Adaptive radiation in extremophilic Dorvilleidae (Annelida): diversification of a single colonizer or multiple independent lineages?

Metazoan inhabitants of extreme environments typically evolved from forms found in less extreme habitats. Understanding the prevalence with which animals move into and ultimately thrive in extreme environments is critical to elucidating how complex life adapts to extreme conditions. Methane seep sediments along the Oregon and California margins have low oxygen and very high hydrogen sulfide levels, rendering them inhospitable to many life forms. Nonetheless, several closely related lineages of dorvilleid annelids, including members of Ophryotrocha, Parougia, and Exallopus, thrive at these sites in association with bacterial mats and vesicomyid clam beds. These organisms are ideal for examining adaptive radiations in extreme environments. Did dorvilleid annelids invade these extreme environments once and then diversify? Alternatively, did multiple independent lineages adapt to seep conditions? To address these questions, we examined the evolutionary history of methane-seep dorvilleids using 16S and Cyt b genes in an ecological context. Our results indicate that dorvilleids invaded these extreme habitats at least four times, implying preadaptation to life at seeps. Additionally, we recovered considerably more dorvilleid diversity than is currently recognized. A total of 3 major clades (designated “Ophryotrocha,” “Mixed Genera” and “Parougia”) and 12 terminal lineages or species were encountered. Two of these lineages represented a known species, Parougia oregonensis, whereas the remaining 10 lineages were newly discovered species. Certain lineages exhibited affinity to geography, habitat, sediment depth, and/or diet, suggesting that dorvilleids at methane seeps radiated via specialization and resource partitioning.     

Comparison of Barley Response to Short-Term Cold or Dehydration

Abscisic acid (ABA) content and relative water content (RWC) in second fully expanded leaves of cold hardened plants and in dehydrated leaves of freezing tolerant barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Lunet) were compared. ABA content and RWC in leaves did not change during the first day of cold hardening. On the contrary, dehydration of leaves led to a decrease of RWC and to an increase of ABA content.     

植物冷害机理及冷驯化的生理与分子学基础

介绍了近几年来植物冷害机理、冷驯化提高植物抗冷性的生理与分子生物学基础及冷信号转导的最新研究进展.     

Use of a μ-antisense oligodeoxynucleotide as a μ opioid receptor noncompetitive antagonist in vivo

We examined whether μ-antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide (oligo) treatment can be used in a manner similar to the μ-selective irreversible antagonist β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA) for in vivo pharmacology. Rats were injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) with a μ-AS or a missense (MS) oligo on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 and were tested for the antinociceptive effect of sc injection of morphine on days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 in the cold water tail-flick (CWT) test. In another set of experiments, rats were also tested for the antinociceptive action of morphine twenty-four hours after icv injection of β-FNA. Both β-FNA and μ-AS produced rightward shifts in the dose-effect curves of morphine. In addition, pretreatment with 2.5 μg or more of β-FNA or the μ-AS oligo for 5–9 days (but not for 1–3 days) reduced the maximal analgesic effect of morphine. The approximate fraction of functional receptor remaining for morphine was determined with the method of Furchgott to be 49.5% following 2.5 μg of β-FNA; that after 5 days of the μ-AS oligo treatment was 50.8%. The results suggest that the μ-AS oligo can be used in the same manner as highly selective, irreversible μ opioid receptor ligands. Thus, properly designed AS oligos against receptors are of particular benefit when irreversible antagonists are not available. AS oligos represent a new class of selective and powerful pharmacological antagonists. Special issue dedicated to Dr. Eric J. Simon.     

Morphological and physiological changes in roots of various wheat genotypes as related to cytoskeleton disruption

A depolymerizing effect of anti-microtubule drug oryzalin on the roots of three winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars contrasting in their frost-resistance was studied. The influence of plant cold acclimation (3°C, 7 days) and ABA treatment (30 μM) on oryzalin action was evaluated. Plant growing in the presence of 10 μM oryzalin under optimum temperature of 23°C resulted in the root-length decrease by 19–24% and root-apex swelling. All cells, especially in the root cortex, changed their radial dimensions. The cells acquired a rounded or irregular shape and increased in size. This indicates the loss of correct cell growth polarity. Most pronounced changes in the root apex diameter and most severe linear growth suppression were observed in the cultivar of moderate frost-resistance. The roots of this cultivar contained the highest amounts of actin and tubulins, as was evident from the immunoblot analysis. The effect of oryzalin on root growth and apex swelling was correlated with the content of actin in the roots of different wheat cultivars. Cold acclimation and exogenous ABA reduced (or prevented) oryzalin action on roots in a cultivar-specific manner. The conclusion was made that the bulk of the cytoskeletal net determined the efficiency of the cytoskeletal control of plant growth and morphogenesis. During autumn and winter periods, this is important for a better adaptation to temperature fluctuations of moderately frost-resistant plants, which are characterized by a high ecological plasticity.     

Expression of stress proteins of HSP70 family in response to cold in Myrmica ants from various geographic populations

Expression of HSP70 is induced by stress factors, including sublethal chilling. However, the role of HSP70 for overcoming the consequences of cold stress is not clear. If it is positive, the level of HSP70 expression might be higher in populations from cold climates. Using the immunoblotting technique we investigated dynamics of HSP70 expression in response to cold stress in two Myrmica species (M. rubra and M. ruginodis) from three localities of different latitudes (50, 60 and 67°N). The results showed that in the more thermophilic species Myrmica rubra, expression of HSP70 after cold stress was higher. Within both species, HSP70 expression did not show a direct relationship with latitude. The southernmost population of M. rubra and northernmost population of M. ruginodis displayed the fastest and the most intense response. However, two other populations of M. rubra were similar in timing and intensity of the response, while in M. ruginodis the intermediate population showed the slowest and weakest response. The data suggest that expression of HSP70 may play essential role for adaptation to cold only in the northernmost population of M. ruginodis     

The theater management model of plant memory

The existence of a memory in plants raises several fundamental questions. What might be the function of a plant memory? How might it work? Which molecular mechanisms might be responsible? Here, we sketch out the landscape of plant memory with particular reference to the concepts of functioning-dependent structures and competitive coherence. We illustrate how these concepts might be relevant with reference to the metaphor of a traveling, avant-garde theater company and we suggest how using a program that simulates competitive coherence might help answer some of the questions about plant memory.