Search results for "LAB"

8 Å cryo-EM structure of the giant hemoglobin from the planorbid snail Biomphalaria glabrata

2008

Until 2006, snail red hemoglobin remained a phylogenetic enigma because it occurs quite isolated in a single gastropod family, the Planorbidae, whereas all other gastropods use blue hemocyanin as a respiratory protein (for recent cryo-EM of hemocyanin, see [1,2]). Moreover, sequence data on this snail hemoglobin were completely lacking. In 2006, our group published the complete cDNA and predicted amino acid sequence of two Biomphalaria glabrata hemoglobin polypeptides, termed BgHb1 and BgHb2 [3]. (Biomphalaria is intermediate host of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni that causes Bilharziosis.) Resembling pearl-chains, both polypeptide subunits encompass 13 different, cysteine-free glob…

Breeding Tubercles, Papillomatosis and Dominance Behaviour of Male Roach (Rutilus rutilus) During the Spawning Period

2004

We studied the relationship between the breeding tubercle ornamentation (i.e. skin roughness) and male pre-spawning dominance and courtship behaviour in roach (Rutilus rutilus) within an experimental laboratory system. Sexually mature fish were caught during their migration to their spawning pond and their behaviours were studied in an artificial spawning arena. Males behaved naturally both in terms of male–male interactions and attempts to achieve spawnings. Males having many, large breeding tubercles (i.e. rough skin) were significantly more often dominant in our dyadic trials than those with smooth skin. The dominant male in the trial exhibited a more active courtship behaviour than its …

UV reflecting vole scent marks attract a passerine, the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor

2002

Diurnal raptors have been shown to use ultraviolet vision and UV-reflecting vole scent marks to find suitable hunting areas. We studied if a passerine species, the great grey shrike Lanius excubitor that uses voles as its primary food, may also detect prey-patches in the same way. We conducted a laboratory experiment with ten shrikes. Each individual shrike had four options to choose from: (1) scent marks with UV light, (2) scent marks without UV light, (3) clean arena with UV light, and (4) clean arena without UV light. The birds preferred the scent-marked arena with UV light as measured by the number of scans and the time spent above it. Therefore, we suggest that great grey shrike probab…

Diterpenes from Euphorbia segetalis

1998

Numerous new diterpenes including several with new skeletons have been obtained from Euphorbia segetalis.

Food availability and the male's role in parental care in double-brooded TreecreepersCerthia familiaris

1996

The aim of this work was to examine differences in paternal and maternal care in a double-brooded, monogamous species, the Treecreeper Certhia familiaris, in relation to food availability. As a measure of parental care, we recorded the hourly feeding activity of parents when the nestlings from their first and second breeding attempts were 7 and 12 days old. Feeding frequency of the first brood increased with the age of the nestlings and also with the brood size when 12 days old. While the feeding activities of the females were similar with respect to the first and second broods, the males were less active and failed to provide any food to their nestlings in 15 cases out of 28 second broods.…

Effect of lactoferrin addition on the dialysability of iron from infant formulas

2003

A possible enhancing effect of lactoferrin (Lf) on iron absorption by breast-fed infants has been suggested, however the available results failed to confirm this hypothesis. Nevertheless, Lf could be useful in protecting the lipid fraction of infant formulas against oxidation. Concerning the possibility of adding Lf to infant formulas with this aim, we considered it necessary to evaluate the effect of this addition on iron dialysability, which was used as a parameter indicator of bioavailability. An in vitro dialysability method was applied to three types of infant formulas, with and without Lf added, respectively. In none of the analysed formulas did the added Lf have a negative effect on …

Co-expression and Functional Interaction of Silicatein with Galectin

2006

Sponges (phylum Porifera) of the class of Demospongiae are stabilized by a siliceous skeleton. It is composed of silica needles (spicules), which provide the morphogenetic scaffold of these metazoans. In the center of the spicules there is an axial filament that consists predominantly of silicatein, an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of biosilica. By differential display of transcripts we identified additional proteins involved in silica formation. Two genes were isolated from the marine demosponge Suberites domuncula; one codes for a galectin and the other for a fibrillar collagen. The galectin forms aggregates to which silicatein molecules bind. The extent of the silicatein-mediated s…

Recombinant expression of gastropod (Biomphalaria glabrata) haemoglobin

2009

Effects of heavy metals on earthworms along contamination gradients in organic rich soils.

2003

Earthworm communities and metal (bio)availability to earthworms along contamination gradients was studied in order to support chemical analyses in risk assessment of metal contaminated soils. Earthworms were sampled in three metal contaminated areas with different habitat and soil properties in Finland. Earthworm and soil samples were collected at three distances (1, 2, and 4 km) from the emission sources. Earthworms were identified as to species and analyzed for heavy metals. Total soil metal concentrations were analyzed using an ultrasound-assisted extraction method and bioavailable metal fraction was estimated by acetic acid extraction. In two of the three areas studied, heavy metal conc…

An ent-kaurane from Sideritis huber-morathii

1996

WOS: A1996VW86500030