Surveying polypeptide and protein domain conformation and association with FlAsH and ReAsH

Recombinant polypeptides and protein domains containing two cysteine pairs located distal in primary sequence but proximal in the native folded or assembled state are labeled selectively in vitro and in mammalian cells using the profluorescent biarsenical reagents FlAsH-EDT2 and ReAsH-EDT2. This strategy, termed bipartite tetracysteine display, enables the detection of protein-protein interactions and alternative protein conformations in live cells. As proof of principle, we show that the equilibrium stability and fluorescence intensity of polypeptide-biarsenical complexes correlates with the thermodynamic stability of the protein fold or assembly. Destabilized protein variants form less stable and less bright biarsenical complexes, which allows discrimination of live cells expressing folded polypeptide and protein domains from those containing disruptive point mutations. Bipartite tetracysteine display may provide a means to detect early protein misfolding events associated with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and cystic fibrosis; it may also enable high-throughput screening of compounds that stabilize discrete protein folds.     

Spiritual hair: dreadlocks and the bodies multiple in Rastafari

In anthropology, the body is theorized, manifested, and experienced in multiple ways that impact medical practice, social life, biopolitics, and spirituality. This article considers the role of ‘dreadlocks’ (matted hair) in the Rastafari spiritual body and, guided by the ‘body multiple’ concept, explores how the symbolic and performative nature of hair articulates with age and gender. Ethnographic data from the United Kingdom suggest the ways dreadlocks are groomed and/or covered vary widely, revealing diversity and changing meanings attributed to matted hair. By focusing on the spiritual aspects of hair, our work shows that dreadlocks and baldness are outward (visible) and inward (hidden) manifestations of a covenant with Jah (the Creator), rather than contrasting social or psychological statements. The hair symbolism debate in anthropology reveals limitations of universalist and reductionist approaches to understanding the human body. Our Rastafari material suggests the body multiple provides a better framework for interpreting (African-inspired) spiritual hair.     

Climate Records,Isotopes, and C:N Stoichiometry Reveal Carbon and Nitrogen Flux Dynamics Differ Between Functional Groups of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi

Ecosystems - A major functional division in ectomycorrhizal fungi is between taxa with hydrophobic ectomycorrhizae (strong proteolytic capabilities, deep nitrogen (N) acquisition, and extensive...     

Spatial distribution and landscape associations of large-antlered deer

For more than a century, the Boone and Crockett Club has kept records of harvest locations for 38 categories of North American big game, which includes measurement details and sizes of enduring characteristics (e.g., antlers, skulls, horns). All white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) entered in the Club records (i.e., record deer) have large antlers because the measurements must meet or exceed a minimum size to qualify for entry. We used the records from the Club to test the hypothesis that the spatial distribution in the harvest of record deer was related to the number of antlered deer harvested, variations in land productivity, soil mineral content, and attributes of land cover for 9 states in the midwestern United States. We used a Bayesian theoretical framework to develop a spatial model that examined the influence of explanatory variables on the number of record deer harvested in each county. In our study area, 3,658 record deer were harvested in 692 of the 856 counties (80.8%). More record deer were harvested in counties that had more high-contrast edges, less contiguous land cover, and greater variation in soil productivity. These results provide information for managers and hunters to better understand the spatial distribution of record deer and factors that are correlated with their distribution. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.     

Exploring sample cross-contamination in fish epidermal mucus

Cross-contamination of epidermal mucus was assessed at three sampling locations on the bodies of Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis by inducing contact between fish coated with labelled synthetic mucus and non-treated fish. Results indicate a positive relationship between sampling site exposure and sample contamination and that mucous sample cross-contamination can be mitigated by sampling in a location protected from external contact.     

Genetic structure of endangered lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta in Canada reveals a differentiated population in a precarious habitat

We used mitochondrial DNA to assess the genetic structure of endangered lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta across its Canadian range. We found unique mitochondrial haplotypes in Lyons Creek, a tributary of the Niagara River that faces a strong potential for habitat deterioration. Lyons Creek may therefore serve as a reservoir of unique genetic diversity. The sensitivity of Lyons Creek, combined with the genetic uniqueness of its E. sucetta population, call for further investigation into whether this population should be considered a separate designatable unit for conservation purposes.     

Long‐term studies on restoration of Connecticut River anadromous sea lamprey,Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus 1758: Trend in annual adult runs,abundance cycle,and nesting

This study is the first to evaluate the results of 60 years of restoring anadromous sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, to historical spawning and rearing habitats using fish passage at barrier dams in the Connecticut River, USA. We obtained counts of pre‐spawning adult P. marinus annually passed upstream at Holyoke Dam (river km 140), Connecticut River, MA, during 37 years (1978–2014), and we counted P. marinus nests during 25 years (1986–2010) in the Fort River, a tributary upstream of Holyoke Dam. These two data sets were used to study relationships between adult passage and subsequent nesting and to study nesting timing and ecology. During the 37 years, annual adult P. marinus abundance at Holyoke Dam ranged from 15,000 to 95,000, but regression analysis found no trend (p = .50) for increasing annual adult abundance with years. However, during the 37 years, adults gained access via fish passage at dams to an estimated double the amount of spawning and rearing habitat upstream compared to the 1970s. The lack of a trend for increased adult abundance is consistent with a hypothesis of non‐natal river homing by adults. However, the lack of a trend in adult abundance, when many more larvae are likely present in the watershed compared to the 1970s, is inconsistent with the hypothesis that greater numbers of larvae (and greater concentration of larval pheromone) results in greater number of adults attracted to a river. Instead of an abundance trend of adults with years, we found a rare life history phenomenon occurs in anadromous adult P. marinus ─ an abundance cycle with peaks at 6 year intervals (autocorrelation analysis, p = .04). Comparison of passage timing with nesting timing found passage did not affect nesting initiation or duration (p = .61). Annual date of nesting initiation strongly affected the duration of nesting with earlier nesting resulting in longer nesting (p = .001). Time series comparing Fort River temperature and discharge with nesting found these factors did not clearly predict annual initiation of nesting. This suggests a role for day length (photoperiod) as the trigger for nesting initiation (most nesting began annually during 1–14 June, all year mean, 7 June), regardless of river conditions. However, river discharge may affect nesting ecology because most nesting occurred during decreasing discharge when variability in daily discharge was small (stable discharge). The present research on passage and nesting contributes to a new Connecticut River restoration program for P. marinus, which is a keystone fish species in the watershed.