylbetulin-3-yl-β-d-(2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetyl)glucopyranoside was determined. The compounds were tested against fifteen tumor cell lines of different histogenic origins. The α- and β-anomers of 28-O-acetylbetulin-3-yl-d-glucopyranoside, exerted a dose dependent antiproliferative action towards the tumor cell lines. Treatment of HCT-116 cells for 24 h induced apoptosis, which was confirmed by the appearance of a typical ladder pattern in the DNA fragmentation assay and cell cycle analysis. The α- and β-anomers of 28-O-acetylbetulin-3-yl-d-glucopyranoside seem to induce apoptosis by activation of different upstream caspases on colon cancer HCT-116 cell line.     

Structure of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase type 1. Insight into mechanism of action and inhibition during lead poisoning

Eukaryotic pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase type 1 (P5N-1) catalyzes dephosphorylation of pyrimidine 5'-mononucleotides. Deficiency of P5N-1 activity in red blood cells results in nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. The enzyme deficiency is either familial or can be acquired through lead poisoning. We present the crystal structure of mouse P5N-1 refined to 2.35 A resolution. The mouse P5N-1 has a 92% sequence identity to its human counterpart. The structure revealed that P5N-1 adopts a fold similar to enzymes of the haloacid dehydrogenase superfamily. The active site of this enzyme is structurally highly similar to those of phosphoserine phosphatases. We propose a catalytic mechanism for P5N-1 that is also similar to that of phosphoserine phosphatases and provide experimental evidence for the mechanism in the form of structures of several reaction cycle states, including: 1) P5N-1 with bound Mg(II) at 2.25 A, 2) phosphoenzyme intermediate analog at 2.30 A, 3) product-transition complex analog at 2.35 A, and 4) product complex at 2.1A resolution with phosphate bound in the active site. Furthermore the structure of Pb(II)-inhibited P5N-1 (at 2.35 A) revealed that Pb(II) binds within the active site in a way that compromises function of the cationic cavity, which is required for the recognition and binding of the phosphate group of nucleotides.     

High-affinity AKAP7delta-protein kinase A interaction yields novel protein kinase A-anchoring disruptor peptides

PKA (protein kinase A) is tethered to subcellular compartments by direct interaction of its regulatory subunits (RI or RII) with AKAPs (A kinase-anchoring proteins). AKAPs preferentially bind RII subunits via their RII-binding domains. RII-binding domains form structurally conserved amphipathic helices with unrelated sequences. Their binding affinities for RII subunits differ greatly within the AKAP family. Amongst the AKAPs that bind RIIalpha subunits with high affinity is AKAP7delta [AKAP18delta; K(d) (equilibrium dissociation constant) value of 31 nM]. An N-terminally truncated AKAP7delta mutant binds RIIalpha subunits with higher affinity than the full-length protein presumably due to loss of an inhibitory region [Henn, Edemir, Stefan, Wiesner, Lorenz, Theilig, Schmidtt, Vossebein, Tamma, Beyermann et al. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 26654-26665]. In the present study, we demonstrate that peptides (25 amino acid residues) derived from the RII-binding domain of AKAP7delta bind RIIalpha subunits with higher affinity (K(d)=0.4+/-0.3 nM) than either full-length or N-terminally truncated AKAP7delta, or peptides derived from other RII binding domains. The AKAP7delta-derived peptides and stearate-coupled membrane-permeable mutants effectively disrupt AKAP-RII subunit interactions in vitro and in cell-based assays. Thus they are valuable novel tools for studying anchored PKA signalling. Molecular modelling indicated that the high affinity binding of the amphipathic helix, which forms the RII-binding domain of AKAP7delta, with RII subunits involves both the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic faces of the helix. Alanine scanning (25 amino acid peptides, SPOT technology, combined with RII overlay assays) of the RII binding domain revealed that hydrophobic amino acid residues form the backbone of the interaction and that hydrogen bond- and salt-bridge-forming amino acid residues increase the affinity of the interaction.     

Determinants of regional species richness: an empirical analysis of the number of hawkmoth species (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) on the Malesian archipelago

Aims Major patterns and determinants of the species richness of Sphingidae in the Malesian archipelago were investigated, including a distinction of richness patterns between subfamilies and range‐size classes. Location Southeast Asia, Malesia. Methods Using a compilation of specimen‐label data bases, geographic information system (GIS)‐supported estimates of distributional ranges for all Sphingidae species of Southeast Asia were used to assess the species richness of islands. Range maps for all species and checklists for 114 islands can be found at http://www.sphingidae‐sea.biozentrum.uni‐wuerzburg.de . Potential determinants of the species richness of islands were tested with general linear models. Results The estimated species richness of islands in the region is determined by biogeographical association, seasonality, availability of rain forest and island size. Species–area relationships are linear on a semi‐logarithmic representation, but not on a double‐logarithmic scale. Species richness of all sphingid subfamilies is influenced by biogeography. The presence of large rain‐forest areas affects mainly Smerinthinae, whereas distance from continental Asia is conspicuously irrelevant for this group. Widespread rather than geographically restricted species shape the overall distribution patterns of species richness. The altitudinal range of islands does not significantly affect species‐richness patterns, but its potential effects on geographically restricted species are discussed. Main conclusions As well as being affected by climatic and vegetation parameters, sphingid species richness is strongly influenced by a historical, directional dispersal process from continental Southeast Asia to the Pacific islands. This process did not apply equally to species of different taxonomic groups or range sizes. Widespread species decline in species richness towards the south‐east, whereas geographically restricted species exhibit an inverse pattern of species richness, probably because speciation becomes more important in this group within the more isolated island groups.     

Redifferentiation of chondrocytes and cartilage formation under intermittent hydrostatic pressure

Since articular cartilage is subjected to varying loads in vivo and undergoes cyclic hydrostatic pressure during periods of loading, it is hypothesized that mimicking these in vivo conditions can enhance synthesis of important matrix components during cultivation in vitro. Thus, the influence of intermittent loading during redifferentiation of chondrocytes in alginate beads, and during cartilage formation was investigated. A statistically significant increased synthesis of glycosaminoglycan and collagen type II during redifferentiation of chondrocytes embedded in alginate beads, as well as an increase in glycosaminoglycan content of tissue-engineered cartilage, was found compared to control without load. Immunohistological staining indicated qualitatively a high expression of collagen type II for both cases.     

An accumulation of tandem DNA repeats on the Y chromosome in Silene latifolia during early stages of sex chromosome evolution

Sex chromosomes in mammals are about 300 million years old and typically have a highly degenerated Y chromosome. The sex chromosomes in the dioecious plant Silene latifolia in contrast, represent an early stage of evolution in which functional X–Y gene pairs are still frequent. In this study, we characterize a novel tandem repeat called TRAYC, which has accumulated on the Y chromosome in S. latifolia. Its presence demonstrates that processes of satellite accumulation are at work even in this early stage of sex chromosome evolution. The presence of TRAYC in other species of the Elisanthe section suggests that this repeat had spread after the sex chromosomes evolved but before speciation within this section. TRAYC possesses a palindromic character and a strong potential to form secondary structures, which could play a role in satellite evolution. TRAYC accumulation is most prominent near the centromere of the Y chromosome. We propose a role for the centromere as a starting point for the cessation of recombination between the X and Y chromosomes.