Effect of Bacterial Polysaccharide Accumulation on Infiltration of Water Through Sand

A study was carried out of the mechanisms of biological clogging of sand during prolonged percolation of water containing high levels of organic matter. It was found that polysaccharide-producing microorganisms predominated in clogged layers of sand. A positive correlation was observed between accumulation in the profile of polysaccharides and clogging of columns of sand in permeameters. The level of oxygen in the system appears to determine the equilibrium between production of clogging materials and their decomposition.     

Seismic communication in the blind subterranean mole-rat: patterns of head thumping and of their detection in the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel

Patterns of seismic communication and somatosensory responses were studied in four chromosomal species (2n= 52, 54, 58, 60) of blind subterranean mole-rats, belonging to the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. The patterns involved head thumping signals and surface-recorded cerebral potentials evoked by vibrational signals. The patterns correspond to the differences in territory size and population density which characterize the four species. It is suggested that this correspondence is related to the adaptive significance of the seismic communication.     

The primary structure of the hemoglobin of the mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, rodentia, chromosome species 60)

Mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) hemoglobin consists of only one component. The complete amino-acid sequence of the alpha- and beta-chains of the species with the diploid chromosome number of 60 is presented. Following chain separation by chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose CM-52, the primary structures were established by automatic Edman degradation on the chains, on the tryptic peptides, and on a peptide obtained by acid hydrolysis of the Asp-Pro bond in beta-chains. The alignment of the peptides was performed by homology with human alpha- and beta-chains. The comparison showed an exchange of 23 residues in the alpha-chains and 26 in the beta-chains. One substitution in the beta-chains concerns the surrounding of the heme. We found two exchanges in each chain in the alpha 1 beta 1-subunit interface and one in the beta-chain alpha 1 beta 2-contact points. Though all binding sites for 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate are unchanged, the mole rat blood has a high oxygen affinity as a part of adaptation to subterranean life under hypoxia and hypercapnia. A comparison of the sequence with known X-ray models of hemoglobins may give an interpretation of this fact. The primary structure of the mole rat hemoglobin shows more similarities with surface rodents, than with the mole, another small mammal, adapted to hypoxia in subterranean tunnels. The adaptation to hypoxia in mole rat and mole must be due to different mechanisms.     

Evolutionary expansion of Mhc class I loci in the mole-rat, Spalax ehrenbergi

A cosmid genomic library was prepared from a single individual of the rodent Spalax ehrenbergi, the mole rat, captured in Israel. The library was screened with a mouse probe hybridizing with all mouse class I major-histocompatibility-complex (Mhc) genes; the cross-hybridizing clones were isolated; and their restriction maps were prepared using five enzymes. A total of 93 class I-bearing clones could be identified in the library. Forty-five of these clones showed partial overlaps and could be arranged into 14 clusters. Eleven of these clusters could be shown to contain two class I genes each; the remaining clusters, as well as most of the non-overlapping clones, each contained one class I gene. After the elimination of clones with possible cloning artifacts and of clones that may carry allelic forms of a given gene in the heterozygous animal, the total number of class I loci identified in Spalax is approximately 65. The high number of loci probably arose from the duplication of either the entire class I set or the different class I families. The high number of gene copies might represent a means of selecting different functional genes from the family in different mammalian orders. Three of the approximately 65 Spalax class I genes cross-hybridize with a probe specific for the mouse K, D, and L genes; two of these genes are in the same cluster. These three elements might possibly be the functional class I genes of the mole rat.     

The amino-acid sequence of pancreatic ribonuclease from the mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi, chromosomal species 2n = 60

The amino-acid sequence of pancreatic ribonuclease from the chromosomal species of Spalax ehrenbergi with karyotype 2n = 60 was determined. From the comparison of the sequence with other mammalian sequences we found that Spalax diverged from the myomorph rodent branch before the divergence of the Muridae and the Cricetidae. All myomorph rodent sequences evolved faster than those of other mammals, an effect being most pronounced for the rat sequence. Spalax ribonuclease shares several amino-acid residues with other myomorph rodent species. These are not or only rarely observed outside this rodent suborder. However, there are 6 amino-acid replacements not observed earlier in pancreatic ribonucleases, and 2 other replacements and an insertion of one residue in the variable loop 15-24 are only observed in the enzyme from turtle pancreas.     

Bulgarian Jews in Israel: genetic blood markers. Red-cell antigens, serum proteins and red-cell isozymes

Two hundred and sixteen unrelated Bulgarian Jews were typed for the following genetic systems: ABO, MNS, Rh, Kell and Duffy of the blood groups; ADA, AK1, ACP1, ESD, GLO, PGD, PGM1 and PGM2 of the red-cell enzymes, and for the serum proteins HP, GC and PI. A comparison of observed gene frequencies with those of two other Sephardi Jewish groups, from Libya and Morocco, disclosed significant heterogeneity in several systems. This was mostly due to Moroccan Jews differing from Bulgarian or from both the Libyan and Bulgarian Jews. A comparison of gene frequencies in Bulgarian Jews with those in Oriental Jews from Iraq and in Ashkenazi Jews from Poland disclosed a similarity between the three groups in Rh, ADA, GLO, PGM1 and HP. The frequencies for the above systems in the three groups were closer to those of Middle Easterners than to those of Europeans. A different pattern was observed for GC and PI, in which Bulgarian resembled Polish Jews and differed significantly from Iraqi Jews. This probably reflects an outcome of convergent adaptive processes.     

Correlation of ecological factors and allozymic variations with resistance toErysiphe graminis hordei inHordeum spontaneum in Israel: Patterns and application

The association of ecological factors and allozymic markers of wild barley,Hordeum spontaneum, with genotypes varying in resistance to 3 cultures of the pathogenErysiphe graminis hordei, which incites the disease powdery mildew of barley, were explored theoretically and practically. The study involved 275 accessions comprising 16 populations largely representing the ecological range ofH. spontaneum in Israel. From earlier studies of allozymic variation and disease resistance it now becomes apparent that genetic polymorphisms for resistance toE. graminis hordei are structured geographically, and are predictable by climatic as well as allozymic variables. Three-variable combinations of temperature and water factors explain significantly 0.32 of the spatial variance in disease resistance between localities. Also, several allozyme genotypes, singly or in combination, are significantly associated with disease resistance. A high correlation was found between the standard deviation of infection types of the culture of the pathogen from Israel, and allozymic polymorphism,P (r_s = 0.86, p < 0.001). Consequently, the IsraelH. spontaneum populations, growing in the center of diversity of the species, contain large amounts of unexploited disease resistance polymorphism. These could be effectively screened and utilized for producing resistant barley varieties by using ecological factors and allozymic variants as guidelines.     

Spatiotemporal allozyme divergence caused by aridity stress in a natural population of wild wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, at the Ammiad microsite, Israel

Spatiotemporal diversity at 35 allozyme loci was assayed over 6 years in 1,207 individuals of wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides)from a microgeographic microsite, Ammiad, north Israel. This analysis used new methods and two additional sample sets (1988 and 1993) and previous allozymic data (1984–1987). This microsite includes four major habitats (North-facing slope, Valley, Ridge, and Karst) that show topographic and ecological heterogeneity. Significant temporal and spatial variations in allele frequencies and levels of genetic diversity were detected in the four subpopulations. Significant associations were observed among allele frequencies and gene diversities at different loci, indicating that many allele frequencies change over time in the same or opposite directions. Multiple regression analysis showed that variation in soil-water content and rainfall distribution in the growing season significantly affected 10 allele frequencies, numbers of alleles at 8 loci, and gene diversity at 4 loci. Random genetic drift and hitchhiking models may not explain such locus-specific spatiotemporal divergence and strong allelic correlation or locus correlation as well as the functional importance of allozymes. Natural ecological selection, presumably through water stress, might be an important force adaptively directing spatiotemporal allozyme diversity and divergence in wild emmer wheat at the Ammiad microsite. Received: 3 July 2000 / Accepted: 1August 2000     

Molecular diversity at the major cluster of disease resistance genes in cultivated and wild Lactuca spp.

Diversity was analyzed in wild and cultivated Lactuca germplasm using molecular markers derived from resistance genes of the NBS-LRR type. Three molecular markers, one microsatellite marker and two SCAR markers that amplified LRR-encoding regions, were developed from sequences of resistance gene homologs at the main resistance gene cluster in lettuce. Variation for these markers were assessed in germplasm including accessions of cultivated lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. and three wild Lactuca spp., L. serriola L., L. saligna and L. virosa L. Diversity was also studied within and between natural populations of L. serriola from Israel and California; the former is close to the center of diversity for Lactuca spp. while the latter is an area of more recent colonization. Large numbers of haplotypes were detected indicating the presence of numerous resistance genes in wild species. The diversity in haplotypes provided evidence for gene duplication and unequal crossing-over during the evolution of this cluster of resistance genes. However, there was no evidence for duplications and deletions within the LRR-encoding regions studied. The three markers were highly correlated with resistance phenotypes in L. sativa. They were able to discriminate between accessions that had previously been shown to be resistant to all known isolates of Bremia lactucae. Therefore, these markers will be highly informative for the establishment of core collections and marker-aided selection. A hierarchical analysis of the population structure of L. serriola showed that countries, as well as locations, were significantly differentiated. These differences may reflect local founder effects and/or divergent selection. Received: 7 March 1999 / Accepted: 25 March 1999