Effect of lead on blood protoporphyrin levels of a group of ring teal ducks (Callonetta leucophrys)

This research determined the relationships between blood lead level and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPROTO), protoporphyrin IX (PROTO), and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) levels in a group of 18 ring teal ducks. Blood samples were drawn from two groups of ring teal ducks as part of the routine health maintenance program of the New York Zoological Park. One group of six teals had been exposed to what is believed to be lead-contaminated dust, while the second group of twelve teals was unexposed. Blood samples were analyzed for lead by flameless atomic absorption and for protoporphyrins by fluorescence. Blood lead level and log blood lead level had positive correlations with each of the protoporphyrins: the logarithmic correlations were better than the nonlogarithmic correlations, and PROTO correlated better than ZnPROTO. With one exception, PROTO levels were higher than ZnPROTO levels. The results suggest that PROTO, FEP, or ZnPROTO could serve as a biological indicator of lead poisoning in ring teal ducks.     

Evidence for stasis and not genetic piracy in developmental expression patterns of Branchiostoma lanceolatum and Branchiostoma floridae, two amphioxus species that have evolved independently over the course of 200 Myr

Cephalochordates, the most basal extant group in the phylum Chordata, are represented chiefly by about 20 species of the genus Branchiostoma, commonly called amphioxus or lancelets. In recent years, insights into the evolutionary origin of the vertebrates have been gained from molecular genetic studies during the development of three of these amphioxus species (Branchiostoma floridae in North America, Branchiostoma lanceolatum in Europe, and Branchiostoma belcheri in East Asia). In spite of an estimated divergence time of 100-200 Myr among these species, all three are remarkably similar morphologically, and students of amphioxus have tacitly assumed that such resemblances arise during ontogeny from nearly identical networks of developmental genes. We felt that this assumption needed to be reexamined because instances are known--even in comparisons of closely related species--where characters seeming homologous on the basis of morphology actually develop under the control of conspicuously divergent genetic programs (a phenomenon termed "genetic piracy"). In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that morphological similarities reflect strict conservation of developmentally important genes' expression patterns in order to assess whether the developmental genetics of different amphioxus species show evidence of genetic piracy. To these ends, we cloned 18 genes implicated in different developmental functions in B. lanceolatum and compared their gene expression patterns with the known expression patterns of their orthologous genes in B. floridae. We show that, for the most part, conservation of gene expression parallels that of morphology in these two species. We also identified some differences in gene expression, likely reflecting experimental sensitivity, with the exception of Pax1/9, which may result from true developmental specificities in each amphioxus species. Our results demonstrate that morphological conservation reflects stasis in developmental gene expression patterns and find no evidence for genetic piracy. Thus, different species of amphioxus appear to be very similar, not only morphologically, but also in the genetic programs directing the development of their structural features. Moreover, we provide the first catalogue of gene expression data for the European species, B. lanceolatum.     

Biodiversity and ecosystem productivity: implications for carbon storage

Recent experiments have found that Net Primary Productivity (NPP) can often be a positive saturating function of plant species and functional diversity. These findings raised the possibility that more diverse ecosystems might store more carbon as a result of increased photosynthetic inputs. However, carbon inputs will not only remain in plant biomass, but will be translocated to the soil via root exudation, fine root turnover, and litter fall. Thus, we must consider not just plant productivity (NPP), but also net productivity of the whole ecosystem (NEP), which itself measures net carbon storage. We currently know little about how plant diversity could influence soil processes that return carbon back to the atmosphere, such as heterotrophic respiration and decomposition of organic matter. Nevertheless, it is clear that any effects on such processes could make NPP a poor predictor of whole-ecosystem productivity, and potentially the ability of the ecosystem to store carbon. We examine the range of mechanisms by which plant diversity could influence net ecosystem productivity, incorporating processes involved with carbon uptake (productivity), loss (autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration), and residence time within the system (decomposition rate). Understanding the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem carbon dynamics must be made a research priority if we wish to provide information relevant to global carbon policy decisions. This goal is entirely feasible if we utilize some basic methods for measuring the major fluxes of carbon into and out of the ecosystem.     

Traces of the Past: Unraveling the Secrets of Archaeology through Chemistry

Traces of the Past: Unraveling the Secrets of Archaeology through Chemistry. Joseph B. Lambert. Reading, MA: Perseus Books, 1997. 318 pp.     

Methyl substitution of the 25-hydroxy group on 2-methylene-19-nor-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (2MD) reduces potency but allows bone selectivity

The discovery of 2-methylene-19-nor-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (2MD) as a bone selective and bone anabolic form of vitamin D has stimulated an investigation of structure/function of bone selectivity. Four new 2-substituted-19-norvitamin D analogs 3-6 have been developed to study the structure-activity relationship at C-25. As predicted, removing the 25-hydroxy group (compound 3) from the very potent analog 2MD and its 2-methyl derivatives (5 and 6) dramatically reduces in vitro activities, but biological potency is nearly fully restored in vivo likely due to in vivo 25-hydroxylation. The introduction of a methyl group at C-25 (compound 4) that blocks in vivo 25-hydroxylation reduces biological activity both in vitro and in vivo. However, analog 4 retains bone selectivity making it interesting as a possible therapeutic for bone loss diseases.     

Direct molecular profiling of minicircle signatures and lineages of Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream populations causing congenital Chagas disease

Congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi may occur in some or all the gestations from a T. cruzi-infected mother. Variable rates of congenital transmission have been reported in different geographical areas where different parasitic strains predominate, suggesting that parasitic genotypes might play a role in the risk of congenital transmission. Moreover, in cases of transmission it is unknown if the whole maternal T. cruzi population or certain clones are preferentially transmitted by the transplacental route. In this study, bloodstream T. cruzi lineages were identified in blood samples from congenitally infected children, transmitting and non-transmitting mothers and unrelated Chagas disease patients, using improved PCR strategies targeted to nuclear genomic markers. T. cruzi IId was the prevalent genotype among 36/38 PCR-positive congenitally infected infants, 5/5 mothers who transmitted congenital Chagas disease, 12/13 mothers who delivered non-infected children and 28/34 unrelated Chagas disease patients, all coming from endemic localities of Argentina and Bolivia. These figures indicate no association between a particular genotype and vertical transmission. Furthermore, minicircle signatures from the maternal and infants' bloodstream trypanosomes were profiled by restriction fragment length polymorphism of the 330-bp PCR-amplified variable regions in seven cases of mothers and congenitally infected infants. Minicircle signatures were nearly identical between each mother and her infant/s and unique to each mother-infant/s case, a feature that was also observed in twin deliveries. Moreover, allelic size polymorphism analysis of microsatellite loci from populations transmitted to twins showed that all clones from the maternal polyclonal population were equally infective to both siblings.     

Structure-activity relationships of 19-norvitamin D analogs having a fluoroethylidene group at the C-2 position

We have synthesized four new geometric isomers of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-2-(2'-fluoroethylidene)-19-norvitamin D analogs 1 and 2 having a 20R- and 20S-configuration, whose structures are correlated with 2MD possessing high potencies in stimulating bone formation in vitro and in vivo. The E-isomers of (20R)- and (20S)-2-fluoroethylidene analogs 1a and 1b were comparable with the natural hormone 1alpha,25-(OH)(2)D(3) in binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), while two Z-isomers 2a and 2b were about 15-20 times less active than the hormone. In inducing expression of the vitamin D responsive element-based luciferase reporter gene, the E-isomers 1a and 1b were 1.2- and 8.6-fold more potent than the hormone, respectively, while the Z-isomers 2a and 2b had 27-55% of the potency. On the basis of the biological activities and a docking simulation based on X-ray crystallographic analysis of the VDR ligand-binding pocket, the structure-activity relationships of the fluorinated 19-norvitamin D analogs are discussed.     

2-(3'-Hydroxypropylidene)-1alpha-hydroxy-19-norvitamin D compounds with truncated side chains

Our recent studies with 2-(3'-hydroxypropylidene) analogs of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3) showed that this 2-substituent creates compounds with very potent biological activity. In the continuing search for vitamin D compounds with selective activity profiles, we prepared a series of 1alpha-hydroxy-19-norvitamin D analogs characterized by the presence of a 3'-hydroxypropylidene substituent at C-2 and a truncated side chain. These vitamin D compounds were efficiently prepared using convergent syntheses. The C,D-fragments, namely the Grundmann ketones 19, 20, 27, 36 and 37 were synthesized from the known 8beta-benzoyloxy-22-aldehydes 12 and 29. These hydrindanones were subjected to Lythgoe type Wittig-Horner coupling with phosphine oxide 21, prepared by us previously, and after hydroxyl deprotection the set of 19-norvitamins 7-11 was successfully obtained. According to our expectations, all analogs (with an exception of the 20R-compound 7) have pronounced in vitro activity. When compared to the natural hormone 1alpha,25-(OH)(2)D(3) (1), they show the same or only slightly reduced affinity for the vitamin D receptor while being similarly effective as 1 in differentiation of HL-60 cells into monocytes.