Khaosokia caricoides, a new genus and species of Cyperaceae from Thailand

Khaosokia caricoides , D.A. Simpson, Chayam. & J. Parn., a newly discovered genus and species of Cyperaceae is described and illustrated. The genus is characterized by a narrowly paniculate dioecious inflorescence with 2–4 nodes, each of the nodes having a leaf-like inflorescence bract that exceeds the inflorescence. Spikelets in both sexes are linear-cylindric and each flower has seven perianth bristles. The nutlet was immature in the specimens examined. The photosynthetic pathway is C₃. Khaosokia is endemic to limestone cliffs in peninsular Thailand; its conservation status is assessed as Vulnerable (VU B1a + 2a). It has affinities to tribes Cariceae, Dulichieae and some members of Scirpeae, but the exact nature of these relationships has yet to be determined. A revised key to the genera of Cyperaceae in Thailand is presented.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 149 , 357–364.     

Genes encoding a group of related small secreted proteins from the gut of Hessian fly larvae [Mayetiola destructor （Say）]

A group of related genes has been isolated and characterized from the gut of Hessian fly larvae [Mayetiola destructor （Say）]. Members in this group appear to encode proteins with secretary signal peptides at the N-terminals. The mature putative proteins are small, acidic proteins with calculated molecular masses of 14.5 to 15.3 kDa, and isoelectric points from 4.56 to 4.88. Northern blot analysis revealed that these genes are expressed predominantly in the gut of Hessian fly larvae and pupae. Two related genes, GIOK1 and GIOK2, were isolated as tandem repeats. Both genes contain three exons and two introns. The intron/exon boundaries were conserved in terms of amino acid encoding, suggesting that they arose by gene duplication. The fact that the frequency of this group of clones in a gut cDNA library higher than that of total cDNA clones encoding digestive enzymes suggested that this group of proteins may perform an important function in the gut physiology of this insect. However, the exact functions of these proteins are as yet known since no sequence similarity could be identified between these proteins and any known sequences in public databases using standard methods.     

Terpenoids as chemosystematic markers in selected fossil and extant species of pine (Pinus, Pinaceae)

The compositions of terpenoids from the seed cones and resins of selected fossil and modern species of pine ( Pinus , Pinaceae) were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to study the preservation of chemosystematic markers (biomarkers) in fossil conifers. Diterpenoids of the abietane, pimarane, isopimarane, and labdane types are the major components in the solvent extracts of all fossil and extant pines. Mono- and sesquiterpenoids of the bornane and cadalane classes and two phytosterols were also identified. The terpenoid patterns of the fossil species largely match the terpenoids observed in modern pines. The characteristic features of the fossil and extant Pinus species are abietane-, pimarane-, and isopimarane-type diterpenoids with a high abundance of abietic acids. Several biomolecules were preserved unaltered in the Eocene and Oligocene pine cones. In addition to the biomolecules, the fossil pines contain a series of degradation products (geomolecules) that were generated from their biological precursors before and after burial. The generation of the geomolecules is governed by various oxidative and reductive processes, such as microbial degradation and clay catalysis. In conclusion, the comparative analysis of solvent-extractable biomarkers in fossil and related extant species is a valuable tool for (palaeo)chemosystematic studies of conifers.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 129–140.     

The parotid gland; a reinterpretation of its anatomic structure

The parotid gland does not have a constant size and shape and relationship to the facial nerve. It consists of two glandular masses, one lying on the masseter muscle and the other in the pterygoid space to a varying depth. These two masses are connected by a glandular bridge, either wide or narrow, which lies on the posterior border of the mandible. The course of the facial nerve may be through this connecting bridge or it may pass to one side or a branch may pass on either side. In passing forward, the nerve branches may lie wholly within the glandular mass on the masseter, wholly beneath it or partly within it and partly beneath it.