Molecular evolution of the carbonic anhydrase genes: Calculation of divergence time for mouse carbonic anhydrase I and II

Summary A cDNA clone in pBR322 that cross-hybridizes with a mouse carbonic anhydrase form II (CAII) probe has been sequenced and identified as mouse carbonic anhydrase form I (CAI). The 1224-base-pair clone encodes the entire 260-amino-acid protein and appears to contain an Alu-like element in the 3 untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 77% homology to human CAI and contains 17 of the 20 residues that are considered unique to and invariant for all mammalian CAI isozymes. The results of a detailed comparison of the nucleic acid sequences spanning the coding regions of mouse CAI and rabbit CAI have been used to calibrate an evolutionary clock for the carbonic anhydrases (CAs). These data have been applied to a comparison of the mouse CAI and CAII nucleic acid sequences to calculate the divergence time between the two genes. The divergence-time calculation provides the first estimation of the evolutionary relationship between CAs based entirely on nucleotide sequence comparison.     

Sequence homologies of glucose-dehydrogenases of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis

The sequence homologies of the glucose dehydrogenase subunits of B. megaterium and B. subtilis are compared. From the known B. megaterium aminoacid sequence and the base sequence of the cloned B. subtilis structural gene we predict the B. megaterium structural glucose dehydrogenase gene. Assuming the minimal mutational changes to convert one gene into the other 23 transitions, 30 transversions, 1 inversion, 3 insertion-deletions, but no frameshifts are postulated necessary to interconvert the structural genes. The homology of both enzyme subunits of 85% reflects the close evolutionary distance between B. subtilis and B. megaterium.     

Molecular cloning of the c2 locus of Zea mays, the gene coding for chalcone synthase

Summary The c2 locus of Zea mays, identified as one of the genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis, was cloned using the transposable element En (Spm) as a gene tag. The Spm element present at the c2 locus in the autonomously mutating c2-m1 line was isolated using En1 element specific probes. Sequences flanking the element were identified as c2 locus specific and were used to clone the nonautonomous c2-m2 and wild-type alleles. The cloning and analysis of a cDNA complementary to the c2 locus provided evidence that this gene encodes the enzyme chalcone synthase.     

Die Bestandsentwicklung von Kleinv?geln in Mitteleuropa: Analyse von Fangzahlen

Zusammenfassung Im Mettnau-Reit-Illmitz-Programm (MRI-Programm) der Vogelwarte Radolfzell wurden von 1974–1983 auf drei Fangstationen in Süddeutschland, Norddeutschland und Ostösterreich (Abb. 1) 184 939 Vögel von 37 Kleinvogelarten gefangen. Die Fänge erfolgten jährlich während der gesamten Wegzugperiode von Ende Juni bis Anfang November an Durchzüglern in Japannetzen unter strikter und umfassender Standardisierung aller Fang- und Arbeitsmethoden. Die Fangzahlen (Tab. 1, Abb. 2–6) werden in fünf Regressionsanalysen (Tab. 2–9) auf systematische Änderungen untersucht.Von insgesamt 496 errechenbaren Koeffizienten waren 317 oder 63,9% negativ und nur 179 oder 38,1 % positiv. Bei 34 der 37 untersuchten Arten ließen sich signifikante Trends errechnen. Sie sind für 20 oder 54 % dieser Arten ausschließlich oder überwiegend negativ. 14 Arten zeigten mindestens auf zwei Stationen negative Trends. Nur für insgesamt 10 Arten ließen sich überwiegend positive Trends errechnen. Faßt man negative Trends und Tendenzen (Vorzeichen) zusammen, so ergibt sich für 26 oder 70 % der untersuchten Arten ein negatives Bild. Dieses stark negative Gewicht ist im statistischen Sinne keine zufällige Erscheinung. Da die Bestandszunahmen die Abnahmen nicht aufwiegen konnten, zeigten auch die jährlichen Gesamtfangzahlen aller drei Stationen negative Trends. Die mittlere jährliche Abnahme betrug auf den Stationen Mettnau, Reit und Illmitz etwa 1,6 %. Die Tendenzen und Trends der einzelnen Arten stimmen auf den drei Stationen weitgehend überein. Sie lassen für ihr Zustandekommen auf weitgehend gleichförmige Ursachen bei den durch Mitteleuropa wandernden Populationen schließen.Die Fangzahlen und Literaturdaten zeigen, daß beträchtliche Teile unserer Kleinvogelwelt von Rückgangserscheinungen betroffen sind, wie wir sie von vielen Großvogelarten seit langem kennen. Bei einer Reihe von Arten sind die Abnahmen gravierend und die jährlichen Fangzahlen inzwischen so niedrig, daß sich bei ihnen mit den in den 70er Jahren konzipierten Fanganlagen eine Reihe von Fragestellungen nicht mehr untersuchen lassen. Wir können der weiteren Entwicklung der Bestände unserer derzeit noch artenreichen Kleinvogelwelt — wie der vieler Großvögel — nur mit größter Sorge entgegensehen. Die Ursachen der Rückgänge sind weitgehend unbekannt, und demzufolge mangelt es fast vollständig an geeigneten Gegenmaßnahmen. Bisherige Schutzmaßnahmen haben die Rückgänge nicht aufhalten können. Künftiger Vogelschutz wird sich folglich weitergehender Maßnahmen bedienen müssen.

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The development of songbird populations in central Europe: Analysis of trapping data

Summary In the Mettnau-Reit-Illmitz-Program (MRI-Program) of the Vogelwarte Radolfzell 184 939 birds of 37 songbird species were caught in the period 1974–1983 on three trapping stations in S. and N. Germany and E. Austria (Fig. 1). Trapping of passage migrants in mist nets occurred annually from the end of June to the beginning of November, the entire autumn migratory period. All trapping and working methods were strictly and comprehensively standardized. The trapping figures (Tab. 1, Fig. 2–6) were analyzed with respect to systematic alterations to gain information about changes in the population levels of species migrating through central Europe. The investigation is based above all on five regression analyses (Tab. 2–9).The most important individual results are: out of a total of 496 coefficients which could be calculated 317 or 63.9 % were negative and only 179 or 38.1 % positive. For 34 of the 37 investigated species significant trends could be calculated. In 20 or 54 % of these species they were (exclusively or predominately) negative. 14 species showed negative trends at least at two stations. Mainly positive trends could be found in only 10 species. Taking negative trends and tendencies (negative signs) together, 26 or 70 % of the species were included. This strongly negative bias is not accidental in a statistical sense. Since the increases could not balance the declines, the annual trapping totals of all three stations also showed negative trends. The mean annual decline in the stations Mettnau, Reit and Illmitz was about 1.6 %. Trends and tendencies of the species show a high degree of agreement for the three stations. This suggests that in the species migrating through central Europe rather uniform factors control the population levels. From the most recent literature results, it appears that most of the species with declining trapping figures in the MRI-Program demonstrate decreases elsewhere.The trapping figures of the MRI-Program and data from the literature together clearly indicate that considerable parts of our small birds are affected by declines as have been known in many large bird species for long time. In a number of species the decreases have been quite dramatic and their annual trapping totals are now so low that a number of problems can no longer be studied. We should be alarmed when considering this negative development among our small birds as we must be with respect to many large bird species. The reasons for the declines are almost unkown and thus there is lack of appropriate counter-measures. Hitherto existing efforts for conservation which are briefly discussed have not been able to prevent the decline. Consequently, bird conservation in the future has to be based on more effective methods. Proposals, briefly raised, will be discussed in a forthcoming paper.

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Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft und gefördert mit Hilfe von Forschungsmitteln des Landes Niedersachsen. 15. Mitteilung aus dem MRI-Programm     

Song types in the corn buntingEmberiza calandra: Matching and discrimination

Summary Corn Bunting populations in Central England have 2 song types, during spontaneous singing they are sung approximately equally frequently and in bouts. Playback of song does not elicit song matching. The tendency to approach the source of playback wanes with repeated presentation of song — the birds habituate. The approach response is restored by playback of the other song type (dishabituation) — evidence that Corn Buntings can discriminate between song types. The functional significance of song types and the reason for differences in song type use between British and European populations remain unclear.

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Strophentypen der GrauammerEmberiza calandra: Experimente zur Angleichung und zum Unterscheidungsvermögen

Zusammenfassung Die Populationen der Grauammer in Mittelengland besitzen 2 Strophentypen, die sie beim experimentell unbeeinflußten Singen jeweils in Serien und etwa gleich häufig vortragen. Tonbandvorspiel von Strophen löst keine Angleichung im Strophentyp aus. Die Tendenz, sich der Schallquelle anzunähern, läßt mit wiederholtem Vorspiel desselben Strophentyps nach, d. h. die Vögel gewöhnen sich an ihn (Habituation). Vorspiel des anderen Strophentyps führt dagegen wieder zur Annäherung (Antihabituation). Dies ist ein Beleg, daß Grauammern zwischen Strophentypen unterscheiden können. Die funktionelle Bedeutung der Strophentypen und die Ursache, warum sich britische und zentraleuropäische Populationen in der Verwendung von Strophentypen unterscheiden, bleibt weiterhin unklar.

     

Specific [3H]Piflutixol Binding to CHAPS-Solubilised Rat Striatal Preparations Involves Dopamine D-2 but Not D-1 Binding Sites

[3H]Piflutixol binding to rat striatal membrane preparations identifies both D-1 and D-2 sites. We used [3H]piflutixol to characterise those binding sites present in 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS)-solubilised rat striatal preparations. The specific binding of [3H]piflutixol, as defined using cis-flupenthixol, to CHAPS-solubilised rat striatal tissue was saturable and of high affinity. Specific [3H]piflutixol binding to the solubilised preparations was displaced stereoselectively by the isomers of butaclamol and to an equal extent by both cis-flupenthixol and (+/-)-sulpiride. A positive correlation was found between the capacity of a range of drugs to displace [3H]piflutixol binding and the displacement of [3H]spiperone to the same preparations. The Bmax of [3H]piflutixol binding was not different from that of [3H]spiperone binding to the same preparation. These studies suggest that, in contrast to specific binding of membrane preparations, the specific binding of [3H]piflutixol to CHAPS-solubilised preparations involves mainly D-2 sites. Specific [3H]piflutixol binding, in contrast to [3H]spiperone binding, showed only slow dissociation from soluble preparations. The binding of [3H]piflutixol to CHAPS-solubilised preparations was retained during passage through a gel filtration column. This prelabelling of solubilised striatal preparations using [3H]piflutixol may aid in the purification of CHAPS-solubilised rat striatal D-2 sites.     

Haemagglutinating and Hydrophobic Properties of Corynebacterium (Eubacterium) Suis

Corynebacterium (Eubacterium) suis strains from boars and sows haemagglutinated erythrocytes of different animal species (calf, guinea pig, poultry, pig, and human). The haemaigglutination was man nose resistant (MR) and was neither inhibited by L-fucose nor D-galactose. The hydrophobicity measured by salt aggregation test (0.1–0.9 mol/1 (NH4)2SO4) and the hydrophobic interaction chromatography test (90 % retention in octyl sepharose) together with the haemagglutinating activity, indicated the presence of fimbriae on the bacteria. The haemagglutinating and hydrophobic properties were heat-sensitive (60°C for 10 min) suggestive of the presence of a protein structure. Two types of fimbria-tion were demonstrated by electron microscopy. Fetuin and glyco^ protein inhibited the haemagglutination, whereas porcine mucin was without any effect. These results indicate that branched glycoproteins might be important receptors for these fimbriae. The pathogenic aspects of C. suis are discussed, based on recent acquired knowledge of the effect of other pyelonephritogenic bacteria.     

Holozygosity for sex-linked genes in males of the termiteIncisitermes schwarzi

The termite Incisitermes schwarzi has multiple sex chromosomes that have arisen by repeated translocations between autosomes and previously existing sex chromosomes. Two sex-linked allozyme loci--Acp-1 and Est-3--are holozygous, not hemizygous, in males (the heterogametic sex). Both loci show less than 1% crossing-over between X and Y chromosomes, and alleles of both are in marked disequilibrium with respect to X vs Y linkage. The two loci assort independently in female meiosis, indicating that they lie on different sex chromosomes. But they are tightly linked in male meiosis because of nonrandom assortment of the multiple X and Y chromosomes in males of this species. The findings of holozygosity and strong linkage disequilibrium suggest that differential selection in the two sexes at or near these loci may be responsible for the establishment of the translocations in this species. The existence of active Y-linked alleles also suggests that the translocations may have occurred recently.