A requirement for trypsin-sensitive cell-surface components for cell-cell interactions of embryonic neural retina cells

A quantitative assay was used to measure the rate of collection of a population of embryonic neural retina cells to the surface of cell aggregates. The rate of collection of freshly trysinized cells was limited in the initial stages by the rate of replacement of trypsin-sensitive cell- surface components. When cells were preincubated, or "recovered," and then added to cell aggregates, collection occurred at a linear rate and was independent of protein and glycoprotein synthesis. The adhesion of recovered cells was temperature and energy dependent, and was reversibly inhibited by cytochalasin B. Colchicine had little effect on collection of recovered cells. Antiserum directed against recovered cell membranes was shown to bind to recovered cells by indirect immunofluorescence. The antiserum also was shown to inhibit collection of recovered cells to aggregates, suggesting that at least some of the antigens identified might be involved in the adhesion process. The inhibitory effect of the antiserum was dose dependent . Freshly trypsinized cells absorbed neither the immunofluorescence activity nor the adhesion-inhibiting activity. Recovered cells absorbed away both activities. In specificity studies, dorsal neural retina cells adhered to aggregates of ventral optic tectum in preference to aggregates of dorsal optic tectum. The adhesive specificity of the dorsal retina cells was less sensitive to trypsin than the adhesive specificity of ventral retina cells which adhered preferentially to dorsal tectal aggregates only after a period of recovery.     

Optimal range of prey size for antlions

1. Antlions are opportunistic trap building predators that cannot control prey encounter. Their trap should ideally retain a great diversity of prey. However, building a single trap that captures many prey with varying characteristics can be challenging. 2. A series of five different ant species ranging from thin to large, of sizes ranging from 2.75 to 6.5 mm, and a mean weight ranging from 0.54 to 6.00 mg were offered in a random succession to antlions. The state of satiation of the antlions was controlled, and their mass and the depth of their pit were recorded. The reaction of antlion to the prey, the probability of capture as well as the time to escape were recorded. 3. The probability of an antlion reaction is an increasing function of the pit depth and a decreasing function of antlion mass. The probability of capture is highest for intermediate prey mass and is an increasing function of pit depth. The time to escape is a declining function of prey mass and an increasing function of pit depth. 4. There is an upper limit to prey mass given that large prey escape out of the pit. There is a lower limit to prey mass given the difficulty to apprehend the smallest, thin species. Consequently, there is a range of prey mass, corresponding to a medium‐sized ant of 2 mg, for which the pit functions best. The physics of insect locomotion on sandy slopes was identified as the key to understanding the functioning of antlion pits.     

Parallel changes in genetic diversity and species diversity following a natural disturbance

We examined the spatial and temporal variation of species diversity and genetic diversity in a metacommunity comprising 16 species of freshwater gastropods. We monitored species abundance at five localities of the Ain river floodplain in southeastern France, over a period of four years. Using 190 AFLP loci, we monitored the genetic diversity of Radix balthica , one of the most abundant gastropod species of the metacommunity, twice during that period. An exceptionally intense drought occurred during the last two years and differentially affected the study sites. This allowed us to test the effect of natural disturbances on changes in both genetic and species diversity. Overall, local (alpha) diversity declined as reflected by lower values of gene diversity H _S and evenness. In parallel, the among-sites (beta) diversity increased at both the genetic ( F _ST) and species ( F _STC) levels. These results suggest that disturbances can lead to similar changes in genetic and community structure through the combined effects of selective and neutral processes.     

移植的5—羟色胺能神经元跨软脊膜迁入大鼠脊髓的研究

本文对移植的5-HT神经元从蛛网膜下腔跨软脊膜迁移进入脊髓作了初步研究。将含有5-HT细胞的胚胎中缝核组织小块或神经细胞悬浮液作为移植物,以5-HT免疫组织化学方法跟踪移植细胞,结果如下:(1)在低胸水平横切脊髓,10d后,横断脊髓内的5-HT纤维消失。(2)横切脊髓(方法同上)后,立即将中缝核组织小块移植在胸腰段脊髓的蛛网膜下腔,一月后.在横断脊髓内出现5-HT阳性神经元和纤维。5-HT纤维能在灰白质内延伸。(3)脊髓横断后,若以中缝核的细胞悬浮液代替组织小块,作上述移植,则在移植区附近的灰质内出现大量的5-HT阳性神经元。这些神经元在灰质内的分布范围与神经细胞悬浮液在蛛网膜下腔的移植范围相一致。迁入神经元能在灰质内重新形成5-HT阳性纤维网。(4)经上述移植后,灰质内出现的5-HT阳性纤维随远离细胞体而变得稀疏。白质内的5-HT阳性纤维远比灰质内稀少。本实验结果表明:移植在脊髓蛛网膜下腔的脑干5-HT细胞能跨软脊膜迁移进入脊髓。     

A second species in the endemic New Caledonian genus Gastrolepis (Stemonuraceae) and its implications for the conservation status of high‐altitude maquis vegetation: coherent application of the IUCN Red List criteria is urgently needed in New Caledonia

A new species in the previously monotypic, endemic New Caledonian genus Gastrolepis (Stemonuraceae) is described. Gastrolepis alticola differs from G. austrocaledonica by its shorter and thicker petioles, strongly coriaceous leaves with revolute margins, shorter inflorescences, and pubescent corollas. The new species is further distinguished by its ecology, occurring only in high‐altitude maquis on two massifs in southern New Caledonia, Mt. Kouakoué and the Montagne des Sources. Gastrolepis alticola is assigned a preliminary conservation status of ‘Endangered’ using the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List criteria. Comparison of the IUCN threat status for the 19 species endemic to this distinctive, restricted vegetation type reveals a striking lack of consistency and underscores the need for a reassessment of the entire New Caledonian flora. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 775–783.     

Anatomical and chemical characteristics of the seed coat of <i>Medicago sativa</i> L. (alfalfa) cv. Baralfa 85 seeds and their association with seed dormancy

Seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can exhibit seedcoat imposed dormancy, which produces hard seeds within a seed lot. These seeds do not germinate because they do not imbibe water due to a barrier to water entry in the seed coat. The aim of this work was to analyze the anatomical and chemical characteristics of the testa of alfalfa seeds with respect to water permeability levels. The anatomy of seeds of the cv. Baralfa 85 was studied and structural substances, polyphenols, tannins and cutin present in the testa of seeds of different water permeability levels were determined. The anatomical characteristics of the seed coat and the proportions of components were found to determine the permeability level of the seed coat, an aspect that is associated with the physical seed dormancy level. Anatomically, increased thickness of the testa was associated with a lower permeability level. The difference may be attributed to the variation in cuticle thickness, length of macrosclereids and thickness of the cell wall, and presence and development of osteosclereids. From the physiological and chemical points of view, the mechanism of physical dormancy of the testa is explained by a greater amount of components that repel water and cement the cell wall, such as polyphenols, lignins, condensed tannins, pectic substances, and a lower proportion of cellulose and hemicellulose.     

Interactions of neural glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans with protein ligands: assessment of selectivity, heterogeneity and the participation of core proteins in binding

The method of affinity coelectrophoresis was used to study the binding of nine representative glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding proteins, all thought to play roles in nervous system development, to GAGs and proteoglycans isolated from developing rat brain. Binding to heparin and non-neural heparan and chondroitin sulfates was also measured. All nine proteins-laminin-1, fibronectin, thrombospondin-1, NCAM, L1, protease nexin-1, urokinase plasminogen activator, thrombin, and fibroblast growth factor-2-bound brain heparan sulfate less strongly than heparin, but the degree of difference in affinity varied considerably. Protease nexin-1 bound brain heparan sulfate only 1.8- fold less tightly than heparin (Kdvalues of 35 vs. 20 nM, respectively), whereas NCAM and L1 bound heparin well (Kd approximately 140 nM) but failed to bind detectably to brain heparan sulfate (Kd>3 microM). Four proteins bound brain chondroitin sulfate, with affinities equal to or a few fold stronger than the same proteins displayed toward cartilage chondroitin sulfate. Overall, the highest affinities were observed with intact heparan sulfate proteoglycans: laminin-1's affinities for the proteoglycans cerebroglycan (glypican-2), glypican-1 and syndecan-3 were 300- to 1800-fold stronger than its affinity for brain heparan sulfate. In contrast, the affinities of fibroblast growth factor-2 for cerebroglycan and for brain heparan sulfate were similar. Interestingly, partial proteolysis of cerebroglycan resulted in a >400- fold loss of laminin affinity. These data support the views that (1) GAG-binding proteins can be differentially sensitive to variations in GAG structure, and (2) core proteins can have dramatic, ligand-specific influences on protein-proteoglycan interactions.      

A new species of Goniothalamus (Annonaceae) from New Caledonia, representing a significant range extension for the genus

A previously unknown Annonaceae species from the South Pacific island of New Caledonia is described as Goniothalamus dumontetii . This is the first Goniothalamus species reported from the island, and the easternmost record for the genus. It is easily distinguished from its congeners by the shape of the monocarp (flattened elongate with lateral triangular projections), which reflects the shape of the seeds (flattened rhombohedral). The conservation status of the species is evaluated as endangered (EN) using World Conservation Union (IUCN) red list categories, as it is known from only one relatively small population. The interpretation of geological and molecular data suggests that Goniothalamus dispersed to New Caledonia relatively recently, and does not represent a relict of the break-up of Gondwana.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 497–503.