DNA reassociation kinetics and chromosome structure in the crabs Cancer borealis and Libinia emarginata

DNA reassociation kinetics have been partly elucidated for the higher crabs C. borealis and L. emarginata, using calf thymus DNA as a standard. These crabs contain no detectable repeated DNA in the approximate multiplicity frequency range 2-100 copies, which is unusual for invertebrate DNAs. Each species contains a component renaturing at an intermediate rate, and also a very rapidly renaturing fraction. The very rapidly renaturing fraction is considerably larger than the cesium chloride-resolvable satellites of each species. The fraction reassociating at an intermediate rate includes sequences with a reiteration frequency of up to 9.0 X 10(4) copies. This is unusually high for invertebrate DNAs. The nearly exact correlation between kinetic complexity and independently determined haploid genome size leads to the conclusion that the most slowly renaturing sequences of both crab species are present only once per haploid genome. Therefore the chromatids of these species are uninemic structures, and there has been no detectable occurrence of polyploid speciation in the recent evolutionary history of either species.     

Poliovirus retention in 75-cm soil cores after sewage and rainwater application

The adsorption rate of a guanidine-resistant strain of poliovirus LSc 2ab was measured in Long Island soils with in situ field cores (10.1 by 75 cm). The test virus was chosen because it exhibited soil adsorption and elution characteristics of a number of non-polioviruses. After the inoculation of cores with seeded sewage effluent at a 1-cm/h infiltration rate, cores were extracted, fractionated, and analyzed for total plaque-forming units per each 5-cm fraction. The results showed that 77% of the viruses were adsorbed in the first 5 cm of soil. An additional 11% were found in the 5- to 10-cm fraction, and a total of 96% of the viruses were adsorbed by 25 cm. The remaining 4% were uniformly distributed over the next 50 cm of soil, with a minimum of 0.23% in each soil section. Few viruses (< 0.22%) were observed in core filtrates. Analysis of the viral distribution pattern in seeded cores, after an application of a single rinse of either sewage effluent or rainwater, indicated that large-scale viral mobilization was absent. However, localized areas of viral movement were noted in both of the rinsed cores, with the rainwater-rinsed cores exhibiting more expensive movement. All mobilized viruses were resorbed at lower core depths.     

Benzoic acid conjugation in tuatara

The excretion and metabolism of orally administered [¹⁴C]-labelled benzoic acid (100 mg/kg) was examined in the reptile Sphenedon punctatus (tuatara). The major excreted metabolite was chromatographically and electrophoretically identical with ornithuric acid. Conjugation with glycine or glucuronic acid was not detected. 7–21 percent of the dose was recovered from the urine and faeces, the bulk of the excreted radioactivity being eliminated in the first seven days. Free benzoic acid and conjugates were excreted in the first week but only conjugates could be detected in fauces collected at later intervals. These results are discussed in relation to the taxonomic position of tuatara.     

Influence of seasonality on the genetic diversity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in New Hampshire shellfish waters as determined by multilocus sequence analysis

Risk of gastric infection with Vibrio parahaemolyticus increases with favorable environmental conditions and population shifts that increase prevalence of infective strains. Genetic analysis of New Hampshire strains revealed a unique population with some isolates similar to outbreak-causing strains and high-level diversity that increased as waters warmed.     

Re‐Feeding Food‐Deprived Male Meadow Voles Affects the Sperm Allocation of Their Rival Males

An individual's nutritional status affects the manner in which same‐ and opposite‐sex conspecifics respond to that individual, which may affect their fitness. Male meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, increase their sperm allocation if they encounter the scent mark of an unfamiliar male that is not nutritionally challenged. If, however, the scent mark comes from a male that has been food deprived for 24 h, stud male voles do not increase their sperm allocation. Food‐deprived males may be viewed as being lower quality and a reduced risk of sperm competition by rival males. We hypothesized that stud males in promiscuous mating systems tailor their sperm allocations depending on whether rival males have been food deprived and then re‐fed. We predicted that newly re‐fed males will be considered a strong risk of sperm competition because of the potentially high fitness and survival costs associated with food deprivation in males, and that they will cause stud males to increase their sperm allocation. Our results, however, showed that the recovery period from 24 h of food deprivation was a relatively slow process. It took between 96 and 336 h of re‐feeding male scent donors that were food deprived for 24 h to induce stud males to increase their sperm allocation to levels comparable to when scent donors were not food deprived. Stud male voles may be conserving the amount of sperm allocated until the male scent donors have recovered from food deprivation and subsequent re‐feeding.     

Ferroportin-mediated mobilization of ferritin iron precedes ferritin degradation by the proteasome

Ferritin is a cytosolic molecule comprised of subunits that self-assemble into a nanocage capable of containing up to 4500 iron atoms. Iron stored within ferritin can be mobilized for use within cells or exported from cells. Expression of ferroportin (Fpn) results in export of cytosolic iron and ferritin degradation. Fpn-mediated iron loss from ferritin occurs in the cytosol and precedes ferritin degradation by the proteasome. Depletion of ferritin iron induces the monoubiquitination of ferritin subunits. Ubiquitination is not required for iron release but is required for disassembly of ferritin nanocages, which is followed by degradation of ferritin by the proteasome. Specific mammalian machinery is not required to extract iron from ferritin. Iron can be removed from ferritin when ferritin is expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which does not have endogenous ferritin. Expressed ferritin is monoubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. Exposure of ubiquitination defective mammalian cells to the iron chelator desferrioxamine leads to degradation of ferritin in the lysosome, which can be prevented by inhibitors of autophagy. Thus, ferritin degradation can occur through two different mechanisms.     

High fat diet induces dysregulation of hepatic oxygen gradients and mitochondrial function in vivo

NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), associated with obesity and the cardiometabolic syndrome, is an important medical problem affecting up to 20% of western populations. Evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in NAFLD initiation and progression to the more serious condition of NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Herein we hypothesize that mitochondrial defects induced by exposure to a HFD (high fat diet) contribute to a hypoxic state in liver and this is associated with increased protein modification by RNS (reactive nitrogen species). To test this concept, C57BL/6 mice were pair-fed a control diet and HFD containing 35% and 71% total calories (1 cal approximately 4.184 J) from fat respectively, for 8 or 16 weeks and liver hypoxia, mitochondrial bioenergetics, NO (nitric oxide)-dependent control of respiration, and 3-NT (3-nitrotyrosine), a marker of protein modification by RNS, were examined. Feeding a HFD for 16 weeks induced NASH-like pathology accompanied by elevated triacylglycerols, increased CYP2E1 (cytochrome P450 2E1) and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) protein, and significantly enhanced hypoxia in the pericentral region of the liver. Mitochondria from the HFD group showed increased sensitivity to NO-dependent inhibition of respiration compared with controls. In addition, accumulation of 3-NT paralleled the hypoxia gradient in vivo and 3-NT levels were increased in mitochondrial proteins. Liver mitochondria from mice fed the HFD for 16 weeks exhibited depressed state 3 respiration, uncoupled respiration, cytochrome c oxidase activity, and mitochondrial membrane potential. These findings indicate that chronic exposure to a HFD negatively affects the bioenergetics of liver mitochondria and this probably contributes to hypoxic stress and deleterious NO-dependent modification of mitochondrial proteins.     

Pollination strategies in Cretan Arum lilies

Flowers of the genus Arum are known to attract dung‐breeding flies and beetles through olfactory deceit. In addition to this strategy, the genus has evolved several other pollination mechanisms. The present study aimed to characterize the pollination strategies of the Cretan Arum species by investigating the flowering phenology, thermogeny, inflorescence odours, and the pollinating fauna. The results obtained show that Arum cyrenaicum and Arum concinnatum emit a strong dung smell and exhibit the distinctive features associated with this pollination syndrome. Both species are highly thermogenic, have a similar odour profile and attract small‐bodied Diptera. Although sharing the same habitat, these two plant species are never found growing sympatrically as a result of the early blooming period of A. cyrenaicum. By contrast, Arum creticum and Arum idaeum have evolved a more traditional and mutually beneficial pollination mechanism. The stinking smell has been replaced by a more flower‐like odour that attracts bees (Lasioglossum sp.) and, occasionally, bugs (Dionconotus cruentatus). Although attracting the same pollinator, the main compound present in the odour of A. creticum is different from that of A. idaeum. Principal component analysis (PCA), based on physiologically active components of the flower odours determined by testing on the antenna of the Lasioglossum bee, revealed two different clusters, indicating that pollinators can potentially discriminate between the odours of the two species. A further PCA on the main floral odour volatiles as identified by gas chroatography‐mass spectroscopy from all the Arum species under investigation displayed odour‐based similarities and differences among the species. The PCA‐gas chomotography‐electroantennographic detection active peaks analysis showed that the two species, A. creticum and A. idaeum, form two groups and are clearly separated from A. cyrenaicum and A. concinnatum, which, conversely, cluster together. The evolutionary forces and selective pressures leading to diversification of pollination mechanisms in the Cretan Arum spp. are discussed. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101 , 991–1001.     

Contingent Conclusions: Year of Initiation Influences Ecological Field Experiments,but Temporal Replication is Rare

Interannual variation in experimental field conditions produce variability in the results of experiments monitored over multiple years, termed here “year effects.” When experimental treatments are replicated in separate years, interannual variation may influence treatment effects and produce significant treatment by initiation‐year interactions. Understanding the frequency and strength of these effects requires initiating identical experiments across years. We conducted a review of literature covering more than 500 experimental articles published in 7 journals between 1966 and 2008. Only 5% of the 276 general ecological field studies initiated experiments in multiple years. This rarity was even more evident in the journal Restoration Ecology, in which none of the 173 surveyed experimental studies initiated experiments in multiple years. In contrast, 48% of the 58 field experiments published in an agronomy journal were replicated across years. We found only 17 studies that tested treatment by initiation‐year interactions. Despite their rarity, 76% of these studies found significant interactions between treatment and initiation year. We conclude that the results of many ecological field experiments are likely to be contingent on the year in which they are implemented. We discuss the importance of treatment by initiation‐year interactions in ecology and restoration, factors that have hindered the inclusion of temporal replication in the past, and some suggestions for the appropriate design and analysis of temporally replicated experiments. We argue for more deliberate investigation of temporal contingency in ecological experimentation, especially in the field of restoration ecology, which may be particularly sensitive to treatment by initiation‐year interactions.     

High prevalence of autoantibodies to RNA helicase A in Mexican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction

Autoantibodies to RNA helicase A (RHA) were reported as a new serological marker of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with early stage of the disease. Anti-RHA and other autoantibodies in Mexican SLE patients and their correlation with clinical and immunological features were examined.

Methods

Autoantibodies in sera from 62 Mexican SLE patients were tested by immunoprecipitation of ³⁵S-labeled K562 cell extract and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (anti-U1RNP/Sm, ribosomal P, β2GPI, and dsDNA). Anti-RHA was screened based on the immunoprecipitation of the 140-kDa protein, the identity of which was verified by Western blot using rabbit anti-RHA serum. Clinical and immunological characteristics of anti-RHA-positive patients were analyzed.

Results

Anti-RHA was detected in 23% (14/62) of patients, a prevalence higher than that of anti-Sm (13%, 8/62). Prevalence and levels of various autoantibodies were not clearly different between anti-RHA (+) vs. (-) cases, although there was a trend of higher levels of anti-RHA antibodies in patients without anti-U1RNP/Sm (P = 0.07). Both anti-RHA and -Sm were common in cases within one year of diagnosis; however, the prevalence and levels of anti-RHA in patients years after diagnosis did not reduce dramatically, unlike a previous report in American patients. This suggests that the high prevalence of anti-RHA in Mexican patients may be due to relatively stable production of anti-RHA.

Conclusions

Anti-RHA was detected at high prevalence in Mexican SLE patients. Detection of anti-RHA in races in which anti-Sm is not common should be clinically useful. Racial difference in the clinical significance of anti-RHA should be clarified in future studies.