Mutations Affecting Acetylcholine Levels in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Gene cha-1.unc-17 of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a complex gene, consisting of at least two complementation groups. One part (cha-1 region) of the gene encodes the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), but the function of the other part (unc-17 region) is still unclear. We measured the ChAT activity and ACh levels of the cha-1 and unc-17 complex gene mutants. We show here that alterations in ACh levels, rather than the ChAT activity, reflect abnormal phenotypes accompanying cha-1.unc-17 mutations, that is, the decreased ACh levels in cha-1 mutations and abnormal accumulation in unc-17 mutations. Our results suggest that the unc-17 region may encode functions necessary for storage and/or release of ACh at the presynaptic level.     

Properties and Partial Purification of Choline Acetyltransferase from the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

We have stabilized and studied choline acetyltransferase from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The enzyme is soluble, and two discrete forms were resolved by gel filtration. The larger of these two forms (MW approximately 154,000) was somewhat unstable and in the presence of 0.5 M NaI was converted to a form indistinguishable from the "native" small form (MW approximately 71,000). We have purified the small form of the enzyme greater than 3,300-fold by a combination of gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, and nucleotide affinity chromatography. The purified preparation has a measured specific activity of 3.74 mumol/min/mg protein, and is free of acetylcholinesterase and acetyl-CoA hydrolase activities. The Vmax of the purified enzyme is stimulated by NaCl, with half-maximal stimulation at 80 mM NaCl. The Km for each substrate is also affected by salt, but in different manners from each other and the Vmax; the kinetic parameter Vmax/Km thus changes significantly as a function of the salt concentration.     

家鸽、黄雀和黄喉鹀耳蜗核的定位与比较

向非鸣禽家鸽（Ｃｏｌｕｍｂａ ｌｉｖｉａ ｄｏｍｅｓｔｉｃｕｓ）和鸣禽黄雀（Ｃａｒｄｕｅｌｉｓ ｓｐｉｎｕｓ）、黄喉鹀（Ｅｍｂｅｒｉｚａ, ｅｌｅｇａｎｓ）耳蜗内注射 ＨＲＰ作顺行追踪表明,耳蜗纤维组成第八脑神经的听支（ Ｎ Ⅷ）后,分别投射至延髓的角状核（ＮＡ）和巨细胞核（ＮＭ）,由 ＮＡ及 ＮＭ两个亚核组成耳蜗核（ｎｕｃｌｅｕｓ ｃｏｃｈｌｅａ）,它是听觉的上行通路中的第一级中继站,延髓层状核并不接受耳蜗纤维的直接投射。家鸽与黄雀、黄喉鹀之间的ＮＡ、ＮＭ及ＮⅧ在形态和分布上都有较明显的差别。     

PROROCENTRUM BELIZEANUM,PROROCENTRUM ELEGANS,AND PROROCENTRUM CARIBBAEUM,THREE NEW BENTHIC SPECIES (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM A MANGROVE ISLAND,TWIN CAYS,BELIZE1

Three new benthic dinoflagellate species, Prorocentrum belizeanum, Prorocentrum elegans, and Prorocentrum caribbaeum, from mangrove floating detritus are described from scanning electron micrographs. Species were identified based on shape, size, surface micromorphology, ornamentation of thecal plates, and architecture of the periflagellar area and intercalary band. Cells of P. belizeanum are round to slightly oval with a cell size of 55–60 μm long and 50–55 μm wide. Areolae are round and numerous (853–1024 per valve) and range from 0.66 to 0.83 μm in size. The periflagellar area of P. belizeanum is a broad V-shaped depression; it accommodates a flagellar and an auxiliary pore and a flared, curved apical collar. The intercalary band of P. belizeanum is horizontally striated. Prorocentrum elegans is a small species 15–20 μm long and 10–14 μm wide, with an ovate cell shape. The thecal surface is smooth. Two sizes of valve pores were recognized: large, round pores (20–22 per valve) arranged in a distinct pattern and smaller pores situated in an array along the intercalary band. The periflagellar area is V-shaped; it accommodates an uneven sized flagellar pore, an auxiliary pore, and an angled protuberant flagellar plate. The intercalary band is transversely striated. It is a bloom-forming species. Prorocentrum caribbaeum cells are heart-shaped with a rounded anterior end and a pointed posterior end. Cells range from 40 to 45 μm long and 30 to 35 μm wide. Thecal surface has two different-sized pores: large, round pores (145–203 per valve) arranged perpendicularly from the posterior margins, and small, round pores unevenly distributed on the thecal surface. The periflagellar area is ornate. It is V-shaped with a curved apical collar located next to the auxiliary pore; a smaller protuberant apical plate is adjacent to the flagellar pore. The intercalary band is transversely striated and sinuous. Cells are active swimmers.     

Effects of Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) on the spread of the bacterium Pseudomonas tolaasii in mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)

The effects of mass-produced saprobic rhabditid nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans on the spread of the bacterial blotch pathogen, Pseudomonas tolaasii , were studied in mushroom growth chambers. C. elegans significantly reduced the intensity of blotch on sporophores. Repeated isolations of the bacterial flora from the gut of C. elegans recovered from mushroom sporophores during cropping, revealed the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar reactans . All the isolates of P. fluorescens biovar reactans isolated from nematodes were antagonists of P. tolaasii .
C. elegans produced much larger populations in monoxenic cultures with P. fluorescens biovar reactans than with P. tolaasii . It is suggested that as C. elegans selects P. fluorescens biovar reactans rather than P. tolaasii as a food substrate it probably spreads the antagonist in the mushroom crop and may contribute to the control of bacterial blotch.     

日本血吸虫尾蚴发育的超微结构观察：Ⅱ.腺体

在透射电镜下观察不同发育期日本血吸虫尾蚴的腺体。结果：胚球期（Ｓ２）主要出现体细胞分裂与分化,首次证明分泌细胞及其小体在Ｓ２出现,雏体期（Ｓ３）见到前钻腺细胞体与钻腺管束及分泌小体。成熟前期（Ｓ４）钻腺分泌小体基质分Ａ／Ｂ为主两型,分别演变为成熟期（Ｓ）５的后／前钻腺分泌小体。头腺分泌小体亦在Ｓ４出现。从前钻腺体排至头器远端腺管的分泌小体,显眼透明球消失成为致密同质性小体,已为大家共识。而在后钻腺     

钉螺体内日本血吸虫尾蚴发育期的形态及其扫描电镜观察

本文通过活体标本、连续切片、全封标本及扫描电镜观察了大陆品系日本血吸虫Schistosomajaponicum子胞蚴体内尾蚴发育期的形态。日本血吸虫尾蚴发育分为五期,即胚细胞期、胚球期、尾蚴雏体期、成熟前期和成熟期。与曼氏血吸虫尾蚴发育进行比较,日本血吸虫尾蚴在胚球期无极化现象;尾蚴雏体期的尾芽形态多非圆球形,尾叉形成较早。钻腺及焰细胞均在此期发生,较曼氏血吸虫尾蚴早。除了上述头器、头腺、钻腺、焰细胞及消化器官进一步发育外,体内散在胚细胞结集为生殖始基,体表感觉乳突分化与体尾肌细胞的发育,尾蚴从成熟前期过渡到成熟期。 电镜首次原位观察尾蚴发育在子胞蚴育腔内的自然状态。尽管偶尔可见到胞蚴体壁与胚元之间某些结构联系,但大部份的胚元各自独立混杂在育腔之中。此外尚注意到尾蚴体棘发生在成熟前期,但其密度较成熟尾蚴小,而其大小却比成熟尾蚴的大。尾蚴头器上感觉乳突和围褶可能先于内部腺体细胞的分化。     

Missing piece of top predator-based conservation: Demographic analysis of an owl population on a remote subtropical island

Top predators are frequently the target of conservation programs. Owls are such predators. However, previous studies of owls are biased to species occurring in temperate regions, whereas most owl species occur in tropical or subtropical regions and are understudied. Furthermore, owls are often endemic to islands and of unknown conservation status. Demographic data for such species are especially scarce although they are essential for initiating and promoting their conservation. As a case study of demographic analysis of owls in a tropical or subtropical area and on islands, we applied an integrated population model to 7-year monitoring data (2012–2018) of the Ryukyu Scops Owl population on Minami-daito Island, Japan. We used survival history data from 903 individuals, reproduction and sex ratio data from 213 broods, and count data of 2,526 individuals in total. Long-term averages of annual survival rates were 0.73 for adult females and 0.74 for adult males, although the sexual difference was not significant. Sex ratio estimates fluctuated annually and long-term averages were slightly skewed to males: 0.51 among fledglings, 0.54 among yearlings, and 0.52 among adults. Long-term averages of population size were estimated to be 273.4 females and 296.8 males. The long-term average of population growth rate was 0.98, suggesting a slightly declining trend. It was fortunate to recognize the declining trend during the early phase. Considering the general lack of fundamental ecological data on owls of tropical or subtropical areas and on islands, it seems likely that many endangered owl populations await conservation efforts.