Trophic levels in community food webs

Summary Four concepts are considered for the trophic level of a species in a community food web. The long-way-up-level (or LU-level) of species A is the length of the longest simple food chain from a basal species (one with no prey in the web) to A. (A simple chain is a chain that does not pass through any given species more than once.) The short-way-up-level (SU-level) of species A is the length of the shortest chain from a basal species to A. The long-way-down-level (LD-level) of species A is the length of the longest simple chain from species A to a top species (one with no consumers in the web). The short-way-down-level (SD-level) of species A is the length of the shortest chain from species A to a top species. The stratigraphy of a web is the analogue for species of the pyramid of numbers for individuals: it is the frequency distribution of species according to level. The LU-, SU-, LD-, and SD-stratigraphies of the seven webs in the Briand-Cohen collection with 30 or more trophic species reveal no species with LU-level or LD-level more than 6, no species with SU-level more than 3, and no species with SD-level more than 2. In all seven webs, SD-levels are stochastically less than SU-levels: species tend to be closer to a top predator than to a basal species. Two stochastic models of food web structure (the cascade model and the homogeneous superlinear model) correctly predict that 95% or more of species should have LU-level and LD-level in the range 0–6. The models also correctly predict some details of the distribution of species in the SU- and SD-stratigraphies, particularly the fraction of species in level 1. The models do not, in general, correctly predict the distribution of species within the range 0–6 of LU-levels and LD-levels.     

In the quest for new targets for pathogen eradication: the adenylosuccinate synthetase from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori

Adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS) is an enzyme at regulatory point of purine metabolism. In pathogenic organisms which utilise only the purine salvage pathway, AdSS asserts itself as a promising drug target. One of these organisms is Helicobacter pylori, a wide-spread human pathogen involved in the development of many diseases. The rate of H. pylori antibiotic resistance is on the increase, making the quest for new drugs against this pathogen more important than ever. In this context, we describe here the properties of H. pylori AdSS. This enzyme exists in a dimeric active form independently of the presence of its ligands. Its narrow stability range and pH-neutral optimal working conditions reflect the bacterium’s high level of adaptation to its living environment. Efficient inhibition of H. pylori AdSS with hadacidin and adenylosuccinate gives hope of finding novel drugs that aim at eradicating this dangerous pathogen.     

Palaeoecological evolution of a spring-fed fen in Pawłów (eastern Poland)

A continuous record of sedimentation in spring-fed fens makes them suitable for detailed palaeoenvironmental studies. A newly investigated cupola spring-fed fen (Paw?ów site), located in the Lublin chalkland, eastern Poland, was the object of our study. This special karst region is characterised by the occurrence of Upper Cretaceous carbonate rocks in the substratum. Sedimentological observations indicated strong variability of biogenic-carbonate series in the deposits (=peat-tufa rhythmite), reflects changes of accumulation conditions (oxidising versus reducing), resulting from alternate occurrence of warmer and cooler periods. Difficulties in pollen analysis due to oxidising conditions necessitate a multidisciplinary approach for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. We used a multidisciplinary approach (sedimentological, palaeobotanical, geochemical analyses and radiocarbon dating) to determine the main evolutionary stages of this unique fen ecosystem and to discuss the role of local or/and regional factors in its development. Pollen and plant macrofossil analyses, supported by radiocarbon dating, proved that the bottom part of the cores represents the Late Glacial–Early Holocene stages of the fen development. A comparative analysis of palaeoenvironmental data showed close resemblance between the Paw?ów fen and the earlier studied fens in eastern Poland and Central-Eastern Europe, and the connection between their development and supraregional hydrological-climatic factors. The results indicated also the influence of the morphological position of such a type of ecosystem on the development of a continuous deposit succession. The occurrence of a river valley in close proximity of the Paw?ów site resulted in the lack of tufa deposits from the Atlantic period, because of an erosional phase in the river valley.     

The differences in the eyelids microstructure and the conjunctiva‐associated lymphoid tissue between selected ornamental and wild birds as a result of adaptation to their habitat

The aim of the study was to describe the morphology of the upper, lower and third eyelid and characterize the organized lymphoid follicles and diffuse lymphocytes from ornamental and wild birds. The goal of these examinations was also to identify avian conjunctiva‐associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) and lymphoid tissue that contained specialized high endothelial venules. The upper, lower and third eyelid from 30 species of ornamental and wild birds representing 21 families were examined under light microscopy and using scanning electron microscopy. The third eyelid in all of the examined birds was composed of a free margin, which was divided into two parts. The largest tarsal plate of the third eyelid was observed in the greater rhea (Rheimorphae), the white‐tailed eagle and steppe eagle (Accipitrimorphae) and was approximately 13–15 mm wide and 9–11 mm long, respectively. In all of the examined birds, the CALT was associated with a rich network of small vessels. In addition, the presence of characteristic high endothelial venules and roundish bright endothelial cells was confirmed in the upper and lower eyelids or only in the lower eyelid (Phoenicopterimorphae, Procellariimorphae and Strigimorphae).     

Lipase‐catalyzed kinetic resolution of novel antitubercular benzoxazole derivatives

Novel benzoxazole derivatives were synthesized, and their antitubercular activity against sensitive and drug‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains (M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv, M. tuberculosis sp. 210, M. tuberculosis sp. 192, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium kansasii) was evaluated. The chemical step included preparation of ketones, alcohols, and esters bearing benzoxazole moiety. All racemic mixtures of alcohols and esters were separated in Novozyme SP 435‐catalyzed transesterification and hydrolysis, respectively. The transesterification reactions were carried out in various organic solvents (tert‐butyl methyl ether, toluene, diethyl ether, and diisopropyl ether), and depending on the solvent, the enantioselectivity of the reactions ranged from 4 to >100. The enzymatic hydrolysis of esters was performed in 2 phase tert‐butyl methyl ether/phosphate buffer (pH = 7.2) system and provided also enantiomerically enriched products (ee 88‐99%). The antitubercular activity assay has shown that synthesized compounds exhibit an interesting antitubercular activity. Racemic mixtures of alcohols, (±)‐4‐(1,3‐benzoxazol‐2‐ylsulfanyl)butan‐2‐ol ((±)‐ 3a ), (±)‐4‐[(5‐bromo‐1,3‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]butan‐2‐ol ((±)‐ 3b ), and (±)‐4‐[(5,7‐dibromo‐1,3‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]butan‐2‐ol ((±)‐ 3c ), displayed as high activity against M. scrofulaceum, M. intracellulare, M. fortuitum, and M. kansasii as commercially available antituberculosis drug‐Isoniazid. Moreover, these compounds exhibited twice higher activity toward M. avium (MIC 12.5) compared with Isoniazid (MIC 50).     

Photophysical properties ofβ-homo-tyrosine derivatives

Summary The observed monoexponential fluorescence decay of N-acetyl--homo-tyrosine methylamide (Ac-Hty-NHMe) (I) and N-acetyl-(O-methyl)--homo-tyrosine methylamide (Ac-Hty(OMe)-NHMe) (II) is supporting the rotamer population theory, according to which rotamers are responsible for heterogeneity of the fluorescence decay of N-acetyl-tyrosine amide or tyrosine incorporated within a peptide chain, in general.     

Immunohistochemical characteristics of nerve fibres supplying the porcine vas deferens. A colocalisation study

 Double-labelling immunofluorescence was used to investigate the coexistence of the catecholamine-synthesising enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-β-hydroxylase and several neuropeptides including neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, Leu⁵-enkephalin, somatostatin, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P in nerve fibres supplying the vas deferens in juvenile and adult pigs. The study has revealed three major populations of nerve terminals innervating the organ: (1) noradrenergic fibres; (2) non-noradrenergic (putative cholinergic) fibres containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y and somatostatin, supplying almost exclusively the lamina propria; and (3) non-noradrenergic, presumably sensory fibres, containing calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. The population of noradrenergic nerves can be divided into three subpopulations: a somatostatin-containing, a Leu⁵-enkephalin-containing and a subpopulation immunonegative to the peptides investigated, in descending order of magnitude. Coexistence patterns of the substances existing within nerve fibres supplying the vas deferens blood vessels are clearly different from those found in nerve fibres innervating the organ wall. The majority of the noradrenergic fibres associated with blood vessels contain neuropeptide Y only, while non-noradrenergic perivascular nerves contain predominantly vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The possibility of different sources of origin of the particular nerve fibre subpopulations supplying the porcine vas deferens and its blood vessels is discussed. Accepted: 23 October 1996     

Amino acid metabolism in the pedicel-placenta-chalazal region of the developing maize kernel

The pedicel-placenta-chalazal (PPCh) region is a heterogeneous maternal tissue located at the base of the endosperm. Its active role in the transport and metabolism of nitrogen compounds supplied to the endosperm has been shown by incorporation of labelled compounds, as well as by analysis of appropriate enzyme activities and the free amino acid pool. Within 30 min incubation, 60–70% of the label given in [¹⁴C]aspartate or [¹⁴C]glutamate was recovered in the organic acid fraction of the PPCh. Although the dry matter and protein content of the PPCh region was practically unchanged between days 15 and 30 after pollination, glutamate transaminase, alanine transaminase, NADP-malic enzyme and NAD-malate dehydrogenase were increased substantially. The PPCh region contains glutamine at a significantly higher concentration and alanine at a lower concentration than the endosperm. In contrast to glutamate synthase, the activity of glutamine synthetase per endosperm and per mg protein is significantly higher in the PPCh region. This implies involvement of these tissues in the transport of nitrogen compounds, mainly in the form of glutamine, as well as possible compartmentation of the glutamine-glutamate cycle in the developing maize kernel.