Explaining density-dependent regulation in earthworm populations using life-history analysis

At present there is little knowledge about how density regulates population growth rate and to what extent this is determined by life-history patterns. We compared density dependent population consequences in the Nicholsonian sense based on experimental observations and life-history modeling for the earthworms Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida . Both species differ in their life-histories, L. terrestris being a relatively long-lived species with slow reproduction and occurring at low densities compared to E. fetida which has a more opportunistic strategy with a high reproductive output. E. fetida is able to colonise new habitats rapidly and may occur at relatively high population densities. Density dependency of population growth rate was estimated by incorporating density dependent effects on reproduction and growth using a modified Euler equation. The results point out that E. fetida was not as strongly impacted by density as compared to L. terrestris . Population growth rate in E. fetida was hardly affected at low and moderate density, being reduced only at high level, this compares to L. terrestris where even relatively small density effects resulted in a strong negative effect on population growth rate. Our findings indicate that density-dependent regulation in earthworms can be quantified using life-history analysis. The outcomes are in agreement with empirical field observations for populations (i.e. L. terrestris occurs ar low density, E. fetida at high density). Consideration of the potential importance of Nicholsonian density dependence for field populations of these two species in light of their known biology however produces counterintuitive conclusions. In E. fetida , although density tolerant, rapid population growth may mean this species may be subject to density dependeny regulation. In L. terrestris , although density sensitive, complex behavioural ecology (surface activity, territoriality) may limit of feedback influence on population size.     

Latitudinal variation in population structure of wintering Pacific Black Brant

ABSTRACT.   Latitudinal variation in population structure during the winter has been reported in many migratory birds, but has been documented in few species of waterfowl. Variation in environmental and social conditions at wintering sites can potentially influence the population dynamics of differential migrants. We examined latitudinal variation in sex and age classes of wintering Pacific Black Brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ). Brant are distributed along a wide latitudinal gradient from Alaska to Mexico during the winter. Accordingly, migration distances for brant using different wintering locations are highly variable and winter settlement patterns are likely associated with a spatially variable food resource. We used resightings of brant banded in southwestern Alaska to examine sex and age ratios of birds wintering at Boundary Bay in British Columbia, and at San Quintin Bay, Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, and San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California from 1998 to 2000. Sex ratios were similar among wintering locations for adults and were consistent with the mating strategy of geese. The distribution of juveniles varied among wintering areas, with greater proportions of juveniles observed at northern (San Quintin Bay and Ojo de Liebre Lagoon) than at southern (San Ignacio Lagoon) locations in Baja California. We suggest that age-related variation in the winter distribution of Pacific Black Brant is mediated by variation in productivity among individuals at different wintering locations and by social interactions among wintering family groups.     

Phosphorylation of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex in isolated hepatocytes

Hepatocytes, isolated from rats fed a low-protein diet, were incubated with [32P]Pi and the phosphoproteins analysed. Immunoprecipitation using antibody against El of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex demonstrated phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of El. Analysis of the tryptic phosphopeptides from the alpha-subunit indicated that two sites were phosphorylated. 4-methyl 2-oxopentanoate and DL-2-chloro 4-methylpentanoate decreased labelling of both sites. No major direct effects of several hormones on phosphorylation of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase was observed.     

Purification and characterization of the AMP-activated protein kinase. Copurification of acetyl-CoA carboxylase kinase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase kinase activities

1. We have purified the AMP-activated protein kinase 4800-fold from rat liver. The acetyl-CoA carboxylase kinase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA(HMG-CoA) reductase kinase activities copurify through all six purification steps and are inactivated with similar kinetics by treatment with the reactive ATP analogue fluorosulphonylbenzoyladenosine. 2. The final preparation contains several polypeptides detectable by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but only one of these, with an apparent molecular mass of 63 kDa, is labelled using [14C]fluorosulphonylbenzoyladenosine. This is also the only polypeptide in the preparation that becomes significantly labelled during incubation with [gamma 32P]ATP. This autophosphorylation reaction did not affect the AMP-stimulated kinase activity. 3. In the absence of AMP the purified kinase has apparent Km values for ATP and acetyl-CoA carboxylase of 86 microM and 1.9 microM respectively. AMP increases the Vmax 3-5-fold without a significant change in the Km for either protein or ATP substrates. 4. The response to AMP depends on the ATP concentration in the assay, but at a near-physiological ATP concentration the half-maximal effect of AMP occurs at 14 microM. Studies with a range of nucleoside monophosphates and diphosphates, and AMP analogues showed that the allosteric activation by AMP was very specific. ADP gave a small stimulation at low concentrations but was inhibitory at high concentrations. 5. These results show that the AMP-activated protein kinase is the major HMG-CoA reductase kinase detectable in rat liver under our assay conditions and that it is therefore likely to be identical to previously described HMG-CoA reductase kinase(s) which are activated by adenine nucleotides and phosphorylation. The AMP-binding and catalytic domains of the kinase are located on a 63-kDa polypeptide which is subject to autophosphorylation.     

Phosphorylation of bovine hormone-sensitive lipase by the AMP-activated protein kinase. A possible antilipolytic mechanism

Hormone-sensitive lipase is phosphorylated at a single site (site 2) in vitro by the AMP-activated protein kinase, without any direct effect on the activity of the enzyme. The amino acid sequence around this site has been determined. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II also phosphorylates hormone-sensitive lipase predominantly at this site, whilst cyclic-GMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates exclusively the regulatory site (site 1) which is also phosphorylated by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of site 2 has been found to inhibit subsequent phosphorylation and activation of hormone-sensitive lipase by the cyclic-AMP-dependent and cyclic-GMP-dependent protein kinases, indicating that site-2 phosphorylation may have an antilipolytic role in vivo.     

Histamine-like immunoreactivity in photoreceptors of the compound eyes and ocelli of the flies Calliphora erythrocephala and Musca domestica

Summary Antibodies to histamine were used for immunocytochemical studies of the visual system in the flies Calliphora erythrocephala and Musca domestica. Specific immunolabeling of photoreceptors was found both in the compound eyes and ocelli of both species. In the compound eyes histamine-like immunoreactivity (HA-IR) was found in all the short visual fibers (photoreceptors R1–6) and one type of long visual fiber (photoreceptor R8). In addition, the ocellar photoreceptors also show HA-IR. In view of earlier biochemical and pharmacological/physiological findings by Elias and Evans (1983) and Hardie (1987) it thus seems likely that histamine is a neurotransmitter in insect photoreceptors. Interestingly, the second type of long visual fiber (photoreceptor R7) has recently been found to be GABA-immunoreactive (Datum et al. 1986). The two types of long visual fibers may hence use different transmitters which act on different receptors of the postsynaptic neurons in the second visual neuropil, the medulla. In addition to the photoreceptors in the retina and ocelli, we found processes of HA-IR neurons in one of the optic lobe neuropils, the lobula. This finding indicates that histamine may also be a transmitter in certain interneurons in the visual system.Abbreviations HA histamine - GABA -amino butyric acid - GAD glutamic acid decarboxylase - 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) - HA-IR histamine-like immunoreactivity - R1-R6 class of short-axoned photoreceptors - R7 and R8 long-axoned photoreceptors - LMC large monopolar neuron of lamina - HSA human serum albumin - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - DEPC diethylpyrocarbonate     

Negative interactions between phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by the cyclic AMP-dependent and AMP-activated protein kinases

We have reported previously that cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates two sites on acetyl-CoA carboxylase (site 1: Arg-Met-Ser(P)-Phe, and site 2: Ser-Ser(P)-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu), while the AMP-activated protein kinase also phosphorylates site 1, plus site 3 (Ser-Ser-Met-Ser(P)-Gly-Leu), the latter being two residues C-terminal to site 2. We now report that prior phosphorylation of site 2 by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase prevents the subsequent phosphorylation of site 3 and the consequent large decrease in Vmax produced by the AMP-activated protein kinase. Similarly, prior phosphorylation of site 3 by the AMP-activated protein kinase prevents subsequent phosphorylation of site 2 by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Both insulin and epidermal growth factor stimulate fatty acid synthesis and increase phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and ATP-citrate lyase in isolated hepatocytes

Insulin and EGF cause identical stimulation (congruent to 40%) of fatty acid synthesis in hepatocytes isolated from rats which have been starved and then refed a low-fat diet. In both cases this stimulation is associated with increased phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase and of a specific site on acetyl-CoA carboxylase. However, the altered phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase is not associated with a change in kinetic parameters which is detectable in the purified enzyme. Whatever the mechanism involved, stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by growth factors may have a role in providing new phospholipid for growth of membranes.     

Phosphorylation and activation of hamster carbamyl phosphate synthetase II by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. A novel mechanism for regulation of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis.

The trifunctional protein CAD, which contains the first three enzyme activities of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis (carbamyl phosphate synthetase II, aspartate transcarbamylase and dihydro-orotase), is phosphorylated stoichiometrically by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation activates the ammonia-dependent carbamyl phosphate synthetase activity of the complex by reducing the apparent Km for ATP. This effect is particularly marked in the presence of the allosteric feedback inhibitor, UTP, when the apparent Km is reduced by greater than 4-fold. Inhibition by physiological concentrations of UTP is substantially relieved by phosphorylation. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates two serine residues on the protein termed sites 1 and 2, and the primary structures of tryptic peptides containing these sites have been determined: Site 1: Arg-Leu-Ser(P)-Ser-Phe-Val-Thr-Lys Site 2: Ile-His-Arg-Ala-Ser(P)-Asp-Pro-Gly-Leu-Pro-Ala-Glu-Glu-Pro-Lys During the phosphorylation reaction, activation of the carbamyl phosphate synthetase shows a better correlation with occupancy of site 1 rather than site 2. Both phosphorylation and activation can be reversed using purified preparations of the catalytic subunits of protein phosphatases 1- and -2A, and inactivation also correlates better with dephosphorylation of site 1 rather than site 2. We believe this to be the first report that a key enzyme in nucleotide biosynthesis is regulated in a significant manner by reversible covalent modification. The physiological role of this phosphorylation in the stimulation of cell proliferation by growth factors and other mitogens is discussed.