Evolutionary Trends of Zooidal Shape

1981 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 52-69
Author(s):  
Frank K. McKinney
Keyword(s):  
Full Length ◽  
Evolutionary Trends ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Individual Functioning ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Geometrical Relationships

The individual functioning units (zooids) in stenolaemate bryozoan colonies include skeletal portions called zooecia (singular, zooecium). Within a zooecium there may be basal diaphragms that make the occupied portion (living chamber) shorter than the full length of the zooecium, and there may be various skeletal parts that project into and modify the shape of the living chamber. The entire zooecium constitutes a record of zooidal ontogeny and of the geometrical relationships between neighboring zooecia or between zooecia and the surrounding colonial tissues. Therefore, evolutionary changes in zooecial shape reflect changes in all stages of zooidal ontogeny and in relationships between zooids and their surrounding intracolonial environment. In addition, evolutionary changes in zooidal size have affected zooecial shape in some stenolaemate groups.

Taxonomic implications and evolutionary trends in pollen of Canadian Ericales

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
pp. 3113-3126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry G. Warner ◽  
C. C. Chinnappa
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Evolutionary Relationships ◽  
Evolutionary Trends ◽  
Fungal Symbiont ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Taxonomic Implications ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Grains ◽  
Evolutionary Progression ◽  
Scanning Electron

The pollen of 61 of about 80 taxa of Ericales that occur in Canada are described through the use of light and scanning electron microscopy. Five main pollen types are recognized: (I) compact tetrads in which the individual grains are not clearly delimited when rolled and viewed in all positions, and possessing costae endopori or costae endocolpi, (II) tetrads in which the individual grains are clearly and consistently delimited, occasionally possessing costae endopori or costae endocolpi, (III) a category in which grains within the tetrad are not consistently delimited, and lack costae endopori or costae endocolpi, (IV) loose tetrads in which individual grains are poorly fused, and (V) monads. A key identifies general morphological distinctions among the pollen groups or species. This survey of the pollen morphology of the Ericales supports conventional taxonomic treatments. We favour treatment of Monotropaceae and Pyrolaceae as separate families and suggest the elevation of Orthila secunda to its own monotypic family. The Clethraceae and Orthila secunda may be better treated outside the Ericales. We propose that the tetrad pollen of most Ericales is a derived condition from the more primitive trizonocolporate monad of the Cyrillaceae, Clethraceae, and Orthila secunda. Subfamily Vaccinioideae (Ericaceae) and Empetraceae, through subfamily Rhododendroideae (Ericaceae), to Pyrola and Moneses (Pyrolaceae), and finally to Chimaphila (Pyrolaceae) represent the evolutionary progression based on a trend from compact tetrads to loose individual grains within the tetrad. Finally the most advanced group is represented by the zonoaperturate monads of the Monotropaceae. This evolutionary progression based on pollen morphology is in accord with general principles of tetrad formation during microsporogenesis and with evolutionary relationships suggested by the macromorphology, phytochemistry, embryology, and degree of dependence on a fungal symbiont.

Structure–function analysis of full-length midkine reveals novel residues important for heparin binding and zebrafish embryogenesis

2013 ◽  
Vol 451 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackwee Lim ◽  
Sheng Yao ◽  
Martin Graf ◽  
Christoph Winkler ◽  
Daiwen Yang
Keyword(s):  
Function Analysis ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Domain Growth ◽  
Heparin Binding ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Zebrafish Embryogenesis

Midkine is a heparin-binding di-domain growth factor, implicated in many biological processes as diverse as angiogenesis, neurogenesis and tumorigenesis. Elevated midkine levels reflect poor prognosis for many carcinomas, yet the molecular and cellular mechanisms orchestrating its activity remain unclear. At the present time, the individual structures of isolated half domains of human midkine are known and its functionally active C-terminal half domain remains a popular therapeutic target. In the present study, we determined the structure of full-length zebrafish midkine and show that it interacts with fondaparinux (a synthetic highly sulfated pentasaccharide) and natural heparin through a previously uncharacterized, but highly conserved, hinge region. Mutating six consecutive residues in the conserved hinge to glycine strongly abates heparin binding and midkine embryogenic activity. In contrast with previous in vitro studies, we found that the isolated C-terminal half domain is not active in vivo in embryos. Instead, we have demonstrated that the N-terminal half domain is needed to enhance heparin binding and mediate midkine embryogenic activity surprisingly in both heparin-dependent and -independent manners. Our findings provide new insights into the structural features of full-length midkine relevant for embryogenesis, and unravel additional therapeutic routes targeting the N-terminal half domain and conserved hinge.

scholarly journals The microtubule skeleton and the evolution of neuronal complexity in vertebrates

2019 ◽  
Vol 400 (9) ◽  
pp. 1163-1179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya I. Trushina ◽  
Armen Y. Mulkidjanian ◽  
Roland Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Vertebrate Evolution ◽  
Evolution Of Complexity ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Clear Increase ◽  
Tubulin Structure

Abstract The evolution of a highly developed nervous system is mirrored by the ability of individual neurons to develop increased morphological complexity. As microtubules (MTs) are crucially involved in neuronal development, we tested the hypothesis that the evolution of complexity is driven by an increasing capacity of the MT system for regulated molecular interactions as it may be implemented by a higher number of molecular players and a greater ability of the individual molecules to interact. We performed bioinformatics analysis on different classes of components of the vertebrate neuronal MT cytoskeleton. We show that the number of orthologs of tubulin structure proteins, MT-binding proteins and tubulin-sequestering proteins expanded during vertebrate evolution. We observed that protein diversity of MT-binding and tubulin-sequestering proteins increased by alternative splicing. In addition, we found that regions of the MT-binding protein tau and MAP6 displayed a clear increase in disorder extent during evolution. The data provide evidence that vertebrate evolution is paralleled by gene expansions, changes in alternative splicing and evolution of coding sequences of components of the MT system. The results suggest that in particular evolutionary changes in tubulin-structure proteins, MT-binding proteins and tubulin-sequestering proteins were prominent drivers for the development of increased neuronal complexity.

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) N- and C-Terminal Domains duringXenopus laevisDevelopment

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Nieuwesteeg ◽  
J. A. Willson ◽  
M. Cepeda ◽  
M. A. Fox ◽  
S. Damjanovski
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Tissue Inhibitor Of Metalloproteinase ◽  
Tissue Inhibitors Of Metalloproteinases ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Ecm Remodeling ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Terminal Domains

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is essential for facilitating developmental processes. ECM remodeling, accomplished by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), is regulated by endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). While the TIMP N-terminal domain is involved in inhibition of MMP activity, the C-terminal domain exhibits cell-signaling activity, which is TIMP and cell type dependent. We have previously examined the distinct roles of theXenopus laevisTIMP-2 and -3 C-terminal domains during development and here examined the unique roles of TIMP-1 N- and C-terminal domains in earlyX. laevisembryos. mRNA microinjection was used to overexpress full-length TIMP-1 or its individual N- or C-terminal domains in embryos. Full-length and C-terminal TIMP-1 resulted in increased lethality compared to N-terminal TIMP-1. Overexpression of C-terminal TIMP-1 resulted in significant decreases in mRNA levels of proteolytic genes including TIMP-2, RECK, MMP-2, and MMP-9, corresponding to decreases in MMP-2 and -9 protein levels, as well as decreased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities. These trends were not observed with the N-terminus. Our research suggests that the individual domains of TIMP-1 are capable of playing distinct roles in regulating the ECM proteolytic network during development and that the unique functions of these domains are moderated in the endogenous full-length TIMP-1 molecule.

scholarly journals Expression of Human Salivary Histatin and Cystatin/ Histatin Chimeric cDNAs in Escherichia coli

1993 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.A. Bobek ◽  
H. Tsai ◽  
M.J. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Blue Staining ◽  
Coomassie Blue Staining ◽  
Coomassie Blue ◽  
Overlap Extension ◽  
Cystatin Sn ◽  
The Individual

We have previously constructed recombinants encoding the full-length and truncated forms of cystatin-SN and expressed these in the Escherichia coli expression system pGEX-2T, which expresses foreign sequences as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). Recombinant cystatins were produced and purified in large quantities. The full-length recombinant cystatin-SN exhibited comparable biological activity and secondary structure to natural cystatin, validating the use of the full-length and mutant recombinant proteins for structure-function studies of salivary molecules. In this study, we have expressed histatin-1 cDNA in the pGEX-3X vector and cystatin-SN/histatin-1 or cystatin-SN/histatin-3 chimeric cDNAs in the pGEX-2T vector. Gene splicing by overlap extension (SOE), a PCR-based method, was used for generating the chimeric cDNAs. Each construct was analyzed by DNA sequencing, which showed the correct junctions and reading frames between the GST/histatin-1 and the GST/cystatin/histatin cDNAs. Expression of histatin and cystatin/histatin chimeras was induced by IPTG and the production of the fusion proteins monitored by SDS-PAGE/Coomassie blue staining and in the case of the GST/cystatin/histatin fusion proteins, also by Western blot using anti-cystatin antibody. The results of these studies showed that we have successfully constructed recombinants encoding the individual and chimeric salivary molecules and efficiently expressed these in E. coli expression system pGEX. Purification and characterization of recombinant histatin and cystatin-histatin hybrid proteins are presently ongoing.

Individual and Society

Mind Shift ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 46-60
Author(s):  
John Parrington
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Human Consciousness ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Trigger Activity ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

This chapter investigates the relationship between the individual and society, which has been hotly disputed among philosophers and politicians through the ages. Recent studies have questioned the idea that human beings are naturally solitary individuals. Instead, they suggest that socialising with others is so central to our species that rejection is registered in the same brain regions that respond to physical pain. Other studies have undermined the idea that human beings are inherently selfish, indicating instead that altruistic acts trigger activity in the ‘reward’ region of the brain that is stimulated when a person experiences pleasure. Studies like these raise the question of how the human brain became so attuned to social cues in this way. Here there are two issues to consider. One is evidence that primates in general have evolved to be highly sensitive to social interactions with other members of their species, and this has been accompanied by enhanced brain growth in order to handle these more sophisticated interactions. Yet while social interaction may be hardwired into our brains because of evolutionary changes in our primate ancestors, some features of our strong tendency towards social interaction may be specifically human. The chapter then looks at Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky’s novel ideas about human consciousness.

The Feeling of Trauma in the Situation of Current Threat

Diogenes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rumyana Krumova-Pesheva ◽  
◽  
Haralampi Peshev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Planned Change ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Individual Functioning ◽  
The Individual ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Loss ◽  
Object Interactions ◽  
Religious Nature ◽  
Social Level

The reality of the pandemic provoked and reinforced the feeling of insecurity and vital threat on an individual and social level. It caused a number of problems and issues from physical, mental, ethical, philosophical, legal, religious nature. The individual functioning turned out to be in condition of emergency and crisis with increased risk to human health and life. The current situation has given rise to the feeling of mass polytraumatism with characteristics of objectless horror and control loss. The present study refers to 34 cases of patients in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, where the objective reality changed the picture of the therapeutic dynamics. It created an experience of changed identity, „awakened“ intense transference „answers“ and to some extent modified the course of the sought and planned change. The results showed a severely increased free-floating anxiety, ready to conjoin with specific content and ideas, as well as high depression associated with regressive movements to early-object interactions.

Reversal of changes in lipoprotein A and lipoprotein B cholesterol during and for a year after a detoxication treatment program in chronic alcoholism.

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 874-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Perier ◽  
J Janin ◽  
S Pierre-Louis ◽  
J Frey
Keyword(s):  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Treatment Program ◽  
Apolipoprotein B ◽  
Chronic Alcoholism ◽  
Chronic Alcohol ◽  
Chronic Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
One Year ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual

Abstract We studied the individual and occasional changes in lipid metabolism induced by chronic alcohol abuse. In addition, the influence of a detoxication treatment program on the evolutionary changes in some serum lipidic components was studied for a one-year period. Before this program, total cholesterol was above normal, with high values for LP-A cholesterol, whereas for some patients LP-B cholesterol was increased. After the program, there was an increase in total cholesterol, LP-B cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, with a decrease in LP-A cholesterol. These evolutionary changes continued during the one-year period after the end of the inpatient program.

scholarly journals F-Spondin Interaction with the Apolipoprotein E Receptor ApoEr2 Affects Processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 9259-9268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyang-Sook Hoe ◽  
David Wessner ◽  
Uwe Beffert ◽  
Amanda G. Becker ◽  
Yasuji Matsuoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Amyloid Precursor Protein ◽  
Apolipoprotein E ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Precursor Protein ◽  
Primary Neurons ◽  
Transfected Cells ◽  
Extracellular Matrix Molecule ◽  
Apoe Receptor ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACT A recent study showed that F-spondin, a protein associated with the extracellular matrix, interacted with amyloid precursor protein (APP) and inhibited β-secretase cleavage. F-spondin contains a thrombospondin domain that we hypothesized could interact with the family of receptors for apolipoprotein E (apoE). Through coimmunoprecipitation experiments, we demonstrated that F-spondin interacts with an apoE receptor (apoE receptor 2 [ApoEr2]) through the thrombospondin domain of F-spondin and the ligand binding domain of ApoEr2. Full-length F-spondin increased coimmunoprecipitation of ApoEr2 and APP in transfected cells and primary neurons and increased surface expression of APP and ApoEr2. Full-length F-spondin, but none of the individual F-spondin domains, increased cleavage of APP and ApoEr2, resulting in more secreted forms of APP and ApoEr2 and more C-terminal fragments (CTF) of these proteins. In addition, full-length F-spondin, but not the individual domains, decreased production of the β-CTF of APP and Aβ in transfected cells and primary neurons. The reduction in APP β-CTF was blocked by receptor-associated protein (RAP), an inhibitor of lipoprotein receptors, implicating ApoEr2 in the altered proteolysis of APP. ApoEr2 coprecipitated with APP α- and β-CTF, and F-spondin reduced the levels of APP intracellular domain signaling, suggesting that there are also intracellular interactions between APP and ApoEr2, perhaps involving adaptor proteins. These studies suggest that the extracellular matrix molecule F-spondin can cluster APP and ApoEr2 together on the cell surface and affect the processing of each, resulting in decreased production of Aβ.

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