Cladistic analysis of the subfamilies within the Tubificidae (Oligochaeta)

A hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships within the family Tubificidae is presented, based on a Wagner analysis of morphological characters in the different subfamilies. Two major lincages are recognized. One, including the subfamilies Tubificinae, Telmatodrilinae and Limnodriloidinae, is supported by a synapomorphic ability to form slender spermatozeugmata in the spermathecae; the other, including Rhyacodrilinae (paraphyletic), Phallodrilinae, and the (present family) Naididae, is supported by two synapomorphics, the possession of modified penial setae and numerous coelomocytes (the latter secondarily lost in the Phallodrilinae). Some implications for the classification of the Tubificidae are discussed.     

The effects of promoter on transient expression in conifer cell lines

Summary Protoplasts from suspension cultures of somatic embryos of white spruce (Picea glauca Moench Voss) were electroporated with plasmids containing the chimeric genes for chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) or -glucuronidase (GUS), under control of one of three promoters. Transient CAT gene expression of approximately equal magnitude resulted when the CAT gene was fused to either the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter or the nopaline synthase (NOS) promoter. When the CAT gene was fused to a tandem repeat CaMV 35S promoter (pPBI-363), CAT enzyme activity compared to NOS or 35S promoters increased up to eightfold (cell line WS-34), and were up to 100-fold greater than control (electroporated without plasmid). Comparatively, protoplasts of black spruce (Picea mariana Mill) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), electroporated with pPBI-363, produced increases in CAT activity compared to control of 90-fold and 70-fold, respectively. White spruce (WS-34) protoplasts were subsequently electroporated with the GUS gene fused to the tandem repeat CaMV 35S promoter. Comparatively, GUS enzyme activity increased up to tenfold compared to GUS fused to a CaMV 35S promoter. The results indicated that transient expression of the CAT and GUS genes was influenced by the type of promoter and cell line used, as well as by electroporation conditions.NRCC No. 30498     

Taxonomic Studies of Phallodrilinae (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae) from the Great Barrier Reef and the Comoro Islands with Descriptions of Ten New Species and One New Genus

A taxonomic and morphological account of a collection of Phallodrilinae from coralline sands at Heron Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef is given. Ten new forms are described: Jamiesoniella athecata gen. et sp.n. Phallodrilus rectisetosus heronensis subsp.n. P. geniculatus sp.n. P. filithecatus sp.n. P. clavatus sp.n. (latter three all devoid of an alimentary canal), Bathydrilus superiovasatus sp.n. Coralliodrilus atriobifidus sp.n. C. oviatriatus sp.n. C. parvigenitalis sp.n. and the gutless C. avisceralis sp.n. Morphological notes are given for Phallodrilus albidus Jamieson, 1977 and Bathydrilus rohdei (Jamieson, 1977). The new meiobenthic genus Jamiesoniella is characterized by having simple atria with only one pair of prostate glands, which are attached to ectal parts of atria, and by lacking spermathecae and penial setae, The genus is probably related to Aktedrilus Knöllner and Bacescuella Hrabě. A gutless species, Phallodrilus comorensis sp.n. is described from the Comoro Islands in the Mozambique Channel (W Indian Ocean).     

The Effect of a Quaternary Amine (Aliquat 336) on Growth and Photosynthesis of the Green Alga Chlorella emersonii, and the Effect on Photosynthesis in Isolated Spinach Chloroplasts

A quaternary amine, Aliquat 336, inhibits the growth of the green alga Chlorella emersonii, ¹⁴C-fixation of the alga is also inhibited. The effect and the site of action of the compound was studied by using isolated spinach chloroplasts. The carbon dioxide dependent oxygen evolution of the chloroplasts is inhibited directly upon the addition of the amine and the oxygen evolution is replaced by an oxygen uptake. By investigating some electron transport reactions in the chloroplasts we were able to show that Aliquat 336 affects the electron transport on the level of photophosphorylation. The results from the in vivo and the in vitro experiments thus show that the quaternary amine affects the photosynthetic process. Aliquat 336 is a solvent extractant used in several industrial processes for extraction of metals from aqueous solutions. Aliquat 336 could be considered a presumptive water pollutant as the compound could enter a recipient water body and thus affect photosynthesis.     

Effect of selective monoamine oxidase A and B inhibitors on footshock induced aggression in paired rats

Effects of a selective monoamine oxidase (MAO)--A inhibitor, clorgyline, a selective MAO-B inhibitor, deprenyl, and a non-selective MAO inhibitor, nialamide, were investigated on footshock-induced aggression (FIA) in paired rats. The doses and pretreatment times of the inhibitors used were based on an earlier reported in vivo dose-response and time-course study. In addition, apomorphine, a dopaminergic receptor agonist, and beta-phenylethylamine, a preferred substrate for MAO-B, were also used to garner corroborative evidence. The results of the study indicate that selective MAO-A inhibitors are likely to attenuate FIA by augmenting central serotonergic activity, while selective MAO-B inhibitors accentuate the behaviour by facilitating dopaminergic activity. A permissive role for noradrenaline could not be delineated by the available data.     

Taxonomic Studies on the Marine Genera Aktedrilus Knöllner and Bacescuella Hrabe' (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae), with Descriptions of Seven New Species

The taxonomy and morphology of Aktedrilus Knöllner, 1935 and Bacescuella Hrabe' 1973 (subfamily Phallodrilinae), both common genera of the marine, littoral meiofauna, were studied on the basis of material from various geographical areas. A. monospermathecus Knöllner, 1935 is redescribed from France and Scotland. A. magnus sp.n., A. hrevis sp.n., A. curvipenis sp.n. and A. floridensis sp.n. are described from Italy, Brazil, France and Florida, respectively. Two very closely related forms are described from the Pacific: A. locyi sp.n. (California) and A. parviprostatus sp.n. (Great Barrier Reef). B. mediterranea sp.n. is described from Italy, and new European records are given forB. arclica Erséus, 1978 andfi. parvithecata Erséus, 1978. Both genera are characterized by having two pairs of prostate glands, well developed penes, and unpaired, mid-dorsal spermatheca (if present). The species of Bacescuella transfer their sperm by means of external spermatophores, structures that are not developed in Aktedrilus. The eight species of Aktedrilus are largely distinguished by means of the morphology of the spermatheca, penes and prostates. The four species of Bacescuella differ principally from each other in the length of the vasa deferentia, and in the morphology of the prostates and copulatory organs. Most Bacescuella species lack spermatheca.     

Male gametophyte development in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): molecular,cellular, and biochemical analyses of a sporophytic contribution to pollen wall ontogeny

Bread wheat (hexaploid AABBDD genome; 16 billion basepairs) is a genetically complex, self-pollinating plant with bisexual flowers that produce short-lived pollen. Very little is known about the molecular biology of its gametophyte development despite a longstanding interest in hybrid seeds. We present here a comprehensive characterization of three apparently homeologous genes (TAA1a, TAA1b and TAA1c) and demonstrate their anther-specific biochemical function. These eight-exon genes, found at only one copy per haploid complement in this large genome, express specifically within the sporophytic tapetum cells. The presence of TAA1 mRNA and protein was evident only at specific stages of pollen development as the microspore wall thickened during the progression of free microspores into vacuolated-microspores. This temporal regulation matched the assembly of wall-impregnated sporopollenin, a phenylpropanoid-lipid polymer containing very long chain fatty alcohols (VLCFAlc), described in the literature. Our results establish that sporophytic genes contribute to the production of fatty alcohols: Transgenic expression of TAA1 afforded production of long/VLCFAlc in tobacco seeds (18 : 1; 20 : 1; 22 : 1; 24 : 0; 26 : 0) and in Escherichia coli (14 : 0; 16 : 0; 18 : 1), suggesting biochemical versatility of TAA1 with respect to cellular milieu and substrate spectrum. Pollen walls additionally contain fatty alcohols in the form of wax esters and other lipids, and some of these lipids are known to play a role in the highly specific sexual interactions at the pollen-pistil interface. This study provides a handle to study these and to manipulate pollen traits, and, furthermore, to understand the molecular biology of fatty alcohol metabolism in general.     

Neuroprotective properties of the natural phenolic antioxidants curcumin and naringenin but not quercetin and fisetin in a 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease

Although the cause of dopaminergic cell death in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown, oxidative stress has been strongly implicated. Because of their ability to combat oxidative stress, diet derived phenolic compounds continue to be considered as potential agents for long-term use in PD. This study was aimed at investigating whether the natural phenolic compounds curcumin, naringenin, quercetin, fisetin can be neuroprotective in the 6-OHDA model of PD. Unilateral infusion of 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain bundle produced a significant loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in the substantia nigra (SN) as well as a decreased of dopamine (DA) content in the striata in the vehicle-treated animals. Rats pretreated with curcumin or naringenin showed a clear protection of the number of TH-positive cells in the SN and DA levels in the striata. However, neither pretreatment with quercetin nor fisetin had any effects on TH-positive cells or DA levels. The ability of curcumin and naringenin to exhibit neuroprotection in the 6-OHDA model of PD may be related to their antioxidant capabilities and their capability to penetrate into the brain.     

Assessment of the polyphenolic composition of the organic extracts of Mauritian black teas: a potential contributor to their antioxidant functions

There is increasing interest in the emerging view that tea improves the antioxidant status in vivo and thereby helps to lower risk of certain types of cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke and its component biofactors could provide prophylactic potential for these diseases. The polyphenolic composition and the antioxidant properties of organic extracts (acetone/methanol) of Mauritian commercial black teas were evaluated. HPLC data of the individual compounds revealed remarkably high levels (+)-Catechin ((+)-C), (-)-epicatechin ((-)-EC), (-)-epicatechin 3-gallate ((-)-ECG), (-)-epigallocatechin ((-)-EGC), (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate ((-)-EGCG) and gallic acid. Analysis of hydrolysed extracts indicated that quercetin was the dominant flavonol aglycone with traces of myricetin and kaempferol. Based on the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assays Extra tea from Bois Chéri exhibited the highest antioxidant potential. Linear regression analyses showed that the antioxidant capacities of the organic extracts are strongly influenced by total phenols (TEAC: r=0.95 and FRAP: r=0.96) and to a lesser extent by total proanthocyanidin and total flavonoid contents. Catechins and gallic acid seem to add up to the overall antioxidant capacity of black tea extracts. The fresh tea leaves had high levels of total phenols, total flavonoids, total proanthocyanidin and exhibited greater antioxidant potential when compared with black teas. Organic extracts of endemic teas represent useful source of phenolic antioxidants supplements for prophylactic use.