{"title":"Consistent Negative Correlations between Parasite Infection and Host Body Condition Across Seasons Suggest Potential Harmful Impacts of Salmincola markewitschi on Wild White-Spotted Charr, Salvelinus leucomaenis","authors":"Ryota Hasegawa, Itsuro Koizumi","doi":"10.2108/zs230028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230028","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139437789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction and Social Behaviors in Reptiles: Advances Made in the Last Decade","authors":"Genki Yamagishi, Shinichi Miyagawa","doi":"10.2108/zs230060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230060","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139154004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Food Habits of Raccoon Dogs at an Agricultural Area in Shikoku, Western Japan","authors":"Seiki Takatsuki, Masakazu Inaba","doi":"10.2108/zs230051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230051","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138598773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To explore the physiological role and/or pharmacological effects of ommochrome, which is a natural organic pigment widely distributed in Protostomia, we attempted to investigate the influence of ommochrome on RT-PCR and activities of restriction enzymes. It was found that ommin, an ommochrome purified from the diapause eggs of Bombyx mori, inhibited the RT-PCR and restriction enzyme activities. The mechanism of these inhibitory reactions is assumed to be the direct binding of ommochrome to DNA rather than acting against the enzymes because, similarly to actinomycin D, there is a phenoxazine ring in the structure of ommin that is known to be intercalated to DNA. To reveal the ommin/DNA interaction, it was investigated by computational approaches such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free energy calculation. From the computational analyses, it was expected that ommin would bind to DNA with almost the same strength as actinomycin D and intercalate into DNA. This is the first report on the pharmacological effect of ommochrome and its inhibitory mechanism obtained from biochemical and computational analyses.
为了探索广泛分布于原丝藻类中的天然有机色素--omochrome的生理作用和/或药理作用,我们尝试研究了omochrome对RT-PCR和限制酶活性的影响。结果发现,从减数分裂的森雌蚕卵中纯化出的一种omochrome--ommin抑制了RT-PCR和限制酶的活性。这些抑制反应的机理被认为是奥姆敏与 DNA 直接结合,而不是对酶起作用,因为与放线菌素 D 相似,奥姆敏的结构中也有一个吩嗪环,已知它能插入 DNA。为了揭示ommin/DNA之间的相互作用,我们采用了分子对接、分子动力学模拟和自由能计算等计算方法对其进行了研究。计算分析结果表明,ommin 与 DNA 的结合强度几乎与放线菌素 D 相同,并能插入 DNA。这是首次报道通过生化和计算分析获得的奥美拉唑的药理作用及其抑制机制。
{"title":"Inhibitory Effect on RT-PCR and Restriction Enzyme Activity by Ommochrome and Its Mechanism.","authors":"Hiroshi Sawada, Keisuke Mase, Rimi Koyama, Atsushi Suenaga","doi":"10.2108/zs230068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To explore the physiological role and/or pharmacological effects of ommochrome, which is a natural organic pigment widely distributed in Protostomia, we attempted to investigate the influence of ommochrome on RT-PCR and activities of restriction enzymes. It was found that ommin, an ommochrome purified from the diapause eggs of <i>Bombyx mori</i>, inhibited the RT-PCR and restriction enzyme activities. The mechanism of these inhibitory reactions is assumed to be the direct binding of ommochrome to DNA rather than acting against the enzymes because, similarly to actinomycin D, there is a phenoxazine ring in the structure of ommin that is known to be intercalated to DNA. To reveal the ommin/DNA interaction, it was investigated by computational approaches such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and free energy calculation. From the computational analyses, it was expected that ommin would bind to DNA with almost the same strength as actinomycin D and intercalate into DNA. This is the first report on the pharmacological effect of ommochrome and its inhibitory mechanism obtained from biochemical and computational analyses.</p>","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138809987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Variation in morphological traits of anurans has evolved due to the pressures imposed by inhabiting different environments. The Japanese stream toad, Bufo torrenticola, breeds in running water, such as mountain streams, where the larvae grow. This lotic-breeding habit of B. torrenticola was suggested to have evolved from a lentic-breeding ancestor. Evolutionary shift of breeding habit from lentic- to lotic-breeding caused larval morphological changes to adapt to the stream habitat. However, morphological adaptation associated with the larval habitat of these three types of Japanese toads has not been explored well. In this study, we applied geometric morphometrics and distance measurements to compare body and eye characters among the tadpoles of three Japanese toads. The results showed that B. torrenticola has more dorsally and posteriorly positioned eyes, and a longer and wider rostrum because of having a larger mouth and more-developed oral muscles than its close relatives. These characters might be related to lotic lifestyle. Meanwhile, tadpoles of B. torrenticola and its sister taxon B. japonicus japonicus showed similar eye growth pattern, supporting their close phylogenetic relationship. Some of the lotic-adapted characters have also been reported in other lotic tadpoles, which is indicative of convergent evolution among stream-adapted tadpoles.
{"title":"Larval Body Shape and Eye Size Variation in Japanese Toads (Anura: Bufonidae: <i>Bufo</i>): An Ecological Implication for Lentic and Lotic Habitats.","authors":"Kanon Tanaka, Kanto Nishikawa, Sotaro Hara","doi":"10.2108/zs230010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Variation in morphological traits of anurans has evolved due to the pressures imposed by inhabiting different environments. The Japanese stream toad, <i>Bufo torrenticola</i>, breeds in running water, such as mountain streams, where the larvae grow. This lotic-breeding habit of <i>B. torrenticola</i> was suggested to have evolved from a lentic-breeding ancestor. Evolutionary shift of breeding habit from lentic- to lotic-breeding caused larval morphological changes to adapt to the stream habitat. However, morphological adaptation associated with the larval habitat of these three types of Japanese toads has not been explored well. In this study, we applied geometric morphometrics and distance measurements to compare body and eye characters among the tadpoles of three Japanese toads. The results showed that <i>B. torrenticola</i> has more dorsally and posteriorly positioned eyes, and a longer and wider rostrum because of having a larger mouth and more-developed oral muscles than its close relatives. These characters might be related to lotic lifestyle. Meanwhile, tadpoles of <i>B. torrenticola</i> and its sister taxon <i>B. japonicus japonicus</i> showed similar eye growth pattern, supporting their close phylogenetic relationship. Some of the lotic-adapted characters have also been reported in other lotic tadpoles, which is indicative of convergent evolution among stream-adapted tadpoles.</p>","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138809931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The deep-sea buccinid snail genus Bathyancistrolepis is redefined based on the reconstruction of a molecular phylogeny and morphological examination of shell and radular characters. This genus is distinguished from other genera of the subfamily Parancistrolepidinae with a combination of shell traits, including (1) a low spire, (2) sharp, carinate spiral cords or keels and (3) a long, curved siphonal canal, but not with a difference in radular morphology as suggested by previous authors. Three allopatric or parapatric species are recognized in the upper bathyal (447-2057 m) waters around Japan and Taiwan: B. tokoyodaensis from off Hokkaido to Sagami Bay in the Northwest Pacific, B. trochoidea off Kumano-nada to Miyazaki in the Northwest Pacific and along Nansei Islands in the East China Sea, and B. taiwanensis sp. nov. in the South China Sea. These species bear large paucispiral protoconchs that are indicative of benthic early development without a pelagic larval period, and hence low dispersal capability. Seafloor topography seems to have acted as a barrier for their dispersal; the range of B. tokoyodaensis supports the previous finding that Izu Peninsula delimits westward distribution of bathyal gastropod species of boreal origins.
{"title":"Systematics and Distributions of Upper Bathyal Species in <i>Bathyancistrolepis</i>, a Deep-Sea Whelk Genus Endemic to the Northwest Pacific (Gastropoda: Buccinidae).","authors":"Genki Ishiyama, Yuri I Kantor, Yasunori Kano","doi":"10.2108/zs230067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The deep-sea buccinid snail genus <i>Bathyancistrolepis</i> is redefined based on the reconstruction of a molecular phylogeny and morphological examination of shell and radular characters. This genus is distinguished from other genera of the subfamily Parancistrolepidinae with a combination of shell traits, including (1) a low spire, (2) sharp, carinate spiral cords or keels and (3) a long, curved siphonal canal, but not with a difference in radular morphology as suggested by previous authors. Three allopatric or parapatric species are recognized in the upper bathyal (447-2057 m) waters around Japan and Taiwan: <i>B</i>. <i>tokoyodaensis</i> from off Hokkaido to Sagami Bay in the Northwest Pacific, <i>B</i>. <i>trochoidea</i> off Kumano-nada to Miyazaki in the Northwest Pacific and along Nansei Islands in the East China Sea, and <i>B</i>. <i>taiwanensis</i> sp. nov. in the South China Sea. These species bear large paucispiral protoconchs that are indicative of benthic early development without a pelagic larval period, and hence low dispersal capability. Seafloor topography seems to have acted as a barrier for their dispersal; the range of <i>B</i>. <i>tokoyodaensis</i> supports the previous finding that Izu Peninsula delimits westward distribution of bathyal gastropod species of boreal origins.</p>","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138810033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis is a unique biological phenomenon, in which animal cells engulf single-celled photosynthetic algae and maintain them in their cytoplasm mutualistically. Studies are needed to reveal the complex mechanisms involved in symbiotic processes, but it is difficult to answer these questions using intact corals. To tackle these issues, our previous studies established an in vitro system of symbiosis between cells of the scleractinian coral Acropora tenuis and the dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum, and showed that corals direct phagocytosis, while algae are likely engulfed by coral cells passively. Several genera of the family Symbiodiniaceae can establish symbioses with corals, but the symbiotic ratio differs depending on the dinoflagellate clades involved. To understand possible causes of these differences, this study examined whether cultured coral cells show phagocytotic activity with various dinoflagellate strains similar to those shown by intact A. tenuis. We found that (a) A. tenuis larvae incorporate Symbiodinium and Breviolum, but not Cladocopium, and very few Effrenium, (b) cultured coral cells engulfed all four species but the ratio of engulfment was significantly higher with Symbiodinium and Breviolum than Cladocopium and Effrenium, (c) cultured coral cells also phagocytosed inorganic latex beads differently than they do dinoflagellates . It is likely that cultured coral cells preferentially phagocytose Symbiodinium and Breviolum, suggesting that specific molecular mechanisms involved in initiation of symbiosis should be investigated in the future.
{"title":"In Vitro Phagocytosis of Different Dinoflagellate Species by Coral Cells.","authors":"Kaz Kawamura, Eiichi Shoguchi, Koki Nishitsuji, Satoko Sekida, Haruhi Narisoko, Hongwei Zhao, Yang Shu, Pengcheng Fu, Hiroshi Yamashita, Shigeki Fujiwara, Noriyuki Satoh","doi":"10.2108/zs230045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs230045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis is a unique biological phenomenon, in which animal cells engulf single-celled photosynthetic algae and maintain them in their cytoplasm mutualistically. Studies are needed to reveal the complex mechanisms involved in symbiotic processes, but it is difficult to answer these questions using intact corals. To tackle these issues, our previous studies established an in vitro system of symbiosis between cells of the scleractinian coral <i>Acropora tenuis</i> and the dinoflagellate <i>Breviolum minutum</i>, and showed that corals direct phagocytosis, while algae are likely engulfed by coral cells passively. Several genera of the family Symbiodiniaceae can establish symbioses with corals, but the symbiotic ratio differs depending on the dinoflagellate clades involved. To understand possible causes of these differences, this study examined whether cultured coral cells show phagocytotic activity with various dinoflagellate strains similar to those shown by intact <i>A. tenuis</i>. We found that (a) <i>A. tenuis</i> larvae incorporate <i>Symbiodinium</i> and <i>Breviolum</i>, but not <i>Cladocopium</i>, and very few <i>Effrenium</i>, (b) cultured coral cells engulfed all four species but the ratio of engulfment was significantly higher with <i>Symbiodinium</i> and <i>Breviolum</i> than <i>Cladocopium</i> and <i>Effrenium</i>, (c) cultured coral cells also phagocytosed inorganic latex beads differently than they do dinoflagellates . It is likely that cultured coral cells preferentially phagocytose <i>Symbiodinium</i> and <i>Breviolum</i>, suggesting that specific molecular mechanisms involved in initiation of symbiosis should be investigated in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138809982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The turtle olfactory organ consists of the upper (UCE) and lower (LCE) chamber epithelium, projecting to the ventral and dorsal parts of the olfactory bulbs, respectively. The UCE is associated with glands, contains ciliated olfactory receptor neurons, and is assumed to detect odorants primarily in air, while the LCE is devoid of glands, contains microvillous olfactory receptor neurons, and is assumed to detect odorants primarily in water. Examining the olfactory system of the pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, this study found that both the upper and lower chambers of the nasal cavity were lined with sensory epithelium devoid of associated glands and contained ciliated olfactory receptor neurons. Moreover, the olfactory bulbs were not divided into dorsal and ventral parts. These results suggest that the olfactory system of the pig-nosed turtle is a single system specialized for detecting odorants in water.
{"title":"Morphological Analysis of the Olfactory System of the Pig-Nosed Turtle, Carettochelys insculpta","authors":"Nobuaki Nakamuta, Shoko Nakamuta, Yoshio Yamamoto, Hideaki Kato","doi":"10.2108/zs220100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2108/zs220100","url":null,"abstract":"The turtle olfactory organ consists of the upper (UCE) and lower (LCE) chamber epithelium, projecting to the ventral and dorsal parts of the olfactory bulbs, respectively. The UCE is associated with glands, contains ciliated olfactory receptor neurons, and is assumed to detect odorants primarily in air, while the LCE is devoid of glands, contains microvillous olfactory receptor neurons, and is assumed to detect odorants primarily in water. Examining the olfactory system of the pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, this study found that both the upper and lower chambers of the nasal cavity were lined with sensory epithelium devoid of associated glands and contained ciliated olfactory receptor neurons. Moreover, the olfactory bulbs were not divided into dorsal and ventral parts. These results suggest that the olfactory system of the pig-nosed turtle is a single system specialized for detecting odorants in water.","PeriodicalId":24040,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136228602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}