A novel resource polymorphism in fish, driven by differential bottom environments: an example from an ancient lake in Japan

Divergent natural selection rooted in differential resource use can generate and maintain intraspecific eco-morphological divergence (i.e., resource polymorphism), ultimately leading to population splitting and speciation. Differing bottom environments create lake habitats with different benthos communities, which may cause selection in benthivorous fishes. Here, we document the nature of eco-morphological and genetic divergence among local populations of the Japanese gudgeon Sarcocheilichthys (Cyprinidae), which inhabits contrasting habitats in the littoral zones (rocky vs. pebbly habitats) in Lake Biwa, a representative ancient lake in East Asia. Eco-morphological analyses revealed that Sarcocheilichthys variegatus microoculus from rocky and pebbly zones differed in morphology and diet, and that populations from rocky environments had longer heads and deeper bodies, which are expected to be advantageous for capturing cryptic and/or attached prey in structurally complex, rocky habitats. Sarcocheilichthys biwaensis, a rock-dwelling specialist, exhibited similar morphologies to the sympatric congener, S. v. microoculus, except for body/fin coloration. Genetic analyses based on mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite DNA data revealed no clear genetic differentiation among local populations within/between the gudgeon species. Although the morphogenetic factors that contribute to morphological divergence remain unclear, our results suggest that the gudgeon populations in Lake Biwa show a state of resource polymorphism associated with differences in the bottom environment. This is a novel example of resource polymorphism in fish within an Asian ancient lake, emphasizing the importance and generality of feeding adaptation as an evolutionary mechanism that generates morphological diversification.     

The differential pathways of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 and -7 in the suppression of the bovine granulosa cell apoptosis

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta family, are crucial factors in follicular growth and development in the mammalian ovary. In this study, we examined the effects of BMP-4 and BMP-7 on granulosa cell apoptosis. Here, we report that BMP-7 suppresses granulosa cell apoptosis by inhibiting the release of caspase-activated DNase (CAD) via a mechanism which does not appear to be associated with the mitochondrial pathway, whereas BMP-4 inhibits the release of CAD. Our data provide the first evidence that BMP-4 and BMP-7 may inhibit granulosa cell apoptosis via different pathways.     

Functional characterization of human and cynomolgus monkey cytochrome P450 2E1 enzymes

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is an enzyme of major toxicological interest because it metabolizes various drugs, precarcinogens and solvents to reactive metabolites. In this study, human and cynomolgus monkey CYP2E1 cDNAs (humCYP2E1 and monCYP2E1, respectively) were cloned, and the corresponding proteins were heterologously expressed in yeast cells to identify the functions of primate CYP2E1s. The enzymatic properties of CYP2E1 proteins were characterized by kinetic analysis of chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation and 4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylation. humCYP2E1 and monCYP2E1 enzymes showed 94.3% identity in their amino acid sequences. The functional CYP content in yeast cell microsomes expressing humCYP2E1 was 38.4 pmol/mg protein. The level of monCYP2E1 was 42.7% of that of humCYP2E1, although no significant differences were statistically observed. The K(m) values of microsomes from human livers and yeast cells expressing humCYP2E1 for CYP2E1-dependent oxidation were 822 and 627 microM for chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation, and 422 and 514 microM for 4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylation, respectively. The K(m) values of microsomes from cynomolgus monkey livers and yeast cells expressing monCYP2E1 were not significantly different from those of humans in any enzyme source. V(max) and V(max)/K(m) values of human liver microsomes for CYP2E1-dependent oxidation were 909 pmol/min/mg protein and 1250 nl/min/mg protein for chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation, and 1250 pmol/min/mg protein and 2990 nl/min/mg protein for 4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylation, respectively. The kinetic parameter values of cynomolgus monkey livers were comparable to or lower than those of human liver microsomes (49.5-102%). In yeast cell microsomes expressing humCYP2E1, V(max) and V(max)/K(m) values for CYP2E1-dependent oxidation on the basis of CYP holoprotein level were 170 pmol/min/pmol CYP and 272 nl/min/pmol CYP for chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation, and 139 pmol/min/pmol CYP and 277 nl/min/pmol CYP for 4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylation, respectively, and the kinetic parameters of monCYP2E1 exhibited similar values. These findings suggest that human and cynomolgus monkey CYP2E1 enzymes have high homology in their amino acid sequences, and that their enzymatic properties are considerably similar. The information gained in this study should help with in vivo extrapolation and to assess the toxicity of xenobiotics.     

Correlation of Golgi localization of ZW10 and centrosomal accumulation of dynactin

ZW10 participates in the termination of the spindle checkpoint during mitosis by interacting with dynamitin, a subunit of the dynein accessory complex dynactin. We previously showed that ZW10 is attached to the endoplasmic reticulum through RINT-1 in interphase HeLa cells and involved in membrane transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. Although a recent study demonstrated that ZW10 is localized in the Golgi in COS7 cells, the mechanism that regulates ZW10 localization remains unknown. In this study we showed a correlation between the Golgi localization of ZW10 and the centrosomal accumulation of dynactin. The amounts of ZW10 associated with dynactin were larger in cells where ZW10 was present in the Golgi than those where ZW10 was not in the Golgi. The targeting of ZW10 to the perinuclear Golgi region was found to depend on the perinuclear accumulation of dynactin, suggesting that dynactin regulates ZW10 localization.     

TPT1 Supports Proliferation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells and Brain Tumor Initiating Cells Regulated by Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)

Neurochemical Research - One of the key areas in stem cell research is the identification of factors capable of promoting the expansion of Neural Stem Cell/Progenitor Cells (NSPCs) and...     

Model analysis for plant disease dynamics co-mediated by herbivory and herbivore-borne phytopathogens

Plants are subject to diseases caused by pathogens, many of which are transmitted by herbivorous arthropod vectors. To understand plant disease dynamics, we studied a minimum hybrid model combining consumer-resource (herbivore-plant) and susceptible-infected models, in which the disease is transmitted bi-directionally between the consumer and the resource from the infected to susceptible classes. Model analysis showed that: (i) the disease is more likely to persist when the herbivore feeds on the susceptible plants rather than the infected plants, and (ii) alternative stable states can exist in which the system converges to either a disease-free or an endemic state, depending on the initial conditions. The second finding is particularly important because it suggests that the disease may persist once established, even though the initial prevalence is low (i.e. the R(0) rule does not always hold). This situation is likely to occur when the infection improves the plant nutritive quality, and the herbivore preferentially feeds on the infected resource (i.e. indirect vector-pathogen mutualism). Our results highlight the importance of the eco-epidemiological perspective that integration of tripartite interactions among host plant, plant pathogen and herbivore vector is crucial for the successful control of plant diseases.     

Distinct spawning migration patterns in sympatric Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean forms of threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Spawning migration patterns were compared between sympatric populations of the anadromous Japan Sea (JS) form and Pacific Ocean (PO) form of the threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in the Lake Akkeshi–Bekanbeushi River system, eastern Hokkaido, Japan. In Akkeshi Bay and Lake Akkeshi, the JS form had longer collecting peak periods and more collection peaks than the PO form. Furthermore, although the PO form migrated upstream in freshwater habitats, the greater part of the JS form stayed in brackish waters before breeding. These findings suggest that the 2 forms have distinctly different spawning migration patterns and breeding grounds.