华南贵州早奥陶世红花园组的镰箭类牙形刺

本文描述了产自华南贵州下奥陶统红花园组(桐梓红花园标准剖面,沿河甘溪剖面和贵阳黄花冲剖面)的四个镰箭类牙形刺种:Drepanoistodus sp.cf.nowlani,Paltodus sp.cf.P.subaequalis,Paltodus sp.A和Paroisto-dus sp.。D.sp.cf.nowlani为红花园组常见种,但另三种则相对稀少。在红花园组标准剖面,Paltodus sp.cf.P.subaequalis最低出现于该组底部,证实此层位为晚特马豆克期。文中详细图示了产于瑞典下奥陶统的两个带化石种:Paltodus deltifer和Paroistodus proteus,以及瑞典镰箭刺属的三个常见种:Drepanoistodus forceps,D.basiovalis和D.sp.cf.D.suberectus。通过与瑞典材料的详细对比,我们认为华南以前关于P.proteus和P.deltifer两种的记述多有误,须重新厘定。     

Lower-Middle Cambrian boundary in open shelf facies of the Siberian Platform

In the Early and Middle Cambrian (of traditional usage), three broad facies belts were developed over the Siberian Platform. The lithofacies belts comprise evaporitic-carbonate, reef-shoal, and open-marine environments.Trilobites assemblages are most diverse in the open-marine lithofacies (Judoma-Olenek facies), represented especially by the Kuonamka Formation, in the eastern part of the platform. Species, genera and families of trilobites gradually increased through the Middle-Cambrian boundary interval in the Kuonamka Formation. Protolenidae dominated in the time represented by the Lermontovia Zone. In strata assigned to the Anabaraspis Zone, the protolenids disappear, the paradoxidids appear, and the diversity of dorypygids increases. The number of trilobite families increases in the Oryctocara and Kounamkites zones.Well represented in the Kuonamka formation of the eastern Siberian Platform are three levels of trilobites that have potential for global correlation. They are the Oryctocephalus reticulatus (=O. indicus latus), Oryctocephalus indicus, and Ovatoryctocara granulatus levels. The Lower-Middle Cambrian boundary in the South China correlates to the lower part of the Kounamkites Zone of the Siberian Platform.     

Dynamic disulfide scanning of the membrane-inserting Pf3 coat protein reveals multiple YidC substrate contacts

The membrane insertase YidC inserts newly synthesized proteins into the plasma membrane. While defects in YidC homologs in animals and plants cause diseases, YidC in bacteria is essential for life. Membrane insertion and assembly of ATP synthase and respiratory complexes is catalyzed by YidC. To investigate how YidC interacts with membrane-inserting proteins, we generated single cysteine mutants in YidC and in the model substrate Pf3 coat protein. The single cysteine mutants were expressed and analyzed for disulfide formation during 30 s of synthesis. The results show that the substrate contacts different YidC residues in four of the six transmembrane regions. The residues are located either in the region of the inner leaflet, in the center, as well as in the periplasmic leaflet, consistent with the hypothesis that YidC presents a hydrophobic platform for inserting membrane proteins. In a YidC mutant where most of the contacting residues were mutated to serines, YidC function was severely disturbed and no longer active in a complementation test, suggesting that the residues are important for function. In addition, a Pf3 mutant with a defect in membrane insertion was deficient to contact the periplasmic residues of YidC.     

Integration of small-angle X-ray scattering data into structural modeling of proteins and their assemblies

A major challenge in structural biology is to determine the configuration of domains and proteins in multidomain proteins and assemblies, respectively. All available data should be considered to maximize the accuracy and precision of these models. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) efficiently provides low-resolution experimental data about the shapes of proteins and their assemblies. Thus, we integrated SAXS profiles into our software for modeling proteins and their assemblies by satisfaction of spatial restraints. Specifically, we modeled the quaternary structures of multidomain proteins with structurally defined rigid domains as well as quaternary structures of binary complexes of structurally defined rigid proteins. In addition to SAXS profiles and the component structures, we used stereochemical restraints and an atomic distance-dependent statistical potential. The scoring function is optimized by a biased Monte Carlo protocol, including quasi-Newton and simulated annealing schemes. The final prediction corresponds to the best scoring solution in the largest cluster of many independently calculated solutions. To quantify how well the quaternary structures are determined based on their SAXS profiles, we used a benchmark of 12 simulated examples as well as an experimental SAXS profile of the homotetramer d-xylose isomerase. Optimization of the SAXS-dependent scoring function generally results in accurate models if sufficiently precise approximations for the constituent rigid bodies are available; otherwise, the best scoring models can have significant errors. Thus, SAXS profiles can play a useful role in the structural characterization of proteins and assemblies if they are combined with additional data and used judiciously. Our integration of a SAXS profile into modeling by satisfaction of spatial restraints will facilitate further integration of different kinds of data for structure determination of proteins and their assemblies.     

Disentangling allometry and response to Kellwasser anoxic events in the Late Devonian conodont genus Ancyrodella

Is the ability to respond to minor perturbations a key to survival to major crisis? This idea was supported by previous studies on Late Devonian conodonts. Genera surviving the Frasnian/Famennian (F/F) crisis, at the end of the Upper Kellwasser anoxic event, had shown a response to a similar but minor event, the Lower Kellwasser (LKW). In contrast, the genus Ancyrodella went extinct at the F/F crisis. This study aims to assess whether this extinction was associated with the absence of response to the minor LKW event. For this purpose, the shape of the P1 platform elements of the conodont Ancyrodella curvata was quantified based on their 2‐D outlines. Conodonts were extracted from two outcrops documenting the Late Devonian Kellwasser events, Coumiac (France) and Mrirt (Morocco). Ancyrodella curvata is characterized by a marked allometric growth that may blur any other source of shape difference, like response to the LKW. Hence, a multivariate method was developed to disentangle size‐free from size‐related shape variations. No coherent temporal size variations emerged from the analysis, but allometry occurring along the growth of the element indeed appeared as the prevailing source of shape variation. By isolating size‐free variations, however, we were able to evidence a morphometric response of A. curvata to the LKW independent from the allometric pattern. Hence, the extinction of A. curvata at the F/F crisis cannot be attributed to an absence of response to minor events. The amount of shape change involved in the LKW shift is, however, of minor importance in comparison with the shape variation due to allometric growth. Alternate hypotheses have been further investigated. Ancyrodella curvata appears as a rare species in the assemblages, and its distribution worldwide suggests a rather specialist taxon. Considering survivorship curves (i.e. frequency distribution of the conodont as a function of its size) A. curvata was characterized by low and constant mortality rate. This may be a clue for a long growth and progressive investment in the reproduction. These arguments support the view that A. curvata was a rather specialist, rare and ‘K‐selected’ taxon. All these factors may not be exclusive and their unfavourable conjunction might have been the key to the extinction of A. curvata.     

Bioerosional structures and pseudoborings from Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous-Paleocene shallow-water carbonates (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria and SE France) with special reference to cryptobiotic foraminifera

Examples of bioerosional processes (boring patterns) are described from shallow-water limestones of the Late Jurassic Plassen Carbonate Platform (PCP) and the Late Cretaceous to Paleocene Gosau Group of the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria. Some micro-/macro-borings can be related to distinct ichnotaxa, others are classified in open nomenclature. In the Alpine Late Jurassic, bioerosional structures recorded from clasts in mass-flows allow palaeogeographical conclusions concerning the source areas. In particular, these are borings of the Trypanites-ichnofacies detected from clasts (Barmstein limestones) of the PCP or special type of bored ooids of unknown source areas or restricted autochthonous occurrences. In the Lower Gosau Subgroup, Gastrochaenolites macroborings occur in mobile carbonate clast substrates of shore zone deposits (“Untersberg Marmor”). Different types of borings are recorded from rudist shells and coral skeleton, some of which are referable to the ichnotaxon Entobia produced by endolithic sponges. In the present study, special attention is paid to the occurrences of the cryptobiotic foraminifera Troglotella incrustans Wernli and Fookes in the Late Jurassic and Tauchella endolithica Cherchi and Schroeder in the Late Cretaceous. The latter is so far only known to be from the Early Cenomanian of France and is reported here for the first time from the Late Turonian-Early Coniacian stratigraphic interval where it was found in turbulent carbonate deposits within borings penetrating bivalve shells or coralline algae. The records of cryptobiotic foraminifera from the Northern Calcareous Alps are supplemented by a single finding from the Middle Cenomanian of SE France. A palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the occurrences of the cryptobiotic foraminifera is provided.     

我国石炭系滑石板阶标准剖面的牙形刺

滑石板阶标准剖面的牙形刺主要有Neognathodussymmetricus,Declinognathodusnoduliferusnoduliferus,D .noduliferusinaequalis,D .lateralis,Idiognathoidescorrugatus,I .sinuatus和I .sulcatus等 ,应属Neognathodussymmetricus带 ;滑石板阶之底界则在Neognathodussymmetricus带中通过。由此可知 ,在标准剖面上 。     

Platform-basin transect of a middle to late Jurassic large-scale carbonate platform system (Shotori mountains,Tabas area,east-central Iran)

Summary Following a phase of predominantly siliciclastic sedimentation in the Early and Middle Jurassic, a large-scale, low-latitude carbonate depositional system was established in the northern part of the Tabas Block, part of the central-east Iranian microplate, during the Callovian and persisted until the latest Oxfordian/Early Kimmeridgian. Running parallel to the present eastern block margin, a NNW/SSE-trending carbonate platform developed in an area characterized by reduced subsidence rates (Shotori Swell). The growth of this rimmed, flat-topped barrier platform strongly influenced the Upper Jurassic facies pattern and sedimentary history of the Tabas Block. The platform sediments, represented by the predominantly fine-grained carbonates of the Esfandiar Limestone Formation, pass eastward into slope to basin sediments of the Qal'eh Dokhtar Limestone Formation (platform-derived allochthonites, microbialites, and peri-platform muds). Towards the west, they interfinger with bedded limestones and marlstones (Kamar-e-Mehdi Formation), which were deposited in an extensive shelf lagoon. In a N−S direction, the Esfandiar Platform can be traced for about 170 km, in an E-W direction, the platform extended for at least 35–40 km. The width of the eastern slope of the platform is estimated at 10–15 km, the width of the western shelf lagoon varied considerably (>20–80 km). During the Late Callovian to Middle Oxfordian, the Esfandiar Platform flourished under arid climatic conditions and supplied the slope and basinal areas with large amounts of carbonates (suspended peri-platform muds and gravitational sediments). Export pulses of platform material, e.g. ooids and aggregate grains, into the slope and basinal system are interpreted as highstand shedding related to relative sealevel variations. The high-productivity phase was terminated in the Late Oxfordian when the eastern platform areas drowned and homogeneous deep water marls of the Upper Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian Korond Formation onlapped both the Qal'eh Dokhtar Limestone Formation and the drowned Esfandiar Limestone Formation. Tectonic instability, probably caused by faulting at the margins of the Tabas Block in connection with rotational movements of the east-central Iranian block assemblage, was responsible for the partial drowning of the eastern platform areas. In some areas, relicts of the platform persisted to produce shallow-water sediments into the Kimmeridgian.     

Reef reconstruction after extinction events of the latest ordovician in the Yangtze platform,South China

Summary Early Silurian reef reconstruction on the Yangtze Platform, in the northern part of the South China Block, is preceded by a combination of regional and global processes. During most of Ashgill time (Late Ordovician), the area was dominated by Wufeng Formation deep water graptolitic black shales. Reefs largely disappeard in the middle of the Ashgill Stage, from the northwestern margin of Cathaysian Land (southeastern South China Block), in advance of the Late Ordovician glaciation and mass extinction, due to regional sea-level changes and regional uplift, unrelated to the mass extinction itselt. Late Ordovician microbial mudmound occurrence is also found in the western margin of the Yangtze Platform, its age corresponding to theDicellograptus complexus graptolite biozone of pre-extinction time. On the Yangtze Platform, a thin, non-reef-bearing carbonate, the Kuanyinchiao Formation (=Nancheng Formation in some sites), thickness generally no more than 1m, occurs near several landmasses as a result of Hirnantian regression. Reappearance of the earliest Silurian carbonates consisting of rare skeletal lenses in the upper part of Lungmachi Formation, are correlated to theacensus graptolite biozone, early Rhuddanian of Shiqian, northeastern Guizhou, near Qianzhong Land. Carbonate sediments gradually developed into beds rich in brachiopods and crinoids in the lower part of Xiangshuyuan Formation, middle Rhuddanian. In the middle part of Xiangshuyan Formation, biostromes, containing abundant and high diversity benthic faunas such as corals, crinoids and brachiopods, show beginnings of reconstruction of reef facies. Substantial reef recovery occurred in the upper part of Xiangshuyuan Formation, lower Aeronian, as small patch reefs and biostromes. During the late Aeronian, carbonate sediments, especially reefs and reef-related facies, expanded on the upper Yangtze Platform, and radiation of reefs occurred in Ningqiang Formation, upper Telychian. The long period of reef recovery, taking several million years, remains difficult to explain, because redistribution of any refugia faunas would be expected to take place soon after the extinction. Reefs and reef-related facies subsequently declined after Telychian time due to regional uplift of the major portion of the Yangtze Platform. Carbonate facies are therefore uncommon in South China during the rest of Silurian time.