Molecules,fossils, and the origin of tetrapods

Summary Since the discovery of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, more than 50 years ago, paleontologists and comparative morphologists have debated whether coelacanths or lungfishes, two groups of lobe-finned fishes, are the closest living relatives of land vertebrates (Tetrapoda). Previously, Meyer and Wilson (1990) determined partial DNA sequences from two conservative mitochondrial genes and found support for a close relationship of lungfishes to tetrapods. We present additional DNA sequences from the 12S rRNA mitochondria gene for three species of the two lineages of lungfishes that were not represented in the first study: Protopterus annectens and Protopterus aethiopicus from Africa and Neoceratodus forsteri (kindly provided by B. Hedges and L. Maxson) from Australia. This extended data set tends to group the two lepidosirenid lungfish lineages (Lepidosiren and Protopterus) with Neoceratodus as their sister group. All lungfishes seem to be more closely related to tetrapods than the coelacanth is. This result appears to rule out the possibility that the coelacanth lineage gave rise to land vertebrates. The common ancestor of lungfishes and tetrapods might have possessed multiple morphological traits that are shared by lungfishes and tetrapods [Meyer and Wilson (1990) listed 14 such traits]. Those traits that seem to link Latimeria and tetrapods are arguably due to convergent evolution or reversals and not to common descent. In this way, the molecular tree facilitates an evolutionary interpretation of the morphological differences among the living forms. We recommended that the extinct groups of lobe-finned fishes be placed onto the molecular tree that has lungfishes and not the coelacanth more closely related to tetrapods. The placement of fossils would help to further interpret the sequence of morphological events and innovations associated with the origin of tetrapods but appears to be problematic because the quality of fossils is not always high enough, and differences among paleontologists in the interpretation of the fossils have stood in the way of a consensus opinion for the branching order among lobefinned fishes. Marshall and Schultze (1992) criticized the morphological analysis presented by Meyer and Wilson (1990) and suggest that 13 of the 14 morphological traits that support the sister group relationship of lungfishes and tetrapods are not shared derived characters. Here we present further alternative viewpoints to the ones of Marshall and Schultze (1992) from the paleontological literature. We argue that all available information (paleontological, neontological, and molecular data) and rigorous cladistic methodology should be used when relating fossils and extant taxa in a phylogenetic framework. Offprint requests to: Axel Meyer     

Characterisation and Regional Localisation of Pre- and Postsynaptic Glycoproteins of the Chick Forebrain Showing Changed Fucose Incorporation Following Passive Avoidance Training

To identify those glycoproteins whose synthesis or modification is necessary for memory formation, we have studied the uptake of radiolabelled fucose into synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs) and postsynaptic densities (PSDs) derived from two specific left and right forebrain loci, at two different times after training of 1-day-old chicks on a one-trial passive avoidance learning task. To increase the reliability of the comparison, a double-labelling method was used. Tissue samples from intermediate medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) and lobus parolfactorius (LPO) were isolated at 6 and 24 h after training. At both times, training resulted in region-specific changes, both increases and decreases, in incorporated radioactivity into pre- and postsynaptic glycoproteins. After 6 h, there was a relative decline in incorporation into both SPMs and PSDs of the right IMHV of trained chicks, a decline that persisted in the PSDs until 24 h. A small decline in incorporation in SPMs from the right LPO of trained chicks at 6 h was reversed by 24 h, by which time there was a 64% increase in incorporation into SPMs and a 24% increase into PSDs of the left LPO. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of left and right hemisphere samples containing LPO revealed that 6 h after training the main effect was presynaptic, including a reduction of incorporation into high molecular mass glycoproteins, of 150-180 kDa, and an increase in a lower molecular mass (41 kDa) fraction. By 24 h after training, a left hemisphere presynaptic glycoprotein of molecular mass approximately 50 kDa showed the biggest increase in fucosylation. In addition, a wide group of postsynaptic glycoproteins of both hemispheres, in the ranges 150-180, 100-120, and 33 kDa now showed increases in incorporation. Some other fractions showed decreases. These results are in accord with previous data on incorporation obtained using the amnesic agent 2-deoxygalactose. They also support the hypothesis that memory formation involves the strengthening of connections between pre- and postsynaptic neurons of the LPO by growth or modulation of pre- and postsynaptic structures.     

Stomatal responses to light in the facultative Crassulacean acid metabolism species, Portulacaria afra

Guard cell responses to light are mediated by guard cell chlorophyll and by a specific blue light photoreceptor. Gas exchange and epidermal peel techniques were employed to investigate these responses in the facultative Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species, Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. In P. afra individuals performing C₃ metabolism, red light stimulated an increase in leaf conductance in intact leaves and stomatal opening in isolated epidermal peels, indicating the presence in guard cells of the chlorophyll-mediated response to light. Under a background of continuous red illumination, conductance exhibited transient increases following pulses of blue but not red light, indicating that the specific stomatal response to blue light was also operative. In contrast, in CAM individuals, conductance in gas exchange experiments and stomatal opening in epidermal peel experiments were not stimulated by red light. In CAM plants, conductance did not increase following blue light pulses administered over a range of temperatures, vapor pressure differences (VPD), ambient CO₂ concentrations and background red light intensities. These results indicate that P. afra does possess typical guard cell responses to light when performing C₃ metabolism. The metabolic pathways mediating these responses are either lost or inhibited when CAM is induced.     

Topochemical analysis of morphiceptin and dermorphin bioactivities.

To elucidate the topochemical requirements for bioactivities of morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH2) and dermorphin (Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2), we have designed and synthesized two diastereomers Tyr-(L and D)-(NMe)Ala-Phe-D-Pro-NH2. Both the analogs display high activities in the guinea pig ileum assay. The only difference in the composition of these two diastereomers arises from the chirality at residue 2. The high mu-receptor activities are attributed to structures where the Tyr1-L-(NMe)Ala2 amide bond assumes a cis configuration while the Tyr1-D-(NMe)Ala2 amide bond assumes a trans configuration. Accessible space studied for the second residues of these molecules confirms the fact that the L-(NMe)Ala2 analog belongs to the morphiceptin family of opioids while the D-(NMe)Ala2 analog belongs to the dermorphin class of opioids. The similarity in the spacial array of the analogs explains their high mu-receptor activities and indicates that they are likely recognized at the same opioid receptor.     

A new biosensor for specific determination of sucrose using an oxidoreductase of Zymomonas mobilis and invertase

A new biosensor for specific determination of sucrose was developed using an oxidoreductase of Zymomonas mobilis and invertase. Cells of Z. mobilis were permeabilized with toluene in order to utilize the enzymes of glucose-fructose oxidoreductase and gluconolactonase inside the intact cells. Permeabilized cells and invertase were coimmobilized in a gelatin membrane, and a whole cell enzyme electrode was constructed by fixing the membrane on a pH electrode. The production of hydrogen ion was detected using the biosensor-connected microcomputer, and the concentration of sucrose was determined by using both the initial rate and the steady-state methods. Optimum conditions for biosensor response were pH 6.2 and temperature 35 degrees C. The effect of interfering compounds on the electrode response was investigated, and the interference by various sugars was eliminated by determining sucrose concentration using the steady-state method. The biosensor developed is simple and reproducible, and the calibration curve for sucrose is linear up to 70 g/L.     

Hemoproteins of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Cultured Cells and Bacteroids

The hemoprotein content of 17 strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids from field-grown plants and the corresponding strains of cultured cells was determined spectrally. The major terminal oxidases, cytochromes (cyt) aa₃ and o, were present in all strains of cultured cells. cyt aa₃ was present in significant amounts in bacteroids only in strains of DNA homology group II. cyt o appeared to be present in bacteroids of all strains, and the average level was the same as in cultured cells. cyt b and c in the membrane fractions were higher in bacteroids of all strains compared with cultured cells. cyt P-450 was present in both the membrane and soluble fractions of bacteroids of most strains. The total P-450 content varied sixfold among strains. A CO-reactive hemoprotein, P-422, was present in the soluble fraction of all strains of cultured cells. P-422 may be a hemoglobinlike protein, and it was present in significant amounts in bacteroids only in DNA homology group I strains.     

Selective Medium for Enumeration of Tannin-Protein Complex-Degrading Streptococcus spp. in Feces of Koalas

A selective agar plate medium (tannin-treated brain heart infusion agar supplemented with colistin-oxolinic acid) was developed to enumerate tannin-protein complex-degrading Streptococcus bovis in the feces of koalas. This medium was successfully used to enumerate strains from fecal samples but failed to enumerate those from pure cultures.