Objective: To establish that human adipocytes express functional glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptors and in particular the regulation of GIP receptor (GIPR) expression in the context of the dynamic process of adipocyte differentiation. Design: A combination of semiquantitative real-time PCR and measurement of GIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation was used to establish the expression and functional coupling of GIPRs during in vitro differentiation of human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) preadipocytes. Results: Semiquantitative real-time PCR revealed that GIPR expression was substantially increased by day 4 of differentiation, reaching a maximum around 6-8 days (B200-fold increase above undifferentiated cells, n ¼ 2). We also analysed the expression of the adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) to relate GIPR expression to a molecular differentiation marker of adipogenesis. FABP4 expression was barely detectable in undifferentiated cells. However, following exposure to adipogenic medium, FABP4 expression gradually increased, with a maximal expression level around 10 days (B1 600 000-fold increase above undifferentiated cells, n ¼ 2). Thus, the increases in GIPR mRNA during adipogenesis occur earlier than FABP4, suggesting that it might represent a gene expressed early in terminal differentiation and thus plays a role in fat droplet formation. A unit of 1 mM GIP failed to raise intracellular cAMP levels above basal levels in undifferentiated cells (n ¼ 3). In stark contrast, the 9-day differentiated cells produced a robust concentration-dependent increase in cAMP accumulation following stimulation with GIP, with an EC 50 value of 2.3 nM (n ¼ 3). The maximal response represented a 9-34-fold increase in cAMP accumulation above basal levels. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that GIPRs are expressed by human adipocytes, both GIPR mRNA and functional receptor expression being present in differentiated adipocytes but not in preadipocytes. Further investigation into the functional effects of GIP on differentiated SGBS cells could help towards understanding exactly how GIP regulates fat accumulation in human adipocytes.

A small family of herbaceous, somewhat succulent, glabrous, ( ?dextrorsely) twining vines, lax herbs [or subshrubs?] producing annual shoots from perennial, fleshy rhizomes or tubers; leaves fleshy, alternate, exstipulate, sessile or petioled; inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme, spike, or panicle of numerous small flowers, each subtended by a small bract; bracts of the pedicel 2, small, opposite, membranaceous or fleshy, caducous or persistent; flowers regular, bisexual [or unisexual]; sepals (involucral bracts?) 2, free or basally connate; petals (tepals?) 5, membranaceous or slightly fleshy, basally connate to form a shallow floral cup, aestivation quincuncial or imbricate; stamens 5, inserted on lip of floral cup or on bases of the petals; filaments [erect or] recurved in bud; anthers 4-locular, insertion of filament basal or versatile; gynoecium of 3 united carpels; ovary superior, unilocular; ovule 1, basal, campylotropous to anacampylotropous; styles 3, basally united, stigmas slender, + bifid [or capitate to clavate, or style 1 with capitate stigma entire to 3-lobed]; fruit a utricle [or berry], included in the perianth; seed 1, with copious endosperm; embryo annular [or spirally twisted]. Tyee cenus: Basella L A family of four or five genera containing 15-20 species, most native to the New World tropics or the Andean regions of South America. Basella, including about five species and thought to have originated in the tropics of the Old World, has probably achieved its present pantropic distribution through cultivation. Of the New World genera, Tournonia Mog. and Ullucus Loz. are monotypic, Anredera Juss. (sensu stricto) is generally considered to be monotypic, and Boussingaultia HBK. consists of 10-15 species. Amredera and Boussingaultia were united by Baillon, and more recently by van Steenis, under Anredera. The family is represented in the southeastern United States only by a single species of Anredera (A. leptostachys), of the tribe Boussingaultieae Benth. & Hook. The genera of Basellaceae fall into two natural groups: those with spirally twisted embryos and stamen filaments erect in the bud (Basedla, Tournonia, Ullucus) and those with annular embryos and filaments out-JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM [vor. 50 1. Anredera A. L. de Jussieu, Gen. Pl. 84. 1789.8 * See Fic. 4 for a photograph of the chromosomes of this plant.Weaver, Richard E. 1969. "Studies in the North American genus Fothergilla

To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV), Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV), and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) infecting C. melo var. dudaim. Coupled with previous observations of SqVYV and CuLCrV infection of M. charantia, our current results are further evidence of the importance of cucurbit weeds as reservoirs for all three recently detected whitefly-transmitted viruses plaguing Florida cucurbit crops. Accepted for publication 11 September 2009. Published 18 November 2009.

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Chromosome numbers for 13 species in four genera of neotropical Gcntianaccae are reported for the first time. The chromosome numbers suggest a relationship between Symbolanthus, Macrocarpaca, and Chelonanthiis and support the separation of Lisianthius and Chelonanthus.The Gentianaceae is a moderate-sized family, comprising approximately 800 species (Engler & Diels, 1936). Their distrihution is essentially worldwide. In many cases generic limits within the family are poorly defined, and intergeneric relationships are poorly understood. Particularly troublesome are those approximately 100 neotropical members of the family which are supposedly related to Lisianthius P. Browne. In accordance with the genera accepted by Gilg (1895) this would include the following: Macrocarpaea Gilg, Pagaea Griseb., Helia Mart., Irlhachia Mart., Lehmaniella Gilg, Adenolisianthus Gilg, Calulisianthus Gilg, Chelonanthus Gilg, V iirdieanthus Gilg, Lagcnanthns Gilg, Pvushyanthus Gilg, Symholanthus Don, and Lisianthius P. Browne. Taxonomic studies of this group of genera have been hampered not only by the paucity of specimens, but also by their miserable condition. Macrocarpaea is the only genus of moderate size for which a reasonably complete monograph (Ewan, 1948) is available.With the exception of Gentiana and its segregates, little is known about the cytology of the family. There are apparently no published chromosome counts for anv of the lisianthioid genera. Counts are reported here for the first time for thirteen species in four of the genera. The standard squash technique was used: Flower buds were fixed in modified Carnoy's solution, stored in 70% ethanol, and the pollen mother cells were subsequently squashed in acetocarminc. The results are listed in Table 1.According to the most comprehensive treatment of the Gentianaceae (Gilg, 1895), Lisianthius and Macrocarpaca belong to the tribe Genlianeae, subtribe Tachiinae, while Chelonanthus and Symholanthus belong to the tribe Helieae. In Gilg's treatment the Gentianeae and the Helieae, as well as most other major groupings within the family, were delimited on the basis of pollen grain morphology. Those genera whose pollen grains are united into tetrads were referred to the Helieae; all other genera supposedly are characterized by having separate pollen grains.The findings of more recent authors suggest that Gilg's system is probably inadequate. Ewan (1948) argued that the genera most closely related to Macro-iMost of the field work involved in this study was supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB-6393. I thank Dr.

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