Prairie plant guilds: a multivariate analysis of prairie species based on ecological and morphological traits

An ecomorphological analysis of the tallgrass prairie of central North America divided representative species of the native grassland flora into eight guilds or groups of species with similar life-form, phenology, and ecology. The guilds, segregated by multivariate analysis, are: (1) warm-season graminoids with Kranz anatomy and the Hatch-Slack photosynthetic pathway (C4 grasses); (2) cool-season graminoids without Kranz anatomy, but with the common Calvin or C3 photosynthetic pathway (C3 grasses and sedges); (3) annuals and biennial forbs; (4) ephemeral spring forbs; (5) spring forbs; (6) summer/fall forbs; (7) legumes; and (8) woody shrubs. The study was based on 158 plant species indigenous to three upland prairie sites in northeastern Kansas. Each species was scored for 32 traits which fall into five broad categories: plant habit, leaf characteristics, stem structures, root structures, and reproductive traits, including phenology. A multivariate, detrended correspondence analysis sorted the 158 species into the eight principal groups or guilds. These groups were further supported by a cluster analysis and discriminant function analysis of the same data set. The discriminant function analysis determined that 94.3% of the species were correctly classified in their respective guilds, and that the guilds were statistically different. Results indicate that guild analysis offers a basis for detailed classification of grassland vegetation that is more ecologically focused than species composition, as the myriad of species (about 1,000 prairie species on the central plains of North America) vary in presence, cover, and importance with their individualistic distribution.Abbreviations C3= C3 photosynthesis - C4= C4 photosynthesis - LSD= least significant difference     

Inhibition of G1 phase cyclin dependent kinases by transforming growth factor β1

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) inhibits epithelial cell proliferation late in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. We examined the effect of TGFβ1 on known late G1 cell cycle regulators in an attempt to determine the molecular mechanism of growth inhibition by this physiological inhibitor. The results demonstrate the TGFβ1 inhibits the late G1 and S phase specific histone H1 kinase activity of p33^cdk2. This inhibitiion is not dur to TGFβ1's effect on p33^cdk2 synthesis, but rather due to its negative effect on the late G1 phosphorylation of p33^cdk2. It is also shown that TGFβ1 inhibits both late G1 cyclin A and cyclin E associated histon H1 kinase activities. The inhibitor has no effects on the synthesis of cyclin E but to inhibit the synthesis of cyclin A protein in a cell cycle dependent manner. If TGFβ1 is added to cells which have progressed futher than 8 hours into G1, then it is without inhibitory effect on cyclin A synthesis. These effect on TGFβ1 on late G1 cell cycle regulators correlate well with its inhibitory effects on cellular growth and suggest that these G1 cyclin dependent kinases might serve as targets for TGFβ1-mediated growth arrest.     

Substance P in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat: an immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study

Using a biotin-streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immunohistochemical technique the distribution of substance P-immunoreactive neuronal elements was investigated in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibres and varicosities were distributed throughout the suprachiasmatic nucleus, with the largest accumulation in its ventral part. Because this location overlaps with the innervation of retinal afferents, the distribution and density of substance P-immunoreactive fibres in bilaterally enucleated rats were compared to normal rats. The density of substance P-immunoreactive fibres and nerve terminals in the ventral part of the suprachiasmatic nuclei was reduced in the rats with bilateral destruction of the optic nerves, whereas the density of fibres and nerve terminals in the dorsal part as well as other retinal target areas in the thalamus and mesencephalon was unaffected. In rats pretreated with an intraventricular injection of colchicine several substance P-immunoreactive perikarya were identified in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The immunoreactive neurons, measuring 9.7 m±1.1 m in diameter, were frequently observed in the central core of the nucleus and to a lesser extent in the dorsomedial and ventrolateral subparts. Using in situ hybridization histochemistry pre-protachykinin-A mRNA was found in the same part of the SCN indicating that synthesis of substance P takes place in SCN neurons. Using a double immunohistochemical approach applying diaminobenzidine and benzidinedihydrochloride as chromagens substance P-, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-, and vasopressin/neurophysin-immunoreactivities were identified in the same brain section. The substance P-immunoreactive perikarya constituted a separate population of SCN neurons, which were not vasopressin-, neurophysin- or VIP-immunoreactive. Taken together, these observations show that substance P is contained in the retinohypothalamic pathway and within a group of SCN cell bodies, indiating that substance P may play a role in the generation and entrainment of circadian rhythmicity.     

Developmental changes in the activity and cellular localization of hepatic casein kinase II in the rat

Abstract The activity and cellular localization of hepatic casein kinase II(CKII) was examined during late fetal development in the rat. Cultured fetal hepatocytes displayed constitutive CKII activity which was not further activated by growth factor exposure. Similarly, fetal liver CKII showed approximately fivefold greater activity than adult liver. The fetal hepatic activity was, to a large degree, localized to a nuclear fraction. Postnuclear cytosol preparations from fetal and adult liver showed similar CKII activity. In all cases, FPLC ion exchange chromatography followed by Western immunoblotting showed that immunoreactive CKII coincided with kinase activity. However, Parallel determinations of CKII activity and immunoreactive CKII levels showed a higher(five-to sixfold) CKII specific activity in nuclear extracts compared to cytosol. In summary, fetal hepatic CKII demonstrates coincident nuclear localization and activation. We hypothesize that the regulation of hepatic CKII is relevant to the mitogen-independent proliferation displayed by fetal rat hepatocytes. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Contribution of α- -galactopyranosyl end groups to attachment of highly and low metastatic murine fibrosarcoma cells to various substrates

There are much greater numbers of cell surface terminal, non-reducing α- -galactorpyranosyl groups in highly malignant (metastatic) cells than are found in low malignant cells derived from the same murine fibrosarcoma. We have examined the contribution of these residues to attachment of the cells to various collagens and to plastic. Removal of these carbohydrate groups with α-galactosidase or blocking them with lectins from Griffonia simplicifolia seeds or with anti-blood group B antiserum all dramatically inhibited the attachment of both the highly malignant and the low malignant cells. Following removal with the enzyme, the α- -galactopyranosyl end groups were rapidly resynthesized. This resynthesis was inhibited by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of de novo glycoprotein synthesis. This antibiotic also impaired cell attachment and, when used in addition to treatment with α-galactosidase, it inhibited cell attachment more than did treatment with the enzyme alone. The effects of all treatments on cell attachment were greater for the highly malignant than for the low malignant cells. With the latter cells, inhibition by lectin was seen only in the absence of serum, whereas the adhesion of highly malignant cells was affected in both the presence and the absence of serum. On their surface membrane the highly malignant cells express much more than do the low malignant cells of a glycoprotein that cross-reacts immunologically with laminin. The basement membrane glycoprotein laminin promotes cell attachment to collagen, and both glycoproteins contain terminal, non-reducing α- -galactopyranosyl groups. Attachment of cells is a requirement for the formation of a metastasis, and thus the laminin-like molecule and the α- -galactopyranosyl end groups (whether on the laminin-related moiety or on other cell surface molecules) may both be important for expression of the most malignant phenotype.     

ORGANIZATION AND ONTOGENY OF THE VASCULAR SYSTEM IN THE PETIOLE OF EASTERN COTTONWOOD

The topologic arrangement of petiolar bundles varies within the length of the cottonwood petiole. Each petiolar bundle is formed by the subdivision and aggregation of acropetally differentiating subsidiary bundles in a predictable pattern. The subsidiary bundles provide vascular continuity between the stem and specific portions of the leaf lamina. Spot-labeling of individual veins with ¹⁴CO₂, freeze substitution, and microautoradiography were used to establish the relation between the secondary veins of the lamina and the vasculature of the petiole. Within the petiole vasculature each subsidiary bundle was continuous with a specific portion of the lamina and seemed to have a separate function. Subsidiary bundles continuous with the central leaf trace were closely related functionally to the tip region of the lamina, while the subsidiary bundles continuous with the lateral leaf traces were functionally related to the middle and basal portions of the lamina.     

Races of the emperor tamarin,Saguinus imperator Goeldi (Callitrichidae,Primates)

The two described subspecies of the emperor tamarin,Saguinus imperator imperator Goeldi andSaguinus imperator subgrisescens Lönnberg are defined and compared, the geographic range of each plotted.