Reassessing Neotropical angiosperm distribution patterns based on monographic data: a geometric interpolation approach

Monographic data rely on specimens deposited in herbaria and museums, which have been thoroughly revised by experts. However, monographic data have been rarely used to map species richness at large scale, mainly because of the difficulties caused by spatially heterogeneous sampling effort. In this paper we estimate patterns of species richness and narrow endemism, based on monographic data of 4,055 Neotropical angiosperm species. We propose a geometric interpolation method to derive species ranges at a 1° grid resolution. To this we apply an inverse distance-weighted summation scheme to derive maps of species richness and endemism. In the latter we also adjust for heterogeneous sampling effort. Finally, we test the robustness of the interpolated species ranges and derived species richness by applying the same method but using a leave-one-out-cross-validation (LOOCV). The derived map shows four distinct regions of elevated species richness: (1) Central America, (2) the Northern Andes, (3) Amazonia and (4) the Brazilian Atlantic coast (‘Mata Atlantica’). The region with the highest estimated species richness is Amazonia, with Central America following closely behind. Centers of narrow endemism are located over the entire Neotropics, several of them coinciding with regions of elevated species richness. Sampling effort has a minor influence on the interpolation of overall species richness, but it substantially influences the estimation of regions of narrow endemism. Thus, in order to improve maps of narrow endemism and resulting conservation efforts, more collection and identification activity is required.     

Immunogenic and antigenic epitopes of Ig. XXV. Monoclonal antibodies that differentiate the Mcg+/Mcg- and Oz+/Oz- C region isotypes of human lambda L chains

The C region of human lambda L chains is specified by multiple C lambda genes of which three--C lambda 1, C lambda 2, and C lambda 3--encode for the isotypes designated Mcg+, Kern- Oz-, and Kern- Oz+, respectively. The Mcg, Kern, and Oz factors have been characterized by sequence differences involving specific C lambda amino acid residues. They have also been recognized serologically by polyclonal antisera but, with rare exception, these reagents are no longer available. We have obtained two murine anti-human lambda-chain mAb, 14G1 and 14D1, that recognize antigenic determinants specific for the C lambda isotypes Mcg and Oz, respectively. These antisera have been used to classify as Mcg+/Mcg- or Oz+/Oz- monoclonal lambda-chains (Bence Jones proteins) and intact Ig lambda proteins. There was complete concordance between the chemical and serologic assignment of lambda-chains as Mcg+/Mcg- or as Oz+/Oz-; no single protein expressed both isotypes. There was no evident association between the C region isotype Mcg or Oz and the V region subgroup of the protein tested. However, our finding that four of seven amyloid-associated lambda VI Bence Jones proteins were Oz+ suggests a predominant expression of the C lambda 3 gene product among proteins of this uncommon V lambda subgroup.     

Expression of the core antigen gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Acetobacter methanolicus using broad-host-range vectors

Summary Using the broad-host-range promoter probe vector pRS201 for cloning of phage Acm1 promoters, we established a convenient vector system for expression of heterologous genes in different Gram-negative bacteria. The usefulness of this system was demonstrated by expression of the HBV core gene in Acetobacter methanolicus. Plasmids carrying the HBV core gene downstream of different Acm1-phage promoters were transferred to A. methanolicus, a new potential host for recombinant DNA expression. Using enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot techniques, the amount and composition of core antigen produced in A. methanolicus were compared with that derived from Escherichia coli. The expression of immunoreactive core antigen in A. methanolicus exceeds by sevenfold that in E. coli using an expression system with tandemly arranged promoters. Morphological observations by electron microscopy show that the HBV core gene products isolated from both hosts are assembled into regular spherical particles with a diameter of about 28 nm that are comparable to original viral nucleocapsids. Offprint requests to: R. Schröder     

Transfer and Expression of Lithoautotrophy and Denitrification in a Host Lacking These Metabolic Activities

The conjugative 450-kilobase-pair megaplasmid pHG1 from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 was transferred to the herbicide-degrading soil bacterium A. eutrophus JMP134. This transfer was achieved by means of RP4 mobilization and a Tn5-Mob insertion provided in trans on the megaplasmid replicon. Although kanamycin-resistant transconjugants also occurred with other gram-negative species such as Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, and thiobacteria, A. eutrophus JMP134 was the only recipient which stably maintained the megaplasmid. pHG1-containing transconjugants derived from JMP134 expressed all metabolic functions associated with the plasmid: the ability to oxidize hydrogen through catalysis of two hydrogenases, to assimilate carbon dioxide via the Calvin cycle pathway, and to grow with nitrate anaerobically. All of these metabolic activities were absent in the original strain JMP134.     

Development of flower buds in thin-layer cultures of floral stalk tissue from tobacco: Role of hormones in different stages

The in vitro development of flower buds was studied on tissue explants of epidermis and subepidermal cortex from the flower stalks of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun. The number of flower buds formed depended mainly on cytokinin concentration. Auxin acted as a modifier in a complex way. In early development, NAA at 1 μ M decreased the number of buds initiated and delayed bud emergence. At a later stage, auxin promoted bud outgrowth at the same concentration. Optimal results were obtained when explants were first incubated at low auxin concentration for 3–5 days and subsequently transferred to an elevated auxin level. Physiological processes that lead to flower bud initiation start very soon after the onset of incubation. This was inferred from experiments whereby explants were first cultured at an inductive cytokinin concentration and then transferred to a non-inductive hormone level.     

Electron microscopic observations on isolated mitochondrial membranes,prepared by various histological methods

Summary The pictures of isolated mitochondrial membranes, as seen on the electron-microscope, depend very much on the method of specimen preparation. Subunits of linear dimensions of about 25 m, (electron transport particles) are observed in carbon-replicas of the membranes and in specimens treated with trypsin or pepsin (0.02% for 30 mins) and shadowed with platinum. A three-layered structure of the unit membrane is seen in sections of specimens fixed with osmium tetroxide or formalin followed by post-fixation with osmium tetroxide. But fixation with potassium permanganate or with formalin, followed by post-fixation with potassium permanganate reveals an electron-dense globular structural element in the unit membrane. An electron-transparent ultrastructural element of the unit membrane is observed after treatment with trypsin (0.2% for 5 mins) and fixation with osmium tetroxide. Unsectioned specimens treated with 0.02% trypsin for 30 mins show a honeycomb-like structure of the membrane. Thus, part of the results appear to support the concept of a mosaic-like structure of the unit membrane, whereas other results are in agreement with the classical concept of a three-layered structure.The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Sina Rosenthal, Department of Physiological Chemistry, Humboldt University, Berlin, who prepared the isolated membranes, to Mr. E. Fischer, Head Technician of the Department of Electron Microscopy, Greifswald University, who took most of the electron micrographs, to Mr. G. Bartsch, Department of Electron Microscopy, Greifswald University, and especially to Prof. W. Bargmann and to Doz. E. Lindner, Department of Anatomy, Kiel University, for many valuable suggestions.     

The Molecular Weight and Aggregation of DNA

The effects of enzymatic attack and of shear during the isolation and deproteinization of DNA have been investigated. Different methods of disaggregating DNA have been studied, and conditions under which reaggregation can occur are discussed. It was found that shaking with chloroform-octanol does not degrade DNA from the seven sources studied; that light scattering yields valid weight-average molecular weights for these samples; and that, when disaggregated, the molecular weights of these samples are in the range 1.2-2.4 million and the length-to-mass ratios are high.     

Untersuchungen zur Trinkwasservaccination gegen Newcastle Disease beim Birkwild (Lyrurus tetrix L., 1758)

European Journal of Wildlife Research - Bei 30 Birkhühnern wurde nach kontrolliert durchgeführter Trinkwasservaccination gegen Newcastle Disease (ND) (Erstimpfung mit Hitchner B1,...