The seeds of invasion: enhanced germination in invasive European populations of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) compared to native American populations.

Local adaptation and the evolution of phenotypic plasticity may facilitate biological invasions. Both processes can enhance germination and seedling recruitment, which are crucial life-history traits for plants. The rate, timing and speed of germination have recently been documented as playing a major role during the invasion process. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a North American tree, which has spread widely throughout Europe. A recent study demonstrated that a few populations are the source of European black locust. Thus, invasive populations can be compared to native ones in order to identify genetic-based phenotypic differentiation and the role of phenotypic plasticity can thereby be assessed. A quantitative genetics experiment was performed to evaluate 13 juvenile traits of both native and invasive black locust populations (3000 seeds, 20 populations) subjected to three different thermal treatments (18 °C, 22 °C and 31 °C). The results revealed European populations to have a higher germination rate than the native American populations (88% versus 60%), and even when genetic distance between populations was considered. Moreover, this trait showed lower plasticity to temperature in the invasive range than in the native one. Conversely, other studied traits showed high plasticity to temperature, but they responded in a similar way to temperature increase: the warmer the temperature, the higher the growth rate or germination traits values. The demonstrated genetic differentiation between native and invasive populations testifies to a shift between ranges for the maximum germination percentage. This pattern could be due to human-mediated introduction of black locust.

Volatile constituents of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Sprengel) and rakkyo (Allium chinense G. Don).

Volatile components were isolated from Chinese chive and rakkyo by simultaneous steam distillation-solvent extraction and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Sulfur compounds account for 88 and 94% of the total volatiles in the isolated extract of Chinese chive and rakkyo, respectively. In addition to the sulfur compounds commonly reported in the genus Allium, 27 novel volatile sulfur-containing components were found in the isolated extracts of both species. Among them were a sulfide, disulfides, trisulfides, and tetrasulfides with ethyl, butyl, and pentyl groups.

The cysteine-rich protein family of highly related LIM domain proteins.

Here we describe a family of closely related LIM domain proteins in avian cells. The LIM motif defines a zinc-binding domain that is found in a variety of transcriptional regulators, proto-oncogene products, and proteins associated with sites of cell-substratum contact. One type of LIM-domain protein, called the cysteine-rich protein (CRP), is characterized by the presence of two LIM domains linked to short glycine-rich repeats and a potential nuclear localization signal. We have identified and characterized two evolutionarily conserved members of the CRP family, CRP1 and CRP2, in chicken and quail. Expression of the genes encoding both CRP1 and CRP2 is differentially regulated in normal versus transformed cells, raising the possibility that members of the CRP family may function in control of cell growth and differentiation.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of the chicken cysteine-rich protein, a developmentally regulated LIM-domain protein that is associated with the actin cytoskeleton.

LIM domains are present in a number of proteins including transcription factors, a proto-oncogene product, and the adhesion plaque protein zyxin. The LIM domain exhibits a characteristic arrangement of cysteine and histidine residues and represents a novel zinc binding sequence (Michelsen et al., 1993). Previously, we reported the identification of a 23-kD protein that interacts with zyxin in vitro (Sadler et al., 1992). In this report, we describe the purification and characterization of this 23-kD zyxin-binding protein from avian smooth muscle. Isolation of a cDNA encoding the 23-kD protein has revealed that it consists of 192 amino acids and exhibits two copies of the LIM motif. The 23-kD protein is 91% identical to the human cysteine-rich protein (hCRP); therefore we refer to it as the chicken cysteine-rich protein (cCRP). Examination of a number of chick embryonic tissues by Western immunoblot analysis reveals that cCRP exhibits tissue-specific expression. cCRP is most prominent in tissues that are enriched in smooth muscle cells, such as gizzard, stomach, and intestine. In primary cell cultures derived from embryonic gizzard, differentiated smooth muscle cells exhibit the most striking staining with anti-cCRP antibodies. We have performed quantitative Western immunoblot analysis of cCRP, zyxin, and alpha-actinin levels during embryogenesis. By this approach, we have demonstrated that the expression of cCRP is developmentally regulated.

Flumazenil en la reversión de la sedación e hipnosis por Midazolam en anestesia intravenosa total con Procaina-Fentanil / Reversal of hypnosis due to Midazolam in T.I.V.A. with Procaine-Fentanyl by Flumazenil

Se estudiaron 50 pacientes: ASA 1-3 a los que se administró anestesia endovenosa total con procaína/midazolam en infusión, más fentanil y alcuronio intermitentes, y luego se revirtió el efecto hipnótico residual con el antagonista de las benzodiazepinas flumazenil. Se estudiaron los parámetros cardiovasculares (tensión arterial y frecuencia cardíaca) y de presión intraocular basales, a los 5 minutos de intubar, antes de cerrar la infusión y al revertir con el antagonista. Después de la reversión se registraron los parámetros involucrados en la escala de Alderete y, sobre todo, en los de conciencia, actividad y respiración, respecto a igual técnica, sin el concurso de flumazenil. El agregado de este reversor constituye un paso fundamental para un despertar predecible. (AU)

Flumazenil en la reversión de la sedación e hipnosis por Midazolam en anestesia intravenosa total con Procaina-Fentanil / Reversal of hypnosis due to Midazolam in T.I.V.A. with Procaine-Fentanyl by Flumazenil

Se estudiaron 50 pacientes: ASA 1-3 a los que se administró anestesia endovenosa total con procaína/midazolam en infusión, más fentanil y alcuronio intermitentes, y luego se revirtió el efecto hipnótico residual con el antagonista de las benzodiazepinas flumazenil. Se estudiaron los parámetros cardiovasculares (tensión arterial y frecuencia cardíaca) y de presión intraocular basales, a los 5 minutos de intubar, antes de cerrar la infusión y al revertir con el antagonista. Después de la reversión se registraron los parámetros involucrados en la escala de Alderete y, sobre todo, en los de conciencia, actividad y respiración, respecto a igual técnica, sin el concurso de flumazenil. El agregado de este reversor constituye un paso fundamental para un despertar predecible.