Seed germination,seedling inoculation and establishment ofAlnus spp. in containers in greenhouse trials

Methods for production of containerized seedlings ofAlnus species were developed which permit nitrogen-fixing nodules to form on the root systems prior to outplanting, in order to provide an early nitrogen input during seedling establishment. The methods are based on procedures for inoculating root systems with suspensions ofFrankia (Actinomycetales), applied either directly in the container cell as a soil drench at the time of seeding, or as a root dip for seedlings transplanted into the containers. Germination of dried, stored seed was enhanced by light and by presoaking for 16 h in water. Pretreatments to overcome seed dormancy or to eliminate fungal pathogens did not further enhance germination. Some loss of seedlings was recorded in the early stages of growth shortly after germination, which is a factor in calculating projected seedling yield. Nodulation and seedling growth were evaluated in terms of growth media characteristics. Seedlings performed well in peat-vermiculite, at soil pH between 5.5 and 8.0.     

Dasatinib Inhibits CXCR4 Signaling in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Cells and Impairs Migration Towards CXCL12

Chemokines and their ligands play a critical role in enabling chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells access to protective microenvironmental niches within tissues, ultimately resulting in chemoresistance and relapse: disruption of these signaling pathways has become a novel therapeutic approach in CLL. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib inhibits migration of several cell lines from solid-organ tumours, but effects on CLL cells have not been reported. We studied the effect of clinically achievable concentrations of dasatinib on signaling induced by the chemokine CXCL12 through its'' receptor CXCR4, which is highly expressed on CLL cells. Dasatinib pre-treatment inhibited Akt and ERK phosphorylation in CLL cells upon stimulation with CXCL12. Dasatinib also significantly diminished the rapid increase in actin polymerisation observed in CLL cells following CXCL12 stimulation. Moreover, the drug significantly inhibited chemotaxis in a transwell assay, and reduced the percentage of cells able to migrate beneath a CXCL12-expressing murine stromal cell line. Dasatinib also abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of prolonged CXCL12 stimulation on cultured CLL cells. These data suggest that dasatinib, akin to other small molecule kinase inhibitors targeting the B-cell receptor signaling pathway, may redistribute CLL cells from protective tissue niches to the peripheral blood, and support the investigation of dasatinib in combination strategies.     

Reproductive morphology of the male Tuatara,Sphenodon punctatus

Over the past decade, studies on reproductive morphology in the Squamata (snakes and lizards) have expanded tremendously. With the accumulation of these studies and revisions of the terminology based on structural similarities and differences, it is imperative to review the work on tuataras to determine whether the structural organization fits the revised terminology of vertebrates. We investigated the morphology of the male reproductive system in the Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus (Rhynchocephalia), the sister taxon to the Squamata. Previous studies on the Tuatara used a nomenclature for the testicular ducts different from the current terminology for amniotes. The reproductive system in the Tuatara is consistent with reports in the Squamata. Two rete testis tubules exit the testis within a connective tissue sheath similar to that shown in other squamate species and the protherian Echidna. Each rete testis divides into multiple ductuli efferentes that fuse with the epididymis. The epididymis transitions into the ductus deferens where the sperm become more concentrated into spherical bundles. The ductus deferens enters the cloacal urodeum separately from the ureter. An ampulla ureter or ampulla urogenital papilla was not observed, which differs from previous studies of lepidosaurians. Furthermore, a sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) was not observed, consistent with previous studies on the Tuatara.     

Storage of Conidia of Penicillium chrysogenum in Liquid Nitrogen

Conidiated slope cultures of derivative of Penicillium chrysogenum Wis 54-1255 were stored at -196 or +4 C for a period of 3.5 years. After this time, the viability fell to 68% in the former case and to 4% in the latter. At the end of the experiment, 65 single conidial isolates from each series were tested for penicillin yield. Among those from conidia stored at -196 C, the spread of penicillin yields did not differ markedly from that of 65 single conidial isolates made as controls prior to storage. However, 18% of those from conidia stored at +4 C formed a subpopulation with substantially lower penicillin titers than those of control isolates. Storage at -196 C may reduce or prevent a possible source of penicillin yield decay, namely, the selection of spontaneous mutants of low titer present in small numbers in the original culture and selected, as viability decreased, by virtue of their increased longevity relative to that of the parental culture.     

Presence of haemocyte-like cells in coccinellid reflex blood

Abstract.  Contrary to current assumptions, the reflex blood of two-spot ladybirds, Adalia bipunctata , and seven-spot ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata , contains haemocyte-like cells. Furthermore, DNA can be extracted and amplified from coccinellid reflex blood, confirming the presence of haemocyte-like cells and demonstrating a nondestructive method of DNA extraction.     

Effects of continuous nitrogen application and nitrogen preconditioning on nodulation and growth ofCeanothus griseus varhorizontalis

Rooted cuttings ofCeanothus griseus varhorizontalis were irrigated with 0, 10, 20, 50, 75 or 100ppm nitrogen as NH₄NO₃ for eight weeks prior to inoculation with infectiveFrankia. After inoculation, half of the plants for each treatment nitrogen level continued to be irrigated with the preconditioning nitrogen level and half were given no more supplemental nitrogen. For plants continuously receiving nitrogen, nodule initiation (nodule number) was inversely correlated with increasing supplemental nitrogen levels, and suppressed above 50 ppm N. Leaf nitrogen above 2% in continuous-N plants correlated with greatly reduced or suppressed nodulation. Plants maintained after inoculation without supplemental nitrogen showed influence of the prior nitrogen treatment on nodulation. Preconditioning at 50 ppm and above greatly reduced the number of nodules formed. The evidence suggests that stored internal nitrogen can regulate nodulation.Plant biomass accumulated maximally when nodulation was suppressed, at 75 and 100 ppm supplemental N applied continuously. Internode elongation during the nodulation period occurred only on nodulated plants, or in the presence of supplemental N (10 ppm and above).     

Early and late periodic patterns of even skipped expression are controlled by distinct regulatory elements that respond to different spatial cues

We have identified the regulatory sequences required for the periodic expression of the Drosophila pair rule gene even skipped (eve). We find that the gradually changing pattern of periodic eve expression during early embryogenesis is directed by two distinct regulatory programs. Initially, eve expression in individual stripes is established by different regulatory elements, each of which responds to nonperiodic spatial cues provided, at least in part, by the gap genes. Later, coordinate expression of eve in all seven stripes is directed by a single regulatory region that responds to periodic cues provided by primary pair rule genes, including eve itself. As a consequence of this two-step regulatory program, eve functions both in the establishment of the periodic pattern of gene expression and in the subsequent specification of parasegmental boundaries.     

Structure-activity relationships for the inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha by aphidicolin derivatives.

Aphidicolin and 17 derivatives that have been structurally modified in the A- and D-rings were assessed for their ability to inhibit DNA polymerase alpha. No derivative surpassed the activity of aphidicolin; derivatives with structural alterations in the A-ring exhibited significantly greater loss of activity relative to derivatives with structural alterations in the D-ring. The conclusions of these studies indicate a critical role for the C-18 function in the interaction of aphidicolin with polymerase alpha. Molecular modelling studies could not identify structural features of the aphidicolin-dCTP "overlap" that is unique to dCTP, relative to the remaining dNTPs, and that is consistent with the extant structure-activity data.