The dilemma of where to nest: influence of spring snow cover,food proximity and predator abundance on reproductive success of an arctic-breeding migratory herbivore is dependent on nesting habitat choice

Pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus nest in two contrasting but commonly found habitats: steep cliffs and open tundra slopes. In Svalbard, we compared nest densities and nesting success in these two environments over ten breeding seasons to assess the impact of spring snow cover, food availability to nesting adults and arctic fox Vulpes lagopus (main terrestrial predator) abundance. In years with extensive spring snow cover, fewer geese at both colonies attempted to breed, possibly because snow cover limited pre-nesting feeding opportunities, leaving adults in poor breeding condition. Nesting success at the steep cliff colony was lower with extensive spring snow cover; such conditions force birds to commit to repeated and prolonged recess periods at far distant feeding areas, leaving nests open to predation. By contrast, nesting success at the open tundra slope was not affected by spring snow cover; even if birds were apparently in poor condition they could feed immediately adjacent to their nests and defend them from predators. Foxes were the main nest predator in the open tundra slopes but avian predators likely had a larger impact at the steep cliffs colony. Thus, the relative inaccessibility of the cliffs habitat may bring protection from foxes but also deprives geese from readily accessing feeding areas, with the best prospects for successful nesting in low spring snow cover years. Our findings indicate that spring snow cover, predator abundance and food proximity did not uniformly influence nesting success of this herbivore, and their effects were dependent on nesting habitat choice.     

Leukocidin, Tetraethylammonium Ions, and the Membrane Acyl Phosphatases in Relation to the Leukocyte Potassium Pump

The response of the leukocyte to leukocidin and its relevance to excitable and secreting tissues are described. New data are presented on the leukocyte membrane phosphatases and the action of tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) on the leukocyte. The leukocyte surface membrane lacks a cation-sensitive ATPase but possesses a potassium- and ouabain-sensitive p-nitrophenyl phosphatase. The p-nitrophenyl phosphatase shows peak activity at three pH values and the pH dependence and potassium sensitivity depend on the state of the membranes. In the presence of magnesium, potassium can stimulate over the range pH 6 to 8. The relation of the leukocyte p-nitrophenyl phosphatase to electrolyte control in the leukocyte and to the properties of cation-sensitive phosphatases in other cells suggests that the leukocyte enzyme is a component of an electrogenic potassium pump. Leukocidin stimulates the leukocyte p-nitrophenyl phosphatase under all the conditions studied. The effect is specific and occurs under conditions that induce cytotoxic effects in the cell. It is concluded that the potassium pump is the site of action of leukocidin. TEA prevents the effects of leukocidin by inhibiting the action of leukocidin and not the responses of the cell to injury. TEA does not inhibit the p-nitrophenyl phosphatase nor prevent its stimulation by leukocidin. The enhancement of leukocidin by diisopropylphosphofluoridate (DFP) is briefly described. It is concluded that TEA acts in the opposite way to DFP and blocks the ion pathway activated by leukocidin in the leukocyte potassium pump.     

Composition and properties of a cell-membrane fraction from the polymorphonuclear leucocyte

1. The composition of a vesicular cell-membrane fraction from leucocytes has been studied. The bulk of the mass is accounted for as protein and lipid. A small amount of carbohydrate, including some N-acetylneuraminic acid, is present. The phospholipid/cholesterol molar ratio is 1.4 and differs from that for the whole cell. 2. Labile phosphorus groups are present in the membrane but the analysis is complicated by the presence of phosphorus occluded in the membrane vesicles. 3. Leucocidin does not change the gross composition of the membranes or alter the amount or reactivity of the phosphorus compounds. 4. The cell-membrane fraction has considerable avidity for an impurity present in commercial [(32)P]orthophosphate. When this is removed [(32)P]orthophosphate or [(32)P]ATP does not label the membrane. 5. The presence of an NADH(2)-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and an alkaline phosphatase is described. The adenosine-triphosphatase activity of the membrane has not been found to depend on the presence of Na(+) or K(+).     

MPDA: Microarray pooled DNA analyzer

Background  

Microarray-based pooled DNA experiments that combine the merits of DNA pooling and gene chip technology constitute a pivotal advance in biotechnology. This new technique uses pooled DNA, thereby reducing costs associated with the typing of DNA from numerous individuals. Moreover, use of an oligonucleotide gene chip reduces costs related to processing various DNA segments (e.g., primers, reagents). Thus, the technique provides an overall cost-effective solution for large-scale genomic/genetic research. However, few publicly shared tools are available to systematically analyze the rapidly accumulating volume of whole-genome pooled DNA data.     

Cytochrome P-450 isozymes from the marine teleost Stenotomus chrysops: their roles in steroid hydroxylation and the influence of cytochrome b5

Two new cytochrome P-450 forms were purified from liver microsomes of the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops (scup). Cytochrome P-450A (Mr = 52.5K) had a CO-ligated, reduced difference spectrum lambda max at 447.5 nm, and reconstituted modest benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity (0.16 nmol/min/nmol P-450) and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity (0.42 nmol/min/nmol P-450). Cytochrome P-450A reconstituted under optimal conditions catalyzed hydroxylation of testosterone almost exclusively at the 6 beta position (0.8 nmol/min/nmol P-450) and also catalyzed 2-hydroxylation of estradiol. Cytochrome P-450A is active toward steroid substrates and we propose that it is a major contributor to microsomal testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity. Cytochrome P-450A had a requirement for conspecific (scup) NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and all reconstituted activities examined were stimulated by the addition of purified scup cytochrome b5. Cytochrome P-450B (Mr = 45.9K) had a CO-ligated, reduced difference spectrum lambda max at 449.5 nm and displayed low rates of reconstituted catalytic activities. However, cytochrome P-450B oxidized testosterone at several different sites including the 15 alpha position (0.07 nmol/min/nmol P-450). Both cytochromes P-450A and P-450B were distinct from the major benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylating form, cytochrome P-450E, by the criteria of spectroscopic properties, substrate profiles, minimum molecular weights on NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels, peptide mapping and lack of cross-reaction with antibody raised against cytochrome P-450E. Cytochrome P-450E shares epitopes with rat cytochrome P-450c indicating it is the equivalent enzyme, but possible homology between scup cytochromes P-450A or P-450B and known P-450 isozymes in other vertebrate groups is uncertain, although functional analogs exist.