Nitrogen isotope ratios shift with plant size in tropical bromeliads

We describe an ontogenetic shift in nitrogen (N) isotopic values in two rosette-forming epiphytic bromeliads. Leaf tissue N isotope values of small individuals of two bromeliad species (mean –6.2) differed from those of large individuals within each species (mean –0.5). Using references for potential N sources, we calculated the relative contribution of autochthonous (soil-derived through leaf litter) and allochthonous (atmospheric deposition) N with a two-member mixing model. Atmospheric sources contributed as much as 77–80% of the N in small individuals, whereas soil-derived N contributed 64–72% (conservative reference value) to 100% (less conservative reference value) of leaf tissue N in large plants. Shifts in N source with increasing plant size may be important aspects of rainforest complexity, an understudied aspect of ecosystem diversity.Due to an error in the citation line, this revised PDF (published in December 2003) deviates from the printed version, and is the correct and authoritative version of the paper.     

Epiphytic and terrestrial mycorrhizas in a lower montane Costa Rican cloud forest

The epiphyte community is the most diverse plant community in neotropical cloud forests and its collective biomass can exceed that of the terrestrial shrubs and herbs. However, little is known about the role of mycorrhizas in this community. We assessed the mycorrhizal status of epiphytic (Araceae, Clusiaceae, Ericaceae, and Piperaceae) and terrestrial (Clusiaceae, Ericaceae) plants in a lower montane cloud forest in Costa Rica. Arbuscular mycorrhizas were observed in taxa from Araceae and Clusiaceae; ericoid mycorrhizas were observed in ericaceous plants. This is the first report of intracellular hyphal coils characteristic of ericoid mycorrhizas in roots of Cavendishia melastomoides, Disterigma humboldtii, and Gaultheria erecta. Ericaceous roots were also covered by an intermittent hyphal mantle that penetrated between epidermal cells. Mantles, observed uniquely on ericaceous roots, were more abundant on terrestrial than on epiphytic roots. Mantle abundance was negatively correlated with gravimetric soil water content for epiphytic samples. Dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi colonized roots of all four families. For the common epiphyte D. humboldtii, DSE structures were most abundant on samples collected from exposed microsites in the canopy. The presence of mycorrhizas in all epiphytes except Peperomia sp. suggests that inoculum levels and environmental conditions in the canopy of tropical cloud forests are generally conducive to the formation of mycorrhizas. These may impact nutrient and water dynamics in arboreal ecosystems.     

Linkage mapping of the spinal muscular atrophy gene

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common autosomal recessive disorder resulting in loss of motor neurons. We have performed linkage analysis on a panel of families using nine markers that are closely linked to the SMA gene. The highest lod score was obtained with the marker D5S351 (Z_max = 10.04 at = 0 excluding two unlinked families, and Z_max = 8.77 at = 0.007 with all families). One type III family did not show linkage to the 5q13 markers, and in one type I consanguineous family the affected individual did not show homozygosity except for the marker D5S435. Three recombinants were identified with the closest centromeric marker, D5S435, which position the gene telomeric of this marker. These recombinants will facilitate finer mapping of the location of the SMA gene. Lastly, two families provide strong evidence for a remarkable variability in presentation of the SMA phenotype, with the age at onset in one family varying from 17 months to 13 years.     

Regulation of the arginine dihydrolase pathway in Clostridium sporogenes.

Arginine deiminase activity was induced during the vegetative growth of Clostridium sporogenes. The enzyme was sensitive to catabolite repression. The other enzymes of the arginine dihydrolase pathway, namely, ornithine carbamoyl-transferase and carbamate kinase, did not show such variation.     

Steroid dehydrogenases in the adrenal gland of four species of birds: a histochemical study

Synopsis The presence of⁵-3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, II-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase has been demonstrated histochemically in the adrenal gland of the rain quailCoturnix coromendalica, barn owlTyto alba, brown crakeAmaurornis akool and painted partidgeFrancholinus pictus. All these enzymes occurred in the inter-renal cells. No activity was observed in the chromaffin cells. It is suggested that the inter-renal cells of these four species of birds are capable of synthesizing both corticosteroids and sex steroids.     

Steroid synthesizing cellular sites in the ovaries of Calotes versicolor (Daud.), Hemidactylus flaviviridis (Ruppel) & Chamaeleon calcaratus (Boulenger): histochemical study.

A histochemical study of steroid synthesizing cellular sites in the ovaries of Calotes versicolor (Daud.), Hemidactylus flavivirdes (Ruppel) and Chamaeleon calcaratus (Boulenger) is discussed. THe distribution of delta 5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide diaphorase enzyme activities was studied in ovaries of the 3 species of lizards. All the enzyme activities occurred in 1) patches of cells of theca interna; 2) granulosa cells of large preovulatory, postovulatory, and atretic follicles; 3) interstitial cells of the ovarian stroma; and in the 4) ooplasm of the growing oocyte, suggesting their steroidogenic capacity. It was observed that following completion of follicular atresia, the phagocytic granulosa cells degenerate and the remaining cells of theca interna contribute to the formation of interstitial gland cells.     

Root biomass distribution in a moist tropical montane forest

Effects of N sources (ammonium, nitrate and ammonitrate) and VA mycorrhizae (Glomus intraradices) on rhizosphere soil characteristics (pH, exchangeable acidity, exchangeable cations, inorganic N concentrations) growth and nutrient acquisition of coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica L. cv guatemala) were investigated in a pot study with an acid soil (Red Bluff Loam) sterilized by autoclaving. Ammonium addition decreased rhizosphere pH while nitrate and ammonitrate additions both increased rhizosphere pH. Mycorrhizae induced a higher pH, a lower exchangeable acidity and higher values of exchangeable cations in the rhizosphere. Ammonium addition resulted in a lower mycorrhizal infection than the two other N sources. Mycorrhizal plants grew better and accumulated more N, Ca and Mg than non-mycorrhizal plants.     

VitaPad: visualization tools for the analysis of pathway data

MOTIVATION: Packages that support the creation of pathway diagrams are limited by their inability to be readily extended to new classes of pathway-related data. RESULTS: VitaPad is a cross-platform application that enables users to create and modify biological pathway diagrams and incorporate microarray data with them. It improves on existing software in the following areas: (i) It can create diagrams dynamically through graph layout algorithms. (ii) It is open-source and uses an open XML format to store data, allowing for easy extension or integration with other tools. (iii) It features a cutting-edge user interface with intuitive controls, high-resolution graphics and fully customizable appearance. AVAILABILITY: http://bioinformatics.med.yale.edu CONTACTS: matthew.holford@yale.edu; hongyu.zhao@yale.edu.     

Dressed neurons: modeling neural-glial interactions

Based on recent experimental data, we design a model for neuronal membrane potentials that incorporates the influence of the surrounding glia (dressed neurons). A neurotransmitter released into the synaptic cleft triggers a Ca(2+) response in nearby glial cells that spreads as a Ca(2+) wave and interacts with other synapses via the release of glutamate from astrocytes. We consider the simple case of a neuron-glia circuit that consists of a single neuron that triggers a Ca(2+) response in the glial cell which in turn feeds back into synapses of the same neuron. It is shown that persistent spiking can occur if the glutamate receptors on the astrocytes are overexpressed--a condition that has been reported from patients suffering from mesial-lobe epilepsy.