Incorporation and Degradation of C and H-labeled Thymidine by Sugarcane Cells in Suspension Culture

Sugarcane cells growing in suspension culture degrade exogenous thymidine, releasing thymine. Thymine is not utilized for DNA synthesis. Thymine is rapidly catabolized to β-aminoisobutyric acid which is found within the cell. Thymidine in the medium is used for DNA synthesis. The label of [2-¹⁴C]thymidine is lost as ¹⁴CO₂, but the label of [³H]methylthymidine is found in the cell as [³H]β-aminoisobutyric acid, some of which is used for the synthesis of other cell components. The degradation of thymidine can be partially inhibited by addition of certain substituted pyrimidines.     

The effects of dogfish MSH''s and of corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptides (CLIP''s) on avoidance behavior in rats

Recently purified melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH's) from dogfish pituitary tissue were tested on extinction of a conditioned avoidance response (CAR). Corticotrophin like intermediate lobe peptides (CLIP's) from dogfish and porcine origin were tested for an effect on avoidance extinction as well. All peptides appeared to delay extinction of the CAR.The results suggest that the pituitary contains various peptides which influence adaptive behavior. The observation that MSH is more potent in delaying extinction of the CAR then CLIP leads to the conclusion that the behavioral active sequence of the ACTH molecules is located in the N terminal part rather than in the C terminal part of the polypetide.     

Componental analysis of the ocellar electroretinogram of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria

Ruck's componental analysis of the ocellar electroretinogram (ERG) has been reappraised using techniques of signal averaging and waveform subtraction. Components (1), (3), and (4) can readily be isolated in the locust ocellus but component (2) as recorded in the locust ocellus is probably an artefact. Component (1), produced by the receptor cells, only contributes significantly to the total ERG at higher light intensities and it is this contribution which changes most with the degree of light and dark adaptation employed in these experiments. Component (3), the response of the second-order neurones, indicates that the majority of second-order neurones hyperpolarize on illumination of the ocellus. Component (4), the afferent activity of the second-order cells, indicates that more than one afferent axon is involved in the production of off spikes in the locust ocellus.     

Herbivore damage along a latitudinal gradient: relative impacts of different feeding guilds

We present the first broad-scale test for a latitudinal gradient in herbivory made with consistent methods, in similar habitat type, over the entire lifespan of leaves (phyllodes). We assessed the degree of chewing, sap-sucking and mining herbivory on Acacia falcata along its entire coastal latitudinal range (1150 km) in Australia. We found no significant differences in the rate of herbivory among latitudes. Mature phyllodes had a higher rate of herbivory compared to young phyllodes, and mining was higher on mature phyllodes from the most tropical latitude. We found significant differences in phyllode toughness and specific leaf (phyllode) area among latitudes, but no significant differences among latitudes in carbon: nitrogen. This study provides a useful model for further testing of the generalisation that herbivory is more intense in tropical versus temperate regions.     

MAGI-1 Modulates AMPA Receptor Synaptic Localization and Behavioral Plasticity in Response to Prior Experience

It is well established that the efficacy of synaptic connections can be rapidly modified by neural activity, yet how the environment and prior experience modulate such synaptic and behavioral plasticity is only beginning to be understood. Here we show in C. elegans that the broadly conserved scaffolding molecule MAGI-1 is required for the plasticity observed in a glutamatergic circuit. This mechanosensory circuit mediates reversals in locomotion in response to touch stimulation, and the AMPA-type receptor (AMPAR) subunits GLR-1 and GLR-2, which are required for reversal behavior, are localized to ventral cord synapses in this circuit. We find that animals modulate GLR-1 and GLR-2 localization in response to prior mechanosensory stimulation; a specific isoform of MAGI-1 (MAGI-1L) is critical for this modulation. We show that MAGI-1L interacts with AMPARs through the intracellular domain of the GLR-2 subunit, which is required for the modulation of AMPAR synaptic localization by mechanical stimulation. In addition, mutations that prevent the ubiquitination of GLR-1 prevent the decrease in AMPAR localization observed in previously stimulated magi-1 mutants. Finally, we find that previously-stimulated animals later habituate to subsequent mechanostimulation more rapidly compared to animals initially reared without mechanical stimulation; MAGI-1L, GLR-1, and GLR-2 are required for this change in habituation kinetics. Our findings demonstrate that prior experience can cause long-term alterations in both behavioral plasticity and AMPAR localization at synapses in an intact animal, and indicate a new, direct role for MAGI/S-SCAM proteins in modulating AMPAR localization and function in the wake of variable sensory experience.     

Reductions in the dietary niche of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) from the Holocene to the Anthropocene

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal hunted to near extinction during the 1800s. Despite their well‐known modern importance as a keystone species, we know little about historical sea otter ecology. Here, we characterize the ecological niche of ancient southern sea otters (E. lutris nereis) using δ¹³C analysis and δ¹⁵N analysis of bones recovered from archaeological sites spanning ~7,000 to 350 years before present (N = 112 individuals) at five regions along the coast of California. These data are compared with previously published data on modern animals (N = 165) and potential modern prey items. In addition, we analyze the δ¹⁵N of individual amino acids for 23 individuals to test for differences in sea otter trophic ecology through time. After correcting for tissue‐specific and temporal isotopic effects, we employ nonparametric statistics and Bayesian niche models to quantify differences among ancient and modern animals. We find ancient otters occupied a larger isotopic niche than nearly all modern localities; likely reflecting broader habitat and prey use in prefur trade populations. In addition, ancient sea otters at the most southerly sites occupied an isotopic niche that was more than twice as large as ancient otters from northerly regions. This likely reflects greater invertebrate prey diversity in southern California relative to northern California. Thus, we suggest the potential dietary niche of sea otters in southern California could be larger than in central and northern California. At two sites, Año Nuevo and Monterey Bay, ancient otters had significantly higher δ¹⁵N values than modern populations. Amino acid δ¹⁵N data indicated this resulted from shifting baseline isotope values, rather than a change in sea otter trophic ecology. Our results help in better understanding the contemporary ecological role of sea otters and exemplify the strength of combing zooarchaeological and biological information to provide baseline data for conservation efforts.     

Aurora B switches relative strength of kinetochore–microtubule attachment modes for error correction

To establish chromosome biorientation, aberrant kinetochore–microtubule interaction must be resolved (error correction) by Aurora B kinase. Aurora B differentially regulates kinetochore attachment to the microtubule plus end and its lateral side (end-on and lateral attachment, respectively). However, it is still unclear how kinetochore–microtubule interactions are exchanged during error correction. Here, we reconstituted the budding yeast kinetochore–microtubule interface in vitro by attaching the Ndc80 complexes to nanobeads. These Ndc80C nanobeads recapitulated in vitro the lateral and end-on attachments of authentic kinetochores on dynamic microtubules loaded with the Dam1 complex. This in vitro assay enabled the direct comparison of lateral and end-on attachment strength and showed that Dam1 phosphorylation by Aurora B makes the end-on attachment weaker than the lateral attachment. Similar reconstitutions with purified kinetochore particles were used for comparison. We suggest the Dam1 phosphorylation weakens interaction with the Ndc80 complex, disrupts the end-on attachment, and promotes the exchange to a new lateral attachment, leading to error correction.