Morphological observations on some fleshy crustose algae of the Island of Gorgona (Tuscan Archipelago)

Abstract

Morphological and ecological observations on four fleshy crustose algae collected in the eulittoral and upper sublittoral zone of the Island of Gorgona: Myrionema liechtenstenii Hauck, Hildenbrandia canariensis B?rgesen, Peyssonnelia armorica (P. et H. Crouan) Weber-van Bosse in B?rgesen and Cruoria cruoriaeformis (P. et H. Crouan) Denizot are reported. For each species, information on some aspects of their ecology, geographical distribution and notes on their vegetative and reproductive morphology are given.     

Benthic marine flora in the Tuscan Archipelago. A first contribution: Isles of Capraia,Elba, Formiche di Grosseto,Giglio, Scoglio d'Africa,Montecristo and Giannutri

Abstract

Benthic marine flora of Tuscan Archipelago has been studied. Several samples were collected along five islands and some rocks. This paper is a compendium of new and already published data, in which 267 species, varieties, forms and stadia of algae and seagrasses are listed: 5 Bangiophyceae, 182 Florideophyceae, 45 Phaeophyceae, 6 Chlorophyceae, 28 Bryopsidophyceae, 1 Angiospermae.     

Ricerche Sul Movimento Degli Stami in Alcune Berberidacee

Riassunto

L'A. studia i movimenti degli stami di Berberis in natura: trova che nel bocciolo i movimenti sono dovuti a fatti di diversità di accrescimento e di evoluzione dei singoli tessuti: determina il momento e le condizioni fisiologiche in cui si iniziano e la sensibilità e le proprietà contrattili (movimento rapido): mediante osservazioni di tipo sperimentale prova che il movimento rapido di contrazione e quello lento di estensione non dipende da relazioni umorali o di altro genere tra il filamento e gli altri organi del fiore ma è unicamente proprietà intrinseca della cellula contrattile: basandosi su questo fatto e sui dati ottenuti negli altri lavori riporta ad un unico schema i vari movimenti che lo stame compie da quando ha acquistato la proprietà contrattile fino al suo distacco dall'asse fiorale.     

Effetti del cobalto,nichel e cromo sulla germinazione di Alyssum,durante il ciclo di postmaturazione e invecchiamento

Abstract

Cobalt, nickel and chromium effects on germination of Alyssum, during after-ripening and aging. Cobalt (2.5–20mM), nickel (2.5–25mM) and chromium (0.2-1mM) effects have been studied in seeds of three species of Alyssum, of which two, A. bertolonii and A. argenteum, endemics to serpentine soils and one, A. nebrodense, closely related to the others but endemic to the Madonie (Sicily) where it grows on limestone.

The results, expressed as percentage of germinated seeds (p), Kotowski coefficient of velocity (v) and germination average ratio (pτ), have been subjected to statistical analysis.

The effect per mM is generally inhibitory, not significant for cobalt, weak but significant for nickel, more marked and significant for chromium, linearly correlated to concentration. The inhibition reaches its highest level when seeds are ripe, being significantly related to the control germination capacity (pτ).

The values of the specific inhibition (effect/mM modditppτ) for all the three species are higher for chromium, which is more toxic than nickel, and increase from A. nebrodense to A. argenteum, showing that of the two serpentine endemics A. bertolonii is more tolerant both to nickel and chromium.     

Linkage Mapping and Molecular Diversity at the Flower Sex Locus in Wild and Cultivated Grapevine Reveal a Prominent SSR Haplotype in Hermaphrodite Plants

Cultivars used for wine and table grape have self-fertile hermaphrodite flowers whereas wild European vines and American and Asian species are dioecious, having either male or female flowers. Consistent with previous studies, the flower sex trait was mapped as a single major locus on chromosome 2 based on a pure Vitis vinifera population segregating for hermaphrodite and female progeny, and a hybrid population producing all three flower sex types. The sex locus was placed between the same SSR and SNP markers on both genetic maps, although abnormal segregation hampered to fine map the genomic region. From a total of 55 possible haplotypes inferred for three SSR markers around the sex locus, in a population of 132 V. sylvestris accessions and 171 V. vinifera cultivars, one of them accounted for 66 % of the hermaphrodite individuals and may be the result of domestication. Specific size variants of the VVIB23 microsatellite sequence within the 3′-UTR of a putative YABBY1 gene were found to be statistically significantly associated with the sex alleles M, H and f; these markers can provide assistance in defining the status of wild grapevine germplasm.     

Oxidative stress,erythrocyte ageing and plasma non-protein-bound iron in diabetic patients

Increased oxidative stress and decreased life span of erythrocytes (RBCs) are repeatedly reported in diabetes. In the aim to elucidate the mechanism of the latter, i.e. the events leading to erythrocyte ageing, this study determined in RBCs from diabetic patients iron release in a free desferrioxamine-chelatable form (DCI), methemoglobin (MetHb) formation, binding of autologous IgG to membrane proteins and in plasma non-protein-bound iron (NPBI), F₂-Isoprostanes (F₂-IsoPs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP). DCI and MetHb were higher in diabetic RBCs than in controls and autologous IgG binding occurred in a much higher percentage of diabetic patients than controls. A significant correlation between DCI and IgG binding was found in diabetic RBCs. Plasma NPBI, esterified F₂-IsoPs and AOPP were higher in diabetic patients and a significant correlation was found between plasma NPBI and intra-erythrocyte DCI. The increased DCI and autologous IgG binding appear to be important factors in the accelerated removal of RBCs from the blood stream in diabetes and the increase in plasma NPBI could play an important role in the increased oxidative stress.     

Inhibition of Fatty Acid Amidohydrolase,the Enzyme Responsible for the Metabolism of the Endocannabinoid Anandamide,by Analogues of Arachidonoyl-serotonin

Arachidonoyl-serotonin inhibits in a mixed-type manner the metabolism of the endocannabinoid anandamide by the enzyme fatty acid amidohydrolase. In the present study, compounds related to arachidonoyl-serotonin have been synthesised and investigated for their ability to inhibit anandamide hydrolysis by this enzyme in rat brain homogenates. Removal of the 5-hydroxy from the serotonin head group of arachidonoyl-serotonin produced a compound (N-arachidonoyltryptamine) that was a 2.3-fold weaker inhibitor of anandamide hydrolysis, but which also produced its inhibition by a mixed-type manner (K_i(slope) 1.3 µM; K_i(intercept) 44 µM). Replacement of the amide linkage in this compound by an ester group further reduced the potency. In contrast, replacement of the arachidonoyl side chain by a linolenoyl side chain did not affect the observed potency. N-(Fur-3-ylmethyl) arachidonamide (UCM707), N-(fur-3-ylmethyl)linolenamide and N-(fur-3-ylmethyl)oleamide inhibited anandamide hydrolysis with pI50 values of 4.53, 5.36 and 5.25, respectively. The linolenamide derivative was also found to be a mixed-type inhibitor. It is concluded that the 5-hydroxy group of arachidonoyl-serotonin contributes to, but is not essential for, inhibitory potency at fatty acid amidohydrolase.