Inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase after 2-propanol exposure in different geographic races of Drosophila mojavensis: lack of evidence for selection at the Adh-2 locus

High frequencies of the fast allele of alcohol dehydrogenase-2 (Adh-2F) are found in populations of Drosophila mojavensis that inhabit the Baja California peninsula (race BII) whereas the slow allele (Adh-2S) predominates at most other localities within the species' geographic range. Race BII flies utilize necrotic tissue of pitaya agria cactus (Stenocereus gummosus) which contains high levels of 2-propanol, whereas flies from most other localities utilize different cactus hosts in which 2-propanol levels are low. To test if 2-propanol acts as a selective force on Adh-2 genotype, or whether some other yet undetermined genetic factor is responsible, mature males of D. mojavensis lines derived from the Grand Canyon (race A) and Santa Catalina Island (race C), each with individuals homozygous for Adh-2F and Adh-2S, were exposed to 2-propanol for 24 h and ADH-2 specific activity was then determined on each genotype. Flies from five other localities homozygous for either the fast or slow allele also were examined. Results for all reported races of D. mojavensis were obtained. 2-propanol exposure inhibited ADH-2 specific activity in both genotypes from all localities, but inhibition was significantly less in two populations of race BII flies homozygous for Adh-2F. When F/F and S/S genotypes in flies from the same locality were compared, both genotypes showed high 2-propanol inhibition that was not statistically different, indicating that the F/F genotype alone does not provide a benefit against the inhibitory effects of 2-propanol. ADH-1 activity in female ovaries was inhibited less by 2-propanol than ADH-2. These results do not support the hypothesis that 2-propanol acts as a selective factor favoring the Adh-2F allele.     

Magnesium promotes flagellation of Vibrio fischeri

The bacterium Vibrio fischeri requires bacterial motility to initiate colonization of the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes. Once colonized, however, the bacterial population becomes largely unflagellated. To understand environmental influences on V. fischeri motility, we investigated migration of this organism in tryptone-based soft agar media supplemented with different salts. We found that optimal migration required divalent cations and, in particular, Mg2+. At concentrations naturally present in seawater, Mg2+ improved migration without altering the growth rate of the cells. Transmission electron microscopy and Western blot experiments suggested that Mg2+ addition enhanced flagellation, at least in part through an effect on the steady-state levels of flagellin protein.     

Identification of the Propionicin F Bacteriocin Immunity Gene (pcfI) and Development of a Food-Grade Cloning System for Propionibacterium freudenreichii

This report describes the first functional analysis of a bacteriocin immunity gene from Propionibacterium freudenreichii and its use as a selection marker for food-grade cloning. Cloning of the pcfI gene (previously orf5 [located as part of the pcfABC propionicin F operon]) rendered the sensitive host 1,000-fold more tolerant to the propionicin F bacteriocin. The physiochemical properties of the 127-residue large PcfI protein resemble those of membrane-bound immunity proteins from bacteriocin systems found in lactic acid bacteria. The high level of immunity conferred by pcfI allowed its use as a selection marker for plasmid transformation in P. freudenreichii. Electroporation of P. freudenreichii IFO12426 by use of the pcfI expression plasmid pSL102 and propionicin F selection (200 bacteriocin units/ml) yielded 10⁷ transformants/μg DNA. The 2.7-kb P. freudenreichii food-grade cloning vector pSL104 consists of the pLME108 replicon, a multiple cloning site, and pcfI expressed from the constitutive P_pampS promoter for selection. The pSL104 vector efficiently facilitated cloning of the propionicin T1 bacteriocin in P. freudenreichii. High-level propionicin T1 production (640 BU/ml) was obtained with the IFO12426 strain, and the food-grade propionicin T1 expression plasmid pSL106 was maintained by ~91% of the cells over 25 generations in the absence of selection. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of an efficient cloning system that facilitates the generation of food-grade recombinant P. freudenreichii strains.     

Gene expression patterns in ovarian carcinomas

We used DNA microarrays to characterize the global gene expression patterns in surface epithelial cancers of the ovary. We identified groups of genes that distinguished the clear cell subtype from other ovarian carcinomas, grade I and II from grade III serous papillary carcinomas, and ovarian from breast carcinomas. Six clear cell carcinomas were distinguished from 36 other ovarian carcinomas (predominantly serous papillary) based on their gene expression patterns. The differences may yield insights into the worse prognosis and therapeutic resistance associated with clear cell carcinomas. A comparison of the gene expression patterns in the ovarian cancers to published data of gene expression in breast cancers revealed a large number of differentially expressed genes. We identified a group of 62 genes that correctly classified all 125 breast and ovarian cancer specimens. Among the best discriminators more highly expressed in the ovarian carcinomas were PAX8 (paired box gene 8), mesothelin, and ephrin-B1 (EFNB1). Although estrogen receptor was expressed in both the ovarian and breast cancers, genes that are coregulated with the estrogen receptor in breast cancers, including GATA-3, LIV-1, and X-box binding protein 1, did not show a similar pattern of coexpression in the ovarian cancers.     

Behavioral phenodeviance: A Lerneresque conjecture

Developmental instability, detectable in morphological and meristic characters, is typically associated with reduced fitness. The actual mechanism by which fitness is reduced in these cases is difficult to identify. We propose that developmental instability also manifests itself at the behavioral level and that when this occurs, behavioral phenodeviance is the result. According to this model, abnormal or phenodeviant behavior compromises fitness. Examples are provided fromDrosophila and man.     

Large apeomyine rodents (Mammalia,Eomyidae) from the early Miocene of Echzell,Germany

The dental material described in this paper was collected from fossiliferous ash layers of the Vogelsberg volcanic complex at Echzell, Germany. It consists of 32 teeth of a new large Apeomys species, Apeomys oldrichi n. sp., and 19 teeth of Megapeomys lindsayi Fejfar, Rummel and Tomida. Both species are extremely rare faunal elements in the early Miocene of Europe. Apeomys oldrichi n. sp. is the largest known Apeomys species, and occurs in a number of MN 3 – 4 sites in southern Germany and Czech Republic. Megapeomys lindsayi, the largest Eurasian apeomyine, was described on the basis of a single lower premolar. Herein both lower and upper cheek teeth as well as the lower deciduous premolar are described for the first time. In comparison with related populations from other localities, the evolutionary stage of the two apeomyine species clearly indicates a middle Orleanian age (MN 4) for Echzell which concurs with previous studies.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1F9E49BE-C4B6-4597-A116-234E13D86BA9     

Crystal Structures of Fungal Tectonin in Complex with O-Methylated Glycans Suggest Key Role in Innate Immune Defense

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PHYLOGENETIC EXAMINATION OF FEMALE INCORPORATION OF EJACULATE IN DROSOPHILA

Males of some invertebrate species transfer large ejaculates, and many of the substances contained therein are incorporated by females into their somatic and ovarian tissues. These incorporated substances are expected to be energetically costly for males to produce, but benefit males by enhancing their fertilization success and/or the viability of their offspring. A better understanding of the evolution and maintenance of this important reproductive strategy should come from phylogenetic examination. We therefore quantified the extent of ejaculate incorporation by females of 34 species of Drosophila. Substantive amounts of male-derived proteins were more frequently detected in female somatic tissue than in ovarian tissue. Substantive ejaculate incorporation by females was found to have arisen numerous times across the phylogeny and tended to be lineage specific in expression. The extent to which evolution of a nutritive function of the ejaculate may have been influenced by phylogenetic history in the genus Drosophila is discussed. Macroevolutionary relationships between the amount of ejaculate incorporated by females and other features of species' reproductive and life-history biology, including body size, sperm length, the formation of an insemination reaction in females, and sex-specific ages of reproductive maturity, also were examined after controlling for phylogenetic effects.     

Zur abgrenzung der mittelmeervegetation

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