The role of plant species in biomass production and response to elevated CO2 and N

In an experiment that factorially manipulated plant diversity, CO₂, and N, we quantified the effects of the presence of species on assemblage biomass over 10 time points distributed over 5 years. Thirteen of the 16 species planted had statistically significant effects on aboveground and/or belowground biomass. Species differed dramatically in their effects on biomass without any relationship between aboveground and below‐ground effects. Temporal complementarity among species in their effects seasonally, successionally, and in response to a dry summer maintained the diversity–biomass relationships over time and may be the cause behind higher diversity plots having less variation in biomass over time. The response of plant biomass to elevated N, but not CO₂, was at times entirely dependent on the presence of a single species.     

The Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 increases erythrocyte deformability and low oxygen tension-induced ATP release

Low oxygen (O(2)) tension and mechanical deformation are stimuli for ATP release from erythrocytes. It has been shown previously that rabbit erythrocytes made less deformable with diamide, a thiol cross-linking agent, release less ATP in response to low O(2) tension, suggesting a link between these two stimuli. In nonerythroid cells, activation of the Rho/Rho kinase signaling pathway has been reported to decrease cell deformability by altering Rho kinase-dependent cytoskeleton-protein interactions. We investigated the hypothesis that the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 would increase erythrocyte deformability and thereby increase low O(2) tension-induced ATP release from erythrocytes. Here we show that Y-27632 (1 μM) increases erythrocyte deformability (5%) and increases low O(2) tension-induced ATP release (203%) from healthy human erythrocytes. In addition, we found that, when erythrocytes were made less deformable by incubation with diamide (100 μM), Y-27632 restored both deformability and low O(2) tension-induced ATP release to levels similar to those measured in the absence of diamide. These findings suggest that the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 is able to reverse the diamide-induced decrease in erythrocyte deformability and rescue low O(2) tension-induced ATP release. These results further support a link between erythrocyte deformability and ATP release in response to low O(2) tension.     

Discovery of a series of 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines as ALK5 inhibitors with potential utility in the prevention of dermal scarring

A series of 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridines are described as inhibitors of ALK5 (TGFβ receptor I kinase). Modeling compounds in the ALK5 kinase domain enabled some optimization of potency via substitutions on the pyrazole core. One of these compounds PF-03671148 gave a dose dependent reduction in TGFβ induced fibrotic gene expression in human fibroblasts. A similar reduction in fibrotic gene expression was observed when PF-03671148 was applied topically in a rat wound repair model. Thus these compounds have potential utility for the prevention of dermal scarring.     

Residence time and drift patterns of larval June sucker Chasmistes liorus in the lower Provo River as determined by otolith microstructure

Estimates of age derived from daily ring counts from otoliths and capture rates of larval June sucker Chasmistes liorus were used to determine the relationship between discharge rates of the Provo River and residence time and patterns of larval drift. During 1997, larval drift occurred over a 22 day period when discharge rates were low (mean ±s.d. 3·2 ± 0·0 m³ s^?1). In 1998, larval drift occurred in two separate events over a 40 day period. Discharge was higher during the first larval drift period (19 days; 24·8 ± 1·3 m³ s^?1) and lower during the second larval drift period (17 days; 7·0 ± 0·9 m³ s^?1). In 1997, no larval fish were collected at the lowermost transect on the Provo River (nearest Utah Lake), and few larvae >21 days of age were found. During the first drift period of 1998, larval C. liorus were collected at all transects, and mean age of larvae collected between upstream and downstream transects increased by c. 7 days. During the second drift period of 1998, only a few were collected in the lowermost transects, and age did not increase with proximity to the lake. Patterns in catch and age distribution of larval C. liorus in the lower Provo River suggest that recruitment failure occurs during the larval drift period in years with insufficient discharge to transport larvae into the lake.     

Short‐term carbon cycling responses of a mature eucalypt woodland to gradual stepwise enrichment of atmospheric CO2 concentration

Projections of future climate are highly sensitive to uncertainties regarding carbon (C) uptake and storage by terrestrial ecosystems. The Eucalyptus Free‐Air CO₂ Enrichment (EucFACE) experiment was established to study the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (eCO₂) on a native mature eucalypt woodland with low fertility soils in southeast Australia. In contrast to other FACE experiments, the concentration of CO₂ at EucFACE was increased gradually in steps above ambient (+0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 ppm CO₂ above ambient of ~400 ppm), with each step lasting approximately 5 weeks. This provided a unique opportunity to study the short‐term (weeks to months) response of C cycle flux components to eCO₂ across a range of CO₂ concentrations in an intact ecosystem. Soil CO₂ efflux (i.e., soil respiration or R_soil) increased in response to initial enrichment (e.g., +30 and +60 ppm CO₂) but did not continue to increase as the CO₂ enrichment was stepped up to higher concentrations. Light‐saturated photosynthesis of canopy leaves (A_sat) also showed similar stimulation by elevated CO₂ at +60 ppm as at +150 ppm CO₂. The lack of significant effects of eCO₂ on soil moisture, microbial biomass, or activity suggests that the increase in R_soil likely reflected increased root and rhizosphere respiration rather than increased microbial decomposition of soil organic matter. This rapid increase in R_soil suggests that under eCO_2, additional photosynthate was produced, transported belowground, and respired. The consequences of this increased belowground activity and whether it is sustained through time in mature ecosystems under eCO₂ are a priority for future research.     

Evidence for Specific Polypeptide Chain Folding in Myelin Basic Protein from Reactions Between Fragments of the Protein and Monoclonal Antibodies

The specificities of two monoclonal IgM antibodies (18.25 and 21.14.2) evoked in mice with guinea pig myelin basic protein were examined and interpreted in terms of a specific folding of the protein's polypeptide chain. Studies with guinea pig and rabbit myelin basic protein fragments showed that a region encompassing the central Phe-Phe (87-88) sequence is obligatory, but not sufficient, for reactivity with antibody 18.25. Appreciable reactivity was observed for rabbit peptides 22-95 and 45-151, and lower, but significant, reactivity was shown by peptide 32-95. Only very weak reactivity was seen with peptide 44-95. No reactivity was observed with peptide 1-95 after its lysine residues were acetylated, acetamidinated, or guanidinated. These results have been interpreted in terms of a polypeptide chain folding that creates an epitope within sequence Val-Val-His-Phe-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ile-Val (84-92). The specific conformation of this epitope, which includes probably the Lys-89 and possibly the Asn-90 and Val-92 side chains, could be formed by the association of sequence 84-92 with either sequence Ile-Leu-Asp-Ser-Ile-Gly-Arg-Phe-Phe (37-45) or with sequence Val-Leu-Ser-Arg-Phe (108-112) to form beta-sheet structures essentially identical with those that appear to be present in the intact BP [Martenson R.E.J. Neurochem. 46, 1612-1622 (1986)]. The second monoclonal antibody, no. 21.14.2, reacts only with guinea pig myelin basic protein and fragments containing the species-restricted sequence Arg-Ala-Asp-Tyr-Lys-Ser-Lys (129-135).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Aglycone exploration of C-arylglucoside inhibitors of renal sodium-dependent glucose transporter SGLT2

Inhibition of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2), the transporter that is responsible for renal re-uptake of glucose, leads to glucosuria in animals. SGLT-mediated glucosuria provides a mechanism to shed excess plasma glucose to ameliorate diabetes-related hyperglycemia and associated complications. The current study demonstrates that the proper relationship of a 4′-substituted benzyl group to a β-1C-phenylglucoside is important for potent and selective SGLT2 inhibition. The lead C-arylglucoside (7a) demonstrates superior metabolic stability to its O-arylglucoside counterpart (4) and it promotes glucosuria when administered in vivo.