Systematics within Gyps vultures: a clade at risk

Background  

Populations of the Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) have declined by over 95% within the past decade. This decline is largely due to incidental consumption of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory veterinary pharmaceutical diclofenac, commonly used to treat domestic livestock. The conservation status of other Gyps vultures in southern Asia is also of immediate concern, given the lack of knowledge regarding status of their populations and the continuing existence of taxonomic uncertainties. In this study, we assess phylogenetic relationships for all recognized species and the majority of subspecies within the genus Gyps. The continuing veterinary use of diclofenac is an unknown but potential risk to related species with similar feeding habits to Gyps bengalensis. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the phylogenetic relationships among Gyps vultures should aid in their conservation by clarifying taxonomic uncertainties, and enabling inference of their respective relatedness to susceptible G. bengalensis.     

In vitro assembly of U1 snRNPs.

An efficient system for the in vitro assembly of U1 snRNPs is described. RNA-protein interactions in a series of U1 snRNA mutants assembled both in vivo and in vitro were studied in order to verify the accuracy of the system. Two discrete protein binding sites are defined by immunoprecipitation with antibodies against different protein components of the U1 snRNP and a newly developed protein sequestering assay. The U1 snRNP-specific proteins 70K and A require only the 5'-most stem-loop structure of U1 snRNA for binding, the common U snRNP proteins require the conserved Sm binding site (AUnG). Interactions between these two groups of proteins are detected. These results are combined to derive a model of the U1 snRNP structure. The potential use of the in vitro system in the functional analysis of U1 snRNP proteins is discussed.     

Probing the structure and function of U2 snRNP with antisense oligonucleotides made of 2'-OMe RNA

We have used oligonucleotides made of 2'-OMe RNA to analyze the role of separate domains of U2 snRNA in the splicing process. We show that antisense 2'-OMe RNA oligonucleotides bind efficiently and specifically to U2 snRNP and demonstrate that masking of two separate regions of U2 snRNA can inhibit splicing by affecting different steps in the spliceosome assembly pathway. Masking the 5' terminus of U2 snRNA does not prevent U2 snRNP binding to pre-mRNA but blocks subsequent assembly of a functional spliceosome. By contrast, masking of U2 sequences complementary to the pre-mRNA branch site completely inhibits binding of pre-mRNA. Hybrid formation at the branch site complementary region also triggers a specific change which affects the 5' terminus of U2 snRNA.     

Light-dependent GTP-binding proteins in squid photoreceptors.

Previous biochemical and electrophysiological evidence suggests that in invertebrate photoreceptors, a GTP-binding protein (G-protein) mediates the actions of photoactivated rhodopsin in the initial stages of transduction. We find that squid photoreceptors contain more than one protein (molecular masses 38, 42 and 46 kDa) whose ADP-ribosylation by bacterial exotoxins is light-sensitive. Several lines of evidence suggest that these proteins represent distinct alpha subunits of G-proteins. (1) Pertussis toxin and cholera toxin react with distinct subsets of these polypeptides. (2) Only the 42 kDa protein immunoreacts with the monoclonal antibody 4A, raised against the alpha subunit of the G-protein of vertebrate rods [Hamm & Bownds (1984) J. Gen. Physiol. 84. 265-280]. (3) In terms of ADP-ribosylation, the 42 kDa protein is the least labile to freezing. (4) Of the 38 kDa and 42 kDa proteins, the former is preferentially extracted with hypo-osmotic solutions, as demonstrated by the solubility of its ADP-ribosylated state and by the solubility of the light-dependent binding of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. The specific target enzymes for the observed G-proteins have not been established.     

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to several frog rod outer segment proteins

Monoclonal antibodies to proteins important in phototransduction in the frog rod outer segment have been obtained. These include 6 different antibodies to rhodopsin, 50 to a guanine nucleotide binding protein (G-protein; 40,000 daltons), and 2 to cytoplasmic proteins. The antigens used were Percoll-purified rod outer segments, a rod outer segment soluble protein fraction, or a soluble plus peripheral membrane protein fraction. Antibodies were assayed by solid phase assay using a fluorogenic detection system. Proteins to which antibodies bound were assayed on Western blots, and the sensitivities of three different detection systems were compared. Most antibodies bound to only one rod outer segment protein band on Western blots. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated binding of both anti-rhodopsin and anti-G-protein to isolated frog rod outer segments. Antibodies were purified from either culture supernatants or ascites fluid on protein A affinity columns. Two purified anti-G-protein antibodies have binding affinities to 125I-labeled G-protein of less than 10(-6) M-1. Of 11 antibodies to frog or bovine G-protein tested in solid phase and Western blot assays, all bind to the alpha rather than the beta or gamma subunits. Procedures developed here are being used in preparing other antibodies that affect reactions in the phototransduction pathway.     

Reduced productivity in adult yellowfever mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) populations

Male and female Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes of the laboratory strain ROCK were irradiated with 130 mw of argon 514.5 nm laser microbeams for 0.04, 0.25, 0.4, and 0.5 s, respectively. Egg production, percentage hatch, and productivity (average number of adults surviving after 3 wk) were used to assess mutagenic effects. Mortality was high for males in all laser radiation groups and increased with time of exposure. Except for the group treated for 0.25 s, significant reductions in total F1 progeny also were demonstrated for all other experimentals when male parents were exposed to laser radiation. Females showed a high mortality when subjected to 0.4- and 0.5-s laser radiation. No F1 progeny were produced when parental females were exposed for 0.25, 0.4, and 0.5 s. Numbers of F1 progeny from females exposed to 0.04 s of laser radiation were significantly reduced. A comparison of weekly mean number of progeny showed that the important differences in productivity occurred during the first and second week, respectively, when either male or female adult parents were subjected to laser radiation.     

The trimethylguanosine cap structure of U1 snRNA is a component of a bipartite nuclear targeting signal

The ability of series of U1 snRNAs and U6 snRNAs to migrate into the nucleus of Xenopus oocytes after injection into the cytoplasm was analyzed. The U snRNAs were made either by injecting U snRNA genes into the nucleus of oocytes or, synthetically, by T7 RNA polymerase, incorporating a variety of cap structures. The results indicate that nuclear targeting of U1 snRNA requires both a trimethylguanosine cap structure and binding of at least one common U snRNP protein. Using synthetic U6 snRNAs, it is further demonstrated that the trimethylguanosine cap structure can act in nuclear targeting in the absence of the common U snRNP proteins. These results imply that U snRNP nuclear targeting signals are of a modular nature.     

Monomethylated cap structures facilitate RNA export from the nucleus

RNA export from the nucleus has been analyzed in Xenopus oocytes. U1 snRNAs made by RNA polymerase II were exported into the cytoplasm, while U1 snRNAs synthesized by RNA polymerase III, and therefore with a different cap structure, remained in the nucleus. Export of the polymerase II-transcribed RNAs was inhibited by the cap analog m7GpppG. Spliced mRNAs carrying monomethylguanosine cap structures were rapidly exported, while hypermethylated cap structures delayed mRNA export. The export of a mutant precursor mRNA unable to form detectable splicing complexes was also significantly delayed by incorporation of a hypermethylated cap structure. The results suggest that the m7GpppN cap structure is likely to be a signal for RNA export from the nucleus.