3,3′-di-O-Methylellagic acid 4-O-rhamnoside from the roots of Prosopis juliflora

From the roots of Prosopis juliflora a new glycoside, 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid 4-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, and procyanidin have been characterized.     

An experimental field study of a eurytopic anole, Anolis oculatus

A manipulative field experiment, to investigate the interaction of physiology with ecolgy, is described. Body temperatures of four ecotypes of the lizard Anolis oculatus were studied in their natural habitats on the ecologically diverse island of Dominica. A sample of each ecotypic population was then transferred to one of four 12 times 12 metre experimental enclosures, situated in one of the original habitats. The four in situ populations were found to differ significantly in mean body temperature, and, to a lesser extent, in the degree of thermoregulation. Howerve, no differences were found between enclosed populations. This experiment demonstrates that the apparent differences in the thermal preference of the different ecotypes are attributable solely to the availabiltity of thermal microclimates in the different habitats. The apparent lack of specialization of physiogical traits is surprising in view of the fine-scaled evolutionary adjustment of morphology to geographic variation in local environment that has been recorded in this species, and suggests that more detailed examination of physiology and ecology would be fruitful.     

Mitochondrial DNA variations in ova and blastocyst: Implications in assisted reproduction

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of oocyte is critical for its function, embryo quality and development. Analysis of complete mtDNA of 49 oocytes and 18 blastocysts from 67 females opting for IVF revealed 437 nucleotide variations. 40.29% samples had either disease associated or non-synonymous novel or pathogenic mutation in evolutionarily conserved regions. Samples with disease associated mtDNA mutations had low fertilization rate and poor embryo quality, however no difference in implantation or clinical pregnancy rate was observed. Screening mtDNA from oocyte/blastocyst is a simple, clinically reliable method for diagnostic evaluation of female infertility and may reduce risk of mtDNA disease transmission.     

Cross-conjugated carotenoid aldehydes in Rhodopseudomonas viridis

Two carotenoid aldehydes isolated from Rhodopseudomonas viridis (Rhodospirillaceae) have been identified as lycopen-20-al (13-cis-ψ, ψ-caroten-20-al) and the novel 3,4-didehydro-1,2-dihydrolycopen-20 (or 20′)-al (3,4-didehydro-1,2-dihydro-ψ,ψ-caroten-20-al or 3′, 4′-didehydro-1′,2′-dihydro-ψ,ψ-caroten-20-al). Some extracts also contained acetonyl derivatives, probably artefacts produced from the cross-conjugated carotenoid aldehydes and acetone under alkaline conditions. The distribution of cross-conjugated caroten-20-als in photosynthetic bacteria is discussed.     

Gbetagamma-mediated regulation of Golgi organization is through the direct activation of protein kinase D.

We have shown previously that the betagamma subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins regulate the organization of the pericentriolarly localized Golgi stacks. In this report, evidence is presented that the downstream target of Gbetagamma is protein kinase D (PKD), an isoform of protein kinase C. PKD, unlike other members of this class of serine/threonine kinases, contains a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. Our results demonstrate that Gbetagamma directly activates PKD by interacting with its PH domain. Inhibition of PKD activity through the use of pharmacological agents, synthetic peptide substrates, and, more specifically, the PH domain of PKD prevents Gbetagamma-mediated Golgi breakdown. Our findings suggest a possible mechanism by which the direct interaction of Gbetagamma with PKD regulates the dynamics of Golgi membranes and protein secretion.