Snapshot prediction of carbon productivity,carbon and protein content in a Southern Ocean diatom using FTIR spectroscopy

Diatoms, an important group of phytoplankton, bloom annually in the Southern Ocean, covering thousands of square kilometers and dominating the region''s phytoplankton communities. In their role as the major food source to marine grazers, diatoms supply carbon, nutrients and energy to the Southern Ocean food web. Prevailing environmental conditions influence diatom phenotypic traits (for example, photophysiology, macromolecular composition and morphology), which in turn affect the transfer of energy, carbon and nutrients to grazers and higher trophic levels, as well as oceanic biogeochemical cycles. The paucity of phenotypic data on Southern Ocean phytoplankton limits our understanding of the ecosystem and how it may respond to future environmental change. Here we used a novel approach to create a ‘snapshot'' of cell phenotype. Using mass spectrometry, we measured nitrogen (a proxy for protein), total carbon and carbon-13 enrichment (carbon productivity), then used this data to build spectroscopy-based predictive models. The models were used to provide phenotypic data for samples from a third sample set. Importantly, this approach enabled the first ever rate determination of carbon productivity from a single time point, circumventing the need for time-series measurements. This study showed that Chaetoceros simplex was less productive and had lower protein and carbon content during short-term periods of high salinity. Applying this new phenomics approach to natural phytoplankton samples could provide valuable insight into understanding phytoplankton productivity and function in the marine system.     

The total burden of rare,non-synonymous exome genetic variants is not associated with childhood or late-life cognitive ability

Human cognitive ability shows consistent, positive associations with fitness components across the life-course. Underlying genetic variation should therefore be depleted by selection, which is not observed. Genetic variation in general cognitive ability (intelligence) could be maintained by a mutation–selection balance, with rare variants contributing to its genetic architecture. This study examines the association between the total number of rare stop-gain/loss, splice and missense exonic variants and cognitive ability in childhood and old age in the same individuals. Exome array data were obtained in the Lothian Birth Cohorts of 1921 and 1936 (combined N = 1596). General cognitive ability was assessed at age 11 years and in late life (79 and 70 years, respectively) and was modelled against the total number of stop-gain/loss, splice, and missense exonic variants, with minor allele frequency less than or equal to 0.01, using linear regression adjusted for age and sex. In both cohorts and in both the childhood and late-life models, there were no significant associations between rare variant burden in the exome and cognitive ability that survived correction for multiple testing. Contrary to our a priori hypothesis, we observed no evidence for an association between the total number of rare exonic variants and either childhood cognitive ability or late-life cognitive ability.     

Identification of a male-specific (H-Y) antigen on the flagellar plasma membrane of ram epididymal spermatozoa

Summary H-Y (male-specific) antigen has been detected on the plasma membranes of both caput and caudal ram spermatozoa using both immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence labelling techniques. In these spermatozoa the distribution of H-Y antigen appears to be confined to both the posterior region of the head and the mid-piece region of the flagellum. In addition, caput spermatozoa also exhibit intense immunoperoxidase staining of the cytoplasmic droplet which is situated on the flagellum at the base of the head. Western blot analyses of purified plasma membranes from the flagella of caudal spermatozoa have revealed the presence of a malespecific protein with an estimated molecular weight of 25,000–27,000.     

Theoretical models for cooperative steady-state ATPase activity of myosin subfragment-1 on regulated actin

Recent theoretical work on the cooperative equilibrium binding of myosin subfragment-1-ADP to regulated actin, as influenced by Ca2+, is extended here to the cooperative steady-state ATPase activity of myosin subfragment-1 on regulated actin. Exact solution of the general steady-state problem will require Monte Carlo calculations. Three interrelated special cases are discussed in some detail and sample computer (not Monte Carlo) solutions are given. The eventual objective is to apply these considerations to in vitro experimental data and to in vivo muscle models.     

Thiocyanate ion formation in rapeseed meals.

Meal prepared from unheated rapeseed (Brassica napus cv. Zephyr) showed the presence of t,iocyanate ion, while meal from heated seed of the same cultivar did not show detectable amounts. Unheated seed meal on autolysis, and heated seed meal on incubation with thioglucosidase, yielded increased amounts of thiocyanate ion. Various commercial rapeseed meals showed the presence of t,iocyanate ion only after enzyme incubation. Low glucosinolate, cv. Bronowski, and higher glucosinolate, cv. Zephyr on enzymic incubation yielded comparable amounts of thiocyanate ion, suggesting that the precursor responsible in the two varieties was the same and present in similar quantities. No formation of thiocyanate ion was observed on incubation of sinigrin with thioglucosidase. Rats dosed with heated meal, containing intact glucosinolate, showed a slight increase of thiocyanate ion in the urine as compared with control rats dosed with water, while a relatively large increase followed dosing with sinigrin. Rats dosed with meal containing free thiocyanate ion excreted the ingested thiocyanate ion almost quantitatively.