Di-O-alkylglycerol, mono-O-alkylglycerol and ceramide inositol phosphates of Leishmania mexicana mexicana promastigotes

Three acidic unsaponifiable lipid fractions were isolated by chromatographic methods from sandfly vector stages (promastigotes) of a protozoan parasite of man, Leishmania mexicana mexicana, cultured in vitro. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, fast atom bombardment collision induced tandem mass spectrometry and metabolic labeling were used to characterize these lipids as di-O-alkylphosphatidyl-inositols, lyso-1-O-alkylphosphatidylinositols and inositol phosphosphingolipids. Molecular species of the dialkyl forms, new to natural product biochemistry, had a 20:0 substituent and either 17:1 or 18:1. The monoalkyl forms had either 17:0 or 18:0. The predominant ceramide had the 16:1 base and the lesser component the 16:0 base. In both, the N-acyl group was 18:0.     

Persistent effects of changes in phytochrome status on internode growth in light-grown mustard: Occurrence,kinetics and locus of perception

Extension growth of the first internode in fully de-etiolated mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seedlings (11–12.5 d old) is under the control of both the current phytochrome photoequilibrium (Pfr/P, ratio of the far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome to total phytochrome) and that established by short (<12 h) pretreatments. Plants were pretreated with either light pulses providing different calculated Pfr/P followed by dark incubations of different durations (a), or with a 12-h period of white light establishing different Pfr/P (b). After the pretreatments, the plants received either light pulses providing different Pfr/P, followed by dark incubations (c), or continuous white light with or without addtional far-red light (d). Thus, four experimental approaches were followed: (a)(c); (a)(d); (b)(c) and (b)(d). Extension growth during the second period (c or d) was not only affected by the current phytochrome status, but also by that established during the pretreatment period (a or b). The results show the existence of a long-term promotion of stem growth which persists after the end of the low Pfr/P pretreatment. This effect is different from the previously reported rapid effect of far-red light added to background white light as follows: (i) the duration of low Pfr/P required to effect a full response is longer (2.5 h); (ii) the duration of the promotion after returning to high Pfr/P is longer (approx. 24 h) and (iii) the locus of perception is mainly in the leaves, rather than the growing internode.Abbreviations FR far-red light - PAR photosynthetically active radiation - Pfr/P ratio between the FR-absorbing form and total phytochrome - R red light - WL white light     

Characterization of callus formation and camptothecin production by cell lines of Camptotheca acuminata

Both incubation temperature and photosynthetic radiation affected morphogenesis, callus culture and plantlet culture of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cultured in vitro. Bud culture from nodal stem segments, regeneration of shoots and buds from internode stem segments and induction of primary callus were near optimal at incubation temperatures between 21–30°C. The optimal temperature for root formation was 27°C with temperatures above and below being clearly deleterious. Incubation in the dark or under low photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was beneficial for callus induction and growth and also favored the production of rooted plantlets from bud cultures. Incubation in the dark improved considerably the regeneration of shoots and buds from internode segments and the recovery of whole plants. No off-types, as determined by protein and isoenzyme analysis, were observed among plantlets recovered from bud cultures or from regeneration of shoots from internode stem segments.     

Evidence against Stable Protein S-Nitrosylation as a Widespread Mechanism of Post-translational Regulation

1. Download high-res image (174KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

How much do direct livestock emissions actually contribute to global warming?

Agriculture directly contributes about 10%–12% of current global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from livestock. However, such percentage estimates are based on global warming potentials (GWPs), which do not measure the actual warming caused by emissions and ignore the fact that methane does not accumulate in the atmosphere in the same way as CO₂. Here, we employ a simple carbon cycle‐climate model, historical estimates and future projections of livestock emissions to infer the fraction of actual warming that is attributable to direct livestock non‐CO₂ emissions now and in future, and to CO₂ from pasture conversions, without relying on GWPs. We find that direct livestock non‐CO₂ emissions caused about 19% of the total modelled warming of 0.81°C from all anthropogenic sources in 2010. CO₂ from pasture conversions contributed at least another 0.03°C, bringing the warming directly attributable to livestock to 23% of the total warming in 2010. The significance of direct livestock emissions to future warming depends strongly on global actions to reduce emissions from other sectors. Direct non‐CO₂ livestock emissions would contribute only about 5% of the warming in 2100 if emissions from other sectors increase unabated, but could constitute as much as 18% (0.27°C) of the warming in 2100 if global CO₂ emissions from other sectors are reduced to near or below zero by 2100, consistent with the goal of limiting warming to well below 2°C. These estimates constitute a lower bound since indirect emissions linked to livestock feed production and supply chains were not included. Our estimates demonstrate that expanding the mitigation potential and realizing substantial reductions of direct livestock non‐CO₂ emissions through demand and supply side measures can make an important contribution to achieve the stringent mitigation goals set out in the Paris Agreement, including by increasing the carbon budget consistent with the 1.5°C goal.     

Indirect effects of sea ice loss on summer‐fall habitat and behaviour for sympatric populations of an Arctic marine predator

Aim

Climate change is fundamentally altering habitats, with complex consequences for species across the globe. The Arctic has warmed 2–3 times faster than the global average, and unprecedented sea ice loss can have multiple outcomes for ice‐associated marine predators. Our goal was to assess impacts of sea ice loss on population‐specific habitat and behaviour of a migratory Arctic cetacean.

Location

Arctic Ocean.

Methods

Using satellite telemetry data collected during summer‐fall from sympatric beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) populations (“Chukchi” and “Beaufort” belugas), we applied generalized estimating equations to evaluate shifts in sea ice habitat associations and diving behaviour during two periods: 1993–2002 (“early”) and 2004–2012 (“late”). We used resource selection functions to assess changes in sea ice selection as well as predict trends in habitat selection and “optimal” habitat, based on satellite‐derived sea ice data from 1990 to 2014.

Results

Sea ice cover declined substantially between periods, and Chukchi belugas specifically used significantly lower sea ice concentrations during the late than early period. Use of bathymetric features did not change between periods for either population. Population‐specific sea ice selection, predicted habitat and the amount of optimal habitat also generally did not change during 1990–2014. Chukchi belugas tracked during 2007–2012 made significantly more long‐duration and deeper dives than those tracked during 1998–2002.

Main conclusions

Taken together, our results suggest bathymetric parameters are consistent predictors of summer‐fall beluga habitat rather than selection for specific sea ice conditions during recent sea ice loss. Beluga whales were able to mediate habitat change despite their sea ice associations. However, trends towards prolonged and deeper diving possibly indicate shifting foraging opportunities associated with ecological changes that occur in concert with sea ice loss. Our results highlight that responses by some Arctic marine wildlife can be indirect and variable among populations, which could be included in predictions for the future.

     

Are Lithuanian eels fat enough to reach the spawning grounds?

Stocks of the European eel Anguilla anguilla have been in a steep decline since the 1980s. Stocking of water bodies with juvenile eels captured in the wild to establish or enhance local populations has been a common practise in Europe for many decades. However, the degree of contribution by stocked eels to natural spawning capacity is poorly known and extensively debated. There have been suggestions that eels derived from stocking are less likely to contribute to the spawning stock due to a lack of navigational capability and lower fitness related to insufficiency of energetic resources. Results of the current study indicated that eels translocated long distances from the point of capture and released into inland waters in Lithuania are successfully undergoing the silvering process. A proportion of 23.7% (N = 27) among all migrating eels were described to be at the yellow (SI, SFII or SFIII) eel stage and downstream movements of these eels should be attributed to local movements, rather than spawning migration; 76.3% were assigned to the silver eel stage. This study suggests that 36.8% (N = 32) of downstream migrating silver eels of stocked origin had accumulated sufficient energetic resources for spawning migration and gonadal development and should be able to traverse the 7900-km distance to the presumptive spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea. The rest of migrating silver eels (63.2%, N = 55) had insufficient energetic resources; the average potential swimming range of these eels was estimated to be 6135 ± 683 km.     

Radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of [11C]MOV as a PET imaging agent for COX-2

Radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of [¹¹C]4-[5-(4-methylphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzenesulfonamide (methoxy analogue of valdecoxib, [¹¹C]MOV), a COX-2 inhibitor, was conducted in rat and baboon. Synthesis of the reference standard MOV (3), and its desmethyl precursor 2 for radiolabeling were performed using 1,2-diphenylethan-1-one as the starting material in five steps with 15% overall yield. Radiosynthesis of [¹¹C]MOV was accomplished in 40?±?10% yield and?>99% radiochemical purity by reacting the precursor 2 in dimethyl formamide (DMF) with [¹¹C]CH₃I followed by removal of the dimethoxytrityl (DMT) protective group using trifluroacetic acid. PET studies in anesthetized baboon showed very low uptake and homogeneous distribution of [¹¹C]MOV in brain. The radioligand underwent rapid metabolism in baboon plasma. MicroPET studies in male Sprague Dawley rats revealed [¹¹C]MOV binding in lower thorax. The tracer binding in rats was partially blocked in heart and duodenum by the administration of 1?mg/kg oral dose of COX-2 inhibitor valdecoxib.