Identification and characterization of defense related enzymes in Chrysomelina larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) : Contributions to understand the evolutionary and molecular dynamics of chemical defense in leaf beetles

Glandular chemical defense of Chrysomelina larvae is either, not (iridoids), in part, or completely dependent (salicylaldehyde) on host derived glucosides. After uptake of glucoside precursors into the glandular reservoir, deglucosylation and further modification to defensive compounds falls into line. In case of iridoid and salicylaldehyde formation deglucosylation is followed by a common oxidation step, which led to assume a single origin of the oxidases in those species. Salicylaldehyde producers Chrysomela spp. and P. vitellinae are adapted to sequester the phytogenic precursor salicin and therefore are restricted to feed on salicaceous hosts. Whereas this host plant specialization may have favored salicin-based defense and stabilized salicyl alcohol oxidase (SAO) activity in Chrysomelina, shift to Betulaceae within the genus Chrysomela negatively affected the fate of salicylaldehyde formation. SAO transcripts and genes have been identified in C. lapponica and P. vitellinae. Additionally, SAO related sequences were found in iridoid producing species. But the corresponding protein in the defensive secretion and its specific SAO activity verified after heterologous expression followed by in vitro enzyme assays are only present in salicylaldehyde producers. A common origin of all SAOs and related sequences in a specific GMC oxidoreductase subfamily was shown by phylogenetic analyses. The presence of SAO-like genes but lack of their encoded proteins in the defensive secretion of iridoid producers indicate both an independent evolution of SAO from glandular oxidases in iridoid producers and the recruitment of SAO related proteins for functions other than in the defensive system of iridoid protected species. Comparing isolated Salicaceae- and Betulaceae- adapted C. lapponica populations elucidated a loss of SAO activity caused by mutations, alternative splicing, massive transcript down-regulation and N-terminal protein truncation in the birch-feeder

Sharing and visualizing environmental data using Virtual Globes

Virtual globe technology holds many exciting possibilities for environmental science. These easy-to-use, intuitive systems provide means for simultaneously visualizing four-dimensional environmental data from many different sources, enabling the generation of new hypotheses and driving greater understanding of the Earth system. Through the use of simple markup languages, scientists can publish and consume data in interoperable formats without the need for technical assistance. In this paper we give, with examples from our own work, a number of scientific uses for virtual globes, demonstrating their particular advantages. We explain how we have used Web Services to connect virtual globes with diverse data sources and enable more sophisticated usage such as data analysis and collaborative visualization. We also discuss the current limitations of the technology, with particular regard to the visualization of subsurface data and vertical sections

Making data a first class scientific output : data citation and publication by NERC's Environmental Data Centres

The NERC Science Information Strategy Data Citation and Publication project aims to develop and formalise a method for formally citing and publishing the datasets stored in its environmental data centres. It is believed that this will act as an incentive for scientists, who often invest a great deal of effort in creating datasets, to submit their data to a suitable data repository where it can properly be archived and curated. Data citation and publication will also provide a mechanism for data producers to receive credit for their work, thereby encouraging them to share their data more freely

Pectin Digestion in Herbivorous Beetles: Impact of Pseudoenzymes Exceeds That of Their Active Counterparts

Many protein families harbor pseudoenzymes that have lost the catalytic function of their enzymatically active counterparts. Assigning alternative function and importance to these proteins is challenging. Because the evolution toward pseudoenzymes is driven by gene duplication, they often accumulate in multigene families. Plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) are prominent examples of expanded gene families. The pectolytic glycoside hydrolase family 28 (GH28) allows herbivorous insects to break down the PCW polysaccharide pectin. GH28 in the Phytophaga clade of beetles contains many active enzymes but also many inactive counterparts. Using functional characterization, gene silencing, global transcriptome analyses, and recordings of life history traits, we found that not only catalytically active but also inactive GH28 proteins are part of the same pectin-digesting pathway. The robustness and plasticity of this pathway and thus its importance for the beetle is supported by extremely high steady-state expression levels and counter-regulatory mechanisms. Unexpectedly, the impact of pseudoenzymes on the pectin-digesting pathway in Phytophaga beetles exceeds even the influence of their active counterparts, such as a lowered efficiency of food-to-energy conversion and a prolongation of the developmental period

Inland alkaline brackish water aquaculture of juvenile razor clam: survival, growth, physiology and immune responses

In this study, we investigated rearing and breeding razor clam (Sinonovacula constricta) in inland alkaline brackish water. During 45 days of the experiment in candidate target inland area brackish water (TBW), survival, growth, enzyme activity and immune responses were analysed. The results showed that shell length and weight were significantly inhibited in the TBW group (p <0.001). Although the cumulative mortality was 81.479 ± 7.028 (p < 0.001) at 15 days, it increased slowly to 92.915 ± 2.271 (p < 0.001) at 45 days. The enzyme activities of Na+/K+-ATPase, aspartate aminotransferase and superoxide dismutase peaked at 15 days, and juvenile S. constricta (JSC) may engaged in partial anaerobic metabolism or damage to gill tissue, which may explain the high mortality rate at this time. Additionally, the phagocytic ability of haemocytes was inhibited (p < 0.001), but the metabolic activity was enhanced (p < 0.001). This implies that 15 days was the peak of TBW stress, and stress gradually decreased by days 30 and 45. TBW affected metabolism, osmotic regulation, and immune responses. There was an independent ionic interaction perhaps effect on JSC, primarily through Na+/K+ rate. Approximately 7 % of animals adapted successfully to TBW after 45 days. In summary, S. constricta has a great potential in further anti-TBW conditions selective breeding research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead.

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety 'Mode of Action' framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology

Translating environments

Far from being inert materials activated by human ingenuity, natural resources come to be made and unmade through ongoing processes of translation, through which they acquire new potentialities and meanings. In this introduction, we review the key concept of translation for anthropology and explore some of its multiple analytical possibilities in the context of human-environment relations. Based on insights offered by the articles in this collection, we propose a twofold definition of environments as both translating subjects and objects of translation. In grounding our analytical definition, we focus on the enactment of material transformations (as the result of both relations of mutual determination with humans and processes of objectification of the environment), the implications of incommensurability and erasure in processes of (attempted) translation, and the indeterminacy that accompanies (re)configurations of materials, relations and values