Effect of governance structure on conservation land acquisition in California over the last 100 years

The process of expanding a network of conservation areas includes identifying valuable areas for conservation, devising policies and implementing conservation actions on the ground. While the first two components are often analyzed in conservation science, the literature seldom focuses on the implementation process, particularly, how the governance structure acts as driver of conservation outcomes. In this paper, we analyze the process of development of the conservation network in California between 1910 and 2010 to test whether governance structure explains the variation in the attribution of land for conservation over time. We find that governance structure does play an important role in the development of the conservation network over the century. We find evidence that polycentric and diverse governance structures result in better conservation outcomes (i.e. more area of land acquired for conservation). Arrangements that included multiple levels of agencies (e.g. Federal, State, and County) better predict the area of conservation land per decade. Location of conservation action per county had an effect on conservation outcomes over the last decades, and we also find a strong negative effect of per capita income in the implementation of conservation actions. These results suggest that it is possible to leverage governance structure to meet future conservation challenges through the maintenance of a diverse and polycentric governance structure.

Nucleotide sequence and in vitro expression of rubella virus 24S subgenomic messenger RNA encoding the structural proteins E1, E2 and C

The complete nucleotide sequence of the 24S subgenomic mRNA of wild-type M33 strain rubella virus has been determined. This RNA is 3,383 nucleotides in length excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tract. After the three multiple in-phase termination codons clustered in the 5' terminus of this RNA, there are 81 nucleotides of nontranslated nucleic acid followed by a reading frame of 2,978 nucleotides that encodes the 110 kD precursor of the structural proteins. The 3'-untranslated region is 263 nucleotides. The 110 kD polyprotein is processed to produce nucleocapsid C, the glycoproteins E2 and E1 in that order. Sites of post-translational cleavage to produce E2 and E1 were located using available N-terminal amino acid sequences. RNAs synthesized by transcription in vitro are effective messengers in the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. Post-translational processing of the structural proteins was observed in the cell-free system supplemented with microsomes from dog pancreas.

Structural analysis of a new GC-specific insertion element IS186

A new insertion sequence, IS186, has been identified from Escherichia coli and sequenced. It contains 1336 base pairs with a terminal inverted repeat of 22 nucleotides. A long open reading frame, from an ATG codon at position 55 to a TAG termination codon at 1327, could code for a polypeptide of 424 amino acids. This element recognizes GC-rich regions as target sites for insertion.

Characterization of the ribosomal RNA gene clusters in Halobacterium cutirubrum

We present a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the structure and organization of a cloned ribosomal RNA gene cluster from the archaebacterial species Halobacterium cutirubrum. With the exception of a region in the middle of the 23 S rRNA gene, the DNA sequence of the entire gene cluster has been determined. The gene organization is similar to that found in typical eubacteria with the 16, 23, and 5 S genes occupying the proximal, middle, and distal positions, respectively. There appears to be no equivalent to the eucaryotic 5.8 S gene in H. cutirubrum. The cluster also contains two putative tRNA genes, an alanine tRNA gene in the 16-23 S intergenic space, and a cysteine tRNA gene distal to the 5 S rRNA gene. The 16 and 23 S rRNA genes are surrounded by long nearly perfect inverted repeat sequences which are presumably utilized along with other structural features of the RNA for the processing of 16 and 23 S rRNA from a large precursor transcript. The 5' sequence flanking the 16 S rRNA gene contains two imperfect copies, followed by three perfect copies of a bipartite direct-repeat unit. The sequence AAGTAA, believed to be an important component of the Halobacterium promotor, is present in the highly conserved portion of the direct repeat unit. In the 3' region flanking the 5 S rRNA gene there are sequences, a short inverted repeat followed by T5, and a G/C-rich region followed by an A/T-rich region, which may function in transcription termination. Genomic southern hybridization experiments clearly indicate that the ribosomal RNA genes are unique single-copy DNA in H. cutirubrum.

Insertions of transposon Tn5 into ribosomal protein PNA polymerase operons

The genetic organization and interrelationships between the two ribosomal protein transcription units (the L11 and L10 operons) from near 89 min on the Escherichia coli chromosome were studied by using insertional mutations generated by the kanamycin-resistant transposable element Tn5. The polar effects of Tn5 insertions on the expression of the L11, L1, L10, and L12 ribosomal protein genes and the beta RNA polymerase subunit gene were examined (i) by the level of beta-galactosidase activity generated from L10-lacZ and beta-lacZ gene fusions, (ii) by direct sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the proteins specified by plasmid ribosomal protein genes in UV-irradiated maxicells, and (iii) by urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of plasmid- and chromosome-specified L12 protein. The results confirmed the organization of these genes into two transcription units as follows: PL11, rplK (L11), rplA (L1), PL10, rplJ (L10), rplL (L12), rpoB (beta). . .; they also localized the position of the PL10 promoter within an 80-nucleotide region near the end of the L1 gene. The results also support the idea that the translational regulatory proteins for the L11 and L10 operons are L1 and L10, respectively, and that the expression of the L12 gene is closely linked to L10 gene expression.