Incipient Speciation by Sexual Isolation in Drosophila Melanogaster: Extensive Genetic Divergence without Reinforcement

The collection of Drosophila melanogaster from Zimbabwe and nearby regions (the Z-type) yield females who would not mate with the cosmopolitan D. melanogaster males (the M-type). To dissect the genetic basis of this sexual isolation, we constructed 16 whole-chromosome substitution lines between two standard Z-and M-lines. The results were as follows: (1) All substitution lines appear normal in viability and fertility in both sexes, indicating no strong postmating isolation. (2) The genes for the behaviors are mapped to all three major chromosomes with the same ranking and comparable magnitude of effects for both sexes: III > II >> X >/= 0 (III, II and X designate the effects of the three chromosomes). The results suggest less evolution on the X than on autosomes at loci of sexual behavior. (3) The genes for ``Z-maleness' are many and somewhat redundant. Whole-chromosome effects for Z-maleness appear nearly additive and show little dominance. (4) In contrast, ``Z-femaleness' has less redundancy as partial genotypes never exhibit full phenotypic effects. Epistatic interactions and incomplete dominance can sometimes be detected. (5) The extensive genetic divergence underlying sexual isolation has evolved in the absence of detectable reduction in hybrid fitnesses. Sexual selection has apparently been a driving force of multiple facets of speciation at the nascent stage without reinforcement.     

Sequence variation and genetic diversity in the giant panda

About 336–444 bp mitochondrial D-loop region and tRNA gene were sequenced for 40 individuals of the giant panda which were collected from Mabian, Meigu, Yuexi, Baoxing, Pingwu, Qingchuan, Nanping and Baishuijiang, respectively. 9 haplotypes were found in 21 founders. The results showed that the giant panda has low genetic variations, and that there is no notable genetic isolation among geographical populations. The ancestor of the living giant panda population perhaps appeared in the late Pleistocene, and unfortunately, might have suffered bottleneck attacks. Afterwards, its genetic diversity seemed to recover to some extent. Project supported by the “8.5” Key Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chairman Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, K. C. Wang Education Foundation, the Applied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Special Foundation for Returned Chinese Scientists, and Zoological Society of San Diego.     

三尖杉叶精油化学成分的研究

三尖杉叶精油化学成分的研究苏应娟,王艇,张宏达（中国科学院武汉植物研究所武汉４３００７４）（中山大学生命科学学院广州５１０２７５）关键词三尖杉,精油,化学分类ＡＳＴＵＤＹＯＮＣＨＥＭＩＣＡＬＣＯＮＳＴＩＴＵＥＮＴＳＯＦＥＳＳＥＮＴＩＡＬＯＩＬＦＲＯＭ...     

镁离子对阿霉素线粒体毒性的防护作用

利用ＥＳＲ技术研究了阿霉素与心肌线粒体的相互作用及Ｍｇ＾２＋的防护作用。结果表明：在线粒体及亚线粒体体系,Ｍｇ＾２＋可有效地抑制阿霉素半醌自由基产生,在一定浓度范围内抑制效果依赖于Ｍｇ＾２＋的浓度。另外,Ｍｇ＾２＋显著抑制阿霉素诱导产生的线粒体脂质过氧化。在亚线粒体体系,我们观察到阿霉素半醌自由基的固定化信号,并发现Ｍｇ＾２＋能明显延缓固定化信号出现。     

亚东璃眼蜱的延迟交配对吸血时间和生殖力的影响

蜱类种群密度的制约因素包括生物的和非生物的两类,分析和认识这些规律,对蜱类的防治上有重要意义。 蜱类的生殖是维持种群密度的重要一环。后肛沟类硬蜱的雌虫当吸附在宿主体时,由于某些原因可发生延迟交配现象。蜱类延迟交配对生育力的影响,在这方面的研究较少。本文为亚东璃眼蜱Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi Olenev的延迟交配对吸血时间、饱食后的体重以及产卵量等的试验研究结果。     

昆虫神经毒素的研究:各种神经毒剂引起毒素的产生

用五类(七种)神经毒性的杀虫药剂,对美洲(虫非)蠊测定了它们能否引起血淋巴中毒素的产生。DDT、溴氰菊酯及六六六均能引起血淋巴中毒素的产生,而E605、西维因、巴丹及杀虫脒均无此效果。纸层析及薄层层析,用标准样品(酪氨酸、酪胺、苯乙胺、L-亮氨酸及异戊胺)作比较,测定了这一产生的血淋巴中的毒素乃是酪胺,或主要是酪胺。增效试验,证明了杀虫脒与DDT或溴氰菊酯合用时,能增加酪胺的产量。讨论了这一毒素产生的条件,以及这一毒素有可能不是单一成分,而是几种单胺及氨基酸的复合物,但酪胺为其主要成分。     

Functional groups at the catalytic site of F1 adenosine triphosphatase

The protection of F1 ATPase by inorganic phosphate, ADP, ATP, and magnesium ion against inactivation by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, and 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline, respectively, has been investigated. Dissociation equilibrium constants and rate constants for the labeling reactions have been deduced from a quantitative treatment of the kinetic data. Comparison of these dissociation constants with each other and with the corresponding literature values indicates that the essential Tyr, Arg, Lys, and Glu or Asp residues are indeed located at the catalytic site of the enzyme. Examination of the rate constants for the labeling reactions in the presence of excess inorganic phosphate, ADP, ATP, or magnesium ion, respectively, suggests that the essential phenol and amino groups are located nearer to the bound inorganic phosphate or the gamma-phosphate group than to the alpha- or beta-phosphate group of the bound ATP, that the essential guanidinium group is located nearer to the alpha- or beta-phosphate group than to the gamma-phosphate group of the bound ATP or the bound inorganic phosphate, and that the essential carboxylate group is located slightly farther away but complexed with magnesium ion which it shares with the bound inorganic phosphate. A mechanism consistent with these topographical relationships is proposed for the catalytic hydrolysis and synthesis of ATP.     

Selective suppression of the murine autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction by physiological concentrations of hydrocortisone: effects on cell-surface Ia antigens

Strong, adult (Type II) autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions (AMLR) were observed in cultures of lymphoid cells from both A.TH and A.TL mice. These were suppressed by more than 90% in the continuous presence of 7.5 × 10^?8M hydrocortisone-21-sodium succinate. This concentration of hormone had minimal effects on the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) and the mitogenic response to concanavalin A (Con A). Higher concentrations suppressed all three responses. Treatment of autologous cell mixtures for the first 30 hr with 7.5 × 10^?8M hydrocortisone resulted in a 78% suppression of the AMLR. This was not associated with a detectable decrease in the quantity of Ia antigens on the stimulator-cell surface, as evaluated by the susceptibility of treated cells to antibody dependent, complement-mediated lysis, using [A.TH × B.10M]F₁ anti-A.TL antiserum. Hence, this suppression did not appear to result from an alteration of the antigens putatively associated with stimulation of the AMLR. Separate pretreatment of stimulator and responder cells with 7.5 × 10^?8M hydrocortisone followed by culturing with appropriate companion cells had no major effect on the AMLR. Therefore, low-dose hydrocortisone did not appear to selectively eliminate or permanently inactivate subpopulations of responder or stimulator cells. Rather, it appeared to regulate active cellular processes that are initiated by the coculturing of these cells and are required for the early stages of autologous lymphocyte activation.     

Effects of abscisic acid on CAM in Portulacaria afra

Water stress induces Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Portulacaria afra as manifested by day stomatal closure, organic acid fluctuation, and night CO₂ uptake. We now have evidence that abscisic acid treatment of leaves causes partial stomatal closure that is accompanied by the induction of CAM in a manner similar to water stress. There appears to be an inverse relationship between exogenous CO₂ uptake and decarboxylation of organic acids in that organic acids remain high during the day providing stomata are open. When stomata close, there is consumption of organic acids by decarboxylation. The hypothesis is that stomatal opening controls CAM in this species.This material is based upon work supported by the Science and Education Administration of the USDA under Competitive Grant No. 5901-0410-8-0018-0.     

Nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and pleomorphic growth in a highly pigmented Spirillum lipoferum.

A strain of Spirillum lipoferum with intense red pigmentation was isolated from the roots of Cynodon dactylon "Coastal." This isolate vigorously reduced acetylene when grown in N-free, Na-malate, semisolid agar, and it was identical to S. lipoferum strain SP7 by standard taxonomic tests. Both S. lipoferum SP7 and the C. dactylon root isolate displayed the unique features of being denitrifiers as well as N2 fixers. The N2-dependent growth curve was biphasic: cells in younger cultures showed the characteristic spiral shape and motility, but those in older cultures developed larger, nonmotile, cystlike forms. Nitrogenase activity seemed associated only with younger spiral forms. The red pigment may be a b- or c-type cytochrome. The strong red color, which this strain develops, could be used as a marker in evaluating soil inoculation experiments.