Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae: Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data

The Polyborinae is the most diverse subfamily of the Falconidae in terms of both morphology and behaviour, and includes falconet‐shaped birds (Spiziapteryx), arboreal omnivores (Daptrius, Ibycter), as well as terrestrial generalists and scavengers (Caracara, Milvago and Phalcoboenus). The Polyborinae are endemic to the New World, with all but one species (Caracara cheriway) being restricted to Central and South America. Using over 7300 bp of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data, we aim to clarify the taxonomy and biogeography of the Polyborinae. The genus Milvago was unexpectedly found to be polyphyletic, with Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango being related to the genus Phalcoboenus and Yellow‐headed Caracara Milvago chimachima being sister to Daptrius. Furthermore, very low genetic divergence was found among the four species of the genus Phalcoboenus, with the lowest divergence being between White‐throated Caracara Phalcoboenus albogularis and Mountain Caracara Phalcoboenus megalopterus. Our divergence time analyses revealed that the Polyborinae started to diversify in the Miocene, at about 14 Ma, and that the generalist/scavenger behaviour in the Falconidae appeared between 14 and 6.6 Ma. All speciation events within the caracaras occurred during the Pleistocene. This situation differs from the general pattern described for forest birds, in which most diversification events are older, occurring primarily in the Pliocene and Miocene.     

Cloning of the Pumpkin Ascorbate Oxidase Gene and Analysis of a Cis-Acting Region Involved in Induction by Auxin

A genomic clone encoding ascorbate oxidase was isolated frompumpkin (Cucurbita sp.)- This gene is consisted of four exonsand three introns. Analyses of the promoter fusion to ß-glucuronidasereporter gene by transient expression assay in pumpkin fruittissues suggested the existence of a cis-acting region responsiblefor auxin regulation. (Received November 28, 1996; Accepted March 8, 1997)     

Some biochemical and histochemical properties of human liver serine dehydratase

In rat, serine dehydratase (SDH) is abundant in the liver and known to be a gluconeogenic enzyme, while there is little information about the biochemical property of human liver serine dehydratase because of its low content and difficulty in obtaining fresh materials. To circumvent these problems, we purified recombinant enzyme from Escherichia coli, and compared some properties between human and rat liver serine dehydratases. Edman degradation showed that the N-terminal sequence of about 75% of human serine dehydratase starts from MetSTART-Met2-Ser3- and the rest from Ser3-, whereas the N-terminus of rat enzyme begins from the second codon of MetSTART-Ala2-. The heterogeneity of the purified preparation was totally confirmed by mass spectrometry. Accordingly, this observation in part fails to follow the general rule that the first Met is not removed when the side chain of the penultimate amino acid is bulky such as Met, Arg, Lys, etc. There existed the obvious differences in the local structures between the two enzymes as revealed by limited-proteolysis experiments using trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. The most prominent difference was found histochemically: expression of rat liver serine dehydratase is confined to the periportal region in which many enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis and urea cycle are known to coexist, whereas human liver serine dehydratase resides predominantly in the perivenous region. These findings provide an additional support to the previous notion suggested by physiological experiments that contribution of serine dehydratase to gluconeogenesis is negligible or little in human liver.     

Genetic Block of l-Glycerol-3-phosphate: NADP Oxidoreductase in the l-Glutamic Acid-producing Glycerol Auxotroph

Investigations were carried out to detect a blocked step in the glycerol biosynthesis of the glycerol auxotroph GL-21 derived from Corynebacterium alkanolyticum No. 314.

The enzyme required for the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to α-glycerophosphate was assumed to be defective, because some of glycerol derivatives and glycerol analogues substituted for glycerol as a growth factor, in which glycerides, phospholipids, surfactants and intermediary metabolites in the glycolysis pathway were included.

To confirm this assumption, the activities of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase of the mutant were compared to those of the parent. From these results, the auxotroph GL-21 was found to be deficient for a specific l-glycerol-3-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase which is indispensable for the synthesis of glycerol.     

Studies on the Chitinolytie Enzymes of Black-koji Mold

In an attempt to separate the enzyme system participating in the decomposition of glycol chitin to constituent aminosugar, the purification of chitinase of Aspergillus niger was carried out by detemining both liquefying and saccharifying activities. Using fractionation with ammonium sulfate and column chromatography by hydroxylapatite, the chitinase system of the mold was separated into different enzyme fractions, which were required for the complete hydrolysis of glycol chitin. It was found that one of these enzymes caused a rapid decrease in viscosity of glycol chitin solution, another enzyme possessed N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity upon N, N′-diacetylchitobiose and β-methyl-N-acetylglucosaminide, and that glycol chitin was decomposed to constituent aminosugar by a successive action of the two different enzymes.     

Studies on Osmophilic Yeasts

A specific phenomenon of polyalcohol production by yeasts in the medium containing high concentration of sodium chloride was described. Pichia miso, an excellent polyalcohol producing yeast, produced only one type of polyalcohol, namely glycerol, in the medium containing sodium chloride at high concentration, although the yeast could produce three kinds of polyalcohols, glycerol, d-arabitol and erythritol, in the medium containing high concentration of sugar. It was also found that the various yeasts of non-glycerol producing type, could produce a considerable amount of glycerol in the highly saline medium. This phenomenon suggests that the metabolic pathways of yeasts may be markedly altered by the high concentrations of salts.     

Studies on the Chitinolytic Enzymes of Black-koji Mold

The measurement of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity upon β-MAGA was carried out in order to survey oligosaccharidase fraction in the chitinolytic enzymes of Aspergillus niger. N-Acetyl-β-glucosaminidase was purified in parallel with chitobiase activity, being separated from chitinase activity, and some properties of the enzyme in the hydrolysis of β-MAGA and DACE were investigated. The enzyme hydrolysed more rapidly S-glueosaminidie bonds in DACE than that in β-MAGA, but did not decompose α-MAGA.     

Sulfated Purine Alkaloid Glycosides from the Pupal Case Built by the Bruchid Beetle Bruchidius dorsalis Inside the Seed of Gleditsia japonica

Three new sulfated isoguanine alkaloid glycosides, designated as saikachinoside A monosulfate ( 1 ), saikachinoside A disulfate ( 2 ), and locustoside B disulfate ( 3 ), have been isolated from the pupal case of the wild bruchid seed beetle Bruchidius dorsalis (Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) infesting the seed of Gleditsia japonica Miq . (Fabaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and the inhibitory activity of 2 and 3 against acid phosphatase was evaluated.     

A new decapod crustacean faunule from the Middle Jurassic of north‐west France

Abstract: Decapod crustacean material collected recently from the lower Callovian (Middle Jurassic) in Maine‐et‐Loire (north‐west France) comprises two new species of prosopid and one new species of tanidromitid crabs, of the genera Nodoprosopon and Tanidromites, respectively. Also represented in this faunule is a probable paguroid anomuran, in the form of isolated chelae here assigned to the genus Orhomalus, as well as appendicular remains of unknown affinity; some of the latter might belong to prosopid crabs. These anomurans and brachyurans co‐occur with a diverse benthic fauna in limestones with abundant iron ooids; their main interest lies in the fact that they add valuable data to the rather poor record of Middle Jurassic decapod crustaceans.     

On Basic Subunits Dissociated from C (11S) Component of Soybean Proteins with Urea

Galactolipase (galactolipid acyl hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.26) was purified 147-fold in good yield (91 %) from rice bran by affinity chromatography, in which the enzyme was adsorbed on a palmitoylated gauze column at pH 5.5 and then was eluted with a buffer solution containing a detergent such as sodium deoxycholate or Triton X–100 at pH 8.0. The preparation obtained was further purified by gel filtration on a Sephadex G–100 column and isoelectric focusing. After electrophoresis, the enzyme separated into four components with different isoelectric points. It seems that galactolipase in rice bran exists in multiple forms. The major component (G–2) with isoelectric point of 7.3, one of them, was purified 268-fold and electrophoretically homogeneous. The enzyme (G–2) hydrolyzed rapidly galactolipid and also slowly phospholipid, but hardly triglyceride.