A graphical method for determining inhibition constants

A new simple graphical method is described for the determination of inhibition type and inhibition constants of an enzyme reaction without any replot. The method consists of plotting experimental data as (V–v)/v versus the inhibitor concentration at two or more concentrations of substrate, where V and v represent the maximal velocity and the velocity in the absence and presence of inhibitor with given concentrations of the substrate, respectively. Competitive inhibition gives straight lines that converge on the abscissa at a point where [I]?=??K_i. Uncompetitive inhibition gives parallel lines with the slope of 1/K’_i. For mixed type inhibition, the intersection in the plot is given by [I]?=??K_i and (V–v)/v?=??K_i/K’_i in the third quadrant, and in the special case where K_i?=?K’_i (noncompetitive inhibition) the intersections occur at the point where [I]?=??K_i and (V–v)/v?=??1. The present method, the “quotient velocity plot,” provides a simple way of determining the inhibition constants of all types of inhibitors.     

How to climb a tree: lizards accelerate faster,but pause more,when escaping on vertical surfaces

Many species of lizards effectively traverse both two and three‐dimensional habitats. However, few studies have examined maximum locomotor performance on different inclines. Do maximum acceleration and velocity differ on a level and inclined surface? Do lizards pause more on an inclined surface? To address these questions, Sceloporus woodi lizards (N = 12) were run in the laboratory on a level trackway and a vertical tree trunk. This species is known to frequently utilize both vertical and horizontal aspects of its habitat. Average maximum acceleration on the vertical surface exceeded that on the level surface, although average maximum velocity exhibited the opposite pattern. The average number of pauses during level locomotion was lower compared to vertical locomotion. In addition, the average location of the first pause on the level surface was 0.51 m, which is farther than the average for vertical locomotion where the first pause was at 0.35 m. The combination of performance and pause data suggests that the relative lack of pausing during level locomotion allows individuals to reach higher maximum velocities on level surfaces because they accelerate over greater distances. The increased pausing when moving vertically could be a result of high energetic demands of vertical locomotion, or greater microhabitat complexity as a result of branching and/or refuges. The faster acceleration exhibited during vertical locomotion by S. woodi likely offsets the frequent pauses. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102 , 83–90.     

Effects of Benzo(a)pyrene on Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.): Biomarkers,Growth and Behavior

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles using parameters at different levels of biological organization. Liver antioxidant status, BaP biotransformation and accumulation, growth, and behavior were determined in juveniles after 28 d exposure to BaP (1–16 μ g/l). Liver ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase increased in seabass exposed to 1–8 μ g/l of BaP. Liver glutathione S-transferases and catalase activities were significantly increased at 4 and 8 μ g/l, but a slight decrease was observed at the highest concentrations tested. Bile BaP metabolites were significantly different from the control group at 1 and 16 μ g/l BaP. Liver BaP metabolites and lipid peroxidation significantly increased at 8 and 16 μ g/l BaP. These results suggest that BaP metabolites' accumulation induces oxidative damage in seabass liver. Body weight and length increase were significantly reduced in fish exposed to BaP, with LOECs of 16 and 4 μ g/l, respectively. Food intake and swimming velocity were significantly decreased after exposure to BaP, with LOEC values of 16 and 8 μ g/l, respectively. Results suggest that at concentrations of BaP equal or higher than 8 μ g/l, the detoxification capacity decreases, an accumulation of liver BaP metabolites occurs causing lipid peroxidation, affecting growth and swimming capability of fish.     

Scaling of sensorimotor control in terrestrial mammals

Sensorimotor control is greatly affected by two factors—the time it takes for an animal to sense and respond to stimuli (responsiveness), and the ability of an animal to distinguish between sensory stimuli and generate graded muscle forces (resolution). Here, we demonstrate that anatomical limitations force a necessary trade-off between responsiveness and resolution with increases in animal size. To determine whether responsiveness is prioritized over resolution, or resolution over responsiveness, we studied how size influences the physiological mechanisms underlying sensorimotor control. Using both new electrophysiological experiments and existing data, we determined the maximum axonal conduction velocity (CV) in animals ranging in size from shrews to elephants. Over the 100-fold increase in leg length, CV was nearly constant, increasing proportionally with mass to the 0.04 power. As a consequence, larger animals are burdened with relatively long physiological delays, which may have broad implications for their behaviour, ecology and evolution, including constraining agility and requiring prediction to help control movements.     

Investigation of the effects of current velocity on mussel feeding and mussel bed stability using an annular flume

An annular flume was used to measure the effect of increasing current velocity on mussel (Mytilus edulis) feeding rate and the stability of mussel beds sampled from the mouth of the Exe estuary (SW England). It was found that, in contrast to earlier flume studies, the feeding rates of mussels from open coast sites were unaffected by current velocities up to 0.8 m s^–1. Algal cell depletion in the water column above mussels was a function of current velocity, increasing with declining currents below 0.05 m s^–1. The erodability/stability of the mussel bed, measured in terms of critical erosion velocity, sediment mass eroded and mean erosion rate, was found to be a function of the nature of the substrate and the density of the mussels. Erosion of mussel beds on sandy substrate showed a non-linear relationship with mussel bed density. In comparison with the sand (0% mussel cover), sediment resuspension was about five and four times higher for 25% and 50% cover, respectively. This was due to the increased turbulence and scouring around the clumps of mussels in low-density parts of the bed, and this resulted in some mussels detaching from the bed. At ~100% mussel cover, the sandy bed was more protected by the dense surface layer of mussels, and none became detached during erosion due to the high number of byssal attachments between individuals. The sediment resuspension from the 100% mussel cover was about three times lower than the 0% cover. Erosion of the bed with 50% cover resulted in burial of a large proportion of the mussels, with a 6 cm increase in sediment level. However, the mussels returned to the surface and recovered in 1–2 days, due to a combination of migration upwards and substrate settlement. Channels on the edge of the main Exmouth mussel bed were characterised by a more stable substrate comprising pebbles and sand with varying mussel densities. At these sites, where mussels experience high current velocities on spring tides (up to 0.9 m s^–1), there was no difference between the erodability of pebble/sand substrate with 0% and 100% mussel cover. The sediment erosion was also lower than the 100% mussel cover on the sandy substrate, particularly at currents >0.4 m s^–1. Sampling of different parts of the mussel bed at Exmouth showed mussels at low densities were made up of smaller clumps with a lower mass ratio of mussels to attached substrate (pebbles/sand), thus providing a greater degree of anchorage. Electronic Publication     

A Note on Abiotic Factors that Constrain Periphyton Growth in Alpine Glacier Streams

Periphyton growth limitation experiments were conducted in five glacier streams during the main ice melt period in late summer using nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) that contained nitrate and/or phosphate. Periphyton net growth was determined as chlorophyll a accrual after an exposure time of 4 weeks. In addition, primary water chemistry and physical parameters of the study streams were measured. These chemical and physical parameters characterised the sites as kryal (glacial) systems. Neither nutrient limitation nor a significant correlation between water chemistry and physical data and chlorophyll a values were apparent. A comparison between current velocity and ln‐transformed chlorophyll a values revealed a typical optimum curve with highest periphyton accrual at 0.5 m s^–1 on NDS. During the summer ablation period, the net growth of periphyton in these glacial streams appeared to be controlled primarily by current velocity.     

Sedimentary Losses in the Reservoir Saidenbach: Flux and Sinking Velocities of Dominant Phytoplankton Species

Sedimentation of phytoplankton was studied in the meso/eutrophic reservoir Saidenbach for two years and measured as biovolume in a sedimentation trap near the bottom. It comes to an annual average of 2.76cm³/m² × d (0.4… 10.9) and is statistically significant dependent on the free water concentration measured 14 days before. This allows flux to be reliably calculated without any direct measurement. The bottom is reached above all by diatoms which form 90% of the deposited algae. The sinking velocity of the diatoms is mainly determined by their physiological state: During growth phases low sinking velocities (0.1 … 2m/d) were found, while in decline phases they increased considerably (>6m/d). The highest average sinking velocities found among large diatoms were calculated for Fragilaria crotonensis (3…4m/d), the lowest for Melosira italica (1.5…2m/d). The values for Asterionella formosa, Synedra acus and Diatoma elongatum were between them. Turbulence has no influence on sinking velocity (usually, spring full circulation sees the highest sedimentary losses), but plays an essential part in the survival of the population in free water. Permanent redistribution prevents diatoms from sinking out from the euphotic layer, this “inoculation” making further development possible. On an annual average, phytoplankton forms approximately only one quarter of the whole trap sediment (max. 62%). The flux of the dry weight of seston (2.33g/m² x d on an average) reflects the changes in phytoplankton flux negligibly only and does not reveal any relation to it. so that seston flux is not suitable for determining phytoplankton sedimentation. But it is possible to calculate this at a probability of 65 to 94%, by using the free water concentration measured 14 days before.