Design and synthesis of a fluorescent muscarinic antagonist

The design and concise synthesis of a fluorescent tolterodine-BODIPY (boron dipyrromethene) conjugate is described which possesses potent antimuscarinic activity. This derivative illustrates proof-of-concept for the preparation of other useful fluorophoric antimuscarinic agents which have potential utility in receptor occupancy studies and high throughput screens.     

Characterization of 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci developed for an Afrotherian species endemic to southern Africa, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elephantulus myurus</Emphasis> (Macroscelidea: Macroscelididae)

Fourteen microsatellite loci were developed for the eastern rock sengi, Elephantulus myurus Thomas & Schwann, 1906 by incorporating genetic diversity from across its range in South Africa. Sengis are small mammals belonging to the order Macroscelidea, which comprises 19 species, all of which are endemic to Africa. The loci were amplified in 66 individuals from six localities. An average of 10.5 alleles per locus were identified, with observed and expected heterozygosity values ranging from 0.081 to 0.909 and 0.404 to 0.911, respectively. We also investigated cross-species amplification within the family and found variation in amplification success for five different species. The preliminary results from these amplification efforts could aid further studies into aspects of species diversity and biology. The markers described here represent the first set of variable nuclear markers for the genus Elephantulus, and together with a set of 8 recently developed markers for Rhynchocyon petersi, Bocage 1880, the first markers for the order Macroscelidea.     

Interrogation of Functional Cell-Surface Markers Identifies CD151 Dependency in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

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An intensive hands-on course designed to teach molecular biology techniques to physiology graduate students

To address a growing need to make research trainees in physiology comfortable with the tools of molecular biology, we have developed a laboratory-intensive course designed for graduate students. This course is offered to a small group of students over a three-week period and is organized such that comprehensive background lectures are coupled with extensive hands-on experience. The course is divided into seven modules, each organized by a faculty member who has particular expertise in the area covered by that module. The modules focus on basic methods such as cDNA subcloning, sequencing, gene transfer, polymerase chain reaction, and protein and RNA expression analysis. Each module begins with a lecture that introduces the technique in detail by providing a historical perspective, describing both the uses and limitations of that technique, and comparing the method with others that yield similar information. Most of the lectures are followed by a laboratory session during which students follow protocols that were carefully designed to avoid pitfalls. Throughout these laboratory sessions, students are given an appreciation of the importance of proper technique and accuracy. Communication among the students, faculty, and the assistant coordinator is focused on when and why each procedure would be used, the importance of each step in the procedure, and approaches to troubleshooting. The course ends with an exam that is designed to test the students' general understanding of each module and their ability to apply the various techniques to physiological questions.     

Load sensing and control of posture and locomotion

This article reviews recent findings on how forces are detected by sense organs of insect legs and how this information is integrated in control of posture and walking. These experiments have focused upon campaniform sensilla, receptors that detect forces as strains in the exoskeleton, and include studies of sensory discharges in freely moving animals and intracellular characterization of connectivity of afferent inputs in the central nervous system. These findings provide insights into how campaniform sensilla can contribute to the adjustment of motor outputs to changes in load. In this review we discuss (1) anatomy of the receptors and their activities in freely moving insects, (2) mechanisms by which inputs are incorporated into motor outputs and (3) the integration of sensory signals of diverse modalities. The discharges of some groups of receptors can encode body load when standing. Responses are also correlated with muscle-generated forces during specific times in walking. These activities can enhance motor outputs through reflexes and can affect the timing of motoneuron firing through inputs to pattern generating interneurons. Flexibility in the system is also provided by interactions of afferent inputs at several levels. These mechanisms can contribute to the adaptability of insect locomotion to diverse terrains and environments.     

Author index Volume 52

Authors Index

Author index Volume 52