Female mating preferences and male coloration covary with water transparency in a Lake Victoria cichlid fish

Rapid speciation in Lake Victoria cichlid fish of the genus Pundamilia may be facilitated by sexual selection: female mate choice exerts sexual selection on male nuptial coloration within species and maintains reproductive isolation between species. However, declining water transparency coincides with increasingly dull coloration and increasing hybridization. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying this pattern in Pundamilia nyererei, a species that interbreeds with a sister species in turbid but not in clear water. We compared measures of intraspecific sexual selection between two populations from locations that differ in water transparency. First, in laboratory mate‐choice experiments, conducted in clear water and under broad‐spectrum illumination, we found that females originating from turbid water have significantly weaker preferences for male coloration than females originating from clear water. Second, both the hue and body coverage of male coloration differ between populations, which is consistent with adaptation to different photic habitats. These findings suggest that the observed relationship between male coloration and water transparency is not mediated by environmental variation alone. Rather, female mating preferences are indicated to have changed in response to this variation, constituting the first evidence for intraspecific preference‐trait co‐evolution in cichlid fish. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99 , 398–406.     

The Challenge of Pneumocystis carinii Culture1

ABSTRACT. Published and unpublished data on the cultivation of P. carinii were reviewed by a panel of investigators convened by the National Institutes of Health. Although several cell culture systems allow propagation of P. carinii for a limited time with modest rates of replication, these have not proved adequate for isolation of P. carinii in sufficient quantity to explore important basic biological investigation. Attempts at cell-free culture have yielded only transient proliferation. Because much of the unsuccessful work on cultivation of the organism has been unpublished, the panel agreed that these data may be useful to other investigators in designing experimental strategies for cultivation. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to make available this information to researchers, lest others unknowingly repeat unsuccessful methods. It is hoped that by documenting the history and the complexities of Pneumocystis culture, renewed interest and efforts will be directed toward this fundamental scientific challenge.     

THE SPECIES-REPERTOIRE OF WHISTLED SONGS IN THE EUROPEAN STARLING: SPECIES- SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIABILITY

ABSTRACT

Observations of European starlings in France, Germany and Australia reveal surprising high similarities in the individual repertoires of whistled songs. The structure of the whistles enabled us to recognize a number of categories, in which some species-specific themes were found everywhere. They appear with the same general characteristics and variation ranges in all populations.

There seems therefore to be a basic species-specific repertoire common to all males, who have also a number of additional individual themes which characterize each male in its colony. These individual themes show also common characteristics in the different populations. The results suggest that a mechanism has evolved which canalizes the patterns to be learned. The existence of such a universal innate species-specific repertoire has also to be related to functional aspects and to the complicated dialects found in this species.     

Variability within a pea core collection of LEAM and HSP22, two mitochondrial seed proteins involved in stress tolerance

LEAM, a late embryogenesis abundant protein, and HSP22, a small heat shock protein, were shown to accumulate in the mitochondria during pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed development, where they are expected to contribute to desiccation tolerance. Here, their expression was examined in seeds of 89 pea genotypes by Western blot analysis. All genotypes expressed LEAM and HSP22 in similar amounts. In contrast with HSP22, LEAM displayed different isoforms according to apparent molecular mass. Each of the 89 genotypes harboured a single LEAM isoform. Genomic and RT‐PCR analysis revealed four LEAM genes differing by a small variable indel in the coding region. These variations were consistent with the apparent molecular mass of each isoform. Indels, which occurred in repeated domains, did not alter the main properties of LEAM. Structural modelling indicated that the class A α‐helix structure, which allows interactions with the mitochondrial inner membrane in the dry state, was preserved in all isoforms, suggesting functionality is maintained. The overall results point out the essential character of LEAM and HSP22 in pea seeds. LEAM variability is discussed in terms of pea breeding history as well as LEA gene evolution mechanisms.     

Purification and molecular properties of acid phosphatase from sycamore cell walls

Abstract. An acid phosphatase is isolated and purified to homogeneity from sycamore cell walls. The enzyme, which has a molecular weight close to 100,000, is a glycoprotein and is most probably made up of one polypeptide chain only. Its amino acid composition has been determined. Although homogeneous to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions, the enzyme preparation still contains protease traces that tend to split polypeptide chain in two fragments.     

Propagation and Purification of Rat Pneumocystis carinii in Short-Term Cell Culture

ABSTRACT. A short-term cell culture is used to propagate and purify rat-derived Pneumocystis carinii (Pc). An aliquot of pelleted material washed out of the lungs of rats with moderate to severe Pc pneumonia is cultured for 7 to 10 days on the adherent mink lung cell line Mv I Lu, and the rest of the material is frozen down in medium with 10% glycerol. Although it has not been established that substantial multiplication of Pc occurs in culture, the Pc organisms harvested from the supernatant at the end of the culture period are relatively free of both host and feeder cells. This is in marked contrast with the lung wash inoculum in which the Pc organisms are heavily contaminated with rat cells and enmeshed in a highly sticky material. Lung wash preparations frozen down in glycerol and stored at −70° C for as long as 6 months or more can be successfully cultured upon thawing with no apparent loss of viability of the Pc organisms.     

Surface Labeling of Pneumocystis carinii from in Vitro Culture

Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic pathogen of man, carried as a commensal in healthy subjects. It frequently causes a fatal pneumonia in the immunosupprcssed host. It is a major complication of HIV-1 infection in man (AIDS). Using surface radioiodination of rat-denved P. carinii trophozoites obtained from in vitro culture, a major surface glycoprotein (gp120) has been identified. The glycoprotein exhibits adherent behavior similar to that of the intact organism. Purification of gp120 by conventional methods was unsuccessful as the glycoprotein irreversibly bound lo numerous column matrices. A combination of gel chromatography and hydroxyapatile chromatography in sodium dodecylsulfaie v. as utilized to purify the glycoprotein. Some preliminary characterization of the glycoprotein is presented.     

Cloning and characterization of 29 tetranucleotide and two dinucleotide polymorphic microsatellite loci from the endangered marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)

We developed 31 novel, polymorphic microsatellite loci in the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), a critically endangered seabird. Variability was tested on 15 individuals from the Santa Cruz, California population, with each locus characterized by two to 12 alleles. Observed levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0.13 to 0.93. These loci provide a valuable means of assessing the population structure and demographic parameters of this species, which may be critical to its conservation across a fragmented habitat.     

Dimeric DOTA-α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Analogs: Synthesis and In Vivo Characteristics of Radiopeptides with High In Vitro Activity

Dimeric analogs of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) labeled with radiometals are potential candidates for diagnosis and therapy of melanoma by receptor-mediated tumor targeting. Both melanotic and amelanotic melanomas (over-)express the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R), the target for α-MSH. In the past, dimerized MSH analogs have been shown to display increased receptor affinity compared to monomeric MSH, offering the possibility of improving the ratio between specific uptake of radiolabeled α-MSH by melanoma and nonspecific uptake by the kidneys. We have designed three linear dimeric analogs containing a slightly modified MSH hexapeptide core sequence (Nle-Asp-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp) in parallel or antiparallel orientation, a short spacer, and the DOTA chelator for incorporation of the radiometal. In vitro, all three peptides were more potent ligands of the mouse B16-F1 melanoma cell melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R) than DOTA-NAPamide, which served as standard. The binding activity of DOTA-diHexa(NC-NC)-amide was 1.75-fold higher, that of diHexa(NC-NC)-Gly-Lys(DOTA)-amide was 3.37-fold higher, and that of DOTA-diHexa(CN-NC)-amide was 2.34-fold higher. Using human HBL melanoma cells, the binding activity of diHexa(NC-NC)-Gly-Lys(DOTA)-amide was sixfold higher than that of DOTA-NAPamide. Uptake by cultured B16-F1 cells was rapid and almost quantitative. In vivo, however, the data were less promising: tumor-to-kidney ratios 4 hr postinjection were 0.11 for [¹¹¹In]DOTA-diHexa(NC-NC)-amide, 0.26 for diHexa(NC-NC)-Gly-Lys([¹¹¹In]DOTA)-amide, and 0.36 for [¹¹¹In]DOTA-diHexa(CN-NC)-amide, compared to 1.67 for [¹¹¹In]DOTA-NAPamide. It appears that despite the higher affinity to the MC1-R of the peptide dimers and their excellent internalization in vitro, the uptake by melanoma tumors in vivo was lower, possibly because of reduced tissue penetration. More striking, however, was the marked increase of kidney uptake of the dimers, explaining the unfavorable ratios. In conclusion, although radiolabeled α-MSH dimer peptides display excellent receptor affinity and internalization, they are no alternative to the monomeric DOTA-NAPamide for in vivo application.     

Prey‐mediated effects of glucosinolates on aphid predators

1. Plant resistance against herbivores can act directly (e.g. by producing toxins) and indirectly (e.g. by attracting natural enemies of herbivores). If plant secondary metabolites that cause direct resistance against herbivores, such as glucosinolates, negatively influence natural enemies, this may result in a conflict between direct and indirect plant resistance. 2. Our objectives were (i) to test herbivore‐mediated effects of glucosinolates on the performance of two generalist predators, the marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and the common green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) and (ii) to test whether intraspecific plant variation affects predator performance. 3. Predators were fed either Brevicoryne brassicae, a glucosinolate‐sequestering specialist aphid that contains aphid‐specific myrosinases, or Myzus persicae, a non‐sequestering generalist aphid that excretes glucosinolates in the honeydew, reared on four different white cabbage cultivars. Predator performance and glucosinolate concentrations and profiles in B. brassicae and host‐plant phloem were measured, a novel approach as previous studies often measured glucosinolate concentrations only in total leaf material. 4. Interestingly, the specialist aphid B. brassicae selectively sequestered glucosinolates from its host plant. The performance of predators fed this aphid species was lower than when fed M. persicae. When fed B. brassicae reared on different cultivars, differences in predator performance matched differences in glucosinolate profiles among the aphids. 5. We show that not only the prey species, but also the plant cultivar can have an effect on the performance of predators. Our results suggest that in the tritrophic system tested, there might be a conflict between direct and indirect plant resistance.