Project description:Notexin from Notechis scutatus scutatus snake venom was subjected to tyrosine modification with p-nitrobenzenesulphonyl fluoride (NBSF), and four modified derivatives were separated by h.p.l.c. The results of amino acid analysis and sequence determination revealed that only Tyr-7, Tyr-70 and Tyr-77 were modified in notexin. Modification of Tyr-7 resulted in decreases in lethal toxicity and enzymic activity by 70.2% and 22.7% respectively. Conversely, modification of Tyr-77 caused a 1.8-fold increase in enzymic activity, in contrast with the loss of 52.5% of lethality. A drastic decrease in lethal toxicity was observed when both Tyr-7 and Tyr-70 were modified, whereas the enzymic activity decreased by only 35.8%. Likewise, the derivative in which Tyr-7 and Tyr-77 were modified retained 44.4% of enzymic activity, but showed a marked decrease in lethal toxicity. It is obvious that modification of tyrosine residues causes a decrease in lethal toxicity of notexin, which does not directly correlate with the change in enzymic activity. On the other hand, the antigenicity of NBS derivatives remained unchanged. The modified derivatives retained their affinity for Ca2+, indicating that the modified tyrosine residues did not participate in Ca2+ binding. These results indicate that modification of tyrosine residues can differentially influence the enzymic activity and lethal toxicity of notexin, and suggest that notexin might possess two functional sites, one being responsible for the catalytic activity and the other associated with its lethal effect.
Project description:Based on specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Tlayua Formation of Mexico, we describe a new genus and species of Halecomorphi, Cipactlichthysscutatus gen. et sp. nov, which exhibits several diagnostic characters such as the dermal bones and the scales with ganoin and highly ornamented by numerous tubercles and ridges; parietal slightly longer than wide with approximately the same length as the frontal; jaws extending far, below the posterior orbital margin, reaching the posterior third of the postorbital plate; maxilla with a convexly rounded posterior margin; pectoral fin margins slightly convex; first ray of pectoral fin very long, reaching the posterior edge of the pelvic fin; about 37 preural vertebrae and 7 Ural centra; a series of hypertrophied scales just posterior to the cleithrum; arrangement of flank scales with two rows of deep scales; a series of dorsal and ventral scutes forming the dorsal and ventral midline, between the dorsal and anal fins and the caudal fin. A phylogenetic analysis including two outgroups and eleven neopterygians confirmed the monophyly of the Holostei as well as the monophyly of the Halecomorphi, although this last clade is weakly supported. Cipactlichthysscutatus was hypothesised as the sister-group of the (Ionoscopiformes + Amiiformes).
Project description:Like most ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), pipefishes (Syngnathoidei) feed by suction. Most pipefishes reach their prey by a rapid dorso-rotation of the head. In the present study, we analysed the feeding kinematics of the razor fish, Centriscus scutatus, and of the greater pipefish, Syngnathus acus in detail. We found capture times of as little as 4-6ms for C. scutatus and 6-8ms for S. acus. We then hypothesized that the long snout of pipefishes is optimal for such fast feeding. To test this, we implemented in a mathematical model the following considerations. To reach the prey as fast as possible, a low moment of inertia increases the head's angular speed, whereas a long snout decreases the angle over which the head must be turned. The model accurately predicted the snout lengths of a number of pipefishes. We found that the optimal snout length, with which a prey will be reached fastest, is inversely related to its cross-section. In spite of the small cross-section, the development of a long snout can be an evolutionary advantage because this reduces the time to approach the prey.