Combining chemical genomics screens in yeast to reveal spectrum of effects of chemical inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis

Background  

Single genome-wide screens for the effect of altered gene dosage on drug sensitivity in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae provide only a partial picture of the mechanism of action of a drug.     

Symposium review: International symposium on the implications of salmonid growth variation

In Aberdeen, Scotland, in July 2000, aninternational symposium was held to presentresearch concerning the consequences of growthvariation for the ecology, evolution, andmanagement of salmonid fish. Presentationscovered important topics including linksbetween growth and mortality, interactionsbetween growth and life history, tradeoffsbetween growth and other fitness aspects, andevolutionary implications of growth variation. In addition, the symposium served as a showcaseof new approaches and technologies in salmonidresearch. In this review, I provide anoverview of the presentations, and summarizesome of the major emergent themes of thesymposium.     

High summer temperatures are associated with poorer performance of underyearling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in upland streams

Future warming scenarios are predicted to result in an increased frequency of high, and potentially stressful, temperatures in aquatic ecosystems. Here we examined whether the performance of wild underyearling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Scottish streams stocked with identical egg densities was influenced by thermal stress. Biomass and density declined with degree hours exceeding 23°C, indicating apparent mortality or emigration as a possible result of exposure to high temperatures. These results strengthen the need for further action such as riparian tree planting to reduce stream summer temperatures.     

The phospholipid code: a key component of dying cell recognition,tumor progression and host–microbe interactions

A significant effort is made by the cell to maintain certain phospholipids at specific sites. It is well described that proteins involved in intracellular signaling can be targeted to the plasma membrane and organelles through phospholipid-binding domains. Thus, the accumulation of a specific combination of phospholipids, denoted here as the ‘phospholipid code'', is key in initiating cellular processes. Interestingly, a variety of extracellular proteins and pathogen-derived proteins can also recognize or modify phospholipids to facilitate the recognition of dying cells, tumorigenesis and host–microbe interactions. In this article, we discuss the importance of the phospholipid code in a range of physiological and pathological processes.