MARECHIARA-phytoplankton long-term time-series (1984-2006) at the fixed coastal station in the Gulf of Naples, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea

The "MARECHIARA-phytoplankton" dataset contains phytoplankton data collected in the ongoing time-series at Stn MC ( 40°48.5' N, 14°15' E) in the Gulf of Naples. This dataset spans over the period 1984-2006 and contains data of phytoplankton species composition and abundance. Phytoplankton sampling was regularly conducted from January 1984 till July 1991 and in 1995-2006. Sampling was interrupted from August 1991 till January 1995. The sampling frequency was fortnightly till 1991 and weekly since 1995. Phytoplankton samples were collected at 0.5 m depth using Niskin bottles and immediately fixed with formaldehyde (0.8-1.6% final concentration) for species identification and counts.

Phylogenetic analysis of “Volvocacae” for comparative genetic studies

Sequence analysis based on multiple isolates representing essentially all genera and species of the classic family Volvocaeae has clarified their phylogenetic relationships. Cloned internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS-1 and ITS-2, flanking the 5.8S gene of the nuclear ribosomal gene cistrons) were aligned, guided by ITS transcript secondary structural features, and subjected to parsimony and neighbor joining distance analysis. Results confirm the notion of a single common ancestor, and Chlamydomonas reinharditii alone among all sequenced green unicells is most similar. Interbreeding isolates were nearest neighbors on the evolutionary tree in all cases. Some taxa, at whatever level, prove to be clades by sequence comparisons, but others provide striking exceptions. The morphological species Pandorina morum, known to be widespread and diverse in mating pairs, was found to encompass all of the isolates of the four species of Volvulina. Platydorina appears to have originated early and not to fall within the genus Eudorina, with which it can sometimes be confused by morphology. The four species of Pleodorina appear variously associated with Eudorina examples. Although the species of Volvox are each clades, the genus Volvox is not. The conclusions confirm and extend prior, more limited, studies on nuclear SSU and LSU rDNA genes and plastid-encoded rbcL and atpB. The phylogenetic tree suggests which classical taxonomic characters are most misleading and provides a framework for molecular studies of the cell cycle-related and other alterations that have engendered diversity in both vegetative and sexual colony patterns in this classical family.

The Role of Preassembled Cytoplasmic Complexes in Assembly of Flagellar Dynein Subunits

Previous work has revealed a cytoplasmic pool of flagellar precursor proteins capable of contributing to the assembly of new flagella, but how and where these components assemble is unknown. We tested Chlamydomonas outer-dynein arm subunit stability and assembly in the cytoplasm of wild-type cells and 11 outer dynein arm assembly mutant strains (oda1-oda11) by Western blotting of cytoplasmic extracts, or immunoprecipitates from these extracts, with five outer-row dynein subunit-specific antibodies. Western blots reveal that at least three oda mutants (oda6, oda7, and oda9) alter the level of a subunit that is not the mutant gene product. Immunoprecipitation shows that large preassembled flagellar complexes containing all five tested subunits (three heavy chains and two intermediate chains) exist within wild-type cytoplasm. When the preassembly of these subunits was examined in oda strains, we observed three patterns: complete coassembly (oda 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10), partial coassembly (oda7 and oda11), and no coassembly (oda2, 6, and 9) of the four tested subunits with HCβ. Our data, together with previous studies, suggest that flagellar outer-dynein arms preassemble into a complete Mr ≃ 2 × 106 dynein arm that resides in a cytoplasmic precursor pool before transport into the flagellar compartment.

Chlorophyll precursors are signals of chloroplast origin involved in light induction of nuclear heat-shock genes

Coordination between the activities of organelles and the nucleus requires the exchange of signals. Using Chlamydomonas, we provide evidence that plastid-derived chlorophyll precursors may replace light in the induction of two nuclear heat-shock genes (HSP70A and HSP70B) and thus qualify as plastidic signal. Mutants defective in the synthesis of Mg-protoporphyrin IX were no longer inducible by light. Feeding of Mg-protoporphyrin IX or its dimethyl ester to wild-type or mutant cells in the dark resulted in induction. The analysis of HSP70A promoter mutants that do or do not respond to light revealed that these chlorophyll precursors specifically activate the light signaling pathway. Activation of gene expression was not observed when protoporphyrin IX, protochlorophyllide, or chlorophyllide were added. A specific interaction of defined chlorophyll precursors with factor(s) that regulate nuclear gene expression is suggested.

Association of glycolate oxidation with photosynthetic electron transport in plant and algal chloroplasts.

Photosynthetic carbon metabolism is initiated by ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), which uses both CO2 and O2 as substrates. One 2-phosphoglycolate (P-glycolate) molecule is produced for each O2 molecule fixed. P-glycolate has been considered to be metabolized exclusively via the oxidative photosynthetic carbon cycle. This paper reports an additional pathway for P-glycolate and glycolate metabolism in the chloroplasts. Light-dependent glycolate or P-glycolate oxidation by osmotically shocked chloroplasts from the algae Dunaliella or spinach leaves was measured by three electron acceptors, methyl viologen (MV), potassium ferricyanide, or dichloroindophenol. Glycolate oxidation was assayed with 3-(3,4)-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) as oxygen uptake in the presence of MV at a rate of 9 mol per mg of chlorophyll per h. Washed thylakoids from spinach leaves oxidized glycolate at a rate of 22 mol per mg of chlorophyll per h. This light-dependent oxidation was inhibited completely by SHAM, an inhibitor of quinone oxidoreductase, and 75% by 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB), which inhibits electron transfer from plastoquinone to the cytochrome b6f complex. SHAM stimulated severalfold glycolate excretion by algal cells, Dunaliella or Chlamydomonas, and by isolated Dunaliella chloroplasts. Glycolate and P-glycolate were oxidized about equally well to glyoxylate and phosphate. On the basis of results of inhibitor action, the possible site which accepts electrons from glycolate or P-glycolate is a quinone after the DCMU site but before the DBMIB site. This glycolate oxidation is a light-dependent, SHAM-sensitive, glycolate-quinone oxidoreductase system that is associated with photosynthetic electron transport in the chloroplasts.

Cloning and expression of a gene encoding an integrin-like protein in Candida albicans.

The existence of integrin-like proteins in Candida albicans has been postulated because monoclonal antibodies to the leukocyte integrins alpha M and alpha X bind to blastospores and germ tubes, recognize a candidal surface protein of approximately 185 kDa, and inhibit candidal adhesion to human epithelium. The gene alpha INT1 was isolated from a library of C. albicans genomic DNA by screening with a cDNA probe from the transmembrane domain of human alpha M. The predicted polypeptide (alpha Int1p) of 188 kDa contains several motifs common to alpha M and alpha X: a putative I domain, two EF-hand divalent cation-binding sites, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail with a single tyrosine residue. An internal RGD tripeptide is also present. Binding of anti-peptide antibodies raised to potential extracellular domains of alpha Int1p confirms surface localization in C. albicans blastopores. By Southern blotting, alpha INT1 is unique to C. albicans. Expression of alpha INT1 under control of a galactose-inducible promoter led to the production of germ tubes in haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in the corresponding ste12 mutant. Germ tubes were not observed in haploid yeast transformed with vector alone, in transformants expressing a galactose-inducible gene from Chlamydomonas, or in transformants grown in the presence of glucose or raffinose. Transformants producing alpha Int1p bound an anti-alpha M monoclonal antibody and exhibited enhanced aggregation. Studies of alpha Int1p reveal novel roles for primitive integrin-like proteins in adhesion and in STE12-independent morphogenesis.

Elimination of paternal mitochondrial DNA in intraspecific crosses during early mouse embryogenesis.

To examine whether mtDNA is uni- or biparentally transmitted in mice, we developed an assay that can detect sperm mtDNA in a single mouse embryo. In intraspecific hybrids of Mus musculus, paternal mtDNA was detected only through the early pronucleus stage, and its disappearance co-incided with loss of membrane potential in sperm-derived mitochondria. By contrast, in interspecific hybrids between M. musculus and Mus spretus, paternal mtDNA was detected throughout development from pronucleus stage to neonates. We propose that oocyte cytoplasm has a species-specific mechanism that recognizes and eliminates sperm mitochondria and mtDNA. This mechanism must recognize nuclearly encoded proteins in the sperm midpiece, and not the mtDNA or the proteins it encodes, because sperm mitochondria from the congenic strain B6.mtspr, which carries M. spretus mtDNA on background of M. musculus (B6) nuclear genes, were eliminated early by B6 oocytes as in intraspecific crosses. We conclude that cytoplasmic genomes are transmitted uniparentally in intraspecific crosses in mammals as in Chlamydomonas and that leakage of parental mtDNA is limited to interspecific crosses, which rarely occur in nature.

Sistemas hídricos do Jardim Botânico do Estado de São Paulo: uma experiência em educação para o meio ambiente

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido para compor um modelo de educação ambiental no Jardim Botânico do Estado de São Paulo, localizado no Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga (PEFI). Devido ao seu propósito educacional, o projeto educativo foi desenvolvido com o apoio de dois professores do ensino básico e de pesquisadores do Núcleo de Educação Ambiental do Jardim Botânico do Estado de São Paulo e das Seções de Ecologia e Ficologia do Instituto de Botânica. O modelo considerou quatro sistemas hídricos do PEFI, a Nascente do Riacho do Ipiranga e os Lagos do Jardim Botânico \"Nascentes, Ninféias e Bugios\", como base para a construção de instrumentos ordenadores de visitas monitoradas de professores do ensino básico e seus alunos ao Jardim Botânico. Como base do projeto, abordou-se o tema meio ambiente como transversal às disciplinas clássicas do sistema educacional brasileiro e empreenderam-se as ações do projeto através do conhecimento de diferentes profissionais sobre o meio ambiente que compuseram o grupo de trabalho e, ao mesmo, buscou-se integrar as ações às reais necessidades dos docentes do Ensino Básico. Nesse sentido, foi essencial a participação dos dois professores de escolas do entorno do Jardim Botânico nas etapas organizacionais do projeto. A caracterização da área de estudo baseou-se em seus aspectos históricos e físicos, bem como na qualidade sanitária dos corpos aquáticos considerados. As determinações físicas-químicas e microbiológicas revelaram uma condição sanitária satisfatória das águas, contudo os valores de coliformes fecais e totais encontrados nos lagos sugerem contaminação de origem animal, comum à região. A produtividade primária também foi determinada para cada corpo aquático, encontrando-se baixos valores de clorofila a nos três lagos e na nascente. Os tipos de algas microscópicas observadas foram os gêneros Chrysochromulina, Ankistrodesmus, Scenedesmus, Cosmarium, Navicula, Eunotia, Cryptomonas, Closterium, Gomphonema, Pinnularia, Pleurotaenium, Arthrospira, Oedogonium, Euastrum, Monoraphidium, Staurastrum, Pleurotaenium, Mallomonas e Chlamydomonas. De acordo com a tabela Carlson (Índice de Estado Trófico) a Nascente e o Lago das Nascentes são considerados oligotróficos, enquanto que o Lago dos Bugios e o das Ninféias, mesotróficos. A primeira ação do projeto, um curso teórico-prático, buscou-se integrar os professores do ensino básico em temas relacionados ao meio ambiente, particularmente naqueles de maior relevância aos profissionais atuantes no Jardim Botânico. Posteriormente, os professores participaram de ações para formatação de instrumentos educativos para visitação monitorada ao jardim, que resultaram na elaboração de um manual de visitação do professor, contendo um mapa da área de visitação e explicações de placas sinalizadoras. Para o núcleo de educação ambiental do Jardim Botânico foi disponibilizada a estrutura básica de um curso de capacitação de professores do ensino básico em temas sobre o meio ambiente, bem como a documentação fotográfica da área estudada, os critérios para a admissão de visita monitorada e os procedimentos para adequação do local da Nascente do Riacho do Ipiranga à visitação pública. Finalmente, deve-se ressaltar que o tema escolhido para a realização dessa dissertação de mestrado foi originado da percepção dos pesquisadores do Instituto de Botânica em destacar a importância do Jardim Botânico através de seus sistemas hídricos, e como poderiam ser utilizados como instrumento educativo nas escolas de São Paulo. Nesse sentido, optou-se por enriquecer o clássico foco dado aos jardins botânicos em todo o mundo, no qual a maioria dos visitantes apenas observa a vegetação local e exótica. Assim, pode-se afirmar que o trabalho empreendido se constituirá em uma contribuição ao professor com a missão de inserir a dimensão ambiental nas mais variadas disciplinas do ensino básico.

Diatom abundance in sediments of ODP Holes 186-1150A and 186-1151C

The diatom flora from two sediment cores recovered from the upper 27 meters below seafloor (mbsf) in the oceanic frontal area off Sanriku, northeast Japan, during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 186 were analyzed. Diatom abundance seems to be in interglacial stages and suggests a south-north shifting of the frontal area. Diatom temperature values are less reliable because frequency of the warm-water species is smaller. Site 1151 was in a warm climate at ~50 ka, as were Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites 579 and 580 in the western North Pacific Ocean. A mixed diatom assemblage in the upper 3 mbsf at Site 1150 is evidence that the Tsugaru Warm Current flowed into the studied area through the Tsugaru Strait.