Exogeneous cyclic AMP blocks the muscarinic receptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+-release in the gastrulating chick embryo cells

Summary Exogeneous cyclic AMP (cAMP, 10^–8M), when added together with acetylcholine (ACh, 500 M) to dissociated chick embryo cells, blocked the ACh-stimulated increase in the level of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i). This inhibiting action of exogeneous cAMP is probably mediated by intracellular cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cAMP.     

Analysis of gene associated tandem repeat markers in Atlantic salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar L.</Emphasis>) populations: implications for restoration and conservation in the Baltic Sea

Patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation among five wild and four hatchery populations of Atlantic salmon in the Baltic Sea were assessed based on eight assumedly neutral microsatellite loci and six gene-associated markers, including four expressed sequence tag (EST) linked and two major histocompatibility complex (MHC) linked tandem repeat markers (micro- and mini-satellites). The coalescent simulations based on the method of Beaumont and Nichols (1996, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B – Biol. Sci., 263, 1619–1626) indicated that two loci (MHCIIα and Ssa171, with the lowest and highest overall F_ST estimates, respectively) exhibited significant departures (P<0.05) from the neutral expectations. Another coalescent-based test for selective neutrality (Vitalis et al. 2001, Genetics, 158, 1811–1823) further supported the outlier status of the Ssa171 microsatellite locus but not of the MHCIIα linked minisatellite. In addition, actin related protein linked microsatellite locus was identified with this test as an outlier in six pairwise population comparisons. All genetic diversity estimates revealed more genetic variation in hatchery stocks than in the small wild salmon populations from the Gulf of Finland. However, the wild populations possessed alleles at gene-associated markers (e.g. MHCI and IGF) not found in the hatchery stocks, which together with moderate genetic differentiation and distinctive environmental conditions justifies the special conservation measures for the last remaining native salmon populations in the Gulf of Finland.     

Temperature-driven changes in early life-history stages influence the Gulf of Riga spring spawning herring (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clupea harengus m</Emphasis>.) recruitment abundance

Processes occurring during early life-history stages influence the year-class abundance of marine fish. We found that the abundance of 1-year-old spring spawning herring is statistically significantly determined by the number of post-flexion herring larvae in the Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea). The abundance of consecutive developmental stages of larvae: yolk-sac, pre-flexion, flexion and post-flexion strongly correlated with each other, indicating that factors which already influence the yolk-sac stage are important in determining the abundance of post-flexion herring larvae. Winter air temperature before spawning determined the timing of maximum abundance of pre-flexion herring larvae, but not their main prey: copepod nauplii, implying that different mechanisms governing major preconditions for the formation of year-class strength. The abundance of post-flexion larvae displayed a potential dome-shaped relationship with sea surface temperature experienced after hatching. We suggest that increased summer temperatures, which exceed the physiological optimum negatively, affect the survival of post-flexion herring larvae. Overall, future climate warming poses an additional risk to larval herring survival and this may lead to a reduction in those herring stock which rely on recruitment from shallow coastal areas.     

Host ant use of the Alcon blue butterfly at the northern range margin

In myrmecophilous insects, interactions with ants are often a key factor determining persistence of their populations. Regional variation in host ant use is therefore an essential aspect to consider to provide adequate conservation practices for such species. In this study, we examined this important facet of species’ ecology in an endangered myrmecophilous butterfly Phengaris (=Maculinea) alcon (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). The investigations conducted in peripheral populations in Estonia allowed us to expand the knowledge of its host ant use to the northern distribution limit of the species. Our data indicate that in its northernmost populations, the xerophilous ecotype of Phengaris alcon is primarily parasitizing a single host ant species, Myrmica schencki. The data collected are in line with the emerging evidence suggesting that peripheral and core populations of P. alcon use different host ants, and peripheral populations tend to display higher host ant specificity. We also show that, at its northern range margin, P. alcon might be more limited by the availability of its sole larval food plant in the region, Gentiana cruciata, than the densities of its host ant. Finally, we found a strong negative correlation between Myrmica spp. and Lasius spp. colony densities, suggesting that interspecific competition between ants could have a substantial influence on host ant availability of Phengaris butterflies, and thus should be taken into account in conservation plans of these species.     

Ablation of RIC8A Function in Mouse Neurons Leads to a Severe Neuromuscular Phenotype and Postnatal Death

Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 8 (RIC8) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor required for the intracellular regulation of G protein signalling. RIC8 activates different Gα subunits via non-canonical pathway, thereby amplifying and prolonging the G protein mediated signal. In order to circumvent the embryonic lethality associated with the absence of RIC8A and to study its role in the nervous system, we constructed Ric8a conditional knockout mice using Cre/loxP technology. Introduction of a synapsin I promoter driven Cre transgenic mouse strain (SynCre) into the floxed Ric8a (Ric8a ^F/F) background ablated RIC8A function in most differentiated neuron populations. Mutant SynCre ^+/- Ric8 ^lacZ/F mice were born at expected Mendelian ratio, but they died in early postnatal age (P4-P6). The mutants exhibited major developmental defects, like growth retardation and muscular weakness, impaired coordination and balance, muscular spasms and abnormal heart beat. Histological analysis revealed that the deficiency of RIC8A in neurons caused skeletal muscle atrophy and heart muscle hypoplasia, in addition, the sinoatrial node was misplaced and its size reduced. However, we did not observe gross morphological changes in brains of SynCre ^+/- Ric8a ^lacZ/F mutants. Our results demonstrate that in mice the activity of RIC8A in neurons is essential for survival and its deficiency causes a severe neuromuscular phenotype.     

Age and size at maturity: A quantitative review of diet‐induced reaction norms in insects

Optimality models predict that diet‐induced bivariate reaction norms for age and size at maturity can have diverse shapes, with the slope varying from negative to positive. To evaluate these predictions, we perform a quantitative review of relevant data, using a literature‐derived database of body sizes and development times for over 200 insect species. We show that bivariate reaction norms with a negative slope prevail in nearly all taxonomic and ecological categories of insects as well as in some other ectotherm taxa with comparable life histories (arachnids and amphibians). In insects, positive slopes are largely limited to species, which feed on discrete resource items, parasitoids in particular. By contrast, with virtually no meaningful exceptions, herbivorous and predatory insects display reaction norms with a negative slope. This is consistent with the idea that predictable resource depletion, a scenario selecting for positively sloped reaction norms, is not frequent for these insects. Another source of such selection—a positive correlation between resource levels and juvenile mortality rates—should similarly be rare among insects. Positive slopes can also be predicted by models which integrate life‐history evolution and population dynamics. As bottom‐up regulation is not common in most insect groups, such models may not be most appropriate for insects.     

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of crude protein extracts from seeds of six different medical plants against standard bacterial strains

A huge group of natural antimicrobial compounds are active against a large spectrum of bacterial strains causing infectious threat. The present study was conducted to investigate the crude extracts of antimicrobial protein and peptide efficacy from six medicinal plant seeds. Extraction was carried out in Sodium phosphate citrate buffer, and Sodium acetate buffer using different pH. Antimicrobial activities of these plants were determined by the microbiological technique using Agar well diffusion Assay. Extremely strong activity was observed in the seed extracts of Allium ascolinicum extracted in sodium phosphate citrate buffer at pH (5.8) against Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with zone of inhibition 17 mm, 17 mm and 15 mm and Rumex vesicarius at pH (7.6), Ammi majus at pH (6.8), Cichorium intybus at pH (7.4) and Cucumis sativus at pH (7.8) also showed better sensitivity against the bacterial strains with zone of inhibition ranges 16–10 mm and some of the strains were found to be resistant. Antibacterial activity pattern of different plant extracts prepared in sodium acetate buffer pH (6.5), among all the plant seed extracts used Foeniculum vulgare had shown good inhibition in all the bacterial strains used, with zone of inhibition ranges 11–12.5 mm, The extracts of C. intybus and C. sativus were found to be effective with zone of inhibition 11–6 mm and some of the strains were found to be resistant. Most of the strains found to have shown better sensitivity compared with the standard antibiotic Chloramphenicol (25 mcg). Our results showed that the plants used for our study are the richest source for antimicrobial proteins and peptides and they may be used for industrial extraction and isolation of antimicrobial compounds which may find a place in medicine industry as constituents of antibiotics.     

Contrasting effects of plant population size on florivory and pollination

Changes in plant population size, induced by various forms of habitat degradation, can affect the performance of plants by altering their interactions with other organisms such as pollinators and herbivores. However, studies on plant reproductive response to variation in population size that simultaneously consider different interactions are rare. In this study, we examined (1) how levels of pollinator visitation and florivory vary with population size of a self-incompatible herb, Verbascum nigrum (Scrophulariaceae), (2) the relative effect of these two interactions on host seed set, and (3) whether the intensity of florivory influences pollinator visitation rate. The intensity of florivory increased, whereas pollinator visitation rate decreased with host population size. Although average seed production was negatively affected by the intensity of florivory, seed production was independent of population size. The direct negative effect of florivores on plant seed set was indirectly enforced by their negative effect on pollinator visitation rate. Our results emphasize the complexity of responses of different plant–animal interactions to plant population size. However, interactions involving specialized organisms are likely to disrupt first as plant population size decreases.     

Light- and CO2-saturated photosynthesis: enhancement by oxygen

Oxygen may enhance CO₂-saturated photosynthesis in intact leaves, which display the Warburg effect when illuminated at the current atmospheric level of CO₂ and O₂, of about 350 μl l⁻¹ and 21%, respectively. The magnitude of the stimulation depends on irradiance. The K _M(O₂) of the stimulation is 128 μM (10.6% O₂). Maximum enhancement in wheat leaves is 6.1 and 5.3 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ under 27.9 and 18.7 mW cm⁻², respectively, corresponding to a 25–30% increase in the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) turnover rate if compared with O₂-free ambient gas phase. The stimulation appears in 5–10 s after a sharp increase in O₂. In response to a decrease in O₂, the new stabilized rate is reached in 5–7 min. The stimulation does not involve any increase in the activity of Rubisco. The effect correlates with increased concentration of RuBP. Oxygen enhances CO₂-saturated photosynthesis by acting as a terminal electron acceptor in the photosynthetic electron transport. The magnitude of the effect may be adopted as an index of the pseudocyclic photophosphorylation in vivo.     

Altered mitochondrial apparent affinity for ADP and impaired function of mitochondrial creatine kinase in gluteus medius of patients with hip osteoarthritis

The cellular energy metabolism in human musculus gluteus medius (MGM) under normal conditions and hip osteoarthritis (OA) was explored. The functions of oxidative phosphorylation and energy transport systems were analyzed in permeabilized (skinned) muscle fibers by oxygraphy, in relation to myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform distribution profile analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and to creatine kinase (CK) and adenylate kinase (AK) activities measured spectrophotometrically in the intact muscle. The results revealed high apparent Km for ADP in regulation of respiration that decreased after addition of creatine in MGM of traumatic patients (controls). OA was associated with increased sensitivity of mitochondrial respiration to ADP, decreased total activities of AK and CK with major reduction in mi-CK fraction, and attenuated effect of creatine on apparent Km for ADP compared with control group. It also included a complete loss of type II fibers in a subgroup of patients with the severest disease grade. It is concluded that energy metabolism in MGM cells is organized into functional complexes of mitochondria and ATPases. It is suggested that because of degenerative remodeling occurring during development of OA, these complexes become structurally and functionally impaired, which results in increased access of exogenous ADP to mitochondria and dysfunction of CK-phosphotransfer system.