N-bromoacetyl-p-azido-L-phenylalanine methyl ester: a bifunctional chemically and photo-activated cross-linking reagent

A cross-linking reagent with individually controllable functional groups, N-bromoacetyl-p-azido-l-phenylalanine methyl ester, has been developed. When reacted with endoplasmic reticulum membranes stripped of their ribosomes, the bromoacetyl group is most active at basic pH, reacts only with protein, and has biphasic reaction kinetics. Although the azido function also has biphasic reaction kinetics, the extent of the irradiated reaction is different from that of the dark reaction. In addition, the azido function reacts both with protein and with RNA. In a cross-linking experiment, no cross-linking occurred until the reagent-membrane complex was irradiated, even though the complex underwent limited exposure to light. Upon irradiation, extensive cross-linking occurred.     

Nemertean collections at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: type specimens and vouchers for Wesley R. Coe's 1940 publication

The Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the SantaBarbara Museum of Natural History houses a smallcollection of nemerteans from the Eastern PacificOcean. At present the collection containsapproximately 2000 specimen lots stored in alcohol. The historically important elements of the collectionwere obtained in transfers from the Allan HancockFoundation of the University of Southern California,the Kerkoff Marine Laboratory of the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology, and the Benthic InvertebrateMuseum of Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Thespecimens in these three collections voucher manyof the species treated in Wesley R. Coe's 1940revision of the nemerteans of the west coast of theAmericas. Type specimens were located for 4 of the 5new species group taxa and for 1 new subspecies grouptaxon erected in that publication. The Allan HancockFoundation material utilized by Coe was collected inthe 1930's during Pacific expeditions of the R/V Velero III. The material assembled by George andNettie MacGinitie at the Kerkoff lab contained anumber of specimens collected during the same timeperiod. The specimens from Coe's material at ScrippsInstitution of Oceanography were collected by TheodoreBullock and students in central California in 1939.     

Morphological assessment of the Octopus vulgaris species complex evaluated in light of molecular‐based phylogenetic inferences

Cryptic species are common in the ocean, particularly among marine invertebrates such as octopuses. Delineating cryptic species is particularly problematic in octopus taxonomy where the plasticity recorded among taxonomic characters often results in low resolution at the species level. This study investigated the morphological relationships among seven phylogenetic clades (identified using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) of the broadly distributed Octopus vulgaris species complex and close relatives. Morphological analyses in this study were successful in delimiting O. sinensis, Brazilian O. vulgaris and O. vulgaris sensu stricto, which was congruent with the molecular findings of this study. Analyses based on male morphology were successful in distinguishing 14 of 15 total pairwise comparisons and proved to be a more reliable indicator of species‐level relationships in comparison with female morphology. The majority of characters with the greatest discriminatory power were male sexual traits. Significant morphological differences were also recorded among sampling localities of conspecifics, with phenotype showing correlation with local environmental data. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that multiple O. vulgaris‐like species are currently being incorrectly treated under a single species name, O. vulgaris. Octopuses being exported globally under the name O. vulgaris are of extremely high fisheries market value and profile. Our findings have potentially significant implications for the naming and conservation of commercially harvested members of this species complex throughout their ranges.     

Developmental patterns and cell lineages of vermiform embryos in dicyemid mesozoans.

Patterns of cell division and cell lineages of the vermiform embryos of dicyemid mesozoans were studied in four species belonging to four genera: Conocyema polymorpha, Dicyema apalachiensis, Microcyema vespa, and Pseudicyema nakaoi. During early development, the following common features were apparent: (1) the first cell division produces prospective cells that generate the anterior peripheral region of the embryo; (2) the second cell division produces prospective cells that generate the posterior peripheral region plus the internal cells of the embryo; (3) in the lineage of prospective internal cells, several divisions ultimately result in cell death of one of the daughter cells. Early developmental processes are almost identical in the vermiform embryos of all four dicyemid genera. The cell lineages appear to be invariant among embryos and are highly conserved among species. Species-specific differences appear during later stages of embryogenesis. The number of terminal divisions determines variations in peripheral cell numbers among genera and species. Thus, the numbers of peripheral cells are fixed and hence species-specific.     

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical observations of the nervous systems of three macrodasyidan gastrotrichs

The nervous systems of three macrodasyidan gastrotrichs, Dactylopodola baltica, Macrodasys caudatus and Dolichodasys elongatus, were investigated using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Labelling of neural structures against serotonin revealed the presence of two pairs of cerebral cells, a dorsal cerebral connective, and paired ventral nerve cords in D. baltica. In M. caudatus and D. elongatus serotonin immunoreactivity was present in a single pair of dorsal cerebral cells and the ventral nerve cords; the dorsal connective of D. elongatus was also immunoreactive to serotonin and acetylated α‐tubulin. The presence of paired, serotonin‐like immunoreactive cells in D. baltica and other species may represent the plesiomorphic condition in Macrodasyida. The fine structure of the photoreceptors in D. baltica was also investigated to explore the potential ground pattern for eyes in the Macrodasyida. The pigmented photoreceptors of D. baltica contain a unicellular pigment cup, sheath cell and sensory receptor. The pigment cup contains numerous osmiophilic granules that presumably function to shield the eyes from downwelling light in the red part of the spectrum. Projecting into the pigment cup and sheath cell are numerous microvilli from a bipolar sensory cell. A single sensory cell may represent the plesiomorphic condition in Macrodasyida, with multiplication of sensory cells representative of more derived taxa.     

Porphyra-334, a potential natural source for UVA protective sunscreens.

The mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA), porphyra-334 (lambda(max) = 334 nm; epsilon = 42,300 M(-1) cm(-1)), was isolated from the aquatic cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) and its structure was verified by spectroscopic methods. The UVA absorption properties of the crude methanolic extract were determined against two commercial sun care products in terms of mean critical wavelength, mean UVA/UVB ratios and UVA protection category (Boots the Chemists, Ltd.). The crude methanolic extract from AFA exhibited maximum UVA protection comparable to that determined for Boots SPF 4.     

A proteomic approach identified growth hormone-dependent nutrition markers in children with idiopathic short stature

Background  

The broad range in growth observed in short prepubertal children receiving the same growth hormone (GH) dose is due to individual variation in GH responsiveness. This study used a pharmaco-proteomic approach in order to identify novel biomarkers that discriminate between short non-GH-deficient (GHD) children who show a good or poor growth response to GH treatment.