Re‐evaluation of the generic status of Athenaea and Aureliana (Withaniinae,Solanaceae) based on molecular phylogeny and morphology of the calyx

Subtribe Withaniinae (Solanaceae) comprises seven genera and c. 40 species, with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Athenaea and Aureliana are exclusively South American, with diversity centres in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The generic status of Athenaea and Aureliana was investigated using molecular phylogenetic analysis of five plastid regions (ndhF gene, trnL intron and trnL‐trnF, psaI‐accD and trnC‐ycf6 intergenic spacers), nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and morphometric analysis of the calyx. Divergence time estimates were also performed. Withaniinae was recovered as monophyletic. The diversification time estimated for Withaniinae was 6.3 Myr, and the estimated diversification time for the Athenaea and Aureliana clades was 2.3 Myr. Athenaea and Aureliana species formed a strongly supported clade. However, the genera were not monophyletic, and support for internal relationships was moderate to weak. The morphometric analysis of the increasing size of the fruit calyx that included all species of the genera showed a cline that did not allow us to conclude that the species could be separated into two genera. Because the accrescent calyx is the only morphological character that distinguishes them, we recognize Athenaea as a synonym of Aureliana and propose five new combinations. The list of accepted species is presented. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 00 , 000–000.     

First reported case of lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) in Lithuania,confirmed biochemically and by DNA analysis

We report on an 18-year-old Lithuanian girl with hepatosplenomegaly noticed at birth, which progressed thereafter. The patient had to wait about 17 years for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Lactase deficiency, congenital cataract of the right eye, and osteoporosis were observed. Episodes of drowsiness were caused by intake of high-protein food. Laboratory findings included slight hyperammonaemia, high plasma Citr, Ala, Gly, Glu, Ser levels, as well as citrullinuria, lysinuria, glutaminuria, alaninuria, argininuria, prolinuria, hydroxyprolinuria, ornithinuria, and orotic aciduria. Aversion to high-protein diet strongly suggested a disorder resulting in hyperammonaemia. Citrullinaemia was suspected. Subsequently the diagnosis of LPI was made on the basis of biochemical and clinical features. Molecular genetic testing revealed a mutation in the SLC7A7 gene, confirming the diagnosis.     

Development and evolution of the pallium

The neocortex is the most representative and elaborated structure of the mammalian brain and is related to the achievement of complex cognitive capabilities, which are disturbed following malformation or lesion. Searching for the evolutionary origin of this structure continues to be one of the most important and challenging questions in comparative neurobiology. However, this is extremely difficult because of the highly divergent evolution of the pallium in different vertebrates, which has obscured the comparison. Herein, we review developmental neurobiology data for trying to understand the genetic factors that define and underlie the parcellation of homologous pallial subdivisions in different vertebrates. According to these data, the pallium in all tetrapods parcellates during development into four major histogenetic subdivisions, which are homologous as fields across species. The neocortex derives from the dorsal pallium and, as such, is only comparable to the sauropsidian dorsal pallium (avian hyperpallium and lizard/turtle dorsal cortex). We also tried to identify developmental changes in phylogeny that may be responsible of pallial divergent evolution. In particular, we point out to evolutionary differences regarding the cortical hem (an important signaling center for pallial patterning, that also is a source of Cajal–Retzius cells, which are involved in cortical lamination), which may be behind the distinct organization of the pallium in mammals and non-mammals. In addition, we mention recent data suggesting a correlation between the appearance and elaboration of the subventricular zone (a new germinative cell layer of the developing neocortex), and the evolution of novel cell layers (the supragranular layers) and interneuron subtypes. Finally, we comment on epigenetic factors that modulate the developmental programs, leading to changes in the formation of functional areas in the pallium (within some constraints).     

Arylsulphatase activity in the oviduct of the frogRana esculenta. II. Progesterone-induced changes following ovariectomy and hypophysectomy

Summary The effects of progesterone treatment on arylsulphatase activity were studied histochemically and biochemically in the frog oviduct under different experimental conditions. In ovariectomized animals, the hormone induced a large increase in enzyme activity, while in hypophysectomized ones there was a large decrease in this activity. These results indicate that the facilitatory and inhibitory effects of progesterone on arylsulphatase activity are influenced by the presencein situ of the gonad. Hypotheses are advanced to explain different effects of the progesterone treatment.     

Rapid stimulation by vasopressin, oxytocin and angiotensin II of glycogen degradation in hepatocyte suspensions

1. The hormonal control of glycogen breakdown was studied in hepatocytes isolated from livers of fed rats. 2. Glucose release was stimulated by [8-arginine]vasopressin (10pm–10nm), oxytocin (1nm–1μm), and angiotensin II (1nm–0.1μm). These responses are all at least as sensitive to hormone as is glucose output in the perfused rat liver. 3. The effect of these three hormones on glucose release was critically dependent on extracellular Ca²⁺, unlike that of glucagon. Half-maximal restoration of the vasopressin response occurred if 0.3mm-Ca²⁺ was added back to the incubation medium. 4. Glycogen breakdown was more than sufficient to account for the glucose released into the medium, in the absence or presence of hormones. Lactate release by hepatocytes was not affected by vasopressin, but was inhibited by glucagon. 5. If Ca²⁺ was omitted from the extracellular medium, vasopressin stimulated glycogenolysis, but not glucose release. 6. The phosphorylase a content of hepatocytes was increased by vasopressin, oxytocin and angiotensin II; minimum effective concentrations were 0.1pm, 0.1nm and 10pm respectively. This response was also dependent on Ca²⁺. 7. These results demonstrate that hepatocytes can respond to low concentrations of vasopressin and angiotensin II, i.e. these effects are likely to be relevant in the intact animal. The role of extracellular Ca²⁺ in the effects of these hormones on hepatic glycogenolysis and glucose release is discussed.     

Evidence that Lithium Alters Phosphoinositide Metabolism: Chronic Administration Elevates Primarily d-myo-Inositol-1-Phosphate in Cerebral Cortex of the Rat

The administration of LiCl (3.6 mequiv./kg/day) to adult male rats for 9 days results in an increase in the cerebral cortex level of myo-inositol-1-phosphate (M1P) to 4.43 +/- 0.52 mmol/kg (dry weight) compared with a control level of 0.24 +/- 0.02 mmol/kg. This establishes that the previously observed acute effect of lithium on M1P (Allison et al., 1976) is both prolonged and augmented by repeated doses of lithium. Larger doses of LiCl over a 3-5 day period result in even larger increases in M1P and a 35% decrease in myo-inositol. In each case, 90% of the increase is due to the D-enantiomer, evidence that lithium is largely producing this effect via phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide metabolism. Data are presented showing that lithium is an uncompetitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of both D- and L-M1P by M1P'ase.     

Is haplogroup X present in extant South American Indians?

A total of 1,159 mitochondrial DNA samples from two Mongolian, two Siberian, and 25 South Native American populations was surveyed for the presence of the C16278T mutation, frequently found in haplogroup X. Material from 25 carriers of that mutation was then sequenced for the hypervariable segment I (HVS-I) control region, and those that still were not classifiable in classical Amerindian haplogroups were further studied. The tests involved all the control region, as well as the presence of characteristic mutations in seven coding fragments, totalling 5,760 base pairs. The results indicate that haplogroup X is not present in these samples.     

Sequence and structural aspects of the functional diversification of plant alcohol dehydrogenases

The glycolytic proteins in plants are coded by small multigene families, which provide an interesting contrast to the high copy number of gene families studied to date. The alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) genes encode glycolytic enzymes that have been characterized in some plant families. Although the amino acid sequences of zinc-containing long-chain ADHs are highly conserved, the metabolic function of this enzyme is variable. They also have different patterns of expression and are submitted to differences in nonsynonymous substitution rates between gene copies. It is possible that the Adh copies have been retained as a consequence of adaptative amino acid replacements which have conferred subtle changes in function. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that there have been a number of separate duplication events within angiosperms, and that genes labeled Adh1, Adh2 and Adh3 in different groups may not be homologous. Nonsynonymous/synonymous ratios yielded no signs of positive selection. However, the coefficients of functional divergence (theta) estimated between the Adh1 and Adh2 gene groups indicate statistically significant site-specific shift of evolutionary rates between them, as well as between those of different botanical families, suggesting that altered functional constraints may have taken place at some amino acid residues after their diversification. The theoretical three-dimensional structure of the alcohol dehydrogenase from Arabis blepharophylla was constructed and verified to be stereochemically valid.     

Diversification in the South American Pampas: the genetic and morphological variation of the widespread Petunia axillaris complex (Solanaceae)

Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of genetic variation and the ways in which this distribution is connected to the ecological context of natural populations is fundamental for understanding the nature and mode of intraspecific and, ultimately, interspecific differentiation. The Petunia axillaris complex is endemic to the grasslands of southern South America and includes three subspecies: P. a. axillaris, P. a. parodii and P. a. subandina. These subspecies are traditionally delimited based on both geography and floral morphology, although the latter is highly variable. Here, we determined the patterns of genetic (nuclear and cpDNA), morphological and ecological (bioclimatic) variation of a large number of P. axillaris populations and found that they are mostly coincident with subspecies delimitation. The nuclear data suggest that the subspecies are likely independent evolutionary units, and their morphological differences may be associated with local adaptations to diverse climatic and/or edaphic conditions and population isolation. The demographic dynamics over time estimated by skyline plot analyses showed different patterns for each subspecies in the last 100 000 years, which is compatible with a divergence time between 35 000 and 107 000 years ago between P. a. axillaris and P. a. parodii, as estimated with the IMa program. Coalescent simulation tests using Approximate Bayesian Computation do not support previous suggestions of extensive gene flow between P. a. axillaris and P. a. parodii in their contact zone.