A partial map of the barley genome incorporating restriction fragment length polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction, isozyme, and morphological marker loci

Nine low copy number genomic DNA clones, a ribosomal sequence, and seven cDNA clones were found to identify polymorphisms in cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). An F2 population consisting of 100 plants was produced from a cross between a high-yielding two-rowed feed barley cultivar and a genetic marker stock homozygous for nine recessive and one dominant morphological marker genes. Through the use of these 10 well-distributed marker genes, five previously mapped isozyme loci, and two storage-protein loci, the approximate recombinational location for each of 17 restriction fragment length polymorphism loci was estimated. One clone, pMSU21, identified variation that appeared to be the result of a small insertion-deletion event that differentiated two-rowed and six-rowed genotypes. This difference was characterized, and one allele was sequenced. Oligonucleotide primers that flanked the insertion-deletion event were synthesized, and DNA samples from the F2 population were subjected to polymerase chain reaction sequence amplification. The variation identified by this technique was determined to be allelic to the variation identified using pMSU21 in Southern blot analysis. Maps of previously undescribed informative clones are included.     

IL-17E, a novel proinflammatory ligand for the IL-17 receptor homolog IL-17Rh1

We report identification of interleukin (IL)-17E, a novel member of the IL-17 family of cytokines. IL-17E is a ligand for the recently identified protein termed EVI27/IL-17BR, which we term IL-17 receptor homolog 1 (IL-17Rh1) in light of the multiple reported ligand-receptor relationships. Murine EVI27 was identified through its location at a common site of retroviral integration in BXH2 murine myeloid leukemias. IL-17Rh1 shows highest level expression in kidney with moderate expression in multiple other organs, whereas IL-17E mRNA was detected at very low levels in several peripheral tissues. IL-17E induces activation of NF-kappaB and stimulates production of the proinflammatory chemokine IL-8.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel conus peptide with apparent antinociceptive activity

Cone snails are tropical marine mollusks that envenomate prey with a complex mixture of neuropharmacologically active compounds. We report the discovery and biochemical characterization of a structurally unique peptide isolated from the venom of Conus marmoreus. The new peptide, mr10a, potently increased withdrawal latency in a hot plate assay (a test of analgesia) at intrathecal doses that do not produce motor impairment as measured by rotarod test. The sequence of mr10a is NGVCCGYKLCHOC, where O is 4-trans-hydroxyproline. This sequence is highly divergent from all other known conotoxins. Analysis of a cDNA clone encoding the toxin, however, indicates that it is a member of the recently described T-superfamily. Total chemical synthesis of the three possible disulfide arrangements of mr10a was achieved, and elution studies indicate that the native form has a disulfide connectivity of Cys1-Cys4 and Cys2-Cys3. This disulfide linkage is unprecedented among conotoxins and defines a new family of Conus peptides.     

The spasmodic peptide defines a new conotoxin superfamily

We purified and characterized a peptide from the venom of Conus textile that makes normal mice assume the phenotype of a well-known mutant, the spasmodic mouse. This "spasmodic" peptide has 27 amino acids, including two gamma-carboxyglutamate (Gla) residues. A cDNA clone encoding the precursor for the peptide was identified; a gamma-carboxylation recognition signal sequence (gamma-CRS) is present in the -1 --> -20 region of the peptide precursor. Both the gamma-CRS and the position of the Gla residues in the mature toxin are notably different from other Gla-containing conopeptides. The spasmodic peptide has a novel disulfide framework and distinct signal sequence which together define a new P-superfamily of conopeptides. A cDNA encoding another member of the P-superfamily was identified from a different species, Conus gloriamaris.     

Diet composition,feed preferences and mouth morphology of early stage silver therapon (Leiopotherapon plumbeus,Kner 1864) larvae reared in outdoor tanks

This study examined the diet composition, feeding preferences, and mouth morphology of the silver therapon (Leiopotherapon plumbeus, Kner 1864) larvae under captive conditions. Larvae were reared in outdoor tanks (4 m³) with natural food grown 2 weeks prior to start of larval rearing. Food preference was measured by the Chesson's electivity index (α_i). Gut content analysis of larvae sampled between 5 and 25 days after hatching (DAH) showed the dominance in the diet by zooplankton, mainly copepod nauplii, cladocerans and insect larvae. Small fish larvae (5–9 DAH; 3.32–6.29 mm standard length) preferred cladocerans, ciliates and copepod nauplii; whereas older larvae (12–25 DAH; 5.45–19.26 mm standard length) preferred insect larvae over cladocerans and adult insects. The mouth gape size at 5 DAH was 359 μm and increased to 3.75 mm at 40 DAH when body size grew at an average rate of 0.59 mm d^?1. The standard length (SL) of L. plumbeus larvae was strongly associated with mouth size (r² = 0.98, P < 0.05), indicating a progressive increase of ingested prey size of the fish larvae. These results clarified the early life feeding ecology of this species, which is essential in developing effective hatchery techniques.     

Failure of catecholamines to shift T-cell cytokine responses toward a Th2 profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To further understand the role of neuro-immunological interactions in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied the influence of sympathetic neurotransmitters on cytokine production of T cells in patients with RA. T cells were isolated from peripheral blood of RA patients or healthy donors (HDs), and stimulated via CD3 and CD28. Co-incubation was carried out with epinephrine or norepinephrine in concentrations ranging from 10(-5) M to 10(-11) M. Interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10 were determined in the culture supernatant with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, IFN-gamma and IL-10 were evaluated with intracellular cytokine staining. Furthermore, basal and agonist-induced cAMP levels and catecholamine-induced apoptosis of T cells were measured. Catecholamines inhibited the synthesis of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 at a concentration of 10(-5) M. In addition, IFN-gamma release was suppressed by 10(-7) M epinephrine. Lower catecholamine concentrations exerted no significant effect. A reduced IL-4 production upon co-incubation with 10(-5) M epinephrine was observed in RA patients only. The inhibitory effect of catecholamines on IFN-gamma production was lower in RA patients as compared with HDs. In RA patients, a catecholamine-induced shift toward a Th2 (type 2) polarised cytokine profile was abrogated. Evaluation of intracellular cytokines revealed that CD8-positive T cells were accountable for the impaired catecholaminergic control of IFN-gamma production. The highly significant negative correlation between age and catecholamine effects in HDs was not found in RA patients. Basal and stimulated cAMP levels in T-cell subsets and catecholamine-induced apoptosis did not differ between RA patients and HDs. RA patients demonstrate an impaired inhibitory effect of catecholamines on IFN-gamma production together with a failure to induce a shift of T-cell cytokine responses toward a Th2-like profile. Such an unfavorable situation is a perpetuating factor for inflammation.     

Changes in reproductive behavior in adult damselfly Calopteryx splendens (Odonata: Calopterygidae) in response to flood

The reproductive behavior of adult Calopteryx splendens males and females inhabiting the Nida River, south Poland, was studied and compared during a pre‐flood and a post‐flood year. The flood disturbance in 2010 caused a decrease in aquatic macrophytes, thus reducing availability of potential territories and consequently, significantly influencing male behavior towards a frequent non‐territorial strategy. Many males in the post‐flood population had damaged wings due to extremely aggressive contests. Male–male tandems were commonly observed; this is an uncommon behavior in C. splendens. Although the sex ratio was male‐biased throughout the whole study, we observed more males in the post‐flood year. We also observed less‐frequent copulations and ovipositions during the post‐flood year. The only unchanged characteristic was population density, which did not differ before and after the flood disturbance. Floods have significant impact on damselfly reproductive sites and this, due to changes in behavior and sex ratio, may result in further consequences on population dynamics.     

Effect of neighbour visibility on nest attendance patterns of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in loose colonies

To assess the benefits of nesting at a site hidden from neighbours in a loosely colonial species, the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, we carried out two field experiments, obstruction removal and mirror placement, both replicating a situation in which a nest is made visible from another nest. Under manipulated conditions in both experiments, females increased the length of time they stayed at their nests during the egg‐laying and late incubation stages, while males extended their duration of stay during the egg‐laying and early nestling stages in mirror placement experiments only. The results suggest that Barn Swallows conceal their nests to reduce fitness costs imposed by neighbours nesting in view and that hiding the nest can reduce the amount of time spent guarding the nest during certain stages of the breeding period.