Search Results - (Author, Cooperation:M. Slattery)

2014-08-29

Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

0028-0836

1476-4687

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Caenorhabditis elegans/*genetics/growth & development ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; Conserved Sequence/genetics ; Drosophila melanogaster/*genetics/growth & development ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation/*genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks/*genetics ; Genome/genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Nucleotide Motifs/genetics ; Organ Specificity/genetics ; Transcription Factors/genetics/*metabolism

2018-02-28

Genetics Society of America (GSA)

0016-6731

Biology

0156-7446

Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition

Economics

0022-0981

Antarctica ; Biochemical composition ; Energetics ; Nemertean ; Toxicity

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Biology

Electronic Resource

0022-0981

Antarctica ; Brachiopod ; Chemical Defense ; Energetics

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Biology

Electronic Resource

0044-8486

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition

Electronic Resource

1530-0358

colonic neoplasms ; Rectal neoplasms ; Breast neoplasms ; Pancreatic neoplasms ; Prostate neoplasms ; Multiple primaries ; Family history

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Abstract PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess risk of developing multiple primaries after a diagnosis of colon cancer and to determine the impact that having a family history of cancer has on cancer risk. METHODS: Data from the Utah Cancer Registry and the Utah Population Database were used. A cohort of 2,236 first primary colon cancers were observed for the subsequent development of additional primary cancers. RESULTS: We observed a greater than expected incidence of colon, rectal, and pancreatic cancers among the cohort. The standardized incidence ratios were 2.77 (95 percent confidence interval (CI), 2.07–3.70), 2.26 (95 percent CI, 1.34–3.81), and 2.38 (95 percent CI, 1.32–4.30), respectively. Having a family history of colon or rectal cancer did not greatly influence risk of having a multiple primary. However, there was a trend toward increased risk of pancreatic cancer (hazard rate ratios, 1.99; 95 percent CI, 0.67–5.90) and bladder cancer (hazard rate ratios, 2.35; 95 percent CI, 0.77–7.18) among patients with a family history of rectal cancer. We also observed that risk of uterine cancer in the cohort was positively associated with family history of uterine cancer, risk of breast cancer was positively associated with family history of breast cancer, and risk of prostate cancer was positively associated with family history of prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: People with colon cancer are at a greater risk of developing colon, rectal, and possibly pancreatic cancer. Although a family history of colon or rectal cancer did not have a large impact on developing other cancers, a family history of other primary cancers did influence risk of other cancers.

Electronic Resource

1432-0975

Key words Mass spawn ; Steroids ; Chemical defenses ; Pheromone ; Guam

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Geosciences

Abstract  Mass spawning strategies of hard and soft corals on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia have been described in recent years. Nonetheless, the applicability of those studies to corals on other reef systems has not been well documented. Here we describe the mass spawning behavior of the soft coral Sinularia polydactyla on coral reefs surrounding Guam; specifically we describe the events in an annual gametogenic cycle including steroidogenesis, spawning, settlement and early life history defense. The gametogenic cycle of female colonies lasted 12 months while male colonies produced viable sperm within 9 months. Sinularia polydactyla exhibited a split spawn between March and June that correlated with a significant reduction in tissue concentrations of progesterone and testosterone. Estradiol was released into the water column, apparently by female colonies, just prior to spawning. There was a trend for preferential larval settlement in the presence of the crustose coralline algae Hydrolithon reinboldii rather than coral rubble, a natural biofilm, or filtered seawater. The defensive compounds pukalide and 11β-acetoxypukalide were found in eggs and larvae at adult level and three-fold lower than adult-level concentrations, respectively. These compounds provided some predator deterrent and antimicrobial protection against an ecologically relevant omnivorous fish Canthigaster solandri and a sympatric microbe Vibrio sp.

Electronic Resource

1432-1076

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Electronic Resource

1432-1793

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract Alcyonium paessleri and Clavularia frankliniana are numerically abundant soft corals in the nearshore (12 to 33 m depth) benthic communities of eastern McMurdo Sound. They are much less abundant in western McMurdo Sound where a third species, Gersemia antarctica, co-occurs in low numbers. The body tissues of these three species are comprised mainly of organic material (53 to 70% dry wt), which is primarily dervied from NaOH-soluble protein and refractory material. The energetic contents of the whole-body tissues of A. paessleri, C. frankliniana and G. antarctica are 15.9, 17.3, and 14.5 kJ g-1 dry wt, respectively. The mean biomass per individual is 1.81, 0.008, and 45 g dry wt for each respective species. Based on population densities of 7.3, 1337.3, and 0.04 soft corals m-2 for A. paessleri, C. frankliniana and G. antarctica, respectively, the population energetic densities are estimated to be 210.1, 185.1, and 26.1 kJ m-2. Despite the relatively rich energetic content of the tissue and apparent vulnerability to predators, very little predation occurs on these soft corals. Two potential predators, the antarctic sea stars Perknaster fuscus and Odontaster validus, exhibited significant chemotactic defensive tube-foot retractions to hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous methanol extracts of each soft coral. In addition, wholebody tissue of each soft coral was rejected by the demersal fish Pseudotrematomus bernacchii and the cryopelagic fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki. In contrast, whole soft-coral tissues sequentially extracted in four increasingly polar solvents were readily ingested by these antarctic fishes, indicating that sclerites do not play a significant role in deterring predators. Our results indicate that these antarctic soft corals contain bioactive compounds which deter common predatory seastars and fishes.

Electronic Resource

1432-1793

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract Changes in size, morphology, and biochemical composition in adults and embryos of a brooding sea star, Neosmilaster georgianus (Sladen), were studied in a population adjacent to Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula (64°46′S; 64°04′W) during the austral spring, 1991. Five morphological stages of development were designated in 24 broods, and for each the weight and biochemical composition of the brooding adults and their embryos were determined. Between Stage 1 and 2, the dry weight (dw) and organic weight (ow) of the embryo did not change. From Stage 2 to 3, the dw and ow increased significantly by 10%. Stage 2 and 3 embryos were in clusters of a few (2 to 10) to as many as 40 individuals. In the smaller clusters, individual embryos were attached by tissue cords to another, sometimes atrophied, brood member. In the larger clusters, they were attached to a central mass of tissue containing remnants of embryos. We interpret these interactions as a form of cannibalism which may account for the weight gains between Stage 2 and 3. During Stages 4 and 5, as juvenile form was approached, the dw and ash weight of the young increased significantly and the ow decreased significantly. The calculated energy content for the juvenile (Stage 5) was not significantly different from the energy content of the earliest undifferentiated stage (Stage 1), an indication that most of the organic matter in the egg is the primary contribution to the large juvenile. In brooding females, pyloric caeca indices declined by 52% from Stage 1 to Stage 5 and pyloric energy stores declined by 63% due to proportionately equivalent declines in protein and lipid. The ovary index was low and increased only slightly during brood protection, while the size of the largest oocytes remained approximately 23% that of ova. Energy stores in the pyloric caeca of brooding N. georgianus thus become depleted over a long period of incubation during which the adults apparently starve. This may delay oocyte development and ultimately limit the frequency of individual reproduction.

Electronic Resource

1432-1793

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract Population dynamics of Sterechinus neumayeri were investigated at four sites in McMurdo Sound: Cape Evans, McMurdo Station, East Cape Armitage and New Harbor. The annual formation of natural growth bands in the jaws of the Aristotle's lantern was verified by a tagging-recapture experiment. Growth functions based on natural growth bands indicated differences among stations but showed S. neumayeri to be a slow growing species, reaching its maximum diameter of 70 mm at an age of about 40 yr. Annual production ranged between 2.4 (C. Evans) and 0.65 g ash free dry mass m-2 (New Harbor) and was related to differences in food conditions. More than 95% of total production was invested in reproduction, and less than 5% was invested in somatic growth. Consumption estimates for S. neumayeri showed this species to play a significant role in the benthic trophic web of McMurdo Sound.

Electronic Resource

1432-2056

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Abstract Whole body tissue preparations of the Antarctic soft corals Alcyonium paessleri and Clavularia frankliniana were incubated in vitro with the radiolabelled precursors 3H-progesterone and 3H-androstenedione to determine steroidogenic capacity. Steroidal metabolites were identified using TLC, derivitization, and recrystallization techniques. The Antarctic soft corals converted labelled precursors (3H-progesterone and 3H-androstenedione) into a maximum of five metabolites, potentially indicating the activity of the following enzymes: 5α-reductase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β-HSD, and acyl transferase. Both species exhibited similar steroidogenic capacity. Radioimmunoassays verified the presence of relevant concentrations of progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol in whole body extracts from each species of soft coral. Alcyonium paessleri and Clavularia frankliniana actively converted precursors at temperatures up to 10°C above the ambient encountered by these species. Although similar steroidal compounds are produced in other phyla of benthic invertebrates, conversion rates for these soft corals are substantially lower. The role of these steroids is as yet unidentified; however they may be related to reproduction, and be important in chemical signaling or as defensive metabolites, or they may serve as transient intermediates to the production of other bioactive derivatives.

Electronic Resource

1573-1561

Marseniopis mollis ; Mesogastropoda ; homarine ; defense ; sea star ; Odontaster validus

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract The common bright yellow antarctic lamellarian gastropodMarseniopsis mollis was examined for the presence of defensive chemistry. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy indicated that a major component of ethanolic extracts purified by reversed-phase column chromatography was homarine. Further high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the mantle, foot, and viscera verified the presence of homarine in all body tissues at concentrations ranging from 6 to 24 mg/g dry tissue. A conspicuous macroinvertebrate predator of the shallow antarctic benthos, the sea starOdontaster validus, always rejected live individuals ofM. mollis, while readily feeding on pieces of fish tail muscle. Filter paper disks treated with shrimp elicited a broad range of feeding behaviors in the sea starO. validus (movement of disc to mouth, extrusion of cardiac stomach, humped feeding posture). Shrimp disks treated with homarine (0.4 and 4 mg/disk) were rejected byO. validus significantly more frequently than control disks treated with solvent carrier and shrimp or shrimp alone. The highest concentration of homarine tested not only caused feeding deterrence, but in several sea stars a flight response was noted. Homarine was not detected in the tunic of the antarctic ascidianCnemidocarpa verrucosa, a presumed primary prey ofM. mollis. Nonetheless, crude extracts of the epizooites that foul the tunic (primarily the bryozoans and hydroids) contain homarine, suggestingM. mollis may ingest and derive its chemistry from these organisms. This appears to be only the third example of chemical defense in a member of the Order Mesogastropoda. As the vestigial internalized shell ofM. mollis is considered a primitive condition, the findings of this study lend support to the hypothesis that chemical defense evolved prior to shell loss in shell-less gastropods.

Electronic Resource

1573-1561

Antarctica ; sponge ; sea star ; Perknaster fuscus ; chemotactic ; repellent ; chemical defense ; polar ; marine benthos

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract Hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts of 18 species of antarctic sponges were tested for their ability to induce sustained tube-foot retraction in the antarctic spongivorous sea starPerknaster fuscus. Extracts were imbedded in silicone and used to coat the tip of a glass rod, which was allowed to contact an extended tube-foot. Retraction times were measured and compared with three controls: contact with a glass rod coated with a hexane extract of fish (feeding stimulant), contact with the glass rod alone (mechanical control), and contact with the glass rod coated with silicone alone (silicone control). Only extracts of the spongeMycale acerata did not elicit significantly longer tube-foot retraction times than controls for at least one of the three organic extracts. Hexane sponge extracts elicited the lowest levels of significant tube-foot responses, with only 39% of the sponge species tested showing activity in this fraction. In contrast, chloroform and methanol extracts elicited a significant tube-foot retraction response in 73% and 78% of the species tested, respectively. This indicates that in this assay repellent metabolites are generally more polar substances. It remains to be determined that secondary metabolites are responsible for all of the tube-foot retraction responses detected in sea stars exposed to sponge extracts; bioactive secondary metabolites have been isolated from a number of these antarctic sponges. It may be of ecological significance that the two rapidly growing sponges,Homaxinella balfourensis andMycale acerata, were either not repellent or had low repellency, and thatM. acerata is the primary dietary item ofPerknaster fuscus.

Electronic Resource

1573-1561

Antarctica ; marine benthos ; Tritoniella belli ; Mollusca ; nudibranch ; Clavularia frankliniana ; Cnidaria ; chemical defense ; predator ; prey ; chimyl alcohol

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Abstract Extracts of the dorid nudibranchTritoniella belli and stoloniferan coralClavularia frankliniana were chromatographed and analyzed by1H NMR and thin-layer chromatography. Three glycerol ethers were detected inT. belli, primarily 1-O-hexadecyl glycerol (chimyl alcohol). Chimyl alcohol was also detected after gradient flash chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC purification in the tissues ofC. frankliniana. The common omnivorous predatory Antarctic sea starOdontaster validus, a likely predator of benthic invertebrates, showed feeding deterrence to small cubes ofT. belli mantle tissue placed on the tube feet along the ambulacral feeding groove, while always extruding the cardiac stomach when presented with cubes of shrimp tissue of similar size. Filter-paper disks soaked in an aqueous shrimp solution and then dried were found to elicit a broad range of feeding behaviors inO. validus, including movement of the shrimp disk to the mouth, extrusion of the cardiac stomach, and the assumption of a humped feeding posture. Chimyl alcohol-treated shrimp disks caused significant feeding deterrence in sea stars when compared with control disks (solvent plus shrimp treated disks alone).T. belli andC. frankliniana appear to employ a defensive compound that has been found in a variety of temperate and tropical mollusks, where it has been demonstrated to deter fish predators. We provide evidence for further deterrent capabilities of chimyl alcohol and of its trophic relationship in the polar ecosystem of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.

Electronic Resource