Search results for "etics"

The phylogeny of termites (Dictyoptera : Isoptera) based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers : implications for the evolution of the worker and pseu…

2008

A phylogenetic hypothesis of termite relationships was inferred from DNA sequence data. Seven gene fragments (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome oxidase II and cytochrome b) were sequenced for 40 termite exemplars, representing all termite families and 14 outgroups. Termites were found to be monophyletic with Mastotermes darwiniensis (Mastotermitidae) as sister group to the remainder of the termites. In this remainder, the family Kalotermitidae was sister group to other families. The families Kalotermitidae, Hodotermitidae and Termitidae were retrieved as monophyletic whereas the Termopsidae and Rhinotermitidae appeared paraphyletic. All of these result…

Evolutionary relationships, biogeography and morphological characters of Glinus (Molluginaceae), with special emphasis on the genus composition in Su…

2021

Glinus is a small genus of Molluginaceae with 8–10 species mostly distributed in the tropics of the World. Its composition and evolutionary relationships were poorly studied. A new molecular phylogeny constructed here using nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (rbcL, trnK-matK) markers confirmed the monophyly of the genus. Based on ITS analysis, the following well-supported lineages are present within Glinus: the G. bainesii lineage is recovered as sister to the remainder of the genus followed by G. oppositifolius. Three other clades are: G. hirtus with G. orygioides; G. radiatus and G. lotoides; the latter is represented by a sample from North America, and G. zambesiacus as sister to G. setifloru…

Evidence for a geranyl-diphosphate synthase located within the plastids of Vitis vinifera L. cultivated in vitro

1992

Intact plastids from cell suspensions of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Muscat de Frontignan, free of detectable contamination by other particles as judged by the distribution of organelle-specific marker enzymes and by electron microscopy, exhibit geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity (EC 2.5.1.1). This synthase activity remains stable after tryptic digestion of unlysed organelles and is enhanced by plastid disruption. We conclude that the enzyme is located within the organelle. The possibility of an isopentenyl diphosphate/dimethylallyl diphosphate translocating system which would play a major role in the regulation of monoterpene metabolism is discussed.

Natural Selection Fails to Optimize Mutation Rates for Long-Term Adaptation on Rugged Fitness Landscapes

2008

The rate of mutation is central to evolution. Mutations are required for adaptation, yet most mutations with phenotypic effects are deleterious. As a consequence, the mutation rate that maximizes adaptation will be some intermediate value. Here, we used digital organisms to investigate the ability of natural selection to adjust and optimize mutation rates. We assessed the optimal mutation rate by empirically determining what mutation rate produced the highest rate of adaptation. Then, we allowed mutation rates to evolve, and we evaluated the proximity to the optimum. Although we chose conditions favorable for mutation rate optimization, the evolved rates were invariably far below the optimu…

2021

Abstract Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are highly diverse and have multiple functions, including communication and waterproofing. CHC profiles form species-specific, complex blends of up to 150 compounds. Especially in ants, even closely related species can have largely different profiles, raising the question how CHC differences are mirrored in the regulation of biosynthetic pathways. The neotropical ants Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus both consist of two cryptic species each that are morphologically similar, but express strongly different CHC profiles. This is ideal to study the molecular basis of CHC differences. We thus investigated gene expression differences in f…

Evidence for specific, high-affinity binding sites for a proteinaceous elicitor in tobacco plasma membrane

1995

Abstract Binding of cryptogein, a proteinaceous elicitor, was studied on tobacco plasma membrane. The binding of the [125I]cryptogein was saturable, reversible and specific with an apparent Kd of 2 nM. A single class of cryptogein binding sites was found with a sharp optimum pH for binding at about pH 7.0. The high-affinity correlates with cryptogein concentrations required for biological activity in vivo.

Comparison of the effects of cryptogein and oligogalacturonides on tabacco cells and evidence of different forms of desensitization induced by these …

1998

Abstract The effects of cryptogein and oligogalacturonides (OGs) were compared on tobacco cells by measuring calcium influx and calcium-dependent responses including extracellular alkalinization and H 2 O 2 production. The main difference is the higher calcium influx and the sustained H 2 O 2 production induced by cryptogein compared to OGs. Amplitude and duration of calcium signalling triggered by cryptogein or OGs may explain the necrotic effect of cryptogein, and the absence of necrosis in tobacco plants treated with OGs. We used induction of alkalinization and H 2 O 2 production to investigate cryptogein effects after a first treatment with cryptogein or OGs, and reciprocally. Results s…

Crocodile egg sounds signal hatching time.

2008

Summary Crocodilians are known to vocalize within the egg shortly before hatching [1,2]. Although a possible function of these calls — inducing hatching in siblings and stimulating the adult female to open the nest — has already been suggested, it has never been experimentally tested [1–5]. Here, we present the first experimental evidence that pre-hatching calls of Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus ) juveniles are informative acoustic signals which indeed target both siblings and mother.

DNA polymorphism at the FRIGIDA gene in Arabidopsis thaliana : extensive nonsynonymous variation is consistent with local selection for flowering time

2002

FRIGIDA (FRI) is a major gene involved in the regulation of flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nucleotide variation at this gene was investigated by sequencing 25 field ecotypes collected from western Europe. Genetic diversity at FRI was characterized by a high number of haplotypes and an excess of low-frequency polymorphisms. A large excess of intraspecific nonsynonymous variation associated with low synonymous variation was detected along the first exon in the FRI gene. In contrast, no excess of nonsynonymous divergence was detected between A. thaliana and A. lyrata. The Tajima and McDonald and Kreitman tests, however, suggested that this gene has evolved in a nonneutral fashion. Non…

Gene expression levels influence amino acid usage and evolutionary rates in endosymbiotic bacteria

2005

International audience; Most endosymbiotic bacteria have extremely reduced genomes, accelerated evolutionary rates, and strong AT base compositional bias thought to reflect reduced efficacy of selection and increased mutational pressure. Here, we present a comparative study of evolutionary forces shaping five fully sequenced bacterial endosymbionts of insects. The results of this study were three-fold: (i) Stronger conservation of high expression genes at not just nonsynonymous, but also synonymous, sites. (ii) Variation in amino acid usage strongly correlates with GC content and expression level of genes. This pattern is largely explained by greater conservation of high expression genes, l…