Unusual chromatin in human telomeres.

We report that human telomeres have an unusual chromatin structure characterized by diffuse micrococcal nuclease patterns. The altered chromatin manifested itself only in human telomeres that are relatively short (2 to 7 kb). In contrast, human and mouse telomeres with telomeric repeat arrays of 14 to 150 kb displayed a more canonical chromatin structure with extensive arrays of tightly packed nucleosomes. All telomeric nucleosomes showed a shorter repeat size than bulk nucleosomes, and telomeric mononucleosomal particles were found to be hypersensitive to micrococcal nuclease. However, telomeric nucleosomes were similar to bulk nucleosomes in the rate at which they sedimented through sucrose gradients. We speculate that mammalian telomeres have a bipartite structure with unusual chromatin near the telomere terminus and a more canonical nucleosomal organization in the proximal part of the telomere.     

Biochemical properties of a novel cell wall protein associated with elongation growth in higher plants

A monoclonal antibody of IgM-type (TIM-11B2) was screened froma hybridoma library. The antibody recognizes a 40 kDa glycoprotein,p40, with high specificity. This protein was detected in allplant species examined so far and was found to be located bothsolubly and ionically-bound within the primary cell wall. The strongest immunobiochemical signals of p40 were found intissues undergoing elongation growth, whereas in other tissuesonly a faint signal could be detected. Those included the non-elongatingparts of different seedlings, such as the apical part of monocotprimary leaves or the leaves of dicots grown in light. Inhibitionof pea epicotyl growth by white light irradiation resulted ina strong decrease of the immunostain signal. On the other hand,induction of rapid coleoptile growth in rice seedlings inducedby submergence resulted in a strong increase of the immunobiochemicalsignal of p40. Time-course studies on the expression of p40during protoplast regeneration revealed that p40 is apparentlynot involved in cell wall formation. The hypothesis that p40is characteristic for tissues with the ability for elongationgrowth is discussed. Comparison of biochemical data and location of p40 with proteinsdescribed up to now indicate that this glycoprotein has notbeen characterized before. Key words: Cell wall protein, elongation growth, monoclonal antibody     

Sequence analysis of cohesive ends of the actinophage RP3 genome and construction of a transducible shuttle vector

Abstract The sequence of the cohesive ends of actinophage RP3 DNA has been determined. As with all other phages of Gram-positive bacteria that have been studied sofar, RP3 DNA has 3'-protruding ends. A shuttle cosmid has been constructed containing this cos area which can be efficiently transduced by phage RP3 to host cells of Streptomyces rimosus .     

Octopamine receptor subtypes and their modes of action

Octopamine receptor subclasses were first proposed to explain differences in the pharmacological profiles of a range of physiological responses to octopamine obtained in the extensor-tibiae neuromuscular preparation of the locust. Thus, OCTOPAMINE₁ receptors which inhibit an endogenous myogenic rhythm, increase intracellular calcium levels. Also OCTOPAMINE₂ receptors which modulate neuromuscular transmission in this preparation, increase the level of adenylate cyclase activity. The current status of this classification is reviewed by examining the pharmacology of responses to octopamine in a range of preparations. It is concluded that the distinction between OCTOPAMINE₁ and OCTOPAMINE₂ receptor types is still valid, but that OCTOPAMINE₂ receptors exhibit some tissue specific variations. Studies on a clonedDrosophila octopamine/tyramine (phenolamine) receptor are discussed and illustrate many of the difficulties presently encountered in making a definitive classification of octopamine receptors. These include the possibilities that single receptors may activate multiple second messenger systems and that different agonists may differentially couple the same receptor to different second messenger systems.     

Excretion of proline bySaccharomyces cerevisiae during fermentation of arginine-supplemented high gravity wheat mash

Summary The rate of ethanolic fermentation of high gravity wheat mashes bySaccharomyces cerevisiae was increased by nitrogen sources such as ammonium sulfate or arginine. This stimulation was mediated through increased proliferation of cells. Large quantities of proline, however, were excreted by the yeast into the medium when arginine was added as a nutrient supplement. The amount of proline excreted was proportional to the concentration of arginine supplied. Nitrogen sources such as ammonium sulfate or lysine enhanced the production of proline from arginine and its excretion into the medium. Results show that the stimulation of very high gravity fermentation by arginine is not merely through provision of a source of nitrogen but also because it serves as a precursor for the production of proline, a compound which may play a significant role in alleviating the effects of osmotic stress.     

The distribution of coastal fish eDNA sequences in the Anthropocene

Aim

Coastal fishes have a fundamental role in marine ecosystem functioning and contributions to people, but face increasing threats due to climate change, habitat degradation and overexploitation. The extent to which human pressures are impacting coastal fish biodiversity in comparison with geographic and environmental factors at large spatial scale is still under scrutiny. Here, we took advantage of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to investigate the relationship between fish biodiversity, including taxonomic and genetic components, and environmental but also socio-economic factors.

Location

Tropical, temperate and polar coastal areas.

Time period

Present day.

Major taxa studied

Marine fishes.

Methods

We analysed fish eDNA in 263 stations (samples) in 68 sites distributed across polar, temperate and tropical regions. We modelled the effect of environmental, geographic and socio-economic factors on α- and β-diversity. We then computed the partial effect of each factor on several fish biodiversity components using taxonomic molecular units (MOTU) and genetic sequences. We also investigated the relationship between fish genetic α- and β-diversity measured from our barcodes, and phylogenetic but also functional diversity.

Results

We show that fish eDNA MOTU and sequence α- and β-diversity have the strongest correlation with environmental factors on coastal ecosystems worldwide. However, our models also reveal a negative correlation between biodiversity and human dependence on marine ecosystems. In areas with high dependence, diversity of all fish, cryptobenthic fish and large fish MOTUs declined steeply. Finally, we show that a sequence diversity index, accounting for genetic distance between pairs of MOTUs, within and between communities, is a reliable proxy of phylogenetic and functional diversity.

Main conclusions

Together, our results demonstrate that short eDNA sequences can be used to assess climate and direct human impacts on marine biodiversity at large scale in the Anthropocene and can further be extended to investigate biodiversity in its phylogenetic and functional dimensions.     

EMBRYOLOGY OF CALYPSO BULBOSA. I. OVULE DEVELOPMENT

Calypso bulbosa is a terrestrial orchid that grows in north temperate regions. Like many orchids, the Calypso has ovules that are not fully developed at anthesis. After pollination, the ovule primordia divide several times to produce a nucellar filament which consists of five to six cells. The subterminal cell of the nucellar filament enlarges to become the archesporial cell. Through further enlargement and elongation, the archesporial cell becomes the megasporocyte. An unequal dyad results from the first meiotic division. A triad of one active chalazal megaspore and two inactive micropylar megaspores are the end products of meiotic division. Callose is present in the cell wall of the megaspore destined to degenerate. In the mature embryo sac the number of nuclei is reduced to six when the chalazal nuclei fail to divide after the first mitotic division. The chalazal nuclei join the polar nucleus and the male nucleus near the center of the embryo sac subsequent to fertilization.     

The deactivation pathways of the excited-states of the mycosporine-like amino acids shinorine and porphyra-334 in aqueous solution.

In vitro studies on the structurally related mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) porphyra-334 and shinorine in aqueous solutions were carried out aiming at their full photochemical and photophysical characterization and expanding the evidence on the assigned UV-photoprotective role of the molecules in vivo. The experiments on shinorine confirmed a high photostability and a poor fluorescence quantum yield, in concordance with previous results on porphyra-334. The estimation of triplet production quantum yields for both MAAs was achieved by laser-flash photolysis measurements. In particular, photosensitization experiments on porphyra-334 support the participation of the triplet state in the photodecomposition mechanism yielding a more precise value of [capital Phi](T). As well, photoacoustic calorimetry experiments allowed the first direct quantification of the nonradiative relaxation pathways of the excited MAAs in solution, corroborating that the vast majority (ca. 97%) of the absorbed energy is promptly delivered to the surroundings as heat, consistently with the low photodecomposition and emission yields observed.     

Heritability of adult body height: a comparative study of twin cohorts in eight countries.

A major component of variation in body height is due to genetic differences, but environmental factors have a substantial contributory effect. In this study we aimed to analyse whether the genetic architecture of body height varies between affluent western societies. We analysed twin data from eight countries comprising 30,111 complete twin pairs by using the univariate genetic model of the Mx statistical package. Body height and zygosity were self-reported in seven populations and measured directly in one population. We found that there was substantial variation in mean body height between countries; body height was least in Italy (177 cm in men and 163 cm in women) and greatest in the Netherlands (184 cm and 171 cm, respectively). In men there was no corresponding variation in heritability of body height, heritability estimates ranging from 0.87 to 0.93 in populations under an additive genes/unique environment (AE) model. Among women the heritability estimates were generally lower than among men with greater variation between countries, ranging from 0.68 to 0.84 when an additive genes/shared environment/unique environment (ACE) model was used. In four populations where an AE model fit equally well or better, heritability ranged from 0.89 to 0.93. This difference between the sexes was mainly due to the effect of the shared environmental component of variance, which appears to be more important among women than among men in our study populations. Our results indicate that, in general, there are only minor differences in the genetic architecture of height between affluent Caucasian populations, especially among men.