Persistence to Unrewarding Feeding Locations by Honeybee Foragers (Apis mellifera): the Effects of Experience,Resource Profitability and Season

Honeybee foragers that find a profitable food source quickly establish spatiotemporal memories, which allow them to return to this foraging site on subsequent days. The aim of this study was to investigate how the previous experience of honeybee foragers at a feeding location affects their persistence at that location once food is no longer available. We hypothesised that persistence would be greater to locations that were more rewarding (closer to the hive, higher concentration of sucrose solution), for which a bee had greater prior experience (0.5‐h vs. 2‐h training access), and at times of the year of lower nectar availability in the environment. We studied individually marked worker bees from four colonies trained to sucrose‐solution feeders. Our results support most of these predictions. Persistence, measured both in duration and number of visits, was greater to locations that previously offered sucrose solution of higher concentration (2 m vs. 1 m ) or were closer to the hive (20 m vs. 450 m). Persistence was also greater in bees that had longer access at the feeder before the syrup was terminated (2 h vs. 0.5 h). However, contrary to our prediction, persistence was not higher in the season of the lowest nectar availability in the environment in the study year. In summary, honeybees show considerable persistence at foraging sites that ceased providing rewards. The decision to abandon a foraging site depends on the profitability the forager experienced when the foraging site was still rewarding.     

Salinomycin induces apoptosis and senescence in breast cancer: Upregulation of p21, downregulation of survivin and histone H3 and H4 hyperacetylation

Background

In the present study, we investigated the effect of Salinomycin on the survival of three human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T47D and MDA-MB-231 grown in adherent culture conditions.

Methods

Cell viability was measured by CellTiter-Glo and Trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptosis was determined by caspase 3/7 activation, PARP cleavage and Annexin V staining. Cell cycle distribution was assessed by propidium iodide flow cytometry. Senescence was confirmed by measuring the senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. Changes in protein expression and histone hyperacetylation was determined by western blot and confirmed by immunofluorescence assay.

Results

Salinomycinwas able to inhibit the growth of the three cell lines in time- and concentration-dependent manners. We showed that depending on the concentrations used, Salinomycin elicits different effects on theMDA-MB-231 cells. High concentrations of Salinomycin induced a G2 arrest, downregulation of survivin and triggered apoptosis. Interestingly, treatment with low concentrations of Salinomycin induced a transient G1 arrest at earlier time point and G2 arrest at later point and senescence associatedwith enlarged cellmorphology, upregulation of p21 protein, increase in histone H3 and H4 hyperacetylation and expression of SA-β-Gal activity. Furthermore, we found that Salinomycin was able to potentiate the killing of the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, by the chemotherapeutic agents, 4-Hydroxytamoxifen and frondoside A, respectively.

Conclusion

Our data are the first to link senescence and histone modifications to Salinomycin.

Significance

This study provides a new insight to better understand the mechanism of action of Salinomycin, at least in breast cancer cells.     

Auswirkungen von abgestufter pflanzenschutzmittel‐intensität und unkrautbesatz auf laufkäferzönosen (coleoptera; carabidae) während einer fruchtfolgerotation unter den spezifischen Bedingungen des mitteldeutschen trockengebietes*

Die Untersuchungen fanden von 1991 bis 1995 auf einem 43 ha großen Schlag in Obhausen (Querfurter Platte) statt. Zielstellung der Untersuchungen war es, Auswirkungen abgestufter Pflanzenschutzintensitäten auf Laufkäfer zu erfassen. Dazu wurden auf dem Feld 6 Parzellen von 72 × 200 m Größe angelegt, von denen zwei als pflanzenschutzmittelfreie Kontrollflächen dienten. Auf zwei weiteren Teilstücken erfolgten intensive chemische Pflanzenschutzmaßnahmen. In den anderen beiden Varianten wurden im Sinne eines integrierten Pflanzenschutzes unter Beachtung von Schadschwellenwerten (Unkräuter, pilzliche und tierische Schaderreger) gezielte Pflanzenschutzmaßnahmen praktiziert. Zur Erfassung der Laufkäfer dienten Bodenfallen. Die Fruchtfolge begann 1991 mit Wintergerste, die aber wegen Trockenheit umgebrochen werden mußte. Die Intensitätsabstufungen des Pflanzenschutzmitteleinsatzes erfolgten ab 1992 im Mais und 1993 sowie 1994 in Winterweizen. Letztes Fruchtfolgeglied war 1995 Winterroggen, bei dem alle Parzellen wieder konventionell bewirtschaftet wurden. Im Mais kam es in den unbehandelten Kontrollen zu einer starken Verunkrautung. In diesen Parzellen erreichte die Fangsumme der Laufkäfer den 2,5 fachen Wert gegenüber den anderen Prüfgliedern. In den darauffolgenden Jahren, in den Winterweizenbeständen, lagen die höchsten Fangsummen wiederum in den Kontrollen vor, doch fielen die Differenzen zu den anderen Prüfgliedern nicht so groß aus. Die wenigsten Laufkäfer wurden in den Intensiv‐Varianten erfaßt. Die Bewirtschaftung nach dem Schadschwellenprinzip erbrachte wesentlich höhere Fangsummen. Während der Intensitätsabstufung besiedelten die Arten Calosoma auropunc‐tatum, Harpalus affinis, Pseudoophonus rufipes, Harpalus distinguendus, Poecilus punctulatus, Harpalus tardus sowie Harpalus zabroides überwiegend die Kontrollparzellen. Bei den abschließenden Untersuchungen im Winterroggen 1995 traf dies nur noch für Harpalus affinis zu. Ob für das Überwiegen dieser Arten in den Kontrollen der starke Unkrautbesatz im Jahre 1992 bzw. nachfolgend der Vorrat an Diasporen oder der völlige Verzicht auf Pflanzenschutzmittel ausschlaggebend war, konnte nicht eindeutig geklärt werden. Entgegen allen Erwartungen lag im Winterroggen die höchste Fangsumme der Laufkäfer in den ehemals intensiv behandelten Parzellen vor.

Ein Verzicht auf Pflanzenschutzmittel geht oft mit nicht mehr tolerierbaren Ertragsverlusten einher, wie z.B. im Mais 1992. Bei einem Einsatz von Pflanzenschutzmitteln nach Schadschwellenwerten entsprechend den Prinzipien eines integrierten Pflanzenschutzes sind langfristig keine negativen Effekte auf den Naturhaushalt zu erwarten.     

Sex- and age-dependent DNA methylation at the 17q12-q21 locus associated with childhood asthma

Chromosomal region 17q12-q21 is one of the best-replicated genome-wide association study (GWAS) hits and associated with childhood-onset asthma. However, the mechanism by which the genetic association is restricted to childhood-onset disease is unclear. During childhood, more boys than girls develop asthma. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the 17q12-q21 genetic association was sex-specific. Indeed, a TDT test showed that in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean familial collection, the 17q12-q21 association was significant among male, but not among female asthmatic subjects. We next hypothesized that the bias in the genetic association resulted from sex-specific and/or age-dependent DNA methylation at regulatory regions and determined the methylation profiles of five 17q12-q21 gene promoters using the bisulfite sequencing methylation assay. We identified a single regulatory region within the zona pellucida binding protein 2 (ZPBP2) gene, which showed statistically significant differences between males and females with respect to DNA methylation. DNA methylation also varied with age and was higher in adult males compared to boys. We have recently identified two functionally important polymorphisms, both within the ZPBP2 gene that influence expression levels of neighboring genes. Combined with the results of the present work, these data converge pointing to the same 5 kb region within the ZPBP2 gene as a critical region for both gene expression regulation and predisposition to asthma. Our data show that sex- and age-dependent DNA methylation may act as a modifier of genetic effects and influence the results of genetic association studies.     

Amino acid/water interactions study: a new amino acid scale

Partition ratios of 8 free l-amino acids (Gln, Glu, His, Lys, Met, Ser, Thr, and Tyr) were measured in 10 different polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase systems containing 0.15?M NaCl in 0.01?M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The solute-specific coefficients representing the solute dipole/dipole, hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions with the aqueous environment of the amino acids were determined by multiple linear regression analysis using a modified linear solvation energy relationship. The solute-specific coefficients determined in this study together with the solute-specific coefficients reported previously for amino acids with non-polar side-chains where used in a Quantitative Structure/Property Relationship analysis. It is shown that linear combinations of these solute-specific coefficients are correlated well with various physicochemical, structural, and biological properties of amino acids.     

Morphometric characterisation of the native Honeybee,Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, of Saudi Arabia

The rediscovery of the Minor Snake-eyed Skink, Ablepharus grayanus, from two different localities in Sistan and Baluchestan and Kerman Provinces, southeastern Iran is reported. A total of 24 specimens was examined based on morphometrics, colour pattern and pholidotic characters. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) based on morphometric measurements revealed significant differences in terms of the snoutvent length (SVL) and fore- and hind limb distances (GA) between eastern and western populations of Ablepharus pannonicus. The most distinguishing characters of Ablepharus grayanus are morphological features, especially ear opening status and scales around the midbody (18-20 versus 20-22). Based on morphological grounds, Ablepharus grayanus is clearly distinguished from A. pannonicus occurring in the eastern and western regions of the Iranian Plateau.     

Preparation and immunogenicity of conjugate based on hydrazine-treated lipopolysaccharide antigen of Vibrio cholerae O139

A glycoconjugate construct was based on attachment of V. cholerae O139 hydrazine-treated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to carboxylated bovine serum albumin (CBSA) via its amino group. The immunological properties of the glycoconjugate were tested using BALB/c mice, injected subcutaneously without any adjuvant three times at 2?weeks interval. The immunogenicity of the conjugate was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, testing of anti-LPS IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. The conjugate elicited a statistically significant increase of LPS-specific IgG levels in mice (p?<?0.001). The specific anti-LPS IgG and IgA response after the second booster dose was significantly higher compared with reference and unconjugated detoxified LPS response. Antibodies elicited by the dLPS–CBSA conjugate were vibriocidal.     

Open stomata 1 (OST1) kinase controls R–type anion channel QUAC1 in Arabidopsis guard cells

Under drought stress, the stress hormone ABA addresses the SnR kinase OST1 via its cytosolic receptor and the protein phosphatase ABI1. Upon activation, OST1 phosphorylates the guard cell S–type anion channel SLAC1. Arabidopsis ABI1 and OST1 loss‐of‐function mutants are characterized by an extreme wilting 'open stomata′ phenotype. Given the fact that guard cells express both SLAC‐ and R–/QUAC‐type anion channels, we questioned whether OST1, besides SLAC1, also controls the QUAC1 channel. In other words, are ABI1/OST1 defects preventing both of the guard cell anion channel types from operating properly in terms of stomatal closure? The activation of the R–/QUAC‐type anion channel by ABA signaling kinase OST1 and phosphatase ABI1 was analyzed in two experimental systems: Arabidopsis guard cells and the plant cell‐free background of Xenopus oocytes. Patch‐clamp studies on guard cells show that ABA activates R–/QUAC‐type currents of wild‐type plants, but to a much lesser extent in those of abi1–1 and ost1–2 mutants. In the oocyte system the co‐expression of QUAC1 and OST1 resulted in a pronounced activation of the R–type anion channel. These studies indicate that OST1 is addressing both S–/SLAC‐ and R–/QUAC‐type guard cell anion channels, and explain why the ost1–2 mutant is much more sensitive to drought than single slac1 or quac1 mutants.     

Fine Structure of the Plasmodia and Myxospore of Ellipsomyxa gobioides n. sp. (Myxozoa) Found in the Gallbladder of Gobioides broussonnetii (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Lower Amazon River

A fish infecting myxosporean Ellipsomyxa gobioides n. sp. is described in the gallbladder of the Amazonian dragon fish Gobioides broussonnetii. Irregular disporous plasmodia (up to ~30 μm in diameter) with long branched and anastomosed pseudopodia were found attached to the gallbladder wall. Mature ellipsoid myxospores occurring floating in the bile measured 6.8 (6.5–7.0) μm (n = 30) long, 7.2 (6.9–7.5) μm (n = 15) wide, and 13.1 (12.8–13.5) (n = 25) thick. They had smooth thin valves elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the straight central transverse sutural line. The two ellipsoidal polar capsules (PC) opened some distance from the sutural line on opposite sides, each measuring 4.6 (4.3–4.8) μm (n = 15) long and 2.5 (2.1–2.7) μm (n = 20) wide. Distance between PC 3.5 (3.1–3.8) μm (n = 15) in apical view. The polar filament was isofilar and consisted of a single coil with five or six turns. The objective of this study was to characterize this new species based on its morphological differences from the three previously described species. This is the first reported species of genus Ellipsomyxa from among the South American fauna.