Establishing a new genus,Chiharadinium gen. nov. (Peridiniales,Dinophyceae) for a tidal pool dinoflagellate formerly known as Scrippsiella hexapraecingula

To determine its accurate taxonomic position, a tidal pool bloom-forming dinoflagellate, Scrippsiella hexapraecingula was re-investigated using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy together with a phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated ribosomal DNA sequences. The culture strains used in this study were established from intertidal rock pool samples taken from Jogashima, Kanagawa prefecture and Heisaura, Chiba prefecture, Japan and were identified as S. hexapraecingula originally described by Horiguchi and Chihara from a tidal pool in Hachijo Island, Tokyo, Japan in 1983. The thecal plate arrangement was determined as Po, X, 4′, 3a, 6″, 6c, 5s, 5″′, 2″″. The internal structure was investigated for the first time. The organism has typical dinoflagellate cellular organelles such as a dinokaryotic nucleus, mitochondria with tubular cristae, trichocysts and pusule. The chloroplast was single and connected to the central pyrenoid (stalked type). The eyespot found in the sulcus is of the B type with two rows of superficial intraplastidal lipid globules directly overlain by an extraplastidal single layer of crystalline bricks enveloped by a common membrane. The apical pore is plugged by a double-layered stub-like structure. Stalk building material for attachment covered the apical pore. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. hexapraecingula was most closely related to a freshwater dinoflagellate, Peridiniopsis borgei, the type species of the genus Peridiniopsis. However, clear differences exist between these two organisms, including their thecal plate arrangement, habitat and habit. As a result, a new genus, Chiharadinium Dawut & T. Horiguchi gen. nov. has been proposed rather than attempting to accommodate S. hexapraecingula in the genus Peridiniopsis. The new combination, Chiharadinium hexapraecingulum (T. Horiguchi & Chihara) Dawut & T. Horiguchi comb. nov. has been proposed.     

Hectogram-scale synthesis of [Aib8, Arg34]-GLP-1 (7–37) by liquid-phase fragment condensation

Based on small-scale synthesis (0.3 g), a 100-g scale-up synthesis of crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7–37) was completed. The crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37) was purified using a dynamic axial compression column 200 (DAC-200). Approximately 61 g of [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37) with a purity of >99% was obtained through one-step reverse-phase chromatography. The purification yield was approximately 92%. The yield from the total reaction was approximately 60%. In summary, we developed an economical and environmentally friendly route to the synthesis and purification of crude [Aib⁸, Arg³⁴]-GLP-1 (7–37), laying a foundation for subsequent industrial production.     

Crystal structure analysis of amicyanin and apoamicyanin from Paracoccus denitrificans at 2.0 A and 1.8 A resolution.

The crystal structure of amicyanin, a cupredoxin isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans, has been determined by molecular replacement. The structure has been refined at 2.0 A resolution using energy-restrained least-squares procedures to a crystallographic residual of 15.7%. The copper-free protein, apoamicyanin, has also been refined to 1.8 A resolution with residual 15.5%. The protein is found to have a beta-sandwich topology with nine beta-strands forming two mixed beta-sheets. The secondary structure is very similar to that observed in the other classes of cupredoxins, such as plastocyanin and azurin. Amicyanin has approximately 20 residues at the N-terminus that have no equivalents in the other proteins; a portion of these residues forms the first beta-strand of the structure. The copper atom is located in a pocket between the beta-sheets and is found to have four coordinating ligands: two histidine nitrogens, one cysteine sulfur, and, at a longer distance, one methionine sulfur. The geometry of the copper coordination is very similar to that in the plant plastocyanins. Three of the four copper ligands are located in the loop between beta-strands eight and nine. This loop is shorter than that in the other cupredoxins, having only two residues each between the cysteine and histidine and the histidine and methionine ligands. The amicyanin and apoamicyanin structures are very similar; in particular, there is little difference in the positions of the coordinating ligands with or without copper. One of the copper ligands, a histidine, lies close to the protein surface and is surrounded on that surface by seven hydrophobic residues. This hydrophobic patch is thought to be important as an electron transfer site.     

New branched Porolithon species (Corallinales,Rhodophyta) from the Great Barrier Reef,Coral Sea,and Lord Howe Island

Porolithon is one of the most ecologically important genera of tropical and subtropical crustose (non-geniculate) coralline algae growing abundantly along the shallow margins of coral reefs and functioning to cement reef frameworks. Thalli of branched, fruticose Porolithon specimens from the Indo-Pacific Ocean traditionally have been called P. gardineri, while massive, columnar forms have been called P. craspedium. Sequence comparisons of the rbcL gene both from type specimens of P. gardineri and P. craspedium and from field-collected specimens demonstrate that neither species is present in east Australia and instead resolve into four unique genetic lineages. Porolithon howensis sp. nov. forms columnar protuberances and loosely attached margins and occurs predominantly at Lord Howe Island; P. lobulatum sp. nov. has fruticose to clavate forms and free margins that are lobed and occurs in the Coral Sea and on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR); P. parvulum sp. nov. has short (<2 cm), unbranched protuberances and attached margins and is restricted to the central and southern GBR; and P. pinnaculum sp. nov. has a mountain-like, columnar morphology and occurs on oceanic Coral Sea reefs. A rbcL gene sequence of the isotype of P. castellum demonstrates it is a different species from other columnar species. In addition to the diagnostic rbcL and psbA marker sequences, the four new species may be distinguished by a combination of features including thallus growth form, margin shape (attached or unattached), and medullary system (coaxial or plumose). Porolithon species, because of their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification, need urgent documentation of their taxonomic diversity.     

Improvement of Early Maturing and Climate Resilient Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Cultivars Suitable for Multiple Environments in Bangladesh

Ensuring food security for the rapidly increasing population and changing climatic scenarios are requisites for exploiting the genetic divergence of food crops. A study was undertaken to sort out an early maturing chickpea variety for fitting easily between rice-rice cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh. The trial was comprised of eight elite lines of chickpea and executed at various localities in Bangladesh from 2014– 15 to 2017–18. The result explored the chickpea genotype, BARI Chola-11 remained superior to the rest of the elite genotypes for having a short maturity period (100–106 days), and lesser days to 50% flowering (47– 55 days). The same genotype was recorded to have robust vegetative and reproductive yield attributes including plant height (49–57 cm), podsplant⁻¹ (37–50), and optimum 100 seed weight (19.5–20.6 g). Owing to better yield attributes, BARI Chola-11 resulted in the maximum seed yield (1200–1500 kg ha⁻¹ ) of chickpea and might be recommended for general adoption in the region for boosting nutritional security status through improved productivity under changing climate.     

江西热带性植物的区系地理研究

本文通过对江西热带性植物区系成分各个分布类型的统计分析,阐述了本省热带性植物具有地理成分复杂,区系联系广泛,以泛热带和热带亚州分布型成分占优势;间断分布多样,残遗植物丰富;热带成分与温带成分交汇过渡,成为许多热带区系成分分布的北界。并初步探讨了江西植物区系地理的分界问题,笔者认为在江西境内,华东区系与华南区系的分界大致位于北纬25°(西)—25°20′(东)一线;中亚热带与北亚热带的区系分界约为北纬29°(西)—29°40′(东)一线;中亚热带两个亚热带的区系分界应在北纬27°(西)—27°40′(东)一线。此3条植物区系地理分界线由西向东有向北逐渐斜升的趋势,这是由于受太平洋湿热季风气候的影响所致。同时亦表明,某一地区植物区系的性质和特征主要是受其所处纬度(或海拔高度)的地带性气候因素长期孕育的结果。     

浙江金华北山植物区系地理的研究

金华北山约有种子植物１４０科、５１９属、１０５２种。区系成分中,以北温带、泛热带、东亚三种成分为主,植物区系具明显的亚热带性质。以植物地理成分为指标,对金华山与全国其它１４个山地的植物区系进行了模糊聚类分析。结果表明,庐山、天目山植物区系与浙南一闽北的九龙山、武夷山植物区系之间无明显的分界线。     

Therapeutic Potential of Clove Essential Oil in Diabetes: Modulation of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators,Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Enzyme Activities

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency due to the destruction of pancreatic β cells, leading to hyperglycemia, which in turn induces vascular complications. In the current study, we investigated the effect of intraperitoneal administration of clove essential oil (CEO: 20 mg/kg body weight) on certain oxidative stress and glucose metabolism enzymes, as well as the expression of proinflammatory mediators. Administration of CEO to diabetic rats showed a significant decline in blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, and xanthine oxidase, compared to the streptozotocin group. Furthermore, these treated rats elicited a notable attenuation in the levels of lipid peroxides, and thiols groups in both liver and brain tissues. The activities of antioxidant and metabolic enzymes were reverted to normality in diabetic upon CEO administration. In addition to its protective effects on red blood cell hemolysis, CEO is a potent α-amylase inhibitor with an IC₅₀=298.0±2.75 μg/mL. Also, treatment of diabetic rats with CEO significantly reduced the iNOS expression in the spleen. Our data showed that CEO has potential beneficial effects on diabetes, which can possibly prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications.     

DISRUPTION OF CELL—CELL ADHESION IN THE PRESENCE OF SODIUM BUTYRATE ACTIVATES EXPRESSION OF THE 92kDa TYPE IV COLLAGENASE IN MDCK CELLS

We have investigated the effects of altered cell shape on the regulation of the 92kDa type IV collagenase. In MDCK cells, anti-E-cadherin antibodies alter cell shape by disrupting normal cell—cell contacts, while sodium butyrate causes a marked flattening and spreading of cells. The disruption of cell—cell contacts led to a faint expression of the 92kDa collagenase. This effect was enhanced by sodium butyrate, which by itself did not induce collagenase expression. In contrast, stromelysin expression was not regulated in these conditions. Although mRNA expression was enhanced, the secreted collagenase activity was not altered in these conditions in either cell line. Examination of cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins and cell—cell and cell—matrix adhesion proteins by immunofluorescence and Western blot revealed a disruption of the actin network, tight junctions, and fibronectin deposition by anti E-cadherin antibodies, and alterations in actin, cytokeratin 8, cytokeratin 14, laminin and β1 integrin induced by sodium butyrate. Thus, the induction of collagenase expression in epithelial cells by disrupted cell—cell adhesion and sodium butyrate is associated with changes in cell shape and structure.