Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto

About: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Genus. The organization has 2143 authors who have published 3674 publications receiving 71071 citations. The organization is also known as: FFCLRP & FFCLRP-USP.

Characterization and expression of the Hex 110 gene encoding a glutamine-rich hexamerin in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.

Abstract: An N-terminal amino acid sequence of a previously reported honey bee hexamerin, HEX 110 [Danty et al., Insect Biochem Mol Biol 28:387-397 (1998)], was used as reference to identify the predicted genomic sequence in a public GenBank database. In silico analysis revealed an ORF of 3,033 nucleotides that encompasses eight exons. The conceptual translation product is a glutamine-rich polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 112.2 kDa and pI of 6.43, which contains the conserved M and C hemocyanin domains. Semiquantitative and quantitative RT-PCR with specific primers allowed for an analysis of mRNA levels during worker bee development and under different physiological conditions. Concomitantly, the abundance of the respective polypeptide in the hemolymph was examined by SDS-PAGE. Hex 110 transcripts were found in high levels during the larval stages, then decreased gradually during the pupal stage, and increased again in adults. HEX 110 subunits were highly abundant in larval hemolymph, decreased at the spinning-stage, and remained at low levels in pupae and adults. In 5th instar larvae, neither starvation nor supplementation of larval food with royal jelly changed the Hex 110 transcript levels or the amounts of HEX 110 subunit in hemolymph. In adult workers, high levels of Hex 110 mRNA, but not of the respective subunit, were related to ovary activation, and also to the consumption of a pollen-rich diet.

Meliponini neotropicais: o gênero geotrigona moure, 1943 (apinae, apidae, hymenoptera), com especial referência à filogenia e biogeografia

Abstract: The Neotropical genus Geotrigona Moure is revised. Five species (G. argentina, sp. n., G. xanthopoda, sp. n., G. fulvatra, sp. n., G. fumipennis, sp. n., G. lutzi, sp. n.) and four subspecies (G. lutzi terricola, ssp. n, G. subgrisea subfulva, ssp. n., G. subgrisea kwyrakai, ssp. n., G. subgrisea tellurica, ssp. n.) are new for science. The sixteen recognized species constitute four monophyletic subgroups or clades: Subterranea group (monotypic): G. subterranea (Friese, 1901); Mombuca group: G. mombuca (Smith, 1863), G. argentina, G. mattogrossensis (Ducke, 1925), G. aequinoctialis (Ducke, 1925), G. xanthopoda and G. fulvatra; Fulvohirta group: G. fulvohirta (Friese, 1900), G. fumipennis, G. acapulconis (Strand, 1919), G. leucogastra (Cockerell, 1914), G. chiriquiensis (Schwarz, 1951), G. lutzi and G. lutzi terricola; Subgrisea group: G. sibgrisea subgrisea (Cockerell, 1920), G. subgrisea subfulva, G. subgrisea kwyrakai, G. subgrisea tellurica, G. subnigra (Schwarz, 1940) and G. kraussi (Schwarz, 1951). Lectotypes are designated for G. mombuca, G. aequinoctialis, G. leucogastra and G. subgrisea subgrisea; the holotype and paratypes of G. subnigra, G. kraussi and G. chiriquiensis, respectively, are studied. G. subterranea and G. fulvohirta are interpreted based on specimens probably from type series. G. mattogrossensis and G. acapulconis are interpreted based on the literature. Geotrigona subterranea, G. mombuca, G. mattogrossensis, G. aequinoctialis, G. fulvohirta, G. acapulconis, G. chiriquiensis and G. kraussi are subterranean nesting stingless bees. For the other ones there is no information. The congruence between the geographic distribution patterns and phylo-genetic hypothesis suggests that no more than 6 cladogenetic events determined the whole present diversity of Geotrigona. The following sequence of disjunction or vicariance events is postulated: 1, the Atlantic-southeast region of Brazil (Subterranea clade) separates from the other places of Neotropical region (other Geotrigona); 2, the Neotropical region divides into two large tracks - SE of South America, southern of the alignment of Amazonas and Madeira rivers (Mombuca clade) an N\V of South America, Panama, Central America and southern Mexico (other Geotrigona); the NIV track subsequently subdivides into three smaller tracks that originates the more derived clades of Geotrigona; 3, eastern Amazon (Subgrisea clade), western (other Geotrigona) and 4, western Amazon (Fulvohirta clade) separates from the extreme northwest of South America, Panama, Central America and southern Mexico (Leucogastra subclade, along the Pacific coast from Equador to the southwest of Mexico); 5,6, the last two events (climatic!) to cause vicariance, which possibly reached simultaneously the whole Neotropical region, determined the origin of the terminal taxa. The three main groups of Geotrigona (Mombuca, Subgrisea and Fulvohirta groups) overlap only along the region of extreme Western Amazonia (Bolivia, Peru). This biogeographic pattern, if extensive to other groups of organisms, may explain the great faunistic diversity found in this region. Identification key for species and drawings for the main characters are given.

Karyotypic Study of Some Species of the Family Loricariidae (Pisces)

Abstract: Chromosome complement of 5 Loricariidae was determined. Plecostomus ancistroides has 2n=68 and N.F.=105 in males and 106 in females. P. strigaticeps is 2n=74 and has N.F.=86. P. macrops.

Continuous growth models in terms of generalized logarithm and exponential functions

Abstract: Consider the one-parameter generalizations of the logarithmic and exponential functions which are obtained from the integration of non-symmetrical hyperboles. These generalizations coincide to the one obtained in the context of non-extensive thermostatistics. We show that these functions are suitable to describe and unify the great majority of continuous growth models, which we briefly review. Physical interpretation to the generalization function parameter is given for the Richards’ model, which has an underlying microscopic model to justify it.