Introducing an algal carbon‐concentrating mechanism into higher plants: location and incorporation of key components

Many eukaryotic green algae possess biophysical carbon‐concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) that enhance photosynthetic efficiency and thus permit high growth rates at low CO₂ concentrations. They are thus an attractive option for improving productivity in higher plants. In this study, the intracellular locations of ten CCM components in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were confirmed. When expressed in tobacco, all of these components except chloroplastic carbonic anhydrases CAH3 and CAH6 had the same intracellular locations as in Chlamydomonas. CAH6 could be directed to the chloroplast by fusion to an Arabidopsis chloroplast transit peptide. Similarly, the putative inorganic carbon (Ci) transporter LCI1 was directed to the chloroplast from its native location on the plasma membrane. CCP1 and CCP2 proteins, putative Ci transporters previously reported to be in the chloroplast envelope, localized to mitochondria in both Chlamydomonas and tobacco, suggesting that the algal CCM model requires expansion to include a role for mitochondria. For the Ci transporters LCIA and HLA3, membrane location and Ci transport capacity were confirmed by heterologous expression and H¹⁴CO₃^‐ uptake assays in Xenopus oocytes. Both were expressed in Arabidopsis resulting in growth comparable with that of wild‐type plants. We conclude that CCM components from Chlamydomonas can be expressed both transiently (in tobacco) and stably (in Arabidopsis) and retargeted to appropriate locations in higher plant cells. As expression of individual Ci transporters did not enhance Arabidopsis growth, stacking of further CCM components will probably be required to achieve a significant increase in photosynthetic efficiency in this species.     

Evolution of ASPM coding variation in apes and associations with brain structure in chimpanzees

Studying genetic mechanisms underlying primate brain morphology can provide insight into the evolution of human brain structure and cognition. In humans, loss‐of‐function mutations in the gene coding for ASPM (Abnormal Spindle Microtubule Assembly) have been associated with primary microcephaly, which is defined by a significantly reduced brain volume, intellectual disability and delayed development. However, less is known about the effects of common ASPM variation in humans and other primates. In this study, we characterized the degree of coding variation at ASPM in a large sample of chimpanzees (N = 241), and examined potential associations between genotype and various measures of brain morphology. We identified and genotyped five non‐synonymous polymorphisms in exons 3 (V588G), 18 (Q2772K, K2796E, C2811Y) and 27 (I3427V). Using T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging of brains, we measured total brain volume, cerebral gray and white matter volume, cerebral ventricular volume, and cortical surface area in the same chimpanzees. We found a potential association between ASPM V588G genotype and cerebral ventricular volume but not with the other measures. Additionally, we found that chimpanzee, bonobo, and human lineages each independently show a signature of accelerated ASPM protein evolution. Overall, our results suggest the potential effects of ASPM variation on cerebral cortical development, and emphasize the need for further functional studies. These results are the first evidence suggesting ASPM variation might play a role in shaping natural variation in brain structure in nonhuman primates.     

Breast MRI in nonpalpable breast lesions: a randomized trial with diagnostic and therapeutic outcome – MONET – study

Background

In orthodontic treatment, anchorage control is a fundamental aspect. Usually conventional mechanism for orthodontic anchorage control can be either extraoral or intraoral that is headgear or intermaxillary elastics. Their use are combined with various side effects such as tipping of occlusal plane or undesirable movements of teeth. Especially in cases, where key-teeth are missing, conventional anchorage defined as tooth-borne anchorage will meet limitations. Therefore, the use of endosseous implants for anchorage purposes are increasingly used to achieve positional stability and maximum anchorage.

Methods/Design

The intended study is designed as a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), comparing and contrasting the effect of early loading of palatal implant therapy versus implant loading after 12 weeks post implantation using the new ortho-implant type II anchor system device (Orthosystem Straumann, Basel, Switzerland). 124 participants, mainly adult males or females, whose diagnoses require temporary stationary implant-based anchorage treatment will be randomized 1:1 to one of two treatment groups: group 1 will receive a loading of implant standard therapy after a healing period of 12 week (gold standard), whereas group 2 will receive an early loading of orthodontic implants within 1 week after implant insertion. Participants will be at least followed for 12 months after implant placement. The primary endpoint is to investigate the behavior of early loaded palatal implants in order to find out if shorter healing periods might be justified to accelerate active orthodontic treatment. Secondary outcomes will focus e.g. on achievement of orthodontic treatment goals and quantity of direct implant-bone interface of removed bone specimens. As tertiary objective, a histologic and microtomography evaluation of all retrieved implants will be performed to obtain data on the performance of the SLA surface in human bone evaluation of all retrieved implants. Additionally, resonance frequency analysis (RFA, Osstell? mentor) will be used at different times for clinically monitoring the implant stability and for histological comparison in order to measure the reliability of the resonance frequency measuring device.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN97142521.     

Increased insulin-stimulated Akt pSer473 and cytosolic SHP2 protein abundance in human skeletal muscle following acute exercise and short-term training.

The purpose of the present study was to determine in human skeletal muscle whether a single exercise bout and 7 days of consecutive endurance (cycling) training 1) increased insulin-stimulated Akt pSer(473) and 2) altered the abundance of the protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases), PTP1B and SHP2. In healthy, untrained men (n = 8; 24 +/- 1 yr), glucose infusion rate during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, when compared with untrained values, was not improved 24 h following a single 60-min bout of endurance cycling but was significantly increased ( approximately 30%; P < 0.05) 24 h following completion of 7 days of exercise training. Insulin-stimulated Akt pSer(473) was approximately 50% higher (P < 0.05) 24 h following the acute bout of exercise, with this effect remaining after 7 days of training (P < 0.05). Insulin-stimulated insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 tyrosine phosphorylation were not altered 24 h after acute exercise and short-term training. Insulin did not acutely regulate the localization of the PTPases, PTP1B or SHP2, although cytosolic protein abundance of SHP2 was increased (P < 0.05; main effect) 24 h following acute exercise and short-term training. In conclusion, insulin-sensitive Akt pSer(473) and cytosolic SHP2 protein abundance are higher after acute exercise and short-term training, and this effect appears largely due to the residual effects of the last bout of prior exercise. The significance of exercise-induced alterations in cytosolic SHP2 and insulin-stimulated Akt pSer(473) on the improvement in insulin sensitivity requires further elucidation.     

Plant hormone homeostasis and the control of avocado fruit size

Control of plant hormone homeostasis is crucial for normal organdevelopment in plants. To elucidate the contribution of plant hormonehomeostasis to fruit growth, tissue distribution and activity of xanthinedehydrogenase (XDH), abscisic aldehyde (AB-ald)- and indole acetaldehyde(IA-ald) oxidase, and cytokinin oxidase (CKOX) were determined in seed, seedcoat and mesocarp of normal 'Hass avocado and its small-fruitphenotype during the linear phase of growth. Activity of these enzymes wasrelated to the tissue content of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid(ABA). IA-ald oxidase was present only in seed tissue whereas AB-ald oxidase andXDH activity was found in seed and mesocarp tissue. Seed of the small'Hass fruit had increased XDH and AB-ald oxidase activity and highendogenous ABA, but reduced IA-ald oxidase activity and adenine. There was nodifference in seed, seed coat and mesocarp CKOX activity between normal andsmall fruit. Inhibition of XDH activity in whole fruit by treatment withallopurinol decreased IAA and increased ABA of seed tissue. In mesocarp ofripening fruit allopurinol increased ABA and IAA but had no effect on levels ofiP. Results indicate that activity of IA-ald and AB-ald oxidases in avocadofruit contribute to maintenance of the IAA/ABA ratio in seed and mesocarp tissueand that increased AB-ald oxidase, or reduced IA-ald oxidase, may be part of thesyndrome associated with the appearance of a small-fruit phenotype.     

Nucleolar Organizing Regions, 18S and 5S rDNA in Astyanax Scabripinnis (Pisces, Characidae): Populations Distribution and Functional Diversity

Astyanax scabripinnis specimens from four distinct populations in Brazil were studied with respect to their karyotype macrostructure, nucleolar organizer regions, and 18S and 5S rRNA genes. The four populations showed a 2n = 50 chromosomes (3 M + 11 SM + 5 ST + 6 A pairs) and 1–2 B chromosomes. No chromosomal differentiations were observed between sexes. Although a karyotypic diversity has been characterized in this fish group, the populations now analyzed presented the same macrokaryotypic pattern. Chromosome mapping of 5S rDNA showed a total of eight sites located in four distinct chromosomal pairs, with no apparent differences among populations. A comparative study on 18S rDNA locations and Ag-NORs showed some secondary NOR sites that are not usually expressed in karyotypes and a probable differential NOR activity among populations. Correlations between these data, environmental conditions and B chromosomes are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Morphological Differentiation and Possible Origin of B Chromosomes in Natural Brazilian Population of Astyanax Scabripinnis (PISCES, CHARACIDAE)

Specimens of Astyanax scabripinnisfrom three different altitudes (1920, 1800 and 700?m) along the Ribeirão Grande stream in the Campos do Jordão region (São Paulo State, Brazil) were investigated. The same diploid number, 2n?=?50, was detected in the three populations, with the following karyotypic constitution: 6M, 22SM, 10ST and 12A. The populations located at 1920 and 1800?m altitude presented a high incidence of B chromosomes varying in number (0–2), shape (meta- and submetacentrics), size (large and small) and sex-related frequency (they were more frequent among females). The two morphologically variant B chromosomes probably evolved from a metacentric macrochromosome, which is the most commonly observed B chromosome in several A. scabripinnispopulations.     

Generalised Sandpile Dynamics on Artificial and Real-World Directed Networks

The main finding of this paper is a novel avalanche-size exponent τ ≈ 1.87 when the generalised sandpile dynamics evolves on the real-world Japanese inter-firm network. The topology of this network is non-layered and directed, displaying the typical bow tie structure found in real-world directed networks, with cycles and triangles. We show that one can move from a strictly layered regular lattice to a more fluid structure of the inter-firm network in a few simple steps. Relaxing the regular lattice structure by introducing an interlayer distribution for the interactions, forces the scaling exponent of the avalanche-size probability density function τ out of the two-dimensional directed sandpile universality class τ = 4/3, into the mean field universality class τ = 3/2. Numerical investigation shows that these two classes are the only that exist on the directed sandpile, regardless of the underlying topology, as long as it is strictly layered. Randomly adding a small proportion of links connecting non adjacent layers in an otherwise layered network takes the system out of the mean field regime to produce non-trivial avalanche-size probability density function. Although these do not display proper scaling, they closely reproduce the behaviour observed on the Japanese inter-firm network.     

Cell division versus cell elongation: the control of radicle elongation during thermoinhibition of Tagetes minuta achenes

Endogenous embryo factors, which act mainly in the radicle, prevent germination in Tagetes minuta at high temperatures. These factors act to prevent cell elongation, which is critical for radicle protrusion under optimal conditions. Once the radicle has emerged both cell elongation and cell division are required for post-germination growth. Germination can be induced at high temperatures by fusicoccin, which rapidly stimulates cell elongation. In addition, priming seeds at 25 °C on polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and mannitol could also induce germination on water at 36 °C, indicating that priming prevents radicle protrusion at a point subsequent to the point of control in thermoinhibited achenes. Flow cytometry studies revealed that DNA synthesis occurs during thermoinhibition and the inhibition of DNA synthesis during this process inhibits subsequent germination on water under optimal conditions, suggesting a protective role for DNA synthesis in thermoinhibited achenes of T. minuta.