C-cadherin ectodomain structure and implications for cell adhesion mechanisms

Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate adhesion between cells in the solid tissues of animals. Here we present the 3.1 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the whole, functional extracellular domain from C-cadherin, a representative "classical" cadherin. The structure suggests a molecular mechanism for adhesion between cells by classical cadherins, and it provides a new framework for understanding both cis (same cell) and trans (juxtaposed cell) cadherin interactions. The trans adhesive interface is a twofold symmetric interaction defined by a conserved tryptophan side chain at the membrane-distal end of a cadherin molecule from one cell, which inserts into a hydrophobic pocket at the membrane-distal end of a cadherin molecule from the opposing cell.     

辽宁省水稻害虫灾变规律和综合防治研究进展

本文是“八·五”、“九·五”( 1 991～ 2 0 0 0年 )以来辽宁省水稻害虫研究的综述。1　辽宁省水稻主要害虫及其成因概述在中国 ,以水稻为寄主的昆虫约 350种 ,具有经济意义的所谓害虫 60余种[1] 。历来认为 ,北方稻区 ,尤其是“东北半湿润早熟单季稻作区”水稻虫害发生较轻 ,只有几种在局部有不同程度危害 ,文献记载及专题研究甚少[2 ,3] 。但是 ,专家预测认为 :旱地改水田等原因使稻作面积不断扩大 ,可能加重原有害虫 ,也可能引发新的害虫[4] 。直到1 0年前 ,有关北方水稻害虫情况还不甚明确。据不完全统计 ,截止 1 995年 ,涉及辽宁省水…     

Temperature sensitivity of mineral N transformation rates, and heterotrophic nitrification: possible factors controlling the post-disturbance mineral N flush in forest floors

A major forest disturbance such as clearcutting may bring on a flush of mineral N in organic forest floor horizons, but the magnitude of this flush can vary markedly from one ecosystem to another. For example, it was previously established that clearcutting in a high elevation Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir (ESSF) ecosystem results in significantly higher NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ concentrations, whereas clearcutting in an old-growth coastal western hemlock (CWH) ecosystem has little effect on mineral N dynamics. We hypothesized that the higher mineral N flush observed in the ESSF ecosystem is due to a greater temperature sensitivity of mineral N transformation rates, and to a lower proportion of heterotrophic nitrifiers, compared to the CWH ecosystem. To test these two hypotheses, we sampled forest floors several times over the growing season from clearcut and old-growth plots in both ecosystems, and measured gross mineral N transformation rates at field temperatures and at 10 °C above field temperatures, as well as with and without acetylene to inhibit autotrophic nitrifiers. Gross NH₄⁺ transformations rates ranged between 20 and 120 μg N (g forest floor)⁻¹ day⁻¹ at the ESSF site, and between 15 and 40 μg N (g forest floor)⁻¹ day⁻¹ at the CWH site. Higher temperature increased gross NH₄⁺ transformation rates in forest floor samples at both sites, but the average Q₁₀ value was higher at the ESSF site (3.15) than at the CWH site (1.25). Temperature sensitivity at the ESSF site was greater in clearcut plots (Q₁₀=4.31) than in old-growth plots (Q₁₀=1.98). Gross NO₃⁻ transformation rates ranged between 10 and 32 μg N (g forest floor)⁻¹ day⁻¹ at the ESSF site, and between 10 and 24 μg N (g forest floor)⁻¹ day⁻¹ at the CWH site, but there were no significant effects of temperature or clearcutting on gross NO₃⁻ transformation rates at either site. Likewise, there were no significant differences in the proportion of heterotrophic nitrifiers between sites. Overall, our results support the view that the temperature sensitivity of microbial processes may explain the magnitude of the NH₄⁺ flush in some coniferous ecosystems, but we lack the evidence relating the magnitude of the NO₃⁻ flush to the proportion of heterotrophic nitrifiers.     

Greenhouse technique to evaluate onion resistance to pink root

Summary An assay for resistance of onion to pink root Pyrenochaeta terrestris was developed, employing infested vermiculite medium with an adequate inoculum concentration of the fungus to minimize escapes of susceptible plants.Plant material other than seed was used. Either root-excised 6–8 week-old seedlings or onion sets were planted in infested vermiculite, and kept for two successive 2-week periods of growth differing in light and temperature regimes. During the first phase a short-day regime of 10 h and 17±1°C was kept, under which a vigorous root system was obtained. For an additional 12–14 days under 26±1°C and 12 h light the prolific roots were then exposed to the optimal temperature for disease development.This technique enables one to distinguish easily between susceptible Allium cepa material and a resistant line of A. fistulosum.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1022-E, 1984 series.     

Massive CO₂ ice deposits sequestered in the south polar layered deposits of Mars

Shallow Radar soundings from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal a buried deposit of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) ice within the south polar layered deposits of Mars with a volume of 9500 to 12,500 cubic kilometers, about 30 times that previously estimated for the south pole residual cap. The deposit occurs within a stratigraphic unit that is uniquely marked by collapse features and other evidence of interior CO(2) volatile release. If released into the atmosphere at times of high obliquity, the CO(2) reservoir would increase the atmospheric mass by up to 80%, leading to more frequent and intense dust storms and to more regions where liquid water could persist without boiling.     

Patterns of distribution of assimilates in tubers ofSolanum tuberosum L. with time

Summary Autoradiographic studies showed the patterns of arrival and subsequent distribution of¹⁴C-labelled assimilates in the potato tuber. The internal phloem was the principal route of entry of assimilates which subsequently became more evenly distributed throughout the tuber. The patterns of distribution within the tuber following a single pulse (1 hour) feeding of¹⁴CO₂ continued to change for more than seven days afterwards. Between three and seven days after feeding an area corresponding to the xylem became almost devoid of¹⁴C-label and after fourteen days the phloem strands appeared to have ceased to carry assimilates. These observations are discussed.     

Die Zuverlässigkeit der visuellen Selektion in der ersten Klongeneration von Kartoffeln

Zusammenfassung Eine Population der ersten Klongeneration mit einem eingefügten Kontrollsortiment wurde an vier Orten ausgepflanzt und durch vier Züchter visuell nach der Methode der negativen Selektion selektiert. Es wurden signifikante Einflüsse der Orte, Jahre und Züchter ermittelt. Die Effizienz kann durch die aktuelle Optimierung der Selektionsgrenzen anhand des Kontrollsortiments erh?ht werden. Ausserdem wird erfolgreich praktiziert, die Populationen aus zwei Knollen je Genotyp zusammenzufügen oder im Rahmen der internationalen Zusammenarbeit der L?nder des Rates für Gegenseitige Wirtschaftshilfe an zwei Orten auszupflanzen.

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Summary A population of first clonal generation material was planted at four sites and selected visually by four breeders using the method of negative selection. Six table cultivars of potato that displayed appropriate levels of the characters under consideration, and six that did not, were planted at random throughout the population as standards. There were significant effects for site, year and breeder. The variance for sites was ca. 2 1/2 times that for the breeders (Tables 1 and 2), with about twice as many positive cultivars selected at site 1 as at site 3 (Table 3). There were also differences in selection results between breeders (Table 4). The uncertainty of visual selection of single plants is obvious from Table 5. Results from two years show a marked effect of year (Table 6). The relative frequencies of wrongly rejected (loss risk — Verlustrisiko) and wrongly selected (ballast risk — Ballastrisiko) standards are shown in Table 7. Only a few negative genotypes (standards) were selected, but there was a considerable loss of positive genotypes. The expected values of the standards and their actual selection results are being used to optimize the selection limits. The exploitation of populations can largely be ensured in bad years or sites, without the use of indicators and individual handling of clones with several tubers, by bulking two tubers per genotype from the first vegetative progeny. This measure may be restricted to highly valuable combinations. The possibility of accidentally selecting identical genotypes can be corrected in later generations simply by electrophoresis of soluble tuber proteins. Growing the population at two sites, best done through the framework of international co-operation, improves the likelihood of optimizing screening.

     

Serratospiculosis in a New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)

CASE HISTORY: An adult New Zealand falcon was presented with metacarpal fractures in the left wing.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: In addition to the fractures, radiographs revealed an area of opacity in the air sacs. A few days after hospitalisation and initiation of treatment of the fractures, the bird developed signs of respiratory disease; the area of opacity was found to have increased in size and density. Treatment with antibiotics and nebulisation was commenced; the bird initially responded but respiratory signs subsequently worsened and the bird died. At necropsy, air sacculitis and bronchopneumonia were associated with numerous nematodes in the air sacs, which were morphologically consistent with Serratospiculum guttatum.

DIAGNOSIS: Serratospiculosis

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The discovery of this parasite and the associated disease for the first time in New Zealand indicates that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of respiratory disease in falcons and possibly other raptors in New Zealand.