Fine structure of ocelli in larvae of an archiannelid,Polygordius cf. appendiculatus

Summary The ocelli of trochophore and segmented larvae of the archiannelid Polygordius cf. appendiculatus were studied by electron microscopy. An eye consists of two pigmented supportive cells forming an eyecup that encloses one sensory cell bearing one (trochophore) or two (segmented larva) ranks of microvilli and one adventitious cilium. Remarkably abundant tubules (submicrovillar endoplasmic reticulum) radiate from the perinuclear region of the sensory cell, which lies outside the ocellus, toward its receptoral end. Possible functions of the tubules are proposed: carriers of ions, metabolites and photopigments; pinocytic uptake of products resulting from photoreception; storage of membrane; and light guides. Finally, the eyes of Polygordius larvae are believed to have evolutionary significance and provide further support for Eakin's theory of diphyletic origin of photoreceptors.     

High genetic diversity is not essential for successful introduction

Some introduced populations thrive and evolve despite the presumed loss of diversity at introduction. We aimed to quantify the amount of genetic diversity retained at introduction in species that have shown evidence of adaptation to their introduced environments. Samples were taken from native and introduced ranges of Arctotheca populifolia and Petrorhagia nanteuilii. Using microsatellite data, we identified the source for each introduction, estimated genetic diversity in native and introduced populations, and calculated the amount of diversity retained in introduced populations. These values were compared to those from a literature review of diversity in native, confamilial populations and to estimates of genetic diversity retained at introduction. Gene diversity in the native range of both species was significantly lower than for confamilials. We found that, on average, introduced populations showing evidence of adaptation to their new environments retained 81% of the genetic diversity from the native range. Introduced populations of P. nanteuilii had higher genetic diversity than found in the native source populations, whereas introduced populations of A. populifolia retained only 14% of its native diversity in one introduction and 1% in another. Our literature review has shown that most introductions demonstrating adaptive ability have lost diversity upon introduction. The two species studied here had exceptionally low native range genetic diversity. Further, the two introductions of A. populifolia represent the largest percentage loss of genetic diversity in a species showing evidence of substantial morphological change in the introduced range. While high genetic diversity may increase the likelihood of invasion success, the species examined here adapted to their new environments with very little neutral genetic diversity. This finding suggests that even introductions founded by small numbers of individuals have the potential to become invasive.     

Synthesis and receptor binding analysis of thirteen oligomeric alpha-MSH analogs

Thirteen oligomeric analogs from dimers up to a hexamer of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) were synthesized and tested on melanoma cells for their ability to bind to melanocortin type 1 (MC1) receptors and to stimulate melanin production in the cells. The peptidic oligomers were made by linking several copies of the alpha-MSH fragment analog Nle-Asp-His-[D-Phe]-Arg-Trp-Lys-NH2 to different templates through formation of oxime bonds. They were found to have binding affinities at 37 degrees C up to 8 times higher and melanogenesis-inducing activities up to 4 times higher than those of the native hormone. At 15 degrees C, one dimer showed a binding affinity 20 times higher than that of alpha-MSH. These results are discussed in terms of possible bridging of neighboring receptors which has been suggested to occur in some other systems.     

Expression and localization of PMCA4 in rat testis and epididymis

It has recently been shown in mice that the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase isoform 4 (PMCA4) is essential for sperm fertilization capacity. We analyzed whether sperm PMCA4 is formed in the rat during spermatogenesis or is synthesized in the epididymis and transferred onto sperm during sperm maturation. We could show that PMCA4 is conserved in sperm from testis to epididymis. In testis, PMCA4 mRNA was restricted to spermatogonia and early spermatocytes, while the PMCA4 protein was detected in spermatogonia, late spermatocytes, spermatids and in epididymal sperm. In epididymis PMCA4 mRNA was localized in basolateral plasma membranes of epithelial cells of the caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis. In contrast, the protein was only detectable in the epithelial cells of the caput, indicating that PMCA4 mRNA is only translated into protein in caput epithelium. In the epididymal corpus and cauda, PMCA4 mRNA and protein, respectively, was localized and in peritubular cells. Furthermore, we detected an identical distribution of PMCA4a and b splice variants in rat testis, epididymal corpus and cauda. In the caput epididymidis, where PMCA4 is located in the epithelium splice variant 4b was more prominent. Further experiments have to clarify the functional importance of the differences in the PMCA4 distribution.     

Fine structure of eyespots in tornarian larvae (Phylum: Hemichordata)

Summary The eyespots of tornariae of enteropneusts (Ptychodera flava from Hawaiian waters and an unknown species from southern California) were studied by electron microscopy. An ocellus is composed of two types of cells: sensory and supportive. The former is characterized by a bulbous cilium (with 9+2 axoneme) at its distal end, one or sometimes two arrays of microvilli from its sides below the cilium, and a basal axon. The latter features large, clear vesicles which presumably contained the reddish-orange pigment seen in the ocellus of a living larva. Five-day old tornariae of P. flava are positively phototactic. Both cilium and microvilli may function as photoreceptors. The tornarian ocellus studied is compared with eyespots of other invertebrates, and the evolutionary significance of its putative photoreceptors is discussed.We acknowledge the kind assistance of Drs. Michael G. Hadfield, University of Hawaii, and Russel L. Zimmer, Santa Catalina Marine Biological Laboratory, and the support of grant 10292 from the USPHS.     

Gratuitous induction

We describe a novel mode of SOS induction, called gratuitous indirect induction, which is elicited when the maintenance of an intact λminiF introduced into a recipient was inhibited by a resident plasmid or by mutations in miniF that impaired partition or replication. Gratuitous induction required the presence of the lynA locus on miniF and was dependent on the host recA and lexA alleles. To account for gratuitous induction, we postulate that impairment of the normal co-regulation between partition and replication of miniF affects lynA functions whose disturbance leads to the production of an SOS signal.