Fused thiazolyl alkynes as potent mGlu5 receptor positive allosteric modulators

A new series of potent fused thiazole mGlu₅ receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) (10, 11 and 27–31) are disclosed and details of the SAR and optimization are described. Optimization of alkynyl thiazole 9 (Lu AF11205) led to the identification of potent fused thiazole analogs 10b, 27a, 28j and 31d. In general, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl carboxamides, and carbamate analogs are mGlu₅ PAMs, whereas smaller alkyl carboxamide, sulfonamide and sulfamide analogs tend to be mGlu₅ negative allosteric modulators (NAMs).     

Mhc‐linked survival and lifetime reproductive success in a wild population of great tits

Major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) genes are frequently used as a model for adaptive genetic diversity. Although associations between Mhc and disease resistance are frequently documented, little is known about the fitness consequences of Mhc variation in wild populations. Further, most work to date has involved testing associations between Mhc genotypes and fitness components. However, the functional diversity of the Mhc, and hence the mechanism by which selection on Mhc acts, depends on how genotypes map to the functional properties of Mhc molecules. Here, we test three hypotheses that relate Mhc diversity to fitness: (i) the maximal diversity hypothesis, (ii) the optimal diversity hypothesis and (iii) effect of specific Mhc types. We combine mark–recapture methods with analysis of long‐term breeding data to investigate the effects of Mhc class I functional diversity (Mhc supertypes) on individual fitness in a wild great tit (Parus major) population. We found that the presence of three different Mhc supertypes was associated with three different components of individual fitness: survival, annual recruitment and lifetime reproductive success (LRS). Great tits possessing Mhc supertype 3 experienced higher survival rates than those that did not, whereas individuals with Mhc supertype 6 experienced higher LRS and were more likely to recruit offspring each year. Conversely, great tits that possessed Mhc supertype 5 had reduced LRS. We found no evidence for a selective advantage of Mhc diversity, in terms of either maximal or optimal supertype diversity. Our results support the suggestion that specific Mhc types are an important determinant of individual fitness.     

The effect of pH on the lability of lead and cadmium sorbed on humic acid particles

Abstract

Sorption of lead(II) or cadmium(II) ions on humic acid particles (at pH 3.5) yields surface complexes which are sparingly soluble in the pH 3.55 region. Interaction of these species with acetic acid or dilute nitric acid released ASV labile metal species (mainly hydrated metal ion). When the pH was adjusted between 4 and 7, increasing amounts of the metal humate species (and humic acid substrate) dissolved and low levels of ASV labile species were detected. Overnight interaction with an excess of acetate ions (0.01 M) led to higher lability values (attributed to acetate/humate ligand exchange). The percentage of labile metal ion detected in acetate solutions varied with the amount of metal ion initially sorbed (range 100 to 500 mmol g^?1). With the lower loadings, the ASV labile levels peaked in the pH 6–7 region (at around 12% of total sorbed cadmium, and 4% of total lead). In alkaline solutions, the percentage of labile Cd fell to about half of the peak value, but with Pb, lability values increased at pH > 8, due possibly to the formation of hydroxy complex species. The ASV lability of the Cd and Pb humates, and their 24 hour lability values (determined using a transfer to cation exchanger technique) has been compared with the behaviour of Cu and Zn humates (using similar conditions).     

The effectiveness of post-contact defenses in a prey with no pre-contact detection

Most empirical and theoretical papers on prey–predator interactions are for animals with long-range detection, animals that can detect and react to predators long before these touch the prey. Heavy-bodied and chemically defended harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) are an exception to this general pattern and rely on contact to detect arthropod predators. We examined the interactions between the Brazilian wandering spider Ctenus ornatus with harvestmen (Mischonyx cuspidatus) or control prey (Gryllus sp. and M. cuspidatus immature, both with soft integuments). Considering a prey–predator system in which fleeing from or reacting to a predator at a distance is not possible, we predicted both a high survival value of near-range defense mechanisms and that mortality would be higher in the absence of such defense mechanisms. We also expected the predator to behave differently when interacting with harvestmen or with a control prey without such defense mechanisms. Our results from laboratory experiments partially matched our predictions: First of all, histological sections showed that the integument of adult harvestmen is thicker than that of immature harvestmen and that of crickets. Adult harvestmen were less preyed upon than the control prey; the heavy armature increases the survival rate but the secretions from the scent glands do not. The predator did behave differently when attacking harvestmen compared to crickets. Despite the large size difference between predator and harvestmen, the protection provided by the armature allowed some of the harvestmen to survive encounters without pre-contact detection, thus greatly reducing the reliance on long-range detection to survive encounters with predators. Harvestmen call for theoretical and empirical work on prey–predator interactions that take into account the possibility that prey may not detect the predator before contact is established.     

Determination of nitrite in lake sediments

Abstract

An evaluation of nitrite determination in marine lake sediments has shown that spectrophotometric measurements can be in error due to light scattering by colloidal (<0.2 μm) matter in extract solutions and incomplete nitrite recovery. The scatter error can be minimised by using uncoloured extract in the reference beam but precision at low levels remains poor (RSD 25 to 100%). Recovery tests on ‘spiked’ sediment indicated that optimum retrieval (～85%) occurred with 30 minute mixing with 0.2 M NH₄Cl, using a sediment to extractant ratio of 1:30. To counter this variable, calibration based on standard addition to sample suspensions is recommended. Modified procedure proposed is suitable for measuring up to 10 μg g^?1 of nitrite N; the lake sediments tested contained <100 ng g^?1     

CHANGES IN CLICK SOURCE LEVELS WITH DISTANCE TO TARGETS: STUDIES OF FREE-RANGING WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHINS LAGENORHYNCHUS ALBIROSTRIS AND CAPTIVE HARBOUR PORPOISES PHOCOENA PHOCOENA

ABSTRACT

Probably all odontocetes use echolocation for spatial orientation and detection of prey. We used a four hydrophone “Y” array to record the high frequency clicks from free-ranging White-beaked Dolphins Lagenorhynchus albirostris and captive Harbour Porpoises Phocoena phocoena. From the recordings we calculated distances to the animals and source levels of the clicks. The recordings from White-beaked Dolphins were made in Iceland and those from Harbour Porpoises at Fjord & Baelt, Kerteminde, Denmark during prey capture. We used stringent criteria to determine which clicks could be defined as being on the acoustic axis. Two dolphin and nine porpoise click series could be used to track individual animals, which presumably focused on the array hydrophones or a fish right in front of the array. The apparent source levels of clicks in the individual tracks increased with range. One individual White-beaked Dolphin and three Harbour Porpoises regulate their output signal level to nearly compensate for one-way transmission loss while approaching a target. The other dolphin regulated the output differently. For most of the recordings the sound level at the target remains nearly constant and the echo level at the animal increases as it closes on the target.     

Using pedigree reconstruction to estimate population size: genotypes are more than individually unique marks

Estimates of population size are critical for conservation and management, but accurate estimates are difficult to obtain for many species. Noninvasive genetic methods are increasingly used to estimate population size, particularly in elusive species such as large carnivores, which are difficult to count by most other methods. In most such studies, genotypes are treated simply as unique individual identifiers. Here, we develop a new estimator of population size based on pedigree reconstruction. The estimator accounts for individuals that were directly sampled, individuals that were not sampled but whose genotype could be inferred by pedigree reconstruction, and individuals that were not detected by either of these methods. Monte Carlo simulations show that the population estimate is unbiased and precise if sampling is of sufficient intensity and duration. Simulations also identified sampling conditions that can cause the method to overestimate or underestimate true population size; we present and discuss methods to correct these potential biases. The method detected 2–21% more individuals than were directly sampled across a broad range of simulated sampling schemes. Genotypes are more than unique identifiers, and the information about relationships in a set of genotypes can improve estimates of population size.     

The advantage of laser‐capture microdissection over whole tissue analysis in proteomic profiling studies

Laser‐capture microdissection (LCM) offers a reliable cell population enrichment tool and has been successfully coupled to MS analysis. Despite this, most proteomic studies employ whole tissue lysate (WTL) analysis in the discovery of disease biomarkers and in profiling analyses. Furthermore, the influence of tissue heterogeneity in WTL analysis, nor its impact in biomarker discovery studies have been completely elucidated. In order to address this, we compared previously obtained high resolution MS data from a cohort of 38 breast cancer tissues, of which both LCM enriched tumor epithelial cells and WTL samples were analyzed. Label‐free quantification (LFQ) analysis through MaxQuant software showed a significantly higher number of identified and quantified proteins in LCM enriched samples (3404) compared to WTLs (2837). Furthermore, WTL samples displayed a higher amount of missing data compared to LCM both at peptide and protein levels (p‐value < 0.001). 2D analysis on co‐expressed proteins revealed discrepant expression of immune system and lipid metabolisms related proteins between LCM and WTL samples. We hereby show that LCM better dissected the biology of breast tumor epithelial cells, possibly due to lower interference from surrounding tissues and highly abundant proteins. All data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with the dataset identifier PXD002381 ( http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002381 ).