Face to Face

Over evolutionary time, humans have developed a selective sensitivity to features in the human face that convey information on sex, age, emotions, and intentions. This ability might not only be applied to our conspecifics nowadays, but also to other living objects (i.e., animals) and even to artificial structures, such as cars. To investigate this possibility, we asked people to report the characteristics, emotions, personality traits, and attitudes they attribute to car fronts, and we used geometric morphometrics (GM) and multivariate statistical methods to determine and visualize the corresponding shape information. Automotive features and proportions are found to covary with trait perception in a manner similar to that found with human faces. Emerging analogies are discussed. This study should have implications for both our understanding of our prehistoric psyche and its interrelation with the modern world.

Proteomics Analysis of the Cardiac Myofilament Subproteome Reveals Dynamic Alterations in Phosphatase Subunit Distribution

Myofilament proteins are responsible for cardiac contraction. The myofilament subproteome, however, has not been comprehensively analyzed thus far. In the present study, cardiomyocytes were isolated from rodent hearts and stimulated with endothelin-1 and isoproterenol, potent inducers of myofilament protein phosphorylation. Subsequently, cardiomyocytes were “skinned,” and the myofilament subproteome was analyzed using a high mass accuracy ion trap tandem mass spectrometer (LTQ Orbitrap XL) equipped with electron transfer dissociation. As expected, a small number of myofilament proteins constituted the majority of the total protein mass with several known phosphorylation sites confirmed by electron transfer dissociation. More than 600 additional proteins were identified in the cardiac myofilament subproteome, including kinases and phosphatase subunits. The proteomic comparison of myofilaments from control and treated cardiomyocytes suggested that isoproterenol treatment altered the subcellular localization of protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B56α. Immunoblot analysis of myocyte fractions confirmed that β-adrenergic stimulation by isoproterenol decreased the B56α content of the myofilament fraction in the absence of significant changes for the myosin phosphatase target subunit isoforms 1 and 2 (MYPT1 and MYPT2). Furthermore, immunolabeling and confocal microscopy revealed the spatial redistribution of these proteins with a loss of B56α from Z-disc and M-band regions but increased association of MYPT1/2 with A-band regions of the sarcomere following β-adrenergic stimulation. In summary, we present the first comprehensive proteomics data set of skinned cardiomyocytes and demonstrate the potential of proteomics to unravel dynamic changes in protein composition that may contribute to the neurohormonal regulation of myofilament contraction.Myofilament proteins comprise the fundamental contractile apparatus of the heart, the cardiac sarcomere. They are subdivided into thin filament proteins, including actin, tropomyosin, the troponin complex (troponin C, troponin I, and troponin T), and thick filament proteins, including myosin heavy chains, myosin light chains, and myosin-binding protein C. Although calcium is the principal regulator of cardiac contraction through the excitation-contraction coupling process that culminates in calcium binding to troponin C, myofilament function is also significantly modulated by phosphorylation of constituent proteins, such as cardiac troponin I (cTnI),1 cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C), and myosin regulatory light chain (MLC-2). “Skinned” myocyte preparations from rodent hearts, in which the sarcolemmal envelope is disrupted through the use of detergents, have been invaluable in providing mechanistic information on the functional consequences of myofilament protein phosphorylation following exposure to neurohormonal stimuli that activate pertinent kinases prior to skinning or direct exposure to such kinases in active form after skinning (for recent examples, see studies on the phosphorylation of cTnI (1–3), cMyBP-C (4–6), and MLC-2 (7–9)). Nevertheless, to date, only a few myofilament proteins have been studied using proteomics (10–19), and a detailed proteomic characterization of the myofilament subproteome and its associated proteins from skinned myocytes has not been performed. In the present analysis, we used an LTQ Orbitrap XL equipped with ETD (20) to analyze the subproteome of skinned cardiomyocytes with or without prior stimulation. Endothelin-1 and isoproterenol were used to activate the endothelin receptor/protein kinase C and β-adrenoreceptor/protein kinase A pathway, respectively (21, 22). Importantly, the mass accuracy of the Orbitrap mass analyzer helped to distinguish true phosphorylation sites from false assignments, and the sensitivity of the ion trap provided novel insights into the translocation of phosphatase regulatory and targeting subunits following β-adrenergic stimulation.     

How normal is a "normal" flora in animal or man?

When investigating different disturbances of the normal intestinal flora causing disorders and/or diseases in man and animal, these studies include comparisons of results with control materials, i.e., materials from conventional laboratory animals or healthy human beings. However, how "normal" is the control group’s flora? In this paper two different examples will be discussed; one investigation with laboratory animals and one from a human study.     

Gut pH, redox conditions and oxygen levels in an aquatic caterpillar: potential effects on the fate of ingested tannins

Larvae of the freshwater moth Acentria ephemerella (Pyralidae, Lepidoptera) can fully develop on Myriophyllum spicatum, a submerged macrophyte containing 7-10% of its dry mass as tannins. We investigated the physicochemical gut parameters of larvae fed with M. spicatum or Potamogeton perfoliatus, a food plant lacking tannins, and the chemical fate of ingested polyphenols. Microelectrode studies revealed that larval midguts were slightly alkaline (pH 8) and had a positive redox potential. Whole guts were oxygen sinks owing to the oxygen demand of the gut contents. Oxygen penetrated the midgut up to 100 microm, but the centres of the foregut and midgut were always anoxic. The physicochemical parameters of the guts did not change with the food plant. The major tannin from M. spicatum, tellimagrandin II, was significantly depleted in the midgut and was not detected in faeces. In vitro studies indicated that tellimagrandin II is rapidly depleted mainly through oxidation, and hydrolysis might also occur. Our findings for A. ephemerella are compared with those for terrestrial Lepidoptera, and possible mechanisms for adaptations to tannin-rich food plants are discussed.     

Chemical signalling and monopolization of nectar resources by territorial Pachymelus limbatus (Hymenoptera Anthophoridae) male bees in Madagascar

Observations on territoriality and the associated odour-marking and foraging behaviours in male Pachymelus limbarus Saussure, a Malagasy endemic anthophorid bee, are reported. Data indicated a monandrous mating system where virgin females are attracted, probably by pheromonal cues, to male-patrolled territories associated with flowering, nectariferous Plectran- rhussensu lato species (Lamiaceae). One male observed in detail applied odour marks every 30–80 minutes on twigs around a food-resource area that contained c. 850 flowers. This marking behaviour always preceded territory residence. The male spent c. 80% of his time patrolling. Meanwhile, any intruding flying insect was inspected or chased, which caused conspecific males, as well as often females, to leave the site. The resident male fed frequently on flowers within his territory (c. 3,600 flower-visits on fine days), except immediately following odour-marking bouts. His flower-visiting was often released by interactions with intruding insects entering the territory. The observations provide the first example of male territoriality based on resource defence polygyny in the bee family Anthophoridae. The importance of resource distribution in the evolution of male territoriality in bees is discussed.     

Die Pulvillen vonCalliphora erythrocephala (Diptera,Brachycera) als Adhäsionsorgane

Zusammenfassung Die Pulvillen vonCalliphora erythrocephala wurden licht und fluoreszenzmikroskopisch, raster- und transmissions-elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Das Adhäsionssekret wurde dünnschichtchromatographisch mit dem Körperoberflächen-Lipid verglichen.Die Pulvillen tragen auf der Ventralseite mehrere Tausend langer dünner Hafthaare mit sohlenartigen Endverbreiterungen. Die Kutikula des Pulvillus besteht hauptsächlich aus elastischen Kutikulatypen (Endo- und Mesokutikula) in verschiedenen, spezifischen Ausbildungsformen.Die Pulvillen enthalten ein sekretorisches Epithel ohne Ausführgänge, das Protein- und Lipideinschlüsse zeigt.Das Pulvillensekret ist eine schwerflüchtige, ölige Flüssigkeit, die nicht identisch ist mit dem Körperoberflächen-Lipid. Das Sekret wird in der homogenen Kutikala des Pulvillus gespeichert und über das Porenkanalsystem der Ventralseite nach außen geleitet.Der Zusammenhang zwischen der Struktur der Pulvillen und ihrer Rolle beim Adhäsionsvorgang wird diskutiert.

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The pulvilli ofCalliphora erythrocephala (Diptera, Brachycera) as adhesive organs

Summary The pulvilli ofCalliphora erythrocephala were examined by light microscopy, fluorescent light microscopy, SEM and TEM. The adhesive secretion was compared with the general surface lipid layer by means of thinlayerchromatography.On the ventral surface the pulvilli bare several thousand long, slender tenent hairs with solelike spatulate tips. The pulvillar cuticle is composed on the whole of elastic cuticle types (endocuticle, mesocuticle) with specific modifications of structure. The pulvilli contain a secretory epithelium without transport ducts which has lipid and proteinaceous inclusions.The pulvillar secretion is a slowly volatile oily liquid which is not identical to the general surface lipid. The secretion is stored in the homogeneous cuticle within the pulvillus and transported to the ventral surface via the pore canal system.The correlation between the structure of pulvilli and their function in the adhesion process is discussed here.

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Abkürzungen bl Basales Labyrinth - cv coated vesicle - db dense body - dlk Dichter Lamellenkörper - dw Dorsalwand - e Epithel - ef Endokutikulafasern in der Übergangszone (meso 2b) - endo 1 lamelläre Endokutikula - endo 2 homogene Endokutikula - endo 3 gelatinöse Endokutikula - ep Empodium - epi Epikutikula - exo Exokutikula - fr Fersenregion - fs Faltensaum - hh Hafthaare - hs Haarschaft - k Kutikula - kr Kralle - ku Kutikulinschicht - l Lumen - li Lipid - lr Dorsale Längsrippen - m Mitochondrium - mb Mesokutikulabalken in der Übergangszone (meso 2b) - meso 1 helle homogene Mesokutikula - meso 2a dunkle homogene Mesokutikula, kompakt - meso 2b Übergangszone, in der dunkle homogene Mesokutikulabalken mit faseriger Endokutikula verzahnt sind - mt Mikrotubulus - mvbd Dunkler multivesikulärer Körper - n Kern - pc Porenkanal - ps Proximalsklerit - pt Prätarsus - rer Rauhes endoplasmatisches Retikulum - s Schulter - sd Sehnendrüse - se Sehne - so Sohle - sr Saumregion - t Tubulus - t₅ Tarsalglied 5 - ta Tasche - td Tarsaldrüse - te Tarsalepithel - tg Taschengrund - tk Terminalkanäle - utr Unguitractor - v Heller Vesikel - va Proteinvakuole - w Wachsschicht - z Zementschicht