Naturally occurring activity variation of an alkaline phosphatase isozyme associated with physiological fitness in an intertidal population of Macoma balthica

1986 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiva M. Singh ◽  
Roger H. Green
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Macoma Balthica ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Biochemical Basis ◽  
Physiological Fitness ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Intertidal Population ◽  
Enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase

We observed variability in the level of an isozyme for the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AKP, EC 3.1.3.1) in a Macoma balthica population from Hudson Bay. The distribution of "high" and "no" activity AKP-2 variants were different in samples from "high" tide as compared with "low" tide areas. Furthermore, the AKP-2 activity level is associated with survival at high temperature (32 °C), but in the "high" tide subpopulation only. Although this striking association between the activity level of an isozyme and an environmental parameter in a natural population is one of the very few in the literature, further studies are required to establish the genetic basis for the level of the enzyme activity and the biochemical basis for this relationship.Key words: isozyme, alkaline phosphatase, natural selection, evolution.

The relationship between parasite load, crawling behaviour, and growth rate of Macoma balthica (L.) (Mollusca, Pelecypoda) from Hudson Bay, Canada

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 2202-2208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley S. L. Lim ◽  
Roger H. Green
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Macoma Balthica ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Somatic Growth ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Final Host ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Tidal Level ◽  
Annual Growth Rings ◽  
The Difference

At ebb tide Macoma balthica makes crawling tracks on the intertidal sand flats near Churchill, Manitoba, on Hudson Bay. Clams from two tidal levels, mean low water and 1.0 m above mean low water, were sampled to compare the parasite load and growth rate of crawling versus buried Macoma. For each clam the number of trematode metacercariae present were counted and the growth rate was determined by the measurement of annual growth rings. Clams were infected by more metacercariae at the higher than at the lower tidal level, larger clams more than smaller ones and crawling clams more than buried ones. Increased exposure of the clams at the higher tidal level to shorebirds, the final host of the trematodes, is proposed as the reason for the difference in parasite load between the tide levels. High-tide clams (more parasitized) grew faster than low-tide ones (less parasitized), and crawlers (more parasitized) grew faster than the buried (less parasitized) clams. Enhanced somatic growth as a result of parasitic castration is proposed to be the most logical explanation to account for the faster growth of the parasitized clams.

Growth and Mortality in an Arctic Intertidal Population of Macoma balthica (Pelecypoda, Tellinidae)

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1345-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger H. Green
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Macoma Balthica ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Intertidal Environment ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Proximate Factor ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Intertidal Population ◽  
Annual Mortality

In an arctic intertidal environment on Hudson Bay, Macoma balthica have a higher growth rate at a tidal level of 1.1 m above mean low water than at the mean low water level, in terms of both length and dry weight. Temperature, rather than food, appears to be the primary proximate factor involved, and summer air temperatures play a major role. The estimated growth rates are comparable to reported growth rates for intertidal Macoma populations in Scotland and the Netherlands. A partial life table calculated from the death assemblage indicates that Macoma at 1.1 m above mean low water have an annual mortality which increases from about 20% at age 2 to about 50% at age 7 years.

Do facial structural characteristics communicate information about health?

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd K. Shackelford ◽  
Randy J. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Recovery Time ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Facial Features ◽  
Cardiac Recovery ◽  
Physiological Fitness ◽  
Future Work

High levels of sex hormones may lower immunocompetence, making it difficult for a person’s body to fight off infections. Facial characteristics that reveal high levels of sex hormones might signal the presence of a robust immune system. In men, high testosterone levels are associated with prominent cheekbones, wide jaw, and long chin. In women, high estrogen levels are associated with prominent cheekbones, narrow jaw, and short chin. We examined whether facial features associated with immunocompetence positively covary with health. Participants from 2 groups of university students (67 women, 34 men, in total) completed daily measures of psychological, emotional, and physical health over a one-month period. Physiological fitness was assessed via cardiac recovery time following exercise. A facial photograph of each participant was rated along several personality dimensions, activity level, and attractiveness. Using the photographs, we measured participants’ jaw width, chin length, and cheekbone prominence. Results provide unimpressive evidence for the hypotheses that (1) women displaying an estrogenized face and (2) men displaying a testosteronized face are physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally healthier. Discussion highlights directions for future work on whether facial structural characteristics might communicate information about underlying health.

Presence of γ-glutamyltransferase in the renal microvascular compartment

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 383-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Dass ◽  
R. P. Misra ◽  
T. C. Welbourne
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Density Gradient ◽  
Alkaline Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Brush Border ◽  
Sucrose Density Gradient ◽  
Isolated Glomeruli ◽  
Crude Homogenate ◽  
Brush Border Enzyme ◽  
Enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase

The association between the brush border enzyme alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase was determined by sucrose density gradient analysis of crude kidney homogenates, isolated glomeruli, and isolated microvessels. As previously established there is an overlap of these enzyme activities in the crude homogenate corresponding to a density of 1.17 g∙cm−3. In contrast, isolated glomeruli sedimented with a peak of 1.25 g∙cm−3 and exhibited γ-glutamyltransferase activity but little alkaline phosphatase activity; homogenizing isolated glomeruli shifted the fragments to a density coincident with that observed for the crude homogenate γ-glutamyltransferase peak. A second population of capillaries, isolated microvessels, were homogenized and analyzed on the sucrose density gradient. These fragments sedimented over the same range as crude homogenate γ-glutamyltransferase peak but were devoid of alkaline phosphatase activity and yet exhibited remarkable γ-glutamyltransferase activity. The results indicate homogenization of renal cortex results in a heterogenous collection of particles from both tubular and microvascular locations exhibiting γ-glutamyltransferase activity which overlap with the brush border alkaline phosphatase containing membranes. However, isolation of microvessels and glomeruli prior to homogenization allows separation of γ-glutamyltransferase from alkaline phosphatase activity; between 10 and 20% of the total homogenate γ-glutamyltransferase activity is estimated to be associated with the microvascular compartment.

The vegetational zonation of the East Pen Island salt marshes, Hudson Bay

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Kershaw
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Freshwater Marsh ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Carex Aquatilis ◽  
Salt Pans ◽  
Meltwater Runoff ◽  
Permafrost Table ◽  
Puccinellia Phryganodes

The extensive salt marshes at East Pen Island in Hudson Bay are described in quantitative terms and the well-marked sequence of species is characterized. The lower marsh is dominated by Puccinellia phryganodes and Carex subspathacea, with Hippurus vulgaris and Senecio congestus abundant in the salt pans. The midmarsh has well-developed swards of Dupontia fisheri and Celamagrostis neglecta, which give way to stands of Carex aquatilis in a well-developed freshwater marsh below the first beach ridge. The results are compared with other arctic salt marshes, and the development of a wide freshwater marsh in the upper zone of the salt marsh is described. This feature is perhaps unique to the Hudson Bay marshes and is a function of meltwater runoff from the surface of the permafrost table. This results in the high, standing water table at the top of the marsh, which is maintained by the permafrost table of the salt marsh itself.A transit survey of the marsh relates the quadrat samples to a high-tide datum point and allows interpretation of the vegetation sequence in terms of saltwater inundation. The depth of the active layer of the salt marsh is also described.

Enzyme-Histochemical Determination of Human Bone Growth Activity in Postmortem Material

1973 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1293-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inger Kjær ◽  
Uwe Prydsoe
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Alkaline Phosphatase Activity ◽  
Incubation Medium ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Bone Growth ◽  
Autopsy Material ◽  
Growth Activity ◽  
Enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase

Autopsy material from calvarian bones and sutures of two children, was used to determine growth activity by measuring enzyme alkaline Phosphatase activity. In the extremely active periosteum of the 2-day-old boy, differences in growth activity could be demonstrated by reduction of the temperature of the incubation medium from room temperature to 4 C.

scholarly journals Bioprocess Optimization for the Production of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis Biomass Enriched in the Enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Giorgos Markou
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Arthrospira Platensis ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Alp Activity ◽  
P Limitation ◽  
Protein Rich ◽  
Enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase

The enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is gaining interest because it exerts bioactive properties and may be a potentially important therapeutic agent for many disorders and diseases. Microalgae are considered an important novel source for the production of diverse bio-compounds and are gaining momentum as functional foods/feeds supplements. So far, studies for the production of ALP are limited to mammalian and partly to some heterotrophic microbial sources after its extraction and/or purification. Methods: Arthrospira was cultivated under P-limitation bioprocess and the effect of the P-limitation degree on the ALP enrichment was studied. The aim of this work was to optimize the cultivation of the edible and generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis for the production of single-cell (SC) biomass enriched in ALP as a potential novel functional diet supplement. Results: The results revealed that the relationship between intracellular-P and single-cell alkaline phosphatase (SC-ALP) activity was inverse; SC-ALP activity was the highest (around 50 U g−1) when intracellular-P was the lowest possible (around 1.7 mg-P g−1) and decreased gradually as P availability increased reaching around 0.5 U g−1 in the control cultures. Under the strongest P-limited conditions, a more than 100-fold increase in SC-ALP activity was obtained; however, protein content of A. platensis decreased significantly (around 22–23% from 58%). Under a moderate P-limitation degree (at intracellular-P of 3.6 mg-P g−1), there was a relatively high SC-ALP activity (>28 U g−1) while simultaneously, a relative high protein content (46%) was attained, which reflects the possibility to produce A. platensis enriched in ALP retaining though its nutritional value as a protein rich biomass source. The paper presents also results on how several parameters of the ALP activity assay, such as pH, temperature etc., and post-harvest treatment (hydrothermal treatment and biomass drying), influence the SC-ALP activity.

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