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Stechmücken der Art Stegomyia aegypti (ehemals Aedes aegypti, REINERT et al. 2004) sind die wichtigsten Überträger von Gelbfieber- und Dengueviren. Diverse Arten der Gattung Anopheles verbreiten die Erreger der Malaria. Bei Versuchen, Malaria, Gelbfieber und Dengue einzudämmen, wurden in den letzten Jahrzehnten wiederholt Kampagnen gegen Stechmücken geführt. Dabei wurden Insektizide vielfach flächendeckend ausgebracht. Dies führte kurzfristig zu geringeren Mückendichten, allerdings entwickelten sich auch vielerorts gegen diese Gifte resistente Mückenpopulationen. Anstelle des flächendeckenden Gifteinsatzes wird heute versucht, die Insektizide örtlich und zeitlich effektiv einzusetzen, um so die Gefahr weiterer Resistenzbildung zu minimieren und sowohl die Kosten als auch die Belastung für Umwelt und Bevölkerung möglichst gering zu halten. Um Insektizide zur richtigen Zeit gezielt ausbringen zu können, ist ein Monitoring der Mücken erforderlich. Mückenfallen, die durch optische Effekte und Duftstoffe gezielt anthropophile Stechmückenarten anlocken, sind für ein derartiges Bestandsmonitoring besonders geeignet. Auf der Suche nach attraktiven Duftstoffen, welche die Effektivität solcher Fallen erhöhen, wurde unter anderem auch 2-Undecanon getestet. In Verhaltensversuchen mit den anthropophilen Mückenarten Stegomyia aegypti und Anopheles stephensi konnte die Attraktivität dieser Substanz sowohl als Einzelreiz als auch in Kombination mit anderen Attraktanzien gezeigt und quantifiziert werden.
Mittelasien (Kasachstan, Kirgistan, Tadschikistan, Turkmenistan, Usbekistan) ist neben dem Mediterranraum das bedeutendste paläarkische Bienen-Diversitätszentrum (MICHENER 1979). POPOV (1957) schätzt für den Raum 1.200 Arten aus 70 Gattungen, die Gesamtzahl dürfte jedoch bei über 2.000 Arten liegen. Über die innere biogeographische Gliederung der Region und die Lage von Endemiezentren ist bei den Bienen jedoch kaum etwas bekannt (POPOV 1958, MARIKOVSKAYA 1999). Am Beispiel der Seidenbienengattung Colletes, die hier aufgrund ihres Artenreichtums sowie des breiten Spektrums besiedelter Lebensraumtypen und Klimagebiete repräsentativ für andere Bienengruppen behandelt wird, werden Verbreitungsbilder analysiert und Endemiezentren identifiziert. Faunistisches und biogeographisches Arbeiten in Mittelasien ist bis heute ein aufwändiges Unternehmen. Die Größe des Raumes – mit 4 Mio. km² fast halb so groß wie Europa –, die in vielen Regionen unterentwickelte Infrastruktur sowie die in vergangenen und gegenwärtigen bürokratischen Hemmnissen begründete schwierige Zugänglichkeit vieler Gebiete ist ursächlich für den unzureichenden Bearbeitungsstand vieler Taxa. Durch uneinheitliche Transliteration, Schreibfehler bei der Etikettierung und Umbenennung von Orten ist die Identifikation von Fundorten häufig schwierig und in einigen Fällen selbst unter Zuhilfenahme historischen Kartenmaterials unmöglich. Die begrenzte Verfügbarkeit lokalfaunistischer Literatur in deutschen Bibliotheken und die Sprachbarriere bei der Nutzung kyrillisch geschriebener Arbeiten sind ein weiteres Hindernis. Aufgrund dieser Schwierigkeiten und dem daraus resultierenden niedrigen Erfassungsgrad in weiten Teilen Mittelasien haben die hier vorgelegten Ergebnisse vorläufigen Charakter.
Anfang der 80er Jahre wurde zum ersten Mal von SIMOVA-TOSIC & FILEV (1985) in der Nähe des Ohrid Sees (Balkan) eine unbekannte Miniermotte bei einem Massenauftretten an Aesculus hippocastanum L. festgestellt. Die neue Art wurde von DESCHKA & DIMIC (1986) Cameraria ohridella genannt. Seit dieser Erstentdeckung der Motte am Balkan lässt sich eine rasche Ausbreitung des Schädlings in Europa beobachten. Aufgrund der inzwischen erfolgten zahlreichen Veröffentlichungen ist davon auszugehen, dass bis jetzt nahezu ganz Europa, ausgenommen Skandinavien, von der Motte besiedelt wurde. In Griechenland wurde die Motte 1996 von SKUHRAVY (1999) bei Florina (Nord Griechenland) erstmals festgestellt. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war, Erkenntnisse über die Biologie der Motte in Griechenland zu gewinnen. Die durchgeführten Untersuchungen beziehen sich auf die Jahre 2001 bis 2004 und wurden im Rahmen des E.U. Programms CONTROCAM durchgeführt.
Seit 2001 wird in Belgien, Luxemburg und Rheinland-Pfalz der Befall augenscheinlich vitaler Buchen durch den Laubnutzholzborkenkäfer Trypodendron domesticum L. beobachtet (EISENBARTH et al. 2001). Die befallenen Bäume sind voll belaubt und weisen keine erkennbaren äußeren Verletzungen auf. Allerdings muss, entsprechend den bisherigen Erkenntnissen zur Brutraumfindung der Art (KERCK 1971, RAMISCH 1984), von einer individuellen Disposition der betroffenen Buchen ausgegangen werden. Die einzelbaum- bis gruppenweise Verteilung der befallenen Bäume innerhalb der Bestände stützt diese Vermutung. Die Bäume zeigen nicht die typischen Symptome der Buchenrindennekrose, deren erneutes Auftreten seit 1999 in der Region beobachtet wird. Das zeitlich und räumlich parallele Auftreten beider Krankheitsbilder macht einen Zusammenhang allerdings wahrscheinlich. Die Buchen werden vornehmlich an den nordexponierten Stammseiten im unteren Stammdrittel befallen. Der Befall ist in der Regel auf kleinflächige Stammpartien (< 1 m² Mantelfläche) beschränkt. Dieser Stehendbefall, durch die als Lagerholzschädling bekannte Art, ist ein grundlegend neues Schadbild, das bisher noch nicht beobachtet wurde. Die erfolgreiche Besiedlung vitaler Buchen durch pilzzüchtende Borkenkäfer wäre eine ernstzunehmende Gefahr für die mitteleuropäische Buchenwirtschaft und die Buchenwaldökosysteme.
Am Zoologischen Institut der Uni Heidelberg wurde bereits seit einigen Jahren an der Entwicklung einer biologischen Bekämpfungsstrategie gegen Maikäfer gearbeitet. Neben einem Bacillus thuringiensis-Stamm, der bei einigen Maikäfer-Verwandten wirksam ist (WAGNER & SCHNETTER 2001), wurde vor allem mit entomopathogenen Nematoden der Gattungen Steinernema und Heterorhabditis geforscht (BERNER & SCHNETTER 2001). Die Anfälligkeit der Larven sowohl des Feld- als auch des Waldmaikäfers gegenüber diesen Nematoden ist jedoch im Vergleich zu anderen Scarabaeiden, wie dem Gartenlaubkäfer (Phylloperta horticola), relativ gering (SULISTYANTO & EHLERS 1996), so dass auch die bisher durchgeführten Freilandversuche wenig Erfolg brachten (BERNER & SCHNETTER 2002). Neben der Suche nach möglichst infektiösen Nematodenarten und -stämmen ist für den Erfolg einer Nematodenapplikation im Freiland eine vorausgehende Systemanalyse des Standortes von entscheidender Bedeutung. Hierbei sind neben abiotischen Faktoren wie der Witterung und den Bodenverhältnissen auch biotische Faktoren wie dem Vorkommen von Pathogenen in der Engerling-Population zu erfassen. Insbesondere eine Vorinfektion der Engerling-Population kann einen falschen Wirkungsgrad der Nematoden vortäuschen, da unter diesen Bedingungen antagonistische oder synergistische Wechselwirkungen zwischen den latenten Pathogenen und den applizierten Nematoden zu erwarten sind. Ausgangspunkt der hier vorgestellten Arbeit war eine Engerling-Population des Waldmaikäfers (Melolontha hippocastani), die 1999 in der Nähe von Lorsch gefunden wurde und einen hohen Prozentsatz an Engerlingen aufwies, der mit Rickettsien (Rickettsiella popilliae) infiziert war. Aufgrund der hohen Dichte und der ausgeprägten Symptome der als „Lorscher Seuche“ bei Engerlingen bekannten Rickettsien-Infektion konnte die Krankheit bereits im Feld diagnostiziert werden (vgl. NIKLAS 1960).
Natürlicherweise war die Tanne (Abies alba) in den bayerischen Wäldern mit Anteilen von bis zu 20% vertreten (nach ROTHE & BORCHERT 2003). Seit 150 Jahren aber gehen die Tannenbestände in drastischem Ausmaß zurück, was nicht nur auf die wachsende Schadstoffbelastung der Luft, sondern auch auf hohe Wildbestände und die einseitige Waldbewirtschaftung zugunsten der Fichte (Picea abies) zurückzuführen ist. In jüngster Zeit wird seitens der Staatsforstverwaltung angestrebt, der Tanne ihren angestammten Platz in unseren Wäldern wieder einzuräumen (BAYERISCHES STAATSMINISTERIUM FÜR LANDWIRTSCHAFT UND FORSTEN 1993). Es stellt sich die Frage, welchen Beitrag die Tanne zur Biodiversität in Wäldern und speziell in Mischwäldern leistet. Frühere Untersuchungen beschrieben die Tannenfauna als artenarm im Vergleich mit anderen Baumarten (BÖHME 2001, BUCKING 1998), allerdings wurde die Kronenfauna dabei stets vernachlässigt. Da aber 90% eines Hochwaldes über der Reichhöhe eines Menschen liegt (BUßLER et al. 2004), sind Untersuchungen im Kronenraum höheren Straten für eine umfassende Aussage über die Fauna auf Bäumen von großer Bedeutung. Bis jetzt gibt es trotz des generell wachsenden Interesses an der Kronenfauna keine umfassenden Untersuchungen an Tanne (MÜLLER & GOSSNER 2004). Mit dem hier vorgestellten Projekt sollte begonnen werden, die Wissenslücke um die Insektenfauna in Tannenkronen zu schließen. Den xylobionten Käfern galt besondere Aufmerksamkeit, da sie als eine baumartengebundene Insektengruppe für vergleichendeUntersuchungen sehr gut geeignet und sowohl taxonomisch als auch ökologisch gut untersucht sind. Daneben wurden Heteroptera, Neuropterida und Hymenoptera bearbeitet .
Background Over the past years a variety of host restriction genes have been identified in human and mammals that modulate retrovirus infectivity, replication, assembly, and/or cross-species transmission. Among these host-encoded restriction factors, the APOBEC3 (A3; apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic polypeptide 3) proteins are potent inhibitors of retroviruses and retrotransposons. While primates encode seven of these genes (A3A to A3H), rodents carry only a single A3 gene. Results Here we identified and characterized several A3 genes in the genome of domestic cat (Felis catus) by analyzing the genomic A3 locus. The cat genome presents one A3H gene and three very similar A3C genes (a-c), probably generated after two consecutive gene duplications. In addition to these four one-domain A3 proteins, a fifth A3, designated A3CH, is expressed by read-through alternative splicing. Specific feline A3 proteins selectively inactivated only defined genera of feline retroviruses: Bet-deficient feline foamy virus was mainly inactivated by feA3Ca, feA3Cb, and feA3Cc, while feA3H and feA3CH were only weakly active. The infectivity of Vif-deficient feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus was reduced only by feA3H and feA3CH, but not by any of the feA3Cs. Within Felidae, A3C sequences show significant adaptive selection, but unexpectedly, the A3H sequences present more sites that are under purifying selection. Conclusion Our data support a complex evolutionary history of expansion, divergence, selection and individual extinction of antiviral A3 genes that parallels the early evolution of Placentalia, becoming more intricate in taxa in which the arms race between host and retroviruses is harsher.
Manche mögen’s salzig : Anpassungsstrategien und Biotechnologie Salz liebender Mikroorganismen
(2008)
Sie lieben extreme Bedingungen: Einige leben in tiefen Gesteinsschichten oder ohne Licht und Sauerstoff an kochend heißen Quellen der Tiefsee, andere bevorzugen die eisigen Temperaturen der Polargebiete, und wieder andere fühlen sich erst richtig wohl in kochender Schwefelsäure. Doch wie passen sich Mikroorganismen an diese extremen Bedingungen an? Die Forschung hat darauf bereits Antworten gefunden, die sich auch biotechnologisch nutzen lassen.
Ohne das Eingreifen des Menschen wäre Mitteleuropa fast ein reines Waldgebiet. Noch heute beheimaten die Wälder eine große Vielfalt an Pflanzen und Tieren, die für diese Region spezifisch sind. Regionale Besonderheiten gehen aber verloren, je mehr Menschen in die Ökosysteme eingreifen: So unterscheiden sich die Pflanzenarten auf der North Charles Street in Baltimore nur wenig von denjenigen der Mainzer Landstraße in Frankfurt. Gleichzeitig verdrängen zugewanderte und eingeschleppte Arten heimische Tiere und Pflanzen. Allerdings gibt es auch im Frankfurter Stadtgebiet echte Horte der Biodiversität.
From sea to land and beyond : new insights into the evolution of euthyneuran Gastropoda (Mollusca)
(2008)
Background The Euthyneura are considered to be the most successful and diverse group of Gastropoda. Phylogenetically, they are riven with controversy. Previous morphology-based phylogenetic studies have been greatly hampered by rampant parallelism in morphological characters or by incomplete taxon sampling. Based on sequences of nuclear 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA as well as mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI DNA from 56 taxa, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Euthyneura utilising Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The evolution of colonization of freshwater and terrestrial habitats by pulmonate Euthyneura, considered crucial in the evolution of this group of Gastropoda, is reconstructed with Bayesian approaches. Results We found several well supported clades within Euthyneura, however, we could not confirm the traditional classification, since Pulmonata are paraphyletic and Opistobranchia are either polyphyletic or paraphyletic with several clades clearly distinguishable. Sacoglossa appear separately from the rest of the Opisthobranchia as sister taxon to basal Pulmonata. Within Pulmonata, Basommatophora are paraphyletic and Hygrophila and Eupulmonata form monophyletic clades. Pyramidelloidea are placed within Euthyneura rendering the Euthyneura paraphyletic. Conclusion Based on the current phylogeny, it can be proposed for the first time that invasion of freshwater by Pulmonata is a unique evolutionary event and has taken place directly from the marine environment via an aquatic pathway. The origin of colonisation of terrestrial habitats is seeded in marginal zones and has probably occurred via estuaries or semi-terrestrial habitats such as mangroves.
Poster presentation In pharmaceutical research and drug development, machine learning methods play an important role in virtual screening and ADME/Tox prediction. For the application of such methods, a formal measure of similarity between molecules is essential. Such a measure, in turn, depends on the underlying molecular representation. Input samples have traditionally been modeled as vectors. Consequently, molecules are represented to machine learning algorithms in a vectorized form using molecular descriptors. While this approach is straightforward, it has its shortcomings. Amongst others, the interpretation of the learned model can be difficult, e.g. when using fingerprints or hashing. Structured representations of the input constitute an alternative to vector based representations, a trend in machine learning over the last years. For molecules, there is a rich choice of such representations. Popular examples include the molecular graph, molecular shape and the electrostatic field. We have developed a molecular similarity measure defined directly on the (annotated) molecular graph, a long-standing established topological model for molecules. It is based on the concepts of optimal atom assignments and iterative graph similarity. In the latter, two atoms are considered similar if their neighbors are similar. This recursive definition leads to a non-linear system of equations. We show how to iteratively solve these equations and give bounds on the computational complexity of the procedure. Advantages of our similarity measure include interpretability (atoms of two molecules are assigned to each other, each pair with a score expressing local similarity; this can be visualized to show similar regions of two molecules and the degree of their similarity) and the possibility to introduce knowledge about the target where available. We retrospectively tested our similarity measure using support vector machines for virtual screening on several pharmaceutical and toxicological datasets, with encouraging results. Prospective studies are under way.
Background Differential expression of genes can be regulated on many different levels. Most global studies of gene regulation concentrate on transcript level regulation, and very few global analyses of differential translational efficiencies exist. The studies have revealed that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Arabidopsis thaliana, and human cell lines translational regulation plays a significant role. Additional species have not been investigated yet. Particularly, until now no global study of translational control with any prokaryotic species was available. Results A global analysis of translational control was performed with two haloarchaeal model species, Halobacterium salinarum and Haloferax volcanii. To identify differentially regulated genes, exponentially growing and stationary phase cells were compared. More than 20% of H. salinarum transcripts are translated with non-average efficiencies. By far the largest group is comprised of genes that are translated with above-average efficiency specifically in exponential phase, including genes for many ribosomal proteins, RNA polymerase subunits, enzymes, and chemotaxis proteins. Translation of 1% of all genes is specifically repressed in either of the two growth phases. For comparison, DNA microarrays were also used to identify differential transcriptional regulation in H. salinarum, and 17% of all genes were found to have non-average transcript levels in exponential versus stationary phase. In H. volcanii, 12% of all genes are translated with non-average efficiencies. The overlap with H. salinarum is negligible. In contrast to H. salinarum, 4.6% of genes have non-average translational efficiency in both growth phases, and thus they might be regulated by other stimuli than growth phase. Conclusions For the first time in any prokaryotic species it was shown that a significant fraction of genes is under differential translational control. Groups of genes with different regulatory patterns were discovered. However, neither the fractions nor the identity of regulated genes are conserved between H. salinarum and H. volcanii, indicating that prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes use differential translational control for the regulation of gene expression, but that the identity of regulated genes is not conserved For 70 H. salinarum genes potentiation of regulation was observed, but for the majority of regulated genes either transcriptional or translational regulation is employed.
Background The phylogenetic tree of Galliformes (gamebirds, including megapodes, currassows, guinea fowl, New and Old World quails, chicken, pheasants, grouse, and turkeys) has been considerably remodeled over the last decades as new data and analytical methods became available. Analyzing presence/absence patterns of retroposed elements avoids the problems of homoplastic characters inherent in other methodologies. In gamebirds, chicken repeats 1 (CR1) are the most prevalent retroposed elements, but little is known about the activity of their various subtypes over time. Ascertaining the fixation patterns of CR1 elements would help unravel the phylogeny of gamebirds and other poorly resolved avian clades. Results We analyzed 1,978 nested CR1 elements and developed a multidimensional approach taking advantage of their transposition in transposition character (TinT) to characterize the fixation patterns of all 22 known chicken CR1 subtypes. The presence/absence patterns of those elements that were active at different periods of gamebird evolution provided evidence for a clade (Cracidae + (Numididae + (Odontophoridae + Phasianidae))) not including Megapodiidae; and for Rollulus as the sister taxon of the other analyzed Phasianidae. Genomic trace sequences of the turkey genome further demonstrated that the endangered African Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis) is the sister taxon of the Asian Peafowl (Pavo), rejecting other predominantly morphology-based groupings, and that phasianids are monophyletic, including the sister taxa Tetraoninae and Meleagridinae. Conclusions The TinT information concerning relative fixation times of CR1 subtypes enabled us to efficiently investigate gamebird phylogeny and to reconstruct an unambiguous tree topology. This method should provide a useful tool for investigations in other taxonomic groups as well.
Background Today it is widely accepted that plastids are of cyanobacterial origin. During their evolutionary integration into the metabolic and regulatory networks of the host cell the engulfed cyanobacteria lost their independency. This process was paralleled by a massive gene transfer from symbiont to the host nucleus challenging the development of a retrograde protein translocation system to ensure plastid functionality. Such a system includes specific targeting signals of the proteins needed for the function of the plastid and membrane-bound machineries performing the transfer of these proteins across the envelope membranes. At present, most informations on protein translocation are obtained by the analysis of land plants. However, the analysis of protein import into the primitive plastids of glaucocystophyte algae, revealed distinct features placing this system as a tool to understand the evolutionary development of translocation systems. Here, bacterial outer membrane proteins of the Omp85 family have recently been discussed as evolutionary seeds for the development of translocation systems. Results To further explore the initial mode of protein translocation, the observed phenylalanine dependence for protein translocation into glaucophyte plastids was pursued in detail. We document that indeed the phenylalanine has an impact on both, lipid binding and binding to proteoliposomes hosting an Omp85 homologue. Comparison to established import experiments, however, unveiled a major importance of the phenylalanine for recognition by Omp85. This finding is placed into the context of the evolutionary development of the plastid translocon. Conclusion The phenylalanine in the N-terminal domain signs as a prerequisite for protein translocation across the outer membrane assisted by a primitive translocon. This amino acid appears to be optimized for specifically targeting the Omp85 protein without enforcing aggregation on the membrane surface. The phenylalanine has subsequently been lost in the transit sequence, but can be found at the C-terminal position of the translocating pore. Thereby, the current hypothesis of Omp85 being the prokaryotic contribution to the ancestral Toc translocon can be supported.
Rezensionen zu: Thomas Junker : Die Evolution des Menschen. Verlag C. H. Beck, München 2006 ISBN 978-3-406-53609-0, 127 Seiten, 7,90 Euro. Guillaume Lecointre, Hervé Le Guyader : Biosystematik. Verlag Springer, Heidelberg 2006. ISBN 978-3-540-24037-2. 696 Seiten, 39,95 Euro. Ulrich Kutschera : Evolutionsbiologie. 2. Auflage, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2006. ISBN 978-3-8252-8318-6 303 Seiten, 39,90 Euro. Volker Knoop, Kai Müller : Gene und Stammbäume. Verlag Elsevier/Spektrum, München 2006 ISBN 978-3-8274-1642-1. 310 Seiten, 29,50 Euro.
Die Paläoanthropologie beschäftigt sich mit der Erforschung der Ursprünge und der Evolution des Menschen. Die Vermittlung dieser Forschungsergebnisse in deutschen Schulen stellt eine wichtige Aufgabe dar und ist curricularer Bestandteil der Sekundarstufe I und II. Ein zentrales Anliegen des »Hominids for Schools«-Projekts ist es, die Vermittlung dieses Wissens nicht nur in Deutschland zu fördern, sondern auch dort, wo die Menschheitsgeschichte begann – in Afrika, der Wiege der Menschheit. Doch ein Schädelabguss allein bereichert noch nicht den Biologie- oder Evolutionsunterricht. Gefragt sind fachdidaktische Konzepte, die Schülern die neuesten Forschungsergebnisse inhaltlich näher bringen und buchstäblich begreifbar machen. An dieser Stelle ist die Kooperation zwischen Fachwissenschaft und Fachdidaktik unverzichtbar. Der vom Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg und dem Institut für Didaktik der Biowissenschaften gemeinsam entwickelte Lernkoffer ist ein Beispiel für fruchtbare Entwicklungsforschung, die zu den grundlegenden Aufgaben einer inhaltsorientierten Fachdidaktik gehört. Ausgangspunkt für das »Hominids for Schools«-Projekt war die Idee des Paläoanthropologen Prof. Dr. Friedemann Schrenk vom Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, die Bildung in Afrika zu fördern und einen interkulturellen Dialog zwischen deutschen und afrikanischen Partnerschulen anzuregen. Als Basis dienen Fossilien von Hominiden, die zu den ältesten Vorfahren des heutigen Menschen gezählt werden, und zwar Nachbildungen eines Schädels und eines Unterkiefers. Der Schädel gehört zu dem in Kenia gefundenen Turkana Boy, einem Homo erectus. Der Unterkiefer ist einem Homo rudolfensis zuzuordnen. Er stammt aus Malawi und stellt mit einem Alter von 2,5 Millionen Jahren das älteste Fundstück der Gattung Homo dar: UR 501 – so die Katalognummer des fossilen Urahns [siehe auch Stefanie Müller »Wissenschaftsvermittlung in der Wiede der Menschheit«, Forschung Frankfurt 2 – 3/2006]. Friedemann Schrenk, der seit über 20 Jahren auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent nach den Überresten unserer Vorfahren gräbt, fand mit seinem Team 1992 den Unterkiefer in Malawi. Der von Schrenk gegründete Verein »Uraha Foundation Germany « setzt sich für die Förderung von Wissenschaft und Forschung in und über Afrika ein. Im Rahmen des »Hominids for Schools«-Programms können deutsche Schulen über den Erwerb von Abgüssen zusätzliche Kopien für afrikanische Partnerschulen mitfinanzieren. In dem Beitrag von 150 Euro für einen Abguss des Unterkiefers von UR 501 sowie 350 Euro für den Abguss des Schädels des Turkana Boy ist die kostenlose Lieferung weiterer Abgüsse an zwei afrikanische Partnerschulen enthalten. Diese verfügen aufgrund eingeschränkter finanzieller Mittel nicht über die Möglichkeit, das Material selbst zu erwerben. Gerade die Lehr- und Lernmaterialausstattung ist an vielen afrikanischen Schulen, besonders in ländlichen Gebieten, mehr schlecht als recht. ...
Die vorliegende Untersuchung wurde im Rahmen des Verbundprojekts „BIOTA West Afrika“ durchgeführt und befasst sich mit der raum/zeitlichen Analyse der Landbedeckung und der räumlichen Modellierung von Mustern der Pflanzenvielfalt in drei Untersuchungsgebieten in Burkina Faso und Benin. Der erste Teil der Untersuchung beinhaltet die Dokumentation und Analyse der Landbedeckung und Landnutzung und ihrer raum/zeitlichen Veränderungen entlang eines Klimagradienten vom ariden Norden Burkina Fasos bis in den semiariden Norden Benins. Auf der Basis von multitemporalen LANDSAT - Satellitendaten und umfangreichen Geländedaten werden im sahelischen und den sudanischen Untersuchungsgebieten Karten der Landbedeckung mit hoher räumlicher und thematischer Auflösung erstellt. Je nach Untersuchungsgebiet können zwischen zehn und fünfzehn Landbedeckungsklassen differenziert werden. Die Gesamtklassifikationsgüte erreicht Werte zwischen 74% und 87%. In den sudanischen Untersuchungsgebieten werden Landnutzungsveränderungen mit Hilfe von LANDSAT - Satellitendaten, Luftbildern und Geländedaten über einen Zeitraum von ca. 15 Jahren (1986 – 2001) dokumentiert. Für beide Untersuchungsgebiete werden gravierende Landnutzungsveränderungen festgestellt. Der Anteil der ackerbaulich genutzten Fläche steigt für das nordsudanische Untersuchungsgebiet von 17% auf 41% und für das südsudanische Untersuchungsgebiet von 10% auf 14%. Im Mittelpunkt des zweiten Teils dieser Untersuchung steht die Frage nach den räumlichen Mustern der Pflanzenvielfalt und ihrer zeitlichen Veränderungen in den Untersuchungsgebieten der Sahel-, der Nord- und Südsudanzone. Zur Bearbeitung dieser Aufgabenstellungen kommt ein breites Methodenspektrum zur Anwendung. Kernstück der Untersuchung ist die Entwicklung eines verbesserten methodischen Ansatzes der Biodiversitätsmodellierung. Dazu werden bereits existierende räumliche Modellierungsansätze durch die Einbindung von Satellitendaten weiterentwickelt. Auf der Basis von georeferenzierten botanischen Daten (aktuell über 4500 pflanzensoziologische Aufnahmen mit insgesamt 104000 Datensätzen) werden für das sahelische, nord- und südsudanische Untersuchungsgebiet modellierte Verbreitungskarten von 138, 123 und 165 Pflanzenarten erstellt. Die Güte der Karten wird auf der Basis von unabhängigen Geländedaten überprüft. Die einzelnen Verbreitungskarten werden gebietsweise zusammengefasst, so dass im Ergebnis für jedes Untersuchungsgebiet eine hochauflösende Karte der Pflanzenvielfalt vorliegt. Im Rahmen einer Fallstudie werden die zeitlichen Veränderungen der Verbreitungsgebiete von Nutzbaumarten über einen Zeitraum von 13 Jahren untersucht. Es werden aktuelle und historische Verbreitungsgebiete der Nutzbaumarten auf der Basis von hochauflösenden Satellitendaten modelliert und die Veränderungen der Verbreitungsgebiete vor dem Hintergrund des Landnutzungswandels im Untersuchungsgebiet analysiert. Für 17 der 18 untersuchten Baumarten werden rückgängige Verbreitungsgebiete beobachtet.
In den hoch entwickelten Industriestaaten wird seit längerem eine dramatische Veränderung der Bevölkerungsstruktur beobachtet. Bei einer Erhöhung der Lebenserwartung und einer gleichzeitigen Abnahme der Geburtenrate verschiebt sich das Verhältnis von jungen zu alten Individuen immer mehr hin zu den Älteren. Längst wird von einem »Ergrauen« oder gar einer »Vergreisung« Europas gesprochen. Hieraus ergeben sich bereits heute schwerwiegende Probleme für die bestehenden Sozial- und Gesundheitssysteme. Diese drohen sich in der Zukunft dramatisch zu verschärfen. Eine Entlastung wird sicher nur dann erreicht werden können, wenn es gelingt, das Auftreten gesundheitlicher Beeinträchtigungen und Erkrankungen nachhaltig zu verhindern oder zumindest zu verzögern und damit eine Verbesserung der Lebensqualität in fortgeschrittenen Lebensabschnitten zu gewährleisten. Entscheidende Voraussetzung zum Erreichen dieser Ziele ist ein grundlegendes Verständnis der Mechanismen biologischen Alterns.
Ob das Alter ein Segen oder ein Fluch ist, darüber gehen seit der Antike die Meinungen auseinander, und es hat nicht an Versuchen gefehlt, für die doch unleugbaren Gebrechen und Gebresten die Gegenrechnung aufzumachen. Auf der einen Seite also Verfall des Körpers, Krankheit, Nachlassen oder Absterben der Sinnesvermögen und des fleischlichen Begehrens, auf der anderen Seite dafür aber Weisheit, Gelassenheit, Gemütsruhe, Abgeklärtheit, Milde, vielleicht Heiterkeit, da nichts mehr erreicht werden will. Prudentia – Klugheit – und Sophrosyne – Beherrschung der Begierden durch Vernunft und Besonnenheit – heißen die altersgemäßen Stichwörter, die vielleicht sogar Handlungsspielräume eröffnen, die den früheren Lebensaltern fehlten. ...
The experience of pain is mediated by a specialized sensory system, the nociceptive system. There is considerable evidence that the cGMP/cGMP kinase I (cGKI) signaling pathway modulates the nociceptive processing within the spinal cord. However, downstream targets of cGKI in this context have not been identified to date. In this study we investigated whether cysteine-rich protein 2 (CRP2) is a downstream effector of cGKI in the spinal cord and is involved in nociceptive processing. Immunohistochemistry of the mouse spinal cord revealed that CRP2 is expressed in superficial laminae of the dorsal horn. CRP2 is colocalized with cGKI and with markers of primary afferent C fibers. Importantly, the majority of CRP2 mRNA-positive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons express cGKI and CRP2 is phosphorylated in a cGMP-dependent manner. To elucidate the functional role of CRP2 in nociception, we investigated the nociceptive behavior of CRP2-deficient (CRP2-/-) mice. Touch perception and acute thermal nociception were unaltered in CRP2-/- mice. However, CRP2-/- mice showed an increased nociceptive behavior in models of persistent pain as compared to wild type mice. Intrathecal administration of cGKI activating cGMP analogs increased the nociceptive behavior in wild type but not in CRP2-/- mice, indicating that the presence of CRP2 was essential for cGMP/cGKI-mediated nociception. These data indicate that CRP2 is a new downstream effector of cGKI-mediated spinal nociceptive processing and point to an inhibitory role of CRP2 in the generation of inflammatory pain.
cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (cGK and cAK) mediate the inhibitory effects of endothelium-derived messenger molecules nitric oxide and prostacyclin on platelets. To understand the mechanisms involved in platelet inhibition we searched for new substrates of cGK and cAK. We identified Rap1GAP2, the only GTPase-activating protein of Rap1 in platelets. Rap1 is a guanine-nucleotide binding protein that controls integrin activity, platelet adhesion and aggregation. Rap1GAP2 is required to turn over Rap1-GTP to Rap1-GDP resulting in the inactivation of integrins and reduced cellular adhesion. Using phospho-specific antibodies we demonstrate phosphorylation of endogenous Rap1GAP2 on serine 7 by cGK and cAK in intact platelets. Yeast-two-hybrid screening revealed an interaction of the phosphoserine/-threonine binding adapter protein 14-3-3 with Rap1GAP2, and we mapped the 14-3-3 binding site to the N-terminus of Rap1GAP2 close to the cGK/cAK phosphorylation site. We could show that 14-3-3 binding to Rap1GAP2 requires phosphorylation of serine 9. Platelet activation by ADP and thrombin treatment induces Rap1GAP2 serine 9 phosphorylation and enhances the attachment of 14-3-3 to Rap1GAP2. In contrast, phosphorylation of serine 7 by cGK/cAK leads to the detachment of 14-3-3. Furthermore, Rap1GAP2 serine 7 phosphorylation correlates with the inhibition of Rap1-GTP formation by cGMP and cAMP in platelets. Cell adhesion experiments provide additional evidence that Rap1GAP2 is activated by the detachment of 14-3-3. Point mutants of Rap1GAP2 deficient in 14-3-3 binding inhibit Rap1-mediated cell adhesion significantly stronger than a Rap1GAP2 mutant that binds 14-3-3 constitutively. Our findings define a novel regulatory mechanism that might contribute to both platelet activation and endothelial inhibition of platelet adhesion and aggregation.
Oxidative stress attenuates the NO-cGMP pathway, e.g. in the vascular system, through scavenging of free NO radicals by superoxide O2•-, by inactivation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) via oxidation of its central Fe2+ ion, and by down-regulation of sGC protein levels. While the former pathways are well established, the molecular mechanisms underlying the latter are still obscure. Using oxidative sGC inhibitor ODQ we demonstrate rapid down-regulation of sGC protein in mammalian cells. Co-incubation with proteasomal inhibitor MG132 results in accumulation of ubiquitinated sGC whereas sGC activator BAY 58–2667 prevents ubiquitination. ODQ-induced down-regulation of sGC is mediated through selective ubiquitination of its b subunit, and BAY 58–2667 abrogates this effect. Ubiquitination of sGC-b is dramatically enhanced by E3 ligase CHIP. Our data indicate that oxidative stress promotes ubiquitination of sGC b subunit through E3 ligase CHIP, and that sGC activator 58–2667 reverts this effect, most likely through stabilization of the heme-free b subunit. Thus the deleterious effects of oxidative stress can be counter-balanced by an activator of a key enzyme of vascular homeostasis.
Bypassing of DNA lesions by damage-tolerant DNA polymerases depends on the interaction of these enzymes with the monoubiquitylated form of the replicative clamp protein, PCNA. We have analyzed the contributions of ubiquitin and PCNA binding to damage bypass and damage-induced mutagenesis in Polymerase {eta} (encoded by RAD30) from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report here that a ubiquitin-binding domain provides enhanced affinity for the ubiquitylated form of PCNA and is essential for in vivo function of the polymerase, but only in conjunction with a basal affinity for the unmodified clamp, mediated by a conserved PCNA interaction motif. We show that enhancement of the interaction and function in damage tolerance does not depend on the ubiquitin attachment site within PCNA. Like its mammalian homolog, budding yeast Polymerase {eta} itself is ubiquitylated in a manner dependent on its ubiquitin-binding domain.
To facilitate the measurement of intramolecular distances in solvated RNA systems, a combination of spin-labeling, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is presented. The fairly rigid spin label 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrrolin-1-yloxyl-3-acetylene (TPA) was base and site specifically introduced into RNA through a Sonogashira palladium catalyzed crosscoupling on column. For this purpose 5-iodouridine, 5-iodo-cytidine and 2-iodo-adenosine phosphoramidites were synthesized and incorporated into RNA-sequences. Application of the recently developed ACE (R) chemistry presented the main advantage to limit the reduction of the nitroxide to an amine during the oligonucleotide automated synthesis and thus to increase substantially the reliability of the synthesis and the yield of labeled oligonucleotides. 4-Pulse Electron Double Resonance (PELDOR) was then successfully used to measure the intramolecular spin–spin distances in six doubly labeled RNA-duplexes. Comparison of these results with our previous work on DNA showed that A- and B-Form can be differentiated. Using an all-atom force field with explicit solvent, MD simulations gave results in good agreement with the measured distances and indicated that the RNA A-Form was conserved despite a local destabilization effect of the nitroxide label. The applicability of the method to more complex biological systems is discussed.
Riboswitches are highly structured elements in the 50-untranslated regions (50-UTRs) of messenger RNA that control gene expression by specifically binding to small metabolite molecules. They consist of an aptamer domain responsible for ligand binding and an expression platform. Ligand binding in the aptamer domain leads to conformational changes in the expression platform that result in transcription termination or abolish ribosome binding. The guanine riboswitch binds with high-specificity to guanine and hypoxanthine and is among the smallest riboswitches described so far. The X-ray-structure of its aptamer domain in complex with guanine/ hypoxanthine reveals an intricate RNA-fold consisting of a three-helix junction stabilized by longrange base pairing interactions. We analyzed the conformational transitions of the aptamer domain induced by binding of hypoxanthine using highresolution NMR-spectroscopy in solution. We found that the long-range base pairing interactions are already present in the free RNA and preorganize its global fold. The ligand binding core region is lacking hydrogen bonding interactions and therefore likely to be unstructured in the absence of ligand. Mg2+-ions are not essential for ligand binding and do not change the structure of the RNA-ligand complex but stabilize the structure at elevated temperatures. We identified a mutant RNA where the long-range base pairing interactions are disrupted in the free form of the RNA but form upon ligand binding in an Mg2+-dependent fashion. The tertiary interaction motif is stable outside the riboswitch context.
Background Cryptic species are two or more distinct but morphologically similar species that were classified as a single species. During the past two decades we observed an exponential growth of publications on cryptic species. Recently published reviews have demonstrated cryptic species have profound consequences on many biological disciplines. It has been proposed that their distribution is non-random across taxa and biomes. Results We analysed a literature database for the taxonomic and biogeographical distribution of cryptic animal species reports. Results from regression analysis indicate that cryptic species are almost evenly distributed among major metazoan taxa and biogeographical regions when corrected for species richness and study intensity. Conclusion This indicates that morphological stasis represents an evolutionary constant and that cryptic metazoan diversity does predictably affect estimates of earth´s animal diversity. Our findings have direct theoretical and practical consequences for a number of prevailing biological questions with regard to global biodiversity estimates, conservation efforts and global taxonomic initiatives.
Infektionen mit Herpesviren sind bereits seit der Antike bekannt. So beschrieb zum Beispiel schon Hippokrates in seinem »Corpus Hippocraticum« die sich auf der Haut ausbreitenden Herpes Simplex Läsionen und gab der Krankheit ihren bis heute gültigen Namen. Verbürgt ist auch, dass der römische Kaiser Tiberius vor etwa 2000 Jahren während einer auftretenden Herpes labialis-Epidemie das Küssen bei öffentlichen Zeremonien per Dekret verbat. Shakespeare war ebenfalls bestens vertraut mit den periodisch auftretenden Herpes-Bläschen; in seinem Werk »Romeo & Julia« spricht Mercutio zu Romeo: »O’er ladies lips, who straight on kisses dream, which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, ….« Doch erst in den 1960er Jahren erkannte man die virale Herkunft der Erkrankung.
Ahnenforschung unter sozialen Amöben : die morphologische Taxonomie muss umgeschrieben werden
(2007)
Seit fast 150 Jahren forschen Wissenschaftler aus aller Welt über den faszinierenden Wechsel zwischen Einzelligkeit und Vielzelligkeit im Lebenszyklus der »zellulären Schleimpilze«. Diese Forschung war bisher so erfolgreich, dass einem Vertreter der zellulären Schleimpilze, Dictyostelium discoideum, vom US-amerikanischen Gesundheitsministerium National Institutes of Health (NIH) ganz offiziell der Status eines Modellorganismus für biomedizinische Forschung verliehen wurde. Obwohl wir inzwischen glauben, viel über die »sozialen Amöben«, die sich bei Nahrungsmangel von Einzellern zu einem vielzelligen Verband zusammenlagern, gelernt zu haben, basiert unser Wissen doch fast ausschließlich auf Arbeiten mit der einen Art D. discoideum. Man kennt allerdings heute mehr als 100 Arten sozialer Amöben. Alle bilden multizelluläre Fruchtkörper aus, die aus Stielen und Sporenpaketen bestehen. Bisher ging man davon aus, dass die Spezies mit azellulären Stielen in ihren Fruchtkörpern phylogenetische Vorläufer der Vertreter mit zellulären Stielen sind, und dass die Vertreter mit verzweigten Fruchtkörpern näher mit sich selbst als mit den anderen sozialen Amöben verwandt sind. Diese Hypothesen wurden nun durch aktuelle molekulargenetische Analysen widerlegt.
Expeditionen ins Pilzreich Panamas : Pionierarbeit in einer der artenreichsten Regionen unserer Erde
(2007)
Als Bindeglied zwischen Nord- und Südamerika ist Panama ein »Biodiversitäts-Hotspot« – es beherbergt eine außerordentlich hohe Artenvielfalt an Pflanzen, Tieren und Pilzen. Pilze übernehmen in tropischen Ökosystemen wichtige Aufgaben: Sie zersetzen totes organisches Material, helfen den Pflanzen bei der Aufnahme von Wasser und Mineralstoffen aus dem Boden, und sie leisten sogar als Parasiten einen Beitrag zum Erhalt einer großen Artenvielfalt. Aufgrund einzelner Stichproben wissen wir, dass die Anzahl der Pilzarten in den Tropen diejenige der Pflanzen um ein Vielfaches übertrifft. Doch während für Panama zirka 9500 verschiedene Arten von Gefäßpflanzen bekannt sind, zählt eine im Rahmen unserer Arbeit erstellte Checkliste der Pilze nur zirka 1800 Arten. Das zeigt, dass für die Erforschung der Pilze noch umfangreiche Pionierarbeit geleistet werden muss. Zwischen 2003 und 2006 geschah dies im Rahmen einer Universitätspartnerschaft der Universität Frankfurt mit der Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, die durch den Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienst (DAAD) gefördert wurde. Im Zentrum eines Projekts der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) steht die Erforschung der Vielfalt und Ökologie pflanzenparasitischer Pilze. Des Weiteren untersucht unsere Arbeitsgruppe Pilze an Insekten sowie an menschlichen Haut- und Nagelläsionen.
Background Synchronous neuronal firing has been discussed as a potential neuronal code. For testing first, if synchronous firing exists, second if it is modulated by the behaviour, and third if it is not by chance, a large set of tools has been developed. However, to test whether synchronous neuronal firing is really involved in information processing one needs a direct comparison of the amount of synchronous firing for different factors like experimental or behavioural conditions. To this end we present an extended version of a previously published method NeuroXidence [1], which tests, based on a bi- and multivariate test design, whether the amount of synchronous firing above the chance level is different for different factors.
Background The synchrony hypothesis postulates that precise temporal synchronization of different pools of neurons conveys information that is not contained in their firing rates. The synchrony hypothesis had been supported by experimental findings demonstrating that millisecond precise synchrony of neuronal oscillations across well separated brain regions plays an essential role in visual perception and other higher cognitive tasks [1]. Albeit, more evidence is being accumulated in favour of its role as a binding mechanism of distributed neural responses, the physical and anatomical substrate for such a dynamic and precise synchrony, especially zero-lag even in the presence of non-negligible delays, remains unclear. Here we propose a simple network motif that naturally accounts for zero-lag synchronization for a wide range of temporal delays [3]. We demonstrate that zero-lag synchronization between two distant neurons or neural populations can be achieved by relaying the dynamics via a third mediating single neuron or population. Methods We simulated the dynamics of two Hodgkin-Huxley neurons that interact with each other via an intermediate third neuron. The synaptic coupling was mediated through alpha-functions. Individual temporal delays of the arrival of pre-synaptic potentials were modelled by a gamma distribution. The strength of the synchronization and the phase-difference between each individual pairs were derived by cross-correlation of the membrane potentials. Results In the regular spiking regime the two outer neurons consistently synchronize with zero phase lag irrespective of the initial conditions. This robust zero-lag synchronization naturally arises as a consequence of the relay and redistribution of the dynamics performed by the central neuron. This result is independent on whether the coupling is excitatory or inhibitory and can be maintained for arbitrarily long time delays (see Fig. 1). Conclusion We have presented a simple and extremely robust network motif able to account for the isochronous synchronization of distant neural elements in a natural way. As opposed to other possible mechanisms of neural synchronization, neither inhibitory coupling, gap junctions nor precise tuning of morphological parameters are required to obtain zero-lag synchronized neuronal oscillation.
Background The cell cycle of all organisms includes mass increase by a factor of two, replication of the genetic material, segregation of the genome to different parts of the cell, and cell division into two daughter cells. It is tightly regulated and typically includes cell cycle-specific oscillations of the levels of transcripts, proteins, protein modifications, and signaling molecules. Until now cell cycle-specific transcriptome changes have been described for four eukaryotic species ranging from yeast to human, but only for two prokaryotic species. Similarly, oscillations of small signaling molecules have been identified in very few eukaryotic species, but not in any prokaryote. Results A synchronization procedure for the archaeon Halobacterium salinarum was optimized, so that nearly 100% of all cells divide in a time interval that is 1/4th of the generation time of exponentially growing cells. The method was used to characterize cell cycle-dependent transcriptome changes using a genome-wide DNA microarray. The transcript levels of 87 genes were found to be cell cycle-regulated, corresponding to 3% of all genes. They could be clustered into seven groups with different transcript level profiles. Cluster-specific sequence motifs were detected around the start of the genes that are predicted to be involved in cell cycle-specific transcriptional regulation. Notably, many cell cycle genes that have oscillating transcript levels in eukaryotes are not regulated on the transcriptional level in H. salinarum. Synchronized cultures were also used to identify putative small signaling molecules. H. salinarum was found to contain a basal cAMP concentration of 200 uM, considerably higher than that of yeast. The cAMP concentration is shortly induced directly prior to and after cell division, and thus cAMP probably is an important signal for cell cycle progression. Conclusions The analysis of cell cycle-specific transcriptome changes of H. salinarum allowed to identify a strategy of transcript level regulation that is different from all previously characterized species. The transcript levels of only 3% of all genes are regulated, a fraction that is considerably lower than has been reported for four eukaryotic species (6% - 28%) and for the bacterium C. crescentus (19%). It was shown that cAMP is present in significant concentrations in an archaeon, and the phylogenetic profile of the adenylate cyclase indicates that this signaling molecule is widely distributed in archaea. The occurrence of cell cycle-dependent oscillations of the cAMP concentration in an archaeon and in several eukaryotic species indicates that cAMP level changes might be a phylogenetically old signal for cell cycle progression.
Effects of BPA in snails
(2006)
It is an ethical requirement that new findings be presented in light of and in conjunction with a balanced evaluation of the current knowledge and published literature. We believe that Oehlmann et al. (2006) violated this general principle in several ways. For example, the authors inferred that prosobranch snails have a functional estrogen receptor and therefore a much higher sensitivity to estrogens and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) than other species previously reported in the literature. We found several other problems in their article...
We welcome critical appraisals that help to provide balance; however, Dietrich et al. gave an unjustified reproach. We feel that Dietrich’s position is severely compromised because he serves as an expert for the bisphenol A (BPA) Industry Group (Brussels, Belgium). We would like to respond to the issues raised by Dietrich et al., as well as to their oversights and inappropriate interpretations of our findings...
There is a growing body of evidence that indicates common environmental pollutants are capable of disrupting reproductive and developmental processes by interfering with the actions of endogenous hormones. Many reports of endocrine disruption describe changes in the normal development of organs and tissues that are consistent with genetic damage, and recent studies confirm that many chemicals classified to have hormone-modulating effects also possess carcinogenic and mutagenic potential. To date, however, there have been no conclusive examples linking genetic damage with perturbation of endocrine function and adverse effects in vivo. Here, we provide the first evidence of DNA damage associated with the development of imposex (the masculinization of female gastropods considered to be the result of alterations to endocrine-mediated pathways) in the dog-whelk Nucella lapillus. Animals (n = 257) that displayed various stages of tributyltin (TBT)-induced imposex were collected from sites in southwest England, and their imposex status was determined by physical examination. Linear regression analysis revealed a very strong relationship (correlation coefficient of 0.935, p < 0.0001) between the degree of imposex and the extent of DNA damage (micronucleus formation) in hemocytes. Moreover, histological examination of a larger number of dog-whelks collected from sites throughout Europe confirmed the presence of hyperplastic growths, primarily on the vas deferens and penis in both TBT-exposed male snails and in females that exhibited imposex. A strong association was found between TBT body burden and the prevalence of abnormal growths, thereby providing compelling evidence to support the hypothesis that environmental chemicals that affect reproductive processes do so partly through DNA damage pathways.
Previous investigations have shown that bisphenol A (BPA) induces a superfeminization syndrome in the freshwater snail Marisa cornuarietis at concentrations as low as 1 μg/L. Superfemales are characterized by the formation of additional female organs, enlarged accessory sex glands, gross malformations of the pallial oviduct, and a stimulation of egg and clutch production, resulting in increased female mortality. However, these studies were challenged on the basis of incomplete experimentation. Therefore, the objective of the current approach was to bridge several gaps in knowledge by conducting additional experiments. In an initial series of experiments, study results from the reproductive phase of the snails were evaluated in the sub-micrograms per liter range. Before and after the spawning season, superfemale responses were observed [NOEC (no observed effect concentration) 7.9 ng/L, EC10 (effective concentration at 10%) 13.9 ng/L], which were absent during the spawning season. A further experiment investigated the temperature dependence of BPA responses by exposing snails at two temperatures in parallel. The adverse effect of BPA was at least partially masked at 27°C (EC10 998 ng/L) when compared with 20°C (EC10 14.8 ng/L). In M. cornuarietis, BPA acts as an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, because effects were completely antagonized by a co-exposure to tamoxifen and Faslodex. Antiandrogenic effects of BPA, such as a significant decrease in penis length at 20°C, were also observed. Competitive receptor displacement experiments indicate the presence of androgen- and estrogen-specific binding sites. The affinity for BPA of the estrogen binding sites in M. cornuarietis is higher than that of the ER in aquatic vertebrates. The results emphasize that prosobranchs are affected by BPA at lower concentrations than are other wildlife groups, and the findings also highlight the importance of exposure conditions.
Tens of thousands of man-made chemicals are in regular use and discharged into the environment. Many of them are known to interfere with the hormonal systems in humans and wildlife. Given the complexity of endocrine systems, there are many ways in which endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect the body’s signaling system, and this makes unraveling the mechanisms of action of these chemicals difficult. A major concern is that some of these EDCs appear to be biologically active at extremely low concentrations. There is growing evidence to indicate that the guiding principle of traditional toxicology that “the dose makes the poison” may not always be the case because some EDCs do not induce the classical dose–response relationships. The European Union project COMPRENDO (Comparative Research on Endocrine Disrupters—Phylogenetic Approach and Common Principles focussing on Androgenic/Antiandrogenic Compounds) therefore aims to develop an understanding of potential health problems posed by androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds (AACs) to wildlife and humans by focusing on the commonalities and differences in responses to AACs across the animal kingdom (from invertebrates to vertebrates).
Polyploidy is common in higher eukaryotes, especially in plants, but it is generally assumed that most prokaryotes contain a single copy of a circular chromosome and are therefore monoploid. We have used two independent methods to determine the genome copy number in halophilic archaea, 1) cell lysis in agarose blocks and Southern blot analysis, and 2) Real-Time quantitative PCR. Fast growing H. salinarum cells contain on average about 25 copies of the chromosome in exponential phase, and their ploidy is downregulated to 15 copies in early stationary phase. The chromosome copy number is identical in cultures with a twofold lower growth rate, in contrast to the results reported for several other prokaryotic species. Of three additional replicons of H. salinarum, two have a low copy number that is not growth-phase regulated, while one replicon even shows a higher degree of growth phase-dependent regulation than the main replicon. The genome copy number of H. volcanii is similarly high during exponential phase (on average 18 copies/cell), and it is also downregulated (to 10 copies) as the cells enter stationary phase. The variation of genome copy numbers in the population was addressed by fluorescence microscopy and by FACS analysis. These methods allowed us to verify the growth phase-dependent regulation of ploidy in H. salinarum, and they revealed that there is a wide variation in genome copy numbers in individual cells that is much larger in exponential than in stationary phase. Our results indicate that polyploidy might be more widespread in archaea (or even prokaryotes in general) than previously assumed. Moreover, the presence of so many genome copies in a prokaryote raises questions about the evolutionary significance of this strategy.
Background Olfactory receptors work at the interface between the chemical world of volatile molecules and the perception of scent in the brain. Their main purpose is to translate chemical space into information that can be processed by neural circuits. Assuming that these receptors have evolved to cope with this task, the analysis of their coding strategy promises to yield valuable insight in how to encode chemical information in an efficient way. Results We mimicked olfactory coding by modeling responses of primary olfactory neurons to small molecules using a large set of physicochemical molecular descriptors and artificial neural networks. We then tested these models by recording in vivo receptor neuron responses to a new set of odorants and successfully predicted the responses of five out of seven receptor neurons. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.66 to 0.85, demonstrating the applicability of our approach for the analysis of olfactory receptor activation data. The molecular descriptors that are best-suited for response prediction vary for different receptor neurons, implying that each receptor neuron detects a different aspect of chemical space. Finally, we demonstrate that receptor responses themselves can be used as descriptors in a predictive model of neuron activation. Conclusions The chemical meaning of molecular descriptors helps understand structure-response relationships for olfactory receptors and their 'receptive fields'. Moreover, it is possible to predict receptor neuron activation from chemical structure using machine-learning techniques, although this is still complicated by a lack of training data.
Background Identification and evaluation of surface binding-pockets and occluded cavities are initial steps in protein structure-based drug design. Characterizing the active site's shape as well as the distribution of surrounding residues plays an important role for a variety of applications such as automated ligand docking or in situ modeling. Comparing the shape similarity of binding site geometries of related proteins provides further insights into the mechanisms of ligand binding. Results We present PocketPicker, an automated grid-based technique for the prediction of protein binding pockets that specifies the shape of a potential binding-site with regard to its buriedness. The method was applied to a representative set of protein-ligand complexes and their corresponding apo-protein structures to evaluate the quality of binding-site predictions. The performance of the pocket detection routine was compared to results achieved with the existing methods CAST, LIGSITE, LIGSITEcs, PASS and SURFNET. Success rates PocketPicker were comparable to those of LIGSITEcs and outperformed the other tools. We introduce a descriptor that translates the arrangement of grid points delineating a detected binding-site into a correlation vector. We show that this shape descriptor is suited for comparative analyses of similar binding-site geometry by examining induced-fit phenomena in aldose reductase. This new method uses information derived from calculations of the buriedness of potential binding-sites. Conclusions The pocket prediction routine of PocketPicker is a useful tool for identification of potential protein binding-pockets. It produces a convenient representation of binding-site shapes including an intuitive description of their accessibility. The shape-descriptor for automated classification of binding-site geometries can be used as an additional tool complementing elaborate manual inspections.
Background The connection of the variable part of the heavy chain (VH) and and the variable part of the light chain (VL) by a peptide linker to form a consecutive polypeptide chain (single chain antibody, scFv) was a breakthrough for the functional production of antibody fragments in Escherichia coli. Being double the size of fragment variable (Fv) fragments and requiring assembly of two independent polypeptide chains, functional Fab fragments are usually produced with significantly lower yields in E. coli. An antibody design combining stability and assay compatibility of the fragment antigen binding (Fab) with high level bacterial expression of single chain Fv fragments would be desirable. The desired antibody fragment should be both suitable for expression as soluble antibody in E. coli and antibody phage display. Results Here, we demonstrate that the introduction of a polypeptide linker between the fragment difficult (Fd) and the light chain (LC), resulting in the formation of a single chain Fab fragment (scFab), can lead to improved production of functional molecules. We tested the impact of various linker designs and modifications of the constant regions on both phage display efficiency and the yield of soluble antibody fragments. A scFab variant without cysteins (scFabdeltaC) connecting the constant part 1 of the heavy chain (CH1) and the constant part of the light chain (CL) were best suited for phage display and production of soluble antibody fragments. Beside the expression system E.coli, the new antibody format was also expressed in Pichia pastoris. Monovalent and divalent fragments (DiFabodies) as well as multimers were characterised. Conclusion A new antibody design offers the generation of bivalent Fab derivates for antibody phage display and production of soluble antibody fragments. This antibody format is of particular value for high throughput proteome binder generation projects, due to the avidity effect and the possible use of common standard sera for detection.
Background The Radical Pair model proposes that magnetoreception is a light-dependent process. Under low monochromatic light from the short-wavelength part of the visual spectrum, migratory birds show orientation in their migratory direction. Under monochromatic light of higher intensity, however, they showed unusual preferences in other directions or axial preferences. To determine whether or not these responses are still controlled by the respective light regimes, European robins, Erithacus rubecula, were tested under UV, Blue, Turquoise and Green light at increasing intensities, with orientation in migratory direction serving as a criterion whether or not magnetoreception works in the normal way. Results Under low light with a quantal flux of 8 times 10 to 15 power quanta s-1 m-2, the birds were well oriented in their seasonally appropriate migratory direction under 424 nm Blue, 502 nm Turquoise and 565 nm Green light, indicating unimpaired magnetoreception. Under 373 nm UV of the same quantal flux, they were not oriented in migratory direction, showing a preference of the east-west axis instead, but they showed excellent orientation in migratory direction under UV of lower intensity. Intensities of above 36 times 10 to 15 power quanta s-1 m-2 of Blue, Turquoise and Green light elicited a variety of responses: disorientation, headings along the east-west axis, headings along the north-south axis or 'fixed' direction tendencies. These responses changed as the intensity was increased from 36 times 10 to the 15 power quanta s-1 m-2 to 54 and 72 times 10 to 15 power quanta s-1 m-2. Conclusion The specific manifestation of responses in directions other than migratory direction clearly depends on the ambient light regime. This implies that although mechanisms normally providing magnetic compass information seem disrupted, processes that are activated by light still control the behavior. It suggests complex interactions between different types of receptors, magnetic and visual. The nature of the receptors involved and details of their connections are not yet known; however, a role of the color cones in the processes mediating magnetic input is suggested.
Oral presentations Background: We selected peptide ligands for the HIV-1 packaging signal PSI by screening phage displayed peptide libraries. Peptide ligands were optimized by screening spot synthesis peptide membranes. The aim of this study is the functional characterization of these peptide ligands with respect to inhibition of HIV-1 replication. Methods: Phage displayed peptide libraries were screened with PSI-RNA structures. The Trp-rich peptide motifs were optimized for specific binding on spot synthesis peptide membranes. The best binding peptide was expressed intracellularly in fusion with RFP or linked to a protein transduction domain (PTD) for intracellular delivery. The effects on virion production were analyzed using pseudotyped lentiviral particles. Results: After positive and negative selection rounds, phages binding specifically to PSI-RNA were identified by ELISA. Peptide inserts contained conserved motifs of aromatic amino acids known to be implicated in binding of PSI-RNA by the natural Gag ligand. The filter assay identified HKWPWW as the best binding ligand for PSI-RNA, which is delivered into several cell lines by addition of a PTD. Compared to a control peptide, the HKWPWW peptide inhibited HIV-1 replication as deduced from reduced titers of culture supernatants. As HKWPWW also binds to the TAR-RNA like the natural nucleocapsid PSI-RNA ligand, the effect on Tat-TAR inhibition will also be analyzed. Currently T-cell lines are established which stably express HKWPWW as well as a control peptide, which will be infected with HIV-1 to monitor the ability of HKWPWW to inhibit wild type HIV-1 replication. Conclusion: The selection of a peptide ligand for PSI-RNA able to inhibit HIV-1 replication proves the suitability of the phage display technology for the selection of peptides binding to RNA-structures. This enables the indentification of peptides serving as leads to interfere with additional targets in the HIV-1 replication cycle.