Large contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to soil carbon pools in tropical forest soils

The origins and composition of soil organic matter (SOM) are still largely uncertain. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are recognized as indirect contributors through their influence on soil aggregation, plant physiology, and plant community composition. Here we present evidence that AMF can also make large, direct contributions to SOM. Glomalin, a recently discovered glycoprotein produced by AMF hyphae, was detected in tropical soils in concentrations of over 60 mg cm^–3. Along a chronosequence of soils spanning ages from 300 to 4.1 Mio years, a pattern of glomalin concentrations is consistent with the hypothesis that this protein accumulates in soil. Carbon dating of glomalin indicated turnover at time scales of several years to decades, much longer than the turnover of AMF hyphae (which is assumed to be on the order of days to weeks). This suggests that contributions of mycorrhizae to soil carbon storage based on hyphal biomass in soil and roots may be an underestimate. The amount of C and N in glomalin represented a sizeable amount (ca. 4–5%) of total soil C and N in the oldest soils. Our results thus indicate that microbial (fungal) carbon that is not derived from above- or below-ground litter can make a significant contribution to soil carbon and nitrogen pools and can far exceed the contributions of soil microbial biomass (ranging from 0.08 to 0.2% of total C for the oldest soils).     

PARENTAL QUALITY AND SELECTION ON EGG SIZE IN THE MAGELLANIC PENGUIN

We examined the relative contributions of egg size and parental quality to hatching success, fledging success, and chick growth in the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) be exchanging clutches between nests to reduce the covariation between egg and parental factors. Among control nests, fledging success increased slightly with egg size. However, the effect of egg size independently of parental quality was limited to an influence on chick mass and size for the first 10 days post-hatching. In contrast, attributes of the parents influenced nesting success and chick size at fledging, independently of the egg size actually raised. We suggest that the common occurrence of a positive phenotypic correlation between egg size and fledging success is due to two factors: (1) adults laying large eggs tend to be of higher quality; and (2) to the extent that egg size does influence early survival independently of parental quality, the effect on survival is due to a maternal effect on egg composition rather than an inherent effect of egg size.     

Serum protein polymorphisms (HP,GC, PI) in Muslims and Bodhs of Jammu and Kashmir,India

Two population groups of Jammu and Kashmir (India) — Muslims and Bodhs-have been typed for haptoglobin and for CG and PI subtype polymorphisms. The allele frequencies do not show significant differences between these two populations. HP and GC allele frequencies of Bodhs and Muslims differ considerably from with that observed in other North Indian populations. The PI allele frequencies of Bohds and Muslims differ considerably from those found in other Indian populations and are more similar to Mongoloid ones.     

Zebrafish embryology and neural development

The zebrafish is rapidly increasing in popularity with developmental biologists. Driving this interest are the elegant methods for in vivo observations and recovery of early developmental mutations. The past year has seen the introduction of additional methods for in vivo manipulation of identified cells and the application of these methods to mutant analysis.     

Evidence for pulmonary release of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) during endotoxemia in unanesthetized sheep

Leukocyte trapping in the pulmonary circulation may be an important component of the lung vascular injury response to endotoxin, but mediators of the pulmonary leukostasis and increased lung vascular permeability are unknown. The leukocyte 5-lipoxygenation pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism yields highly biologically active products including leukotrienes C₄ and D₄ (formerly slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis) and the potent chemotaxin, leukotriene B₄. A major product of 5-lipoxygenation is 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), for which a sensitive, stable isotope dilution assay employing combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is available. This assay was used to test the hypothesis that 5-lipoxygenation products might participate in pulmonary vascular responses to endotoxin. We measured 5-HETE concentrations in lung lymph at three intervals during endotoxemia in unanesthetized sheep. Concentrations of 5-HETE in lung lymph exceeded those in aortic blood plasma. Lymph 5-HETE concentrations increased from 1.7±0.3 (mean ± SEM, N = 7) ng/ml during baseline to peak values of 6.1±1.8 ng/ml (p < 0.05) during the hours after endotoxemia and preceeding the steady state increased lung vascular permeability response. During the increased permeability steady state from 240 to 270 minutes after endotoxin, lymph 5-HETE concentrations (1.4±0.3 ng/ml) and lymph 5-HETE flow (i.e., 5-HETE concentration x lung lynph flow rate) returned to baseline values. Although these observations are consistent with the hypothesis that 5-lipoxygenation products participate in the pulmonary vascular injury response to endotoxin, lymph 5-HETE concentrations did not correlate with any of the other experimental measurements. It may be only coincidence that the increase in lymph 5-HETE concentrations appeared contemporaneous with the onset of lung vascular injury.     

Retrieval of estradiol receptor in paraffin sections of resting porcine uteri by microwave treatment. Immunostaining patterns obtained with different primary antibodies

The unmasking of estradiol receptor in paraffin sections of Bouin's-fixed uterine tissue from ovariectomized gilts was attained with microwave treatment. Immunocytochemistry of the receptor was performed using a polyclonal or five monoclonal antibodies, two of which are commercially available, reacting with different domains of the protein and an amplified-peroxidase system for detection. With five of the antibodies, a predominance of nuclear staining was observed in cells of endometrial glands, while one monoclonal antibody (13H2), reacting with the receptor's domain E, showed a preference for the cytoplasmic receptor. In stroma, all antibodies detected more receptor in nuclei than in cytoplasm. In epithelium, the commercially available antibody H222, our monoclonals 13H2 and HT65, and the polyclonal antibody 402 demonstrated more receptor in cytoplasmic than in nuclear areas. In myometrium, the nuclei from longitudinal and ring muscles were definitely stained with the antibodies. We conclude that the accessibilities of the antibody epitopes of the receptor differ according to the functional uterine cell type.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Peter W. Jungblut on the occasion of his retirement     

Identification of Lactobacillus reuteri Genes Specifically Induced in the Mouse Gastrointestinal Tract

Lactobacilli are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals and have received considerable attention due to their putative health-promoting properties. Little is known about the traits that enhance the ability of these bacteria to inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. In this paper we describe the development and application of a strategy based on in vivo expression technology (IVET) that enables detection of Lactobacillus reuteri genes specifically induced in the murine gut. A plasmid-based system was constructed containing ′ermGT (which confers lincomycin resistance) as the primary reporter gene for selection of promoters active in the gastrointestinal tract of mice treated with lincomycin. A second reporter gene, ′bglM (β-glucanase), allowed differentiation between constitutive and in vivo inducible promoters. The system was successfully tested in vitro and in vivo by using a constitutive promoter. Application of the IVET system with chromosomal DNA of L. reuteri 100-23 and reconstituted lactobacillus-free mice revealed three genes induced specifically during colonization. Two of the sequences showed homology to genes encoding xylose isomerase (xylA) and peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase (msrB), which are involved in nutrient acquisition and stress responses, respectively. The third locus showed homology to the gene encoding a protein whose function is not known. Our IVET system has the potential to identify genes of lactobacilli that have not previously been functionally characterized but which may be essential for growth of these bacteria in the gastrointestinal ecosystem.     

Togninia (Calosphaeriales) is confirmed as teleomorph of Phaeoacremonium by means of morphology, sexual compatibility and DNA phylogeny

Petri disease, or black goo, is a serious disease of vines in most areas where grapevines are cultivated. The predominant associated fungus is Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Chaetothyriales). Several species of Phaeoacremonium (Pm.) also are associated, of which Pm. aleophilum is the most common. Although no teleomorph is known for Phaeoacremonium, the genus Togninia previously has been linked to phaeoacremonium-like anamorphs. To investigate the possible anamorph-teleomorph connection of Phaeoacremonium to Togninia, anamorphs of Togninia minima, T. fraxinopennsylvanica and T. novae-zealandiae morphologically were compared with Pm. aleophilum and some representative cultures were mated in all combinations. Although no interspecies mating proved fertile, matings between isolates of Pm. aleophilum produced a Togninia teleomorph within 3-4 weeks. Certain field isolates of Pm. aleophilum commonly produced the teleomorph, demonstrating that both mating types can occur in the same vine and thus also explaining the genetic diversity observed for this fungus in some vineyards. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among these taxa, isolates were subjected to sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, ITS2) and the 5.8S rRNA gene, as well as portions of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) gene. The generic placement of teleomorphs within Togninia (Calosphaeriales) further was confirmed via phylogenetic analyses of 18S small subunit (SSU) DNA. From these sequences, morphological and mating data, we conclude that T. minima is the teleomorph of Pm. aleophilum, and that it has a biallelic heterothallic mating system. An epitype and mating type tester strains also are designated for T. minima.