The serum response factor (SRF) activates expression of several genes in response to growth factors present in serum. SRF also regulates the expression of tissue-specific genes, including those in vertebrate muscles. An SRF-binding site (CArG box) present in the Artemia franciscana Actin403 promoter was shown to be necessary for transcriptional activity in cultured cells from Drosophila melanog...

Extinction of populations occurs naturally, but global extinction rates are accelerating, making understanding extinction a high priority for conservation. Extinction in experimental populations of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) was measured to assess hypothesized extinction processes. Greater initial population size, greater maximum population size supported by the environment, and lower v...

Females of the crustacean Artemia franciscana produce either motile nauplii or gastrula stage embryos enclosed in a shell impermeable to nonvolatile compounds and known as cysts. The encysted embryos enter diapause, a state of greatly reduced metabolism and profound stress tolerance. Artemin, a diapause-specific ferritin homolog in cysts has molecular chaperone activity in vitro. Artemin repres...

The accumulation of bacteria in Brachionus plicatilis and Artemia franciscana during a Ž . short-term incubation was quantified using immunocolony blot ICB and an enzyme-linked Ž . immunosorbent assay ELISA . Four bacterial strains, isolated from turbot and halibut, were Ž 7 y1. grazed effectively by both species when given at high concentrations G5=10 bacteria ml . B. plicatilis accumulated 21...

Although there is growing evidence that metals can be toxic to various aquatic species, there is still insufficient knowledge to integrate this information in environmental risk assessment procedures. In this study, we have investigated bioaccumulation and effects of nickel and vanadium on mortality and growth of Artemia urmiana and Artemia franciscana. The in 24 h of A. urmiana and A. franci...

Evaluation of apoptotic processes downstream of the mitochondrion reveals caspase-9- and low levels of caspase-3-like activities in partly purified extracts of Artemia franciscana embryos. However, in contrast to experiments with extracts of human hepatoma cells, cytochrome c fails to activate caspase-3 or -9 in extracts from A. franciscana. Furthermore, caspase-9 activity is sensitive to exoge...

Since Darwin's time, waterbirds have been considered an important vector for the dispersal of continental aquatic invertebrates. Bird movements have facilitated the worldwide invasion of the American brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, transporting cysts (diapausing eggs), and favouring rapid range expansions from introduction sites. Here we address the impact of bird migratory flyways on the pop...