Pollination features and floral volatiles of Gymnospermium scipetarum (Berberidaceae)

Journal of Plant Research - The discovery of few isolated populations of Gymnospermium scipetarum (since now considered as an amphi-Adriatic endemic) in the S-Apennines prompted to investigate,...     

Minnow introductions in mountain lakes result in lower salmonid densities

Biological Invasions - Small fish species such as minnows (Phoxinus sp.) are introduced into mountain lakes by anglers that use them as live bait for fishing salmonids that were previously...     

Platelet hyaluronidase 2 enrichment in acute coronary syndromes: a conceivable role in monocyte-platelet aggregate formation

Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) with plaque erosion display dysregulated hyaluronan metabolism, with increased hyaluronidase-2 (HYAL2) expression. However, the expression and the role of this enzyme on platelets has never been explored. We evaluated the platelet’s HYAL2 (_pltHYAL2) levels on I) stable angina (SA) and II) ACS patients, furtherly sub-grouped in Intact-Fibrous-Cap (IFC) and Ruptured-Fibrous-Cap (RFC), according to Optical Coherence Tomography. We assessed the HYAL2 role through an in vitro model setting of co-cultured monocytes and platelets, before and after treatment with low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (HA) as pro-inflammatory stimulus and with or without HYAL2-antibody to inhibit HYAL2 activity. ACS patients exhibit higher _pltHYAL2 levels comparing to SA, with the higher expression for IFC group. The addition of HYAL2-antibody significantly reduced the percentage of monocyte-platelet binding, suggesting that _pltHYAL2 enrichment at the site of the culprit lesion is a key mediator in the systemic thrombo-inflammatory status of ACS presenting with plaque erosion.     

Co-oligopeptides of aromatic amino acids and glycine with a variable distance between the aromatic residues. II. Ultraviolet absorption and circular dichroism properties of co-oligopeptides of tryptophan and glycine

The uv absorption and circular dichroism (CD) properties in water (pH 5.9) and trifluoroethanol of several co-oligopeptides of glycine and tryptophan have been investigated. These compounds contain one tryptophyl residue, such as H-Gly-Trp-OH, H-Trp-Gly-OH, and H-Gly-Trp-Gly-OH; or two, such as H-Trp-Trp-OH, H-Gly-Trp-Trp-OH, H-Trp-Trp-Gly-OH, and H-Gly-Trp-(Gly)_n-Trp-Gly-OH (I, n = 0,1,2). Furthermore, the case of some protected derivatives, such as Z-Trp-Gly-OMe, Z-Gly-Trp-Gly-OMe, and Z-Trp-Trp-OMe, Z-Trp-Trp-Gly-OMe, Z-Gly-Trp-Trp-Ome were investigated. The extinction coefficients in H₂O in the region of the L bands, referred to one mole of tryptophyl residue, are essentially the same for all compounds within the limit of experimental error, thus indicating that no strong chromophoric interaction takes place in the oligopeptides containing two aromatic residues. However, in the far uv region, anomalies in the absorption properties cannot be excluded. The investigated compounds show marked differences in their CD properties. Whereas in the case of lower molecular-weight peptides (e.g., H-Trp-Gly-OH and H-Gly-Trp-OH), these differences can be ascribed, at least in part, to the influence of the charge end groups on the indole chromophore, in the case of the compounds containing two tryptophyl residues, the differences in CD properties are assumed to reflect the different structures and conformations of the oligopeptides. In particular, we observed a negative dichroic band at ～225 nm in H-Gly-Trp-Trp-OH and I(n = 0) in water. In trifluoroethanol, this band has a much larger intensity, and it is present also in Z-Gly-Trp-Trp-OMe, Z-Trp-Trp-Gly-OMe, and Z-Trp-Trp-OMe. It is argued that such a negative band is characteristic of the sequence -CO-Trp-Trp-, and the possibility that it derives from intramolecular chromophoric interaction is discussed. It is also pointed out, particularly in view of the high ellipticity values found in some cases (up to 100,000 deg cm² dmol^?1), that this feature may reflect a high degree of conformational rigidity connected with the sequence -CO-Trp-Trp-.     

Control region haplotype variation in the central Mediterranean common sole indicates geographical isolation and population structuring in Italian stocks

Nine common sole Solea vulgaris samples from five fishery Management Units (MUs) of the central Mediterranean exhibited differences in a control region sequence marker. Parsimony network showed two low-divergent haplotype phylogroups. The former predominated in samples from the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic and north-western Ionian Seas (MUs 9, 10, 17, 18 and northern part of 19, respectively), whereas the latter was abundant in the south-western Ionian (southern part of MU 19). The geographical clustering of maternal lineages accounts for population structuring and indicates geographical isolation of common sole stocks in the Mediterranean. Several life-history traits of common sole and hydro-geographical features of the basin might support this pattern of differentiation. Haplotype frequency differences were detected among samples either from different MUs or within the same MU. This situation indicates the presence of partially subdivided or nearly panmictic population units, whose exploitation should be based on appropriate bio-ecological features. The usefulness of control region sequence marker enhances the routinely use of the genetic stock structure analysis in low-dispersal demersal marine resources.     

Astrobiology of life on Earth

Astrobiology is mistakenly regarded by some as a field confined to studies of life beyond Earth. Here, we consider life on Earth through an astrobiological lens. Whereas classical studies of microbiology historically focused on various anthropocentric sub-fields (such as fermented foods or commensals and pathogens of crop plants, livestock and humans), addressing key biological questions via astrobiological approaches can further our understanding of all life on Earth. We highlight potential implications of this approach through the articles in this Environmental Microbiology special issue ‘Ecophysiology of Extremophiles’. They report on the microbiology of places/processes including low-temperature environments and chemically diverse saline- and hypersaline habitats; aspects of sulphur metabolism in hypersaline lakes, dysoxic marine waters, and thermal acidic springs; biology of extremophile viruses; the survival of terrestrial extremophiles on the surface of Mars; biological soils crusts and rock-associated microbes of deserts; subsurface and deep biosphere, including a salticle formed within Triassic halite; and interactions of microbes with igneous and sedimentary rocks. These studies, some of which we highlight here, contribute to our understanding of the spatiotemporal reach of Earth'sfunctional biosphere, and the tenacity of terrestrial life. Their findings will help set the stage for future work focused on the constraints for life, and how organisms adapt and evolve to circumvent these constraints.     

Co-oligopeptides of aromatic amino acids and glycine with a variable distance between the aromatic residues. I. Synthesis of co-oligopeptides of tryptophan and glycine

The preparation of the co-oligopeptides of the series H-Gly-Trp-(Gly)_n-Trp-Gly-OH (n = 0, 1, and 2) and of a number of other unprotected co-oligopeptides of glycine and tryptophan is reported. The syntheses have been carried out by conventional methods, using, in general, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters for the coupling steps. All the oligopeptides were obtained after purfication as colorless and crystalline products, and gave only one spot on thin-layer chromatography. Specfic problems connected with the synthesis and purficiation of optically pure tryptophan-containing peptides are discussed.     

Notes on the distribution and biology of the deep-sea crab Bathynectes maravigna (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Data on the distribution and biology of the deep-sea portunid crab Bathynectes maravigna are reported for the Mediterranean Sea, based on several fisheries research surveys. Densities are low and, therefore, biological data are scarce. In the western Mediterranean, the species is much commoner in Alborán Sea than in the Catalano-Balearic Sea. Occurrences are also scarce in the southern Adriatic and northwestern Thyrrenian Sea, as well as in the Ionian Sea. The Alborán Sea and the seas surrounding the southern Italian peninsula are the areas where densities are the highest. The occurrence depth range was found to be 245–786 m, but most of the occurrences took place deeper than 500 m. Sizes ranged between 9 and 51 mm carapace length in males and between 12 and 51 mm in females. Ovigerous females have been only reported in October–December and March–May. Eighty three percent of both males and females are right-handed. Sexual dimorphism was present in cheliped length with males having longer chelae than females. The species appears to be much commoner in those areas where Atlantic influence is the highest.