Sondersammelgebiets-Volltexte Biologie
265 search hits
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Camellia sinensis – Tee (Theaceae), ein Heißgetränk nicht nur für kalte Wintertage
(2012)
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Hilke Steinecke
- Schwarzer Tee ist ein weltweit verbreitetes Genussmittelgetränk. Es wird aus den Blättern der Teepflanze (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) gewonnen. Genutzt werden die beiden Varietäten assamica (Assam-Tee) und sinensis (China-Tee). Zur etwa 600 Arten umfassenden Familie der Teegewächse gehört auch die Kamelie (Camellia japonica), die in vielen Sorten und Hybriden eine hochwertige Zierpflanze für Haus und Garten darstellt. Tee und Kamelien sehen sich im nicht blühenden Zustand sehr ähnlich (vgl. DÖRKEN & JAGEL 2011). Das führte einst zu einer folgenschweren Verwechslung.
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Das Herbarium Adolf Becker im Pfarrarchiv Ober-Widdersheim
(2012)
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Stefan Dressler
Thomas Gregor
- Das Herbarium des Pfarrers Adolf Becker, gesammelt zwischen 1833 und 1863, wurde nachbestimmt. Bei der Mehrzahl der etwa 200 mit Fundorten versehenen Belege handelt es sich um Kulturpflanzen, die vornehmlich in Parkanlagen von Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe und Okarben gesammelt wurden. Diese geben einen Eindruck von den erstaunlich reichhaltigen Bepflanzungen jener Zeit. 81 von uns als Wildpflanzen klassifizierte Arten wurden zumeist um Okarben gesammelt. Wegen ihres Rückganges oder aktuellen Fehlens sind die Belege von Apium graveolens, A. nodiflorum, Juncus gerardii, Nigella arvensis und Oenanthe fistulosa bemerkenswert.
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Atomic-Level Structure Characterization of an Ultrafast Folding Mini-Protein Denatured State
(2012)
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Per Rogne
Przemysław Ozdowy
Christian Richter
Krishna Saxena
Harald Schwalbe
Lars T. Kuhn
- Atomic-level analyses of non-native protein ensembles constitute an important aspect of protein folding studies to reach a more complete understanding of how proteins attain their native form exhibiting biological activity. Previously, formation of hydrophobic clusters in the 6 M urea-denatured state of an ultrafast folding mini-protein known as TC5b from both photo-CIDNP NOE transfer studies and FCS measurements was observed. Here, we elucidate the structural properties of this mini-protein denatured in 6 M urea performing 15N NMR relaxation studies together with a thorough NOE analysis. Even though our results demonstrate that no elements of secondary structure persist in the denatured state, the heterogeneous distribution of R2 rate constants together with observing pronounced heteronuclear NOEs along the peptide backbone reveals specific regions of urea-denatured TC5b exhibiting a high degree of structural rigidity more frequently observed for native proteins. The data are complemented with studies on two TC5b point mutants to verify the importance of hydrophobic interactions for fast folding. Our results corroborate earlier findings of a hydrophobic cluster present in urea-denatured TC5b comprising both native and non-native contacts underscoring their importance for ultra rapid folding. The data assist in finding ways of interpreting the effects of pre-existing native and/or non-native interactions on the ultrafast folding of proteins; a fact, which might have to be considered when defining the starting conditions for molecular dynamics simulation studies of protein folding.
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Diversity and Distribution Patterns in High Southern Latitude Sponges
(2012)
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Rachel V. Downey
Huw J. Griffiths
Katrin Linse
Dorte Janussen
- Sponges play a key role in Antarctic marine benthic community structure and dynamics and are often a dominant component of many Southern Ocean benthic communities. Understanding the drivers of sponge distribution in Antarctica enables us to understand many of general benthic biodiversity patterns in the region. The sponges of the Antarctic and neighbouring oceanographic regions were assessed for species richness and biogeographic patterns using over 8,800 distribution records. Species-rich regions include the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia, Eastern Weddell Sea, Kerguelen Plateau, Falkland Islands and north New Zealand. Sampling intensity varied greatly within the study area, with sampling hotspots found at the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, north New Zealand and Tierra del Fuego, with limited sampling in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen seas in the Southern Ocean. In contrast to previous studies we found that eurybathy and circumpolar distributions are important but not dominant characteristics in Antarctic sponges. Overall Antarctic sponge species endemism is ~43%, with a higher level for the class Hexactinellida (68%). Endemism levels are lower than previous estimates, but still indicate the importance of the Polar Front in isolating the Southern Ocean fauna. Nineteen distinct sponge distribution patterns were found, ranging from regional endemics to cosmopolitan species. A single, distinct Antarctic demosponge fauna is found to encompass all areas within the Polar Front, and the sub-Antarctic regions of the Kerguelen Plateau and Macquarie Island. Biogeographical analyses indicate stronger faunal links between Antarctica and South America, with little evidence of links between Antarctica and South Africa, Southern Australia or New Zealand. We conclude that the biogeographic and species distribution patterns observed are largely driven by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the timing of past continent connectivity.
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The C-terminal domain of Fcj1 is required for formation of crista junctions and interacts with the TOB/SAM complex in mitochondria
(2012)
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Christian Körner
Miguel Barrera
Jovana Dukanovic
Katharina Eydt
Max Harner
Regina Rabl
Frank Vogel
Doron Rapaport
Walter Neupert
Andreas S. Reichert
- Crista junctions (CJs) are tubular invaginations of the inner membrane of mitochondria that connect the inner boundary with the cristae membrane. These architectural elements are critical for mitochondrial function. The yeast inner membrane protein Fcj1, called mitofilin in mammals, was reported to be preferentially located at CJs and crucial for their formation. Here we investigate the functional roles of individual domains of Fcj1. The most conserved part of Fcj1, the C-terminal domain, is essential for Fcj1 function. In its absence, formation of CJ is strongly impaired and irregular, and stacked cristae are present. This domain interacts with full-length Fcj1, suggesting a role in oligomer formation. It also interacts with Tob55 of the translocase of outer membrane β-barrel proteins (TOB)/sorting and assembly machinery (SAM) complex, which is required for the insertion of β-barrel proteins into the outer membrane. The association of the TOB/SAM complex with contact sites depends on the presence of Fcj1. The biogenesis of β-barrel proteins is not significantly affected in the absence of Fcj1. However, down-regulation of the TOB/SAM complex leads to altered cristae morphology and a moderate reduction in the number of CJs. We propose that the C-terminal domain of Fcj1 is critical for the interaction of Fcj1 with the TOB/SAM complex and thereby for stabilizing CJs in close proximity to the outer membrane. These results assign novel functions to both the C-terminal domain of Fcj1 and the TOB/SAM complex.
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Zoo Basel Newsletter. 2012, August
(2012)
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Zoo Basel Newsletter. 2012, September
(2012)
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An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Honduras
(2012)
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Jaqueline Y. Miller
Deborah L. Matthews
Andrew D. Warren
M. Alma Solis
Donald J. Harvey
Patricia Gentili-Poole
Robert Lehman
Thomas C. Emmel
Charles V. , Jr. Covell
- A biodiversity inventory of the Lepidoptera of Pico Bonito National Park and vicinity, in the Department
of Atlantida of northern Honduras, was initiated in 2009 to obtain baseline data. We present a revised checklist
of Honduran butterfly species (updated from the initial 1967 lists), as well as the first comprehensive list of
Honduran moths. Our updated list includes 550 species of Papilionoidea, 311 Hesperioidea, and 1,441 moth
species.
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The apterous endemic genus Omphra Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Helluonini) of the Indian subcontinent: taxonomy with notes on habits and distributional patterns
(2012)
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Shiju T. Raj
Thomas K. Sabu
Zhao Danyang
- Among the four oriental genera of the tribe Helluonini, Omphra Dejean (Coleoptera: Carabidae), is
unique for its endemism to the Indian subcontinent and aptery. High intraspecies variability in morphological
characters and limited diagnostic information makes species differentiation of the genus Omphra a complicated
task. The present study provides a description of a new species, Omphra drumonti n. sp. from the Western
Ghats, redescriptions and a key to the species of Omphra, details of intraspecies variation, discussion of relationships
between taxa and distributional patterns of the genus. Based on the distributional patterns in the Indian
subcontinent and flightlessness of the genus, inability to cross the physical barrier of the Ganges–Brahmaputra
delta between north and peninsular India is indicated as the reason for its absence in the northeastern Indian
subcontinent and endemism to the lower Indian subcontinent.
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The milliped genus Euryurus Koch, 1847 (Polydesmida: Euryuridae) west of the Mississippi River; occurrence of E. leachii (Gray, 1832) on Crowley’s Ridge, Arkansas
(2012)
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Rowland M. Shelley
Chris T. McAllistor
Henry W. Robinson
- The milliped genus Euryurus Koch, 1847, and the species, E. leachii (Gray, 1832) (Polydesmida: Euryuridae),
are recorded from three sites on the northern part of Crowley’s Ridge (Cross, Lee, and Poinsett counties), Arkansas,
where the only prior familial records are of Auturus evides (Bollman, 1887). Coupled with the published locality of
E. leachii in Phillips Co., at the southern extremity of the Ridge, the only known occurrences of both the genus and
species in Arkansas and west of the Mississippi River are in this physiographic feature. The Arkansas population
is geographically peripheral but anatomically intermediate between the two recognized subspecies, E. l. leachii and
E. l. fraternus Hoffman, 1978, and we do not assign it to a race. Molecular investigations seem necessary to resolve
relationships in the “E. leachii complex.”
