In vivo and in silico anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of the semisynthetic (−)-cubebin derivatives (−)-hinokinin and (−)-O-benzylcubebin

(?)-Cubebin (CUB), isolated from seeds of Piper cubeba, was used as starting material to obtain the derivatives (?)-hinokinin (HK) and (?)-O-benzyl cubebin (OBZ). Using paw edema as the experimental model and different chemical mediators (prostaglandin and dextran), it was observed that both derivatives were active in comparison with both negative (5% Tween® 80 in saline) and positive (indomethacin) controls. The highest reduction in the prostaglandin-induced edema was achieved by OBZ (66.0%), while HK caused a 59.2% reduction. Nonetheless, the dextran-induced paw edema was not significantly reduced by either of the derivatives (HK or OBZ), which inhibited edema formation by 18.3% and 3.5%, respectively, in contrast with the positive control, cyproheptadine, which reduced the edema by 56.0%. The docking analysis showed that OBZ presented the most stable ligand-receptor (COX-2 – cyclooxygenase-2) interaction in comparison with CUB and HK.     

The Arf GAP CNT-2 regulates the apoptotic fate in C. elegans asymmetric neuroblast divisions

During development, all cells make the decision to live or die. Although the molecular mechanisms that execute the apoptotic program are well defined, less is known about how cells decide whether to live or die. In C.?elegans, this decision is linked to how cells divide asymmetrically [1, 2]. Several classes of molecules are known to regulate asymmetric cell divisions in metazoans, yet these molecules do not appear to control C.?elegans divisions that produce apoptotic cells [3]. We identified CNT-2, an Arf GTPase-activating protein (GAP) of the AGAP family, as a novel regulator of this type of neuroblast division. Loss of CNT-2 alters daughter cell size and causes the apoptotic cell to adopt the fate of its sister cell, resulting in extra neurons. CNT-2's Arf GAP activity is essential for its function in these divisions. The N terminus of CNT-2, which contains?a GTPase-like domain that defines the AGAP class of Arf GAPs, negatively regulates CNT-2's function. We provide evidence that CNT-2 regulates receptor-mediated endocytosis and consider the implications of its role in asymmetric cell divisions.     

Biological and genetic aspects of crosses between species of the genus Meccus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae Triatominae)

The degree of reproductive isolation between Meccus phyllosomus and the remaining five species of the genus Meccus, as well as between Meccus bassolsae and Meccus pallidipennis, Meccus longipennis and Meccus picturatus, was examined. Fertility and the segregation of morphological characteristics were examined in two generations of hybrids from crosses between these species. The percentage of couples with offspring (fertile) was high in the vast majority of sets of crosses, with the exception of that between ♀M. phyllosomus and ♂Meccus mazzottii. In sets of crosses involving M. bassolsae specimens, no first-generation (F1) individuals were morphologically similar to M. bassolsae, but instead shared the morphology of the other parental species. A similar phenomenon was observed in most sets of crosses involving M. phyllosomus. These results indicated that different degrees of reproductive isolation exist among the species of Meccus involved in this study. The biological evidence obtained in this study does not support the proposal that M. bassolsae is a full species. It could indicate that, on the contrary, it should be considered a subspecies of a single polytypic species. The biological evidence does support the proposal that M. phyllosomus is a full species.     

Resistance to Bemisia tabaci biotype B of Solanum pimpinellifolium is associated with higher densities of type IV glandular trichomes and acylsugar accumulation

Advances in tomato breeding for pest resistance have been achieved via gene introgression from wild Solanum (section Lycopersicon) species (Solanaceae). Ninety‐nine F₃ families derived from an interspecific cross using as parental lines Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘LAM‐148' (susceptible standard) and Solanum pimpinellifolium L. ‘TO‐937‐15’ (multiple pest resistance accession with type IV glandular trichomes and acylsugar accumulation) were evaluated for their resistance against the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B in free‐choice and no‐choice tests for oviposition and adult colonization. The parental lines and eight F₃ families with contrasting levels of resistance against the whitefly were selected and investigated in additional assays, which included the estimation of trichome densities and foliar acylsugar levels. The F₃ families BTR‐302 and BTR‐331 exhibited low amounts of eggs of whitefly and transgressive segregation for type IV glandular trichome density with values greater than that of TO‐937‐15 plants. However, the tested families did not surpass the total foliar acylsugar content found in TO‐937‐15. BTR‐331 exhibited low colonization in the free‐choice test and it was the least preferred F₃ family in the no‐choice test. The higher resistance levels of BTR‐331 were associated with a positive combination of higher type IV trichome density and higher acylsugar levels. Some F₃ families displayed reduced fruit set due to the presence of flowers with style exertion of the antheridial‐cone. Fruit weight at harvest stage of the selected families (from 4.9 to 14.5 g) was lower than that of LAM‐148 (139.5 g) but higher than that of TO‐937‐15 plants (1.3 g). Therefore, although difficult to reach due to the simultaneous segregation of many polygenic traits, the combination of high B. tabaci resistance levels with superior horticultural traits is feasible. These results confirm TO‐937‐15 as a source of biotype B resistance. From the breeding standpoint, the genetic similarity between S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium would allow a more efficient resistance introgression by facilitating recombination and minimizing the potentially undesirable linkage drag associated with this trait.     

Variant of human enzyme sequesters reactive intermediate

In cellular environments, coupled hydrolytic reactions are used to force efficient product formation in enzyme-catalyzed reactions. In the first step of protein synthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases react with amino acid and ATP to form an enzyme-bound adenylate that, in the next step, reacts with tRNA to form aminoacyl-tRNA. The reaction liberates pyrophosphate (PP(i)) which, in turn, can be hydrolyzed by pyrophosphatase to drive efficient aminoacylation. A potential polymorphic variant of human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is shown here to sequester tryptophanyl adenylate. The bound adenylate does not react efficiently with the liberated PP(i) that normally competes with tRNA to resynthesize ATP and free amino acid. Structural analysis of this variant showed that residues needed for binding ATP phosphates and thus PP(i) were reoriented from their conformations in the structure of the more common sequence variant. Significantly, the reorientation does not affect reaction with tRNA, so that efficient aminoacylation is achieved.     

Papillomavirus particles assembled in 293TT cells are infectious in vivo

Papillomaviruses (PVs) demonstrate both tissue and species tropisms. Because PVs replicate only in terminally differentiating epithelium, the recent production of infectious PV particles in 293 cells marks an important breakthrough. In this article, we demonstrate that infectious PV particles produced in 293TT cells can cause papillomatous growths in the natural host animal. Moreover, we show that species-matched PV genomes can be successfully delivered in vivo by a heterologous, species-mismatched PV capsid. Additionally, our results indicate that the addition of the simian virus 40 origin of replication to the papillomavirus genome increases the production of infectious papillomavirus particles by increasing genome amplification in the transfected 293TT cells.     

Home Range Size and Use in Allocebus trichotis in Analamazaotra Special Reserve, Central Eastern Madagascar

No information is currently available on the space needs of hairy-eared dwarf lemurs (Allocebus trichotis), classified as Data Deficient. The data are crucial for their conservation and comparison with other nocturnal primates. I conducted the first radiotracking study of the species from January to December 2007 in the Analamazaotra Special Reserve of Central Eastern Madagascar. I used nocturnal focal individual follows and daytime nest locations to determine home ranges. I followed 1 full sleeping group (4 adults) for 8 mo and 1 partial sleeping group (2 females) for 3 mo. Group home ranges, calculated via 100% minimum convex polygons (MCP), were 35.5 ha and 16.0 ha, respectively. The 95% kernel method of analysis yielded group home ranges of 15.2 ha and 7.1 ha respectively. The mean home range size for individuals was 15.4 ha (MCP) and 5.4 ha (kernel). This is much larger than for other Cheirogaleidae and could be due to a more insectivorous diet or the use of patchily distributed gum-producing trees. There were small nonsignificant monthly variations in home range size. The mean home range size per individual per month was 5.2 ha (MCP) and 2.2 ha (kernel). Important individual differences in overall and monthly home range size could be due to variations in the individual reproductive cycles and survival strategies. Overlap analyses and the lack of sexual difference in home range size suggest the social unit is a family or multimale/multifemale sleeping group with monogamous or promiscuous mating. The Analamazaotra Special Reserve probably holds ca. 100 adult individuals. Additional research is urgently needed to clarify the habitat needs of this rare species.     

Sensory organs of the thoracic legs of the moth Manduca sexta

Summary The thoracic legs of the moth Manduca sexta acquire a new form and develop a new complement of sensory organs and muscles during metamorphosis from larva to adult. Because of our interest in the reorganization of neural circuitry and the acquisition of new behaviors during metamorphosis, we are characterizing sensory elements of larval and adult legs so that we may determine the contribution of new sensory inputs to the changes in behaviors. Here we describe the sensory structures of adult legs using scanning electron microscopy to view the external sensilla and cobalt staining to examine innervation by underlying sensory neurons. We find that, in contrast to larval legs, the adult legs are covered with a diverse array of sensilla. All three pairs of thoracic legs contain scattered, singly innervated scalelike sensilla. Campaniform sensilla occur singly or in clusters near joints. Hair plates, consisting of numerous singly innervated hairs, are also present near joints. Other more specialized sensilla occur on distal leg segments. These include singly innervated spines, two additional classes of singly innervated hairs, and three classes of multiply innervated sensilla. Internal sensory organs include chordotonal organs, subgenual organs, and multipolar joint receptors.