The effect of canopy filtered light on the growth of white clover Trifolium repens

Summary Plants of white clover (Trifolium repens) were grown under canopies of clover leaves floating on shallow glass tanks of water and their growth was compared with that of plants under canopies of black polythene leaves. The experimental design allowed the growth of the clover plants in canopy filtered light to be compared with that in unfiltered light at different intensities of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (P.A.R.). The effect of canopy filtered light was to exaggerate the effects of reduced P.A.R. especially in promoting petiole extension and inhibiting stolon branching. Two clones of white clover differed in their responses to P.A.R. and to light quality and there were significant interactions between the effects of the intensity of P.A.R. and type of shade. It is argued that it may be important for both ecologists and plant breeders to recognise the role of radiation quality in regulating the dynamics of pasture.     

Differential foraging success across a light level spectrum explains the maintenance and spatial structure of colour morphs in a polymorphic bird

Detectability of different colour morphs under varying light conditions has been proposed as an important driver in the maintenance of colour polymorphism via disruptive selection. To date, no studies have tested whether different morphs have selective advantages under differing light conditions. We tested this hypothesis in the black sparrowhawk, a polymorphic raptor exhibiting a discrete white and dark morph, and found that prey provisioning rates differ between the morphs depending on light condition. Dark morphs delivered more prey in lower light conditions, while white morphs provided more prey in brighter conditions. We found support for the role of breeding season light level in explaining the clinal pattern of variation in morph ratio across the species range throughout South Africa. Our results provide the first empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that polymorphism in a species, and the spatial structuring of morphs across its distribution, may be driven by differential selective advantage via improved crypsis, under varying light conditions.     

Deregulation of PKN1 activity disrupts neurofilament organisation and axonal transport

Neurofilaments are synthesised in neuronal cell bodies and then transported through axons. Damage to neurofilament transport is seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that PKN1, a neurofilament head-rod domain kinase is cleaved and activated in SOD1G93A transgenic mice that are a model of ALS. Moreover, we demonstrate that glutamate, a proposed toxic mechanism in ALS leads to caspase cleavage and disruption of PKN1 in neurons. Finally, we demonstrate that a cleaved form of PKN1 but not wild-type PKN1 disrupts neurofilament organisation and axonal transport. Thus, deregulation of PKN1 may contribute to the pathogenic process in ALS.     

Sparse networks of directly coupled,polymorphic, and functional side chains in allosteric proteins

Recent studies have highlighted the role of coupled side‐chain fluctuations alone in the allosteric behavior of proteins. Moreover, examination of X‐ray crystallography data has recently revealed new information about the prevalence of alternate side‐chain conformations (conformational polymorphism), and attempts have been made to uncover the hidden alternate conformations from X‐ray data. Hence, new computational approaches are required that consider the polymorphic nature of the side chains, and incorporate the effects of this phenomenon in the study of information transmission and functional interactions of residues in a molecule. These studies can provide a more accurate understanding of the allosteric behavior. In this article, we first present a novel approach to generate an ensemble of conformations and an efficient computational method to extract direct couplings of side chains in allosteric proteins, and provide sparse network representations of the couplings. We take the side‐chain conformational polymorphism into account, and show that by studying the intrinsic dynamics of an inactive structure, we are able to construct a network of functionally crucial residues. Second, we show that the proposed method is capable of providing a magnified view of the coupled and conformationally polymorphic residues. This model reveals couplings between the alternate conformations of a coupled residue pair. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first computational method for extracting networks of side chains' alternate conformations. Such networks help in providing a detailed image of side‐chain dynamics in functionally important and conformationally polymorphic sites, such as binding and/or allosteric sites. Proteins 2015; 83:497–516. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Flight behaviour of vegetable pests and their natural enemies under different ultraviolet‐blocking enclosures

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly in the UV‐A + B range (280–400 nm) is a fraction of the solar spectrum that regulates almost every aspect of insect behaviour, including orientation towards hosts, alighting, arrestment and feeding behaviour. To study the role of UV radiation on the flight activity of five insect species of agricultural importance (pests Myzus persicae, Bemisia tabaci and Tuta absoluta, and natural enemies Aphidius colemani and Sphaerophoria rueppellii), one‐chamber tunnels were covered with six cladding materials with different light transmittance properties ranging from 2% to 83% UV and 54% to 85% photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Inside each tunnel, insects were released from tubes placed in a platform suspended from the ceiling. Specific targets varying with insect species were placed at different distances from the platform. Evaluation parameters were designed for each insect and tested separately. The ability of insects to leave the platform was assessed, as well as the number of captures, eggs or mummies in each target, either sticky traps or plants. Our results suggest differences in flight activity among insect species and UV‐blocking nets. The UV‐opaque film drastically prevented aphids, and whiteflies from flying outside the tubes whereas T. absoluta, syrphids and parasitoids were not affected. Aphid flight behaviour was affected by the UV‐opaque film compared to the other nets, especially in the furthest target of the tunnel. Fewer aphids reached distant traps under UV‐absorbing nets, and significantly more aphids could fly to the end of tunnels covered with non‐UV‐blocking materials. Orientation of B. tabaci and T. absoluta was also negatively affected by the UV‐opaque film although in a different trend. Unlike aphids, differences in B. tabaci captures were mainly found in the closest targets. UV transmittance did not have any effects on parasitoids, and S. rueppellii, implying cues other than visual for these insects under our experimental conditions. Further effects of photoselective enclosures on greenhouse pests and their natural enemies are discussed.     

两种吸血水蛭对光闪烁和水扰动刺激的反应

利用自制的控温实验槽在暗室内进行医蛭科两种吸血水蛭对光闪烁和水扰动刺激的模拟个体生态实验,实验结果的统计分析表明,日本医蛭在１６℃时与照度有极好的正相关关系,而在２２℃时成负相关关系,０．２克体重的个体在两种温度对照度的敏感度均大于０．５－０．６克和１．０－１．３克体重的个体,湖北牛蛭在两种温度时与照度均成正相关关系;０．５克体重的个体在１６℃时对照度的敏感度大于１．０－３．３克体重的个体９．５－     

Expression of ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase in dark-grown pine seedlings

Pine seedlings are able to accumulate chlorophylls and develop green plastids in a light-independent manner. In this work, we have characterized ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.7.1; Fd-GOGAT), a key enzyme in nitrogen interconversion during this process. Fd-GOGAT has been purified about 170-fold from cotyledons of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster). As occurs in angiosperms, the native enzyme is a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 163–168 kDa that is confined to the chloroplast stroma. Polyclonal antibodies generated against the purified enzyme were used to immunoscreen a gt11 expression library from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings and partial cDNA clones were isolated and characterized. The clone with the longest cDNA insert (pGOP44) contained the codification for the C-terminal (550 amino acids) of the pine Fd-GOGAT polypeptide. Immunological cross-reactivity and comparative amino sequence analysis revealed that Fd-GOGAT is a well conserved protein in higher plants. Western blot analyses showed that protein was expressed in chloroplast-containing pine tissues and this expression pattern was not affected by exogenously supplied nitrogen. Fd-GOGAT mRNA, polypeptide and enzyme activity accumulated in substantial amounts in dark-grown pine seedlings. The presence of a functional Fd-GOGAT may be important to provide the required glutamate for the biosynthesis of nitrogen compounds during chloroplast biogenesis in the dark.     

Phytochrome-mediated phototropism in maize seedling shoots

Unilateral irradiation with red light (R) or blue light (BL) elicits positive curvature of the mesocotyl of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings raised under R for 2 d from sowing and kept in the dark for 1 d prior to curvature induction. The fluenceresponse curve for R-induced mesocotyl curvature, obtained by measuring curvature 100 min after phototropic induction, shows peaks in two fluence ranges, designated first positive range (from the threshold to the trough), and second positive range (above the trough). The fluence-response curve for BL is similar to that for R but shifted two orders of magnitude to higher fluences. Blue light elicits the classical first positive curvature of the coleoptile, whereas this response is not found with R. Positive mesocotyl curvature induced by either R or BL is eliminated by R given from above just before the unilateral irradiation, whereas BL-induced coleoptile curvature is not eliminated. The above results collectively offer evidence that phototropic curvature of the mesocotyl is induced by R-sensitive photosystem(s). Mesocotyl curvature in the second positive range is reduced by vertical far-red light (FR) applied after phototropic induction with R, but is not affected by FR applied before R. Unilateral irradiation with FR following vertical irradiation with a high R fluence leads to negative curvature of the mesocotyl. It is concluded that mesocotyl curvature in the second positive range results from a gradient in the amount of the FR-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr) established across the plant axis. Mesocotyl curvature in the first positive range is inhibited by vertical FR given either before or after phototropic induction with R. Since the FR used here is likely to produce more Pfr than the very low fluences of R eliciting the mesocotyl curvature in the first positive range, it is assumed that FR reduces the response in this case by adding Pfr at both sides of the plant axis. By rotating seedlings on a clinostat with its axis horizontal, the kinetics of mesocotyl curvature can be studied in the absence of a counteracting gravitropic response. On the clinostat, the R-induced mesocotyl curvature develops after a lag, through two successive phases having different curvature rates, the late phase is slower than the early phase. Negative curvature of the coleoptile can be induced by either R or BL; the BL-induced negative curvature is found at fluences higher than those giving positive curvature. The clinostat experiments show that the negative coleoptile curvature induced by either R or BL is a gravitropic compensation for positive mesocotyl curvature.Abbreviations BL blue light - FR far-red light - Pfr phytochrome in the far-red-absorbing form - Pr phytochrome in the red-absorbing form - R red light C.I.W.-D.P.B. Publication No. 824