Spontaneous establishing of cross-modal stimulus equivalence in a beluga whale.

Beluga whales use calls to convey various information to group members. Is this communication similar to humans? We addressed this question by using the framework of stimulus equivalence. Stimulus equivalence consists of three phases: if the animal is trained to match A to B and B to C, symmetry is demonstrated by matching BA and CB, transitivity by matching AC, and equivalence by matching CA. We tested the spontaneous establishment of cross-modal stimulus equivalence between visual and auditory symbols in a beluga whale nicknamed Nack. Nack could make symmetrical choices in novel objects untrained. Moreover, visual/auditory cross-modal transitivity was formed spontaneously. Nack succeeded in six tasks, including an untrained task concerning stimulus equivalence. We conclude that Nack spontaneously formed cross-modal stimulus equivalence between visual and auditory symbols. Cross-modal stimulus equivalence was considered to exist only in humans because of linguistic faculty; however, Nack exhibited the same understanding as humans.

Divergent Synthesis of Polymethoxylated 4-Aryl-2-quinolones.

Polymethoxylated 4-aryl-2-quinolones were synthesized from the corresponding (o-aminophenyl)propiolates via Cu-catalyzed hydroarylation and subsequent deprotection/lactam formation. Selective iodination of the C3 position of the product followed by coupling reactions of the resulting 3-iodinated 4-aryl-2-quinolone afforded 3-substituted-4-aryl-2-quinolones. Moreover, the N-benzyl protecting group was successfully replaced with other polyoxygenated benzyl groups.

Development of an azanoradamantane-type nitroxyl radical catalyst for class-selective oxidation of alcohols.

The development of 1,5-dimethyl-9-azanoradamantane N-oxyl (DMN-AZADO; 1,5-dimethyl-Nor-AZADO, 2) as an efficient catalyst for the selective oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary alcohols is described. The compact and rigid structure of the azanoradamantane nucleus confers potent catalytic ability to DMN-AZADO (2). A variety of hindered primary alcohols such as neopentyl primary alcohols were efficiently oxidized by DMN-AZADO (2) to the corresponding aldehydes, whereas secondary alcohols remained intact. DMN-AZADO (2) also has high catalytic efficiency for one-pot oxidation from primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids in the presence of secondary alcohols and for oxidative lactonization from diols.

Amino acid sequence variations of signaling lymphocyte activation molecule and mortality caused by morbillivirus infection in cetaceans.

Morbillivirus infection is a severe threat to marine mammals. Mass die-offs caused by this infection have repeatedly occurred in bottlenose dolphins (Turiops truncatus) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), both of which belong to the family Delphinidae, but not in other cetaceans. However, it is unknown whether sensitivity to the virus varies among cetacean species. The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) is a receptor on host cells that allows morbillivirus invasion and propagation. Its immunoguloblin variable domain-like (V) region provides an interface for the virus hemagglutinin (H) protein. In this study, variations in the amino acid residues of the V region of 26 cetacean species, covering almost all cetacean genera, were examined. Three-dimensional (3D) models of them were generated in a homology model using the crystal structure of the marmoset SLAM and measles virus H protein complex as a template. The 3D models showed 32 amino acid residues on the interface that possibly bind the morbillivirus. Among the cetacean species studied, variations were found at six of the residues. Bottlenose and striped dolphins have substitutions at five positions (E68G, I74V, R90H, V126I, and Q130H) compared with those of baleen whales. Three residues (at positions 68, 90 and 130) were found to alternate electric charges, possibly causing changes in affinity for the virus. This study shows a new approach based on receptor structure for assessing potential vulnerability to viral infection. This method may be useful for assessing the risk of morbillivirus infection in wildlife.

Cetacean Toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 2, and possible cetacean-specific responses against Gram-negative bacteria.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) are essential for recognizing the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria. We determined the sequences of cDNAs encoding TLR4 and MD-2 from cetaceans and generated three-dimensional (3D) models for a better understanding of their modes of interaction and LPS recognition. The 3D reconstructions showed that cetacean TLR4 and MD-2 formed a horseshoe-like structure comprised of parallel ß-strands and a ß-cup structure consisting of two anti-parallel ß-sheets, respectively. The (TLR4-MD-2)(2) duplex-heterodimer was shown to form a symmetrical structure. Comparison with the interfaces of the complexes in other mammals revealed that cetacean TLR4s have some amino acid residue substitutions involved in duplex-heterodimer formation and in species variation for LPS recognition. These substitutions in the changed amino acid residues may alter the interaction among TLR4, MD-2, and LPS and modify the TLR4/MD-2 immunological responses.

Host-virus specificity of morbilliviruses predicted by structural modeling of the marine mammal SLAM, a receptor.

Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) is thought to be a major cellular receptor for high-host specificity morbilliviruses, which cause devastating and highly infectious diseases in mammals. We determined the sequences of SLAM cDNA from five species of marine mammal, including two cetaceans, two pinnipeds and one sirenian, and generated three-dimensional models to understand the receptor-virus interaction. Twenty-one amino acid residues in the immunoglobulin-like V domains of the SLAMs were shown to bind the viral protein. Notably, the sequences from pinnipeds and dogs were highly homologous, which is consistent with the fact that canine distemper virus was previously shown to cause a mass die-off of seals. Among these twenty-one residues, eight (63, 66, 68, 72, 84, 119, 121 and 130) were shared by animal groups susceptible to a particular morbillivirus species. This set of residues appears to determine host-virus specificity and may be useful for risk estimation for morbilliviruses.