Ventilatory responses of four marine teleosts to acute rotenone exposure

Ventilatory rate reponses of Diplodus bermudensis, Holocentrus rufus, Haemulon flavoleneatum and Haemulon sciurus to acute rotenone exposure were recorded by monitoring impedance changes accompanying opercular movements in individual specimens. Results identified two tolerance groups, each of which dislayed similar ventilatory response patterns but at different concentrations of rotenone. Exposure revels required to etablish opercular paralysis were found to be considerably less than that reported for 24 hour LC₅₀ of many freshwater organisms, indicating a high degree of toxic sensitivity for the four marine species examined.

Zusammenfassung

Ventilationsreaktion von vier marinen Teleosteirn bei akuter Rotenone-Exposition
Die Ventilationshäufigkeit von Dilodus bermudensis, Holocentrus rufus, Haemulon flavoleneatum und Haemulon sciurus gegenüber akuten Rotenone-Dosen wurde durch die Veränderung der Impedanz der Kiemendeckelbewegungen registriert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen zwei Toleranzgruppen, die jeweils ahnliche Ventilationshäufigkeiten erkennen lassen jedoch bei verschiedenen Rotenone-Konzentrationen. Die notwendige Konzentration für eine Lähmung der Kiemendeckelbewegungen war viel niedriger als die LC_50/24 für viele Süßwasserorganismen. Dieses zeigt die hohe toxische Sensibilität der vier untersuchten Arten gegenüber Rotenone.     

Dynamic properties of the first enzymatic reaction steps of porcine pancreatic elastase. How rigid is the active site of the native enzyme? Molecular dynamics simulation

Two molecular dynamics simulations (100 and 50 ps) of native porcine pancreatic elastase i.e., without bound substrate and with the active site hydrated by a dome of water (630 molecules) have been performed. Dynamical properties of the catalytic tetrad have been examined. While relative conformations of the Asp 102, His 57, and Ser 214 are rather stable in time, the side chain of Ser 195 undergoes several conformational changes. No preferences are observed for the formation of a hydrogen bond between the O gamma-H group (Ser 195) and nitrogen N, (His 57). A cluster of ordered water molecules effectively competes with the H-O gamma group (Ser 195) and thereby prevents the formation of this H bond, which is generally agreed to be crucial for catalysis.     

Influence of the estrous cycle on heterosexual aggression in two strains of rats (S3 and WEzob)

Two strains of rats (S₃ and WEzob), which show different levels of aggression in the laboratory, were tested in repeated heterosexual confrontations. Daily 15-min observations were made of the interactions between a female throughout a complete estrous cycle and the same male partner. In both strains the topography of aggression was similar in males and females, but the frequency of specific parameters varied. Males showed more offensive and females more defensive patterns. The overall level of aggression was very low on the day of estrous, when the female was sexually receptive. There were no differences in any elements of female or male behavior between the other 3 days of the cycle. The results support previous conclusions from single-sex encounters that in rats there is no sexual dimorphism in the ability to show aggression.     

Alterations in source-sink patterns by modifications of source strength

Bean plants, trimmed to a simplified “double source, double sink” translocation system (the paired primary leaves serving as the double source and the paired lateral leaflets of the immature first trifoliate leaf as the double sink) were used to study the magnitude and short-term time course of change in the allocation ratio (partition ratio) of assimilates translocated from the labeled primary leaf to its respective “near” and “far leaflet” sinks in response to an increase or decrease in the source strength of the opposite primary leaf (the “control” leaf). If the rates of net photosynthesis in the two primary leaves were similar, assimilates from the labeled source leaf partitioned to the leaflet sinks in the ratio of 5:1 or higher, the dominant sink being the leaflet “nearer” to the labeled source leaf. If the rate of net photosynthesis in the control leaf was increased substantially above that of the labeled source leaf, the rate of translocation from the labeled source to either the near leaflet sink or far leaflet sink remained unaffected, despite, presumably, a higher translocation rate from the control leaf, and hence a higher phloem pressure gradient (or increased cross-sectional area) in the transport pathway from the control leaf to the leaflet sinks. If the control leaf was excised, thus reducing the source leaf area by about a half, the translocation rate from the remaining source leaf rapidly doubled, the partition ratio becoming equal to unity. If the control leaf was darkened, the partition ratio adjusted to an intermediate value. Although export rates from the labeled source leaf were increased either by excising or darkening the control leaf, the rate of net photosynthesis in the labeled leaf remained constant.     

Ovary-autonomous maternal inheritance at a developmental locus in Drosophila

The sex-linked temperature-sensitive mutation shibire^ts of Drosophila melanogaster shows a maternal effect causing embryonic lethality at 29°C. The maternal influence is due to gene action autonomous to the ovary. Embryos carrying the paternally derived wild-type gene can survive at 29°C but only if heat pulses are begun at least 9 hr after oviposition. The paternal rescue is presumably due to zygotic gene action at this locus beginning part way through embryogenesis. A maternal wild-type genome, however, can produce shi embryos that have sufficient shi⁺ product to support embryogenesis up to the hatching stage even at 29°C.