Photosynthetic carbon from algal symbionts peaks during the latter stages of embryonic development in the salamander Ambystoma maculatum.

BACKGROUND: It was recently discovered that symbiotic algae in the eggs of the salamander Ambystoma maculatum translocate fixed carbon from photosynthesis to developing embryos. Fixed carbon translocation was shown in embryos at one time point during development, however, it was unknown if fixed carbon translocation occurs throughout all developmental stages. FINDINGS: In this study, fixed carbon translocation was measured in salamander eggs at six time points over the latter half of development. Fixed carbon translocation did not occur until the middle tailbud portion of development (stages 26-30), and translocation was measured in 20% or less of eggs sampled. Peak carbon translocation occurred during the late tailbud phase of development (stages 31-35), where as much as 87% of eggs sampled showed translocation, and average percent translocation was 6.5%. During the final stages of development, fixed carbon translocation declined, and translocation was not detected in embryos five days prior to hatching. CONCLUSIONS: The onset of fixed carbon translocation from Oophila to A. maculatum embryos during the second half of embryonic development is likely due to the corresponding settlement and concentration of Oophila in the inner egg envelope. In addition, carbon translocation ceases in late stage embryos as the inner egg envelope thins and ruptures in preparation for hatching.

Intracapsular algae provide fixed carbon to developing embryos of the salamander Ambystoma maculatum.

Each spring, North American spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) females each lay hundreds of eggs in shallow pools of water. Eggs are surrounded by jelly layers and are deposited as large gelatinous masses. Following deposition, masses are penetrated by a mutualistic green alga, Oophila amblystomatis, which enters individual egg capsules, proliferates and aggregates near the salamander embryo, providing oxygen that enhances development. We examined the effects of population density of intracapsular O. amblystomatis on A. maculatum embryos and show that larger algal populations promote faster embryonic growth and development. Also, we show that carbon fixed by O. amblystomatis is transferred to the embryos, providing the first evidence of direct translocation of photosynthate from a symbiont to a vertebrate host.

Chiral propargyl alcohols via the enantioselective addition of terminal di- and triynes to aldehydes.

The enantioselective addition of di- and triynes to aldehydes is presented, including the first examples of an asymmetric triyne addition. Modification of the Carreira alkynylation protocol shows that addition of diynes and triynes to α-branched aldehydes can be complete in as little as 4 h, and these reactions give good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) for di- and triynes tested (aryl, alkyl, and silyl). It is shown for two cases (20 and 24) that products of this asymmetric addition reaction can undergo further manipulation (desilylation and triazole formation) without affecting the enantiopurity.

Reactions of terminal polyynes with benzyl azide.

Terminal di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaynes substituted with a variety of functional groups react with benzyl azide in the presence of CuSO(4)·5H(2)O and ascorbic acid to give derivatives of 4-ethynyl-, 4-butadiynyl-, 4-hexatriynyl-, and 4-octatetraynyl-1,2,3-triazoles in moderate to good yields. These reactions appear to proceed regioselectively, and functionalization occurs exclusively at the terminal alkyne moiety. As well, no evidence of multiple azide additions to the polyyne framework is observed. X-ray crystallographic analysis of nine derivatives is used to document the regioselectivity of the reaction as well as outline structural characteristics of the 1,2,3-triazole products.