The association of Social Anxiety Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder and reproduction: Results from four nationally representative samples of adults in the USA.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur. The results of population studies suggest that SAD tends to precede AUD, and the results of laboratory studies suggest that alcohol use facilitates social behaviors in socially anxious individuals. Therefore, we posited that, in a modern context, a tendency to consume alcohol may be positively selected for among socially anxious individuals by its effect on the likelihood of finding a partner and reproducing. We tested the hypothesis that a higher proportion of individuals with a lifetime diagnosis of SAD and AUD reproduce (i.e., have at least one child) relative to individuals with SAD absent AUD in an individual participant meta-analysis based on over 65,000 adults derived from four nationally representative cross-sectional samples. We then cross-validated these findings against the results of a 10-year follow up of one of these surveys. Lifetime history of SAD was not associated with reproduction whereas lifetime history of AUD was positively associated with reproduction. There was no statistically detectable difference in the proportion of individuals with a lifetime history of SAD with or without AUD who reproduced. There was considerable heterogeneity in all of the analyses involving SAD, suggesting that there are likely to be other pertinent variables relating to SAD and reproduction that should be delineated

Genotypic relationships between Prochloron samples from different localities and hosts as determined by DNA-DNA reassociations

Genotypic relationships between seven Prochloron samples isolated from different didemnid ascidian hosts collected at the Palau archipelago and Munda (Solomon Islands) and one cyanobacterial (Synechocystis) strain were determined by DNA-DNA reassociations. Thermal stability values of DNA-DNA hybrids indicate that all Prochloron samples involved are mutually very closely related and only slightly related with the Synechocystis strain. It is concluded that the Prochloron samples tested are representatives of one and the same species

Introduction of disulfide bonds into Bacillus subtilis neutral protease

The effects of engineered disulfide bonds on autodigestion and thermostability of Bacillus subtilis neutral protease (NP-sub) were studied using site-directed mutagenesis. After modelling studies two locations that might be capable of forming disulfide bonds, both near previously determined autodigestion sites in NP-sub, were selected for the introduction of cysteines. Analysis of mutant enzymes showed that disulfide bonds were indeed formed in vivo, and that the mutant enzymes were fully active. The introduced disulfides did not alter the autodigestion pattern of the NP-sub. All mutant NP-subs exhibited decreased thermostability, which, by using reducing agents, was shown to be caused by the introduction of the cysteines and not by the formation of the disulfides. Mutants containing one cysteine exhibited intermolecular disulfide formation at elevated temperatures, which, however, was shown not to be the cause of the decreased thermostability. Combining the present data with literature data, it would seem that the introduction of disulfide bridges is unsuitable for the stabilization of proteases. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.