Records |
Author |
Polverini, E.; Cugini, G.; Annoni, F.; Abbruzzetti, S.; Viappiani, C.; Gensch, T. |
Title |
Molten globule formation in apomyoglobin monitored by the fluorescent probe Nile Red |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Biochemistry |
Abbreviated Journal |
Biochemistry |
Volume |
45 |
Issue |
16 |
Pages |
5111-5121 |
Keywords |
Animals; Apoproteins/*chemistry/*metabolism; Binding Sites; Computer Simulation; Fluorescent Dyes/analysis; Horses; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Models, Molecular; Myoglobin/*chemistry/*metabolism; Oxazines/*analysis/chemistry; Protein Binding; Protein Folding; Protein Structure, Tertiary |
Abstract |
The interaction of nile red (NR) with apomyoglobin (ApoMb) in the native (pH 7) and molten globule (pH 4) states was investigated using experimental and computational methods. NR binds to hydrophobic locations in ApoMb with higher affinity (K(d) = 25 +/- 5 microM) in the native state than in the molten globule state (K(d) = 52 +/- 5 microM). In the molten globule state, NR is located in a more hydrophobic environment. The dye does not bind to the holoprotein, suggesting that the binding site is located at the heme pocket. In addition to monitoring steady-state properties, the fluorescence emission of NR is capable of tracking submillisecond, time-resolved structural rearrangements of the protein, induced by a nanosecond pH jump. Molecular dynamics simulations were run on ApoMb at neutral pH and at pH 4. The structure obtained for the molten globule state is consistent with the experimentally available structural data. The docking of NR with the crystal structure shows that the ligand binds into the binding pocket of the heme group, with an orientation bringing the planar ring system of NR to overlap with the position of two of the heme porphyrin rings in Mb. The docking of NR with the ApoMb structure at pH 4 shows that the dye binds to the heme pocket with a slightly less favorable binding energy, in keeping with the experimental K(d) value. Under these conditions, NR is positioned in a different orientation, reaching a more hydrophobic environment in agreement with the spectroscopic data. |
Address |
Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita degli Studi di Parma, Viale G. P. Usberti 7/A, 43100 Parma, Italy |
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English |
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ISSN |
0006-2960 |
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Notes |
PMID:16618100 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
3763 |
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Author |
Permyakov, S.E.; Khokhlova, T.I.; Nazipova, A.A.; Zhadan, A.P.; Morozova-Roche, L.A.; Permyakov, E.A. |
Title |
Calcium-binding and temperature induced transitions in equine lysozyme: new insights from the pCa-temperature “phase diagrams” |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Proteins |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proteins |
Volume |
65 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
984-998 |
Keywords |
Animals; Apoproteins/chemistry/metabolism; Binding Sites; Calcium/chemistry/*metabolism; Cattle; Edetic Acid/metabolism; Horses/metabolism; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactalbumin/chemistry/metabolism; Muramidase/*chemistry/*metabolism; Protein Denaturation; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; *Temperature; Thermodynamics; Tryptophan/chemistry/metabolism |
Abstract |
The most universal approach to the studies of metal binding properties of single-site metal binding proteins, i.e., construction of a “phase diagram” in coordinates of free metal ion concentration-temperature, has been applied to equine lysozyme (EQL). EQL has one relatively strong calcium binding site and shows two thermal transitions, but only one of them is Ca(2+)-dependent. It has been found that the Ca(2+)-dependent behavior of the low temperature thermal transition (I) of EQL can be adequately described based upon the simplest four-states scheme of metal- and temperature-induced structural changes in a protein. All thermodynamic parameters of this scheme were determined experimentally and used for construction of the EQL phase diagram in the pCa-temperature space. Comparison of the phase diagram with that for alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), a close homologue of lysozyme, allows visualization of the differences in thermodynamic behavior of the two proteins. The thermal stability of apo-EQL (transition I) closely resembles that for apo-alpha-LA (mid-temperature 25 degrees C), while the thermal stabilities of their Ca(2+)-bound forms are almost indistinguishable. The native state of EQL has three orders of magnitude lower affinity for Ca(2+) in comparison with alpha-LA while its thermally unfolded state (after the I transition) has about one order lower (K = 15M(-1)) affinity for calcium. Circular dichroism studies of the apo-lysozyme state after the first thermal transition show that it shares common features with the molten globule state of alpha-LA. |
Address |
Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia |
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ISSN |
1097-0134 |
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Notes |
PMID:17022083 |
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no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
1858 |
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Author |
Lin, Y.-L.; Moolenaar, H.; van Weeren, P.R.; van de Lest, C.H.A. |
Title |
Effect of microcurrent electrical tissue stimulation on equine tenocytes in culture |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
American Journal of Veterinary Research |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am J Vet Res |
Volume |
67 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
271-276 |
Keywords |
Animals; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Electric Stimulation; *Horses; Tendons/*cytology |
Abstract |
OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of microcurrent electrical tissue stimulation (METS) on equine tenocytes cultured from the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). SAMPLE POPULATION: SDFTs were collected from 20 horses at slaughter. PROCEDURE: Tenocytes were isolated following outgrowth from explants and grown in 48-well plates. Four methods of delivering current to the tenocytes with a METS device were tested. Once the optimal method was selected, current consisting of 0 (negative control), 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mA was applied to cells (8 wells/current intensity) once daily for 8 minutes. Cells were treated for 1, 2, or 3 days. Cell proliferation, DNA content, protein content, and apoptosis rate were determined. RESULTS: Application of microcurrent of moderate intensity increased cell proliferation and DNA content, with greater increases with multiple versus single application. Application of microcurrent of moderate intensity once or twice increased protein content, but application 3 times decreased protein content. Application of current a single time did not significantly alter apoptosis rate; however, application twice or 3 times resulted in significant increases in apoptosis rate, and there were significant linear (second order) correlations between current intensity and apoptosis rate when current was applied twice or 3 times. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the present study indicate that microcurrent affects the behavior of equine tenocytes in culture, but that effects may be negative or positive depending on current intensity and number of applications. Therefore, results are far from conclusive with respect to the suitability of using METS to promote tendon healing in horses. |
Address |
Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
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English |
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ISSN |
0002-9645 |
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Notes |
PMID:16454632 |
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no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
1878 |
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Author |
Krcmar, S.; Mikuska, A.; Merdic, E. |
Title |
Response of Tabanidae (Diptera) to different natural attractants |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Journal of Vector Ecology : Journal of the Society for Vector Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Vector Ecol |
Volume |
31 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
262-265 |
Keywords |
Animals; Appetitive Behavior/*physiology; Cattle/urine; Diptera/*physiology; Female; Horses/urine; Insect Control/methods; Sheep/urine; Swine/urine; Urine/*physiology |
Abstract |
The response of female tabanids to natural attractants was studied in the Monjoros Forest along the Nature Park Kopacki rit in eastern Croatia. Tabanids were caught in canopy traps baited with either aged cow, horse, sheep, or pig urine and also in unbaited traps. Tabanids were collected in a significantly higher numbers in traps baited with natural attractants compared to unbaited traps. The number of females of Tabanus bromius, Tabanus maculicornis, Tabanus tergestinus, and Hybomitra bimaculata collected from canopy traps baited with cow urine and traps baited with other natural attractants differed significantly. Females of Haematopota pluvialis were also collected more frequently in canopy traps baited with aged cow urine than in those with aged horse urine, but this difference was not significant. However, the number of females of Haematopota pluvialis collected from canopy traps baited with other natural attractants (sheep and pig urine) differed significantly when compared with aged cow urine baited traps. Canopy traps baited with aged cow urine collected significantly more Tabanus sudeticus than did traps baited with aged pig urine. Finally, the aged cow urine baited canopy traps collected 51 times more tabanids than unbaited traps, while aged horse, aged sheep, and aged pig urine baited traps collected 36, 30, and 22 times as many tabanids, respectively, than unbaited traps. |
Address |
Department of Biology, JJ Strossmayer University, Lj. Gaja 6, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia |
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English |
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ISSN |
1081-1710 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:17249343 |
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no |
Call Number |
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Serial |
1836 |
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Author |
Church, D.L.; Plowright, C.M.S. |
Title |
Spatial encoding by bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) of a reward within an artificial flower array |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Animal Cognition |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Cogn. |
Volume |
9 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
131-140 |
Keywords |
Animals; Appetitive Behavior/physiology; Association Learning/*physiology; Bees/*physiology; Chi-Square Distribution; *Cues; Female; Memory/physiology; Reward; Space Perception/*physiology; Spatial Behavior/*physiology |
Abstract |
We presented bumblebees a spatial memory task similar to that used with other species (e.g., cats, dogs, and pigeons). In some conditions we allowed for presence of scent marks in addition to placing local and global spatial cues in conflict. Bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) were presented an array of artificial flowers within a flight cage, one flower offering reward (S+), while the others were empty (S-). Bees were tested with empty flowers. In Experiment 1, flowers were either moved at the time of testing or not. Bees returned to the flower in the same absolute position of the S+ (the flower-array-independent (FAI) position), even if it was in the wrong position relative to the S- and even when new flower covers prevented the use of possible scent marks. New flower covers (i.e., without possible scent marks) had the effect of lowering the frequency of probing behavior. In Experiment 2, the colony was moved between training and testing. Again, bees chose the flower in the FAI position of the S+, and not the flower that would be chosen using strictly memory for a flight vector. Together, these experiments show that to locate the S+ bees did not rely on scent marks nor the positions of the S-, though the S- were prominent objects close to the goal. Also, bees selected environmental features to remember the position of the S+ instead of relying upon a purely egocentric point of view. Similarities with honeybees and vertebrates are discussed, as well as possible encoding mechanisms. |
Address |
Psychology Department, Bag Service #45444, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B 6E4, Canada. dchurchl@unb.ca |
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English |
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ISSN |
1435-9448 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:16416106 |
Approved |
no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2474 |
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Author |
Byrne, R.W.; Bates, L.A. |
Title |
Why are animals cognitive? |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Current Biology : CB |
Abbreviated Journal |
Curr Biol |
Volume |
16 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
R445-8 |
Keywords |
Animals; Arachnida/physiology; *Association Learning; *Behavior, Animal; *Cognition; Cooperative Behavior; Falconiformes/physiology; Pan troglodytes/physiology; Parrots/physiology; Passeriformes/physiology |
Abstract |
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Address |
Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, and Scottish Primate Research Group, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, Scotland |
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English |
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ISSN |
0960-9822 |
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Notes |
PMID:16781995 |
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no |
Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4708 |
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Author |
Shultz, S.; Dunbar, R.I.M. |
Title |
Both social and ecological factors predict ungulate brain size |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Proceedings. Biological Sciences / The Royal Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Biol Sci |
Volume |
273 |
Issue |
1583 |
Pages |
207-215 |
Keywords |
Animals; Artiodactyla/*anatomy & histology/*physiology; Brain/*anatomy & histology/physiology; *Ecosystem; Organ Size; Perissodactyla/*anatomy & histology/*physiology; *Social Behavior |
Abstract |
Among mammals, the members of some Orders have relatively large brains. Alternative explanations for this have emphasized either social or ecological selection pressures favouring greater information-processing capacities, including large group size, greater foraging efficiency, higher innovation rates, better invasion success and complex problem solving. However, the focal taxa for these analyses (primates, carnivores and birds) often show both varied ecological competence and social complexity. Here, we focus on the specific relationship between social complexity and brain size in ungulates, a group with relatively simple patterns of resource use, but extremely varied social behaviours. The statistical approach we used, phylogenetic generalized least squares, showed that relative brain size was independently associated with sociality and social complexity as well as with habitat use, while relative neocortex size is associated with social but not ecological factors. A simple index of sociality was a better predictor of both total brain and neocortex size than group size, which may indicate that the cognitive demands of sociality depend on the nature of social relationships as well as the total number of individuals in a group. |
Address |
School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. susanne.shultz@liv.ac.uk |
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0962-8452 |
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PMID:16555789 |
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no |
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Serial |
2098 |
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Author |
Plotnik, J.M.; de Waal, F.B.M.; Reiss, D. |
Title |
Self-recognition in an Asian elephant |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |
Volume |
103 |
Issue |
45 |
Pages |
17053-17057 |
Keywords |
Animals; Asia; *Behavior, Animal; Cognition; Elephants/*psychology; Female; Photic Stimulation |
Abstract |
Considered an indicator of self-awareness, mirror self-recognition (MSR) has long seemed limited to humans and apes. In both phylogeny and human ontogeny, MSR is thought to correlate with higher forms of empathy and altruistic behavior. Apart from humans and apes, dolphins and elephants are also known for such capacities. After the recent discovery of MSR in dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), elephants thus were the next logical candidate species. We exposed three Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to a large mirror to investigate their responses. Animals that possess MSR typically progress through four stages of behavior when facing a mirror: (i) social responses, (ii) physical inspection (e.g., looking behind the mirror), (iii) repetitive mirror-testing behavior, and (iv) realization of seeing themselves. Visible marks and invisible sham-marks were applied to the elephants' heads to test whether they would pass the litmus “mark test” for MSR in which an individual spontaneously uses a mirror to touch an otherwise imperceptible mark on its own body. Here, we report a successful MSR elephant study and report striking parallels in the progression of responses to mirrors among apes, dolphins, and elephants. These parallels suggest convergent cognitive evolution most likely related to complex sociality and cooperation. |
Address |
Living Links, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and Department of Psychology, Emory University, 532 North Kligo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA |
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English |
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0027-8424 |
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PMID:17075063 |
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no |
Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
408 |
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Author |
Chiesa, A.D.; Pecchia, T.; Tommasi, L.; Vallortigara, G. |
Title |
Multiple landmarks, the encoding of environmental geometry and the spatial logics of a dual brain |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Animal Cognition |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Cogn. |
Volume |
9 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
281-293 |
Keywords |
Animals; Association Learning/*physiology; Chickens; *Cues; Dominance, Cerebral/*physiology; *Environment; Exploratory Behavior/*physiology; Logic; Space Perception/*physiology; Spatial Behavior/physiology |
Abstract |
A series of place learning experiments was carried out in young chicks (Gallus gallus) in order to investigate how the geometry of a landmark array and that of a walled enclosure compete when disoriented animals could rely on both of them to re-orient towards the centre of the enclosure. A square-shaped array (four wooden sticks) was placed in the middle of a square-shaped enclosure, the two structures being concentric. Chicks were trained to ground-scratch to search for food hidden in the centre of the enclosure (and the array). To check for effects of array degradation, one, two, three or all landmarks were removed during test trials. Chicks concentrated their searching activity in the central area of the enclosure, but their accuracy was inversely contingent on the number of landmarks removed; moreover, the landmarks still present within the enclosure appeared to influence the shape of the searching patterns. The reduction in the number of landmarks affected the searching strategy of chicks, suggesting that they had focussed mainly on local cues when landmarks were present within the enclosure. When all the landmarks were removed, chicks searched over a larger area, suggesting an absolute encoding of distances from the local cues and less reliance on the relationships provided by the geometry of the enclosure. Under conditions of monocular vision, chicks tended to rely on different strategies to localize the centre on the basis of the eye (and thus the hemisphere) in use, the left hemisphere attending to details of the environment and the right hemisphere attending to the global shape. |
Address |
Department of Psychology and B.R.A.I.N. Centre for Neuroscience, University of Trieste, via S. Anastasio 12, 34100, Trieste, Italy |
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1435-9448 |
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PMID:16941155 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2443 |
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Author |
Mulcahy, N.J.; Call, J. |
Title |
Apes save tools for future use |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Science (New York, N.Y.) |
Abbreviated Journal |
Science |
Volume |
312 |
Issue |
5776 |
Pages |
1038-1040 |
Keywords |
Animals; Association Learning; *Cognition; *Evolution; *Mental Processes; *Pan paniscus; Pan troglodytes; *Pongo pygmaeus |
Abstract |
Planning for future needs, not just current ones, is one of the most formidable human cognitive achievements. Whether this skill is a uniquely human adaptation is a controversial issue. In a study we conducted, bonobos and orangutans selected, transported, and saved appropriate tools above baseline levels to use them 1 hour later (experiment 1). Experiment 2 extended these results to a 14-hour delay between collecting and using the tools. Experiment 3 showed that seeing the apparatus during tool selection was not necessary to succeed. These findings suggest that the precursor skills for planning for the future evolved in great apes before 14 million years ago, when all extant great ape species shared a common ancestor. |
Address |
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany |
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English |
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ISSN |
1095-9203 |
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PMID:16709782 |
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no |
Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
466 |
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