Phytoseiid predators suppress populations of Bemisia tabaci on cucumber plants with alternative food

Phytoseiids are known to attack whiteflies, but it is an open question whether they can be used for biological control of these pest insects. Preselection experiments in the laboratory showed that two out of five phytoseiid species tested, Euseius scutalis and Typhlodromips swirskii, stood out in terms of their ability to develop and reproduce on a diet of Bemisia tabaci immatures. In this paper, we show that both predators are able to suppress whitefly populations on isolated cucumber plants in a greenhouse. Predatory mites were released 2 weeks in advance of the release of B. tabaci. To enable their survival and promote their population growth, they were provided weekly with alternative food, that is, Typha sp. pollen. A few weeks after whitefly introduction, the numbers of adult whiteflies on plants with predators were consistently lower than on plants without predators, where B. tabaci populations grew exponentially. After 9 weeks, this amounted to a 16- to 21-fold difference in adult whitefly population size. This shows that the two phytoseiid species are promising biocontrol agents of B. tabaci on greenhouse cucumber. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accidental altruism in insular pit-vipers (Gloydius shedaoensis, Viperidae)

Darwinian theory predicts that organisms will display traits that benefit themselves rather than other individuals; exceptions to this rule usually are explicable by kin selection. Our studies on an insular population of venomous snakes in north-eastern China reveal a different situation. Only one species of snake (Gloydius shedaoensis, Viperidae) occurs on the island of Shedao, and displays altruism between size (age) classes. First, small snakes frequently kill prey items larger than they can swallow themselves. This behaviour enhances rates of feeding of larger conspecifics, which scavenge the birds' carcasses. Second, large snakes kill raptorial birds (sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus) that pose little or no threat to themselves. This behaviour reduces predation risk for smaller snakes. These effects are presumably accidental consequences of the high venom toxicity of the pit-vipers, which enable them to kill inedible prey and non-threatening predators at little cost. Nonetheless, this accidental altruism may have significant ecological consequences. For example, these behaviours may contribute to the remarkably high population densities of snakes on Shedao.     

Protein evolution: intrinsic preferences in peptide bond formation: a computational and experimental analysis

Two possibilities exist for the evolution of individual enzymes/proteins from a milieu of amino acids, one based on preference and selectivity and the other on the basis of random events. Logic is overwhelmingly in favour of the former. By protein data base analysis and experiments, we have provided data to show the manifestation of two types of preferences, namely, the choice of the neighbour and its acceptance from the amino end (left) or the carboxyl end (right). The study tends to show that if the 20 proteinous amino acids were made to combine in water, the resulting profile would be nonrandom. Such selectivity could be a factor in protein evolution. Dedicated to the memory of Darshan Ranganathan.     

A tracked approach for automated NMR assignments in proteins (TATAPRO)

A novel automated approach for the sequence specific NMR assignments of ¹H^N, ¹³C, ¹³C, ¹³C/¹H and ¹⁵N spins in proteins, using triple resonance experimental data, is presented. The algorithm, TATAPRO (Tracked AuTomated Assignments in Proteins) utilizes the protein primary sequence and peak lists from a set of triple resonance spectra which correlate ¹H^N and ¹⁵N chemical shifts with those of ¹³C, ¹³C and ¹³C/¹H. The information derived from such correlations is used to create a `master_list' consisting of all possible sets of ¹H^N _i, ¹⁵N_i, ¹³C _i, ¹³C _i, ¹³C_i/¹H _i, ¹³C _i–1, ¹³C _i–1 and ¹³C_i–1/ ¹H _i–1 chemical shifts. On the basis of an extensive statistical analysis of ¹³C and ¹³C chemical shift data of proteins derived from the BioMagResBank (BMRB), it is shown that the 20 amino acid residues can be grouped into eight distinct categories, each of which is assigned a unique two-digit code. Such a code is used to tag individual sets of chemical shifts in the master_list and also to translate the protein primary sequence into an array called pps_array. The program then uses the master_list to search for neighbouring partners of a given amino acid residue along the polypeptide chain and sequentially assigns a maximum possible stretch of residues on either side. While doing so, each assigned residue is tracked in an array called assig_array, with the two-digit code assigned earlier. The assig_array is then mapped onto the pps_array for sequence specific resonance assignment. The program has been tested using experimental data on a calcium binding protein from Entamoeba histolytica (Eh-CaBP, 15 kDa) having substantial internal sequence homology and using published data on four other proteins in the molecular weight range of 18–42 kDa. In all the cases, nearly complete sequence specific resonance assignments (> 95%) are obtained. Furthermore, the reliability of the program has been tested by deleting sets of chemical shifts randomly from the master_list created for the test proteins.     

Comparison of iceball diameter and temperature distribution achieved with 3-mm accuprobe cryoprobes in porcine and human liver tissue and human colorectal liver metastases in vitro

We aimed to assess the thermal profile and size of iceballs produced by Accuprobe cryoprobes in fresh porcine and human liver and human colorectal cancer liver metastases in vitro to allow better planning of cryosurgical treatment of liver metastases. Iceballs were produced by a 20-min single freeze cycle using 8-mm cryoprobes in pig liver in a waterbath at 37 degrees C (n = 8) and 3-mm cryoprobes in pig liver (n = 8), human liver (n = 3), and human colorectal cancer liver metastases (n = 8). The iceball diameters and the temperatures at different distances from the cryoprobe were measured. Mean iceball diameters produced by 8-mm cryoprobes in pig liver were 56.3 mm and varied from 38.7 to 39.6 mm for 3-mm cryoprobes in the different tissues used. There was no significant difference in iceball size in the different tissues. The diameter of the zone of -40 degrees C or less was approximately 44 mm using 8-mm cryoprobes in porcine liver and between 27 and 31 mm using 3-mm cryoprobes in the different tissues examined. The results may allow better preoperative planning of the cryosurgical treatment of liver metastases with Accuprobe cryoprobes.     

Plastid position in Arabidopsis columella cells is similar in microgravity and on a random-positioning machine

 In order to study gravity effects on plant structure and function, it may become necessary to remove the g-stimulus. On Earth, various instruments such as clinostats have been used by biologists in an attempt to neutralize the effects of gravity. In this study, the position of amyloplasts was assayed in columella cells in the roots of Arabidopsisthaliana (L.) Heynh. seedlings grown in the following conditions: on Earth, on a two-dimensional clinostat at 1 rpm, on a three-dimensional clinostat (also called a random-positioning machine, or an RPM), and in space (true microgravity). In addition, the effects of these gravity treatments on columella cell area and plastid area also were measured. In terms of the parameters measured, only amyloplast position was affected by the gravity treatments. Plastid position was not significantly different between spaceflight and RPM conditions but was significantly different between spaceflight and the classical two-dimensional clinostat treatments. Flanking columella cells showed a greater susceptibility to changes in gravity compared to the central columella cells. In addition, columella cells of seedlings that were grown on the RPM did not exhibit deleterious effects in terms of their ultrastructure as has been reported previously for seedlings grown on a two-dimensional clinostat. This study supports the hypothesis that the RPM provides a useful simulation of weightlessness. Received: 5 January 2000 / Accepted: 22 February 2000     

Effect of nutrient enrichment on the distribution and sedimentation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seawater

The effect of nutrient enrichment on the distribution of polychlorinated biphenyl's (PCBs) in the microbial food web and the residence time of PCBs in seawater was studied in an experimental mesocosm system. Two 5 m high temperature and light controlled mesocosm tubes (⊘ = 0,5 m) were filled with seawater from the northern Baltic Sea. Inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen were added daily to one mesocosm, while the other served as a control. Experiments were conducted at 5, 10 and 20°>C. Three ¹⁴C-labelled PCBs of different degree of chlorination were added to subsamples of the mesocosms: 4 chlorobiphenyl (MCB), IUPAC # 3; 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB), IUPAC # 52 and 2,2′, 4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) IUPAC # 153. The biomasses and growth rates of the microorganisms as well as the sedimentation rate of particulate organic material increased with nutrient enrichment. The size distribution of the microorganisms changed with nutrient status, from dominance of picoplankton (< 2 μm) in the control towards increased importance of micro (> 10 μm) and nanoplankton (2– 10 μm) in nutrient enrichment. The specific growth rate of the bacterial community was found to be more temperature dependent than that of the phytoplankton community. The relative proportion of PCBs in the >2 μm fraction was observed to be in the order MCB < TCB < HCB, while the opposite distribution prevailed in the < 2 μm fraction. We hypothesize that this is due to the combined effect of the different Kow values of the PCBs and a different composition of the particulate organic carbon in the > 2 μm and < 2 μm fractions (e.g. different lipid composition). The residence time of the PCBs in the mesocosm generally decreased with nutrient enrichment, but was dependent on the degree of chlorination of the PCB. Our results indicate that the transport of organic pollutants up through the food web is more important in nutrient poor than in nutrient rich waters and that the importance of sedimentation is higher in eutrophic ecosystems. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evidence for a nutritional disorder of Oxalis acetosella L. on acid forest soils; II. Diagnostic field experiments and nutrient solution studies

Different field experiments were performed to discover the main factor(s) responsible for the poor leaf growth, moderate propagation and leaf chlorosis of Oxalis acetosella in an old Norway spruce stand with acid soil (Höglwald Forest). A previous study had suggested, that Ca (or Mg) deficiency or Mn toxicity could be involved.In a Main Diagnostic Field Experiment with an intact population, Ca and Mg were either applied as sulphate or carbonate to distinguish between nutritional and pH effects. Mn and Si were also applied to aggravate or overcome possible effects of Mn toxicity. Enhancement experiments with different amounts of CaSO₄ were conducted to investigate the Ca dose-effect relationship under field conditions. Additional trials with SrCO₃, BaCO₃ and NaHCO₃ had the goal to raise the soil pH without supply of nutrients.Greenhouse experiments with Oxalis acetosella supplemented the field studies by investigating the Ca and Mn dose-effect relationships under controlled conditions. Growth, vitality and nutrition of Oxalis were studied in a nutrient solution culture at pH 4.0 over a range of concentrations of Ca (20 to 5000 mol L_-1) and Mn (5 to 1000 mol L_-1) respectively. Furthermore, the effects of two contrasting ammonium/nitrate ratios were tested. The nutritional composition of the basal nutrient solution and the microclimate in the greenhouse were as far as possible adjusted to the environmental conditions of the plant in the Höglwald Forest.All these studies led to the conclusion, that the moderate growth and vitality of Oxalis in the Höglwald Forest was mainly due to an insufficient Ca supply, rather than an effect of Mg deficiency, low soil pH or Mn toxicity. The application of CaSO₄ caused a similar stimulation of the growth as CaCO₃. A clearly positive, close CaSO₄ dose-effect relationship was detected in field experiments as well as in the nutrient solution study. The same type of leaf chloroses as in the field was reproduced through low Ca nutrient solutions. Predominant ammonium nutrition may significantly impair Ca uptake.Oxalis acetosella displayed a relatively high leaf tissue tolerance of excessive Mn. There was no indication for a Mn-induced Ca deficiency in the Höglwald Forest. Enhanced Si uptake led to a partial vitalization of Oxalis; the reason for that remained unclear.     

Sequential resonance assignment of medium-sized15 N/13C-labeled proteins with projected 4D triple resonance NMR experiments

We recently introduced a new line of reduced-dimensionality experiments making constructive use of axial peak magnetization, which has so far been suppressed as an undesirable artifact in multidimensional NMR spectra [Szyperski, T., Braun, D., Banecki, B. and Wüthrich, K. (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 118, 8146–8147]. The peaks arising from the axial magnetization are located at the center of the doublets resulting from projection. Here we describe the use of such projected four-dimensional (4D) triple resonance experiments for the efficient sequential resonance assignment of ¹⁵N/¹³C-labeled proteins. A 3D ^{/ /}(CO)NHN experiment is recorded either in conjunction with 3D HNN< > or with the newly presented 3D HNN scheme. The first combination yields sequential assignments based on the measurement of¹³ C chemical shifts and provides a complete ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N resonance assignment of polypeptide backbone and CH_n moieties. When employing the second combination, ¹³C=O chemical shifts are not measured, but the sequential assignment relies on both ¹³C and¹ H chemical shifts. The assignment is performed in a semi-automatic fashion using the program XEASY in conjunction with the newly implemented program SPSCAN. This program package offers routines for the facile mutual interconversion of single-quantum and zero/double-quantum frequencies detected in conventional and reduced-dimensionality spectra, respectively. In particular, SPSCAN comprises a peak picking routine tailored to cope with the distinct peak patterns of projected NMR experiments performed with simultaneous acquisition of central peaks. Data were acquired at 13 °C for the N-terminal 63-residue polypeptide fragment of the 434 repressor. Analysis of these spectra, which are representative for proteins of about 15 kDa when working at commonly used temperatures around 30 °C , demonstrates the efficiency of our approach for the assignment of medium-sized¹⁵ N/¹³C doubly labeled proteins.     

酶法降解植物纤维素技术研究

用正交试验法探讨了以麦秸为原料进行纤维素酶降解的工艺条件。正交试验的结果表明,影响麦秸纤维素降解的因素的主次顺序为A（酶添加量）＞B（底物浓度）＞E（时间）＞C（温度）＞D（pH值）,纤维素酶解麦秸纤维素的最佳组合为A3B1E3C3D2,即纤维素酶的添加量为0．2％,底物浓度为5％,反应时间为2h,反应温度50℃,pH5.0时为最佳条件。在比常规酶解法时间缩短12－30倍的条件下,能使纤维素降解葡萄糖的转化率达22．3％。