CRAYFISH OCCURRENCE IN RELATION TO LAND-USE PROPERTIES: IMPLEMENTATION OF A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

On the basis of inventory data collected since 1994, the recent stocking situation for freshwater crayfish in three 10 by 10 km study sites in northeastern Germany (Uckermark) and northwestern Poland (Szczecin area, Koszalin area) is described. The native crayfish Astacus astacus (L.) was found in two of the three study sites (Uckermark, Koszalin area) with 1 and 7 stocks, respectively, while the American species Orconectes limosus (Raf.) was found in all three study areas, and in two of them (Uckermark, Szczecin area) was the dominant crayfish species. By means of spatial analysis on the basis of a geographic information system (GIS), influence of land-use properties and other human impact on crayfish distribution was estimated. A. astacus was found only in lakes with a proportion of arable land below 10% within a 50 m buffer around the shoreline. Proportion of forest around these lakes was above the average for all lakes. In contrast, O. limosus appeared indifferent to all factors related to land use. Average lake size was clearly different for the two species. A. astacus was found in smaller lakes without direct contact to settled areas, whereas O. limosus preferentially inhabited larger lakes, indicating the importance of human activities in respect of extinction of native crayfish stocks and propagation of alien crayfish species. GIS proved a suitable tool for the assessment of land-use effects and overall human impact on crayfish distribution on a landscape level

Charge-transfer interactions stabilize g-quadruplex-forming thrombin binding aptamers and can improve their anticoagulant activity

In the search for optimized thrombin binding aptamers (TBAs), we herein describe the synthesis of a library of TBA analogues obtained by end-functionalization with the electron-rich 1,5-dialkoxy naphthalene (DAN) and the electron-deficient 1,8,4,5-naphthalenetetra-carboxylic diimide (NDI) moieties. Indeed, when these G-rich oligonucleotides were folded into the peculiar TBA G-quadruplex (G4) structure, effective donor–acceptor charge transfer interactions between the DAN and NDI residues attached to the extremities of the sequence were induced, providing pseudo-cyclic structures. Alternatively, insertion of NDI groups at both extremities produced TBA analogues stabilized by π–π stacking interactions. All the doubly-modified TBAs were characterized by different biophysical techniques and compared with the analogues carrying only the DAN or NDI residue and unmodified TBA. These modified TBAs exhibited higher nuclease resistance, and their G4 structures were markedly stabilized, as evidenced by increased Tm values compared to TBA. These favorable properties were also associated with improved anticoagulant activity for one DAN/NDI-modified TBA, and for one NDI/NDI-modified TBA. Our results indicated that TBA pseudo-cyclic structuring by ad hoc designed end-functionalization represents an efficient approach to improve the aptamer features, while pre-organizing and stabilizing the G4 structure but allowing sufficient flexibility to the aptamer folding, which is necessary for optimal thrombin recognition

DNA‐Templated [2 2] Photocycloaddition: A Straightforward Entry into the Aplysinopsin Family of Natural Products

Biosynthetic considerations inspired us to harness the template properties offered by DNA to promote a [2+2] photo‐induced cycloaddition. The method was developed based on the dimerization of (E)‐aplysinopsin, which was previously shown to be unproductive in solution. In sharp contrast, exposure of this tryptophan‐derived olefin to light in the presence of salmon testes DNA (st‐DNA) reproducibly afforded the corresponding homo‐dimerized spiro‐fused cyclobutane in excellent yields. DNA provides unique templating interactions enabling a singular mimic of the solid‐state aggregation necessary for the [2+2] photo‐cycloaddition to occur. This method was ultimately used to promote the prerequisite dimerizations leading to both dictazole B and tubastrindole B, thus constituting the first example of a DNA‐mediated transformation to be applied to the total synthesis of a natural product.Agence Nationale de la Recherche for financial support (D-CYSIV project; ANR-2015-CE29-0021-01)

Effect of roasting process on the enzymatic digestibility of proteins in grains of buckwheat [Fagopyrum esculentum Moench]

Białka stanowią podstawowy składnik budulcowy wszystkich tkanek ustroju człowieka i wielu czynnych biologicznie związków, jak enzymy, hormony, przeciwciała. Ziarniaki gryki są źródłem wysokiej jakości białka o dobrze zbilansowanym składzie aminokwasowym. Zawartość białek w ziarniakach gryki kształtuje się w przedziale 8,5 - 19 % s.m. Celem badań było określenie wpływu procesu prażenia (temp. 60 ºC, 30 min, wilgotność 14,5 %) na zakres enzymatycznego trawienia białek in vitro. Białka wyodrębniono z obłuszczonych ziarniaków gryki przed i po prażeniu. Analiza strawności preparatów białek gryki prowadzona w środowisku symulującym fizjologiczne warunki trawienia białek w dwunastnicy wykazała, że zastosowany proces prażenia wpłynął na poprawę strawności badanych białek gryki: 82,7 % - przed prażeniem i 85,5 % - po prażeniu. Jednak ilość wyodrębnionych białek w preparacie z ziarniaków po procesie prażenia uległa znacznemu zmniejszeniu. Analizując obrazy rozdziału elektroforetycznego białek ziarniaków przed i po procesie prażenia, stwierdzono znaczący udział frakcji o masie cząsteczkowej 22·10³ Da oraz frakcji w zakresie 55·10³ - 32·10³ Da, lecz wskutek procesu prażenia odnotowano znaczną degradację frakcji o masie 55·103 Da.Proteins constitute a fundamental building element of all tissues in the human body and of many biologically active compounds, such as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. Buckwheat grains are a source of the high quality proteins the amino acidic composition of which is well balanced. The content of proteins in buckwheat grains ranges from 8.5 to 19 % d.m. The objective of the investigations was to determine the effect of roasting process (temperature: 160 ºC, 30 min, moisture: 14.5 %) on the range of in vitro enzymatic digestibility of proteins. The proteins were isolated from dehulled grains of buckwheat prior to and after roasting. The analysis of the digestibility of buckwheat protein preparations conducted in an environment simulating physiological conditions of digesting proteins in duodenum proved that the roasting process applied had an effect of improving the digestibility of the examined proteins of buckwheat: 82.7 % - prior to roasting and 85.5 % - after roasting. However, the amount of isolated proteins considerably decreased in the preparation made of grains after the roasting process. While analysing the SDS-PAGE images of proteins in grains prior to and after the roasting process, it was found that they contained essential amounts of two fractions: the one having a molecular mass of 22·10³ Da and the second of a molecular mass between 55·10³ and 32·10³ Da. However, as the result of the roasting process, the considerable degradation was reported of the fraction having a molecular mass of 55·10³ Da

CRAYFISH OCCURRENCE IN RELATION TO LAND-USE PROPERTIES: IMPLEMENTATION OF A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

On the basis of inventory data collected since 1994, the recent stocking situation for freshwater crayfish in three 10 by 10 km study sites in northeastern Germany (Uckermark) and northwestern Poland (Szczecin area, Koszalin area) is described. The native crayfish Astacus astacus (L.) was found in two of the three study sites (Uckermark, Koszalin area) with 1 and 7 stocks, respectively, while the American species Orconectes limosus (Raf.) was found in all three study areas, and in two of them (Uckermark, Szczecin area) was the dominant crayfish species. By means of spatial analysis on the basis of a geographic information system (GIS), influence of land-use properties and other human impact on crayfish distribution was estimated. A. astacus was found only in lakes with a proportion of arable land below 10% within a 50 m buffer around the shoreline. Proportion of forest around these lakes was above the average for all lakes. In contrast, O. limosus appeared indifferent to all factors related to land use. Average lake size was clearly different for the two species. A. astacus was found in smaller lakes without direct contact to settled areas, whereas O. limosus preferentially inhabited larger lakes, indicating the importance of human activities in respect of extinction of native crayfish stocks and propagation of alien crayfish species. GIS proved a suitable tool for the assessment of land-use effects and overall human impact on crayfish distribution on a landscape level

ON SELECTED MORPHOMECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SIGNAL CRAYFISH (PACIFASTACUS LENIUSCULUS DANA) EGGS DURING INCUBATION

Changes in resistance to mechanical pressure during embryogenesis were studied in the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana). A constant increase in egg size (volume and surface area) was observed to take place throughout the embryonic development, the increase occurring as most probably result of water absorption. The increase in the egg volume was found to be accompanied by a constant reduction in the egg membrane resistance. Morphomechanical aspects of crayfish hatching as well as a possibility of taking advantage of them to enhance astacid reproduction are discussed

Probing naphthalene diimide and 3-hydroxypropylphosphate as end-conjugating moieties for improved thrombin binding aptamers: Structural and biological effects

: The limitations associated with the in vivo use of the thrombin binding aptamer (TBA or TBA15) have dramatically stimulated the search of suitable chemically modified analogues in order to discover effective and reversible inhibitors of thrombin activity. In this context, we previously proposed cyclic and pseudo-cyclic TBA analogues with improved stability that proved to be more active than the parent aptamer. Herein, we have investigated a novel library of TBA derivatives carrying naphthalene diimide (NDI) moieties at the 3'- or 5'-end. In a subset of the investigated oligonucleotides, additional 3-hydroxypropylphosphate (HPP) groups were introduced at one or both ends of the TBA sequence. Evaluation of the G-quadruplex thermal stability, serum nuclease resistance and in vitro anticoagulant activity of the new TBA analogues allowed rationalizing the effect of these appendages on the activity of the aptamer on the basis of their relative position. Notably, most of the different TBA analogues tested were more potent thrombin inhibitors than unmodified TBA. Particularly, the analogue carrying an NDI group at the 5'-end and an HPP group at the 3'-end, named N-TBA-p, exhibited enhanced G-quadruplex thermal stability (ΔTm + 14° C) and ca. 10-fold improved nuclease resistance in serum compared to the native aptamer. N-TBA-p also induced prolonged and dose-dependent clotting times, showing a ca. 11-fold higher anticoagulant activity compared to unmodified TBA, as determined by spectroscopic methods. Overall, N-TBA-p proved to be in vitro a more efficient thrombin inhibitor than all the best ones previously investigated in our group. Its interesting features, associated with its easy preparation, make it a very promising candidate for future in vivo studies

A comparative study on the parasite fauna of perch, Perca fluviatilis L., collected from a freshwater coastal lake brackish-water Baltic Sea and the interconnecting canal

Background. Parasitological surveys of freshwater fishes rarely include comparisons between two ecologically different bodies of water. Such studies might help to understand processes of establishment of parasite faunas in estuary areas. The results obtained could also provide useful tools for discriminating various fish populations based on the composition of their parasite faunas. The present authors attempted to study such data from Resko Lake-a freshwater coastal lagoon (6 km? surface area), and the adjacent areas of the Baltic Sea. Resko Lake, located 12 km west of the city of Kołobrzeg, is shallow (1.5 m) and is connected to the sea through a small canal (1.3 km long, 30 m wide). Material and methods. The material was collected from April 1969 and July 1970. A total of 159 perch were collected, in this number 104 fish from the lake, 43 from the sea, and 12 from the canal. Results. A total of 32 parasite species were recovered from the fish necropsied. The parasites represented 7 higher taxa: Protozoa (3 species), Cestoda (4), Digenea (13), Nematoda (5), Acanthocephala (3), Mollusca (1), and Crustacea (3). The parasite fauna of perch from the sea was definitely more abundant (31 species) compared to that of the lake (21), and the canal (12 species). Infection parameters of 13 parasite species demonstrated significant differences between the locations studied. The infection level of 6 parasite species was significantly higher in perch from the sea: Bothriocephalus scorpii, Ligula sp., Brachyphallus crenatus, Camallanus truncatus, Hysterothylacium aduncum, and Echinorhynchus gadi. On the other hand, infection levels of 7 other species were higher at the lake: Triaenophorus nodulosus, Bucephalus polymorphus, Azygia lucii, Tylodelphys clavata, Camallanus lacustris, Acanthocephalus lucii, and Achtheres percarum. The infection parameters of the fish from canal were similar to those from the lake. Interesting observations were made on the seasonality of certain parasites of both lake- and Baltic perch. The presently observed differences between parasite faunas of the fish from ecologically different adjacent estuarine locations are certainly caused by diversified environmental conditions that affected the processes of formation of the parasite communities there. Among important factors that could affect compositions of the parasite faunas could have been: availability of the intermediate hosts, exchange of waters (Baltic water influxes to the lake), fish migrations (spawning), and finally the separate identity of the two fish stocks studied