Broad Anatomical Variation within a Narrow Wood Density Range—A Study of Twig Wood across 69 Australian Angiosperms

ObjectivesJust as people with the same weight can have different body builds, woods with the same wood density can have different anatomies. Here, our aim was to assess the magnitude of anatomical variation within a restricted range of wood density and explore its potential ecological implications.MethodsTwig wood of 69 angiosperm tree and shrub species was analyzed. Species were selected so that wood density varied within a relatively narrow range (0.38–0.62 g cm^-3). Anatomical traits quantified included wood tissue fractions (fibres, axial parenchyma, ray parenchyma, vessels, and conduits with maximum lumen diameter below 15 μm), vessel properties, and pith area. To search for potential ecological correlates of anatomical variation the species were sampled across rainfall and temperature contrasts, and several other ecologically-relevant traits were measured (plant height, leaf area to sapwood area ratio, and modulus of elasticity).ResultsDespite the limited range in wood density, substantial anatomical variation was observed. Total parenchyma fraction varied from 0.12 to 0.66 and fibre fraction from 0.20 to 0.74, and these two traits were strongly inversely correlated (r = -0.86, P < 0.001). Parenchyma was weakly (0.24 ≤|r|≤ 0.35, P < 0.05) or not associated with vessel properties nor with height, leaf area to sapwood area ratio, and modulus of elasticity (0.24 ≤|r|≤ 0.41, P < 0.05). However, vessel traits were fairly well correlated with height and leaf area to sapwood area ratio (0.47 ≤|r|≤ 0.65, all P < 0.001). Modulus of elasticity was mainly driven by fibre wall plus vessel wall fraction rather than by the parenchyma component.ConclusionsOverall, there seem to be at least three axes of variation in xylem, substantially independent of each other: a wood density spectrum, a fibre-parenchyma spectrum, and a vessel area spectrum. The fibre-parenchyma spectrum does not yet have any clear or convincing ecological interpretation.     

Rac1-PAK1 regulation of Rab11 cycling promotes junction destabilization

Rac1 GTPase is hyperactivated in tumors and contributes to malignancy. Rac1 disruption of junctions requires its effector PAK1, but the precise mechanisms are unknown. Here, we show that E-cadherin is internalized via micropinocytosis in a PAK1–dependent manner without catenin dissociation and degradation. In addition to internalization, PAK1 regulates E-cadherin transport by fine-tuning Rab small GTPase function. PAK1 phosphorylates a core Rab regulator, RabGDIβ, but not RabGDIα. Phosphorylated RabGDIβ preferentially associates with Rab5 and Rab11, which is predicted to promote Rab retrieval from membranes. Consistent with this hypothesis, Rab11 is activated by Rac1, and inhibition of Rab11 function partially rescues E-cadherin destabilization. Thus, Rac1 activation reduces surface cadherin levels as a net result of higher bulk flow of membrane uptake that counteracts Rab11-dependent E-cadherin delivery to junctions (recycling and/or exocytosis). This unique small GTPase crosstalk has an impact on Rac1 and PAK1 regulation of membrane remodeling during epithelial dedifferentiation, adhesion, and motility.     

The use of supramolecular structures as protein ligands

Congo red dye as well as other eagerly self-assembling organic molecules which form rod-like or ribbon-like supramolecular structures in water solutions, appears to represent a new class of protein ligands with possible wide-ranging medical applications. Such molecules associate with proteins as integral clusters and preferentially penetrate into areas of low molecular stability. Abnormal, partly unfolded proteins are the main binding target for such ligands, while well packed molecules are generally inaccessible. Of particular interest is the observation that local susceptibility for binding supramolecular ligands may be promoted in some proteins as a consequence of function-derived structural changes, and that such complexation may alter the activity profile of target proteins. Examples are presented in this paper.     

TGF‐β induces SOX2 expression in a time‐dependent manner in human melanoma cells

The sry‐related high‐mobility box (SOX)‐2 protein has recently been proven to play a significant role in progression, metastasis, and clinical prognosis spanning several cancer types. Research on the role of SOX2 in melanoma is limited and currently little is known about the mechanistic function of this gene in this context. Here, we observed high expression of SOX2 in both human melanoma cell lines and primary melanomas in contrast to melanocytic nevi. This overexpression in melanoma can, in part, be explained by extra gene copy numbers of SOX2 in primary samples. Interestingly, we were able to induce SOX2 expression, mediated by SOX4, via TGF‐β1 stimulation in a time‐dependent manner. Moreover, the knockdown of SOX2 impaired TGF‐β‐induced invasiveness. This phenotype switch can be explained by SOX2‐mediated cross talk between TGF‐β and non‐canonical Wnt signaling. Thus, we propose that SOX2 is involved in the critical TGF‐β signaling pathway, which has been shown to correlate with melanoma aggressiveness and metastasis. In conclusion, we have identified a novel downstream factor of TGF‐β signaling in melanoma, which may have further implications in the clinic.     

New highly selective inhibitors of class II fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases

Phosphoglycolo amidoxime and phosphoglycolo hydrazide, two new derivatives of phosphoglycolic acid, were synthesised and successfully tested as selective competitive inhibitors of class II FBP-aldolases.     

Local and long-range structural effects caused by the removal of the N-terminal polypeptide fragment from immunoglobulin L chain lambda

The role of the N-terminal polypeptide fragment of the immunoglobulin l-chain in V domain packing stability, and the flexibility of the whole chain was approached by molecular dynamics simulation. The observations were supported by experimental analysis. The N-terminal polypeptide fragment appeared to be the low-stability packing element in the V domain. At moderately elevated temperature it may be replaced at its packing locus by Congo red and then removed by proteolysis. After removal of Congo red by adsorption to (diethylamino)ethyl (DEAE) cellulose, the stability of complete L chain and of L chain devoid of the N-terminal polypeptide fragment were compared. The results indicated that the N-terminal polypeptide fragment plays an essential role in the stability of the V domain. Its removal makes the domain accessible for ANS and Congo red dye binding without heating. The decreased domain stability was registered in particular as increased root mean square (RMS) fluctuation and higher susceptibility to proteolytic attack. The long-range effect was most clearly manifested at 340 K as independent V and C domain fluctuation in the l-chain devoid of the N-terminal polypeptide fragment. This is likely due to the lack of direct connections between the N- and C-termini of the V domain polypeptide. In a complete V domain the connection involves residues 8-12 and 106-110 in particular. Partial or complete disruption of this connection increases the freedom of V domain rotation, while its increased cohesion strengthens the coupling of the V and C domains, making the whole L chain less flexible.     

Intramolecular signaling in immunoglobulins -- new evidence emerging from the use of supramolecular protein ligands.

The postulated intramolecular signaling in immunoglobulins generated by antigen binding has been controversial for years. The high heterogeneity of immune complexes as signaling systems and the requirement of the immobilized antigen form for efficient triggering of effector activity is likely the reason for the lack of clarity. Here we present new evidence supporting the notion of intramolecular signaling, based on the use of supramolecular dyes that bind to signal-derived specific sites in immunoglobulins.     

Occurrence of 16s rRNA methylase ArmA producing Enterobacteriaceae in a general hospital in Warsaw, Poland

Resistance to gentamicin, amikacin and kanamycin was screened in 270 clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae originated from April 19 to May 19, 2010 in a regular hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Most of the isolated bacteria were considered pathogenic. Nineteen isolates (7%) were simultaneously resistant to two or three of the tested aminoglycosides. MICs of the three aminoglycosides ranged form 128 to 1024 mcg/ml for six isolates. These isolates were suspected to produce 16S rRNA methylase. Genes encoding for three methylases reported in Europe: ArmA, RmtB and RmtC were searched by PCR. The armA gene was detected in all of the six isolates. This group encompassed Enterobacter cloacae (n=4), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=1) and Proteus mirabilis (n=1). Five isolates of this group carried the bla(CAX-M) gene for CTX-M type ESBL. The remaining isolate E. cloacae DM0340 was ESBL negative and lacked bla(CRX-M) that may suggest an altered genetic environment of the armA gene in this isolate. Our results showed that 2.2% of the tested isolates produced 16S rRNA methylase ArmA. This finding may argue for a high incidence of ArmA producing Enterobacteriaceae in Poland when compared to reports from other European countries.     

Insights gained from a web-based atlas of halocyprid ostracods of the Southern Ocean

Planktonic ostracods are an important, but poorly studied component of open ocean plankton communities, which inhabit all depths and play a significant role in detrital cycles. A web-based atlas (http://ocean.iopan.gda.pl/ostracoda) of the distribution of Southern Ocean planktonic ostracods has been developed compiling all extractable published data together with a considerable amount of unpublished data from samples collected during Discovery investigations (1929–1952). The northern boundary of the Southern Ocean was taken pragmatically as 52°S. The website includes information that includes distributional maps, taxonomic drawings (mostly original), size data and systematic notes on 47 species. All the data are freely downloadable as PDF files and are thus available to anyone, anywhere, with access to the web.Published data are subject to a number of errors generated by faulty identifications and changes in the taxonomy. Most, but not all, published data could be included in drawing up the maps. Not all publications have included detailed positional data and from those that included distributional maps, it was not always possible to relate the plotted distributions to the published station listings. A lack of archived data and specimens for some of the records meant dubious records could not be validated. Data are now generally archived by national oceanographic data centres, but unless supported by voucher specimens further confusion may arise for those current species which are found to include cryptic species after classical morphological studies or molecular studies.One species (Boroecia antipoda) had an apparently anomalous distribution; specimens archived in the Copenhagen Museum were reexamined and the anomalies were shown to result from the fact that some of the specimens belong to a novel species. Generally, the limits to the distributional ranges of the species showed little coherence with major oceanographic features, such as the Antarctic convergence and hence, biogeographical provinces; possible reasons are discussed. Despite these possible inherent errors, the website not only provides a resource for species identification, but is also proving to be a powerful tool for generation of hypotheses and highlighting taxonomic problems.