Molecular and morphological approach to study the innexin gap junctions in Rhynchosciara americana

Gap junctions mediate communication between adjacent cells and are fundamental to the development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms. In invertebrates, gap junctions are formed by transmembrane proteins called innexins. Gap junctions allow the passage of small molecules through an intercellular channel, between a cell and another adjacent cell. The dipteran Rhynchosciara americana has contributed to studying the biology of invertebrates and the study of the interaction and regulation of genes during biological development. Therefore, this paper aimed to study the R. americana innexin-2 by molecular characterization, analysis of the expression profile and cellular localization. The molecular characterization results confirm that the message is from a gap junction protein and analysis of the expression and cellular localization profile shows that innexin-2 can participate in many physiological processes during the development of R. americana.     

浙江天目山自然保护区鸟类对美洲商陆种子的传播

为了解外来植物美洲商陆Phytolacca americana的入侵方式,2008年8月至2010年7月,在浙江省天目山国家级自然保护区内研究了鸟类对美洲商陆种子的传播作用.观察到白头鹎Pycnonotus sinensis、领雀嘴鹎Spizixos semitorques和红嘴蓝鹊Urocissa erythrorh...     

Inhibition of electron transport activities in mitochondria from avocado and pepper fruit by naturally occurring polyamines

The effects of the naturally occurring polyamines, spermine, putrescine, and spermidine were explored on mitochondrial state 3. state 4, and uncoupled respiration activities, ADP/O ratio, respiratory control ratio of pepper ( Capsicum annuum L. cv. Early Cal Wonder) and avocado ( Persea americana Mill. cv. Booth-8 or Simmonds) mitochondria oxidizing either succinate, external NADH, malate, α-ketoglutarate or tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine. Abnormally high concentrations of spermine and spermidine such as might occur during chilling stress of these chilling-sensitive fruits were detrimental to several oxidase activities, especially to external NADH oxidase. State 3 respiration for NADH oxidase was inhibited more than 70% by 10 m M spermine. The spermine inhibition of uncoupled NADH oxidase was not reversed by the presence of divalent cations including Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Sr²⁺ at concentrations up to 10 m M or by 100 m M KCl. The inhibition primarily affected the V_max. Other possible sites of polyamine interactions are discussed.     

Applying the Richards function in freezing tolerance determination with electrolyte and phenolic leakage techniques

The purpose of the present study was to apply the Richards function to fit electrolyte and phenolic leakage data for several taxa of woody plants subjected to freezing stress and to determine how the curve inflection point relates to the lethal temperature range. The lowest survival temperature of Fraxinus americana, Lagerstroemia cv. Natchez, Magnolia grandiflora, Rhododendron cv. Red Ruffle and Zelkova serrata was determined based on visual evaluation of oxidative browning facilitated by a modified regrowth test and differential thermal analysis. Lethal injury occurred in all cases within a range of 3°C below lowest survival temperature. Using the Richards function inflection point as an estimate of lethal temperature led to an overestimation of freezing tolerance in most taxa. This overestimation was greater for stems than leaves, and was greater in winter than in summer. The lethal temperature range generally coincided with the initial increase in leakage caused by freezing. The lethal temperature range also was determined by using a point of interception of the lower asymptote of a curve with a line tangential to the inflection point. In most taxa tested estimated lethal temperature based on the point of interception provided an improvement over the estimate based on the point of inflection.     

Effects of the venom of Philanthus triangulum F. (Hym. sphecidae) and β- and δ-philanthotoxin on axonal excitability and synaptic transmission in the cockroach CNS

This paper provides answers to the questions which of the toxins present in the venom of the wasp Philanthus triangulum may be responsible for the previously reported blockage of transmission through the sixth abdominal ganglion of the cockroach, and whether this may occur by block of synaptic transmission or by affecting axonal exitability. In current clamp experiments the crude venom induces a slight depolarization of the membrane of the giant axon from the sixth abdominal ganglion of the cockroach and a small and irreversible decrease in the amplitude of the action potential. These marginal effects are not seen with relatively high concentrations of the philanthotoxins β-PTX and δ-PTX. It appears that neither the crude venom nor the toxins significantly affect the excitability of the cockroach giant axon. At a concentration of 20 μg ml^?1 δ-PTX causes a slowly reversible block of synaptic transmission from the cercal nerve XI to a giant interneuron without any change in resting membrane potential, whereas β-PTX is inactive. Iontophoretically evoked acetylcholine potentials of the giant neuron are more sensitive to δ-PTX than excitatory postsynaptic potentials. This suggests that the toxin acts on the postsynaptic membrane.     

Substratum stability associated with the riverine macrophyte Justicia americana

1. Patches of stable substratum in streams may be important refugia for benthic organisms during scouring floods. Streambed stone stability, packing and embeddedness were assessed within and adjacent to beds of the macrophyte Justicia americana in five Alabama streams. 2. The force needed to dislodge stones and embeddedness was about two times lower outside Justicia beds than within them. Significant positive correlations between stone stability and (i) degree of embeddedness, and (ii) the abundance of binding rhizomes and the presence of attached roots indicate that Justicia may physically modify the local streambed, indirectly enhancing substratum stability and reducing flow, thereby increasing sand deposition. 3. Despite higher stability (i.e. physical refugia during bed‐moving spates) within Justicia beds, the abundance of epilithic plants (moss and Podostemum ceratophyllum) and pleurocerid snails (Elimia spp.) was similar both inside and outside the macrophyte beds. Several physical characteristics within macrophyte beds, such as low light, reduced current and increased sand intrusion, may create suboptimal conditions for benthic organisms in these habitats. 4. Additional work is needed to determine if Justicia biogenically enhances substratum stability or if its presence merely reflects patches of stable substratum within the streambed. Regardless of the mechanism, there is an association between Justicia beds and streambed characteristics.     

Use of culture filtrates of Ceratocystis ulmi as a bioassay to screen for disease tolerant Ulmus americana

Cullus cultures of elm (Ulmus americana L.) derived from Dutch elm disease susceptible, intermediate-resistant, and resistant genotypes were exposed to the culture filtrates of three patogenic isolates of Ceratocystis ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. Callus fresh weights, cell viability, and reactions of stem cuttings were determined after exposure to various concentrations of the filtrates. Calli from the susceptible elm failed to increase in fresh weight and lost viability after exposure to media containing culture filtrate. Calli from the resistant and the intermediate-resistant elms exhibited growth rates and maintained viability similar to controls not exposed to culture filtrate. Stem cuttings of the susceptible elm wilted after exposure to the culture filtrate. The symptoms were similar to wilt seen with the disease. Cuttings from the resistant elm had no disease symptoms whereas, the intermediate elm had some leaf chlorosis. Callus screening may thus be useful for selection of Ulmus germplasm for Dutch elm disease resistance.