Heterochrony in mandible development of larval shrimp (Decapoda: Caridea)—A comparative morphological SEM study of two carideans

Mandible development in the larval stages I–V of two palaemonid shrimp species, Palaemon elegans and Macrobrachium amazonicum, was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In contrast to the zoea I of P. elegans, first‐stage larvae of M. amazonicum are nonfeeding. At hatching, the morphology of the mandibles is fully expressed in P. elegans, while it appears underdeveloped in M. amazonicum, presenting only small precursors of typical caridean features. In successive zoeal stages, both species show similar developmental changes, but the mandibular characters of the larvae in M. amazonicum were delayed compared to the equivalent stages in P. elegans, especially in the development of submarginal setae and mandible size. In conclusion, our results indicate heterochrony (postdisplacement) of mandible development in M. amazonicum compared to that in P. elegans, which is related to initial lack of mandible functionality or planktivorous feeding at hatching, respectively. This conclusion is supported by comparison with other palaemonid zoeae exhibiting different feeding modes. Our data suggest that an evolutionary ground pattern of mandible morphology is present even in species with nonfeeding first‐stage larvae. J. Morphol. 275:1258–1272, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ultra-barcoding in cacao (Theobroma spp.; Malvaceae) using whole chloroplast genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA

? Premise of study: To reliably identify lineages below the species level such as subspecies or varieties, we propose an extension to DNA-barcoding using next-generation sequencing to produce whole organellar genomes and substantial nuclear ribosomal sequence. Because this method uses much longer versions of the traditional DNA-barcoding loci in the plastid and ribosomal DNA, we call our approach ultra-barcoding (UBC). ? Methods: We used high-throughput next-generation sequencing to scan the genome and generate reliable sequence of high copy number regions. Using this method, we examined whole plastid genomes as well as nearly 6000 bases of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences for nine genotypes of Theobroma cacao and an individual of the related species T. grandiflorum, as well as an additional publicly available whole plastid genome of T. cacao. ? Key results: All individuals of T. cacao examined were uniquely distinguished, and evidence of reticulation and gene flow was observed. Sequence variation was observed in some of the canonical barcoding regions between species, but other regions of the chloroplast were more variable both within species and between species, as were ribosomal spacers. Furthermore, no single region provides the level of data available using the complete plastid genome and rDNA. ? Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that UBC is a viable, increasingly cost-effective approach for reliably distinguishing varieties and even individual genotypes of T. cacao. This approach shows great promise for applications where very closely related or interbreeding taxa must be distinguished.     

Functional characterization of three novel tissue-specific anion exchangers SLC26A7, -A8, and -A9

A second distinct family of anion exchangers, SLC26, in addition to the classical SLC4 (or anion exchanger) family, has recently been delineated. Particular interest in this gene family is stimulated by the fact that the SLC26A2, SLC26A3, and SLC26A4 genes have been recognized as the disease genes mutated in diastrophic dysplasia, congenital chloride diarrhea, and Pendred syndrome, respectively. We report the expansion of the SLC26 gene family by characterizing three novel tissue-specific members, named SLC26A7, SLC26A8, and SLC26A9, on chromosomes 8, 6, and 1, respectively. The SLC26A7-A9 proteins are structurally very similar at the amino acid level to the previous family members and show tissue-specific expression in kidney, testis, and lung, respectively. More detailed characterization by immunohistochemistry and/or in situ hybridization localized SLC26A7 to distal segments of nephrons, SLC26A8 to developing spermatocytes, and SLC26A9 to the lumenal side of the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium of lung. Expression of SLC26A7-A9 proteins in Xenopus oocytes demonstrated chloride, sulfate, and oxalate transport activity, suggesting that they encode functional anion exchangers. The functional characterization of the novel tissue-specific members may provide new insights to anion transport physiology in different parts of body.     

Characterization of molecular markers for specific and sensitive detection of Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr. in strawberry (Fragariaxananassa Duch.) using PCR

Part of the gyrase A gene (gyrA) of Acholeplasma laidlawii was cloned and incorporated directly downstream from a 6 x His tag segment of the pQE expression vector. The 23-kDa fusion protein was expressed as a 6 x His-tagged protein in Escherichia coli. The fusion protein was purified and used as an antigen for rabbit immunization. Western immunoblot analysis revealed that the antiserum raised against the gyrase A fragment had a specific affinity for a 108-kDa protein of A. laidlawii and cross-reacted with a 107.5-kDa protein of Acholeplasma axanthum, a 107-kDa protein of Acholeplasma granularum, and 95-97-kDa proteins of several phytoplasma-infected plants. The antiserum could also detect phytoplasmas in infected plant sap. These results demonstrate that the gyrase A protein (GyrA) of A. laidlawii shares antigenicity with the GyrA of other Acholeplasma species and also with those of phytoplasmas including some from a few groups with unrelated 16S rRNAs.     

Die rolle der charakterarten bei der beurteilung fichtenreicher wälder der alpen

Zusammenfassung Die Vaccinio-Piceion-Charakterarten treten im subalpinen und montanen Fichtenwald sowie im Fichten-Tannenwald so ungleich auf, daß infolge der schwierigen Bewertung an eine erneute Krise der Charakterartenlehre gedacht werden könnte, auch wenn man den räumlich begrenzten Treuewert der Charakterarten berücksichtigt. Unmittelbare Vergleichbarkeit der Charakterarten besteht nur innerhalb geographisch einheitlicher Gebiet und analoger Gesellschaftsgruppen mit ähnlicher Synökologie und Syndynamik. Luzula-Silikat- und Adenostyles glabra- Kalk- Gesellschafts-gruppen haben selbst bei gleicher Menge und Stetigkeit der Charakterarten keine analoge soziologisch-systematische Wertigkeit. Eine rein statische Bewertung der Charakterarten für soziologisch-systematische Zwecke nach gegenwärtiger Artengarnitur, Stetigkeit und Menge ist unzureichend. Erst die Berücksichtigung von speziellem Gesellschaftsanschluß, Umwelt im engeren (Geologie, Klima) und weiteren (Konkurrenzverhältnisse, Kontaktgesellschaft, Areal) Sinne sowie die chorologische Situation ermöglicht eine eingehendere Beurteilung. Auch die nacheiszeitliche Entwicklungsgeschichte der Assoziation darf bei einer kritischen Betrachtung der heutigen soziologisch-ökologischen Zusammenhänge nicht vernachlässigt werden. Nur durch eine derartige umfassende Analyse vermögen die Charakterarten die erhofften Dienste bei der Beurteilung fichtenreicher Wälder leisten. Schwierigkeiten sind teilweise dadurch bedingt, daß die Gesamtzusammenhänge heute noch zu wenig durchschaubar sind, z.B.: Frage des Auftretens von systematisch nicht abgrenzbaren Ökotypen bei den Charakterarten; Probleme der Verbreitungsdimensionen der Assoziation: charakterartenreiche alpine Fichtenwälder mit 1000 m Höhenerstreckung und analoge charakterartenarme bis-freie boreale Fichtenwälder Skandinaviens mit über 1000 km Erstreckung.

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Summary The character species of Vaccinio-Piceion occur so unequally in the subalpine and montane spruce-forest as well as in the spruce-firforest that, regarding the difficulties of assessment, we could think of a renewed crisis of the Character species theory, even when taking into account the spatial limitations of the character species' degree of fidelity. An immediate comparability of character species is given only within geographically homogeneous areas and analogous groups of associations with a similar synecological and syndynamical behaviour. Association groups with Luzula on silica and with Adenostyles glabra on limestone, even in the case of equal quantities and constancies of character species, have no analogous value in the sociological system. A purely statical evaluation of character species for the purposes of sociological systematics according to present species combination, constancy and quantity is insufficient. It is but the consideration of the special position of associations, of environment in the narrower sense (geology, climate) and in the wider sense (competition conditions, contact association, area) as well as the chorological situation that will enable a detailed assessment. Also the postglacial history of development of the association must by no means be disregarded in a critical consideration of the present sociological and ecological relationships. It is but through such a comprehensive analysis that character species will be able to render the services expected in the assessment of forests rich with spruce. Partially, difficulties arise by the fact that the overall relationships are still too little transparent, e.g. the question of ecotypes without taxonomical limits among character species; problems of association area dimensions: alpine sprucewoods rich with character species over a 1000 m altitudinal range, and analogous boreal sprucewoods poor in, or even free of, character species in Scandinavia, with a horizontal range of more than 1000 km.

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Die Arbeiten wurden dankenswert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft unterstützt.

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(Translated by Dr. Max Onno)     

Development of printable bioactive paper containing laccase

Compatibility of Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta laccases was studied with polymers used for flexographic inks. The aim was to produce bioactive paper with ability to change color. Optimum pH for the stability of Trametes versicolor and Trametes hirsuta laccases was determined during storage at room temperature for 60 days. The optimum pH for the stability of both laccases was 8–9. The stabilization effect of flexo printing inks on the enzymes was tested in liquid form and when coated on paper. Sulfo polyester resin HZ1100D stabilized the two laccases both in solution and on paper. For example, Trametes versicolor laccase remained stable for at least 8 weeks when coated with HZ1100D polymer. Furthermore, the adsorption of the flexo inks to cellulose was studied with quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). It was observed that HZ1100D also adsorbs well on cellulose over a wide pH range. The results suggested that laccases are well suited to bioactive paper applications. Large scale manufacturing of bioactive paper products by flexo printing would be possible because of the compatibility of laccases with flexo inks.