Showing papers by "National Autonomous University of Mexico published in 1996"

Modulation of Ca2+ channels by G-protein beta gamma subunits.

Abstract: Calcium ions entering cells through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels initiate rapid release of neurotransmitters and secretion of hormones. Ca2+ currents can be inhibited in many cell types by neurotransmitters acting through G proteins via a membrane-delimited pathway independently of soluble intracellular messengers. Inhibition is typically caused by a positive shift in the voltage dependence and a slowing of channel activation and is relieved by strong depolarization resulting in facilitation of Ca2+ currents. This pathway regulates the activity of N-type and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels, which are localized in presynaptic terminals and participate in neurotransmitter release. Synaptic transmission is inhibited by neurotransmitters through this mechanism. G-protein alpha subunits confer specificity in receptor coupling, but it is not known whether the G alpha or G beta gamma subunits are responsible for modulation of Ca2+ channels. Here we report that G beta gamma subunits can modulate Ca2+ channels. Transfection of G beta gamma into cells expressing P/Q-type Ca2+ channels induces modulation like that caused by activation of G protein-coupled receptors, but G alpha subunits do not. Similarly, injection or expression of G beta gamma subunits in sympathetic ganglion neurons induces facilitation and occludes modulation of N-type channels by noradrenaline, but G alpha subunits do not. In both cases, the G gamma subunit is ineffective by itself, but overexpression of exogenous G beta subunits is sufficient to cause channel modulation.

Operators with singular continuous spectrum, IV. Hausdorff dimensions, rank one perturbations, and localization

Abstract: Although concrete operators with singular continuous spectrum have proliferated recently [7,11,13,17,34,35,37,39], we still don’t really understand much about singular continuous spectrum. In part, this is because it is normally defined by what it isn’t — neither pure point nor absolutely continuous. An important point of view, going back in part to Rodgers and Taylor [27,28], and studied recently within spectral theory by Last [22] (also see references therein), is the idea of using Hausdorff measures and dimensions to classify measures. Our main goal in this paper is to look at the singular spectrum produced by rank one perturbations (and discussed in [7,11,33]) from this point of view. A Borel measure μ is said to have exact dimension α ∈ [0, 1] if and only if μ(S) = 0 if S has dimension β < α and if μ is supported by a set of dimension α. If 0 < α < 1, such a measure is, of necessity, singular continuous. But, there are also singular continuous measures of exact dimension 0 and 1 which are “particularly close” to point and a.c. measures, respectively. Indeed, as we’ll explain, we know of “explicit” Schrödinger operators with exact dimension 0 and 1, but, while they presumably exist, we don’t know of any with dimension α ∈ (0, 1). While we’re interested in the abstract theory of rank one perturbations, we’re especially interested in those rank one perturbations obtained by taking a random Jacobi matrix and making a Baire generic perturbation of the potential at a single point. It is a disturbing fact that the strict localization (dense point spectrum with ‖xe−itHδ0‖2 = (e−itHδ0, x2e−itHδ0) bounded in t), that holds a.e. for the random case, can be destroyed by arbitrarily small local perturbations [7,11]. We’ll ameliorate this discovery in the present paper in three ways: First, we’ll see that, in this case, the spectrum is always of dimension zero, albeit sometimes pure point and sometimes singular continuous. Second, we’ll show that not

Modulation of Ca2+ channels by G-protein βγ subunits

Abstract: CALCIUM ions entering cells through voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels initiate rapid release of neurotransmitters and secretion of hormones. Ca 2+ currents can be inhibited in many cell types by neurotransmitters acting through G proteins via a membrane-delimited pathway independently of soluble intracellular messengers 1-4 . Inhibition is typically caused by a positive shift in the voltage dependence and a slowing of channel activation and is relieved by strong depolarization resulting in facilitation of Ca 2+ currents 1,4-6 . This pathway regulates the activity of N-type and P/Q-type Ca 2+ channels 1,2,7 , which are localized in presynaptic terminals 8,9 and participate in neurotransmitter release 10-13 . Synaptic transmission is inhibited by neurotransmitters through this mechanism 1,4 . G-protein α subunits confer specificity in receptor coupling 1-4,14-17 , but it is not known whether the Gα or Gβγ subunits are responsible for modulation of Ca 2+ channels. Here we report that Gβγ subunits can modulate Ca 2+ channels. Transfection of Gβγ into cells expressing P/Q-type Ca 2+ channels induces modulation like that caused by activation of G protein-coupled receptors, but Gα subunits do not. Similarly, injection or expression of Gβγ subunits in sympathetic ganglion neurons induces facilitation and occludes modulation of N-type channels by noradrenaline, but Gα subunits do not. In both cases, the Gγ subunit is ineffective by itself, but overexpression of exogenous Gβ subunits is sufficient to cause channel modulation.

CLA1, a novel gene required for chloroplast development, is highly conserved in evolution.

Abstract: An albino mutant designated cla1-1 (for "cloroplastos alterados', or "altered chloroplasts') has been isolated from a T-DNA-generated library of Arabidopsis thaliana. In cla1-1 plants, chloroplast development is arrested at an early stage. cla1-1 plants behave like wild-type in their capacity to etiolate and produce anthocyanins indicating that the light signal transduction pathway seems to be unaffected. Genetic and molecular analyses show that the disruption of a single gene, CLA1, by the T-DNA insertion is responsible for the mutant phenotype. RNA expression patterns indicate that CLA1 is positively regulated by light and that it has different effects on the steady-state RNA levels of some nuclear- and chloroplast-encoded photosynthetic genes. Although the specific function of the CLA1 gene is still unknown, it encodes a novel protein conserved in evolution between photosynthetic bacteria and plants which is essential for chloroplast development in Arabidopsis.

Tropical rain forest fragmentation and wild populations of primates at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

Abstract: In view of the extensive destruction, fragmentation, and conversion of primate habitats to anthropogenic vegetation, information on Neotropical primate ability to use a landscape consisting of forest fragments and agricultural habitats is necessary to understand the ecological flexibility of the species involved and it is of relevance to the design of conservation scenarios at the landscape level. We censused howlers and spider monkeys in 126 forest fragments and in 44 agricultural sites at Los Tuxtlas, southern Veracruz, Mexico, and used the IDRISI Geographic Information System to assess the extent of primate habitat remaining. We conducted economic surveys to assess the productivity of several systems of land management, including cattle ranching. Seventy- five percent of native habitat has been lost at Los Tuxtlas, 20% remains in the form of isolated fragments of vegetation, and only 5% consists of contiguous rain forest at high elevations (> 800 m). Howlers and spider monkeys were present in only 60 and 8% of the forest sites investigated, respectively, attesting to extensive local extinction. Populations of both species are small and found in a fragmented and isolated condition throughout the landscape. A large number of howlers were detected in artifactual habitats such as cacao, coffee and mixed (cacao and coffee) plantations shaded by rain forest trees. Residual rain forest vegetation along streams, rivers, and lakes facilitated the interfragment and interhabitat movement of howlers. Economic surveys showed that some of the agricultural habitats were more productive than cattle ranching. Conservation of spider monkeys requires large areas of contiguous forest, but only small areas are present at high elevations. Howlers are restricted to elevations < 800 m, where most of the forest has disappeared, but can apparently exist in a matrix of forest fragments, arboreal agricultural habitats, and pasture lands. Structural aspects of the vegetation and connectivity among habitat islands may be indispensable components of both landscape scenarios.

Interpretation of elasticity matrices as an aid to the management of plant populations for conservation

Abstract: Population projection (Lefleovitch) matrices are now a standard method for quantifying and ana- lyzing the demography and population dynamics of plants. Elasticity analysis of such a matrix indicates the relative effect on the population growth rate (A) of small changes to matrix elements representing different transitions in the life cycle. In a comparison of elasticity matrices for 84 species of plants we show that the rel- ative importance of recruitment from seed (measured by composite elasticity F), stasis (measured by compos- ite elasticity L), and growth (measured by composite elasticity G) varies systematically between the groups se- melparous herbs, iteroparoas herbs of open habitats, forest herbs, shrubs, and trees. We discuss how this result might be used to construct rules of thumb useful in plant conservation. By looking in detaa at how A covarles with the composite elasticities F, I, and G among 16populations of the semelparoas herb Cirsium vulgare and among 15 populations of the rare iteroparoas herb Pedicularis furbishiae, we show that a naive interpretation of elasticities can give a misleading prescription for management. Instead, we show that elasticity analysis supports management prescriptions based upon the successional status of a species or upon its response to disturbance.

Pathway engineering for the production of aromatic compounds in Escherichia coli

Abstract: Glucose is the preferred substrate for certain fermentation processes. During its internalization and concomitant formation of glucose-6-phosphate through the glucose phosphotransferase system (PTS), one molecule of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) is consumed. Together with erythrose 4-phosphate (E4P), PEP is condensed to form 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP), the first intermediate of the common segment of the aromatic pathway. From this metabolic route, several commercially important aromatic compounds can be obtained. We have selected Escherichia coli mutants that can transport glucose efficiently by a non-PTS uptake system. In theory, this process should increase the availability of PEP for other biosynthetic reactions. Using these mutants, in a background where the DAHP synthase (the enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of PEP and E4P into DAHP) was amplified, we were able to show that at least some of the PEP saved during glucose transport, can be redirected into the aromatic pathway. This increased carbon commitment to the aromatic pathway was enhanced still further upon amplification of the E. coli tktA gene that encodes for a transketolase involved in the biosynthesis of E4P.

Rhizobium Phylogenies and Bacterial Genetic Diversity

Abstract: The Leguminosae is one of the largest families of plants. It has a broad geographical distribution. The principal legume species have defined sites of origin and these coincide with the diversification centers for their “specific” symbiotic bacteria. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which form nodules in the roots or stems of the plants, belong to different bacterial lineages (Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Azorhizobium) related to other nonsymbiotic bacteria. A remarkable characteristic of these bacteria is their large genetic diversity. The genetic relationships among the different bacterial groups are being defined based mainly on the analysis of the sequences of the ribosomal genes. Recent results point out the need to have a broader genomic scope. Gene maps, genome sizes, and sequence of metabolic genes would serve to validate the present Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium phylogenies. More realistic phylogenies should perhaps consider lateral transfer between clusters of bacteria. A compilation of...

Generation and detection of photons in a cavity with a resonantly oscillating boundary

Abstract: The problem of photon creation from vacuum in an ideal cavity with vibrating walls is studied in the resonance case, when the frequency of vibrations equals twice the frequency of some unperturbed electromagnetic mode. Analytical solutions are obtained in two cases: for the one-dimensional model (scalar electrodynamics) and for the three-dimensional (3D) cavity. In the first example, we have a strong intermode interaction; nonetheless, an explicit solution in terms of the complete elliptic integrals is found. The rate of photon generation in the principal mode rapidly assumes a constant value proportional to the product of the frequency by the dimensionless amplitude of oscillations. The total amount of photons created in all the modes increases in time as ${\mathit{t}}^{2}$. In the second example, the eigenmode spectrum is nonequidistant and the problem can be reduced to the problem of a single harmonic oscillator with a time-dependent frequency. The number of photons in the resonant mode of a 3D cavity increases exponentially in time and the field appears in a highly squeezed state with a strongly oscillating photon distribution function. The problem of detecting the created photons is analyzed in the framework of a simplified model, when a detector is replaced with a harmonic oscillator. It turns out that the presence of the detector changes the picture drastically: both the detector and the field mode occur in highly mixed (nonthermal) quantum states, with identical nonoscillating photon distribution functions. The detector gains exactly half of the total energy of excitation inside the cavity. The estimations show a possibility of creating up to several hundred or even thousand photons, provided that the cavity's Q factor exceeds ${10}^{10}$ and the amplitude of the wall's oscillations is greater than ${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}10}$ cm at a frequency of the order of 10 GHz. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Maya Blue Paint: An Ancient Nanostructured Material

Abstract: Maya blue paint was often used in Mesoamerica. The origin of its color and its resistance to acids and biocorrosion have not been fully understood. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and x-ray microanalysis studies of authentic samples show that palygorskite crystals in the paint form a superlattice that probably occurs as a result of mixing with indigo molecules. An amorphous silicate substrate contains inclusions of metal nanoparticles encapsulated in the substrate and oxide nanoparticles on the surface. The beautiful tone of the color is obtained only when both the particles and the superlattice are present.

Repeated volcanic disasters in Prehispanic time at Popocatépetl, central Mexico: Past key to the future?

Abstract: The Holocene eruptive history of Popocatepetl volcano is characterized by recurrent voluminous Plinian eruptions every 1000 to 3000 yr, the most recent of which destroyed human settlements. Major eruptions occurred between 3195 and 2830 B.C., 800 and 215 B.C., and A.D. 675 and 1095. The three eruptions followed a similar pattern and started with minor ash fall and ash flows. The eruptions reached their peak with a main Plinian pulse that produced deposition of a pumice fall, the emplacement of hot ash flows, and finally extensive mudflows. Each time the area of devastation had become repopulated, before being devastated once again. During the last eruption several settlements, including Cholula (a major urban center), were inundated by lahars. A scenario of the possible recurrence of an eruption of similar magnitude, which would have disastrous consequences for the now highly populated areas around Popocatepetl, should be considered seriously in any volcano emergency contingency plan. This is especially important because more than one million people are living within a radius of 35 km around the volcano (the outskirts of Mexico City are at a distance of 40 km), and Popocatepetl resumed emitting ash on December 21, 1994, after decades of dormancy.

Life history variation in plants: an exploration of the fast-slow continuum hypothesis

Abstract: Several empirical models have attempted to account for the covariation among life history traits observed in a variety of organisms. One of these models, the fast-slow continuum hypothesis, emphasizes the role played by mortality at different stages of the life cycle in shaping the large array of life history variation. Under this scheme, species can be arranged from those suffering high adult mortality levels to those undergoing relatively low adult mortality. This differential mortality is responsible for the evolution of contrasting life histories on either end of the continuum. Species undergoing high adult mortality are expected to have shorter life cycles, faster development rates and higher fecundity than those experiencing lower adult mortality. The theory has proved accurate in describing the evolution of life histories in several animal groups but has previously not been tested in plants. Here we test this theory using demographic information for 83 species of perennial plants. In accordance with the fast-slow continuum, plants undergoing high adult mortality have shorter lifespans and reach sexual maturity at an earlier age. However, demographic traits related to reproduction (the intrinsic rate of natural increase, the net reproductive rate and the average rate of decrease in the intensity of natural selection on fecundity) do not show the covariation expected with longevity, age at first reproduction and life expectancy at sexual maturity. Contrary to the situation in animals, plants with multiple meristems continuously increase their size and, consequently, their fecundity and reproductive value. This may balance the negative effect of mortality on fitness, thus having no apparent effect in the sign of the covariation between these two goups of life history traits.

Tests of Ecological Mechanisms Promoting the Stable Coexistence of Two Bacterial Genotypes

Abstract: A series of competition experiments with two genotypes of Escherichia coli showed that each genotype was favored when it was the minority, allowing their coexistence in a stable polymorphism. In these experiments, glucose was the sole source of carbon provided, and its concentration was limiting to population density. Thus, the stable polymorphism did not conform to a simple model of competitive exclusion. In similar experiments also with glucose as the sole resource, we considered two hypotheses that might explain the observed coexistence: (1) a strictly demographic trade—off, such that one genotype is competitively superior when glucose is abundant whereas the other genotype is the better competitor for sparse glucose; and (2) a cross—feeding interaction, whereby the superior competitor for glucose excretes a metabolite that acts as a second resource for which the other genotype is the better competitor. Although there was a demographic tradeoff, the advantage to the superior competitor at high glucose concentrations was too large (given the initial concentration of glucose used in these experiments) to allow the second genotype to invade when rare at the observed rate. Therefore, the second genotype must have had some other advantage that allowed it to readily invade a population of the superior competitor for glucose. Indeed, the second genotype could increase in abundance after glucose was depleted, but only in the presence of the superior competitor for glucose, thus implicating a cross—feeding interaction. These results confirmed earlier studies showing that populations of E. coli can maintain ecologically relevant genetic diversity even in a simple environment.

Genetic and physiological characterization of a Rhizobium etli mutant strain unable to synthesize poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate.

Abstract: Rhizobium etli accumulates poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) in symbiosis and in free life. PHB is a reserve material that serves as a carbon and/or electron sink when optimal growth conditions are not met. It has been suggested that in symbiosis PHB can prolong nitrogen fixation until the last stages of seed development, but experiments to test this proposition have not been done until now. To address these questions in a direct way, we constructed an R. etli PHB-negative mutant by the insertion of an Omega-Km interposon within the PHB synthase structural gene (phaC). The identification and sequence of the R. etli phaC gene are also reported here. Physiological studies showed that the PHB-negative mutant strain was unable to synthesize PHB and excreted more lactate, acetate, pyruvate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, fumarate, and malate than the wild-type strain. The NAD+/NADH ratio in the mutant strain was lower than that in the parent strain. The oxidative capacity of the PHB-negative mutant was reduced. Accordingly, the ability to grow in minimal medium supplemented with glucose or pyruvate was severely diminished in the mutant strain. We propose that in free life PHB synthesis sequesters reductive power, allowing the tricarboxylic acid cycle to proceed under conditions in which oxygen is a limiting factor. In symbiosis with Phaseolus vulgaris, the PHB-negative mutant induced nodules that prolonged the capacity to fix nitrogen.

Rheology of the Cetyltrimethylammonium Tosilate−Water System. 2. Linear Viscoelastic Regime

Abstract: In this work, the linear viscoelastic properties of the cetyltrimethylammonium tosilate (CTAT)−water system are examined in detail. This system forms elongated micelles at low and intermediate concentrations, and it yields a hexagonal phase above 27 wt % CTAT at 25 °C. Rheological behavior at low frequencies in a small-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments or at long times in stress relaxation measurements is governed by a single dominant relaxation time, although deviations from the limiting slope of the elastic modulus in the terminal region are observed at high CTAT concentrations. For higher frequencies, however, there is an additional mechanism whose dependence on frequency is analyzed with several rheological models. Analysis of data in terms of the theory of Cates demonstrates that the system consists of flexible micelles in the slow-breaking limit and it exhibits a constant entanglement density along the whole micellar region, even though the average micellar length decreases monotonically with ...