How old are the eukaryotes?

Evidence from Precambrian sediments appears to indicate that nucleated (eukaryotic) organisms had become well established and relatively diverse about 850 +/- 100 million years ago and that eukaryotes were probably extant, and may have first appeared, as early as 1400 +/- 100 million years ago.

Algal fossils from a late precambrian, hypersaline lagoon.

Organically preserved algal microfossils from the Ringwood evaporite deposit in the Gillen Member of the Bitter Springs Formation (late Precambrian of central Australia) are of small size, low diversity, and probable prokaryotic affinities. These rather primitive characteristics appear to reflect the stressful conditions that prevailed in a periodically stagnant, hypersaline lagoon. This assemblage (especially in comparison with the much more diverse assemblages preserved in the Loves Creek Member of the same formation) illustrates the potential utility of Proterozoic microbiotas for basin analysis and local stratigraphic correlation and demonstrates the need to base evolutionary considerations and Precambrian intercontinental biostratigraphy on biotas that inhabited less restricted environments.

Carbon isotopic studies of organic matter in precambrian rocks.

Reduced carbon in early Precambrian cherts of the Fig Tree and upper and middle Onverwacht groups of South Africa is isotopically similar (the average value of delta(13)C(PDB) is -28.7 per mil) to photosynthetically produced organic matter of younger geological age. Reduced carbon in lower Onverwacht cherts (Theespruit formation) is anomalously heavy (the average value of delta(13)C(PDB) is -16.5 per mil). This discontinuity may reflect a major event in biological evolution.

Efficacy of eprinomectin and doramectin against Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle.

Steers were treated with doramectin or eprinomectin by daily oral capsule for 28 consecutive days. The level of doramectin in the serum of steers treated at 200 microg/kg/d reached a maximum of 104.0 +/- 22.1 ppb at day 21 and declined from 93.3 +/- 20.5 ppb on the final day of treatment to below detectable by day 56. Steers treated at 50 microg/kg/d reached a maximum level of doramectin in the serum of 24.7 +/- 1.2 ppb on day 21 and declined from 24.7 +/- 0.6 ppb on the final day of treatment to less than detectable on day 42. Both doramectin dosages provided 100% control of estimated larvae (EL) of Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) throughout the 28-d treatment period. Daily oral treatment with eprinomectin at a dosage of 200 microg/kg for 28 consecutive days produced a maximum concentration in the serum of 41.6 +/- 11.0 ppb at day 14. On the final day of eprinomectin treatment, the serum concentration was 38.3 +/- 5.9 ppb. Seven days later at day 35, eprinomectin was not detectable in the serum. For steers treated at 50 microg/kg/d for 28 consecutive days, the serum level of eprinomectin reached a maximum of 10.0 +/- 3.0 ppb on day 28 and was undetectable on day 35. Both eprinomectin dosages provided complete control of EL of A. americanum during the 28-d treatment period. Because eprinomectin is efficacious against A. americanum at lower serum levels in cattle and is eliminated from the serum at a more rapid rate than either doramectin or ivermectin, it provides advantages for use in applications such as the medicated bait for control of ticks on white-tailed deer and could have potential for use in the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program.

Dideoxy sequencing and structural analysis of the rat insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 gene.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) is an important modulator of IGF bioavailability. To facilitate studies of IGFBP-1 regulation and function in rodent models, we cloned the rat IGFBP-1 gene and analyzed its structure by dideoxy sequencing. The rat IGFBP-1 gene is relatively small (approximately 5 kb) and contains 4 exons and 3 introns, similar to the human IGFBP-1 gene.

Deposition, exhumation, and paleoclimate of an ancient lake deposit, Gale crater, Mars.

The landforms of northern Gale crater on Mars expose thick sequences of sedimentary rocks. Based on images obtained by the Curiosity rover, we interpret these outcrops as evidence for past fluvial, deltaic, and lacustrine environments. Degradation of the crater wall and rim probably supplied these sediments, which advanced inward from the wall, infilling both the crater and an internal lake basin to a thickness of at least 75 meters. This intracrater lake system probably existed intermittently for thousands to millions of years, implying a relatively wet climate that supplied moisture to the crater rim and transported sediment via streams into the lake basin. The deposits in Gale crater were then exhumed, probably by wind-driven erosion, creating Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp).

Production of the rat type 1 insulin-like growth factor-binding protein by well differentiated H4EIIC3 hepatoma cells: identification, purification, and N-terminal amino acid analysis.

We recently identified a 32 K mol wt insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein (BP) which is markedly increased in the serum of streptozotocin-diabetic rats and recognized by antiserum against the human amniotic fluid IGFBP (hIGFBP-1). In the present study we sought to confirm that this protein represents the rat homolog of IGFBP-1 (rIGFBP-1), and that rIGFBP-1 may, therefore, play an important role in the regulation of IGF bioactivity in experimental diabetes. Since the abundance of related hepatic mRNA is high in diabetic rats, we asked whether well differentiated H4EIIC3 rat hepatoma cells produce rIGFBP-1 and provide sufficient amounts of this protein for purification and further characterization. Specific IGF-binding activity in hepatoma conditioned medium was detected initially by incubation with 125I-labeled recombinant human IGF-II and precipitation with polyethylene glycol. Ligand blotting demonstrated a 32 K BP, identical in size to the major low mol wt IGFBP found in diabetic rat serum. Affinity labeling and immunoprecipitation confirmed that this BP is related to human IGFBP-1 and is distinct from the fetal rat IGFBP, rIGFBP-2. Incorporation of [35S]methionine into 32 K BPs confirmed synthesis by hepatoma cells. For purification of BPs, conditioned medium was collected in roller culture, and BPs were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 chromatography, and reverse phase HPLC. Partial amino acid sequencing of purified protein demonstrated 68% identity with the human IGFBP-1 and distinguished this BP from previously characterized rat IGFBPs. Purified protein bound both IGF-I and IGF-II with high affinity. We conclude that the 32 K IGFBP produced by H4EIIC3 hepatoma cells in culture represents the rat form of IGFBP-1 (rIGFBP-1). Regulation of rIGFBP-1 may play an important role in the modulation of IGF bioactivity in experimental animals with metabolic disease. The availability of purified rIGFBP-1 and identification of a cell line that produces this BP will greatly facilitate future studies of IGFBP-1 in the rat model.

Effects of glucocorticoids on circulating levels and hepatic expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding proteins and IGF-I in the adrenalectomized streptozotocin-diabetic rat.

Circulating levels and hepatic expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) are increased in insulin-deficient streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Glucocorticoids stimulate and insulin suppresses hepatocellular expression of IGFBP-1 in vitro. We asked whether increased IGFBP-1 expression in STZ-diabetic animals is due to an effect of insulin deficiency per se or whether insulin deficiency represents a permissive state where glucocorticoids may play an important role in the regulation of IGFBP-1 and other circulating peptides involved in the modulation of IGF bioactivity. Intact female Sprague-Dawley-derived rats and rats undergoing bilateral adrenalectomy (ADNX) were injected with STZ (140 mg/kg) or buffer. Corticosterone acetate (50 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered to diabetic and nondiabetic animals immediately after ADNX and 24 h later. All rats were killed 48 h after surgery and/or STZ administration. Serum [125I]IGF-I-binding activity was increased 4-fold (P < 0.01), and Western ligand and immunoblotting demonstrated that levels of IGFBP-1 were high in intact STZ-diabetic animals. ADNX prevented these effects of STZ-diabetes, and corticosterone treatment restored serum IGF-binding activity and IGFBP-1 to intact diabetic levels. Similarly, Northern analysis demonstrated that the abundance of hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA was increased 6-fold in intact STZ-diabetic animals (P < 0.01), but not in adrenalectomized diabetic animals. Corticosterone treatment restored hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA to intact diabetic levels, and serum concentrations of corticosterone correlated with the abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA (r = 0.475; P < 0.01), indicating that glucocorticoids play an important role in the regulation of expression of IGFBP-1 in insulin-deficient animals. In contrast, neither ADNX nor corticosterone altered the abundance of hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA levels in nondiabetic animals. This pattern of regulation appeared to be specific; serum levels of immunoreactive IGFBP-2 and -4 tended to rise in adrenalectomized animals, and levels of IGFBP-3 were not affected by either ADNX or corticosterone treatment. Of note, serum levels of IGF-I by RIA were reduced in STZ-diabetic animals compared to control values (168 +/- 16 vs. 587 +/- 55 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.01), were partially restored toward control values with ADNX (320 +/- 22 ng/ml), and were reduced again by corticosterone treatment (195 +/- 26 ng/ml), indicating that glucocorticoids also contribute to the regulation of IGF-I levels in insulin-deficient animals. The abundance of IGF-I mRNA was reduced in STZ-diabetic animals, and ADNX also partially prevented this effect of diabetes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Multihormonal regulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 in rat H4IIE hepatoma cells: the dominant role of insulin.

Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and the abundance of hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA are increased in streptozotocin-diabetic rats and are regulated in accordance with insulin and metabolic status. We recently purified rat IGFBP-1 from medium conditioned by well differentiated rat H4IIE hepatoma cells. Since this cell line provides a useful model for examining the effects of hormones on hepatocellular function, we used H4IIE cells to examine the relative role that insulin and other factors may play in the regulation of IGFBP-1 production. H4IIE cells were stabilized in serum-free medium, then treated with specific hormones. The availability of IGFBPs in conditioned medium was estimated by [125I]IGF-I binding assay, and specific BPs were assessed by Western ligand and immunoblot analyses. The abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA was determined by Northern and slot blot analysis. Initial studies revealed that [125I]IGF-I-binding activity in conditioned medium was reduced after 24-h incubation with 100 nM insulin (52 +/- 4% of control; P less than 0.001). In contrast, binding activity was increased after only 4 h of incubation with 75 microM 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)cAMP (8-CPT-cAMP) or 1 microM dexamethasone (P less than 0.001 vs. control for each), but these effects were prevented by insulin. Ligand and immunoblotting demonstrated that insulin decreased the production of 32K and 34K forms of IGFBP-1, while both 8-CPT-cAMP and dexamethasone increased the production of IGFBP-1; again, insulin prevented the effects of 8-CPT-cAMP and dexamethasone. Of note, 1 microM rat GH, testosterone, progesterone, or 17 beta-estradiol had no effect on either IGF-binding activity or IGFBP-1 production. Northern and slot blot analyses revealed that 100 nM insulin profoundly lowered the abundance of IGFBP-1 mRNA in H4IIE cells (4 +/- 0.6% of control at 4 h; P less than 0.001), while IGFBP-1 mRNA was increased 2-fold during incubation with 75 microM 8-CPT-cAMP (P less than 0.001) and 9-fold with 1 microM dexamethasone (P less than 0.001). Once again, the effect of insulin was dominant; insulin both prevented and reversed the effects of maximally effective concentrations of 8-CPT-cAMP and dexamethasone. To determine whether this effect of insulin reflected altered generation or stability of IGFBP-1 mRNA, H4IIE cells were incubated with 2.5 micrograms/ml actinomycin-D with or without insulin, and mRNA was quantitated by Northern blot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Regulation of low molecular weight insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF) bioactivity is reduced in animals and patients with diabetes mellitus. We sought to determine whether the availability and levels of specific IGF binding proteins (BPs) are altered in animals with experimental diabetes, and might contribute to changes in circulating IGF bioactivity in experimental diabetes. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered streptozotocin or citrate buffer iv, and then killed either 3 days later, or else after 4-day insulin treatment (7.5 U/kg human NPH twice daily), or 2 days after insulin was discontinued. Serum [125I]IGF-I binding activity was markedly increased in diabetic animals compared to controls when analyzed by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography, dot blot, and affinity labeling techniques, due to increased binding to low mol wt BPs (81 +/- 4% of ligand eluting with low mol wt BPs in diabetic serum vs. 22 +/- 3% in control, P less than 0.001). In contrast, activated charcoal removed ligand from these BPs and underestimated the availability of BPs in diabetes. Serum binding activity fell toward control levels during insulin therapy, then rose again after insulin was withdrawn, corresponding to changes in metabolic status. To distinguish changes in specific BPs, serum proteins were separated by 13% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, then transferred to nitrocellulose. Ligand blotting with [125I]IGF-I demonstrated that serum levels of a 32 K mol wt IGF BP are markedly increased in diabetic rats and decline during insulin therapy. Levels of this 32 K IGF BP rose again after insulin was discontinued, demonstrating regulation in accordance with changes in insulin and metabolic status. Western analysis and affinity labeling with immunoprecipitation revealed that this 32 K protein is distinct from the 34 K fetal rat BP, and is immunologically related to the type 1 human IGF BP. We conclude that circulating [125I]IGF-I binding activity is markedly increased in animals with acute streptozotocin-induced diabetes, due to changes in low mol wt proteins, including a 32 K type 1 IGF BP that is regulated by changes in insulin and/or metabolic status. Regulation of low mol wt IGF BPs by insulin, and perhaps other factors, may play an important role in the modulation of tissue growth factor bioactivity in metabolic disease.