Flexibility in crosstalk between H2B ubiquitination and H3 methylation in vivo

Histone H2B ubiquitination is a dynamic modification that promotes methylation of histone H3K79 and H3K4. This crosstalk is important for the DNA damage response and has been implicated in cancer. Here, we show that in engineered yeast strains, ubiquitins tethered to every nucleosome promote H3K79 and H3K4 methylation from a proximal as well as a more distal site, but only if in a correct orientation. This plasticity indicates that the exact location of the attachment site, the native ubiquitin-lysine linkage and ubiquitination cycles are not critical for trans-histone crosstalk in vivo. The flexibility in crosstalk also indicates that other ubiquitination events may promote H3 methylation.     

Use of Shields stress to reconstruct and forecast changes in river metabolism

1. Discharge patterns of streams and rivers may be substantially affected by changes in water management, land use, or climate. Such hydrological alterations are likely to influence biotic processes, including overall ecosystem metabolism (photosynthesis and respiration). One regulator of aquatic ecosystem metabolism directly tied to hydrology is movement of bed sediments. 2. We propose that ecosystem metabolism can be reconstructed or predicted for any suite of hydrological conditions through the use of quantitative relationships between discharge, bed movement and metabolism. We tested this concept on a plains reach of the South Platte River in Colorado. 3. Movement of bed sediments was predicted from river discharge and the Shields stress, a ratio of velocity‐induced stress to sediment grain size. Quantitative relationships were established empirically between metabolic response to bed movement and recovery from bed movement, thus linking metabolism to hydrology. 4. The linkage of metabolism to hydrology allowed us to reconstruct daily photosynthesis and respiration over the 70‐year period for which discharge is known at our study site on the South Platte River. The reconstruction shows major ecological change caused by hydrological manipulation: the river has lost two‐thirds of its photosynthetic potential, and the ratio of photosynthesis to respiration is now much lower than it was prior to 1960. 5. The same approach could be used to anticipate ecological responses to proposed hydrological manipulations, to quantify benefits of hydrological restoration, or to illustrate potential effects of change in climate or land use on flowing‐water ecosystems.     

Receptor-Mediated Stimulation and Inhibition of Nerve Growth Factor Secretion by Vascular Smooth Muscle

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a potent neurotrophin signaling protein, the best-known member of a family of similar neurotrophins. Specific neuronal populations depend upon the neurotrophins for normal function and disturbances in NGF and neurotrophin supply have been implicated in neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, and hypertension. This report details experiments in which the hourly pattern of NGF secretion by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells is examined. Vascular smooth muscle cells are major innervation targets of the neuronal population first discovered to be NGF-dependent: the sympathetic principal neurons. The results show that arginine vasopressin (AVP), angiotensin II (AngII), and α-adrenergic receptor activation, all contractile stimuli, elevate NGF secretion. However, AVP dependably does so alone while AngII requires coactivation of adenosine receptors. Adenosine alone inhibits secretion and the α-adrenergic increase in NGF output can be antagonized by activation of β-adrenergic receptors. A change to fresh culture medium is also a potent stimulus to increased NGF output.     

Lectin-binding sites on the plasma membranes of rabbit spermatozoa: Changes in surface receptors during epididymal maturation and after ejaculation

Modifications in rabbit sperm plasma membranes during epididymal passage and after ejaculation were investigated by used of three lectins: concanavalin A (Con A); Ricinus communis I (RCA(I)); and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). During sperm passage from caput to cauda epididymis, agglutination by WGA drastically decreased, and agglutination by RCA(I) slightly decreased, although agglutination by Con A remained approximately unchanged. After ejaculation, spermatozoa were agglutinated to a similar degree or slightly less by Con A, WGA, and RCA(I), compared to cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Ultrastructural examination of sperm lectin-binding sites with ferritin- lectin conjugates revealed differences in the densities of lectin receptors in various sperm regions, and changes in the same regions during epididymal passage and after ejaculation. Ferritin-RCA(I) showed abrupt changes in lectin site densities between acrosomal and postacrosomal regions of sperm heads. The relative amounts of ferritin-RCA(I) bound to heads of caput epididymal or ejaculated spermatozoa. Tail regions were labeled by ferritin RCA(I) almost equally on caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa, but the middle-piece region of ejaculated spermatozoa was slightly more densely labeled than the principal-piece region, and these two regions on ejaculated spermatozoa were labeled less than on caput and cuada epididymal spermatozoa. Ferritin-WGA densely labeled the acrosomal region of caput epididymal spermatozoa, although labeling of cauda epidiymal spermatozoa was relatively sparse except in the apical area of the acrosomal region. Ejaculated spermatozoa bound only a few molecules of ferritin-WGA, even at the highest conjugate concentrations used. Caput epididymal, but not cauda epididymal or ejaculated spermatozoa, bound ferritin-WGA in the tail regions. Dramatic differences in labeling densities during epididymal passage and after ejaculation were not found with ferritin-Con A.     

Comparative adaptations of Aphanizomenon and Anabaena for nitrogen fixation under weak irradiance

1. In situ measurements of nitrogen fixation rates for Aphanizomenon in fertile Colorado lakes with low inorganic nitrogen concentrations demonstrated high efficiency of nitrogen fixation at low irradiance. 2. For study populations, rates of N₂ fixation in darkness and with alternating exposure to light and darkness were a higher percentage of light‐saturated rates for Aphanizomenon than for Anabaena, suggesting storage of reduced metabolites at high irradiance that are used subsequently by Aphanizomenon when cells are forced by mixing into zones of low irradiance. Also, saturation of N₂ fixation occurred over a lower range of irradiance for Aphanizomenon than for Anabaena. 3. High efficiency of N₂ fixation in Aphanizomenon at low or fluctuating irradiance is complementary to its previously demonstrated high efficiency of photosynthesis at low irradiance. Nitrogen fixation rate was also strongly related to DIN concentration; fixation was highest at low DIN (maximum < 5 μg L^?1) but was also most vulnerable to photoinhibition under such conditions. 4. The fixation capabilities of Aphanizomenon under weak or varying irradiance could explain its commonly observed domination over Anabaena when transparency is low and available nitrogen is scarce.     

Effects of growth rate and cell density on nerve growth factor secretion in cultures of vascular and bladder smooth muscle cells from hypertensive and hyperactive rats

Elevated target-derived smooth muscle nerve growth factor (NGF) and resultant neurogenic plasticity are associated with both hypertension and hyperactive voiding in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs: hypertensive, behaviorally hyperactive). In culture, vascular (VSMCs) and bladder (BSMCs) smooth muscle cells derived from SHRs secrete higher levels of NGF, proliferate more rapidly, and achieve higher density at confluence than do control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) cells. To elucidate growth-related contributions to the elevated tissue NGF observed in SHRs, we examined vascular VSMC and BSMC NGF secretion in two inbred cell lines (WKHTs, hypertensive; WKHAs, hyperactive) derived from SHRs and WKYs to assess the phenotypic association of altered NGF metabolism with either hypertension or behavioral hyperactivity. Cell density, rather than growth rates, was the most important factor with respect to NGF secretion. VSMC density varied such that WKHT=SHR>WKY= WKHA, higher VSMC density being associated with higher NGF output. However, in BSMC cultures, NGF output was the lowest in high density cell lines, with WKHT>SHR>WKY>WKHA. SHR BSMCs had the second highest cell density and NGF secretion level. Elevated packing density, presumably because of a lack of contact inhibition, co-segregated with the hypertensive phenotype in both VSMCs and BSMCs. Thus, dysfunctional smooth muscle growth characteristics may contribute to the augmented vascular and bladder NGF content associated with high blood pressure and hyperactive voiding in SHRs.     

Potential use of weather radar to study movements of wintering waterfowl

To protect and restore wintering waterfowl habitat, managers require knowledge of routine wintering waterfowl movements and habitat use. During preliminary screening of Doppler weather radar data we observed biological movements consistent with routine foraging flights of wintering waterfowl known to occur near Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Louisiana. During the winters of 2004–2005 and 2005–2006, we conducted field surveys to identify the source of the radar echoes emanating from Lacassine NWR. We compared field data to weather radar reflectivity data. Spatial and temporal patterns consistent with foraging flight movements appeared in weather radar data on all dates of field surveys. Dabbling ducks were the dominant taxa flying within the radar beam during the foraging flight period. Using linear regression, we found a positive log-linear relationship between average radar reflectivity (Z) and number of birds detected over the study area (P < 0.001, r² = 0.62, n = 40). Ground observations and the statistically significant relationship between radar data and field data confirm that Doppler weather radar recorded the foraging flights of dabbling ducks. Weather radars may be effective tools for wintering waterfowl management because they provide broad-scale views of both diurnal and nocturnal movements. In addition, an extensive data archive enables the study of wintering waterfowl response to habitat loss, agricultural practices, wetland restoration, and other research questions that require multiple years of data. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

BIRD EGGSHELL IN DOMINICAN AMBER

Abstract:  Here we report an eggshell in Dominican amber, representing the first vertebrate egg in any amber deposit. The eggshell is compared with present-day eggs of lizards, snails and birds. Based on the surface structure and type of shell breakage, it appears that the most likely candidate is a bird, and with that consideration, an avian group that produces eggs similar to the fossil in shape, size and colouration is the Trochilidae (hummingbirds). Several possible explanations of how the fossil could be preserved in amber are provided. If indeed a hummingbird was involved, this discovery would represent the first New World record of a fossil trochilid.     

Effect of Tooth Removal on Recaptures of Raccoons

Abstract: Researchers have extensively used mark—recapture techniques to obtain information on demographic parameters of wildlife populations. However, researchers have recognized that a number of factors can influence capture probabilities of wildlife species, which in turn can bias mark—recapture estimates of demographic parameters. Tooth extraction, which is a commonly used technique in studies of mesopredator species to obtain precise age estimates and to monitor the use of vaccine baits, is an aspect of animal handling that clearly might affect the recapture probability of individuals. However, the effect that tooth removal has on the individual recapture probabilities of wildlife species is unknown. During 2005, we trapped and marked 91 raccoons (Procyon lotor) in northern Indiana, USA, as part of a mark—recapture study designed specifically to determine if tooth extractions have an effect on recapture probabilities of individuals. We performed tooth extractions on 50% of the raccoons at the time of capture, and we attempted to balance tooth extractions with respect to sex and age of raccoons. We used logistic regression to model the effects of sex, age, and tooth removal on recapture probabilities, and we used Mann—Whitney U-tests to examine the effect of tooth removal on the number of times we recaptured individuals. The probability of recapture differed between sexes but did not differ as a function of tooth removal or among age classes. In addition, we failed to detect any difference in the mean number of times that we recaptured raccoons between the tooth removed and non—tooth-removed groups. Our results suggest that managers can use tooth extractions as an effective management tool without biasing population estimates or compromising other management objectives.