Nuclear gene trees and the phylogenetic relationships of the mangabeys (Primates: Papionini)

Phylogenetic relationships of mangabeys within the Old World monkey tribe Papionini are inferred from analyses of nuclear DNA sequences from five unlinked loci. The following conclusions are strongly supported, based on congruence among trees derived for the five separate gene regions: (1) mangabeys are polyphyletic within the Papionini; (2) Cercocebus is the sister taxon to the genus Mandrillus; and (3) Lophocebus belongs to a clade with Papio and Theropithecus, with Papio as its most likely sister taxon. Morphologically based phylogenies positing mangabey monophyly were evaluated by mapping the sequences for each locus on these trees. The data seem to fit these trees poorly in both maximum-parsimony and likelihood analyses. Incongruence among nuclear gene trees occurred in the interrelationships among Lophocebus, Papio, and Theropithecus. Several factors that may account for this incongruence are discussed, including sampling error, random lineage sorting, and introgression.      

PPCMatrix: a PowerPC dotmatrix program to compare large genomic sequences against protein sequences

Summary : An interactive dotmatrix program for the MacOS was designed that allows comparison of DNA to protein sequences using nested 3-frame translations. Availability : Shareware, available at http://copan.bioz.unibas.ch/software/ Contact : burglin@ubaclu. unibas.ch      

Bisphenol A: developmental toxicity from early prenatal exposure

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been documented in pregnant women, but consequences for development are not yet widely studied in human populations. This review presents research on the consequences for offspring of BPA exposure during pregnancy. Extensive work in laboratory rodents has evaluated survival and growth of the conceptus, interference with embryonic programs of development, morphological sex differentiation, sex differentiation of the brain and behavior, immune responsiveness, and mechanism of action. Sensitive measures include RAR, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and Hox A10 gene expression, anogenital distance, sex differentiation of affective and exploratory behavior, and immune hyperresponsiveness. Many BPA effects are reported at low doses (10–50 µg/kg d range) by the oral route of administration. At high doses (>500,000 µg/kg d) fetal viability is compromised. Much of the work has centered around the implications of the estrogenic actions of this agent. Some work related to thyroid mechanism of action has also been explored. BPA research has actively integrated current knowledge of developmental biology, concepts of endocrine disruption, and toxicological research to provide a basis for human health risk assessment. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 89:441–466, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Erythrocyte-associated transients in capillary PO2: an isovolemic hemodilution study in the rat spinotrapezius muscle

Mathematical simulations of oxygen delivery to tissue from capillaries that take into account the particulate nature of blood flow predict the existence of oxygen tension (Po(2)) gradients between erythrocytes (RBCs). As RBCs and plasma alternately pass an observation point, these gradients are manifested as rapid fluctuations in Po(2), also known as erythrocyte-associated transients (EATs). The impact of hemodilution on EATs and oxygen delivery at the capillary level of the microcirculation has yet to be elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, phosphorescence quenching microscopy was used to measure EATs and Po(2) in capillaries of the rat spinotrapezius muscle at the following systemic hematocrits (Hct(sys)): normal (39%) and after moderate (HES1; 27%) or severe (HES2; 15%) isovolemic hemodilution using a 6% hetastarch solution. A 532-nm laser, generating 10-micros pulses concentrated onto a 0.9-microm spot, was used to obtain plasma Po(2) values 100 times/s at points along surface capillaries of the muscle. Mean capillary Po(2) (Pc(O(2)); means +/- SE) significantly decreased between conditions (normal: 56 +/- 2 mmHg, n = 45; HES1: 47 +/- 2 mmHg, n = 62; HES2: 27 +/- 2 mmHg, n = 52, where n = capillary number). In addition, the magnitude of Po(2) transients (DeltaPo(2)) significantly decreased with hemodilution (normal: 19 +/- 1 mmHg, n = 45; HES1: 11 +/- 1 mmHg, n = 62; HES2: 6 +/- 1 mmHg, n = 52). Results suggest that the decrease in Pc(O(2)) and DeltaPo(2) with hemodilution is primarily dependent on Hct(sys) and subsequent microvascular compensations.     

Erythrocyte-associated transients in PO2 revealed in capillaries of rat mesentery

Mathematical models have predicted the existence of Po(2) gradients between erythrocytes in capillaries in the usual case where plasma contributes substantial resistance to oxygen diffusion. According to theoretical predictions, these gradients could be detected as rapid Po(2) fluctuations (erythrocyte-associated transients, EATs) along the capillary. However, verification of a model and correct choice of its parameters can be made only on the basis of direct experimental measurements. We used phosphorescence quenching microscopy to measure Po(2) in 52 capillaries of rat mesentery to obtain plasma Po(2) values 100 times/s at a given point along a capillary. A 532-nm laser generated 10-micros pulses of light, concentrated by a x100 objective, onto a spot 0.9 microm in diameter. The presence of erythrocytes in the excitation region was detected on the basis of phosphorescence amplitude (PA), proportional to the amount of plasma encountered by the laser beam, and on the basis of the intensity of transmitted laser light (LT), detected by a photodiode placed under the capillary. The data revealed correlated waveforms in PA, LT, and Po(2) in capillaries. The magnitude of the Po(2) gradients between erythrocytes and plasma was correlated with average capillary Po(2). EATs in Po(2) were more readily detected in capillaries with relatively low oxygenation. The correlation coefficients between PA and Po(2) for the half of the capillaries (n = 26) below the median Po(2) (mean Po(2) = 17 mmHg; R = -0.72) was higher than that for the other half (mean Po(2) = 39 mmHg; R = -0.38). These results support the theoretical predictions of EATs and plasma Po(2) gradients in capillaries.     

Spatial control of actin-based motility through plasmalemmal PtdIns(4,5)P2-rich raft assemblies

The interactions of cells with their environment involve regulated actin-based motility at defined positions along the cell surface. Sphingolipid- and cholesterol-dependent microdomains (rafts) order proteins at biological membranes, and have been implicated in most signalling processes at the cell surface. Many membrane-bound components that regulate actin cytoskeleton dynamics and cell-surface motility associate with PtdIns(4,5)P(2)-rich lipid rafts. Although raft integrity is not required for substrate-directed cell spreading, or to initiate signalling for motility, it is a prerequisite for sustained and organized motility. Plasmalemmal rafts redistribute rapidly in response to signals, triggering motility. This process involves the removal of rafts from sites that are not interacting with the substrate, apparently through endocytosis, and a local accumulation at sites of integrin-mediated substrate interactions. PtdIns(4,5)P(2)-rich lipid rafts can assemble into patches in a process depending on PtdIns(4,5)P(2), Cdc42 (cell-division control 42), N-WASP (neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. The raft patches are sites of signal-induced actin assembly, and their accumulation locally promotes sustained motility. The patches capture microtubules, which promote patch clustering through PKA (protein kinase A), to steer motility. Raft accumulation at the cell surface, and its coupling to motility are influenced greatly by the expression of intrinsic raft-associated components that associate with the cytosolic leaflet of lipid rafts. Among them, GAP43 (growth-associated protein 43)-like proteins interact with PtdIns(4,5)P(2) in a Ca(2+)/calmodulin and PKC (protein kinase C)-regulated manner, and function as intrinsic determinants of motility and anatomical plasticity. Plasmalemmal PtdIns(4,5)P(2)-rich raft assemblies thus provide powerful organizational principles for tight spatial and temporal control of signalling in motility.     

The appraisal of the level of photo- and peroxide resistance of human erythrocytic and lymphocytic cells in presence of biogenic amines

The changes of photo- and peroxide resistance of erythrocytic and lymphocytic cells of human under influence of UV and some active oxygen forms in presence of biogenic amines such as serotonin, dopamine, adrenalin, histamine had been investigated. While investigating the degree of photohemolysis of erythrocytes it was discovered that biogenic compounds raise UV stability of erythrocytic membranes. By using the method of chemiluminescence it was established that biogenic amines increased the degree of peroxide resistance of human erythrocytic and lymphocytic cells. The decrease of the level of erythrocytic diene conjugates under influence of UV by serotonin and histamine was also discovered.     

Fetal spleen stroma drives macrophage commitment

The role of the fetal spleen in hematopoeisis remains largely unknown. In this particular environment, we show that hematopoietic stem cells do not proliferate, but that they lose multipotency and differentiate exclusively into mature macrophages. B lymphocytes in the spleen derive from committed B cell precursors that are likely to have immigrated from the fetal liver. We developed fetal spleen stromal cell lines that are unique in their capacity to expand myeloid precursors, resulting in large numbers of mature macrophages. These lines secrete high levels of anti-inflammatory molecules. By phenotype, fetal splenic macrophages are reminiscent of their adult counterparts found in the red pulp. We postulate that F4/80(+) splenic macrophages participate in fetal erythropoiesis, as well as in the formation of the splenic architecture.