Effect of temperature on the survival of Aconophora compressa Walker (Hemiptera: Membracidae): implications for weed biocontrol

Abstract  In weed biocontrol, similarity of abiotic factors between the native and introduced range of a biocontrol agent is critical to its establishment and effectiveness. This is particularly the case for weeds that have a wide geographical distribution in the native range. For such weeds, the choice of a specialist insect that has narrow tolerance limits to important abiotic factors can diminish its ability to be an effective biocontrol agent. The membracid Aconophora compressa was introduced in Australia from Mexico for biocontrol of Lantana camara , a plant with a wide climatic tolerance. In this study we investigated the effect of constant and alternating temperatures on A. compressa survival. Longevity of adults and nymphs declined with increasing temperatures, and at 39°C individuals survived for less than a day. At lower temperatures, nymphs survived longer than adults. Survival at alternating temperatures was longer than at constant temperatures, but the general trend of lower survival at higher temperatures remained. Spatially and temporally, the climatic tolerance of A. compressa appears to be a subset of that of lantana, thereby limiting its potential impact.     

Identification of acid-stress-tolerant proteins from promising cyanobacterial isolates

Cyanobacterial cultures were isolated from acidic (pH 4.9–6.2) rice grown soils in Tamil Nadu, India. The predominant genera were Anabaena (50%), Westiellopsis (17.5%), Nostoc (15%), Oscillatoria (5%) and others that were unicellulars (12.5%) viz., Microcystis, Calothrix and Phormidium. The levels of tolerance to acidity varied among these strains, which were tested and authenticated for their acid tolerance capacity under both in vitro and pot culture conditions. Westiellopsis sp. was found to predominate from pH 4.9 to pH 6.2, indicating its adaptability. Cultures tolerant to acidic conditions were characterized for growth, biomass production and biochemical constituents. Under acidic conditions, Westiellopsis sp. showed pronounced chlorophyll a content, phycobilin pigment content, ammonia excretion and nitrogenase activity compared to normal conditions. Molecular characterization, particularly isozyme and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, were also carried out. Three strains of Westielliopsis sp. strains were selected, of which two were able to grow at an acidity level of pH 4.0, while one strain was able to sustain growth at an acidity level of 5.0. These three cultures, along with acid susceptible strains of Westielliopsis sp. and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (standard check) were subjected to acid shock for different time intervals. Protein profiling of both the acid-tolerant and acid-susceptible strains was carried out with samples collected at different time intervals. Based on the presence/absence of protein bands in the tolerant/susceptible strains, some low- and medium-molecular weight proteins can be linked to conferring acid tolerance. Presented at the 6th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society of Applied Phycology, Manila, Philippines.     

GALNT3 Maintains the Epithelial State in Trophoblast Stem Cells

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Regulation of Drosophila TRPC channels by lipid messengers

The Drosophila TRPC channels TRP and TRPL are the founding members of the TRP superfamily of ion channels, which are important components of calcium influx pathways in virtually all cells. The activation of these channels in the context of fly phototransduction is one of the few in vivo models for TRPC channel activation and has served as a paradigm for understanding TRPC function. TRP and TRPL are activated by G-protein coupled PIP₂ hydrolysis through a mechanism in which IP₃ receptor mediated calcium release seems dispensable. Recent analysis has provided compelling evidence that one or more PIP₂ generated lipid messengers, as well as PIP₂ itself, are essential for regulating TRP and TRPL activity. Evidence on the role of these lipid elements in regulating TRP and TRPL activity is discussed in this review.     

Influence of single-level lumbar degenerative disc disease on the behavior of the adjacent segments—A finite element model study

The current study investigated mechanical predictors for the development of adjacent disc degeneration. A 3-D finite element model of a lumbar spine was modified to simulate two grades of degeneration at the L4–L5 disc. Degeneration was modeled by changes in geometry and material properties. All models were subjected to follower preloads of 800 N and moment loads in the three principal directions of motion using a hybrid protocol. Degeneration caused changes in the loading and motion patterns of the segments above and below the degenerated disc. At the level (L3–L4) above the degenerated disc, the motion increased due to moderate degeneration by 21% under lateral bending, 26% under axial rotation and 28% under flexion/extension. At the level (L5-S1) below the degenerated disc, motion increased only during lateral bending by 20% due to moderate degeneration. Both the L3–L4 and L5-S1 segment showed a monotonic increase in both the maximum von Mises stress and shear stress in the annulus as degeneration progressed for all loading directions, expect extension at L3–L4. The most significant increase in stress was observed at the L5-S1 level during axial rotation with nearly a ten-fold increase in the maximum shear stress and 103% increase in the maximum von Mises stress. The L5-S1 segment also showed a progressive increase in facet contact force for all loading directions with degeneration. Nucleus pressure did not increase significantly for any loading direction at either the caudal or cephalic adjacent segment. Results suggest that single-level degeneration can increase the risk for injury at the adjacent levels.     

Nuclear‐encoded DnaJ homologue of Plasmodium falciparum interacts with replication ori of the apicoplast genome

The apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum carries a 35 kb circular genome (plDNA) that replicates at the late trophozoite stage of the parasite intraerythocytic cycle. plDNA replication proceeds predominantly via a d ‐loop/bi‐directional ori mechanism with replication ori localized within inverted repeat region. Although replication of the apicoplast genome is a validated drug target, the proteins involved in the replication process are only partially characterized. We analysed DNA–protein interactions at a plDNA replication ori region and report the identification of a nuclear‐encoded DnaJ homologue that binds directly to ori elements of the plDNA molecule. PfDnaJ_A interacted with the minor groove of the DNA double‐helix and recognized a 13 bp sequence within the ori. Inhibition of binding with anti‐PfDnaJ_A antibodies confirmed identity of the protein in DNA‐binding experiments with organellar protein fractions. The DNA‐binding domain of the ～69 kDa PfDnaJ_A lay within the N‐terminal 38 kDa region that carries DnaJ signature motifs. In contrast to PfDnaJ_A in parasite organellar fractions, the recombinant protein interacted with DNA in a sequence non‐specific manner. Our results suggest a role for PfDnaJ_A in replication/repair of the apicoplast genome.     

Inhibition of IL-2 induced IL-10 production as a principle of phase-specific immunotherapy

Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite, inflicts a fatal disease, visceral leishmaniasis. The suppression of antileishmanial T cell responses that characterizes the disease was proposed to be due to deficiency of a T cell growth factor, IL-2. We demonstrate that during the first week after L. donovani infection, IL-2 induces IL-10 that suppresses the host-protective functions of T cells 14 days after infection. The observed suppression is concurrent with increased CD4+ glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor+ T cells and Foxp3 expression in BALB/c mice, implicating IL-2-dependent regulatory T cell control of antileishmanial immune responses. Indeed, IL-2 and IL-10 neutralization at different time points after the infection demonstrates their distinct roles at the priming and effector phases, respectively, and establishes kinetic modulation of ongoing immune responses as a principle of a rational, phase-specific immunotherapy.     

Three new small nucleolar RNAs that are psoralen cross-linked in vivo to unique regions of pre-rRNA.

We have recently described three novel human small nucleolar RNA species with unique nucleotide sequences, which were named E1, E2, and E3. The present article describes specific psoralen photocross-linking in whole HeLa cells of E1, E2, and E3 RNAs to nucleolar pre-rRNA. These small RNAs were cross-linked to different sections of pre-rRNA. E1 RNA was cross-linked to two segments of nucleolar pre-rRNA; one was within residues 697 to 1163 of the 5' external transcribed spacer, and the other one was between nucleotides 664 and 1021 of the 18S rRNA sequence. E2 RNA was cross-linked to a region within residues 3282 to 3667 of the 28S rRNA sequence. E3 RNA was cross-linked to a sequence between positions 1021 and 1639 of the 18S rRNA sequence. Primer extension analysis located psoralen adducts in E1, E2, and E3 RNAs that were enriched in high-molecular-weight fractions of nucleolar RNA. Some of these psoralen adducts might be cross-links of E1, E2, and E3 RNAs to large nucleolar RNA. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide-targeted RNase H digestion of nucleolar extracts revealed accessible segments in these three small RNAs. The accessible regions were within nucleotide positions 106 to 130 of E1 RNA, positions 24 to 48 and 42 to 66 of E2 RNA, and positions 7 to 16 and about 116 to 122 of E3 RNA. Some of the molecules of these small nucleolar RNAs sedimented as if associated with larger structures when both nondenatured RNA and a nucleolar extract were analyzed.     

Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide-Related Peptides Modulate Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Expression in PC12 Cells Through Multiple Adenylate Cyclase-Coupled Receptors

Abstract: We investigated the receptor mechanisms by which vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and related peptides exert their effects on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression. VIP, secretin, and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) each produced increases in TH gene expression, as measured by increases in TH mRNA levels and TH activity. The concentrations at which the effects of these peptides were maximal differed for TH activity and TH mRNA. Moreover, maximal increases in TH activity were 130-140% of control, whereas maximal increases in TH mRNA were 250% of control. The concentration dependence of the increases in TH mRNA in response to the three peptides was analyzed by fitting the data to nonlinear regression models that assume either one or two components to the response. The data for secretin fit best to a model that assumes a single component to the increase in TH mRNA levels. The data derived for PHI and VIP fit best to models that assumed two components to the TH mRNA response. These data suggested that there may be more than one receptor or signal transduction mechanism involved in the response to the various peptides. We examined whether the peptides exerted their effects through common or multiple second messenger systems. The ability of maximally active concentrations of these peptides to stimulate increases in TH mRNA was not additive, indicating that the peptides work through a common receptor or signal transduction pathway. Each peptide stimulated increases in protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Secretin and VIP were ineffective in increasing TH mRNA levels in a PKA-deficient mutant PC12 cell line (A 126-1B2). Moreover, the adenylate cyclase antagonist 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine prevented the increase in TH mRNA produced by each peptide. Thus, each peptide requires an intact cyclic AMP second messenger pathway to produce changes in TH gene expression, suggesting that the complex pattern of response to VIP and PHI revealed by concentration-response analysis was due to the actions of these peptides at multiple receptors. To evaluate this possibility, we examined the effect of several peptide receptor antagonists on the increase in TH gene expression elicited by VIP, PHI, and secretin. The secretin antagonist secretin (5–27) (20 μM) had no significant effect on VIP or PHI stimulation of TH gene expression, but reduced the effect of secretin. The VIP antagonist VIP (10–28) (20 μM) reduced the effect of VIP on increasing TH mRNA, but had no significant effect on the response of TH mRNA to secretin or PHI. Interestingly, the VIP antagonist [Ac-Tyr¹,D-Phe²]-growth hormone releasing factor [GRF(1–29)] amide (20 μM) potentiated the effect of VIP on elevating TH mRNA levels, but had no effect on secretin-stimulated TH mRNA induction. To determine whether this response was mediated through the cyclic AMP pathway, we examined the effects of the VIP antagonist [Ac-Tyr¹,D-Phe²]-GRF(1–29) amide on VIP stimulation of PKA activity. Although the antagonist had no effect alone, it enhanced stimulation of PKA activity by VIP. Taken together, these findings indicate that VIP and secretin stimulate TH mRNA through different adenylate cyclase-linked receptors and that a second VIP receptor may modulate TH induction by inhibiting VIP stimulation of PKA.     

The value of simulating herbivory in selecting effective weed biological control agents

Invasive species have a significant economic and ecological cost and biological control can be a powerful tool in their management. Classical biological control practice involves the re-establishment of trophic links between specialist insect and fungal agents to regulate populations of invasive species. However, the permanent nature of biological control agent introductions raises concerns about the unintended consequences of such introductions on non-target organisms, particularly when such agents are ineffective on their target organisms. In this paper, we explore the current debate in the selection of agents for weed classical biological control. We then propose an alternate approach, based on studying plant response to simulated herbivory, that could minimize the chances of release of ineffective agents. Simulating herbivory could yield insights into the vulnerability of plants to certain types of damage. Selection of agents within guilds that are likely to have a significant influence on the plant can improve the chances of achieving biological control sooner and reduce the likelihood of releasing ineffective agents that may have non-target impacts. We propose a method by which simulated herbivory could be integrated into the agent selection process and discuss its strengths and shortcomings. We present case studies of two Neotropical weeds illustrating how this method could be applied.