A ‘Problematic fossil’ revealed:Pycnoporidium ? eomesozoicum Flügel, 1972 (Late Triassic,Tethys)—not an enigmatic alga but a strophomenid brachiopod (Gosaukammerella n.g.)

Summary The microproblematicumPycnoporidium ? eomesozoicum Flügel, 1972, from Upper Triassic reefs of the Alpine-Mediterranean region, Turkey Oman and Iran (originally interpreted as possible alga) represents the type species of a new strophomenid brachiopod genus (Gosaukammerella n.g.). The genus is characterized by a very small, millimeter-sized plano-convex shell, whose ventral valve is attached to the substratum (mainly sponges) by symmetrically arranged outgrowths developing from a pseudopunctate, lamellose foliated shell wall and composed of densely spaced subparallel ‘tubes’ comparable with productide spines secreted by papillose extensions of the mantle.Gosaukammerella seems to be the only reliable candidate for the existence of post-Paleozoic strophomenid (productid ?) brachiopods. Gosaukammerella eomesozoica is restricted to possibly cryptic, shaded reef environments inhabited predominantly by sponges serving as substrates for micromorphic brachiopods.     

In situ hybridization of semithin Epon sections with BrdU labelled oligonucleotide probes

Summary We recently described a nonradioactive method for in situ hybridization with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labelled oligonucleotide probes. An antibody to BrdU and immunocytochemistry were used in order to detect the hybridization signal. We have now applied this method to semithin Epon sections, in order to hybridize consecutive sections through single cells with different probes and to stain them with antibodies to neuropeptides. It could be shown that Epon embedding preserves mRNA well. In the present study we used a BrdU labelled synthetic oligonucleotide probe complementary to a fragment of the vasopressin precursor and an antibody to Arg-vasopressin. Vasopressin mRNA was demonstrable in a fraction of the vasopressin immunoreactive neurons in the magnocellular nuclei. In addition some of the magnocellular neurons showed either hybridization or vasopressin immunostaining only, perhaps indicating different stages of synthetic and secretory activity. The method described seems to be a valuable tool for studying synthetic activity in peptidergic neurons on a single cell level. The method might also have potential for in situ hybridization on the electronmicroscopical level.     

Biomarker studies on microbial carbonates: Extractable lipids of a Calcifying Cyanobacterial mat (Everglades, USA)

Summary Biomarker investigations are applied to the free lipid fractions of a naturally grown freshwater microbial mat, constructed by calcifying cyanobacteria (Scytonema sp. andSchizothrix sp.). The absolute and relative concentrations of hydrocarbons, free alcohols and carboxylic acids are studied and their probable biological precursors are discussed. A significant signal of cyanobacterial lipids is recognized by the strong predominance ofn-heptadecane (C₁₇),n-heptadecene, two monomethyl-heptadecanes, and the pentacyclic triterpenoid diploptene. Their occurrences parallel the lipid distributions found in pure cultured cyanobacteria and in recent cyanobacterial mats grown in particular environments (hypersaline, lagoonal, hot spring). The observed compound signature appears to be a suitable reference for environments, where cyanobacteria are directly associated with theloci of carbonate precipitation and thus, rock formation. In the studied material, a significant contribution of organic matter from other sources, especially higher plants is characterized by the occurrence of several specific marker compounds, namely lup-20(29)-ene-3-ol, high molecular weightn-alkanes and carboxylic acids. Although these components comprise a notably high portion of the sample’s lipid inventory, they are shown to be distinguished easily from the signal left by the predominant mat building organisms.     

Voraussetzungen und derzeitige Grenzen der quantitativen elektronenmikroskopischen Autoradiographie bei Kinetikstudien an Drüsenzellen

Zusammenfassung Einer weiblichen Maus wurde 3 Tage post partum 750 C ³H-Leucin i. p. injiziert. Zu verschiedenen Zeiten nach der Leucinapplikation wurden dem leicht narkotisierten Tier Gewebeteile der Milchdrüse entnommen und zu elektronenmikroskopischen Autoradiogrammen verarbeitet. An Hand der dabei gewonnenen Ergebnisse wurde versucht, den zeitlichen Ablauf der Milcheiweißbildung rechnerisch zu erfassen. 5 und 15 min nach der ³H-Leucinapplikation kann die Aktivität über dem rauhen endoplasmatischen Retikulum, nach 30 min über dem Golgi-Feld, und nach 240 min zur Hauptsache über den Lumina der Ausführungsgänge beobachtet werden. Die Halbwertszeit von markierten Proteinen im Ergastoplasma errechnete sich zu etwa 22 min, diejenige im Golgi-Feld zu etwa 3 Std.Die Voraussetzungen und derzeitigen Grenzen einer quantitativen elektronenmikroskopischen Autoradiographie werden diskutiert. Wegen der vielen möglichen Fehlerquellen wird die Berechnung der Kinetik der Milcheiweißbildung lediglich als Modell gewertet.

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Summary A female mouse, 3 days post partum, was injected with ³H-leucine. After various intervals parts of the mammary gland were processed for electronmicroscopic autoradiograms, the results of which were mathematically evaluated in order to understand the temporal course of milk protein formation. After 5 and 15 minutes the leucine-activity is located mainly in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, after 30 minutes in the Golgi field and after 240 minutes in the lumina of the mammary ducts. The half-live time of labelled proteins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum is about 22 minutes, in the Golgi field about 3 hours.The preconditions and limitations of quantitative electronmicroscopic autoradiography are discussed. Because of the many possible sources of error, the calculations of the kinetics of protein synthesis and secretion in the mammary gland are merely regarded as a model.

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Ausgeführt mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Wesentliche Teile der Arbeit werden Von Ute Seitter der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Freiburg i. Br. als Inaugural-Dissertation vorgelegt.     

Long-term perspective on the dynamics of brown tide blooms in Long Island coastal bays

Brown tide, a bloom of the picoplankter Aureococcus anophagefferens, first appeared in eastern Long Island (Suffolk County) waters in the late spring of 1985, at about the same time it emerged, although to a lesser degree, in Narraganset Bay, RI. Since then, it has recurred sporadically in Suffolk County, and blooms have been reported in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and only one other area of the world, Saldanha Bay, South Africa. Bloom initiation and maintenance within Suffolk County appear to be related to A. anophagefferens’ ability to use dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) during periods of limited dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) availability. Factors controlling DIN availability include groundwater influx related to meteorological conditions, introduction of septic leachate from on-site wastewater treatment systems, and biological removal. The complexity of bloom dynamics is illustrated by a cascade of events in Great South Bay involving shellfish clearing rates, a macroalgal bloom, and microbial decomposition.     

Spatial distribution of the active surveillance of sheep scrapie in Great Britain: an exploratory analysis

Background  

This paper explores the spatial distribution of sampling within the active surveillance of sheep scrapie in Great Britain. We investigated the geographic distribution of the birth holdings of sheep sampled for scrapie during 2002 – 2005, including samples taken in abattoir surveys (c. 83,100) and from sheep that died in the field ("fallen stock", c. 14,600). We mapped the birth holdings by county and calculated the sampling rate, defined as the proportion of the holdings in each county sampled by the surveys. The Moran index was used to estimate the global spatial autocorrelation across Great Britain. The contributions of each county to the global Moran index were analysed by a local indicator of spatial autocorrelation (LISA).     

Contrasting microplanktonic composition and food web structure in two coastal embayments (Long Island, NY, USA)

The neighboring Great South Bay (GSB) and Peconic Bay (PB) ofLong Island, NY, USA, were observed to support distinctive microplanktoniccommunities and trophic structure over most of an annual cycle(1998–99). Trophic structure analyses were based on 15months of sampling for inorganic and organic nutrients, size-fractionatedchlorophyll a (Chl a) and nanoplankton and microplankton abundances.While dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) inventories were notdemonstrably different between bays, dissolved organic carbon(DOC) and nitrogen were significantly higher in GSB than inPB and covaried with Chl a concentrations. Likewise, total biomasses(µg C L^–1) and mean seasonal biomass ratios of heterotrophicnanoplankton (HNAN) to autotrophic nanoplankton (ANAN) weresubstantially higher in GSB (>0.30) than in PB (<0.15)from spring to autumn 1998. The higher nanoflagellate biomassin GSB appears to have been indirectly supported by elevatedconcentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM). During winterand spring 1999, biomass ratios in GSB dropped to levels similarto those in PB and coincided with a clear water event in GSBthat may have been caused by increased bivalve suspension feeding.Even though these bays share similar broad-scale oceanographic/hydrogeologicsettings and a common assortment of planktonic taxa, the structureand function of their planktonic communities were fundamentallydistinct.     

Correlations of phytoplankton standing crop,species diversity and dominance with physical-chemical data in a coastal salt pond

A set of environmental variables from a coastal salt pond were regressed in a stepwise fashion against the following dependent variables: phytoplankton standing crop, species diversity and dominance. Multiple variable interaction, as measured by multiple correlation coefficients yielded higher values than the coefficients obtained by regressing individual environmental variables against the dependent variables. The seasonal variation in the dependent variables could, therefore, be explained to a greater extent by the effects of multiple variables rather than single limiting factors.Financial support was supplied by a fellowship from the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation to the senior author.     

Further freeze-fracture studies on the uterine epithelium of Salamandra salamandra (L.) (Amphibia,Urodela) using the antibiotic filipin

Summary The apical portion of the uterine lining of the ovoviviparous fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra, was studied by the freeze-fracture technique in conjunction with the polyene antibiotic filipin. Filipin-sterol complexes were found in the luminal plasmalemma and in the membranes limiting the mucous secretory granules typical of this epithelium. In all females, but particularly in non-pregnant females, more or less discrete clusters of filipinsterol complexes were occasionally found overlying heavily affected secretory granules. The findings are discussed with regard to comparable results (Orci et al. 1980) based on the examination of collapsed and stretched urinary bladders of toads.We are indebted to Mrs. K. Ott for excellent technical assistance, to Miss E.S. MacLure for linguistic corrections and to Dr. J.E. Grady of the Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Michigan USA, for kindly providing the filipin     

Klinik und Genetik des Joubert-Syndroms

Joubert syndrome generally represents an autosomal recessive and rarely X-linked disorder characterized by hypotonia, an irregular breathing pattern, abnormal eye movements, ataxia, developmental delay and a complex mid-hindbrain malformation causing the molar tooth sign on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Many patients have additional features, with nephronophthisis, retinal dystrophy, coloboma and hepatic fibrosis representing the most frequent features. Due to its clinical variability and overlap with other syndromes, the term “Joubert syndrome and related disorders” (JSRD) was proposed. To date 10 genes are known to cause JSRD. The encoded proteins are localized to cilia, linking JSRD to other human ciliopathies.