Selenium Transport in Root Systems of Tomato

Selenate and selenite transport through tomato root systemswere followed for periods up to 4 h after removal of the planttops, using ⁷⁵Se as a tracer. With selenate, ⁷⁵Se concentrations in the xylem exudate were6 to 13 times higher than in the external solution, and chromatographicanalysis showed that the selenium was transported as inorganicselenate ( ). With selenite, ⁷⁵Se concentrations in the exudate were alwayslower than in the external solution. Analyses of exudate samplesshowed that negligible amounts of selenium were transportedas inorganic selenite ( except at very high external selenite concentrations (500 ?M), when up to 7 percent was transported as selenite. Most of the selenium transportin selenite-fed plants was as selenate or as an unknown seleniumcompound, the relative proportions of these two forms varyingboth with time and with external selenite concentration. Additionof a 5-fold excess of sulphate over selenite had no detectableeffect on the concentrations of selenate in the exudate, butcaused substantial decreases in the maximum concentrations ofboth total selenium (c. 47 per cent decrease) and the unknownselenium compound (c. 69 per cent decrease). Addition of a 5-foldexcess of sulphite decreased the concentration of the unknown(c. 39 per cent) but caused a large (2.7-fold) increase in themaximum total selenium concentration in the exudate and a 7.9-foldincrease in the maximum concentration of selenate. The resultssuggest metabolic involvement in the uptake and long distancetransport of solenium supplied as selenite, despite lower ⁷⁵Seconcentrations in the xylem exudate than in the external solution.An attempt is made to incorporate the new and existing informationinto a selenium transport model.     

Distributions of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera of three maritime catchments differing in pH

1. Two broad-scale environmental influences affecting species of Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Plecoptera inhabiting riffle habitat of three study catchments in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were stream size-temperature-related variables and acidity-related variables. 2. Species richness was most affected by acidity in tributaries of intermediate size <0.001<0.1m³s^?1). 3. Of the three insect orders investigated, mayfly species richness was affected most by acidity, and stonefly species richness affected least by this factor. 4. Zoogeographical isolation of the Nova Scotian catchments resulted in absence of some species of low general abundance, but these species had little influence on the site classification by TWINSPAN analysis. 5. Predaceous stoneflies were collected in greater numbers from circumneutral sites and predaceous caddisflies in greater numbers from the Nova Scotian sites. 6. Although the Nova Scotian catchments have probably been historically acidic, due to high concentrations of organic acids, pH currently limits the distributions of many indigenous invertebrate species. These species may be vulnerable to the more recent, additional, anthropogenic acidification of these catchments.     

Root Cap Structure in Isoetes macrospora Dur

Root meristem cells of Isoetes macrosporausually have one plastidwhich is associated with the prominent nucleus, numerous ribosomesand mitochondria, and small vacuoles. During mitosis each plastidappears to replicate so that each daughter cell contains oneplastid. The cell walls of the meristem cells are traversedby numerous plasmodesmata. Central cells of the root cap lackdistally displaced plastids but have one or more amyloplastsassociated with the nucleus. These cells also contain largeprotein deposits. Peripheral root cap cells are characterizedby being vacuolated, and by possessing a few dictyosomes andprotein deposits. They appear to be sloughed infrequently. Isoetes macrospora Dur, root cap, protein bodies, ultrastructure     

Cellulose-bound Peptide Arrays: Preparation and Applications

Spatial organization of metabolic enzymes may represent a general cellular mechanism to regulate metabolic flux. One recent example of this type of cellular phenomenon is the purinosome, a newly discovered multi-enzyme metabolic assembly that includes all of the enzymes within the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway. Our understanding of the components and regulation of purinosomes has significantly grown in recent years. This paper reviews the purine de novo biosynthesis pathway and its regulation, and presents the evidence supporting the purinosome assembly and disassembly processes under the control of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. This paper also discusses the implications of purinosome and GPCR regulation in drug discovery.     

Nitrate Reductase and Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Activities as Influenced by Leaf Age and Addition of Protein to Extraction Media

Lea fage influences the level of activity and the decay rate of the enzymes nitrate reductase (NR: E.C. 1.6.6.1) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD; E.C. 1.1.1.49) extracted with and without protein in the extraction media. Such influence was determined in three plant species: corn (Zea mays L.), oats (Arena sativa L.), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Leaves of different ages were obtained from plants of various ages, or by removal of leaf blades from different positions on a single shoot. NR activity (per g fresh weight) declined as leaves of these plant species became older, especially when extraction was effected with conventional media (i.e. without added protein). The instability of NR in these extracts increased as leaves became older. Decay of NR in vitro was exponential with time. Addition of protein [3 %(w/v) casein or bovine serum albumin] to extraction media markedly increased the level of NR activity and its stability, especially in older leaves of all three plant species. Addition of protein did not affect the level of G6PD extracted from corn leaf blades, but slightly enhanced its activity in extracts from the oldest leaf blade of oats. G6PD activity also declined as leaf blades of corn and oats became older.     

Can Public Meetings Accurately Reflect Public Attitudes Toward Wildlife Management?

Abstract: State wildlife agencies often use input obtained through public meetings to develop management policies. Because public meetings can be dominated by single stakeholder groups, these policies may not reflect the attitudes of new wildlife stakeholders. In 2000 the Utah Wildlife Board, after a series of public meetings, adopted a statewide policy for winter-feeding mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). The policy was implemented by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources from 2001 to 2007 in Cache County of northern Utah, USA. In 2007, we surveyed Utah households representing metropolitan, nonmetropolitan, and Cache County residents (n = 1,800) to evaluate whether the winter-feeding policy reflected the attitudes of all wildlife stakeholders. Survey respondents, regardless of residence strata, believed winterfeeding programs were essential for managing mule deer in Utah (χ²₆ = 7.02, P = 0.32). However, most respondents were reluctant to support feeding programs at the expense of habitat restoration projects (χ²₆ = 11.64, P = 0.07). Our results suggest that the winter-feeding policy represented the attitudes of the Utah residents surveyed, though few had participated in its development. Respondents' strong utilitarian attitudes toward wildlife (e.g., strong support for hunting and feeding) influenced those respondents' perceptions of the policy. Given the effects of increased urbanization on utilitarian attitudes toward wildlife in many parts of the United States, coupled with decreasing numbers of traditional wildlife stakeholders, state wildlife agencies should continually reevaluate their public involvement processes to ensure new wildlife stakeholders' attitudes and concerns are represented.     

Inter‐regional comparison of land‐use effects on stream metabolism

1. Rates of whole‐system metabolism (production and respiration) are fundamental indicators of ecosystem structure and function. Although first‐order, proximal controls are well understood, assessments of the interactions between proximal controls and distal controls, such as land use and geographic region, are lacking. Thus, the influence of land use on stream metabolism across geographic regions is unknown. Further, there is limited understanding of how land use may alter variability in ecosystem metabolism across regions. 2. Stream metabolism was measured in nine streams in each of eight regions (n = 72) across the United States and Puerto Rico. In each region, three streams were selected from a range of three land uses: agriculturally influenced, urban‐influenced, and reference streams. Stream metabolism was estimated from diel changes in dissolved oxygen concentrations in each stream reach with correction for reaeration and groundwater input. 3. Gross primary production (GPP) was highest in regions with little riparian vegetation (sagebrush steppe in Wyoming, desert shrub in Arizona/New Mexico) and lowest in forested regions (North Carolina, Oregon). In contrast, ecosystem respiration (ER) varied both within and among regions. Reference streams had significantly lower rates of GPP than urban or agriculturally influenced streams. 4. GPP was positively correlated with photosynthetically active radiation and autotrophic biomass. Multiple regression models compared using Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) indicated GPP increased with water column ammonium and the fraction of the catchment in urban and reference land‐use categories. Multiple regression models also identified velocity, temperature, nitrate, ammonium, dissolved organic carbon, GPP, coarse benthic organic matter, fine benthic organic matter and the fraction of all land‐use categories in the catchment as regulators of ER. 5. Structural equation modelling indicated significant distal as well as proximal control pathways including a direct effect of land‐use on GPP as well as SRP, DIN, and PAR effects on GPP; GPP effects on autotrophic biomass, organic matter, and ER; and organic matter effects on ER. 6. Overall, consideration of the data separated by land‐use categories showed reduced inter‐regional variability in rates of metabolism, indicating that the influence of agricultural and urban land use can obscure regional differences in stream metabolism.     

Effects of Winter-Feeding on Mule Deer in Northern Utah

Abstract: During severe winters, mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) concentrated on ranges in poor condition can experience high mortality. Winter-feeding programs have been implemented to mitigate this mortality. We studied effects on body condition, mortality, fawn production, and migration of mule deer following winter-feeding in the Cache-Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah, USA. Fed deer exhibited 12% higher live body-condition indices both years (main effect feed: F_1,7.32 = 5.39, P = 0.052), lower mortality (33% vs. 55%: χ²₁= 4.58, P < 0.05), and produced more fawns (19 fawns:18 fed F vs. 11 fawns:12 nonfed F; t_27.2 = 2.20, P < 0.036) than nonfed deer. Fed deer migrated later in spring 2004 (x̄ = 13 Apr) than nonfed deer (x̄ = 24 Mar; t₃₄= 3.25, P = 0.003). Fed deer spent more time on winter range in 2003-2004 (x̄ = 157 d) than nonfed deer (x̄ = 121 d; t20 = 3.63, P = 0.002), and more time on winter range for both winters combined (fed deer x̄ = 321 d, nonfed deer x̄ = 257 d; t₂₇ = 3.29, P = 0.003). Concomitantly, wildlife managers need to recognize that any possible benefits accrued to mule deer populations in terms of increased nutritional status as a result of winter-feeding programs may be mitigated by altered timing of migration and increased duration of use of seasonal ranges by fed deer.