A new genus and species of Coenosiini from Costa Rica (Diptera,Muscidae, Coenosiinae)

Palpilongus gen. n. is herein described for one species – Palpilongus bifurcus sp. n., from Costa Rica, based on male and females. The striking morphological characters of the species – palpus very long, about as long as prementum; upper calypter truncate and very short and setae of male sternite 5 bifurcated, confirm that this new species is also a new genus in the tribe Coenosiini. Male and female terminalia were dissected and illustrated.     

Profile of micronucleus frequencies and nuclear abnormalities in different species of electric fishes (Gymnotiformes) from the Eastern Amazon

The frequency of spontaneous micronucleus (MN) formation in fish species needs to be determined to evaluate their usefulness for genotoxic biomonitoring. The definition of a good bioindicator takes into account the current knowledge of its metabolic traits as well as other factors including its feeding behavior and relationship to the environment. In this study, we compared the basal frequencies of micronucleated erythrocytes and nuclear abnormalities (NA) among different species of the fish Order Gymnotiformes (Rhamphichthys marmoratus, Steatogenys elegans, Sternopygus macrurus, Parapteronotus hasemani, Gymnotus mamiraua, Gymnotus arapaima, Brachyhypopomus beebei, Brachyhypopomus n. sp. BENN) sampled in several localities of the Eastern Amazon. A baseline of MN and NA frequency in these fish was determined, enabling the identification of potentially useful species as models for genotoxicity studies. Only one impacted sample collected at a site in the River Caripetuba showed a significant number of NAs, which may be due to the release of wastewater by neighbouring mining industries and by the burnt fuel released by the small boats used by a local community. Our results may provide support for further studies in areas of the Eastern Amazon affected by mining, deforestation and other anthropogenic activities.     

Phylogeographic Patterns and Evolution of the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region in Two Neotropical Cats (Mammalia, Felidae)

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and margay (L. wiedii) are sister-species of Neotropical cats which evolved from a lineage that migrated into South America during the formation of the Panamanian land bridge 3–5 million years ago. Patterns of population genetic divergence of each species were studied by phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences in individuals sampled across the distribution of these taxa. Abundant genetic diversity and remarkably concordant phylogeographic partitions for both species were observed, identifying parallel geographic regions which likely reflect historical faunal barriers. Inferred aspects of phylogeography, population genetic structure, and demographic history were used to formulate conservation recommendations for these species. In addition, observed patterns of sequence variation provided insight into the molecular evolution of the mtDNA control region in closely related felids. Received: 26 January 1998 / Accepted: 14 May 1998     

Nuclear targeting by fragmentation of the potato spindle tuber viroid genome

Transient expression of engineered reporter RNAs encoding an intron-containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a Potato virus X-based expression vector previously demonstrated the nuclear targeting capability of the 359 nucleotide Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) RNA genome. To further delimit the putative nuclear-targeting signal, PSTVd subgenomic fragments were embedded within the intron, and recombinant reporter RNAs were inoculated onto Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Appearance of green fluorescence in leaf tissue inoculated with PSTVd-fragment-containing constructs indicated shuttling of the RNA into the nucleus by fragments as short as 80 nucleotides in length. Plant-to-plant variation in the timing of intron removal and subsequent GFP fluorescence was observed; however, earliest and most abundant GFP expression was obtained with constructs containing the conserved hairpin I palindrome structure and embedded upper central conserved region. Our results suggest that this conserved sequence and/or the stem-loop structure it forms is sufficient for import of PSTVd into the nucleus.     

Remodeling of the human papillomavirus type 11 replication origin into discrete nucleoprotein particles and looped structures by the E2 protein

The human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA replication origin (ori) shares a common theme with many DNA control elements in having multiple binding sites for one or more proteins spaced over several hundreds of base pairs. The HPV type 11 ori spans 103 bp and contains three palindromic E2 binding sites (E2BS-2, E2BS-3, and E2BS-4) for the dimeric E2 ori binding protein. These sites are separated by 64 and 3 bp. E2BS-1 is located 288 bp upstream of E2BS-2 and is not required for efficient transient or cell-free replication. In this study, electron microscopy was used to visualize complexes of HPV-11 DNA ori bound by purified E2 protein. DNA containing only E2BS-2 showed a single E2 dimer bound. DNA containing E2BS-3 and E2BS-4 showed two side-by-side E2 dimers, while DNA containing E2BS-2, E2BS-3, and E2BS-4 exhibited a large disk/ring-shaped protein particle bound, indicating that the DNA had been remodeled into a discrete complex, likely containing an E2 hexamer. With all four binding sites present, up to 27% of the DNA molecules were arranged into loops by E2, the majority of which spanned E2BS-1 and one of the other three sites. Studies on the dependence of looping on salt, ATP, and DTT using full-length E2 and an E2 protein containing only the carboxyl-terminal DNA binding and protein dimerization domain suggest that looping is dependent on the N-terminal domain and factors that may affect the manner in which E2 scans DNA for binding sites. The role of these structures in the modeling and regulation of the HPV-11 ori is discussed.     

长三角地区植被覆盖演变城乡差异及其原因

城市生态环境和城市化之间的关系是城市可持续发展的关键。研究不同城市化水平下植被覆盖的长时间演变趋势,对理解城市化过程对植被生长动态的影响,城市更新以及推进城市绿化的科学管理具有重要意义。然而,目前对城市内部沿城乡梯度植被生长趋势差异的认识还比较有限。以我国城市化发展最为强烈的长三角地区为研究对象,基于2000-2020年长三角归一化植被指数数据,采用趋势分析和地理探测器方法,探究了长三角地区城市内部植被覆盖演变城乡差异,并从土地利用/覆被变化和城市化发展的角度解析其成因。研究结果表明：（1）2000-2020年长三角地区植被总体呈绿化趋势,植被明显绿化占最大比例（52.06%）,轻微绿化与稳定不变地区占31.68%,零星分布的褐化区占6.82%。（2）城市老城区植被覆盖变化总体呈现返绿趋势（0.016/10 a）,新城区褐化明显（-0.019/10 a）,农郊区绿化突出（0.023/10 a）。在上海、南京和杭州等人口城市化水平较高的城市中,老城区土地利用变化强度最高,其绿化趋势也最高,体现了城市更新过程对绿地空间的促进作用;而在人口城市化水平相对较低的宣城、蚌埠和阜阳等城市,土地利用变化强度相对较低的农郊区也呈现明显的绿化趋势,更多的是受到区域生态保护的影响。（3）土地城市化是长三角地区老城区和新城区植被覆盖变化的主导因子,而城市化因子对农郊区解释程度总体不显著。从长三角总体区域看,城镇人口比重、不透水面积/总面积以及地区生产总值三者对植被覆盖演变存在显著影响,其中城镇人口比重影响最大。     

Association of the eukaryotic V1VO ATPase subunits a with d and d with A

Owing to the complex nature of V₁V_O ATPases, identification of neighboring subunits is essential for mechanistic understanding of this enzyme. Here, we describe the links between the V₁ headpiece and the V_O-domain of the yeast V₁V_O ATPase via subunit A and d as well as the V_O subunits a and d using surface plasmon resonance and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Binding constants of about 60 and 200 nM have been determined for the a-d and d-A assembly, respectively. The data are discussed in light of subunit a and d forming a peripheral stalk, connecting the catalytic A₃B₃ hexamer with V_O.

Structured summary

MINT-7012054: d (uniprotkb:P32366) binds (MI:0407) to A (uniprotkb:P17255) by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (MI:0052)MINT-7012041: d (uniprotkb:P32366) binds (MI:0407) to A (uniprotkb:P17255) by surface plasmon resonance (MI:0107)MINT-7012028: d (uniprotkb:P32366) binds (MI:0407) to a (uniprotkb:P32563) by surface plasmon resonance (MI:0107)     

Analyses of non-leucine-rich repeat (non-LRR) regions intervening between LRRs in proteins

Background

Many proteins have LRR (leucine-rich repeat) units interrupted by non-LRRs which we call IR (non-LRR island region).

Methods

We identified proteins containing LRR@IRs (LRRs having IR) by using a new method and then analyzed their natures and distributions.

Results

LRR@IR proteins were found in over two hundred proteins from prokaryotes and from eukaryotes. These are divided into twenty-one different protein families. The IRs occur one to four times in LRR regions and range in length from 5 to 11,265 residues. The IR lengths in Fungi adenylate cyclases (acys) range from 5 to 116 residues; there are 22 LRR repeats. The IRs in Leishmania proteophosphoglycans (ppgs) vary from 105 to 11,265 residues. These results indicate that the IRs evolved rapidly. A group of LRR@IR proteins—LRRC17, chondroadherin-like protein, ppgs, and four Pseudomonas proteins—have a super motif consisting of an LRR block and its adjacent LRR@IR region. This indicates that the entire super motif experienced duplication. The sequence analysis of IRs offers functional similarity in some LRR@IR protein families.

General significance

This study suggests that various IRs and super motifs provide a great variety of structures and functions for LRRs.     

京津冀地区新型城镇化对土地生态效率影响的实证分析

近年来, 城市化进程的不断推进对城市土地利用及生态环境产生了极大影响。选取城镇化发展最为迅速与典型的京津冀地区作为研究区域, 采用超效率DEA模型及Malmquist效率指数, 从经济学角度分析2006-2015年土地生态效率的时空演变, 随后, 基于人口、富裕和技术(STRIPAT)模型, 构建新型城镇化发展水平的综合指标评价体系, 分析新型城镇化对土地生态效率的影响。研究结果表明: 京津冀地区城镇化发展水平与土地生态效率之间存在显著的正相关关系, 即城镇化水平的不断提升对土地生态效率的提高具有积极作用, 各城市土地生态效率在新型城镇化发展背景下存在明显的空间差异, 此外, 土地利用与管理技术水平的提高、环境政策的改变等均会对土地生态效率的提升产生积极影响。这项研究旨在为提高城市土地管理水平, 推动城市可持续发展提供决策支持。