Effect of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide on sex pheromone biosynthesis in Spodoptera littoralis isolated glands

The control of Spodoptera littoralis sex pheromone biosynthesis has been investigated with synthetic pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and different labeled tracers using an in vitro isolated gland system. Responsiveness of the glands to PBAN stimulation was impaired by careless tissue manipulation. The fact that PBAN is active in the isolated gland system suggests that this might be a target organ for this peptide in S. littoralis. As reported previously with Br-SOG extracts and intact females, label incorporation into the pheromone increased in glands treated with PBAN from all the precursors tested. However, the formation of labeled intermediates from d₅E11–14:Acid also occurred in glands incubated in the absence of the peptide, but the amounts of d₅Z9, E11–14:Acid were lower in PBAN treated glands than in controls. These results indicate that PBAN controls pheromone biosynthesis in S. littoralis by regulating the reduction of acyl moieties. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Intrinsic pKas of ionizable residues in proteins: An explicit solvent calculation for lysozyme

Molecular dynamics simulations of triclinic hen egg white lysozyme in aqueous solution were performed to calculate the intrinsic pK_as of 14 ionizable residues. An all-atom model was used for both solvent and solute, and a single 180 ps simulation in conjunction with a Gaussian fluctuation analysis method was used. An advantage of the Gaussian fluctuation method is that it only requires a single simulation of the system in a reference state to calculate all the pK_as in the protein, in contrast to multiple simulations for the free energy perturbation method. pK_int shifts with respect to reference titratable residues were evaluated and compared to results obtained using a finite difference Poisson-Boltzmann (FDPB) method with a continuum solvent model; overall agreement with the direction of the shifts was generally observed, though the magnitude of the shifts was typically larger with the explicit solvent model. The contribution of the first solvation shell to the total charging free energies of the titratable groups was explicitly evaluated and found to be significant. Dielectric shielding between pairs of titratable groups was examined and found to be smaller than expected. The effect of the approximations used to treat the long-range interactions on the pK_int shifts is discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Genetic basis of sodium exclusion and sodium tolerance in yeast. A model for plants

A yeast strain carrying disruptions in TRK1 and ENA genes was very sensitive to Na⁺ because uptake discriminated poorly between K⁺ and Na⁺, and Na⁺ efflux was insignificant. Transformation with TRK1 and ENA1 restored discrimination, Na⁺ efflux and Na⁺ tolerance. Increasing external Ca²⁺ increased Na⁺ tolerance almost in the same proportion in TRK1 enal cells and in trkl ENAI cells, suggesting an unspecific effect of this cation. By using a vacuolar ATPase mutant, the role of the vacuole in Na⁺ tolerance was also demonstrated. The yeast model of Na⁺ exclusion and Na⁺ tolerance may be extended to plants.     

Effect of osmotic stress on the growth of epicotyls of Cicer arietinum in relation to changes in the autolytic process and glycanhydrolytic cell wall enzymes

Simulation of drought by polyethylene glycol (PEG) inhibited elongation of epicotyls of Cicer arietinum L. cv. Castellana but had no effect on growth capacity since growth was restored once the inhibitory condition had been removed. The amount of proteins in the cell wall was correlated with the elongation of the epicotyls and decreased when elongation was inhibited. PEG-induced inhibition of elongation had different effects on the various glycanhydrolytic cell wall enzymes. Only α-galactosidase (EC 3. 2. 1. 22) seemed related to the lack of elongation, increasing its activity when elongation was inhibited. The β-galactosidase (EC 3. 2. 1. 23) and β-glucosidase (EC 3. 2. 1. 21) studied did not show changes in their specific activities during the inhibition of elongation. β-Galactosidase is responsible for the autolytic process in Cicer arietinum . This enzyme hydrolyzes specified linkages in the cell wall, releasing sugar constituents. Our present results show that β-galactosidase is not directly related with elongation because no changes could be observed during inhibition of elongation. The autolytic process is related with chemical processes taking place in the cell wall and preceding elongation of the epicotyls, i. e. the loosening process. Cell wall loosening is necessary for elongation to take place but elongation does not necessarily follow loosening if the osmotic conditions are unfavorable     

Demography and social structure of one group of muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides)

We monitored one group of muriquis, or woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides), over a 9-year period at Fazenda Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The group grew from 22 to 42 individuals due to the births of 21 surviving infants. Eight immigrations involving immature females were offset by emigrations and disappearances. The home range of the group expanded as the group size increased. The group traveled as a cohesive unit during the first 6 years of the study, but recently it has begun to show greater tendencies to fission temporarily into smaller subgroups. Six adult males from the other muriqui group at this site have simultaneously increased their associations with the main study group. These observations indicate that the group is in a state of transition which may lead, ultimately, either to its division into two smaller units or to a more fluid social structure.     

Molecular evolution of the Rh3 gene in Drosophila

Previous investigations into the evolution of the Drosophila opsin gene family are extended by inter- and intraspecific DNA sequence comparisons of the Rh3 locus in the melanogaster subgroup and D. pseudoobscura. Two separate statistical tests of the neutral-mutation hypothesis suggest that random genetic drift is responsible for virtually all of the observed amino acid replacement substitutions within the melanogaster subgroup. Analyses incorporating the D. pseudoobscura sequences are enigmatic due to the accumulation of multiple substitutions, because the McDonald-Kreitman test is not applicable to species comparisons that approach mutational saturation. However, the data from D. pseudoobscura are not inconsistent with selective neutrality. The ratio of amino acid polymorphisms within species to fixed differences between species imply that these are approximately 31 possible neutral single-step amino-acid-replacement substitutions at this locus. Synonymous substitutions are unevenly distributed among the structural domains of the Rh3 gene. Patterns of synonymous polymorphism are analyzed with respect to GC content and codon bias, and are compared to other loci from the same species.     

Characterization of urease from the phototrophic bacteriumRhodobacter capsulatus E1F1

Rhodobacter capsulatus E1F1 showed high cytosolic urease activity when growing on urea, purines, and purine metabolites as nitrogen source. Molecular mass ofR. capsulatus enzyme is similar to that of other bacteria and greatly differs from that of jack bean. Kinetic parameters of partially purifiedR. capsulatus enzyme resemble those described in other bacterial ureases. The activity was inhibited by metal-chelating agents and by mercurials. Urease fromR. capsulatus E1F1 was negligible in nitrogen-starved cells or in cells cultured with nitrate, ammonium, or amino acids. Moreover, ammonium inhibited both the urea uptake and the urease activity expression inR. capsulatus cells.     

Kinetic and metabolic effects of nitrogen, magnesium and sulphur restriction in Xanthomonas campestris batch cultures

By reducing the concentration of nitrogen (from 5.0 to 2.5 mmol 1^-1), batch cultures of Xanthomonas campestris induced the enzyme UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and stimulated the Entner-Doudoroff pathway enzyme glucose-6-P dehydrogenase. The surplus energy generation was directed to xanthan biosynthesis resulting in a 10% polysaccharide increase. The nitrogen restriction led to a higher consumption of nitrogen (93%) whereas glucose consumption did not surpass 75% utilization. Low concentrations of both magnesium and sulphur exerted a negative effect on xanthan formation. Both restrictions reduced the phosphomannose isomerase enzyme activity by 10-fold turning the mannose transference presumably into the rate-limiting step for xanthan biosynthesis. Conversely, the rate of synthesis of glucuronic acid residues did not affect the rate of xanthan biosynthesis. Polysaccharide synthesis in magnesium and sulphur cultures was negatively affected in comparison with cell formation as the cell volumetric production rate increased from 0.037 to 0.091 g 1^-1 h^-1 and the xanthan volumetric production rate dropped from 0.133 g 1^-1 h^-1 to the minimum obtained at 0.083 g 1^-1 h^-1. The efficiency of the carbon substrate conversion was also greatly changed.     

Expression of the α-thionin gene from barley in tobacco confers enhanced resistance to bacterial pathogens

Thionins are cysteine-rich, 5 kDa polypeptides which are toxic to plant pathogens in vitro. Expression of the gene encoding α-thionin from barley endosperm, under the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus, conferred to transgenic tobacco enhanced resistance to the bacterial plant pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci 153 and P. syringae pv. syringae. The barley α-thionin gene, which has two introns, was correctly spliced in tobacco. The α-thionin in transgenic plants had the expected mobility in the gradient, when separated by high-performance liquid chromatography, reacted with monospecific antibodies and showed the expected antibiotic properties in vitro.     

Same species,different population dynamics: Spatio-temporal differences of Undaria pinnatifida (Ochrophyta,Phaeophyceae) in the intertidal of North Patagonia,Argentina

Population dynamics can be influenced by physical and biological factors, particularly in stressful environments. Introduced species usually have great physiological plasticity, resulting in populations with different traits. Undaria pinnatifida, a macroalga originally described from northeast Asia, was introduced in Northern Patagonia, Argentina (San Matías Gulf) around 2010. To describe the spatio-temporal variability in population structure and morphometry of U. pinnatifida, we conducted monthly field samplings for 2 years at the intertidal area of two contrasting sites in the San Matías Gulf. Individuals of U. pinnatifida were classified by developmental stage, and their morpho-gravimetric variables were measured. In both intertidal sites juveniles were found in higher proportion during austral autumn and grew and matured during the autumn-winter months (from May onwards), and individuals senesced during early austral summer (December and January). Conversely, density and biomass were largely different between sites, and individuals showed slight morphological variability between sites. Environmental (e.g., nutrient concentration, available substrate) and biological factors (e.g., facilitation, competition) may explain the observed differences. Since there is not a macroalga with U. pinnatifida morphometrical characteristics in the intertidal environments of San Matías Gulf, studying this recent introduction gives us a better understanding of its potential ecological effects.