Evolution and connectivity in the world-wide migration system of the mallard: Inferences from mitochondrial DNA

Background

Yami and Ivatan islanders are Austronesian speakers from Orchid Island and the Batanes archipelago that are located between Taiwan and the Philippines. The paternal genealogies of the Yami tribe from 1962 monograph of Wei and Liu were compared with our dataset of non-recombining Y (NRY) chromosomes from the corresponding families. Then mitochondrial DNA polymorphism was also analyzed to determine the matrilineal relationships between Yami, Ivatan, and other East Asian populations.

Results

The family relationships inferred from the NRY Phylogeny suggested a low number of paternal founders and agreed with the genealogy of Wei and Liu (P < 0.01). Except for one Y short tandem repeat lineage (Y-STR), seen in two unrelated Yami families, no other Y-STR lineages were shared between villages, whereas mtDNA haplotypes were indiscriminately distributed throughout Orchid Island. The genetic affinity seen between Yami and Taiwanese aborigines or between Ivatan and the Philippine people was closer than that between Yami and Ivatan, suggesting that the Orchid islanders were colonized separately by their nearest neighbors and bred in isolation. However a northward gene flow to Orchid Island from the Philippines was suspected as Yami and Ivatan peoples both speak Western Malayo-Polynesian languages which are not spoken in Taiwan. Actually, only very little gene flow was observed between Yami and Ivatan or between Yami and the Philippines as indicated by the sharing of mtDNA haplogroup B4a1a4 and one O1a1* Y-STR lineage.

Conclusions

The NRY and mtDNA genetic information among Yami tribe peoples fitted well the patrilocal society model proposed by Wei and Liu. In this proposal, there were likely few genetic exchanges among Yami and the Philippine people. Trading activities may have contributed to the diffusion of Malayo-Polynesian languages among them. Finally, artifacts dating 4,000 YBP, found on Orchid Island and indicating association with the Out of Taiwan hypothesis might be related to a pioneering stage of settlement, as most dating estimates inferred from DNA variation in our data set ranged between 100-3,000 YBP.     

Development and distribution of the early life stages of the longfin pearleye <Emphasis Type="Italic">Benthalbella linguidens</Emphasis> (Aulopiformes: Scopelarchidae) in the western North Pacific

The early life history and development of the scopelarchid Benthalbella linguidens was studied, based on 203 specimens (from 5.3 to 89.7mm in body length: BL) collected from Kuroshio, Oyashio waters and transition waters of the western North Pacific. The early life stages of B. linguidens are distinguished from those of other species of Benthalbella that inhabit the North Pacific by the characters of 62–64 myomeres in the larval stage and 26–28 anal fin rays in juvenile and transforming specimen. Larvae are elongate; notochord flexion begins at ca. 12mm BL and is completed at ca. 15mm BL. The fin ray complements are established at ca. 40mm BL. The single transforming specimen (89.7mm BL) that has peritoneal pigment was collected from transition waters. All larvae were collected from Kuroshio and transition waters from winter to early summer; however, the size of larvae in Kuroshio waters was apparently smaller than that in transition waters, with ranges of 5.3–32.4mm BL (mean 17.1) and 15.3–35.3mm BL (mean 27.5), respectively. Juveniles were distributed in transition and Oyashio waters and were absent in Kuroshio waters, where adults are commonly distributed. These occurrences of larvae and juveniles in the western North Pacific indicate that B. linguidens spawns in Kuroshio waters in winter and uses transition waters as nursery grounds.     

Risk factors for radiographic progression in psoriatic arthritis: subanalysis of the randomized controlled trial ADEPT

Introduction  

To identify independent predictors of radiographic progression in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) for patients treated with adalimumab or placebo in the Adalimumab Effectiveness in PsA Trial (ADEPT).     

A Turkish Case with Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MIM 252150) is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disorder with about 100 cases reported worldwide. We have identified a male with molybdenum cofactor deficiency and analyzed the molybdenum cofactor synthesis (MOCS)1 gene, MOCS2 gene, MOCS3 gene and GEPH gene. We homozygously identified the CGA insertion after A666 of the MOCS1 gene which produces arginine insertion at codon 222 of MOCS1A. The parents, his brother and his sister who did not have any symptoms were heterozygous for the same mutation. This region was highly conserved in various species. The N-terminal part of MOCS1 a protein is suggested to form the central core of the protein and be composed of an incomplete [(alpha/beta)6] triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) barrel with a lateral opening that is covered by the C-terminal part of the protein. The insertion is located in the loop connecting the fifth beta strand to the sixth alpha helices of the TIM barrel structure. This arginine insertion would induce the conformation change and the lack of the activity.     

Immunoexpression of aquaporins 1, 2, 3 and 4 in kidney of yak (Bos grunniens) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Aquaporins (AQP) 1, 2, 3 and 4 belong to the aquaporin water channel family and play an important role in urine concentration by reabsorption of water from renal tubule fluid. Renal AQPs have not been reported in the yak (Bos grunniens), which resides in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. We investigated AQPs 1?4 expressions in the kidneys of Yak using immunohistochemical staining. AQP1 was expressed mainly in the basolateral and apical membranes of the proximal tubules and descending thin limb of the loop of Henle. AQP2 was detected in the apical plasma membranes of collecting ducts and distal convoluted tubules. AQP3 was located in the proximal tubule, distal tubule and collecting ducts. AQP4 was located in the collecting ducts, distal straight tubule, glomerular capillaries and peritubular capillaries. The expression pattern of AQPs 1?4 in kidney of yak was different from other species, which possibly is related to kidney function in a high altitude environment.     

Determining the evolutionary potential of a gene

In addition to information for current functions, the sequence of a gene includes potential information for the evolution of new functions. The wild-type ebgA (evolved beta-galactosidase) gene of Escherichia coli encodes a virtually inactive beta-galactosidase, but that gene has the potential to evolve sufficient activity to replace the lacZ gene for growth on the beta-galactoside sugars lactose and lactulose. Experimental evidence, which has suggested that the evolutionary potential of Ebg enzyme is limited o two specific amino acid replacements, is limited to examining the consequences of single base- substitutions. Thirteen beta-galactosidases homologous with the Ebg beta-galactosidase are widely dispersed, being found in gram-negative and gram-positive eubacteria and in a eukaryote. A comparison of Ebg beta-galactosidase with those 13 beta-galactosidases shows that Ebg is part of an ancient clade that diverged from the paralogous lacZ beta- galactosidase over 2 billion years ago. Ebg differs from other members of its clade at only 2 of the 15 active-site residues, and the two mutations required for full Ebg beta-galactosidase activity bring Ebg into conformity with the other members of its clade. We conclude that either these are the only acceptable amino acids at those positions, or all of the single-base-substitution replacements that must arise as intermediates on the way to other acceptable amino acids are so deleterious that they constitute a deep selective valley that has not been traversed in over 2 billion years. The evolutionary potential of Ebg is thus limited to those two replacements.      

Poor physical fitness is independently associated with mild cognitive impairment in elderly Koreans

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly Koreans. This was a cross-sectional study that involved 134 men and 299 women aged 65 to 88 years. Six senior fitness tests were used as independent variables: 30 s chair stand for lower body strength, arm curl for upper body strength, chair-sit-and-reach for lower body flexibility, back scratch for upper body flexibility, 8-ft up-and-go for agility/dynamic balance, and 2-min walk for aerobic endurance. Global cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Potential covariates such as age, education levels, blood lipids, and insulin resistance (IR) markers were also assessed. Compared to individuals without MMSE-based MCI, individuals with MMSE-based MCI had poor physical fitness based on the senior fitness test (SFT). There were significant positive trends observed for education level (p=0.001) and MMSE score (p<0.001) across incremental levels of physical fitness in this study population. Individuals with moderate (OR=0.341, p=0.006) and high (OR=0.271, p=0.007) physical fitness based on a composite score of the SFT measures were less likely to have MMSE-based MCI than individuals with low physical fitness (referent, OR=1). The strength of the association between moderate (OR=0.377, p=0.038) or high (OR=0.282, p=0.050) physical fitness and MMSE-based MCI was somewhat attenuated but remained statistically significant even after adjustment for the measured compounding factors. We found that poor physical fitness was independently associated with MMSE-based MCI in elderly Koreans.     

Molecular dynamics of synthetic leucine-serine ion channels in a phospholipid membrane

Molecular dynamics calculations were carried out on models of two synthetic leucine-serine ion channels: a tetrameric bundle with sequence (LSLLLSL)(3)NH(2) and a hexameric bundle with sequence (LSSLLSL)(3)NH(2). Each protein bundle is inserted in a palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membrane and solvated by simple point charge water molecules inside the pore and at both mouths. Both systems appear to be stable in the absence of an electric field during the 4 ns of molecular dynamics simulation. The water motion in the narrow pore of the four-helix bundle is highly restricted and may provide suitable conditions for proton transfer via a water wire mechanism. In the wider hexameric pore, the water diffuses much more slowly than in bulk but is still mobile. This, along with the dimensions of the pore, supports the observation that this peptide is selective for monovalent cations. Reasonable agreement of predicted conductances with experimentally determined values lends support to the validity of the simulations.     

Aufreinigung von Fumonisinen und ihren Hydrolysaten über ein neuartiges Festphasenextraktions-Material

Tests with various clean-up materials after optimisation of different parameters showed that the use of Oasis® material resulted in matrixless chromatograms in HPLC-FLD. The selectivity and detection limit of the method was improved by using LC-MS/MS as the detection system. Mean recovery was 100%, and no negative food matrix effects could be observed.