Arabidopsis SOI33／AtENT8 Gene Encodes a Putative Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter That Is Involved in Cytokinin Transport In Planta

The plant phytohormone cytokinin plays an important role in many facets of plant growth and development by regulating cell division and differentiation. Recent studies have shed significant light into the mechanisms of cytokinin metabolism and signaling. However, little is known about how the hormone is transported in planta, although it has been proposed that the hormone is presumably transported in nucleoside-conjugated forms. Here, we report the identification and characterization of cytokinin transporters in Arabidopsis. We previously reported that a gain-of-function mutation in the PGA22/AtlPT8 gene caused overproduction of cytokinins in planta. In an effort to screen for suppressor of pga22/atipt8 (soi) mutants, we identified a mutant soi33-1. Molecular and genetic analyses indicated that S0133 encodes a putative equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT), previously designated as AtENT8. Members of this small gene family are presumed to be involved in the transport of nucleosides in eukaryodc cells. Under conditions of nitrogen starvation, loss-of-function mutations in SOI33/AtENT8 or in a related gene AtENT3 cause a reduced sensitivity to the nucleoside-type cytokinins isopentenyladenine riboside (iPR) and transzeatin riboside (tZR), but display a normal response to the free base-type cytokinins isopentenyladenine (iP) and trans-zeatin (tZ). Conversely, overexpression of SOI33/AtENT8 renders transgenic plants hypersensitive to iPR but not to iP. An in planta measurement experiment indicated that uptake efficiency of^3Hlabeled iPR was reduced more than 40% in soi33 and atent3 mutants. However, a mutation in AtENT1 had no substantial effect on the cytokinin response and iPR uptake efficiency. Our results suggest that SOI33/AtENT8 and AtENT3 are involved in the transport of nucleoside-type cytokinins in Arabidopsis.     

Southern oscillation and the northern australian prawn catch

Associations are established between the southern oscillation index (SOI) and penaeid prawn catches within the northern Australian prawn fishery. Analysis involved calculation of correlations between Gulf of Carpentaria banana prawn andtiger prawn catches and Troup’s SOI. Significant positive correlations are observed between catch size and SOI for specific months from pre-wet to post-wet seasons. For banana prawns, the results indirectly confirm some earlier observations of increased catches in conjunction with high rainfall during the onset of monsoon periods, but also indicate an association with late rains. However, the relationship with tiger prawns appears to be in the opposite direction, showing negative correlations with SOI for particular months. Some hypotheses are suggested to explain these results in terms of environmental effects on spawning populations, and comment is made on the potential for forecasting catch sizes. Received: 17 August 1998 / Accepted: 23 June 1999     

Sex-related,growth–climate association of Araucaria angustifolia in the neotropical ombrophilous woodlands of Argentina

Araucaria angustifolia is a dioecious dominant tree in araucaria forests in Brazil and Argentina, South America. The species is nowadays critically endangered by deforestation and global climate change. The goal of this study was to analyse the dynamics of radial growth in this species and its association with climatic variables, according to the sex, at its western range boundary in Argentina. Standard dendrochronological techniques were applied on stem disks from female and male trees. Xylem anatomical anomalies made the tree-ring dating process difficult. Female and male trees showed growth patterns that changed over time, not being significant in the 1950–1990 period and highly significant from the 1990s onwards (p < 0.1) when female trees had a higher growth rate. Female and male trees showed a different association with climatic variables. No significant effect of temperature and precipitation was identified on female trees. For male trees, rainfall had a positive effect in August, before the growing season, and a negative effect at the end of the growing season (March). Temperature had a negative effect on male trees, before and during the growing season (February and January, respectively). No effect of SOI was detected on both sexes. Results emphasised the usefulness of A. angustifolia for dendrochronological studies and the value of dioecious species for the study of sex-related growth–climate association.     

Initiation of oviposition after winter diapause in the spider mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus urticae</Emphasis> (Acari: Tetranychidae): prediction and historical patterns

The rate of development from winter diapause to initial oviposition for Tetranychus urticae on strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa, in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, was linearly related to temperature above 9.4 ± 0.71°C. Initial oviposition (IO) in the field, defined as the day at which half of the leaflets with T. urticae also had T. urticae eggs (IO_0.5), was determined for 21 populations between 1988 and 2006 by logistic curve fitting to sequential field samples. Prediction of IO_0.5 required adjustment of air temperatures for the effects of cloud opacity on microclimate, otherwise predictions were 20–30 days late. A thermal summation start date of 27 November was determined by iteratively summing day-degrees (>9.4°C) from different start dates until IO_0.5, for 10 calibration populations, and observing when the coefficient of variation for the mean thermal requirement was minimal. The thermal requirement for the 10 calibration populations was negatively correlated with accumulated cold-rest hours (<4.0°C). Model predictions of IO_0.5 were not significantly different from the validation data. Predictions for 1954–2003 were positively correlated with the mean monthly Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) during September–December and negatively correlated with year (R ² = 0.36, P < 0.0001), indicating some potential for prediction of IO_0.5 2–3 months in advance. Estimated IO_0.5 in 2003 was 12.8 days earlier than in the mid-1950s, and variation in IO_0.5 related to the SOI was 25.2 days. These results may be generally applicable to other temperate arthropods that emerge at the same time as T. urticae, such as the aphids Chaetosiphon fragaefolii on strawberry, and Ericaphis fimbriata on blueberry.     

Arabidopsis SOI33/AtENT8 Gene Encodes a Putative Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter That Is Involved in Cytokinin Transport In Planta

The plant phytohormone cytokinin plays an important role in many facets of plant growth and development by regulating cell division and differentiation. Recent studies have shed significant light into the mechanisms of cytokinin metabolism and signaling. However, little is known about how the hormone is transported in planta, although it has been proposed that the hormone is presumably transported in nucleoside-conjugated forms. Here, we report the identification and characterization of cytokinin transport ers in Arabidopsis. We previously reported that a gain-of-function mutation in the PGA22/AtIPT8 gene caused overproduction of cytokinins in planta. In an effort to screen for suppressor of pga22/atipt8 (soi) mutants, we identified a mutant soi33-1. Molecular and genetic analyses indicated that SOI33 encodes a putative equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT), previously designated as AtENT8. Members of this small gene family are presumed to be involved in the transport of nucleosides in eukaryotic cells. Under conditions of nitrogen starvation, loss-of-function mutations in SOI33/AtENT8 or in a related gene AtENT3 cause a reduced sensitivity to the nucleoside-type cytokinins isopentenyladenine riboside (iPR) and trans zeatin riboside (tZR), but display a normal response to the free base-type cytokinins isopentenyladenine (iP) and trans-zeatin (tZ). Conversely, overexpression of SOI33/AtENT8 renders transgenic plants hyper sensitive to iPR but not to iP. An in planta measurement experiment indicated that uptake efficiency of 3H labeled iPR was reduced more than 40% in soi33 and atent3 mutants. However, a mutation inAtENT1 had no substantial effect on the cytokinin response and iPR uptake efficiency. Our results suggest that SOI33/ AtENT8 and AtENT3 are involved in the transport of nucleoside-type cytokinins in Arabidopsis.     

近30年气候异常对江苏省褐飞虱灾变性迁入的影响

近30年来,中国褐飞虱的灾变性迁入因受气候变化的影响而出现了明显的时空变异,为了揭示气候异常对褐飞虱区域性灾变的影响,为我国褐飞虱灾变预警及其区域危害的防控提供理论依据,在收集1983—2008年江苏省32个植保站褐飞虱灯诱资料、1981—2008年太平洋海表温度和南方涛动指数数据及1983—2008年江苏省70个气象台站降水和气温观测资料的基础上,选取高邮、通州和宜兴作为江苏省不同水稻生长区的代表性测站(其中高邮代表江淮稻区,通州代表苏北沿海稻区,宜兴代表苏南稻区),通过对近30年来太平洋海温场、南方涛动、迁入区降水和温度异常与江苏省褐飞虱发生程度之间关系的分析,探讨了气候异常对该省褐飞虱灾变性迁入的影响。结果表明:(1)赤道东太平洋海表水温持续偏高的厄尔尼诺事件多引发江苏省褐飞虱偏重以上程度的发生,且其首次迁入峰的出现时间与厄尔尼诺事件开始期之间有1—14个月的滞后期。(2)南方涛动指数(SOI)持续出现负值的厄尔尼诺事件发生的当年或次年,褐飞虱为偏重以上的发生程度,且其首次迁入峰的出现时间滞后于SOI负值开始期1—14个月。(3)登陆并影响江苏的强热带气旋偏多的拉尼娜年也会出现褐飞虱偏重以上的发生。(4)降水对褐飞虱迁入的影响明显,但有限制条件;降水量大、降水日数多的年份褐飞虱迁入量大、发生程度重;以6—10月降水量、降水日数和降水强度为预报因子,建立了褐飞虱发生等级的回归方程,方程拟合和试报效果好。(5)夏秋季6—10月地面气温的异常对江苏省褐飞虱迁入的发生有一定的影响,秋温偏高的年份常导致江苏省褐飞虱偏重以上的发生。     

The structure and measurement of human mating strategies: toward a multidimensional model of sociosexuality

Recent theoretical perspectives concerning the structure of variation in human mating have focused less on conceptualizations of alternate mating strategies and more on the evolution of a conditional strategy. Empirical evidence suggests that this conditional strategy may involve the simultaneous pursuit of long-term and short-term mating tactics. Despite these developments, empirical measurement has proceeded using the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI), which measures restricted and unrestricted mating orientations along a single bipolar continuum. To fully capture the pluralistic nature of human mating, we suggest that a multidimensional empirical measure is required. To test our hypothesis, we subjected an expanded version of the SOI, which included items measuring psychological orientation toward short-term mating and long-term mating, to principal components analysis. A three-factor structure representing short-term mating orientation, long-term mating orientation, and previous sexual behavior emerged. In subsequent analyses, we demonstrate that our newly developed long-term and short-term dimensions (a) are largely independent and (b) correlate differentially with other theoretically relevant variables.     

Elucidating the mechanisms of protein antigen adsorption to the CAF/NAF liposomal vaccine adjuvant systems: Effect of charge,fluidity and antigen-to-lipid ratio

The reverse vaccinology approach has recently resulted in the identification of promising protein antigens, which in combination with appropriate adjuvants can stimulate customized, protective immune responses. Although antigen adsorption to adjuvants influences vaccine efficacy and safety, little is generally known about how antigens and adjuvants interact at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of interactions between the equally sized, but oppositely charged model protein antigens α-lactalbumin and lysozyme, and i) the clinically tested cationic liposomal adjuvant CAF01 composed of cationic dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA) bromide and trehalose-6,6′-dibehenate (TDB) or ii) the neutral adjuvant formulation NAF01, where DDA was replaced with zwitterionic distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC). The effect of liposome charge, bilayer rigidity, isoelectric point and antigen-to-lipid ratio was investigated using dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, intrinsic fluorescence and Langmuir monolayers. The net anionic α-lactalbumin adsorbed onto the cationic liposomes, while there was no measureable attractive interaction with the zwitterionic liposomes. In contrast, the net cationic lysozyme showed very little interaction with either types of liposome. Adsorption of α-lactalbumin altered its tertiary structure, affected lipid membrane packing below and above the phase transition temperature, and neutralized the liposomal surface charge, resulting in reduced colloidal stability and liposome aggregation. Langmuir studies revealed that α-lactalbumin was not squeezed out of DDA monolayers upon compression, which suggests additional hydrophobic interactions.