Andrei Vasilievich Martynov (09.[22.]viii.1879−29.i.1938): A life story

A biography of A.V. Martynov, a famous Russian trichopterologist and insect morphologist, taxonomist, paleontologist, and phylogeneticist is briefly outlined and illustrated by photographs never published before. An important input into insect faunistics, ecology and biogeography, as well as into taxonomy and faunistics of freshwater Crustacea made by Martynov is acknowledged. A.V. Martynov founded and developed Russian trichopterology and promoted it at the world scale. An original system and phylogenetic scheme of the insects created by him is accepted worldwide and continues to influence modern publications. He founded the first, and for many decades the only, worldwide paleoentomological laboratory which eventually triggered the current paleoentomological boom.

Phytoglobin: a novel nomenclature for plant globins accepted by the globin community at the 2014 XVIII conference on Oxygen-Binding and Sensing Proteins

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a heme-containing protein found in the red blood cells of vertebrates. For many years, the only known Hb-like molecule in plants was leghemoglobin (Lb). The discovery that other Hb-like proteins existed in plants led to the term “nonsymbiotic Hbs (nsHbs)” to differentiate them from the Lbs. While this terminology was adequate in the early stages of research on the protein, the complexity of the research in this area necessitates a change in the definition of these proteins to delineate them from red blood cell Hb. At the 2014 XVIII Conference on Oxygen-Binding and Sensing Proteins, the group devoted to the study of heme-containing proteins, this issue was discussed and a consensus was reached on a proposed name change. We propose Phytoglobin (Phytogb) as a logical, descriptive name to describe a heme-containing (Hb-like) protein found in plants. It will be readily recognized by the research community without a prolonged explanation of the origin of the term. The classification system that has been established can essentially remain unchanged substituting Phytogb in place of nsHb. Here, we present a guide to the new nomenclature, with reference to the existing terminology and a phylogenetic scheme, placing the known Phytogbs in the new nomenclature.

Phylogenetic reconstruction of Aegilops section Sitopsis and the evolution of tandem repeats in the diploids and derived wheat polyploids

The evolution of 2 tandemly repeated sequences Spelt1 and Spelt52 was studied in Triticum species representing 2 evolutionary lineages of wheat and in Aegilops sect. Sitopsis, putative donors of their B/G genomes. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization we observed considerable polymorphisms in the hybridization patterns of Spelt1 and Spelt52 repeats between and within Triticum and Aegilops species. Between 2 and 28 subtelomeric sites of Spelt1 probe were detected in Ae. speltoidies, depending on accession. From 8 to 12 Spelt1 subtelomeric sites were observed in species of Timopheevi group (GAt genome), whereas the number of signals in emmer/aestivum accessions was significantly less (from 0 to 6). Hybridization patterns of Spelt52 in Ae. speltoides, Ae. longissima, and Ae. sharonensis were species specific. Subtelomeric sites of Spelt52 repeat were detected only in T. araraticum (T. timopheevii), and their number and chromosomal location varied between accessions. Superimposing copy number data onto our phylogenetic scheme constructed from RAPD data suggests 2 major independent amplifications of Spelt52 and 1 of Spelt1 repeats in Aegilops divergence. It is likely that the Spelt1 amplification took place in the ancient Ae. speltoides before the divergence of polyploid wheats. The Spelt52 repeat was probably amplified in the lineage of Ae. speltoides prior to divergence of the allopolyploid T. timopheevii but after the divergence of T. durum. In a separate amplification event, Spelt52 copy number expanded in the common ancestor of Ae. longissima and Ae. sharonensis.Key words: evolution, RAPD, subtelomeric tandem repeats, Aegilops, wheat, B and G genome.

A critique of DNA sequence analysis in the taxonomy of filamentous Ascomycetes and ascomycetous anamorphs

The validity of reclassifying filamentous, ascomycetous anamorphs solely on the basis of ribosomal DNA sequences is examined. We suggest that emotional reactions to the debate are a consequence of often unacknowledged philosophical biases. From the perspective of the scientific method, neither morphological nor sequence-based taxonomic studies are inherently superior. A review of published information on the internal transcribed spacer of filamentous Ascomycetes and ascomycetous anamorphs demonstrates that uniform species concepts based on DNA sequences alone are presently infeasible. Because a phylogenetic scheme should classify species, the concept that fungi can be typified or classified solely by DNA sequences is challenged. Similarly, because no adequate nonmorphological species concept exists for anamorphic fungi that lack a sexual state, integration of the Deuteromycetes into the holomorphic classification on the basis of DNA sequences alone is also presently impractical. Key words: DNA sequencing, fungal taxonomy, internal transcribed spacer, species concepts.

Phyllosoma larvae and the phylogeny of Palinuroidea (Crustacea: Decapoda): A review

A review of larval morphology of some 50 species belonging to 15 of the 16 existing genera of Palinuroidea is presented. The taxonomic value of larval characters of the group is discussed, and a phylogenetic scheme of the whole group has been attempted. Phylogenetic and phenetic data obtained during this review show good agreement with a previously published evolutionary scheme for the Palinuridae based on adult characters, although Palinurus seems to be a more primitive genus than Palinustus and Justitia. From the point of view of larval morphology, Palinurellus (Synaxidae) seems to be the most primitive genus. Data on evolution of the Scyllaridae show three well differentiated groups: the more primitive (as typified by the larvae) Scyllarides-Arctides-Parribacus and Ibacus-Evibacus groups and the more specialized Thenus-Scyllarus group. Larval morphology also suggests that Parribacus is closer to Scyllarides and Arctides than to the Ibacus-Evibacus group. Evolution in Palinuroidea is seen as a process of radiation of the deep-water genera to coastal waters with a progressive shortening of larval life, although secondary trends towards shortening of larval life have also occurred in the more primitive deep-water genera (Puerulus, Linuparus and Palinurus).

EVOLUTION OF THE HIND WING IN COLEOPTERA

A survey is made of the major features of the venation, articulation, and folding in the hind wings of Coleoptera. The documentation is based upon examination of 108 Coleoptera families and 200 specimens, and shown in 101 published figures. Wing veins and articular sclerites are homologized with elements of the neopteran wing groundplan, resulting in wing vein terminology that differs substantially from that generally used by coleopterists. We tabulate the differences between currently used venational nomenclature and the all-pterygote homologous symbols. The use of the neopteran groundplan, combined with the knowledge of the way in which veins evolved, provides many strong characters linked to the early evolutionary radiation of Coleoptera. The order originated with the development of the apical folding of the hind wings under the elytra executed by the radial and medial loop. The loops, which are very complex venational structures, further diversified in four distinctly different ways which mark the highest (suborder) taxa. The remaining venation and the wing articulation have changed with the loops, which formed additional synapomorphies and autapomorphies at the suborder, superfamily, and sometimes even family and tribe levels. Relationships among the four currently recognized suborders of Coleoptera are reexamined using hind wing characters. The number of wing-related apomorphies are 16 in Coleoptera, seven in Archostemata + Adephaga–Myxophaga, four in Adephaga–Myxophaga, seven in Myxophaga, nine in Archostemata, and five in Polyphaga. The following phylogenetic scheme is suggested: Polyphaga [Archostemata (Adephaga + Myxophaga)]. Venational evidence is given to define two major lineages (the hydrophiloid and the eucinetoid) within the suborder Polyphaga. The unique apical wing folding mechanism of beetles is described. Derived types of wing folding are discussed, based mainly on a survey of recent literature. A sister group relationship between Coleoptera and Strepsiptera is supported by hind wing evidence.

Most Paleozoic Protorthoptera are ancestral hemipteroids: major wing braces as clues to a new phylogeny of Neoptera (Insecta)

The enigmatic and artificial Protorthoptera is the largest Paleozoic order of Neoptera. Typical hemipteroid head characters (inflated clypeus, styletal mouthparts) are here reported for "Protorthoptera" fossils and linked with the basic venational braces of hemipteroid wings. The "order" is recognized as being mostly composed of extremely primitive hemipteroids. Two new Late Carboniferous gerarid wings are described: Osnogerarus trecwithiensis n.gen., n.sp. from the Westphalian D of Osnabrück, Germany, and Cantabrala gandli n.gen., n.sp. from the Lower Stephanian (Cantabrian) of the Cantabrian Mountains, northwestern Spain. Several ground-plan characters of hemipteroids are described: head with visible segmentation; polyramous thoracic legs bearing exites and with trochanter not fused to prefemur; ovipositor with cutting ridges; the medial wing vein is shown as not the complete media (= M), but only the media posterior (= MP); the arculus is diagnosed as a cross-vein turned into an important brace; two radial sectors (RA and RP) originate separately from the radial basivenale; and the anal brace is formed by AA1. The hemipteroid stem-assemblage comprised (i) the gerarid line (extinct) with a long MP–CuA fusion replacing the arculus (derived) and with a repeatedly forked CuP (primitive), and (ii) the paoliid line with an arculus (a convex mp–cua cross-vein) (primitive) and a simple CuP (derived). The paoliids are the probable ancestors of modern hemipteroids. The Hemiptera (Sternorrhycha + Auchenorrhyncha + Coleorrhyncha + Heteroptera) lost the ScA + vein to a V-shaped notch or a flexion line (synapomorphy). Geraridae, Paleozoic and Recent Insecta, and all Arthropoda have demonstrably polyramous legs in the ground plan. Use of the taxon "Uniramia" is erroneous in every aspect. A new method using major venational braces is offered to define the wings of all higher neopteran taxa and to resolve the uncertain relationships between some modern orders. Polyneoptera (plecopteroids + orthopteroids + blattoids) is a polyphyletic taxon, and should be abandoned. Blattoids are not directly related to orthopteroids, but are the sister-group of hemipteroids + endopterygotes. An updated basic phylogenetic scheme of Neoptera proposed here comprises the following clades: (Pleconeoptera (Orthoneoptera (Blattoneoptera (Hemineoptera + Endoneoptera)))).

The hagfish slime gland thread cell. I. A unique cellular system for the study of intermediate filaments and intermediate filament-microtubule interactions.

Thread cell differentiation in the slime gland of the Pacific hagfish Eptatretus stouti has been studied using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Thread cell differentiation is remarkable in that the life history of the cell is largely dedicated to the production of a single, tapered, cylindrical, highly coiled, and precisely packaged cytoplasmic thread that may attain lengths of 60 cm and diameters approaching 1.5 micron. Each tapered thread, in turn, is comprised almost entirely of large numbers of intermediate filaments (IFs) bundled in parallel. During differentiation of the thread, the IFs become progressively more tightly packed. Various numbers of microtubules (MTs) are found among the bundled IFs during differentiation of the thread but disappear during the latter stages of thread differentiation. Observations of regularly spaced dots in longitudinal bisections of developing threads, diagonal striations in tangential sections of developing threads, and circumferentially oriented, filament-like structures observed at the periphery of developing threads cut in cross section have led us to postulate a helically oriented component(s) wrapped around the periphery of the developing thread. The enormous size of the fully differentiated thread cell, its apparent singular dedication to the production of IFs, the ease of isolating and purifying the threads and IF subunits (see accompanying paper), and the unique position of the hagfish in the phylogenetic scheme of vertebrate evolution all contribute to the attractiveness of the hagfish slime gland thread cell as a potential model system for studying IF subunit synthesis, IF formation from IF subunits, aggregation of IFs into IF bundles and the interaction(s) of IFs and MTs.