The Expanded mtDNA Phylogeny of the Franco-Cantabrian Region Upholds the Pre-Neolithic Genetic Substrate of Basques

The European genetic landscape has been shaped by several human migrations occurred since Paleolithic times. The accumulation of archaeological records and the concordance of different lines of genetic evidence during the last two decades have triggered an interesting debate concerning the role of ancient settlers from the Franco-Cantabrian region in the postglacial resettlement of Europe. Among the Franco-Cantabrian populations, Basques are regarded as one of the oldest and more intriguing human groups of Europe. Recent data on complete mitochondrial DNA genomes focused on macrohaplogroup R0 revealed that Basques harbor some autochthonous lineages, suggesting a genetic continuity since pre-Neolithic times. However, excluding haplogroup H, the most representative lineage of macrohaplogroup R0, the majority of maternal lineages of this area remains virtually unexplored, so that further refinement of the mtDNA phylogeny based on analyses at the highest level of resolution is crucial for a better understanding of the European prehistory. We thus explored the maternal ancestry of 548 autochthonous individuals from various Franco-Cantabrian populations and sequenced 76 mitogenomes of the most representative lineages. Interestingly, we identified three mtDNA haplogroups, U5b1f, J1c5c1 and V22, that proved to be representative of Franco-Cantabria, notably of the Basque population. The seclusion and diversity of these female genetic lineages support a local origin in the Franco-Cantabrian area during the Mesolithic of southwestern Europe, ∼10,000 years before present (YBP), with signals of expansions at ∼3,500 YBP. These findings provide robust evidence of a partial genetic continuity between contemporary autochthonous populations from the Franco-Cantabrian region, specifically the Basques, and Paleolithic/Mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups. Furthermore, our results raise the current proportion (≈15%) of the Franco-Cantabrian maternal gene pool with a putative pre-Neolithic origin to ≈35%, further supporting the notion of a predominant Paleolithic genetic substrate in extant European populations.     

THE HORMONAL INTEGRATION OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN OEDOGONIUM

Rawitscher -Kunkel , Erika , and L. Machlis . (U. California, Berkeley.) The hormonal integration of sexual reproduction in Oedogonium. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49 (2) : 177–183. Illus. 1962.—Sexual reproduction in a heterothallic, nannandrous species of Oedogonium was investigated cytologically and physiologically. Several new observations are reported. Oogonial mother cells release a substance which attracts androspores to them. The androspores, when attached to the oogonial mother cells, grow in well-defined directions apparently in response to a hormone originating in the oogonial mother cells. An oogonial mother cell divides into an oogonium and a suffultory cell only after the attached androspores complete their development into dwarf males, each bearing an antheridium. Presumably the developing dwarf males provide a chemical stimulus for the division of the oogonial mother cell. During development, the oogonia become enveloped in a massive gel which also encases the antheridia cut off at the apical ends of the dwarf male plants. The gel appears to function as a sperm trap, preventing the dissemination of the sperm into the surrounding liquid. The sperm are attracted to the protoplasmic papilla which briefly protrudes through the oogonial pore indicating the operation of a second chemotactic agent.     

Mice Lacking Platelet-Derived Growth Factor D Display a Mild Vascular Phenotype

Platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGF-D) is the most recently discovered member of the PDGF family. PDGF-D signals through PDGF receptor β, but its biological role remains largely unknown. In contrast to other members of the PDGF family of growth factors, which have been extensively investigated using different knockout approaches in mice, PDGF-D has until now not been characterized by gene inactivation in mice. Here, we present the phenotype of a constitutive Pdgfd knockout mouse model (Pdgfd^-/-), carrying a LacZ reporter used to visualize Pdgfd promoter activity. Inactivation of the Pdgfd gene resulted in a mild phenotype in C57BL/6 mice, and the offspring was viable, fertile and generally in good health. We show that Pdgfd reporter gene activity was consistently localized to vascular structures in both postnatal and adult tissues. The expression was predominantly arterial, often localizing to vascular bifurcations. Endothelial cells appeared to be the dominating source for Pdgfd, but reporter gene activity was occasionally also found in subpopulations of mural cells. Tissue-specific analyses of vascular structures revealed that NG2-expressing pericytes of the cardiac vasculature were disorganized in Pdgfd^-/- mice. Furthermore, Pdgfd^-/- mice also had a slightly elevated blood pressure. In summary, the vascular expression pattern together with morphological changes in NG2-expressing cells, and the increase in blood pressure, support a function for PDGF-D in regulating systemic arterial blood pressure, and suggests a role in maintaining vascular homeostasis.     

Preferential expression of cellular retinoic acid binding protein in a subpopulation of neural cells in the developing mouse embryo

The cellular retinoic acid binding protein is thought to be involved in the retinoic-acid-mediated signal transduction pathway. We have isolated the mouse cellular retinoic acid binding protein cDNA from an embryonal-carcinoma-derived cell line by using differential cDNA cloning strategies. In situ hybridization on sections of mouse embryos of various developmental stages indicated that the cellular retinoic acid binding protein gene, which we localized on mouse chromosome 9, is preferentially expressed in a subpopulation of neurectodermal cells. This restricted expression pattern suggests an important role for cellular retinoic acid binding protein in murine neurogenesis.     

Synaptic competition and the persistence of polyneuronal innervation at frog neuromuscular junctions

Mechanisms governing the elimination of polyneuronal innervation were examined by correlating the morphology and physiology of competing nerve terminals at identified dually innervated neuromuscular junctions in sartorius muscles of adult frogs (Rana pipiens). Synaptic efficacy (endplate potential amplitude per unit nerve terminal length) was presumed to reflect the ability of a terminal to compete for synaptic space. The synaptic efficacies of two terminals at the same synaptic site were found to be surprisingly equal, with a median difference of 33%. Much more variation would be expected if dually innervated junctions were randomly innervated by pairs of terminals having the same range of synaptic efficacy as that found at singly innervated junctions in the same muscle. This finding supports the hypothesis that the weaker input is eliminated from dually innervated junctions when there is a large discrepancy in competitive efficacy, and that both inputs may persist if competitive efficacies are relatively equal. We also tested but failed to find support for the hypothesis that spatial proximity between competing terminals intensifies competition for synaptic space during synapse elimination.     

Host preferences of two encyrtid parasitoids for the Columbian Phenacoccus spp. of cassava mealybugs

In a choice test among six life stages of Phenacoccus herreni Cox & Williams, Epidinocarsis diversicornis (Howard) used its antennae to examine adult and 3rd stadium females more than other stages and preferentially attempted to oviposit in these plus 2nd stadium females. Success of ovipositor insertion was unaffected by host stage. The outcome of these behaviors was preferential oviposition by E. diversicornis in the large female host stages. Acerophagus coccois Smith also preferentially examined larger female mealybugs (second and third stadium nymphs and adults) more than other stages and successfully inserted its ovipositor in these stages more often than in second stadium male nymphs and male cocoons, resulting in a similar preference in this species for larger female host stages. When given a choice between adult female hosts of two species, P. herreni and Phenacoccus gossypii Townsend & Cockerell, E. diversicornis exhibited a clear preference for P. herreni; whereas A. coccois preferred P. gossypii.

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Résumé Epidinocarsis diversicornis (Howard), ayant la possibilité de choisir entre six stades différents de Phenacoccus herreni Cox & Williams, examine avec ses antennes plus particulièrement les adultes et les larves femelles du 3ème stade, et essaie de pondre de préférence dans ces stades et les larves femelles de second stade. L'insertion de la tarière s'effectue aussi bien quel que soit le stade de l'hôte. Il résulte de ces différents aspects du comportement que E. diversicornis pond de préférence dans les femelles des stades les plus avancés. Acerophagus coccois Smith préfère aussi examiner les cochenilles femelles les plus grosses (second et 3ème stade larvaires et adulte), et introduit sa tarière avec succès dans ces stades plus souvent que dans les larves mâles de second stade ou les cocons mâles; il en résulte aussi pour cette espèce une préférence pour les femelles des stades les plus gros.Quand on leur a donné le choix entre des femelles des deux espèces de cochenilles (P. herreni et Phenacoccus gossypii Towsend & Cockerell), E. diversicornis manifestait une nette préférence pour P. herreni, tandis que A. coccois préférait P. gossypii.

     

Atrial granules in the dog heart after cardiac denervation

Summary Because the increase in sodium excretion during left atrial distension in conscious dogs is abolished after chronic cardiac denervation, we have investigated whether this is a result of the disappearance of specific atrial granules. Electron microscopy and light-microscopical and ultrastructural immunohistochemistry of canine atria show that atrial granules displaying immunoreactivity for cardiac hormones of the cardiodilatin/atrial natriuretic polypeptide (CDD/ANP) family are still present in denervated left and right atria, although reduced in quantity. It is concluded that the atrial-induced natriuresis is not only related to the existence of specific atrial granules. The functional link between atrial-induced natriuresis provoked by atrial distension and the release of atrial polypeptide hormones remains uncertain because the denervated heart can secrete CDD although the diuretic-natriuretic effect is altered.     

Inhibition of hexose transport by glucose in a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mutant ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The rate of hexose transport was approximately 60% lower for both the high- and the low-affinity components of hexose uptake when a glucose-6-phosphate isomerase mutant ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae was preincubated with glucose, as compared with preincubation with water. Similarly theJ _max value of the high-affinity system of the mutant was 25–35 % of the correspondingJ _max value for normal cells incubated with glucose. Accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate or of some other metabolite, such as fructose 6-phosphate or trehalose, may be responsible for this striking inhibition.