Concerted transpositions of mobile genetic elements coupled with fitness changes in Drosophila melanogaster

In an inbred low-activity (LA) strain of Drosophila melanogaster with a low level of fitness and a complex of inadaptive characters, in situ hybridization reveals an invariant pattern of distribution of three copia-like elements (mdg-1, mdg-3, and copia). Rare, spontaneous, multiple transpositions of mobile elements in the LA strain were shown to be coupled with a drastic increase of fitness. A changed pattern of various types of mobile elements was also observed on selecting the LA strain for higher fitness. High-fitness strains show transpositions of mobile elements to definite chromosomal sites ("hot spots"). Concerted changes in the location of three different mobile elements were found to be coupled with an increase of fitness. The mdg-1 distribution patterns were also examined in two low-fitness strains independently selected from the high-fitness ones. Fitness decrease was accompanied by mdg-1 excision from the hot spots of their location usually detected in the high-fitness strains. The results suggest the existence of a system of adaptive transpositions of mobile elements that takes part in fitness control.      

An appraisal of the fossil record for the Cirolanidae (Malacostraca: Peracarida: Isopoda: Cymothoida), with a description of a new cirolanid isopod crustacean from the early Miocene of the Vienna Basin (Western Carpathians)

Abstract:  Isopod crustaceans are rarely preserved in the fossil record. Herein, an appraisal of the fossil record for the cirolanid isopods is presented. Five genera are briefly discussed, including Bathynomus, Brunnaega, Palaega, Pseudopalaega and Cirolana. A key for the cirolanid genera known to date from the fossil record is provided based mostly on pleotelson characters. From the early Miocene of the Slovak part of the Vienna Basin, Cirolana feldmanni sp. nov. is described being only the fifth fossil Cirolana species known to date and one of the few with preserved appendages. The material exhibits preservation suggesting biphasic moulting; the mode of preservation suggests a rather short time between shedding the posterior and anterior parts of the exoskeleton instead of hours or even days known in extant taxa. As no subsequent transport or physical disturbance was inferred, the specimens can be stated as in situ preservation. From the palaeoecological point of view, it is concluded that Cirolana feldmanni sp. nov. is the first unequivocal fossil deep‐water Cirolana as suggested by the accompanied fauna.     

Lepadiform and scalpelliform barnacles from the Oligocene and Miocene of the Paratethys sea

Abstract: A review on the Oligocene and Miocene stalked barnacles of the Paratethys Sea is presented. The fauna comprises two lepadiform and eight scalpelliform species. Only two species are known from Oligocene deposits, four are documented from Lower Miocene formations, and another four species occur in the Middle Miocene. Only one Oligocene and one Miocene species occur in two different Paratethyan basins in roughly coeval environments, and only a single Middle Miocene species is also known from the adjacent Mediterranean Sea. This low degree of biogeographical similarity is probably a result from the still low number of publications dealing with this group. Stalked barnacles are often indicating bathyal or at least deep sublittoral environments. Especially, the abundance of the benthic deep‐water lepadiform Poecilasma in evaporitic deposits of the Middle Miocene Badenian Salinity Crisis may serve as new evidence for a deeper marine depositional environment. Scalpellum paratethyianum sp. nov. and Lepas sattmanni sp. nov. are described as new species; Arcoscalpellum renevieri (Mayer and Gümbel in Gümbel, 1861) is introduced as new combination.     

Seed characteristics and fatty acid composition of castor (<i>Ricinus communis</i> L.) varieties in Northeast China

Oil content and fatty acid composition were investigated on 12 castor varieties and strains by using the soxhlet extraction method and capillary gas chromatography. This was made to provide a reference and theoretical basis for castorbean breeding with high oil content, determine variability of seed compounds for breeding purposes, and broaden chemical material choices. Results revealed that crude fat percentage in seeds ranged from 18.91 to 35.84% with an average of 25.91%; the absolute content of ricinoleic acid varied between 171.65 g/kg and 314.03 g/kg with an average of 222.43 g/kg, and kernel crude fat percentage was between 24.28 and 46.97% with an average of 34.30%. All these study variables were highest in the 2129 strain. The percentage of ricinoleic acid in crude fat was between 83.85 to 87.62%, and the highest value was found in the zhebi4 accession. The other fatty acids appeared in small concentrations, and showed small amplitude: 1.12 to 1.61%, 1.21 to 1.61%, 3.53 to 4.80%, 5.35 to 6.38%, 0.52 to 0.79%, 0.05 to 0.08% and 0.43 to 0.55%, for palmitic, stearic, oleic, linolic, linolenic, arachidic, and arachidonic acids, respectively. One hundred seed weight was determined for each accession. One hundred seed weight ranged from 25.7 g to 34.0 g with an average of 29.9 g. There was a significant correlation between seed weight and oil content, but the correlation value was low (r=0.51). Cluster analysis by SSPS based on the content of fatty acid composition revealed that the accessions were divided into three independent clusters. These findings will clearly provide useful information for further research in breeding and utilization of castor oil.     

骨形成蛋白(BMP)-2/4，-5与IA型BMP受体在口腔正常上皮、良性病变及癌变中的表达分析

认识BMP及其受体与口腔正常上皮及其癌变的关系。有助于深入了解口腔上皮癌变的机理。本文用免疫组织化学方法对BMP-2/4,-5与BMPR-IA在口腔颊部粘膜正常上皮,良性病变和癌变中的表达进行观察和半定量分析。标本包括：9例正常上皮（normal buccal muosa,NB)。8例慢性炎症（nonspecific chronic inflammation,NCI),7例过度角化（hyperkeratosis,HK)。5例乳头状瘤（squamous cell papilloma,SCP)。29例鳞癌（squamous cell carcinoma,SCC)。10例癌旁上皮（epithelium immediately adjacent to carcinoma,EAC)以及6例硬腭粘膜上皮（normal mucosa of hard palate,NHP）。结果显示：BMP-2/4,-5与BMPR-IA在口腔粘膜的正常与良性病变上皮中有弱的和不均一的阳性表达,NB与NHP无明显差别,而除3例SCC外,其它SCC几乎均有程度不一的阳性表达,在EAC中的表达接近于SCC,二者明显高于正常与良性组,此外,转移在淋巴结中的癌细胞的BMP-2/4与BMP-5阳性程度略高于原发灶的癌细胞,本文认为;BMP-2/4,5与BMPR-IA可能参与调控口腔上皮的癌变。