Critical thermal maxima and minima of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Decapoda: Palaemonidae)

1. Critical thermal maxima (CTMax) and minima (CTMin) were determined for postlarvae and juveniles of Macrobrachium rosenbergii acclimated at 20, 23, 26, 29 and 32±1°C. 2. At each acclimation temperature the CTMax and CTMin for postlarvae were 37.3, 38.3, 39.0, 41.0, 41.6°C and 10.0, 11.0, 13.0, 14.8, 16.8°C respectively and for juveniles 36.5, 38.4, 39.2, 41.5, 42.0 and 10.5, 11.3, 13.3, 14.6, 16.4°C respectively. 3. We found no indication of significant differences (P>0.05) in the CTMax and CTMin of the prawn postlarvae and juveniles. 4. The zone of thermal tolerance base on the CTMax and CTMin boundaries for postlarvae was 821.2°C² and 816.9°C² for juveniles, showing a high degree of eurythermality. To cultivate this species it should be done in no less than 16°C (CTMin) and below 42°C.     

Peptide alkaloids of Scutia buxifolia

Two new components, the peptide alkaloid scutianine D and scutianene C have been isolated from Scutia buxifolia and their structures elucidated. The configuration of some of the asymmetric centers of scutianine A has been determined by gas chromatography.     

Studies on bacterial esterases

Summary From a cell-free enzyme solution ofPs. aeruginosa lipase and ali-esterase were separated by means of paper electrophoresis. Part I: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek32, 241, 1957.     

Genetic and morphological evidence of a geographically widespread hybrid zone between two crocodile species,Crocodylus acutus and Crocodylus moreletii

Hybrid zones represent natural laboratories to study gene flow, divergence and the nature of species boundaries between closely related taxa. We evaluated the level and extent of hybridization between Crocodylus moreletii and Crocodylus acutus using genetic and morphological data on 300 crocodiles from 65 localities. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic study that includes the entire historic range and sympatric zone of the two species. Contrary to expectations, Bayesian admixture proportions and maximum‐likelihood estimates of hybrid indexes revealed that most sampled crocodiles were admixed and that the hybrid zone is geographically extensive, extending well beyond their historical region of sympatry. We identified a few geographically isolated, nonadmixed populations of both parental species. Hybrids do not appear to be F₁s or recent backcrosses, but rather are more likely later‐generation hybrids, suggesting that hybridization has been going on for several to many generations and is mostly the result of natural processes. Crocodylus moreletii is not the sister species of C. acutus, suggesting that the hybrid zone formed from secondary contact rather than primary divergence. Nonadmixed individuals from the two species were distinguishable based on morphological characters, whereas hybrids had a complex mosaic of morphological characters that hinders identification in the wild. Very few nonadmixed C. acutus and C. moreletii populations exist in the wild. Consequently, the last nonadmixed C. moreletii populations have become critically endangered. Indeed, not only the parental species but also the naturally occurring hybrids should be considered for their potential conservation value.     

Predicting muscle fatigue: a response surface approximation based on proper generalized decomposition technique

A novel technique is proposed to predict force reduction in skeletal muscle due to fatigue under the influence of electrical stimulus parameters and muscle physiological characteristics. Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided in four groups (\(n=3\)) to obtain the active force evolution of in vitro Extensor Digitorum Longus muscles for an hour of repeated contractions under different electrical stimulation patterns. Left and right muscles were tested, and a total of 24 samples were used to construct a response surface based in the proper generalized decomposition. After the response surface development, one additional rabbit was used to check the predictive potential of the technique. This multidimensional surface takes into account not only the decay of the maximum repeated peak force, but also the shape evolution of each contraction, muscle weight, electrical input signal and stimulation protocol. This new approach of the fatigue simulation challenge allows to predict, inside the multispace surface generated, the muscle response considering other stimulation patterns, different tissue weight, etc.     

Simple inhibitors of histone deacetylase activity that combine features of short-chain fatty acid and hydroxamic acid inhibitors

Butyric acid and trichostatin A (TSA) are anti-cancer compounds that cause the upregulation of genes involved in differentiation and cell cycle regulation by inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. In this study we have synthesized and evaluated compounds that combine the bioavailability of short-chain fatty acids, like butyric acid, with the bidentate binding ability of TSA. A series of analogs were made to examine the effects of chain length, simple aromatic cap groups, and substituted hydroxamates on the compounds' ability to inhibit rat-liver HDAC using a fluorometric assay. In keeping with previous structure-activity relationships, the most effective inhibitors consisted of longer chains and hydroxamic acid groups. It was found that 5-phenylvaleric hydroxamic acid and 4-benzoylbutyric hydroxamic acid were the most potent inhibitors with IC50's of 5 microM and 133 microM respectively.     

Functional significance of the Rad51-Srs2 complex in Rad51 presynaptic filament disruption

The SRS2 (Suppressor of RAD Six screen mutant 2) gene encodes an ATP-dependent DNA helicase that regulates homologous recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutations in SRS2 result in a hyper-recombination phenotype, sensitivity to DNA damaging agents and synthetic lethality with mutations that affect DNA metabolism. Several of these phenotypes can be suppressed by inactivating genes of the RAD52 epistasis group that promote homologous recombination, implicating inappropriate recombination as the underlying cause of the mutant phenotype. Consistent with the genetic data, purified Srs2 strongly inhibits Rad51-mediated recombination reactions by disrupting the Rad51-ssDNA presynaptic filament. Srs2 interacts with Rad51 in the yeast two-hybrid assay and also in vitro. To investigate the functional relevance of the Srs2-Rad51 complex, we have generated srs2 truncation mutants that retain full ATPase and helicase activities, but differ in their ability to interact with Rad51. Importantly, the srs2 mutant proteins attenuated for Rad51 interaction are much less capable of Rad51 presynaptic filament disruption. An internal deletion in Srs2 likewise diminishes Rad51 interaction and anti-recombinase activity. We also present evidence that deleting the Srs2 C-terminus engenders a hyper-recombination phenotype. These results highlight the importance of Rad51 interaction in the anti-recombinase function of Srs2, and provide evidence that this Srs2 function can be uncoupled from its helicase activity.     

A 17 bp deletion in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 (BMP15) gene is associated to increased prolificacy in the Rasa Aragonesa sheep breed

Different mutations in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 (BMP15) and the Growth Differentiation Factor 9 (GDF9) genes cause increased ovulation rate and infertility in a dosage-sensitive manner in sheep. They cause increased ovulation rate and twin and triplet births in heterozygotes, and complete primary ovarian failure in homozygotes resulting in total infertility. We are here presenting a novel mutation in the second exon of the ovine BMP15 gene, found in the Spanish breed Rasa Aragonesa. It consists of a 17 bp deletion resulting in displacement of the open reading frame and premature stop codons. As a consequence, nearly 85% of the sequence of the wild type aminoacidic chain in the second exon of the BMP15 pro-protein is modified or suppressed as only the first 45 amino acids are conserved of the 245 original. The mature peptide is lost. The ewes heterozygous for this deletion present very high prolificacy (2.66 lambs/birth) when compared to a mean flock prolificacy of 1.36 lambs. The deletion causes a complete lack of functionality of the second exon of BMP15, comparable to the effect of premature stop codons in other mutations. Therefore, homozygous females for the deletion are expected to present primary ovarian failure. DNA sequence analysis of the GDF9 coding regions detected only a synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), apparently not linked to changes in prolificacy.