DOCSLIB.ORG

Alanine, Proline and Urea Are Major Organic Osmolytes in the Snail Theodoxus Fluviatilis Under Hyperosmotic Stress Amanda A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Alanine, Proline and Urea Are Major Organic Osmolytes in the Snail Theodoxus Fluviatilis Under Hyperosmotic Stress Amanda A © 2019. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd | Journal of Experimental Biology (2019) 222, jeb193557. doi:10.1242/jeb.193557 RESEARCH ARTICLE Alanine, proline and urea are major organic osmolytes in the snail Theodoxus fluviatilis under hyperosmotic stress Amanda A. Wiesenthal*, Christian Müller, Katrin Harder and Jan-Peter Hildebrandt ABSTRACT Aquatic animals with an integument that is not entirely water Hyperosmotic stress may result in osmotic volume loss from the body impermeable (Oglesby, 1981) undergo osmotic water gain when to the environment in animals that cannot control the water exposed to external salinities lower than that of their own body permeability of their integument. Euryhaline animals (which have a fluids (hypoosmotic stress). This results in volume expansion of the wide tolerance range of environmental salinities) have generally internal body fluids that has to be limited by excretion of a evolved the ability to counteract cell volume shrinkage by hypotonic urine through the kidneys (Dantzler, 2016) or other accumulating inorganic and organic osmolytes within their cells to excretory organs (Kirschner, 1967). Concomitantly, such animals balance internal and external osmolalities. Molluscs use very different reduce their internal osmolyte load by degrading or excreting combinations of amino acids and amino acid derivatives to achieve inorganic ions or organic osmolytes to reduce the driving force for this goal. Theodoxus fluviatilis is a neritid gastropod that is distributed osmotic water influx (Pierce, 1982). If such animals are exposed to not only in limnic habitats in Europe but also in brackish waters (e.g. external salinities higher than that of their own body fluids, the along the shoreline of the Baltic Sea). Animals from brackish sites animals lose water to the environment and their body fluid volume survive better in high salinities than animals from freshwater decreases. To avoid detrimental shrinkages in extracellular and locations. The results of the present study indicate that these intracellular fluid volumes, animals accumulate inorganic ions and differences in salinity tolerance cannot be explained by differences organic osmolytes (amino acids and their derivatives, polyols, in the general ability to accumulate amino acids as organic osmolytes. sugars, methylamines, methylsulfonium compounds or urea) in Although there may be differences in the metabolic pathways involved their internal fluid compartments to reduce the driving force for in osmolyte accumulation in foot muscle tissue, the two groups of osmotic water loss (Burg, 1995; Yancey et al., 1982; Yancey, 2005; animals accumulate amino acid mixtures equally well when stepwise Burg and Ferraris, 2008). These substances have to be taken up, be acclimated to their respective maximum tolerable salinity for extended newly synthesised or mobilised from high molecular mass periods. Among these amino acids, alanine and proline, as well as the precursors (Wehner et al., 2003). In the case of animals that osmolyte urea, hold a special importance for cell volume preservation accumulate amino acids as organic osmolytes under conditions of in T. fluviatilis under hyperosmotic stress. It is possible that the hyperosmotic stress in their body fluids, it is still unclear whether accumulation of various amino acids during hyperosmotic stress these small molecules are taken up from the external medium, occurs via hydrolysis of storage proteins, while alanine and proline acutely synthesised, generated by degradation of storage proteins or are probably newly synthesised under conditions of hyperosmotic accumulated through a combination of these processes (Manahan stress in the animals. et al., 1983; Deaton, 1987; Gilles and Péqueux, 1981). Euryhaline molluscs mainly accumulate amino acids as organic KEY WORDS: Free amino acids, Salinity acclimation, Salinity osmolytes in their cells under hyperosmotic stress (Shumway et al., tolerance, Phenotypic plasticity, Genetic adaptation, Gastropod 1977; Pierce and Amende, 1981). While bivalves have been thoroughly investigated in terms of organic osmolyte accumulation INTRODUCTION under hyperosmotic stress, there is only a limited number of studies Animals facing unstable environments have evolved a range of in oligohaline gastropods (Deaton, 2009; Taylor and Andrews, genetic adaptations to deal with extreme environmental conditions 1988; Symanowski and Hildebrandt, 2010) with highly differing (Rowinský and Rogell, 2017). Within this genetic framework, results. Although Littorina littorea is an intertidal gastropod species animals respond to rapid changes of conditions by gene regulatory experiencing harsh changes in environmental salinity, it does not or post-transcriptional mechanisms leading to altered protein utilise intracellular accumulation of free amino acids to avoid cell expression, or by post-translational means such as protein volume changes under hyperosmotic stress (Taylor and Andrews, modification, changes in enzyme activities or alterations in 1988). In contrast, the euryhaline snail Theodoxus fluviatilis, which metabolism (Lockwood and Somero, 2011). The ability of occurs in freshwater lakes in central Europe as well as in brackish individuals to modify their phenotype as a response to water along the coastline of the Baltic Sea, accumulates substantial environmental change or stress is termed phenotypic plasticity amounts of free amino acids and urea (measured as the sum of (Woods, 2014). ninhydrin-positive substances, NPS) in foot muscle tissue upon being transferred to higher salinities (Symanowski and Hildebrandt, 2010). Snails collected from freshwater sites (FW) and those Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 1, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany. collected from brackish water sites (BW) showed clear differences in their respective salinity tolerance (Zettler et al., 2004; Bandel, *Author for correspondence ([email protected]) 2001; Hubendick, 1947; Wiesenthal et al., 2018). FW individuals A.A.W., 0000-0002-4374-9607 were not able to cope with salinities as high as those tolerated by BW snails. Even when given the time to acclimatise to gradually Received 8 October 2018; Accepted 18 December 2018 increasing salinity of their environmental medium over several days, Journal of Experimental Biology 1 RESEARCH ARTICLE Journal of Experimental Biology (2019) 222, jeb193557. doi:10.1242/jeb.193557 FW snails barely survived in salinities up to 21‰. Snails collected analysis series of biological samples and run at the beginning and at from BW sites, however, survived salinities up to 28‰ when the end of each series of HPLC analyses to check for differences in gradually acclimated (Wiesenthal et al., 2018). signal intensity potentially related to the replacement of HPLC The present study was conducted to: (1) elucidate whether solvents during a series. differences in the ability to accumulate free amino acids in the Analyses were performed on a Biochrom 30+ amino acid tissues explain these differences in tolerance to hyperosmotic stress, analyser (Laborservice Onken) using the original buffer kits (2) identify those amino acids that contribute the most to (Laborservice Onken). Samples and standards were automatically intracellular osmotic adjustments, and (3) determine whether applied to the machine by an autosampler that kept the samples at accumulated amino acids are newly synthesised or generated by 4°C before injection. Post-column ninhydrin-derivatised substances hydrolysis of storage proteins. were detected using a SPD-20AV Prominence HPLC UV-Vis detector (Shimadzu, Columbia, MD, USA). Editing of the MATERIALS AND METHODS chromatograms was done using OpenLAB software (Agilent Animal collection and transfer experiments Technologies, Waldbronn, Germany). Peak areas were normalised Theodoxus fluviatilis (Linneaus 1758) were collected from three against internal standards (hydroxylysine), and relative substance FW and two BW sites in northern Germany. The FW lakes amounts in the samples (mmol kg−1 tissue fresh mass) were Schmaler Luzin and Carwitzer See are part of the Feldberger calculated using the analysis data of the amino acid standard Seenlandschaft and lie about 100 km north of Berlin. The BW sites mixtures and Microsoft Excel. are on the coastline of the Baltic Sea near Greifswald and on the island of Hiddensee. Collections took place between May and Quantification of the potential compatible osmolytes September 2016 and snails were subjected to 15 day transfer trimethylamine N-oxide, glycine betaine, sarcosine, experiments in the laboratory at room temperature (21°C). FW glycerol, myo-inositol and glycerophosphorylcholine animals were transferred from their original medium (salinity of Only samples of snails from collection site S5 were prepared. This 0.5‰, 1 day) to their maximum salinity of 21‰ for 3 days using a was done as described above (‘Sample preparation’) with the step by step regime (3.7‰ for 3 days, 6.9‰ for 3 days, 10‰ for addition of 43 µl of a 1 mol l−1 sodium bicarbonate solution (Roth, 5 days). BW animals were also transferred from their original Karlsruhe, Germany) to each 50 µl aliquot in order to neutralise the medium [salinities of 7.5‰ (site S5) or 9‰ (site S6), 1 day] to their pH value. These steps were carried out as preparation for the maximum salinity of 28‰ for 3 days using a stepwise regime (12‰ quantification of compatible osmolytes with a sample size
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Insights Into the Molecular Basis for Substrate Binding and Specificity of the Wild-Type L-Arginine/Agmatine Antiporter Adic
    Insights into the molecular basis for substrate binding and specificity of the wild-type L-arginine/agmatine antiporter AdiC Hüseyin Ilgüa,b,1, Jean-Marc Jeckelmanna,b,1, Vytautas Gapsysc, Zöhre Ucuruma,b, Bert L. de Grootc, and Dimitrios Fotiadisa,b,2 aInstitute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; bSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research TransCure, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; and cComputational Biomolecular Dynamics Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany Edited by Christopher Miller, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, and approved July 26, 2016 (received for review April 4, 2016) Pathogenic enterobacteria need to survive the extreme acidity of Arg-bound states (10). The two outward-open, substrate-free the stomach to successfully colonize the human gut. Enteric bacteria structures are at the reasonable and moderate resolutions of 3.2 Å circumvent the gastric acid barrier by activating extreme acid- (8) and 3.6 Å (9), respectively, and the only ones available of wild- resistance responses, such as the arginine-dependent acid resistance type AdiC (AdiC-wt). The two other structures are with bound system. In this response, L-arginine is decarboxylated to agmatine, Arg and at 3-Å resolution, and could only be obtained as a result thereby consuming one proton from the cytoplasm. In Escherichia of the introduction of specific point mutations: AdiC-N22A (10) coli,theL-arginine/agmatine antiporter AdiC facilitates the export and AdiC-N101A (11). The N101A mutation results in a defective of agmatine in exchange of L-arginine, thus providing substrates for AdiC protein unable to bind Arg and with a dramatically de- further removal of protons from the cytoplasm and balancing the creased turnover rate compared with wild-type (11).
    [Show full text]
  • Separation of Isomers <Emphasis Type="Italic">L </Emphasis>-Alanine and Sarcosine in Urine by Electrospra
    SHORT COMMUNICATION Separation of Isomers L-Alanine and Sarcosine in Urine by Electrospray Ionization and Tandem Differential Mobility Analysis-Mass Spectrometry Pablo Martínez-Lozanoa and Juan Rusb a Institute for Biomedical Technologies-National Research Council, Milan, Italy b SEADM, Valladolid, Spain Sarcosine, an isomer of L-alanine, has been proposed as a prostate cancer progression biomarker [1]. Both compounds are detected in urine, where the measured sarcosine/alanine ratio has been found to be higher in prostate biopsy-positive group versus controls. We present here preliminary evidence showing that urine samples spiked with sarcosine/alanine can be partially resolved in 3 min via tandem differential mobility analysis-mass spectrometry (DMA-MS). Based on the calibration curves obtained for two mobility peaks, we finally estimate their concentration ratio in urine. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2010, 21, 1129–1132) © 2010 American Society for Mass Spectrometry rostate cancer is a leading cause of death among the tive-ion mode at the DMA entrance slit. Our nanospray male population. Sarcosine, an isomer of alanine, parameters were: capillary 360 ␮m o.d., 50 ␮m i.d., length Pwas recently proposed as a prostate cancer progres- 22 cm, driving pressure 75 mbar, and 3.8 kV. The ions sion biomarker [1]. In particular, the sarcosine/alanine entered the separation region propelled by an electric field ratio was found to be significantly higher in urine derived and against a counterflow gas (0.2 L/min). Sheath gas from biopsy-positive prostate cancer patients compared flow was kept constant, and the classification voltage was with biopsy-negative controls.
    [Show full text]
  • Trends of Aquatic Alien Species Invasions in Ukraine
    Aquatic Invasions (2007) Volume 2, Issue 3: 215-242 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/ai.2007.2.3.8 Open Access © 2007 The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2007 REABIC Research Article Trends of aquatic alien species invasions in Ukraine Boris Alexandrov1*, Alexandr Boltachev2, Taras Kharchenko3, Artiom Lyashenko3, Mikhail Son1, Piotr Tsarenko4 and Valeriy Zhukinsky3 1Odessa Branch, Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU); 37, Pushkinska St, 65125 Odessa, Ukraine 2Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas NASU; 2, Nakhimova avenue, 99011 Sevastopol, Ukraine 3Institute of Hydrobiology NASU; 12, Geroyiv Stalingrada avenue, 04210 Kiyv, Ukraine 4Institute of Botany NASU; 2, Tereschenkivska St, 01601 Kiyv, Ukraine E-mail: [email protected] (BA), [email protected] (AB), [email protected] (TK, AL), [email protected] (PT) *Corresponding author Received: 13 November 2006 / Accepted: 2 August 2007 Abstract This review is a first attempt to summarize data on the records and distribution of 240 alien species in fresh water, brackish water and marine water areas of Ukraine, from unicellular algae up to fish. A checklist of alien species with their taxonomy, synonymy and with a complete bibliography of their first records is presented. Analysis of the main trends of alien species introduction, present ecological status, origin and pathways is considered. Key words: alien species, ballast water, Black Sea, distribution, invasion, Sea of Azov introduction of plants and animals to new areas Introduction increased over the ages. From the beginning of the 19th century, due to The range of organisms of different taxonomic rising technical progress, the influence of man groups varies with time, which can be attributed on nature has increased in geometrical to general processes of phylogenesis, to changes progression, gradually becoming comparable in in the contours of land and sea, forest and dimensions to climate impact.
    [Show full text]
  • Beta Alanine
    PERFORMANCE ENHANCERS FACTS AND BOTTOM LINE BETA ALANINE What is it? B-alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid (a non-essential amino acid) not used by the body to make muscle tissue. Rather, research has shown that B-alanine works by increasing the muscle content of an important compound – carnosine. In fact, the production of carnosine is limited by the availability of B-alanine. Carnosine is highly concentrated in muscle tissue where its role is primarily to soak up hydrogen ions. Does it work? B-alanine is one of the few dietary supplements that actually have good scientific evidence that it can possibly enhance performance. How does it work? When you exercise intensely the body produces hydrogen ions. The longer you exercise the more hydrogen ions you produce and this reduces the pH level in your muscles. Muscles work best in a very specific pH range and when the pH drops below that level then muscular performance also starts to decrease. Anything that helps to prevent or delay that drop in pH will help delay muscle fatigue. This is where B-alanine has proven to be very helpful. Beta-alanine increases the levels of carnosine in your slow and fast twitch muscle fibers and carnosine is a buffer that basically soaks up hydrogen ions and so reduces the drop in pH. By keeping your hydrogen ion levels lower, B-alanine allows you to train harder and longer. The bottom line is that B-alanine works by increasing the hydrogen ion buffering abilities of your muscles. What benefits does it offer? B-alanine has been shown to increase muscle strength, increase muscle mass, increase anaerobic endurance, increase aerobic endurance and increase exercise capacity.
    [Show full text]
  • Lochs of Harray and Stenness Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Are the Two Largest Inland Lochs in Orkney and Are Located in the West Mainland
    LOCHS OF HARRAY AND STENNESS 54-56 Junction Road Site of Special Scientific Interest Kirkwall Orkney SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT KW15 1AW Tel: 01856 875 302 Site code: 1083 E: [email protected] Purpose This is a public statement prepared by SNH for owners and occupiers of the SSSI. It outlines the reasons it is designated as an SSSI and provides guidance on how its special natural features should be conserved or enhanced. This Statement does not affect or form part of the statutory notification and does not remove the need to apply for consent for operations requiring consent. We welcome your views on this statement. Natural features of Lochs of Condition of feature Other relevant Harray and Stenness SSSI (date monitored) designations Saline lagoon Favourable, maintained Special Area of (September 1999) Conservation (SAC) Eutrophic loch Unfavourable, no change (August 2004) Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Favourable, maintained non-breeding (March 2000) Pochard (Aythya ferina), non- Favourable, maintained breeding (March 2000) Scaup (Aythya marila), non- Favourable, maintained breeding (March 2000) Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), non- Unfavourable, declining breeding (December 2007) Caddis fly (Ylodes reuteri) Favourable, maintained (August 2003) Freshwater nerite snail (Theodoxus Favourable, maintained fluviatilis) (August 2003) Description of the site Lochs of Harray and Stenness Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are the two largest inland lochs in Orkney and are located in the west Mainland. Loch of Stenness is a salt water (saline) lagoon linked at Brig o’ Brodgar to Loch of Harray, which is a nutrient-rich freshwater loch. Together these lochs support an unusual mixture of plants as well as notable populations of wintering ducks and some rare invertebrates, as shown in the above table.
    [Show full text]
  • Poly(L-Alanine) As a Universal Reference Material for Understanding Protein Energies and Structures TERESA HEAD-GORDON, FRANK H
    Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 89, pp. 11513-11517, December 1992 Biophysics Poly(L-alanine) as a universal reference material for understanding protein energies and structures TERESA HEAD-GORDON, FRANK H. STILLINGER, MARGARET H. WRIGHT, AND DAVID M. GAY AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ 07974 Contributed by Frank H. Stillinger, June 17, 1992 ABSTRACT We present a proposition, the "poly(L- alanine) hypothesis," which asserts that the native backbone geometry for any polypeptide or protein of M residues has a closely mimicking, mechanically stable, image in poly(L- POLY-L-ALANINE alanine) of the same number of residues. Using a molecular co mechanics force field to represent the relevant potential energy a: hypersurfaces, we have carried out calculations over a wide z range of M values to show that poly(L-alanine) possesses the w structural versatility necessary to satisfy the proposition. These w include poly(L-alanine) representatives of minima correspond- U- ing to secondary and supersecondary structures, as well as PROTEIN poly(L-alanine) images for tertiary structures of the naturally occurring proteins bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, crambin, ribonuclease A, and superoxide dismutase. The suc- cessful validation of the hypothesis presented in this paper BACKBONE COORDINATES indicates that poly(L-alanine) will serve as a good reference FIG. 1. Topographic basis ofthe poly(L-alanine) hypothesis. Free material in thermodynamic perturbation theory and calcula- energy hypersurfaces are compared for a given protein and for tions aimed at evaluating relative free energies for competing poly(L-alanine) with the same number of residues. candidate tertiary structures in real polypeptides and proteins.
    [Show full text]
  • Alcohol Use Disorder
    Section: A B C D E Resources References Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Tool This tool is designed to support primary care providers (family physicians and primary care nurse practitioners) in screening, diagnosing and implementing pharmacotherapy treatments for adult patients (>18 years) with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Primary care providers should routinely offer medication for moderate and severe AUD. Pharmacotherapy alone to treat AUD is better than no therapy at all.1 Pharmacotherapy is most effective when combined with non-pharmacotherapy, including behavioural therapy, community reinforcement, motivational enhancement, counselling and/or support groups. 2,3 TABLE OF CONTENTS pg. 1 Section A: Screening for AUD pg. 7 Section D: Non-Pharmacotherapy Options pg. 4 Section B: Diagnosing AUD pg. 8 Section E: Alcohol Withdrawal pg. 5 Section C: Pharmacotherapy Options pg. 9 Resources SECTION A: Screening for AUD All patients should be screened routinely (e.g. annually or when indicators are observed) with a recommended tool like the AUDIT. 2,3 It is important to screen all patients and not just patients eliciting an index of suspicion for AUD, since most persons with AUD are not recognized. 4 Consider screening for AUD when any of the following indicators are observed: • After a recent motor vehicle accident • High blood pressure • Liver disease • Frequent work avoidance (off work slips) • Cardiac arrhythmia • Chronic pain • Rosacea • Insomnia • Social problems • Rhinophyma • Exacerbation of sleep apnea • Legal problems Special Patient Populations A few studies have reviewed AUD in specific patient populations, including youth, older adults and pregnant or breastfeeding patients. The AUDIT screening tool considered these populations in determining the sensitivity of the tool.
    [Show full text]
  • Amino Acid Chemistry
    Handout 4 Amino Acid and Protein Chemistry ANSC 619 PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY OF LIVESTOCK SPECIES Amino Acid Chemistry I. Chemistry of amino acids A. General amino acid structure + HN3- 1. All amino acids are carboxylic acids, i.e., they have a –COOH group at the #1 carbon. 2. All amino acids contain an amino group at the #2 carbon (may amino acids have a second amino group). 3. All amino acids are zwitterions – they contain both positive and negative charges at physiological pH. II. Essential and nonessential amino acids A. Nonessential amino acids: can make the carbon skeleton 1. From glycolysis. 2. From the TCA cycle. B. Nonessential if it can be made from an essential amino acid. 1. Amino acid "sparing". 2. May still be essential under some conditions. C. Essential amino acids 1. Branched chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine and valine) 2. Lysine 3. Methionine 4. Phenyalanine 5. Threonine 6. Tryptophan 1 Handout 4 Amino Acid and Protein Chemistry D. Essential during rapid growth or for optimal health 1. Arginine 2. Histidine E. Nonessential amino acids 1. Alanine (from pyruvate) 2. Aspartate, asparagine (from oxaloacetate) 3. Cysteine (from serine and methionine) 4. Glutamate, glutamine (from α-ketoglutarate) 5. Glycine (from serine) 6. Proline (from glutamate) 7. Serine (from 3-phosphoglycerate) 8. Tyrosine (from phenylalanine) E. Nonessential and not required for protein synthesis 1. Hydroxyproline (made postranslationally from proline) 2. Hydroxylysine (made postranslationally from lysine) III. Acidic, basic, polar, and hydrophobic amino acids A. Acidic amino acids: amino acids that can donate a hydrogen ion (proton) and thereby decrease pH in an aqueous solution 1.
    [Show full text]
  • A Stable Temperature May Favour Continuous Reproduction by Theodoxus fluviatilis and Explain Its High Densities in Some Karstic Springs
    Limnetica, 29 (2): x-xx (2011) Limnetica, 31 (1): 129-140 (2012). DOI: 10.23818/limn.31.12 c Asociaci´on Ib´erica de Limnologı´a, Madrid. Spain. ISSN: 0213-8409 A stable temperature may favour continuous reproduction by Theodoxus fluviatilis and explain its high densities in some karstic springs Manuel A. S. Grac¸a∗,Sonia´ R. Q. Serra and Veronica´ Ferreira IMAR-CMA and Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, PO Box 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal. ∗ Corresponding author: [email protected] 2 Received: 30/5/2011 Accepted: 27/12/2011 ABSTRACT A stable temperature may favour continuous reproduction by Theodoxus fluviatilis and explain its high densities in some karstic springs Theodoxus fluviatilis is a common gastropod in many karstic springs in central Portugal. We investigated the possible reasons for the near-total restriction of this species to these springs. We first determined the spatial distribution of the species within a spring (Anc¸os) and related the densities at sampling-patch scales to selected physical and chemical variables. We then determined the densities at several locations downstream from the spring and related these densities to selected physical and chemical variables. Finally, we assessed the population dynamics of the gastropod in the spring. In the spring, T. fluviatilis was more abundant in shallow areas with a rapid current and cobble-boulder substrates. In June-July 2006, the mean densities of T. fluviatilis in the spring varied from ∼ 10 to ∼ 9000 individuals m–2 but decreased to zero 3800 m downstream. The physical and chemical changes along the stretch studied were minor; no significant correlations (Spearman rank correlation; p > 0.05) were observed between the gastropod abundances and the measured environmental variables or the PCA axes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Morphological Plasticity of Theodoxus Fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Neritidae)
    Correspondence ISSN 2336-9744 (online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (print) The journal is available on line at www.ecol-mne.com The morphological plasticity of Theodoxus fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Neritidae) PETER GLÖER 1 and VLADIMIR PEŠI Ć2 1 Biodiversity Research Laboratory, Schulstraße 3, D-25491 Hetlingen, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Montenegro, Cetinjski put b.b., 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro. E-mail: [email protected] Received 19 January 2015 │ Accepted 3 February 2015 │ Published online 4 February 2015. Theodoxus fluviatilis is a widely distributed species, ranging from the Ireland (Lucey et al . 1992) to Iran (Glöer & Peši ć 2012). The records from Africa were considered as doubtful (Brown 2002), but recently the senior author found this species in Algeria (Glöer unpublished record). The species prefers the lowlands (in Switzerland up to 275 m a.s.l., Turner et al . 1998), and calcium-rich waters, living on hard benthic substrates, typically rocks. On the territory of the Central and Eastern Balkans three species are present (Markovi ć et al . 2014): Theodoxus fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758), T. danubialis (C. Pfeiffer, 1828) and T. transversalis (C.Pfeiffer, 1828). For Montenegro, Wohlberedt (1909), Karaman & Karaman (2007), Glöer & Peši ć (2008), and Peši ć & Glöer (2013) listed only Theodoxus fluviatilis . Figures 1-4. The operculum. 1: Theodoxus fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758); 2: T. danubialis (C. Pfeiffer, 1828); 3-4: Rib shield of T. fluviatilis . Abbreviations: ca = callus, eo = embryonic operculum, la = left adductor, p = peg, r = rib, ra = right adductor, rp = rib pit, rs = rib shield. The shell of adults of Theodoxus fluviatilis is 4.5–6.5 mm high and 6–9 mm broad, exceptionally up to 13 mm, and consists of 3–3.5 whorls, including protoconch, with a usually low spire.
    [Show full text]
  • Proline- and Alanine-Rich N-Terminal Extension of the Basic Bovine P-Crystallin B1 Chains
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector Volume 161, number 2 FEBS 0790 September 1983 Proline- and alanine-rich N-terminal extension of the basic bovine P-crystallin B1 chains G.A.M. Berbers, W.A. Hoekman, H. Bloemendal, W.W. de Jong, T. Kleinschmidt* and G. Braunitzer* Laboratorium voor Biochemie, Universiteit van Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Noord 21, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands and *Max-Planck-Institut ft’ir Biochemie, Abteilung Proteinchemie, D-8033 Martinsried bei Miinchen, FRG Received 22 June 1983 The amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region of the two basic bovine &crystallin B1 chains has been analyzed. The results reveal that @Bibis derived in vivo from the primary gene product @la by removal of a short N-terminal sequence. It appears that them1 chains have the same domain structure as observed in other /3- and y-crystallin chains. They have, however, a very long N-terminal extension in comparison with other &chains. This extension is mainly composed of a remarkable Pro- and Ala-rich sequence, which suggests an interaction of these structural proteins with the cytoskeleton and/or the plasma membranes of the lens cells. Protein sequence Bovine &crystallin N-terminal extension Proline- and aianine-rich Domain structure 1. INTRODUCTION 33 000 and 31000, respectively, are characteristic for fltikt, [ 111. ,8Fha is a primary gene product, from The crystallins are evolutionary highly conserv- which ,8&b arises by post-translational modifica- ed structural eye lens proteins, which can be divid; tion [lo-121, most probably a proteolytic step ed into 4 classes: (Y-,,&, y- and t-crystallin [ 11.
    [Show full text]
  • Nucleotide Base Coding and Am1ino Acid Replacemients in Proteins* by Emil L
    VOL. 48, 1962 BIOCHEMISTRY: E. L. SAIITH 677 18 Britten, R. J., and R. B. Roberts, Science, 131, 32 (1960). '9 Crestfield, A. M., K. C. Smith, and F. WV. Allen, J. Biol. Chem., 216, 185 (1955). 20 Gamow, G., Nature, 173, 318 (1954). 21 Brenner, S., these PROCEEDINGS, 43, 687 (1957). 22 Nirenberg, M. WV., J. H. Matthaei, and 0. WV. Jones, unpublished data. 23 Crick, F. H. C., L. Barnett, S. Brenner, and R. J. Watts-Tobin, Nature, 192, 1227 (1961). 24 Levene, P. A., and R. S. Tipson, J. Biol. Ch-nn., 111, 313 (1935). 25 Gierer, A., and K. W. Mundry, Nature, 182, 1437 (1958). 2' Tsugita, A., and H. Fraenkel-Conrat, J. Mllot. Biol., in press. 27 Tsugita, A., and H. Fraenkel-Conrat, personal communication. 28 Wittmann, H. G., Naturwissenschaften, 48, 729 (1961). 29 Freese, E., in Structure and Function of Genetic Elements, Brookhaven Symposia in Biology, no. 12 (1959), p. 63. NUCLEOTIDE BASE CODING AND AM1INO ACID REPLACEMIENTS IN PROTEINS* BY EMIL L. SMITHt LABORATORY FOR STUDY OF HEREDITARY AND METABOLIC DISORDERS AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY AND MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Communicated by Severo Ochoa, February 14, 1962 The problem of which bases of messenger or template RNA' specify the coding of amino acids in proteins has been largely elucidated by the use of synthetic polyri- bonucleotides.2-7 For these triplet nucleotide compositions (Table 1), it is of in- terest to examine some of the presently known cases of amino acid substitutions in polypeptides or proteins of known structure.
    [Show full text]