@article{TeraoGarattiniRomaoetal.2020,
author = {Terao, Mineko and Garattini, Enrico and Rom{\~a}o, Maria Jo{\~a}o and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke},
title = {Evolution, expression, and substrate specificities of aldehyde oxidase enzymes in eukaryotes},
series = {The journal of biological chemistry},
volume = {295},
journal = {The journal of biological chemistry},
number = {16},
publisher = {American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology},
address = {Rockville},
issn = {0021-9258},
doi = {10.1074/jbc.REV119.007741},
pages = {5377 -- 5389},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Aldehyde oxidases (AOXs) are a small group of enzymes belonging to the larger family of molybdo-flavoenzymes, along with the well-characterized xanthine oxidoreductase. The two major types of reactions that are catalyzed by AOXs are the hydroxylation of heterocycles and the oxidation of aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acids. Different animal species have different complements of AOX genes. The two extremes are represented in humans and rodents; whereas the human genome contains a single active gene (AOX1), those of rodents, such as mice, are endowed with four genes (Aox1-4), clustering on the same chromosome, each encoding a functionally distinct AOX enzyme. It still remains enigmatic why some species have numerous AOX enzymes, whereas others harbor only one functional enzyme. At present, little is known about the physiological relevance of AOX enzymes in humans and their additional forms in other mammals. These enzymes are expressed in the liver and play an important role in the metabolisms of drugs and other xenobiotics. In this review, we discuss the expression, tissue-specific roles, and substrate specificities of the different mammalian AOX enzymes and highlight insights into their physiological roles.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KunstmannEngstroemWehleetal.2020,
author = {Kunstmann, Ruth Sonja and Engstr{\"o}m, Olof and Wehle, Marko and Widmalm, G{\"o}ran and Santer, Mark and Barbirz, Stefanie},
title = {Increasing the affinity of an O-Antigen polysaccharide binding site in Shigella flexneri bacteriophage Sf6 tailspike protein},
series = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
volume = {26},
journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal},
number = {32},
publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
address = {Weinheim},
issn = {0947-6539},
doi = {10.1002/chem.202000495},
pages = {7263 -- 7273},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Broad and unspecific use of antibiotics accelerates spread of resistances. Sensitive and robust pathogen detection is thus important for a more targeted application. Bacteriophages contain a large repertoire of pathogen-binding proteins. These tailspike proteins (TSP) often bind surface glycans and represent a promising design platform for specific pathogen sensors. We analysed bacteriophage Sf6 TSP that recognizes the O-polysaccharide of dysentery-causing Shigella flexneri to develop variants with increased sensitivity for sensor applications. Ligand polyrhamnose backbone conformations were obtained from 2D H-1,H-1-trNOESY NMR utilizing methine-methine and methine-methyl correlations. They agreed well with conformations obtained from molecular dynamics (MD), validating the method for further predictions. In a set of mutants, MD predicted ligand flexibilities that were in good correlation with binding strength as confirmed on immobilized S. flexneri O-polysaccharide (PS) with surface plasmon resonance. In silico approaches combined with rapid screening on PS surfaces hence provide valuable strategies for TSP-based pathogen sensor design.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ThirumalaikumarGorkaSchulzetal.2020,
author = {Thirumalaikumar, Venkatesh P. and Gorka, Michal and Schulz, Karina and Masclaux-Daubresse, Celine and Sampathkumar, Arun and Skirycz, Aleksandra and Vierstra, Richard D. and Balazadeh, Salma},
title = {Selective autophagy regulates heat stress memory in Arabidopsis by NBR1-mediated targeting of HSP90.1 and ROF1},
series = {Autophagy},
volume = {17},
journal = {Autophagy},
number = {9},
publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
address = {Abingdon},
issn = {1554-8635},
doi = {10.1080/15548627.2020.1820778},
pages = {2184 -- 2199},
year = {2020},
abstract = {In nature, plants are constantly exposed to many transient, but recurring, stresses. Thus, to complete their life cycles, plants require a dynamic balance between capacities to recover following cessation of stress and maintenance of stress memory. Recently, we uncovered a new functional role for macroautophagy/autophagy in regulating recovery from heat stress (HS) and resetting cellular memory of HS inArabidopsis thaliana. Here, we demonstrated that NBR1 (next to BRCA1 gene 1) plays a crucial role as a receptor for selective autophagy during recovery from HS. Immunoblot analysis and confocal microscopy revealed that levels of the NBR1 protein, NBR1-labeled puncta, and NBR1 activity are all higher during the HS recovery phase than before. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis of proteins interacting with NBR1 and comparative proteomic analysis of annbr1-null mutant and wild-type plants identified 58 proteins as potential novel targets of NBR1. Cellular, biochemical and functional genetic studies confirmed that NBR1 interacts with HSP90.1 (heat shock protein 90.1) and ROF1 (rotamase FKBP 1), a member of the FKBP family, and mediates their degradation by autophagy, which represses the response to HS by attenuating the expression ofHSPgenes regulated by the HSFA2 transcription factor. Accordingly, loss-of-function mutation ofNBR1resulted in a stronger HS memory phenotype. Together, our results provide new insights into the mechanistic principles by which autophagy regulates plant response to recurrent HS.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LeinsBanitzGrimmetal.2020,
author = {Leins, Johannes A. and Banitz, Thomas and Grimm, Volker and Drechsler, Martin},
title = {High-resolution PVA along large environmental gradients to model the combined effects of climate change and land use timing},
series = {Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and systems ecology},
volume = {440},
journal = {Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and systems ecology},
publisher = {Elsevier},
address = {Amsterdam},
issn = {0304-3800},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109355},
pages = {15},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Both climate change and land use regimes affect the viability of populations, but they are often studied separately. Moreover, population viability analyses (PVAs) often ignore the effects of large environmental gradients and use temporal resolutions that are too coarse to take into account that different stages of a population's life cycle may be affected differently by climate change. Here, we present the High-resolution Large Environmental Gradient (HiLEG) model and apply it in a PVA with daily resolution based on daily climate projections for Northwest Germany. We used the large marsh grasshopper (LMG) as the target species and investigated (1) the effects of climate change on the viability and spatial distribution of the species, (2) the influence of the timing of grassland mowing on the species and (3) the interaction between the effects of climate change and grassland mowing. The stageand cohort-based model was run for the spatially differentiated environmental conditions temperature and soil moisture across the whole study region. We implemented three climate change scenarios and analyzed the population dynamics for four consecutive 20-year periods. Climate change alone would lead to an expansion of the regions suitable for the LMG, as warming accelerates development and due to reduced drought stress. However, in combination with land use, the timing of mowing was crucial, as this disturbance causes a high mortality rate in the aboveground life stages. Assuming the same date of mowing throughout the region, the impact on viability varied greatly between regions due to the different climate conditions. The regional negative effects of the mowing date can be divided into five phases: (1) In early spring, the populations were largely unaffected in all the regions; (2) between late spring and early summer, they were severely affected only in warm regions; (3) in summer, all the populations were severely affected so that they could hardly survive; (4) between late summer and early autumn, they were severely affected in cold regions; and (5) in autumn, the populations were equally affected across all regions. The duration and start of each phase differed slightly depending on the climate change scenario and simulation period, but overall, they showed the same pattern. Our model can be used to identify regions of concern and devise management recommendations. The model can be adapted to the life cycle of different target species, climate projections and disturbance regimes. We show with our adaption of the HiLEG model that high-resolution PVAs and applications on large environmental gradients can be reconciled to develop conservation strategies capable of dealing with multiple stressors.},
language = {en}
}
@article{HornBecherJohstetal.2020,
author = {Horn, Juliane and Becher, Matthias A. and Johst, Karin and Kennedy, Peter J. and Osborne, Juliet L. and Radchuk, Viktoriia and Grimm, Volker},
title = {Honey bee colony performance affected by crop diversity and farmland structure},
series = {Ecological applications},
volume = {31},
journal = {Ecological applications},
number = {1},
publisher = {Wiley Periodicals LLC},
address = {Washington DC},
issn = {1939-5582},
doi = {10.1002/eap.2216},
pages = {1 -- 22},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Forage availability has been suggested as one driver of the observed decline in honey bees. However, little is known about the effects of its spatiotemporal variation on colony success. We present a modeling framework for assessing honey bee colony viability in cropping systems. Based on two real farmland structures, we developed a landscape generator to design cropping systems varying in crop species identity, diversity, and relative abundance. The landscape scenarios generated were evaluated using the existing honey bee colony model BEEHAVE, which links foraging to in-hive dynamics. We thereby explored how different cropping systems determine spatiotemporal forage availability and, in turn, honey bee colony viability (e.g., time to extinction, TTE) and resilience (indicated by, e.g., brood mortality). To assess overall colony viability, we developed metrics,P(H)andP(P,)which quantified how much nectar and pollen provided by a cropping system per year was converted into a colony's adult worker population. Both crop species identity and diversity determined the temporal continuity in nectar and pollen supply and thus colony viability. Overall farmland structure and relative crop abundance were less important, but details mattered. For monocultures and for four-crop species systems composed of cereals, oilseed rape, maize, and sunflower,P(H)andP(P)were below the viability threshold. Such cropping systems showed frequent, badly timed, and prolonged forage gaps leading to detrimental cascading effects on life stages and in-hive work force, which critically reduced colony resilience. Four-crop systems composed of rye-grass-dandelion pasture, trefoil-grass pasture, sunflower, and phacelia ensured continuous nectar and pollen supply resulting in TTE > 5 yr, andP(H)(269.5 kg) andP(P)(108 kg) being above viability thresholds for 5 yr. Overall, trefoil-grass pasture, oilseed rape, buckwheat, and phacelia improved the temporal continuity in forage supply and colony's viability. Our results are hypothetical as they are obtained from simplified landscape settings, but they nevertheless match empirical observations, in particular the viability threshold. Our framework can be used to assess the effects of cropping systems on honey bee viability and to develop land-use strategies that help maintain pollination services by avoiding prolonged and badly timed forage gaps.},
language = {en}
}
@article{WitzelAbuRishaAlbersetal.2020,
author = {Witzel, Katja and Abu Risha, Marua and Albers, Philip and B{\"o}rnke, Frederik and Hanschen, Franziska S.},
title = {Corrigendum : Identification and characterization of three epithiospecifier protein isoforms in Brassica oleracea / Witzel, Katja; Abu Risha, Marua; Albers, Philip; B{\"o}rnke, Frederike; Hanschen, Franziska S. - Lausanne: Frontiers Media, 2019. - Frontiers in plant science : FPLS. - 10 (2019) art. 1552. - doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01552},
series = {Frontiers in plant science : FPLS},
volume = {11},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science : FPLS},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {1664-462X},
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2020.00523},
pages = {2},
year = {2020},
language = {en}
}
@article{MasigolKhodaparastMostowfizadehGhalamfarsaetal.2020,
author = {Masigol, Hossein and Khodaparast, Seyed Akbar and Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa, Reza and Rojas-Jimenez, Keilor and Woodhouse, Jason Nicholas and Neubauer, Darshan and Grossart, Hans-Peter},
title = {Taxonomical and functional diversity of Saprolegniales in Anzali lagoon, Iran},
series = {Aquatic Ecology},
volume = {54},
journal = {Aquatic Ecology},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science},
address = {Dordrecht},
issn = {1573-5125},
doi = {10.1007/s10452-019-09745-w},
pages = {323 -- 336},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Studies on the diversity, distribution and ecological role of Saprolegniales (Oomycota) in freshwater ecosystems are currently receiving attention due to a greater understanding of their role in carbon cycling in various aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we characterized several Saprolegniales species isolated from Anzali lagoon, Gilan province, Iran, using morphological and molecular methods. Four species of Saprolegnia were identified, including S. anisospora and S. diclina as first reports for Iran, as well as Achlya strains, which were closely related to A. bisexualis, A. debaryana and A. intricata. Evaluation of the ligno-, cellulo- and chitinolytic activities was performed using plate assay methods. Most of the Saprolegniales isolates were obtained in autumn, and nearly 50\% of the strains showed chitinolytic and cellulolytic activities. However, only a few Saprolegniales strains showed lignolytic activities. This study has important implications for better understanding the ecological niche of oomycetes, and to differentiate them from morphologically similar, but functionally different aquatic fungi in freshwater ecosystems.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MoradianRochLendleinetal.2020,
author = {Moradian, Hanieh and Roch, Toralf and Lendlein, Andreas and Gossen, Manfred},
title = {mRNA transfection-induced activation of primary human monocytes and macrophages},
series = {Scientific reports},
volume = {10},
journal = {Scientific reports},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
address = {London},
issn = {2045-2322},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-60506-4},
pages = {1 -- 15},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Monocytes and macrophages are key players in maintaining immune homeostasis. Identifying strategies to manipulate their functions via gene delivery is thus of great interest for immunological research and biomedical applications. We set out to establish conditions for mRNA transfection in hard-to-transfect primary human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages due to the great potential of gene expression from in vitro transcribed mRNA for modulating cell phenotypes. mRNA doses, nucleotide modifications, and different carriers were systematically explored in order to optimize high mRNA transfer rates while minimizing cell stress and immune activation. We selected three commercially available mRNA transfection reagents including liposome and polymer-based formulations, covering different application spectra. Our results demonstrate that liposomal reagents can particularly combine high gene transfer rates with only moderate immune cell activation. For the latter, use of specific nucleotide modifications proved essential. In addition to improving efficacy of gene transfer, our findings address discrete aspects of innate immune activation using cytokine and surface marker expression, as well as cell viability as key readouts to judge overall transfection efficiency. The impact of this study goes beyond optimizing transfection conditions for immune cells, by providing a framework for assessing new gene carrier systems for monocyte and macrophage, tailored to specific applications.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ObbardShiRobertsetal.2020,
author = {Obbard, Darren J. and Shi, Mang and Roberts, Katherine E. and Longdon, Ben and Dennis, Alice B.},
title = {A new lineage of segmented RNA viruses infecting animals},
series = {Virus Evolution},
volume = {6},
journal = {Virus Evolution},
number = {1},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {2057-1577},
doi = {10.1093/ve/vez061},
pages = {1 -- 10},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Metagenomic sequencing has revolutionised our knowledge of virus diversity, with new virus sequences being reported faster than ever before. However, virus discovery from metagenomic sequencing usually depends on detectable homology: without a sufficiently close relative, so-called 'dark' virus sequences remain unrecognisable. An alternative approach is to use virus-identification methods that do not depend on detecting homology, such as virus recognition by host antiviral immunity. For example, virus-derived small RNAs have previously been used to propose 'dark' virus sequences associated with the Drosophilidae (Diptera). Here, we combine published Drosophila data with a comprehensive search of transcriptomic sequences and selected meta-transcriptomic datasets to identify a completely new lineage of segmented positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses that we provisionally refer to as the Quenyaviruses. Each of the five segments contains a single open reading frame, with most encoding proteins showing no detectable similarity to characterised viruses, and one sharing a small number of residues with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of single- and double-stranded RNA viruses. Using these sequences, we identify close relatives in approximately 20 arthropods, including insects, crustaceans, spiders, and a myriapod. Using a more conserved sequence from the putative polymerase, we further identify relatives in meta-transcriptomic datasets from gut, gill, and lung tissues of vertebrates, reflecting infections of vertebrates or of their associated parasites. Our data illustrate the utility of small RNAs to detect viruses with limited sequence conservation, and provide robust evidence for a new deeply divergent and phylogenetically distinct RNA virus lineage.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ZwaagHorstBlaženovićetal.2020,
author = {Zwaag, Jelle and Horst, Rob ter and Blaženović, Ivana and St{\"o}ßel, Daniel and Ratter, Jacqueline and Worseck, Josephine M. and Schauer, Nicolas and Stienstra, Rinke and Netea, Mihai G. and Jahn, Dieter and Pickkers, Peter and Kox, Matthijs},
title = {Involvement of lactate and pyruvate in the anti-inflammatory effects exerted by voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system},
series = {Metabolites},
volume = {10},
journal = {Metabolites},
number = {4},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2218-1989},
doi = {10.3390/metabo10040148},
pages = {1 -- 18},
year = {2020},
abstract = {We recently demonstrated that the sympathetic nervous system can be voluntarily activated following a training program consisting of cold exposure, breathing exercises, and meditation. This resulted in profound attenuation of the systemic inflammatory response elicited by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Herein, we assessed whether this training program affects the plasma metabolome and if these changes are linked to the immunomodulatory effects observed. A total of 224 metabolites were identified in plasma obtained from 24 healthy male volunteers at six timepoints, of which 98 were significantly altered following LPS administration. Effects of the training program were most prominent shortly after initiation of the acquired breathing exercises but prior to LPS administration, and point towards increased activation of the Cori cycle. Elevated concentrations of lactate and pyruvate in trained individuals correlated with enhanced levels of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10. In vitro validation experiments revealed that co-incubation with lactate and pyruvate enhances IL-10 production and attenuates the release of pro-inflammatory IL-1 beta and IL-6 by LPS-stimulated leukocytes. Our results demonstrate that practicing the breathing exercises acquired during the training program results in increased activity of the Cori cycle. Furthermore, this work uncovers an important role of lactate and pyruvate in the anti-inflammatory phenotype observed in trained subjects.},
language = {en}
}
@article{AmenNagelHedtetal.2020,
author = {Amen, Rahma and Nagel, Rebecca and Hedt, Maximilian and Kirschbaum, Frank and Tiedemann, Ralph},
title = {Morphological differentiation in African weakly electric fish (genus Campylomormyrus) relates to substrate preferences},
series = {Evolutionary Ecology},
volume = {34},
journal = {Evolutionary Ecology},
number = {3},
publisher = {Springer Science},
address = {Dordrecht},
issn = {0269-7653},
doi = {10.1007/s10682-020-10043-3},
pages = {427 -- 437},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Under an ecological speciation scenario, the radiation of African weakly electric fish (genus Campylomormyrus) is caused by an adaptation to different food sources, associated with diversification of the electric organ discharge (EOD). This study experimentally investigates a phenotype-environment correlation to further support this scenario. Our behavioural experiments showed that three sympatric Campylomormyrus species with significantly divergent snout morphology differentially react to variation in substrate structure. While the short snout species (C. tamandua) exhibits preference to sandy substrate, the long snout species (C. rhynchophorus) significantly prefers a stone substrate for feeding. A third species with intermediate snout size (C. compressirostris) does not exhibit any substrate preference. This preference is matched with the observation that long-snouted specimens probe deeper into the stone substrate, presumably enabling them to reach prey more distant to the substrate surface. These findings suggest that the diverse feeding apparatus in the genus Campylomormyrus may have evolved in adaptation to specific microhabitats, i.e., substrate structures where these fish forage. Whether the parallel divergence in EOD is functionally related to this adaptation or solely serves as a prezygotic isolation mechanism remains to be elucidated.},
language = {en}
}
@article{CaoTianAndreevetal.2020,
author = {Cao, Xianyong and Tian, Fang and Andreev, Andrei and Anderson, Patricia M. and Lozhkin, Anatoly V. and Bezrukova, Elena and Ni, Jian and Rudaya, Natalia and Stobbe, Astrid and Wieczorek, Mareike and Herzschuh, Ulrike},
title = {A taxonomically harmonized and temporally standardized fossil pollen dataset from Siberia covering the last 40 kyr},
series = {Earth System Science Data},
volume = {12},
journal = {Earth System Science Data},
number = {1},
publisher = {Copernics Publications},
address = {Katlenburg-Lindau},
issn = {1866-3508},
doi = {10.5194/essd-12-119-2020},
pages = {119 -- 135},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Pollen records from Siberia are mostly absent in global or Northern Hemisphere synthesis works. Here we present a taxonomically harmonized and temporally standardized pollen dataset that was synthesized using 173 palynological records from Siberia and adjacent areas (northeastern Asia, 42-75 degrees N, 50-180 degrees E). Pollen data were taxonomically harmonized, i.e. the original 437 taxa were assigned to 106 combined pollen taxa. Age-depth models for all records were revised by applying a constant Bayesian age-depth modelling routine. The pollen dataset is available as count data and percentage data in a table format (taxa vs. samples), with age information for each sample. The dataset has relatively few sites covering the last glacial period between 40 and 11.5 ka (calibrated thousands of years before 1950 CE) particularly from the central and western part of the study area. In the Holocene period, the dataset has many sites from most of the area, with the exception of the central part of Siberia. Of the 173 pollen records, 81 \% of pollen counts were downloaded from open databases (GPD, EPD, PANGAEA) and 10 \% were contributions by the original data gatherers, while a few were digitized from publications. Most of the pollen records originate from peatlands (48 \%) and lake sediments (33 \%). Most of the records (83 \%) have >= 3 dates, allowing the establishment of reliable chronologies. The dataset can be used for various purposes, including pollen data mapping (example maps for Larix at selected time slices are shown) as well as quantitative climate and vegetation reconstructions. The datasets for pollen counts and pollen percentages are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.898616 (Cao et al., 2019a), also including the site information, data source, original publication, dating data, and the plant functional type for each pollen taxa.},
language = {en}
}
@article{FichtnerOlasFeiletal.2020,
author = {Fichtner, Franziska and Olas, Justyna Jadwiga and Feil, Regina and Watanabe, Mutsumi and Krause, Ursula and Hoefgen, Rainer and Stitt, Mark and Lunn, John Edward},
title = {Functional features of Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase 1},
series = {The Plant Cell},
volume = {32},
journal = {The Plant Cell},
number = {6},
publisher = {Oxford University Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {1040-4651},
doi = {10.1105/tpc.19.00837},
pages = {1949 -- 1972},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Tre6P synthesis by TPS1 is essential for embryogenesis and postembryonic growth in Arabidopsis, and appropriate Suc signaling by Tre6P is dependent on the noncatalytic domains of TPS1. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE1 (TPS1) catalyzes the synthesis of the sucrose-signaling metabolite trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P) and is essential for embryogenesis and normal postembryonic growth and development. To understand its molecular functions, we transformed the embryo-lethal tps1-1 null mutant with various forms of TPS1 and with a heterologous TPS (OtsA) from Escherichia coli, under the control of the TPS1 promoter, and tested for complementation. TPS1 protein localized predominantly in the phloem-loading zone and guard cells in leaves, root vasculature, and shoot apical meristem, implicating it in both local and systemic signaling of Suc status. The protein is targeted mainly to the nucleus. Restoring Tre6P synthesis was both necessary and sufficient to rescue the tps1-1 mutant through embryogenesis. However, postembryonic growth and the sucrose-Tre6P relationship were disrupted in some complementation lines. A point mutation (A119W) in the catalytic domain or truncating the C-terminal domain of TPS1 severely compromised growth. Despite having high Tre6P levels, these plants never flowered, possibly because Tre6P signaling was disrupted by two unidentified disaccharide-monophosphates that appeared in these plants. The noncatalytic domains of TPS1 ensure its targeting to the correct subcellular compartment and its catalytic fidelity and are required for appropriate signaling of Suc status by Tre6P.},
language = {en}
}
@article{WeiseAugeBaessleretal.2020,
author = {Weise, Hanna and Auge, Harald and Baessler, Cornelia and B{\"a}rlund, Ilona and Bennett, Elena M. and Berger, Uta and Bohn, Friedrich and Bonn, Aletta and Borchardt, Dietrich and Brand, Fridolin and Jeltsch, Florian and Joshi, Jasmin Radha and Grimm, Volker},
title = {Resilience trinity},
series = {Oikos},
volume = {129},
journal = {Oikos},
number = {4},
publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {0030-1299},
doi = {10.1111/oik.07213},
pages = {445 -- 456},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Ensuring ecosystem resilience is an intuitive approach to safeguard the functioning of ecosystems and hence the future provisioning of ecosystem services (ES). However, resilience is a multi-faceted concept that is difficult to operationalize. Focusing on resilience mechanisms, such as diversity, network architectures or adaptive capacity, has recently been suggested as means to operationalize resilience. Still, the focus on mechanisms is not specific enough. We suggest a conceptual framework, resilience trinity, to facilitate management based on resilience mechanisms in three distinctive decision contexts and time-horizons: 1) reactive, when there is an imminent threat to ES resilience and a high pressure to act, 2) adjustive, when the threat is known in general but there is still time to adapt management and 3) provident, when time horizons are very long and the nature of the threats is uncertain, leading to a low willingness to act. Resilience has different interpretations and implications at these different time horizons, which also prevail in different disciplines. Social ecology, ecology and engineering are often implicitly focussing on provident, adjustive or reactive resilience, respectively, but these different notions of resilience and their corresponding social, ecological and economic tradeoffs need to be reconciled. Otherwise, we keep risking unintended consequences of reactive actions, or shying away from provident action because of uncertainties that cannot be reduced. The suggested trinity of time horizons and their decision contexts could help ensuring that longer-term management actions are not missed while urgent threats to ES are given priority.},
language = {en}
}
@article{GryzikHoangLischkeetal.2020,
author = {Gryzik, Stefanie and Hoang, Yen and Lischke, Timo and Mohr, Elodie and Venzke, Melanie and Kadner, Isabelle and P{\"o}tzsch, Josephine and Groth, Detlef and Radbruch, Andreas and Hutloff, Andreas and Baumgrass, Ria},
title = {Identification of a super-functional Tfh-like subpopulation in murine lupus by pattern perception},
series = {eLife},
volume = {9},
journal = {eLife},
publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications},
address = {Cambridge},
issn = {2050-084X},
doi = {10.7554/eLife.53226},
pages = {21},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Dysregulated cytokine expression by T cells plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, the identification of the corresponding pathogenic subpopulations is a challenge, since a distinction between physiological variation and a new quality in the expression of protein markers requires combinatorial evaluation. Here, we were able to identify a super-functional follicular helper T cell (Tfh)-like subpopulation in lupus-prone NZBxW mice with our binning approach "pattern recognition of immune cells (PRI)". PRI uncovered a subpopulation of IL-21(+) IFN-gamma(high) PD-1(low) CD40L(high) CXCR5(-) Bcl-6(-) T cells specifically expanded in diseased mice. In addition, these cells express high levels of TNF-alpha and IL-2, and provide B cell help for IgG production in an IL-21 and CD40L dependent manner. This super-functional T cell subset might be a superior driver of autoimmune processes due to a polyfunctional and high cytokine expression combined with Tfh-like properties.},
language = {en}
}
@article{YuanShengPreicketal.2020,
author = {Yuan, Junxia and Sheng, Guilian and Preick, Michaela and Sun, Boyang and Hou, Xindong and Chen, Shungang and Taron, Ulrike Helene and Barlow, Axel and Wang, Linying and Hu, Jiaming and Deng, Tao and Lai, Xulong and Hofreiter, Michael},
title = {Mitochondrial genomes of Late Pleistocene caballine horses from China belong to a separate clade},
series = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal},
volume = {250},
journal = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal},
publisher = {Elsevier},
address = {Amsterdam [u.a.]},
issn = {0277-3791},
doi = {10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106691},
pages = {8},
year = {2020},
abstract = {There were several species of Equus in northern China during the Late Pleistocene, including Equus przewalskii and Equus dalianensis. A number of morphological studies have been carried out on E. przewalskii and E. dalianensis, but their evolutionary history is still unresolved. In this study, we retrieved near-complete mitochondrial genomes from E. dalianensis and E. przewalskii specimens excavated from Late Pleistocene strata in northeastern China. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that caballoid horses were divided into two subclades: the New World and the Old World caballine horse subclades. The Old World caballine horses comprise of two deep phylogenetic lineages, with modern and ancient Equus caballus and modern E. przewalskii forming lineage I, and the individuals in this study together with one Yakut specimen forming lineage II. Our results indicate that Chinese Late Pleistocene caballoid horses showed a closer relationship to other Eurasian caballine horses than that to Pleistocene horses from North America. In addition, phylogenetic analyses suggested a close relationship between E. dalianensis and the Chinese fossil E. przewalskii, in agreement with previous researches based on morphological analyses. Interestingly, E. dalianensis and the fossil E. przewalskii were intermixed rather than split into distinct lineages, suggesting either that gene flow existed between these two species or that morphology-based species assignment of palaeontological specimens is not always correct. Moreover, Bayesian analysis showed that the divergence time between the New World and the Old World caballoid horses was at 1.02 Ma (95\% CI: 0.86-1.24 Ma), and the two Old World lineages (I \& II) split at 0.88 Ma (95\% CI: 0.69-1.13 Ma), which indicates that caballoid horses seem to have evolved into different populations in the Old World soon after they migrated from North America via the Bering Land Bridge. Finally, the TMRCA of E. dalianensis was estimated at 0.20 Ma (95\% CI: 0.15-0.28 Ma), and it showed a relative low genetic diversity compared with other Equus species.},
language = {en}
}
@article{BoteroMonkRodriguezCubillosetal.2020,
author = {Botero, David and Monk, Jonathan and Rodriguez Cubillos, Maria Juliana and Rodriguez Cubillos, Andres Eduardo and Restrepo, Mariana and Bernal-Galeano, Vivian and Reyes, Alejandro and Gonzalez Barrios, Andres and Palsson, Bernhard O. and Restrepo, Silvia and Bernal, Adriana},
title = {Genome-scale metabolic model of Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis},
series = {Frontiers in genetics},
volume = {11},
journal = {Frontiers in genetics},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {1664-8021},
doi = {10.3389/fgene.2020.00837},
pages = {19},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (Xpm) is the causal agent of cassava bacterial blight, the most important bacterial disease in this crop. There is a paucity of knowledge about the metabolism of Xanthomonas and its relevance in the pathogenic process, with the exception of the elucidation of the xanthan biosynthesis route. Here we report the reconstruction of the genome-scale model of Xpm metabolism and the insights it provides into plant-pathogen interactions. The model, iXpm1556, displayed 1,556 reactions, 1,527 compounds, and 890 genes. Metabolic maps of central amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as xanthan biosynthesis of Xpm, were reconstructed using Escher (https://escher.github.io/) to guide the curation process and for further analyses. The model was constrained using the RNA-seq data of a mutant of Xpm for quorum sensing (QS), and these data were used to construct context-specific models (CSMs) of the metabolism of the two strains (wild type and QS mutant). The CSMs and flux balance analysis were used to get insights into pathogenicity, xanthan biosynthesis, and QS mechanisms. Between the CSMs, 653 reactions were shared; unique reactions belong to purine, pyrimidine, and amino acid metabolism. Alternative objective functions were used to demonstrate a trade-off between xanthan biosynthesis and growth and the re-allocation of resources in the process of biosynthesis. Important features altered by QS included carbohydrate metabolism, NAD(P)(+) balance, and fatty acid elongation. In this work, we modeled the xanthan biosynthesis and the QS process and their impact on the metabolism of the bacterium. This model will be useful for researchers studying host-pathogen interactions and will provide insights into the mechanisms of infection used by this and other Xanthomonas species.},
language = {en}
}
@article{NavazoOyhenartDahintenetal.2020,
author = {Navazo, B{\´a}rbara and Oyhenart, Evelia and Dahinten, Silvia and Mumm, Rebekka and Scheffler, Christiane},
title = {Decrease of external skeletal robustness (Frame Index) between two cohorts of school children living in Puerto Madryn, Argentina at the beginning of the 21st century},
series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger},
volume = {77},
journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger},
number = {5},
publisher = {Schweizerbart},
address = {Stuttgart},
issn = {0003-5548},
doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2020/1182},
pages = {405 -- 413},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Background: It has been shown that modern life style with reduced physical activity can lead to lower bone accumulation. Also a decline trend in external skeletal robustness in children and young adolescents, measured by the Frame Index (FI), seems to have a parallel trend with the increase in overweight and obesity. Based on these findings we estimate that likely, the FI should be changed after a decade in the Argentinean population as well as in others population of the world. Thereby, the aim of the present study was to describe, using the FI, the pattern of external skeletal robustness in school children aged 6-14 years from two cohorts of Argentina (Puerto Madryn, Chubut) and to compare them with the European reference (Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Russia). Methods: Elbow breadth and height of Puerto Madryn school children were collected in two cross-sectional studies conducted between 2001-2006 (cohort 1 = C1) and 2014-2016 (cohort 2 = C2). Percentiles (P) values, for males and females, from C1 and C2 were calculated combining the LMSmethod and its extension. A t-test has been used to compare, by age and sex, the FI values between the Argentinean cohorts and the European reference (ER). Then, in order to know the percentage of the variation of the percentiles values between cohorts, as well as with ER, percent differences between means (PDM\%) were employed. Results: FI from Argentinean cohorts differed significantly from ER. Even more, C2 was not only smaller than ER, but also than C1. In males, C1-C2 showed significant differences at 6-8, 11 and 12 years and in females at all ages. Then, respect to ER each Argentinean cohort showed significant differences in males of C1 at 6, 12-14 years and in females at 6 and 11-14 years; and of C2, in both sexes, from 6 to 14 years. The PDM\% values for elbow breadth of male were negative in ER-C1 in all percentiles analyzed; in ER-C2 positive (P3 and P50) and negative (P97) and C1-C2 recorded positive values. In females, elbow breadth showed negative values for ER-C1 (P50 and P97), and positive for the remaining values. Finally, height registered, in both sexes, negative values in ER-C1 (except P97 in females), ER-C2 and C1-C2. Conclusions: After ten years of the first study carried on in Puerto Madryn, school children show a negative trend in the external skeletal robustness. Additionally, the children of both Argentinean cohorts have lower values compared to the European reference, and mainly the actual cohort. This situation would be explained, in part, by the progressive increase over time of overweight and obesity as consequence, among others, of the change in the quantity and/or quality of the food that children have access to and with the physical activity they do at school and outside.},
language = {en}
}
@article{DeCahsanNagelSchedinaetal.2020,
author = {De Cahsan, Binia and Nagel, Rebecca and Schedina, Ina-Maria and King, James J. and Bianco, Pier G. and Tiedemann, Ralph and Ketmaier, Valerio},
title = {Phylogeography of the European brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) and the European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) species pair based on mitochondrial data},
series = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {96},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
number = {4},
publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
address = {Oxford [u.a.]},
issn = {0022-1112},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.14279},
pages = {905 -- 912},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis and the European brook lamprey Lampetra planeri (Block 1784) are classified as a paired species, characterized by notably different life histories but morphological similarities. Previous work has further shown limited genetic differentiation between these two species at the mitochondrial DNA level. Here, we expand on this previous work, which focused on lamprey species from the Iberian Peninsula in the south and mainland Europe in the north, by sequencing three mitochondrial marker regions of Lampetra individuals from five river systems in Ireland and five in southern Italy. Our results corroborate the previously identified pattern of genetic diversity for the species pair. We also show significant genetic differentiation between Irish and mainland European lamprey populations, suggesting another ichthyogeographic district distinct from those previously defined. Finally, our results stress the importance of southern Italian L. planeri populations, which maintain several private alleles and notable genetic diversity.},
language = {en}
}
@article{RilligBielcikChaudharyetal.2020,
author = {Rillig, Matthias C. and Bielcik, Milos and Chaudhary, Veer Bala and Gr{\"u}nfeld, Leonie and Maass, Stefanie and Mansour, India and Ryo, Masahiro and Veresoglou, Stavros D.},
title = {Ten simple rules for increased lab resilience},
series = {PLoS Computational Biology : a new community journal},
volume = {16},
journal = {PLoS Computational Biology : a new community journal},
number = {11},
publisher = {PLoS},
address = {San Fransisco},
issn = {1553-734X},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008313},
pages = {5},
year = {2020},
abstract = {When running a lab we do not think about calamities, since they are rare events for which we cannot plan while we are busy with the day-to-day management and intellectual challenges of a research lab. No lab team can be prepared for something like a pandemic such as COVID-19, which has led to shuttered labs around the globe. But many other types of crises can also arise that labs may have to weather during their lifetime. What can researchers do to make a lab more resilient in the face of such exterior forces? What systems or behaviors could we adjust in 'normal' times that promote lab success, and increase the chances that the lab will stay on its trajectory? We offer 10 rules, based on our current experiences as a lab group adapting to crisis.},
language = {en}
}
@article{NovinaHermanussenScheffleretal.2020,
author = {Novina, Novina and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane and Pulungan, Aman B. and Ismiarto, Yoyos Dias and Andriyana, Yudhie and Biben, Vitriana and Setiabudiawan, Budi},
title = {Indonesian National Growth Reference Charts better reflect height and weight of children in West Java, Indonesia, than WHO Child Growth Standards},
series = {Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology},
volume = {12},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology},
number = {4},
publisher = {Galenos Yayincilik},
address = {Istanbul},
issn = {1308-5727},
doi = {10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2020.2020.0044},
pages = {410 -- 419},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Objective: The Indonesia Basic Health Research 2018 indicates that Indonesian children are still among the shortest in the world. When referred to World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (WHOCGS), the prevalence of stunting reaches up to 43\% in several Indonesian districts. Indonesian National Growth Reference Charts (INGRC) were established in order to better distinguish between healthy short children and children with growth disorders. We analyzed height and weight measurements of healthy Indonesian children using INGRC and WHOCGS. Methods: 6972 boys and 5800 girls (n = 12,772), aged 0-59 months old, from Bandung District were measured. Z-scores of length/height and body mass index were calculated based on INGRC and WHOCGS. Results: Under 5-year-old Indonesian children raised in Bandung are short and slim. Mean height z-scores of boys is -2.03 [standard deviation (SD) 1.31], mean height z-scores of girls is -2.03 (SD 1.31) when referred to WHOCGS indicating that over 50 \% of these children are stunted. Bandung children are heterogeneous, with substantial subpopulations of tall children. Depending on the growth reference used, between 9\% and 15\% of them are wasted. Wasted children are on average half a SD taller than their peers. Conclusion: WHOCGS seriously overestimates the true prevalence of undernutrition in Indonesian children. The present investigation fails to support evidence of undernutrition at a prevalence similar to the over 50\% prevalence of stunting (WHOCGS) versus 13.3\% (INGRC). We suggest refraining from using WHOCGS, and instead applying INGRC that closely mirror height and weight increments in Bandung children. INGRC appear superior for practical and clinical purposes, such as detecting growth and developmental disorders.},
language = {en}
}
@article{NawazKhanNoacketal.2020,
author = {Nawaz, Shiza and Khan, Muhammad Moman and Noack, Jonas and Awan, Asad Bashir and Schiebel, Juliane and Roggenbuck, Dirk and Schierack, Peter and Sarwar, Yasra and Ali, Aamir},
title = {Rapid detection of biofilm formation by zoonotic serovars of Salmonella enterica and avian pathogenic E. coli isolates from poultry},
series = {Pakistan veterinary journal},
volume = {40},
journal = {Pakistan veterinary journal},
number = {4},
publisher = {University of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary Science},
address = {Faisalabad},
issn = {0253-8318},
doi = {10.29261/pakvetj/2020.066},
pages = {527 -- 530},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Biofilms are complex, sessile microbial communities that are problematic in clinical settings due to their association with survival and pathogenicity of bacteria. The biofilm formation supporting conditions for zoonotic serovars of Salmonella and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) from poultry have not been well studied yet. Clinical isolates of zoonotic Salmonella and APEC from poultry were evaluated for biofilm formation in four media at 37 degrees C and 40 degrees C after incubation of 48 and 72 hrs. The biofilms formed in 96 well plates were visualized and quantified with a new module of Aklides system using fluorescence microscope coupled with automated VideoScan Technology. After 72 hrs, brain heart infusion at 40 degrees C and Rappaport-Vassiliadis Soya broth at 37 degrees C were found most suitable for APEC and Salmonella biofilm formations respectively. The new information will be useful for further biofilm associated studies particularly for evaluation of antibiofilm compounds and contribute in infection control. (C) 2020 PVJ. All rights reserved},
language = {en}
}
@article{PremierFickelHeurichetal.2020,
author = {Premier, Joseph and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Heurich, Marco and Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie},
title = {The boon and bane of boldness},
series = {Movement Ecology},
volume = {8},
journal = {Movement Ecology},
number = {1},
publisher = {BioMed Central},
address = {London},
issn = {2051-3933},
doi = {10.1186/s40462-020-00204-y},
pages = {1 -- 17},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Background: Many felid species are of high conservation concern, and with increasing human disturbance the situation is worsening. Small isolated populations are at risk of genetic impoverishment decreasing within-species biodiversity. Movement is known to be a key behavioural trait that shapes both demographic and genetic dynamics and affects population survival. However, we have limited knowledge on how different manifestations of movement behaviour translate to population processes. In this study, we aimed to 1) understand the potential effects of movement behaviour on the genetic diversity of small felid populations in heterogeneous landscapes, while 2) presenting a simulation tool that can help inform conservation practitioners following, or considering, population management actions targeting the risk of genetic impoverishment. Methods: We developed a spatially explicit individual-based population model including neutral genetic markers for felids and applied this to the example of Eurasian lynx. Using a neutral landscape approach, we simulated reintroductions into a three-patch system, comprising two breeding patches separated by a larger patch of differing landscape heterogeneity, and tested for the effects of various behavioural movement syndromes and founder population sizes. We explored a range of movement syndromes by simulating populations with various movement model parametrisations that range from 'shy' to 'bold' movement behaviour. Results: We find that movement syndromes can lead to a higher loss of genetic diversity and an increase in between population genetic structure for both "bold" and "shy" movement behaviours, depending on landscape conditions, with larger decreases in genetic diversity and larger increases in genetic differentiation associated with bold movement syndromes, where the first colonisers quickly reproduce and subsequently dominate the gene pool. In addition, we underline the fact that a larger founder population can offset the genetic losses associated with subpopulation isolation and gene pool dominance. Conclusions We identified a movement syndrome trade-off for population genetic variation, whereby bold-explorers could be saviours - by connecting populations and promoting panmixia, or sinks - by increasing genetic losses via a 'founder takes all' effect, whereas shy-stayers maintain a more gradual genetic drift due to their more cautious behaviour. Simulations should incorporate movement behaviour to provide better projections of long-term population viability and within-species biodiversity, which includes genetic diversity. Simulations incorporating demographics and genetics have great potential for informing conservation management actions, such as population reintroductions or reinforcements. Here, we present such a simulation tool for solitary felids.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchellenbergReichertHardtetal.2020,
author = {Schellenberg, Johannes and Reichert, Jessica and Hardt, Martin and Klingelh{\"o}fer, Ines and Morlock, Gertrud and Schubert, Patrick and Bižić, Mina and Grossart, Hans-Peter and K{\"a}mpfer, Peter and Wilke, Thomas and Glaeser, Stefanie P.},
title = {The bacterial microbiome of the long-term aquarium cultured high-microbial abundance sponge Haliclona cnidata},
series = {Frontiers in Marine Science},
volume = {7},
journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {2296-7745},
doi = {10.3389/fmars.2020.00266},
pages = {20},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Marine sponges host highly diverse but specific bacterial communities that provide essential functions for the sponge holobiont, including antimicrobial defense. Here, we characterized the bacterial microbiome of the marine sponge Haliclona cnidata that has been in culture in an artificial marine aquarium system. We tested the hypotheses (1) that the long-term aquarium cultured sponge H. cnidata is tightly associated with a typical sponge bacterial microbiota and (2) that the symbiotic Bacteria sustain bioactivity under harmful environmental conditions to facilitate holobiont survival by preventing pathogen invasion. Microscopic and phylogenetic analyses of the bacterial microbiota revealed that H. cnidata represents a high microbial abundance (HMA) sponge with a temporally stable bacterial community that significantly shifts with changing aquarium conditions. A 4-week incubation experiment was performed in small closed aquarium systems with antibiotic and/or light exclusion treatments to reduce the total bacterial and photosynthetically active sponge-associated microbiota to a treatment-specific resilient community. While the holobiont was severely affected by the experimental treatment (i.e., bleaching of the sponge, reduced bacterial abundance, shifted bacterial community composition), the biological defense and bacterial community interactions (i.e., quorum sensing activity) remained intact. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed a resilient community of 105 bacterial taxa, which remained in the treated sponges. These 105 taxa accounted for a relative abundance of 72-83\% of the bacterial sponge microbiota of non-treated sponge fragments that have been cultured under the same conditions. We conclude that a sponge-specific resilient community stays biologically active under harmful environmental conditions, facilitating the resilience of the holobiont. In H. cnidata, bacteria are located in bacteriocytes, which may have contributed to the observed phenomenon.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KappelIllingHuuetal.2020,
author = {Kappel, Christian and Illing, Nicola and Huu, Cuong Nguyen and Barger, Nichole N. and Cramer, Michael D. and Lenhard, Michael and Midgley, Jeremy J.},
title = {Fairy circles in Namibia are assembled from genetically distinct grasses},
series = {Communications biology},
volume = {3},
journal = {Communications biology},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
address = {London},
issn = {2399-3642},
doi = {10.1038/s42003-020-01431-0},
pages = {8},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Fairy circles are striking regularly sized and spaced, bare circles surrounded by Stipagrostis grasses that occur over thousands of square kilometres in Namibia. The mechanisms explaining their origin, shape, persistence and regularity remain controversial. One hypothesis for the formation of vegetation rings is based on the centrifugal expansion of a single individual grass plant, via clonal growth and die-back in the centre. Clonality could explain FC origin, shape and long-term persistence as well as their regularity, if one clone competes with adjacent clones. Here, we show that for virtually all tested fairy circles the periphery is not exclusively made up of genetically identical grasses, but these peripheral grasses belong to more than one unrelated genet. These results do not support a clonal explanation for fairy circles. Lack of clonality implies that a biological reason for their origin, shape and regularity must emerge from competition between near neighbor individuals within each fairy circle. Such lack of clonality also suggests a mismatch between longevity of fairy circles versus their constituent plants. Furthermore, our findings of lack of clonality have implications for some models of spatial patterning of fairy circles that are based on self-organization. Christian Kappel et al. examine the genetic composition of fairy circles, regular circular patterns of grasses in the Namib Desert, using ddRAD-seq. They find that these grasses are made up of multiple unrelated genets rather than genetically identical grasses, suggesting non-clonality.},
language = {en}
}
@article{desAulnoisReveillonRobertetal.2020,
author = {des Aulnois, Maxime Georges and R{\´e}veillon, Damien and Robert, Elise and Caruana, Amandine and Briand, Enora and Guljamow, Arthur and Dittmann, Elke and Amzil, Zouher and Bormans, Myriam},
title = {Salt shock responses of Microcystis revealed through physiological, transcript, and metabolomic analyses},
series = {Toxins},
volume = {12},
journal = {Toxins},
number = {3},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2072-6651},
doi = {10.3390/toxins12030192},
pages = {18},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The transfer of Microcystis aeruginosa from freshwater to estuaries has been described worldwide and salinity is reported as the main factor controlling the expansion of M. aeruginosa to coastal environments. Analyzing the expression levels of targeted genes and employing both targeted and non-targeted metabolomic approaches, this study investigated the effect of a sudden salt increase on the physiological and metabolic responses of two toxic M. aeruginosa strains separately isolated from fresh and brackish waters, respectively, PCC 7820 and 7806. Supported by differences in gene expressions and metabolic profiles, salt tolerance was found to be strain specific. An increase in salinity decreased the growth of M. aeruginosa with a lesser impact on the brackish strain. The production of intracellular microcystin variants in response to salt stress correlated well to the growth rate for both strains. Furthermore, the release of microcystins into the surrounding medium only occurred at the highest salinity treatment when cell lysis occurred. This study suggests that the physiological responses of M. aeruginosa involve the accumulation of common metabolites but that the intraspecific salt tolerance is based on the accumulation of specific metabolites. While one of these was determined to be sucrose, many others remain to be identified. Taken together, these results provide evidence that M. aeruginosa is relatively salt tolerant in the mesohaline zone and microcystin (MC) release only occurs when the capacity of the cells to deal with salt increase is exceeded.},
language = {en}
}
@article{HempelAdolphsLandwehretal.2020,
author = {Hempel, Sabrina and Adolphs, Julian and Landwehr, Niels and Janke, David and Amon, Thomas},
title = {How the selection of training data and modeling approach affects the estimation of ammonia emissions from a naturally ventilated dairy barn—classical statistics versus machine learning},
series = {Sustainability},
volume = {12},
journal = {Sustainability},
number = {3},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2071-1050},
doi = {10.3390/su12031030},
pages = {18},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Environmental protection efforts can only be effective in the long term with a reliable quantification of pollutant gas emissions as a first step to mitigation. Measurement and analysis strategies must permit the accurate extrapolation of emission values. We systematically analyzed the added value of applying modern machine learning methods in the process of monitoring emissions from naturally ventilated livestock buildings to the atmosphere. We considered almost 40 weeks of hourly emission values from a naturally ventilated dairy cattle barn in Northern Germany. We compared model predictions using 27 different scenarios of temporal sampling, multiple measures of model accuracy, and eight different regression approaches. The error of the predicted emission values with the tested measurement protocols was, on average, well below 20\%. The sensitivity of the prediction to the selected training dataset was worse for the ordinary multilinear regression. Gradient boosting and random forests provided the most accurate and robust emission value predictions, accompanied by the second-smallest model errors. Most of the highly ranked scenarios involved six measurement periods, while the scenario with the best overall performance was: One measurement period in summer and three in the transition periods, each lasting for 14 days.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ApanasewiczGrothScheffleretal.2020,
author = {Apanasewicz, Anna and Groth, Detlef and Scheffler, Christiane and Hermanussen, Michael and Piosek, Magdalena and Wychowaniec, Patrycja and Babiszewska, Magdalena and Barbarska, Olga and Ziomkiewicz, Anna},
title = {Traumatized women's infants are bigger than children of mothers without traumas},
series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger},
volume = {77},
journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger},
number = {5},
publisher = {Schweizerbart science publishers},
address = {Stuttgart},
issn = {0003-5548},
doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2020/1285},
pages = {359 -- 374},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Life history theory predicts that experiencing stress during the early period of life will result in accelerated growth and earlier maturation. Indeed, animal and some human studies documented a faster pace of growth in the offspring of stressed mothers. Recent advances in epigenetics suggest that the effects of early developmental stress might be passed across the generations. However, evidence for such intergenerational transmission is scarce, at least in humans. Here we report the results of the study investigating the association between childhood trauma in mothers and physical growth in their children during the first months of life. Anthropometric and psychological data were collected from 99 mothers and their exclusively breastfed children at the age of 5 months. The mothers completed the Early Life Stress Questionnaire to assess childhood trauma. The questionnaire includes questions about the most traumatic events that they had experienced before the age of 12 years. Infant growth was evaluated based on the anthropometric measurements of weight, length, and head circumference. Also, to control for the size of maternal investment, the composition of breast milk samples taken at the time of infant anthropometric measurements was investigated. The children of mothers with higher early life stress tended to have higher weight and bigger head circumference. The association between infant anthropometrics and early maternal stress was not affected by breast milk composition, suggesting that the effect of maternal stress on infant growth was independent of the size of maternal investment. Our results demonstrate that early maternal trauma may affect the pace of growth in the offspring and, in consequence, lead to a faster life history strategy. This effect might be explained via changes in offspring epigenetics.},
language = {en}
}
@article{XiaoLiuWangetal.2020,
author = {Xiao, Shangbin and Liu, Liu and Wang, Wei and Lorke, Andreas and Woodhouse, Jason Nicholas and Grossart, Hans-Peter},
title = {A Fast-Response Automated Gas Equilibrator (FaRAGE) for continuous in situ measurement of CH4 and CO2 dissolved in water},
series = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS},
volume = {24},
journal = {Hydrology and earth system sciences : HESS},
number = {7},
publisher = {European Geosciences Union (EGU) ; Copernicus},
address = {Munich},
issn = {1027-5606},
doi = {10.5194/hess-24-3871-2020},
pages = {3871 -- 3880},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Biogenic greenhouse gas emissions, e.g., of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from inland waters, contribute substantially to global warming. In aquatic systems, dissolved greenhouse gases are highly heterogeneous in both space and time. To better understand the biological and physical processes that affect sources and sinks of both CH4 and CO2, their dissolved concentrations need to be measured with high spatial and temporal resolution. To achieve this goal, we developed the Fast-Response Automated Gas Equilibrator (FaRAGE) for real-time in situ measurement of dissolved CH4 and CO2 concentrations at the water surface and in the water column. FaRAGE can achieve an exceptionally short response time (t(95\%) = 12 s when including the response time of the gas analyzer) while retaining an equilibration ratio of 62.6\% and a measurement accuracy of 0.5\% for CH4. A similar performance was observed for dissolved CO2 (t(95\%) = 10 s, equilibration ratio 67.1 \%). An equilibration ratio as high as 91.8\% can be reached at the cost of a slightly increased response time (16 s). The FaRAGE is capable of continuously measuring dissolved CO2 and CH4 concentrations in the nM-to-submM (10(-9)-10(-3) mol L-1) range with a detection limit of subnM (10(-10) mol L-1), when coupling with a cavity ring-down greenhouse gas analyzer (Picarro GasScouter). FaRAGE allows for the possibility of mapping dissolved concentration in a "quasi" three-dimensional manner in lakes and provides an inexpensive alternative to other commercial gas equilibrators. It is simple to operate and suitable for continuous monitoring with a strong tolerance for suspended particles. While the FaRAGE is developed for inland waters, it can be also applied to ocean waters by tuning the gas-water mixing ratio. The FaRAGE is easily adapted to suit other gas analyzers expanding the range of potential applications, including nitrous oxide and isotopic composition of the gases.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ColeLiddleConsolandietal.2020,
author = {Cole, Matthew and Liddle, Corin and Consolandi, Giulia and Drago, Claudia and Hird, Cameron and Lindeque, Penelope Kate and Galloway, Tamara S.},
title = {Microplastics, microfibres and nanoplastics cause variable sub-lethal responses in mussels (Mytilus spp.)},
series = {Marine pollution bulletin : the international journal for marine environmental scientists, engineers, administrators, politicians and lawyers},
volume = {160},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin : the international journal for marine environmental scientists, engineers, administrators, politicians and lawyers},
publisher = {Elsevier},
address = {Amsterdam},
issn = {0025-326X},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111552},
pages = {10},
year = {2020},
abstract = {We compare the toxicity of microplastics, microfibres and nanoplastics on mussels. Mussels (Mytilus spp.) were exposed to 500 ng mL(-1) of 20 mu m polystyrene microplastics, 10 x 30 mu m polyamide microfibres or 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics for 24 h or 7 days. Biomarkers of immune response, oxidative stress response, lysosomal destabilisation and genotoxic damage were measured in haemolymph, digestive gland and gills. Microplastics and microfibres were observed in the digestive glands, with significantly higher plastic concentrations after 7-days exposure (ANOVA, P < 0.05). Nanoplastics had a significant effect on hyalinocytegranulocyte ratios (ANOVA, P < 0.05), indicative of a heightened immune response. SOD activity was significantly increased followed 24 h exposure to plastics (two-way ANOVA, P < 0.05), but returned to normal levels after 7-days exposure. No evidence of lysosomal destabilisation or genotoxic damage was observed from any form of plastic. The study highlights how particle size is a key factor in plastic particulate toxicity.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LauxWengerBieretal.2020,
author = {Laux, Eva-Maria and Wenger, Christian and Bier, Frank Fabian and Hoelzel, Ralph},
title = {AC electrokinetic immobilization of organic dye molecules},
series = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry : a merger of Fresenius' journal of analytical chemistry and Analusis},
volume = {412},
journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry : a merger of Fresenius' journal of analytical chemistry and Analusis},
number = {16},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Berlin},
issn = {1618-2642},
doi = {10.1007/s00216-020-02480-4},
pages = {3859 -- 3870},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The application of inhomogeneous AC electric fields for molecular immobilization is a very fast and simple method that does not require any adaptions to the molecule's functional groups or charges. Here, the method is applied to a completely new category of molecules: small organic fluorescence dyes, whose dimensions amount to only 1 nm or even less. The presented setup and the electric field parameters used allow immobilization of dye molecules on the whole electrode surface as opposed to pure dielectrophoretic applications, where molecules are attracted only to regions of high electric field gradients, i.e., to the electrode tips and edges. In addition to dielectrophoresis and AC electrokinetic flow, molecular scale interactions and electrophoresis at short time scales are discussed as further mechanisms leading to migration and immobilization of the molecules.},
language = {en}
}
@article{GuerreroFickelBenhaiemetal.2020,
author = {Guerrero, Tania P. and Fickel, J{\"o}rns and Benhaiem, Sarah and Weyrich, Alexandra},
title = {Epigenomics and gene regulation in mammalian social systems},
series = {Current zoology},
volume = {66},
journal = {Current zoology},
number = {3},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {1674-5507},
doi = {10.1093/cz/zoaa005},
pages = {307 -- 319},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Social epigenomics is a new field of research that studies how the social environment shapes the epigenome and how in turn the epigenome modulates behavior. We focus on describing known gene-environment interactions (GEIs) and epigenetic mechanisms in different mammalian social systems. To illustrate how epigenetic mechanisms integrate GEls, we highlight examples where epigenetic mechanisms are associated with social behaviors and with their maintenance through neuroendocrine, locomotor, and metabolic responses. We discuss future research trajectories and open questions for the emerging field of social epigenomics in nonmodel and naturally occurring social systems. Finally, we outline the technological advances that aid the study of epigenetic mechanisms in the establishment of GEIs and vice versa.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KruseKolmogorovPestryakovaetal.2020,
author = {Kruse, Stefan and Kolmogorov, Aleksey I. and Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna and Herzschuh, Ulrike},
title = {Long-lived larch clones may conserve adaptations that could restrict treeline migration in northern Siberia},
series = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {10},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
number = {18},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {2045-7758},
doi = {10.1002/ece3.6660},
pages = {10017 -- 10030},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The occurrence of refugia beyond the arctic treeline and genetic adaptation therein play a crucial role of largely unknown effect size. While refugia have potential for rapidly colonizing the tundra under global warming, the taxa may be maladapted to the new environmental conditions. Understanding the genetic composition and age of refugia is thus crucial for predicting any migration response. Here, we genotype 194 larch individuals from an similar to 1.8 km(2)area in northcentral Siberia on the southern Taimyr Peninsula by applying an assay of 16 nuclear microsatellite markers. For estimating the age of clonal individuals, we counted tree rings at sections along branches to establish a lateral growth rate that was then combined with geographic distance. Findings reveal that the predominant reproduction type is clonal (58.76\%) by short distance spreading of ramets. One outlier of clones 1 km apart could have been dispersed by reindeer. In clonal groups and within individuals, we find that somatic mutations accumulate with geographic distance. Clonal groups of two or more individuals are observed. Clonal age estimates regularly suggest individuals as old as 2,200 years, which coincides with a major environmental change that forced a treeline retreat in the region. We conclude that individuals with clonal growth mode were naturally selected as it lowers the likely risk of extinction under a harsh environment. We discuss this legacy from the past that might now be a maladaptation and hinder expansion under currently strongly increasing temperatures.},
language = {en}
}
@article{GuoSchwitallaBenndorfetal.2020,
author = {Guo, Huijuan and Schwitalla, Jan W. and Benndorf, Ren{\´e} and Baunach, Martin and Steinbeck, Christoph and G{\"o}rls, Helmar and de Beer, Z. Wilhelm and Regestein, Lars and Beemelmanns, Christine},
title = {Gene cluster activation in a bacterial symbiont leads to halogenated angucyclic maduralactomycins and spirocyclic actinospirols},
series = {Organic letters},
volume = {22},
journal = {Organic letters},
number = {7},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
address = {Washington, DC},
issn = {1523-7060},
doi = {10.1021/acs.orglett.0c00601},
pages = {2634 -- 2638},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Growth from spores activated a biosynthetic gene cluster in Actinomadura sp. RB29, resulting in the identification of two novel groups of halogenated polyketide natural products, named maduralactomycins and actinospirols. The unique tetracyclic and spirocyclic structures were assigned based on a combination of NMR analysis, chemoinformatic calculations, X-ray crystallography, and C-13 labeling studies. On the basis of HRMS2 data, genome mining, and gene expression studies, we propose an underlying noncanonical angucycline biosynthesis and extensive post-polyketide synthase (PKS) oxidative modifications.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ZiegeHermannKriestenetal.2020,
author = {Ziege, Madlen and Hermann, Bernd Timo and Kriesten, Stefanie and Merker, Stefan and Ullmann, Wiebke and Streit, Bruno and Wenninger, Sandra and Plath, Martin},
title = {Ranging behavior of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in urban and suburban landscapes},
series = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences},
volume = {65},
journal = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences},
number = {3},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Heidelberg},
issn = {2199-2401},
doi = {10.1007/s13364-020-00490-2},
pages = {607 -- 614},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Various mammals, particularly carnivores, reportedly establish smaller home ranges in urban compared with rural areas. This may be because urban environments provide optimal resources within a small area, negating the requirement to range further, or because habitat fragmentation constrains ranging behavior. Comparable information on urban populations of herbivorous mammalian species (such as European rabbits) is scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we radio-tracked 13 individuals (seven females and six males) equipped with radio collars in a suburban and an urban study site in the city of Frankfurt am Main in Germany during the reproductive season (March to September) of 2012. The study sites differed in levels of habitat fragmentation. We report the smallest home ranges ever described for this species, with mean 95\% minimum convex polygons (MCPs) covering 0.50 ha, while no consistent differences between sites were uncovered. We occasionally tracked individuals crossing streets underground (in burrows), suggesting that streets may restrict the ranging behavior of rabbits-and possibly other burrowing species-to a much lesser extent than previously thought. We conclude that heterogeneous landscape structures, made up of a diverse mosaic of buildings, parks, and gardens, provide sufficient food and shelter in close proximity to burrows at both study sites. Therefore, our data support the hypothesis that optimal resources constrain ranges in this case rather than habitat fragmentation.},
language = {en}
}
@article{BarlowHartmannGonzalezetal.2020,
author = {Barlow, Axel and Hartmann, Stefanie and Gonzalez, Javier and Hofreiter, Michael and Paijmans, Johanna L. A.},
title = {Consensify},
series = {Genes / Molecular Diversity Preservation International},
volume = {11},
journal = {Genes / Molecular Diversity Preservation International},
number = {1},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2073-4425},
doi = {10.3390/genes11010050},
pages = {22},
year = {2020},
abstract = {A standard practise in palaeogenome analysis is the conversion of mapped short read data into pseudohaploid sequences, frequently by selecting a single high-quality nucleotide at random from the stack of mapped reads. This controls for biases due to differential sequencing coverage, but it does not control for differential rates and types of sequencing error, which are frequently large and variable in datasets obtained from ancient samples. These errors have the potential to distort phylogenetic and population clustering analyses, and to mislead tests of admixture using D statistics. We introduce Consensify, a method for generating pseudohaploid sequences, which controls for biases resulting from differential sequencing coverage while greatly reducing error rates. The error correction is derived directly from the data itself, without the requirement for additional genomic resources or simplifying assumptions such as contemporaneous sampling. For phylogenetic and population clustering analysis, we find that Consensify is less affected by artefacts than methods based on single read sampling. For D statistics, Consensify is more resistant to false positives and appears to be less affected by biases resulting from different laboratory protocols than other frequently used methods. Although Consensify is developed with palaeogenomic data in mind, it is applicable for any low to medium coverage short read datasets. We predict that Consensify will be a useful tool for future studies of palaeogenomes.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LehmannZhengRyoetal.2020,
author = {Lehmann, Anika and Zheng, Weishuang and Ryo, Masahiro and Soutschek, Katharina and Roy, Julien and Rongstock, Rebecca and Maaß, Stefanie and Rillig, Matthias C.},
title = {Fungal traits important for soil aggregation},
series = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {10},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {1664-302X},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2019.02904},
pages = {13},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Soil structure, the complex arrangement of soil into aggregates and pore spaces, is a key feature of soils and soil biota. Among them, filamentous saprobic fungi have well-documented effects on soil aggregation. However, it is unclear what properties, or traits, determine the overall positive effect of fungi on soil aggregation. To achieve progress, it would be helpful to systematically investigate a broad suite of fungal species for their trait expression and the relation of these traits to soil aggregation. Here, we apply a trait-based approach to a set of 15 traits measured under standardized conditions on 31 fungal strains including Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota, all isolated from the same soil. We find large differences among these fungi in their ability to aggregate soil, including neutral to positive effects, and we document large differences in trait expression among strains. We identify biomass density, i.e., the density with which a mycelium grows (positive effects), leucine aminopeptidase activity (negative effects) and phylogeny as important factors explaining differences in soil aggregate formation (SAF) among fungal strains; importantly, growth rate was not among the important traits. Our results point to a typical suite of traits characterizing fungi that are good soil aggregators, and our findings illustrate the power of employing a trait-based approach to unravel biological mechanisms underpinning soil aggregation. Such an approach could now be extended also to other soil biota groups. In an applied context of restoration and agriculture, such trait information can inform management, for example to prioritize practices that favor the expression of more desirable fungal traits.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LanghammerGrimm2020,
author = {Langhammer, Maria and Grimm, Volker},
title = {Mitigating bioenergy-driven biodiversity decline},
series = {Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog},
volume = {416},
journal = {Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog},
publisher = {Elsevier},
address = {Amsterdam},
issn = {0304-3800},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108914},
pages = {13},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The cultivation of energy crops leads to direct and indirect land use changes that impair the biodiversity of the agricultural landscape. In our study, we analyse the effects of mitigation measures on the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), which is directly affected by ongoing land use change and has experienced widespread decline throughout Europe since the 1960s. Therefore, we developed a spatially explicit and individual-based ecological model to study the effects of different landscape configurations and compositions on hare population development. As an input, we used two 4 x 4 km large model landscapes, which were generated by a landscape generator based on real field sizes and crop proportions and differed in average field size and crop composition. The crops grown annually are evaluated in terms of forage suitability, breeding suitability and crop richness for the hare. In six mitigation scenarios, we investigated the effects of a 10 \% increase in the following measures: (1) mixed silphie, (2) miscanthus, (3) grass-clover ley, (4) alfalfa, (5) set-aside, and (6) general crop richness. All mitigation measures had significant effects on hare population development. Compared to the base scenario, the relative change in hare abundance ranged from a factor of 0.56 in the grass-clover ley scenario to-0.16 in the miscanthus scenario. The mitigation measures of mixed silphie, grass-clover ley and increased crop richness led to distinct increases in hare abundance in both landscapes ( > 0.3). The results show that both landscape configuration and composition have a significant effect on hare population development, which responds particularly strongly to compositional changes. The increase in crop diversity, e.g., through the cultivation of alternative energy crops such as mixed silphie and grass-clover ley, proves to be beneficial for the brown hare.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchaelickeHeimMartinCreuzburgetal.2020,
author = {Sch{\"a}licke, Svenja and Heim, Silvia and Martin-Creuzburg, Dominik and Wacker, Alexander},
title = {Inter- and intraspecific differences in rotifer fatty acid composition during acclimation to low-quality food},
series = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London : B, Biological sciences},
volume = {375},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London : B, Biological sciences},
number = {1804},
publisher = {Royal Society},
address = {London},
issn = {0962-8436},
doi = {10.1098/rstb.2019.0644},
pages = {8},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Biochemical food quality constraints affect the performance of consumers and mediate trait variation among and within consumer species. To assess inter- and intraspecific differences in fatty acid retention and conversion in freshwater rotifers, we provided four strains of two closely related rotifer species,Brachionus calyciflorussensustricto andBrachionus fernandoi, with food algae differing in their fatty acid composition. The rotifers grazed for 5 days on eitherNannochloropsis limneticaorMonoraphidium minutum, two food algae with distinct polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profiles, before the diets were switched to PUFA-freeSynechococcus elongatus, which was provided for three more days. We found between- and within-species differences in rotifer fatty acid compositions on the respective food sources and, in particular, highly specific acclimation reactions to the PUFA-free diet. The different reactions indicate inter- but also intraspecific differences in physiological traits, such as PUFA retention, allocation and bioconversion capacities, within the genusBrachionusthat are most likely accompanied by differences in their nutritional demands. Our data suggest that biochemical food quality constraints act differently on traits of closely related species and of strains of a particular species and thus might be involved in shaping ecological interactions and evolutionary processes. This article is part of the theme issue 'The next horizons for lipids as 'trophic biomarkers': evidence and significance of consumer modification of dietary fatty acids'.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchneebergerRoederTaborsky2020,
author = {Schneeberger, Karin and R{\"o}der, Gregory and Taborsky, Michael},
title = {The smell of hunger},
series = {PLoS biology},
volume = {18},
journal = {PLoS biology},
number = {3},
publisher = {PLoS},
address = {San Fransisco},
issn = {1544-9173},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.3000628},
pages = {13},
year = {2020},
abstract = {When individuals exchange helpful acts reciprocally, increasing the benefit of the receiver can enhance its propensity to return a favour, as pay-offs are typically correlated in iterated interactions. Therefore, reciprocally cooperating animals should consider the relative benefit for the receiver when deciding to help a conspecific. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) exchange food reciprocally and thereby take into account both the cost of helping and the potential benefit to the receiver. By using a variant of the sequential iterated prisoner's dilemma paradigm, we show that rats may determine the need of another individual by olfactory cues alone. In an experimental food-exchange task, test subjects were provided with odour cues from hungry or satiated conspecifics located in a different room. Our results show that wild-type Norway rats provide help to a stooge quicker when they receive odour cues from a hungry rather than from a satiated conspecific. Using chemical analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we identify seven volatile organic compounds that differ in their abundance between hungry and satiated rats. Combined, this "smell of hunger" can apparently serve as a reliable cue of need in reciprocal cooperation, which supports the hypothesis of honest signalling.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MunjonjiAyisiMudongoetal.2020,
author = {Munjonji, Lawrence and Ayisi, Kingsley Kwabena and Mudongo, Edwin I. and Mafeo, Tieho Paulus and Behn, Kai and Mokoka, Malesela Vincent and Linst{\"a}dter, Anja},
title = {Disentangling drought and grazing effects on soil carbon stocks and CO2 fluxes in a semi-arid African Savanna},
series = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
volume = {8},
journal = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {2296-665X},
doi = {10.3389/fenvs.2020.590665},
pages = {14},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Grasslands cover ca. 30\% of the global land surface and provide critical ecosystem services. Among them, carbon storage is one of the most important. However, grasslands are increasingly threatened by drought and overgrazing which might negatively affect soil carbon stocks. Despite this threat, there is a dearth of information on how drought and grazing jointly impact soil carbon stocks and CO2 fluxes in dryland grasslands. With the aid of a large field experiment, we studied the combined effects of a 5-year extreme drought and moderate grazing on soil carbon stocks, CO2 fluxes and soil chemical properties. Extreme drought was induced by reducing ambient rainfall by 66\% using large rainout shelters. We found CO2 fluxes to strongly respond to the 5-year experimental drought. Extreme drought reduced CO2 emission rates by 32\% compared to ambient conditions. CO2 fluxes averaged 5.7 mg m(-2)min(-1) under drought compared to 8.3 mg m(-2) min(-1) under ambient conditions. CO2 fluxes were, however, not influenced by grazing. At the end of the growth period, grazed plots under ambient rainfall had released 16.3 tons of CO2 ha(-1) which was 58\% higher than observed on grazed plots subjected to severe drought. Soil carbon stocks were higher under drought conditions due to slower decomposition rates. Drought resulted in increased concentrations of primary macronutrients (N, P, and K), micronutrients (Zn and Mn) and pH in the top 30 cm of the soil relative to ambient conditions. The results also showed that grazing reduced the concentration of N and P in the topsoil compared to the ungrazed plots. This study provided insights on the soil carbon storage, CO2 emission rates and nutrient dynamics in a semi-arid dryland grassland as influenced by both drought and grazing. Our study also revealed that long-term extreme drought may be favorable in terms of preserving the existing soil carbon stocks through reduced CO2 release. This finding is critical for understanding future soil carbon dynamics in dryland grasslands in the face of climate change.},
language = {en}
}
@article{HuangHerzschuhPestryakovaetal.2020,
author = {Huang, Sichao and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna and Zimmermann, Heike Hildegard and Davydova, Paraskovya and Biskaborn, Boris and Shevtsova, Iuliia and Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie},
title = {Genetic and morphologic determination of diatom community composition in surface sediments from glacial and thermokarst lakes in the Siberian Arctic},
series = {Journal of paleolimnolog},
volume = {64},
journal = {Journal of paleolimnolog},
number = {3},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Dordrecht},
issn = {0921-2728},
doi = {10.1007/s10933-020-00133-1},
pages = {225 -- 242},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Lakes cover large parts of the climatically sensitive Arctic landscape and respond rapidly to environmental change. Arctic lakes have different origins and include the predominant thermokarst lakes, which are small, young and highly dynamic, as well as large, old and stable glacial lakes. Freshwater diatoms dominate the primary producer community in these lakes and can be used to detect biotic responses to climate and environmental change. We used specific diatom metabarcoding on sedimentary DNA, combined with next-generation sequencing and diatom morphology, to assess diatom diversity in five glacial and 15 thermokarst lakes within the easternmost expanse of the Siberian treeline ecotone in Chukotka, Russia. We obtained 163 verified diatom sequence types and identified 176 diatom species morphologically. Although there were large differences in taxonomic assignment using the two approaches, they showed similar high abundances and diversity of Fragilariceae and Aulacoseiraceae. In particular, the genetic approach detected hidden within-lake variations of fragilarioids in glacial lakes and dominance of centric Aulacoseira species, whereas Lindavia ocellata was predominant using morphology. In thermokarst lakes, sequence types and valve counts also detected high diversity of Fragilariaceae, which followed the vegetation gradient along the treeline. Ordination analyses of the genetic data from glacial and thermokarst lakes suggest that concentrations of sulfate (SO42-), an indicator of the activity of sulfate-reducing microbes under anoxic conditions, and bicarbonate (HCO3-), which relates to surrounding vegetation, have a significant influence on diatom community composition. For thermokarst lakes, we also identified lake depth as an important variable, but SO42- best explains diatom diversity derived from genetic data, whereas HCO3- best explains the data from valve counts. Higher diatom diversity was detected in glacial lakes, most likely related to greater lake age and different edaphic settings, which gave rise to diversification and endemism. In contrast, small, dynamic thermokarst lakes are inhabited by stress-tolerant fragilarioids and are related to different vegetation types along the treeline ecotone. Our study demonstrated that genetic investigations of lake sediments can be used to interpret climate and environmental responses of diatoms. It also showed how lake type affects diatom diversity, and that such genetic analyses can be used to track diatom community changes under ongoing warming in the Arctic.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LyallNikoloskiGechev2020,
author = {Lyall, Rafe and Nikoloski, Zoran and Gechev, Tsanko},
title = {Comparative analysis of ROS network genes in extremophile Eukaryotes},
series = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {21},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
number = {23},
publisher = {Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)},
address = {Basel},
issn = {1422-0067},
doi = {10.3390/ijms21239131},
pages = {27},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The reactive oxygen species (ROS) gene network, consisting of both ROS-generating and detoxifying enzymes, adjusts ROS levels in response to various stimuli. We performed a cross-kingdom comparison of ROS gene networks to investigate how they have evolved across all Eukaryotes, including protists, fungi, plants and animals. We included the genomes of 16 extremotolerant Eukaryotes to gain insight into ROS gene evolution in organisms that experience extreme stress conditions. Our analysis focused on ROS genes found in all Eukaryotes (such as catalases, superoxide dismutases, glutathione reductases, peroxidases and glutathione peroxidase/peroxiredoxins) as well as those specific to certain groups, such as ascorbate peroxidases, dehydroascorbate/monodehydroascorbate reductases in plants and other photosynthetic organisms. ROS-producing NADPH oxidases (NOX) were found in most multicellular organisms, although several NOX-like genes were identified in unicellular or filamentous species. However, despite the extreme conditions experienced by extremophile species, we found no evidence for expansion of ROS-related gene families in these species compared to other Eukaryotes. Tardigrades and rotifers do show ROS gene expansions that could be related to their extreme lifestyles, although a high rate of lineage-specific horizontal gene transfer events, coupled with recent tetraploidy in rotifers, could explain this observation. This suggests that the basal Eukaryotic ROS scavenging systems are sufficient to maintain ROS homeostasis even under the most extreme conditions.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SteppertSteppertBollingeretal.2020,
author = {Steppert, Claus and Steppert, Isabel and Bollinger, Thomas and Sterlacci, William},
title = {Rapid non-invasive detection of Influenza-A-infection by multicapillary column coupled ion mobility spectrometry},
series = {Journal of breath research : volatiles for medical diagnosis ; official journal of the International Association for Breath Research (IABR) and the International Society for Breath Odor Research (ISBOR)},
volume = {15},
journal = {Journal of breath research : volatiles for medical diagnosis ; official journal of the International Association for Breath Research (IABR) and the International Society for Breath Odor Research (ISBOR)},
number = {1},
publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.},
address = {Bristol},
issn = {1752-7163},
doi = {10.1088/1752-7163/abb762},
pages = {5},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Infectious pathogens are a global issue. Global air travel offers an easy and fast opportunity not only for people but also for infectious diseases to spread around the world within a few days. Also, large public events facilitate increasing infection numbers. Therefore, rapid on-site screening for infected people is urgently needed. Due to the small size and easy handling, ion mobility spectrometry coupled with a multicapillary column (MCC-IMS) is a very promising, sensitive method for the on-site identification of infectious pathogens based on scents, representing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess whether identification of Influenza-A-infection based on VOCs by MCC-IMS is possible in breath. Nasal breath was investigated in 24 consecutive persons with and without Influenza-A-infection by MCC-IMS. In 14 Influenza-A-infected patients, infection was proven by PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs. Four healthy staff members and six patients with negative PCR result served as controls. For picking up relevant VOCs in MCC-IMS spectra, software based on cluster analysis followed by multivariate statistical analysis was applied. With only four VOCs canonical discriminant analysis was able to distinguish Influenza-A-infected patients from those not infected with 100\% sensitivity and 100\% specificity. This present proof-of-concept-study yields encouraging results showing a rapid diagnosis of viral infections in nasal breath within 5 min by MCC-IMS. The next step is to validate the results with a greater number of patients with Influenza-A-infection as well as other viral diseases, especially COVID-19. Registration number at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04282135.},
language = {en}
}
@article{NguyenMamonekeneVateretal.2020,
author = {Nguyen, Manh Duy Linh and Mamonekene, Victor and Vater, Marianne and Bartsch, Peter and Tiedemann, Ralph and Kirschbaum, Frank},
title = {Ontogeny of electric organ and electric organ discharge in Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus (Teleostei: Mormyridae)},
series = {Journal of comparative physiology; A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
volume = {206},
journal = {Journal of comparative physiology; A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
number = {3},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Berlin ; Heidelberg},
issn = {0340-7594},
doi = {10.1007/s00359-020-01411-z},
pages = {453 -- 466},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The aim of this study was a longitudinal description of the ontogeny of the adult electric organ of Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus which produces as adult an electric organ discharge of very long duration (ca. 25 ms). We could indeed show (for the first time in a mormyrid fish) that the electric organ discharge which is first produced early during ontogeny in 33-mm-long juveniles is much shorter in duration and has a different shape than the electric organ discharge in 15-cm-long adults. The change from this juvenile electric organ discharges into the adult electric organ discharge takes at least a year. The increase in electric organ discharge duration could be causally linked to the development of surface evaginations, papillae, at the rostral face of the electrocyte which are recognizable for the first time in 65-mm-long juveniles and are most prominent at the periphery of the electrocyte.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ZimmermannStoofLeichsenringKruseetal.2020,
author = {Zimmermann, Heike Hildegard and Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie and Kruse, Stefan and M{\"u}ller, Juliane and Stein, Ruediger and Tiedemann, Ralf and Herzschuh, Ulrike},
title = {Changes in the composition of marine and sea-ice diatoms derived from sedimentary ancient DNA of the eastern Fram Strait over the past 30 000 years},
series = {Ocean science},
volume = {16},
journal = {Ocean science},
number = {5},
publisher = {Copernicus},
address = {G{\"o}ttingen},
issn = {1812-0784},
doi = {10.5194/os-16-1017-2020},
pages = {1017 -- 1032},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The Fram Strait is an area with a relatively low and irregular distribution of diatom microfossils in surface sediments, and thus microfossil records are scarce, rarely exceed the Holocene, and contain sparse information about past richness and taxonomic composition. These attributes make the Fram Strait an ideal study site to test the utility of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) metabarcoding. Amplifying a short, partial rbcL marker from samples of sediment core MSM05/5-712-2 resulted in 95.7\% of our sequences being assigned to diatoms across 18 different families, with 38.6\% of them being resolved to species and 25.8\% to genus level. Independent replicates show a high similarity of PCR products, especially in the oldest samples. Diatom sedaDNA richness is highest in the Late Weichselian and lowest in Mid- and Late Holocene samples. Taxonomic composition is dominated by cold-water and sea-ice-associated diatoms and suggests several reorganisations - after the Last Glacial Maximum, after the Younger Dryas, and after the Early and after the Mid-Holocene. Different sequences assigned to, amongst others, Chaetoceros socialis indicate the detectability of intra-specific diversity using sedaDNA. We detect no clear pattern between our diatom sedaDNA record and the previously published IP25 record of this core, although proportions of pennate diatoms increase with higher IP25 concentrations and proportions of Nitzschia cf. frigida exceeding 2\% of the assemblage point towards past sea-ice presence.},
language = {en}
}
@article{WuestenhagenLukasMuelleretal.2020,
author = {W{\"u}stenhagen, Doreen Anja and Lukas, Phil and M{\"u}ller, Christian and Aubele, Simone A. and Hildebrandt, Jan-Peter and Kubick, Stefan},
title = {Cell-free synthesis of the hirudin variant 1 of the blood-sucking leech Hirudo medicinalis},
series = {Scientific reports},
volume = {10},
journal = {Scientific reports},
number = {1},
publisher = {Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature},
address = {London},
issn = {2045-2322},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-76715-w},
pages = {13},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Synthesis and purification of peptide drugs for medical applications is a challenging task. The leech-derived factor hirudin is in clinical use as an alternative to heparin in anticoagulatory therapies. So far, recombinant hirudin is mainly produced in bacterial or yeast expression systems. We describe the successful development and application of an alternative protocol for the synthesis of active hirudin based on a cell-free protein synthesis approach. Three different cell lysates were compared, and the effects of two different signal peptide sequences on the synthesis of mature hirudin were determined. The combination of K562 cell lysates and the endogenous wild-type signal peptide sequence was most effective. Cell-free synthesized hirudin showed a considerably higher anti-thrombin activity compared to recombinant hirudin produced in bacterial cells.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MarquartEldridgeGeissleretal.2020,
author = {Marquart, Arnim and Eldridge, David J. and Geissler, Katja and Lobas, Christoph and Blaum, Niels},
title = {Interconnected effects of shrubs, invertebrate-derived macropores and soil texture on water infiltration in a semi-arid savanna rangeland},
series = {Land degradation \& development},
volume = {31},
journal = {Land degradation \& development},
number = {16},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Chichester, Sussex},
issn = {1085-3278},
doi = {10.1002/ldr.3598},
pages = {2307 -- 2318},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Many semi arid savannas are prone to degradation, caused for example, by overgrazing or extreme climatic events, which often lead to shrub encroachment. Overgrazing by livestock affects vegetation and infiltration processes by directly altering plant composition (selective grazing) or by impacting soil physical properties (trampling). Water infiltration is controlled by several parameters, such as macropores (created by soil-burrowing animals or plant roots) and soil texture, but their effects have mostly been studied in isolation. Here we report on a study, in which we conducted infiltration experiments to analyze the interconnected effects of invertebrate-created macropores, shrubs and soil texture (sandy soil and loamy sand) on infiltration in two Namibian rangelands. Using structural equation modeling, we found a direct positive effect of shrub size on infiltration and indirectly via invertebrate macropores on both soil types. On loamy sands this effect was even stronger, but additionally, invertebrate-created macropores became relevant as a direct driver of infiltration. Our results provide new insights into the effects of vegetation and invertebrates on infiltration under different soil textures. Pastoralists should use management strategies that maintain a heterogeneous plant community that supports soil fauna to sustain healthy soil water dynamics, particularly on soils with higher loam content. Understanding the fundamental functioning of soil water dynamics in drylands is critical because these ecosystems are water-limited and support the livelihoods of many cultures worldwide.},
language = {en}
}
@article{NowakGennermannPerssonetal.2020,
author = {Nowak, Jacqueline and Gennermann, Kristin and Persson, Staffan and Nikoloski, Zoran},
title = {CytoSeg 2.0},
series = {Bioinformatics},
volume = {36},
journal = {Bioinformatics},
number = {9},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {1367-4803},
doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa035},
pages = {2950 -- 2951},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Motivation: Actin filaments (AFs) are dynamic structures that substantially change their organization over time. The dynamic behavior and the relatively low signal-to-noise ratio during live-cell imaging have rendered the quantification of the actin organization a difficult task. Results: We developed an automated image-based framework that extracts AFs from fluorescence microscopy images and represents them as networks, which are automatically analyzed to identify and compare biologically relevant features. Although the source code is freely available, we have now implemented the framework into a graphical user interface that can be installed as a Fiji plugin, thus enabling easy access by the research community.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MarzetzSpijkermanStriebeletal.2020,
author = {Marzetz, Vanessa and Spijkerman, Elly and Striebel, Maren and Wacker, Alexander},
title = {Phytoplankton community responses to interactions between light intensity, light variations, and phosphorus supply},
series = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
volume = {8},
journal = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {2296-665X},
doi = {10.3389/fenvs.2020.539733},
pages = {11},
year = {2020},
abstract = {In a changing world, phytoplankton communities face a large variety of challenges including altered light regimes. These alterations are caused by more pronounced stratification due to rising temperatures, enhanced eutrophication, and browning of lakes. Community responses toward these effects can emerge as alterations in physiology, biomass, biochemical composition, or diversity. In this study, we addressed the combined effects of changes in light and nutrient conditions on community responses. In particular, we investigated how light intensity and variability under two nutrient conditions influence (1) fast responses such as adjustments in photosynthesis, (2) intermediate responses such as pigment adaptation and (3) slow responses such as changes in community biomass and species composition. Therefore, we exposed communities consisting of five phytoplankton species belonging to different taxonomic groups to two constant and two variable light intensity treatments combined with two levels of phosphorus supply. The tested phytoplankton communities exhibited increased fast reactions of photosynthetic processes to light variability and light intensity. The adjustment of their light harvesting mechanisms via community pigment composition was not affected by light intensity, variability, or nutrient supply. However, pigment specific effects of light intensity, light variability, and nutrient supply on the proportion of the respective pigments were detected. Biomass was positively affected by higher light intensity and nutrient concentrations while the direction of the effect of variability was modulated by light intensity. Light variability had a negative impact on biomass at low, but a positive impact at high light intensity. The effects on community composition were species specific. Generally, the proportion of green algae was higher under high light intensity, whereas the cyanobacterium performed better under low light conditions. In addition to that, the diatom and the cryptophyte performed better with high nutrient supply while the green algae as well as the cyanobacterium performed better at low nutrient conditions. This shows that light intensity, light variability, and nutrient supply interactively affect communities. Furthermore, the responses are highly species and pigment specific, thus to clarify the effects of climate change a deeper understanding of the effects of light variability and species interactions within communities is important.},
language = {en}
}
@article{CastellanosFriedrichPetrovicetal.2020,
author = {Castellanos, Reynel Urrea and Friedrich, Thomas and Petrovic, Nevena and Altmann, Simone and Brzezinka, Krzysztof and Gorka, Michal and Graf, Alexander and B{\"a}urle, Isabel},
title = {FORGETTER2 protein phosphatase and phospholipase D modulate heat stress memory in Arabidopsis},
series = {The plant journal},
volume = {104},
journal = {The plant journal},
number = {1},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {0960-7412},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.14927},
pages = {7 -- 17},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Plants can mitigate environmental stress conditions through acclimation. In the case of fluctuating stress conditions such as high temperatures, maintaining a stress memory enables a more efficient response upon recurring stress. In a genetic screen forArabidopsis thalianamutants impaired in the memory of heat stress (HS) we have isolated theFORGETTER2(FGT2) gene, which encodes a type 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C) of the D-clade.Fgt2mutants acquire thermotolerance normally; however, they are defective in the memory of HS. FGT2 interacts with phospholipase D alpha 2 (PLD alpha 2), which is involved in the metabolism of membrane phospholipids and is also required for HS memory. In summary, we have uncovered a previously unknown component of HS memory and identified the FGT2 protein phosphatase and PLD alpha 2 as crucial players, suggesting that phosphatidic acid-dependent signaling or membrane composition dynamics underlie HS memory.},
language = {en}
}
@article{Arnold2020,
author = {Arnold, Patrick},
title = {Evolution of the mammalian neck from developmental, morpho-functional, and paleontological perspectives},
series = {Journal of Mammalian Evolution},
volume = {28},
journal = {Journal of Mammalian Evolution},
number = {2},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {New York},
issn = {1064-7554},
doi = {10.1007/s10914-020-09506-9},
pages = {173 -- 183},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The mammalian neck adopts a variety of postures during daily life and generates numerous head trajectories. Despite its functional diversity, the neck is constrained to seven cervical vertebrae in (almost) all mammals. Given this low number, an unexpectedly high degree of modularity of the mammalian neck has more recently been uncovered. This work aims to review neck modularity in mammals from a developmental, morpho-functional, and paleontological perspective and how high functional diversity evolved in the mammalian neck after the occurrence of meristic limitations. The fixed number of cervical vertebrae and the developmental modularity of the mammalian neck are closely linked to anterior Hox genes expression and strong developmental integration between the neck and other body regions. In addition, basic neck biomechanics promote morpho-functional modularity due to preferred motion axes in the cranio-cervical and cervico-thoracic junction. These developmental and biomechanical determinants result in the characteristic and highly conserved shape variation among the vertebrae that delimits morphological modules. The step-wise acquisition of these unique cervical traits can be traced in the fossil record. The increasing functional specialization of neck modules, however, did not evolve all at once but started much earlier in the upper than in the lower neck. Overall, the strongly conserved modularity in the mammalian neck represents an evolutionary trade-off between the meristic constraints and functional diversity. Although a morpho-functional partition of the neck is common among amniotes, the degree of modularity and the way neck disparity is realized is unique in mammals.},
language = {en}
}
@article{TranBuiKappeletal.2020,
author = {Tran, Quan Hong and Bui, Ngoc Hong and Kappel, Christian and Dau, Nga Thi Ngoc and Nguyen, Loan Thi and Tran, Thuy Thi and Khanh, Tran Dang and Trung, Khuat Huu and Lenhard, Michael and Vi, Son Lang},
title = {Mapping-by-sequencing via MutMap identifies a mutation in ZmCLE7 underlying fasciation in a newly developed EMS mutant population in an elite tropical maize inbred},
series = {Genes},
volume = {11},
journal = {Genes},
number = {3},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2073-4425},
doi = {10.3390/genes11030281},
pages = {1 -- 14},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Induced point mutations are important genetic resources for their ability to create hypo- and hypermorphic alleles that are useful for understanding gene functions and breeding. However, such mutant populations have only been developed for a few temperate maize varieties, mainly B73 and W22, yet no tropical maize inbred lines have been mutagenized and made available to the public to date. We developed a novel Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS) induced mutation resource in maize comprising 2050 independent M2 mutant families in the elite tropical maize inbred ML10. By phenotypic screening, we showed that this population is of comparable quality with other mutagenized populations in maize. To illustrate the usefulness of this population for gene discovery, we performed rapid mapping-by-sequencing to clone a fasciated-ear mutant and identify a causal promoter deletion in ZmCLE7 (CLE7). Our mapping procedure does not require crossing to an unrelated parent, thus is suitable for mapping subtle traits and ones affected by heterosis. This first EMS population in tropical maize is expected to be very useful for the maize research community. Also, the EMS mutagenesis and rapid mapping-by-sequencing pipeline described here illustrate the power of performing forward genetics in diverse maize germplasms of choice, which can lead to novel gene discovery due to divergent genetic backgrounds.},
language = {en}
}
@article{BaxaWeintraubSeckler2020,
author = {Baxa, Ulrich and Weintraub, Andrej and Seckler, Robert},
title = {Self-competitive inhibition of the bacteriophage P22 Tailspike endorhamnosidase by O-antigen oligosaccharides},
series = {Biochemistry},
volume = {59},
journal = {Biochemistry},
number = {51},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
address = {Washington},
issn = {0006-2960},
doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00872},
pages = {4845 -- 4855},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The P22 tailspike endorhamnosidase confers the high specificity of bacteriophage P22 for some serogroups of Salmonella differing only slightly in their O-antigen polysaccharide. We used several biophysical methods to study the binding and hydrolysis of O-antigen fragments of different lengths by P22 tailspike protein. O-Antigen saccharides of defined length labeled with fluorophors could be purified with higher resolution than previously possible. Small amounts of naturally occurring variations of 0antigen fragments missing the nonreducing terminal galactose could be used to determine the contribution of this part to the free energy of binding to be similar to 7 kJ/mol. We were able to show via several independent lines of evidence that an unproductive binding mode is highly favored in binding over all other possible binding modes leading to hydrolysis. This is true even under circumstances under which the O-antigen fragment is long enough to be cleaved efficiently by the enzyme. The high-affinity unproductive binding mode results in a strong self-competitive inhibition in addition to product inhibition observed for this system. Self-competitive inhibition is observed for all substrates that have a free reducing end rhamnose. Naturally occurring O-antigen, while still attached to the bacterial outer membrane, does not have a free reducing end and therefore does not perform self-competitive inhibition.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MaqsoodNaumenkoHermanussenetal.2020,
author = {Maqsood, Arusa and Naumenko, Daniel J. and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane and Groth, Detlef},
title = {No correlation between short term weight gain and lower leg length gain in healthy German children},
series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie},
volume = {77},
journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie},
number = {5},
publisher = {Schweizerbart},
address = {Stuttgart},
issn = {0003-5548},
doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2020/1237},
pages = {399 -- 403},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Background: Length-for-age is considered the indicator of choice in monitoring the long-term impact of chronic nutritional deficiency. Aim: We hypothesized that short term increments of body weight cross-correlate with increments of the lower leg length. Sample and methods: We re-analyzed the association between weekly measurements of weight and of lower leg length in 34 healthy German children, aged 2.9-15.9 years. The data are a subset of measurements originally published in 1988 (Hermanussen et al. 1988a). As the growth measurements were often not equally spaced in time due to interposed holidays and illness, the incremental rates for weight and lower leg length were smoothed using spline functions. Autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions were calculated for weight increments and lower leg length increments. Results: Height and weight increments are pulsatile. Autocorrelations indicated that mini growth spurts occur at irregular intervals. Lack of cross-correlations between weight and lower leg length indicated that mini spurts in weight gain do not coincide with mini spurts in length gain even when considering lag times of up to 10 weeks. Short term changes of weight gain and lower leg length gain in healthy children show no temporal association.},
language = {en}
}
@article{OthmanWollenberger2020,
author = {Othman, Abdelmageed M. and Wollenberger, Ulla},
title = {Amperometric biosensor based on coupling aminated laccase to functionalized carbon nanotubes for phenolics detection},
series = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {153},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
publisher = {Elsevier},
address = {New York, NY [u.a.]},
issn = {0141-8130},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.049},
pages = {855 -- 864},
year = {2020},
abstract = {A biosensor for phenolic compounds based on a chemically modified laccase from Coriolus hirsula immobilized on functionalized screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) was achieved. Different enzyme modifications and immobilization strategies were analyzed. The electrochemical response of the immobilized laccase on SPCEs modified with carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNT) was the highest when laccase was aminated prior to the adsorption onto the working electrode. The developed lactase biosensor sensitivity toward different phenolic compounds was assessed to determine the biosensor response with several phenolic compounds. The highest response was obtained for ABTS with a saturation value of I-max = 27.94 mu A. The electrocatalytic efficiency (I-max/K-m(app)) was the highest for ABTS (5588 mu A mu M-1) followed by syringaldazine (3014 mu A.mu M-1). The sensors were considerably stable, whereby 99.5, 82 and 77\% of the catalytic response using catechol as substrate was retained after 4, 8 and 10 successive cycles of reuse respectively, with response time average of 5 s for 12 cycles. No loss of activity was observed after 20 days of storage.},
language = {en}
}
@article{BehlRazzaqMazurekBudzynskaetal.2020,
author = {Behl, Marc and Razzaq, Muhammad Yasar and Mazurek-Budzynska, Magdalena and Lendlein, Andreas},
title = {Polyetheresterurethane based porous scaffolds with tailorable architectures by supercritical CO2 foaming},
series = {MRS advances},
volume = {5},
journal = {MRS advances},
number = {45},
publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
address = {New York, NY},
issn = {2059-8521},
doi = {10.1557/adv.2020.345},
pages = {2317 -- 2330},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Porous three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are promising treatment options in regenerative medicine. Supercritical and dense-phase fluid technologies provide an attractive alternative to solvent-based scaffold fabrication methods. In this work, we report on the fabrication of poly-etheresterurethane (PPDO-PCL) based porous scaffolds with tailorable pore size, porosity, and pore interconnectivity by using supercritical CO2(scCO(2)) fluid-foaming. The influence of the processing parameters such as soaking time, soaking temperature and depressurization on porosity, pore size, and interconnectivity of the foams were investigated. The average pore diameter could be varied between 100-800 mu m along with a porosity in the range from (19 +/- 3 to 61 +/- 6)\% and interconnectivity of up to 82\%. To demonstrate their applicability as scaffold materials, selected foams were sterilized via ethylene oxide sterilization. They showed negligible cytotoxicity in tests according to DIN EN ISO 10993-5 and 10993-12 using L929 cells. The study demonstrated that the pore size, porosity and the interconnectivity of this multi-phase semicrystalline polymer could be tailored by careful control of the processing parameters during the scCO(2)foaming process. In this way, PPDO-PCL scaffolds with high porosity and interconnectivity are potential candidate materials for regenerative treatment options.},
language = {en}
}
@article{HuuKellerContietal.2020,
author = {Huu, Cuong Nguyen and Keller, Barbara and Conti, Elena and Kappel, Christian and Lenhard, Michael},
title = {Supergene evolution via stepwise duplications and neofunctionalization of a floral-organ identity gene},
series = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)},
volume = {117},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)},
number = {37},
publisher = {National Academy of Sciences},
address = {Washington},
issn = {0027-8424},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2006296117},
pages = {23148 -- 23157},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Heterostyly represents a fascinating adaptation to promote outbreeding in plants that evolved multiple times independently. While L-morph individuals form flowers with long styles, short anthers, and small pollen grains, S-morph individuals have flowers with short styles, long anthers, and large pollen grains. The difference between the morphs is controlled by an S-locus "supergene" consisting of several distinct genes that determine different traits of the syndrome and are held together, because recombination between them is suppressed. In Primula, the S locus is a roughly 300-kb hemizygous region containing five predicted genes. However, with one exception, their roles remain unclear, as does the evolutionary buildup of the S locus. Here we demonstrate that the MADS-box GLOBOSA2 (GLO2) gene at the S locus determines anther position. In Primula forbesii S-morph plants, GLO2 promotes growth by cell expansion in the fused tube of petals and stamen filaments beneath the anther insertion point; by contrast, neither pollen size nor male incompatibility is affected by GLO2 activity. The paralogue GLO1, from which GLO2 arose by duplication, has maintained the ancestral B-class function in specifying petal and stamen identity, indicating that GLO2 underwent neofunctionalization, likely at the level of the encoded protein. Genetic mapping and phylogenetic analysis indicate that the duplications giving rise to the style-length-determining gene CYP734A50 and to GLO2 occurred sequentially, with the CYP734A50 duplication likely the first. Together these results provide the most detailed insight into the assembly of a plant supergene yet and have important implications for the evolution of heterostyly.},
language = {en}
}
@article{TongKuekenNikoloski2020,
author = {Tong, Hao and K{\"u}ken, Anika and Nikoloski, Zoran},
title = {Integrating molecular markers into metabolic models improves genomic selection for Arabidopsis growth},
series = {Nature Communications},
volume = {11},
journal = {Nature Communications},
number = {1},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group UK},
address = {London},
issn = {2041-1723},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-16279-5},
pages = {9},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The current trends of crop yield improvements are not expected to meet the projected rise in demand. Genomic selection uses molecular markers and machine learning to identify superior genotypes with improved traits, such as growth. Plant growth directly depends on rates of metabolic reactions which transform nutrients into the building blocks of biomass. Here, we predict growth of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions by employing genomic prediction of reaction rates estimated from accession-specific metabolic models. We demonstrate that, comparing to classical genomic selection on the available data sets for 67 accessions, our approach improves the prediction accuracy for growth within and across nitrogen environments by 32.6\% and 51.4\%, respectively, and from optimal nitrogen to low carbon environment by 50.4\%. Therefore, integration of molecular markers into metabolic models offers an approach to predict traits directly related to metabolism, and its usefulness in breeding can be examined by gathering matching datasets in crops. An increase in genomic selection (GS) accuracy can accelerate genetic gain by shortening the breeding cycles. Here, the authors introduce a network-based GS method that uses metabolic models and improves the prediction accuracy of Arabidopsis growth within and across environments.},
language = {en}
}
@article{HalilbasicFuerstHeidenetal.2020,
author = {Halilbasic, Emina and Fuerst, Elisabeth and Heiden, Denise and Japtok, Lukasz and Diesner, Susanne C. and Trauner, Michael and Kulu, Askin and Jaksch, Peter and Hoetzenecker, Konrad and Kleuser, Burkhard and Kazemi-Shirazi, Lili and Untersmayr, Eva},
title = {Plasma levels of the bioactive sphingolipid metabolite S1P in adult cystic fibrosis patients},
series = {Nutrients},
volume = {12},
journal = {Nutrients},
number = {3},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2072-6643},
doi = {10.3390/nu12030765},
pages = {11},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Recent research has linked sphingolipid (SL) metabolism with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity, affecting bioactive lipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). We hypothesize that loss of CFTR function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients influenced plasma S1P levels. Total and unbound plasma S1P levels were measured in 20 lung-transplanted adult CF patients and 20 healthy controls by mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). S1P levels were correlated with CFTR genotype, routine laboratory parameters, lung function and pathogen colonization, and clinical symptoms. Compared to controls, CF patients showed lower unbound plasma S1P, whereas total S1P levels did not differ. A positive correlation of total and unbound S1P levels was found in healthy controls, but not in CF patients. Higher unbound S1P levels were measured in Delta F508-homozygous compared to Delta F508-heterozygous CF patients (p = 0.038), accompanied by higher levels of HDL in Delta F508-heterozygous patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in Delta F508 heterozygotes compared to Delta F508 homozygotes. This is the first clinical study linking plasma S1P levels with CFTR function and clinical presentation in adult CF patients. Given the emerging role of immunonutrition in CF, our study might pave the way for using S1P as a novel biomarker and nutritional target in CF.},
language = {en}
}
@article{GomulaNowakSzczepanskaHermanussenetal.2020,
author = {Gomula, Aleksandra and Nowak-Szczepanska, Natalia and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane and Koziel, Slawomir},
title = {Trends in growth and developmental tempo in boys aged 7 to 18 years between 1966 and 2012 in Poland},
series = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council},
volume = {33},
journal = {American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council},
number = {6},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {1042-0533},
doi = {10.1002/ajhb.23548},
pages = {7},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Objectives: To assess trends in growth in different developmental periods and trends in developmental tempo in Polish boys between 1966 and 2012. Methods: Data on 34 828 boys aged 7 to 18 years were collected during Polish Anthropological Surveys conducted in 1966, 1978, 1988, and 2012. Biological parameters, related to onset of adolescent growth spurt (OGS) and peak height velocity (PHV), were derived from a Preece-Baines 1 model (PB1). Childhood (height at 7 years of age), pre-adolescent (height at OGS) and adolescent growth (adult height minus height at OGS) were identified. Results: Positive secular trend between 1966 and 2012 in adult height accounted for, on average, 1.5 cm/decade, with varying intensity between the Surveys. Decline in both age at OGS and APHV between 1966 and 2012 (1.5 and 1.4 years, respectively) indicated an acceleration in developmental tempo, on average, by 0.3 year/decade. Increases in the contribution to the trend in adult height gained during growth in particular developmental periods between 1966 and 2012 were as followed-childhood: 0.6\%, pre-adolescent growth: -3.1\%, adolescent growth: 3.1\%. Conclusions: Secular trend in developmental tempo and growth among boys reflects changes in living conditions and socio-political aspirations in Poland during nearly 50 years. Acceleration in tempo is already visible at age at OGS, whereas the trend in adult height occurs largely during adolescence, pointing to different regulation of developmental tempo and growth in body height. This finding emphasizes the importance of extending public health intervention into children's growth up until adolescence.},
language = {en}
}
@article{FaisalGechevMuellerRoeberetal.2020,
author = {Faisal, Muhammad B. and Gechev, Tsanko S. and M{\"u}ller-R{\"o}ber, Bernd and Dijkwel, Paul P.},
title = {Putative alternative translation start site-encoding nucleotides of CPR5 regulate growth and resistance},
series = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {20},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
number = {1},
publisher = {BMC},
address = {London},
issn = {1471-2229},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-020-02485-2},
pages = {10},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Background The Arabidopsis CONSTITUTIVE EXPRESSER of PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES 5 (CPR5) has recently been shown to play a role in gating as part of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Mutations in CPR5 cause multiple defects, including aberrant trichomes, reduced ploidy levels, reduced growth and enhanced resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens. The pleiotropic nature of cpr5 mutations implicates that the CPR5 protein affects multiple pathways. However, little is known about the structural features that allow CPR5 to affect the different pathways. Results Our in silico studies suggest that in addition to three clusters of putative nuclear localization signals and four or five transmembrane domains, CPR5 contains two putative alternative translation start sites. To test the role of the methionine-encoding nucleotides implicated in those sites, metCPR5 cDNAs, in which the relevant nucleotides were changed to encode glutamine, were fused to the CPR5 native promoter and the constructs transformed to cpr5-2 plants to complement cpr5-compromised phenotypes. The control and metCPR5 constructs were able to complement all cpr5 phenotypes, although the extent of complementation depended on the specific complementing plant lines. Remarkably, plants transformed with metCPR5 constructs showed larger leaves and displayed reduced resistance when challenged to Pseudomonas syringae pv Pst DC3000, as compared to control plants. Thus, the methionine-encoding nucleotides regulate growth and resistance. We propose that structural features of the CPR5 N-terminus are implicated in selective gating of proteins involved in regulating the balance between growth and resistance. Conclusion Plants need to carefully balance the amount of resources used for growth and resistance. The Arabidopsis CPR5 protein regulates plant growth and immunity. Here we show that N-terminal features of CPR5 are involved in the regulation of the balance between growth and resistance. These findings may benefit efforts to improve plant yield, while maintaining optimal levels of disease resistance.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchirmerHoffmannEccardetal.2020,
author = {Schirmer, Annika and Hoffmann, Julia and Eccard, Jana and Dammhahn, Melanie},
title = {My niche},
series = {Proceedings of the Royal Society of London : B, Biological sciences},
volume = {287},
journal = {Proceedings of the Royal Society of London : B, Biological sciences},
number = {1918},
publisher = {Royal Society},
address = {London},
issn = {0962-8452},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2019.2211},
pages = {9},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Intraspecific trait variation is an important determinant of fundamental ecological interactions. Many of these interactions are mediated by behaviour. Therefore, interindividual differences in behaviour should contribute to individual niche specialization. Comparable with variation in morphological traits, behavioural differentiation between individuals should limit similarity among competitors and thus act as a mechanism maintaining within-species variation in ecological niches and facilitating species coexistence. Here, we aimed to test whether interindividual differences in boldness covary with spatial interactions within and between two ecologically similar, co-occurring rodent species (Myodes glareolus, Apodemus agrarius). In five subpopulations in northeast Germany, we quantified individual differences in boldness via repeated standardized tests and spatial interaction patterns via capture-mark- recapture (n = 126) and automated VHF telemetry (n = 36). We found that boldness varied with space use in both species. Individuals of the same population occupied different spatial niches, which resulted in non-random patterns of within- and between-species spatial interactions. Behavioural types mainly differed in the relative importance of intra- versus interspecific competition. Within-species variation along this competition gradient could contribute to maintaining individual niche specialization. Moreover, behavioural differentiation between individuals limits similarity among competitors, which might facilitate the coexistence of functionally equivalent species and, thus, affect community dynamics and local biodiversity.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LiuGouldRudolphetal.2020,
author = {Liu, Yue and Gould, Oliver E. C. and Rudolph, Tobias and Fang, Liang and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
title = {Polymeric microcuboids programmable for temperature-memory},
series = {Macromolecular materials and engineering},
volume = {305},
journal = {Macromolecular materials and engineering},
number = {10},
publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
address = {Weinheim},
issn = {1438-7492},
doi = {10.1002/mame.202000333},
pages = {7},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Microobjects with programmable mechanical functionality are highly desirable for the creation of flexible electronics, sensors, and microfluidic systems, where fabrication/programming and quantification methods are required to fully control and implement dynamic physical behavior. Here, programmable microcuboids with defined geometries are prepared by a template-based method from crosslinked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] elastomers. These microobjects could be programmed to exhibit a temperature-memory effect or a shape-memory polymer actuation capability. Switching temperaturesT(sw)during shape recovery of 55 +/- 2, 68 +/- 2, 80 +/- 2, and 86 +/- 2 degrees C are achieved by tuning programming temperatures to 55, 70, 85, and 100 degrees C, respectively. Actuation is achieved with a reversible strain of 2.9 +/- 0.2\% to 6.7 +/- 0.1\%, whereby greater compression ratios and higher separation temperatures induce a more pronounced actuation. Micro-geometry change is quantified using optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The realization and quantification of microparticles, capable of a tunable temperature responsive shape-change or reversible actuation, represent a key development in the creation of soft microscale devices for drug delivery or microrobotics.},
language = {en}
}
@article{NiereSpannemannStenzeletal.2020,
author = {Niere, Oliver and Spannemann, Lisa and Stenzel, Patrick and Bogin, Barry and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane},
title = {Plasticity of human growth},
series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie},
volume = {77},
journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie},
number = {5},
publisher = {Schweizerbart},
address = {Stuttgart},
issn = {0003-5548},
doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2020/1223},
pages = {431 -- 443},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Background: This systematic review aimed at collecting, analyzing and summarizing scientific studies focusing on psychosocial factors that influence linear growth among humans. Methods: The online database "PubMed" was used in order to acquire suitable scientific studies. These studies were evaluated based on clearly defined criteria that determine whether a study was to be excluded or included in the literature review. In the end, a total sum of 36 studies remained, which were carefully analyzed and used to generate an overview of the association between psychosocial factors and linear growth. Results: In the 36 reviewed studies, different social and psychological factors, such as socioeconomic status, parental education or emotional deprivation were set in relation to physical growth among humans. The studies were listed and summarized, depending on the investigated psychosocial factor. A clear association between psychosocial factors and growth could be observed in most of the reviewed studies. Discussion: Based on the results of the reviewed studies it could be concluded that the regulation of linear growth is also subject to different psychosocial factors. The way in which the developing human and the specific social environment interact seemed to have a major impact on linear growth. Statusspecific stress was discussed as one possible explanation for the regulating mechanism of human linear growth.},
language = {en}
}
@article{WolffSchuelerGastetal.2020,
author = {Wolff, Martin and Sch{\"u}ler, Anja and Gast, Klaus and Seckler, Robert and Evers, Andreas and Pfeiffer-Marek, Stefania and Kurz, Michael and Nagel, Norbert and Haack, Torsten and Wagner, Michael and Thalhammer, Anja},
title = {Self-Assembly of Exendin-4-Derived Dual Peptide Agonists is Mediated by Acylation and Correlated to the Length of Conjugated Fatty Acyl Chains},
series = {Molecular pharmaceutics},
volume = {17},
journal = {Molecular pharmaceutics},
number = {3},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
address = {Washington},
issn = {1543-8384},
doi = {10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b01195},
pages = {965 -- 978},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Dual glucagon-like peptide-1/glucagon receptor agonists have emerged as promising candidates for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Issues of degradation sensitivity and rapid renal clearance are addressed, for example, by the conjugation of peptides to fatty acid chains, promoting reversible albumin binding. We use combined dynamic and static light scattering to directly measure the self-assembly of a set of dual peptide agonists based on the exendin-4 structure with varying fatty acid chain lengths in terms of apparent molecular mass and hydrodynamic radius (R-S). We use NMR spectroscopy to gain an insight into the molecular architecture of the assembly. We investigate conformational changes of the monomeric subunits resulting from peptide self-assembly and assembly stability as a function of the fatty acid chain length using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that self-assembly of the exendin-4-derived dual agonist peptides is essentially driven by hydrophobic interactions involving the conjugated acyl chains. The fatty acid chain length affects assembly equilibria and the assembly stability, although the peptide subunits in the assembly retain a dynamic secondary structure. The assembly architecture is characterized by juxtaposition of the fatty acyl side chains and a hydrophobic cluster of the peptide moiety. This cluster experiences local conformational changes in the assembly compared to the monomeric unit leading to a reduction in solvent exposure. The N-terminal half of the peptide and a C-terminal loop are not in contact with neighboring peptide subunits in the assemblies. Altogether, our study contributes to a thorough understanding of the association characteristics and the tendency toward self-assembly in response to lipidation. This is important not only to achieve the desired bioavailability but also with respect to the physical stability of peptide solutions.},
language = {en}
}
@article{Heinze2020,
author = {Heinze, Johannes},
title = {Herbivory by aboveground insects impacts plant root morphological traits},
series = {Plant ecology : an international journal},
volume = {221},
journal = {Plant ecology : an international journal},
number = {8},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Dordrecht},
issn = {1385-0237},
doi = {10.1007/s11258-020-01045-w},
pages = {725 -- 732},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Aboveground herbivory induces physiological responses, like the release of belowground chemical defense and storage of secondary metabolites, as well as physical responses in plants, like increased root biomass production. However, studies on effects of aboveground herbivory on root morphology are scarce and until now no study tested herbivory effects under natural conditions for a large set of plant species. Therefore, in a field experiment on plant-soil interactions, I investigated the effect of aboveground insect herbivory on root morphological traits of 20 grassland plant species. For 9 of the 20 species, all individuals showed shoot damage in the presence of insect herbivores, but no damage in insect herbivore exclusions. In these 9 species root biomass increased and root morphological traits changed under herbivory towards thinner roots with increased specific root surface. In contrast, the remaining species did not differ in the number of individuals damaged, root biomass nor morphological traits with herbivores present vs. absent. The fact that aboveground herbivory resulted in thinner roots with increased specific root surface area for all species in which the herbivore exclusion manipulation altered shoot damage might indicate that plants increase nutrient uptake in response to herbivory. However, more importantly, results provide empirical evidence that aboveground herbivory impacts root morphological traits of plants. As these traits are important for the occupation of soil space, uptake processes, decomposition and interactions with soil biota, results suggest that herbivory-induced changes in root morphology might be of importance for plant-soil feedbacks and plant-plant competition.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SteinhoffWarfenVoigtetal.2020,
author = {Steinhoff, Philip O. M. and Warfen, Bennet and Voigt, Sissy and Uhl, Gabriele and Dammhahn, Melanie},
title = {Individual differences in risk-taking affect foraging across different landscapes of fear},
series = {Oikos},
volume = {129},
journal = {Oikos},
number = {12},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {0030-1299},
doi = {10.1111/oik.07508},
pages = {1891 -- 1902},
year = {2020},
abstract = {One of the strongest determinants of behavioural variation is the tradeoff between resource gain and safety. Although classical theory predicts optimal foraging under risk, empirical studies report large unexplained variation in behaviour. Intrinsic individual differences in risk-taking behaviour might contribute to this variation. By repeatedly exposing individuals of a small mesopredator to different experimental landscapes of risks and resources, we tested 1) whether individuals adjust their foraging behaviour according to predictions of the general tradeoff between energy gain and predation avoidance and 2) whether individuals differ consistently and predictably from each other in how they solve this tradeoff. Wild-caught individuals (n = 42) of the jumping spiderMarpissa muscosa, were subjected to repeated release and open-field tests to quantify among-individual variation in boldness and activity. Subsequently, individuals were tested in four foraging tests that differed in risk level (white/dark background colour) and risk variation (constant risk/variable risk simulated by bird dummy overflights) and contained inaccessible but visually perceivable food patches. When exposed to a white background, individuals reduced some aspects of movement and foraging intensity, suggesting that the degree of camouflage serves as a proxy of perceived risk in these predators. Short pulses of acute predation risk, simulated by bird overflights, had only small effects on aspects of foraging behaviour. Notably, a significant part of variation in foraging was due to among-individual differences across risk landscapes that are linked to consistent individual variation in activity, forming a behavioural syndrome. Our results demonstrate the importance of among-individual differences in behaviour of animals that forage under different levels of perceived risk. Since these differences likely affect food-web dynamics and have fitness consequences, future studies should explore the mechanisms that maintain the observed variation in natural populations.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchroedterSchneiderRemusetal.2020,
author = {Schroedter, Linda and Schneider, Roland and Remus, Lisa and Venus, Joachim},
title = {L-(+)-lactic acid from reed},
series = {Resources},
volume = {9},
journal = {Resources},
number = {7},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2079-9276},
doi = {10.3390/resources9070089},
pages = {12},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Biotechnological production of lactic acid (LA) is based on the so-called first generation feedstocks, meaning sugars derived from food and feed crops such as corn, sugarcane and cassava. The aim of this study was to exploit the potential of a second generation resource: Common reed (Phragmites australis) is a powerfully reproducing sweet grass which grows in wetlands and creates vast monocultural populations. This lignocellulose biomass bears the possibility to be refined to value-added products, without competing with agro industrial land. Besides utilizing reed as a renewable and inexpensive substrate, low-cost nutritional supplementation was analyzed for the fermentation of thermophilicBacilluscoagulans.Various nutritional sources such as baker's and brewer's yeast, lucerne green juice and tryptone were investigated for the replacement of yeast extract. The structure of the lignocellulosic material was tackled by chemical treatment (1\% NaOH) and enzymatic hydrolysis (Cellic(R)CTec2).B.coagulansDSM ID 14-300 was employed for the homofermentative conversion of the released hexose and pentose sugars to polymerizable L-(+)-LA of over 99.5\% optical purity. The addition of autolyzed baker's yeast led to the best results of fermentation, enabling an LA titer of 28.3 g L(-1)and a yield of 91.6\%.},
language = {en}
}
@article{OzcelikayKurbanogluYarmanetal.2020,
author = {Ozcelikay, Goksu and Kurbanoglu, Sevinc and Yarman, Aysu and Scheller, Frieder W. and Ozkan, Sibel A.},
title = {Au-Pt nanoparticles based molecularly imprinted nanosensor for electrochemical detection of the lipopeptide antibiotic drug Daptomycin},
series = {Sensors and actuators : B, Chemical},
volume = {320},
journal = {Sensors and actuators : B, Chemical},
publisher = {Elsevier Science},
address = {Amsterdam},
issn = {0925-4005},
doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2020.128285},
pages = {7},
year = {2020},
abstract = {In this work, a novel electrochemical molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor for the detection of the lipopeptide antibiotic Daptomycin (DAP) is presented which integrates gold decorated platinum nanoparticles (Au-Pt NPs) into the nanocomposite film. The sensor was prepared by electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) in the presence of DAP using cyclic voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were applied to follow the changes in the MIP-layer related to rebinding and removal of the target DAP by using the redox marker [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-). Under optimized operational conditions, the MIP/Au-Pt NPs/ GCE nanosensor exhibits a linear response in the range of 1-20 pM towards DAP. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were determined to be 0.161pM +/- 0.012 and 0.489pM +/- 0.012, respectively. The sensitivity towards the antibiotics Vancomycin and Erythromycin and the amino acids glycine and tryptophan was below 7 percent as compared with DAP. Moreover, the nanosensor was also successfully used for the detection of DAP in deproteinated human serum samples.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchellerSchmid2020,
author = {Scheller, Frieder W. and Schmid, Rolf},
title = {A tribute to Isao Karube (1942-2020) and his influence on sensor science},
series = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry : a merger of Fresenius' journal of analytical chemistry, Analusis and Quimica analitica},
volume = {412},
journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry : a merger of Fresenius' journal of analytical chemistry, Analusis and Quimica analitica},
number = {28},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Berlin},
issn = {1618-2642},
doi = {10.1007/s00216-020-02946-5},
pages = {7709 -- 7711},
year = {2020},
language = {en}
}
@article{KuekenGennermannNikoloski2020,
author = {K{\"u}ken, Anika and Gennermann, Kristin and Nikoloski, Zoran},
title = {Characterization of maximal enzyme catalytic rates in central metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana},
series = {The plant journal},
volume = {103},
journal = {The plant journal},
number = {6},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {0960-7412},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.14890},
pages = {2168 -- 2177},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Availability of plant-specific enzyme kinetic data is scarce, limiting the predictive power of metabolic models and precluding identification of genetic factors of enzyme properties. Enzyme kinetic data are measuredin vitro, often under non-physiological conditions, and conclusions elicited from modeling warrant caution. Here we estimate maximalin vivocatalytic rates for 168 plant enzymes, including photosystems I and II, cytochrome-b6f complex, ATP-citrate synthase, sucrose-phosphate synthase as well as enzymes from amino acid synthesis with previously undocumented enzyme kinetic data in BRENDA. The estimations are obtained by integrating condition-specific quantitative proteomics data, maximal rates of selected enzymes, growth measurements fromArabidopsis thalianarosette with and fluxes through canonical pathways in a constraint-based model of leaf metabolism. In comparison to findings inEscherichia coli, we demonstrate weaker concordance between the plant-specificin vitroandin vivoenzyme catalytic rates due to a low degree of enzyme saturation. This is supported by the finding that concentrations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate), adenosine triphosphate and uridine triphosphate, calculated based on our maximalin vivocatalytic rates, and available quantitative metabolomics data are below reportedKMvalues and, therefore, indicate undersaturation of respective enzymes. Our findings show that genome-wide profiling of enzyme kinetic properties is feasible in plants, paving the way for understanding resource allocation.},
language = {en}
}
@article{CanitzKirschbaumTiedemann2020,
author = {Canitz, Julia and Kirschbaum, Frank and Tiedemann, Ralph},
title = {Transcriptome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms related to electric organ discharge differentiation among African weakly electric fish species},
series = {PLoS one},
volume = {15},
journal = {PLoS one},
number = {10},
publisher = {PLoS},
address = {San Francisco, California, US},
issn = {1932-6203},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0240812},
pages = {21},
year = {2020},
abstract = {African weakly electric fish of the mormyrid genus Campylomormyrus generate pulse-type electric organ discharges (EODs) for orientation and communication. Their pulse durations are species-specific and elongated EODs are a derived trait. So far, differential gene expression among tissue-specific transcriptomes across species with different pulses and point mutations in single ion channel genes indicate a relation of pulse duration and electrocyte geometry/excitability. However, a comprehensive assessment of expressed Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the entire transcriptome of African weakly electric fish, with the potential to identify further genes influencing EOD duration, is still lacking. This is of particular value, as discharge duration is likely based on multiple cellular mechanisms and various genes. Here we provide the first transcriptome-wide SNP analysis of African weakly electric fish species (genus Campylomormyrus) differing by EOD duration to identify candidate genes and cellular mechanisms potentially involved in the determination of an elongated discharge of C. tshokwe. Non-synonymous substitutions specific to C. tshokwe were found in 27 candidate genes with inferred positive selection among Campylomormyrus species. These candidate genes had mainly functions linked to transcriptional regulation, cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Further, by comparing gene annotations between C. compressirostris (ancestral short EOD) and C. tshokwe (derived elongated EOD), we identified 27 GO terms and 2 KEGG pathway categories for which C. tshokwe significantly more frequently exhibited a species-specific expressed substitution than C. compressirostris. The results indicate that transcriptional regulation as well cell proliferation and differentiation take part in the determination of elongated pulse durations in C. tshokwe. Those cellular processes are pivotal for tissue morphogenesis and might determine the shape of electric organs supporting the observed correlation between electrocyte geometry/tissue structure and discharge duration. The inferred expressed SNPs and their functional implications are a valuable resource for future investigations on EOD durations.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MartinDorjeeGrothetal.2020,
author = {Martin, Lidia and Dorjee, Binu and Groth, Detlef and Scheffler, Christiane},
title = {Positive influence of parental education on growth of children},
series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger},
volume = {77},
journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger},
number = {5},
publisher = {Schweizerbart science publishers},
address = {Stuttgart},
issn = {0003-5548},
doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2020/1177},
pages = {375 -- 387},
year = {2020},
abstract = {In nature, dominance is often shown by body size; even in humans many studies report that social status is associated with body height. In today's society, educational status is an important factor for social classification. Since growing children do not have their own educational or social status, they are often affected by the status of their parents. Therefore, the question appears, whether parental educational status measurably affects the growth of a child. If so, is this explainable by the nutritional factors? To test this hypothesis, seven different Indian data sets where reexamined using the St. Nicolas House Analysis. The results show a direct association between parental education and body height (hSDS) of the child, but there was no influence of parental education on the nutritional status. We conclude that education has a direct effect on height that is not mediated via nutrition.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MorenoCurtidorAnnunziataGuptaetal.2020,
author = {Moreno Curtidor, Catalina and Annunziata, Maria Grazia and Gupta, Saurabh and Apelt, Federico and Richard, Sarah Isabel and Kragler, Friedrich and M{\"u}ller-R{\"o}ber, Bernd and Olas, Justyna Jadwiga},
title = {Physiological profiling of embryos and dormant seeds in two Arabidopsis accessions reveals a metabolic switch in carbon reserve accumulation},
series = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {11},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {1664-462X},
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2020.588433},
pages = {14},
year = {2020},
abstract = {In flowering plants, sugars act as carbon sources providing energy for developing embryos and seeds. Although most studies focus on carbon metabolism in whole seeds, knowledge about how particular sugars contribute to the developmental transitions during embryogenesis is scarce. To develop a quantitative understanding of how carbon composition changes during embryo development, and to determine how sugar status contributes to final seed or embryo size, we performed metabolic profiling of hand-dissected embryos at late torpedo and mature stages, and dormant seeds, in two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions with medium [Columbia-0 (Col-0)] and large [Burren-0 (Bur-0)] seed sizes, respectively. Our results show that, in both accessions, metabolite profiles of embryos largely differ from those of dormant seeds. We found that developmental transitions from torpedo to mature embryos, and further to dormant seeds, are associated with major metabolic switches in carbon reserve accumulation. While glucose, sucrose, and starch predominantly accumulated during seed dormancy, fructose levels were strongly elevated in mature embryos. Interestingly, Bur-0 seeds contain larger mature embryos than Col-0 seeds. Fructose and starch were accumulated to significantly higher levels in mature Bur-0 than Col-0 embryos, suggesting that they contribute to the enlarged mature Bur-0 embryos. Furthermore, we found that Bur-0 embryos accumulated a higher level of sucrose compared to hexose sugars and that changes in sucrose metabolism are mediated by sucrose synthase (SUS), with SUS genes acting non-redundantly, and in a tissue-specific manner to utilize sucrose during late embryogenesis.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchulteBernhardtStoofLeichsenringetal.2020,
author = {Schulte, Luise and Bernhardt, Nadine and Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie and Zimmermann, Heike Hildegard and Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna and Epp, Laura S. and Herzschuh, Ulrike},
title = {Hybridization capture of larch (Larix Mill.) chloroplast genomes from sedimentary ancient DNA reveals past changes of Siberian forest},
series = {Molecular ecology resources},
volume = {21},
journal = {Molecular ecology resources},
number = {3},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {1755-098X},
doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13311},
pages = {801 -- 815},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Siberian larch (Larix Mill.) forests dominate vast areas of northern Russia and contribute important ecosystem services to the world. It is important to understand the past dynamics of larches in order to predict their likely response to a changing climate in the future. Sedimentary ancient DNA extracted from lake sediment cores can serve as archives to study past vegetation. However, the traditional method of studying sedimentary ancient DNA-metabarcoding-focuses on small fragments, which cannot resolve Larix to species level nor allow a detailed study of population dynamics. Here, we use shotgun sequencing and hybridization capture with long-range PCR-generated baits covering the complete Larix chloroplast genome to study Larix populations from a sediment core reaching back to 6700 years from the Taymyr region in northern Siberia. In comparison with shotgun sequencing, hybridization capture results in an increase in taxonomically classified reads by several orders of magnitude and the recovery of complete chloroplast genomes of Larix. Variation in the chloroplast reads corroborates an invasion of Larix gmelinii into the range of Larix sibirica before 6700 years ago. Since then, both species have been present at the site, although larch populations have decreased with only a few trees remaining in what was once a forested area. This study demonstrates for the first time that hybridization capture applied directly to ancient DNA of plants extracted from lake sediments can provide genome-scale information and is a viable tool for studying past genomic changes in populations of single species, irrespective of a preservation as macrofossil.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MarquartGoldbachBlaum2020,
author = {Marquart, Arnim and Goldbach, Lars and Blaum, Niels},
title = {Soil-texture affects the influence of termite macropores on soil water infiltration in a semi-arid savanna},
series = {Ecohydrology : ecosystems, land and water process interactions, ecohydrogeomorphology},
volume = {13},
journal = {Ecohydrology : ecosystems, land and water process interactions, ecohydrogeomorphology},
number = {8},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Chichester},
issn = {1936-0584},
doi = {10.1002/eco.2249},
pages = {11},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Subterranean termites create tunnels (macropores) for foraging that can influence water infiltration and may lead to preferential flow to deeper soil layers. This is particularly important in water limited ecosystems such as semi-arid, agriculturally utilized savannas, which are particularly prone to land degradation and shrub-encroachment. Using termite activity has been suggested as a restoration measure, but their impact on hydrology is neither universal nor yet fully understood. Here, we used highly replicated, small-scale (50 x 50 cm) rain-simulation experiments to analyse the interacting effects of either vegetation (grass dominated vs. shrub dominated sites) or soil texture (sand vs. loamy sand) and termite foraging macropores on infiltration patterns. We used Brilliant Blue FCF as colour tracer to make the flow pathways in paired experiments visible, on either termite-disturbed soil or controls without surface macropores in two semi-arid Namibian savannas (with either heterogeneous soil texture or shrub cover). On highly shrub-encroached plots in the savanna site with heterogeneous soil texture, termite macropores increased maximum infiltration depth and total amount of infiltrated water on loamy sand, but not on sandy soil. In the sandy savanna with heterogeneous shrub cover, neither termite activity nor shrub density affected the infiltration. Termite's effect on infiltration depends on the soil's hydraulic conductivity and occurs mostly under ponded conditions, intercepting run-off. In semi-arid savanna soils with a considerable fraction of fine particles, termites are likely an important factor for soil water dynamics.},
language = {en}
}
@article{RazaghiMoghadamNikoloski2020,
author = {Razaghi-Moghadam, Zahra and Nikoloski, Zoran},
title = {Supervised learning of gene-regulatory networks based on graph distance profiles of transcriptomics data},
series = {npj Systems biology and applications},
volume = {6},
journal = {npj Systems biology and applications},
number = {1},
publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
address = {London},
issn = {2056-7189},
doi = {10.1038/s41540-020-0140-1},
pages = {8},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Characterisation of gene-regulatory network (GRN) interactions provides a stepping stone to understanding how genes affect cellular phenotypes. Yet, despite advances in profiling technologies, GRN reconstruction from gene expression data remains a pressing problem in systems biology. Here, we devise a supervised learning approach, GRADIS, which utilises support vector machine to reconstruct GRNs based on distance profiles obtained from a graph representation of transcriptomics data. By employing the data fromEscherichia coliandSaccharomyces cerevisiaeas well as synthetic networks from the DREAM4 and five network inference challenges, we demonstrate that our GRADIS approach outperforms the state-of-the-art supervised and unsupervided approaches. This holds when predictions about target genes for individual transcription factors as well as for the entire network are considered. We employ experimentally verified GRNs fromE. coliandS. cerevisiaeto validate the predictions and obtain further insights in the performance of the proposed approach. Our GRADIS approach offers the possibility for usage of other network-based representations of large-scale data, and can be readily extended to help the characterisation of other cellular networks, including protein-protein and protein-metabolite interactions.},
language = {en}
}
@article{TongNikoloski2020,
author = {Tong, Hao and Nikoloski, Zoran},
title = {Machine learning approaches for crop improvement},
series = {Journal of plant physiology : biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and biotechnology of plants},
volume = {257},
journal = {Journal of plant physiology : biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and biotechnology of plants},
publisher = {Elsevier},
address = {M{\"u}nchen},
issn = {0176-1617},
doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153354},
pages = {13},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Highly efficient and accurate selection of elite genotypes can lead to dramatic shortening of the breeding cycle in major crops relevant for sustaining present demands for food, feed, and fuel. In contrast to classical approaches that emphasize the need for resource-intensive phenotyping at all stages of artificial selection, genomic selection dramatically reduces the need for phenotyping. Genomic selection relies on advances in machine learning and the availability of genotyping data to predict agronomically relevant phenotypic traits. Here we provide a systematic review of machine learning approaches applied for genomic selection of single and multiple traits in major crops in the past decade. We emphasize the need to gather data on intermediate phenotypes, e.g. metabolite, protein, and gene expression levels, along with developments of modeling techniques that can lead to further improvements of genomic selection. In addition, we provide a critical view of factors that affect genomic selection, with attention to transferability of models between different environments. Finally, we highlight the future aspects of integrating high-throughput molecular phenotypic data from omics technologies with biological networks for crop improvement.},
language = {en}
}
@article{RazaghiMoghadamNikoloski2020,
author = {Razaghi-Moghadam, Zahra and Nikoloski, Zoran},
title = {GeneReg},
series = {Bioinformatics},
volume = {37},
journal = {Bioinformatics},
number = {12},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {1367-4803},
doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa996},
pages = {1717 -- 1723},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Motivation Large-scale metabolic models are widely used to design metabolic engineering strategies for diverse biotechnological applications. However, the existing computational approaches focus on alteration of reaction fluxes and often neglect the manipulations of gene expression to implement these strategies. Results Here, we find that the association of genes with multiple reactions leads to infeasibility of engineering strategies at the flux level, since they require contradicting manipulations of gene expression. Moreover, we identify that all of the existing approaches to design gene knockout strategies do not ensure that the resulting design may also require other gene alterations, such as up- or downregulations, to match the desired flux distribution. To address these issues, we propose a constraint-based approach, termed GeneReg, that facilitates the design of feasible metabolic engineering strategies at the gene level and that is readily applicable to large-scale metabolic networks. We show that GeneReg can identify feasible strategies to overproduce ethanol in Escherichia coli and lactate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but overproduction of the TCA cycle intermediates is not feasible in five organisms used as cell factories under default growth conditions. Therefore, GeneReg points at the need to couple gene regulation and metabolism to design rational metabolic engineering strategies.},
language = {en}
}
@article{DuffusSchrapersSchuthetal.2020,
author = {Duffus, Benjamin R. and Schrapers, Peer and Schuth, Nils and Mebs, Stefan and Dau, Holger and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Haumann, Michael},
title = {Anion binding and oxidative modification at the molybdenum cofactor of formate dehydrogenase from Rhodobacter capsulatus studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy},
series = {Inorganic chemistry},
volume = {59},
journal = {Inorganic chemistry},
number = {1},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
address = {Washington, DC},
issn = {0020-1669},
doi = {10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01613},
pages = {214 -- 225},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzymes are versatile catalysts for CO2 conversion. The FDH from Rhodobacter capsulatus contains a molybdenum cofactor with the dithiolene functions of two pyranopterin guanine dinucleotide molecules, a conserved cysteine, and a sulfido group bound at Mo(VI). In this study, we focused on metal oxidation state and coordination changes in response to exposure to O-2, inhibitory anions, and redox agents using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Mo K-edge. Differences in the oxidative modification of the bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide (bis-MGD) cofactor relative to samples prepared aerobically without inhibitor, such as variations in the relative numbers of sulfido (Mo=S) and oxo (Mo=O) bonds, were observed in the presence of azide (N-3(-)) or cyanate (OCN-). Azide provided best protection against O-2, resulting in a quantitatively sulfurated cofactor with a displaced cysteine ligand and optimized formate oxidation activity. Replacement of the cysteine ligand by a formate (HCO2-) ligand at the molybdenum in active enzyme is compatible with our XAS data. Cyanide (CN-) inactivated the enzyme by replacing the sulfido ligand at Mo(VI) with an oxo ligand. Evidence that the sulfido group may become protonated upon molybdenum reduction was obtained. Our results emphasize the role of coordination flexibility at the molybdenum center during inhibitory and catalytic processes of FDH enzymes.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KorniienkoNguyenBaumgartneretal.2020,
author = {Korniienko, Yevheniia and Nguyen, Linh and Baumgartner, Stephanie and Vater, Marianne and Tiedemann, Ralph and Kirschbaum, Frank},
title = {Intragenus F1-hybrids of African weakly electric fish (Mormyridae: Campylomormyrus tamandua male x C. compressirostris female) are fertile},
series = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
volume = {206},
journal = {Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology},
number = {4},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Heidelberg},
issn = {0340-7594},
doi = {10.1007/s00359-020-01425-7},
pages = {571 -- 585},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Hybridization is widespread in fish and constitutes an important mechanism in fish speciation. There is, however, little knowledge about hybridization in mormyrids. F1-interspecies hybrids betweenCampylomormyrus tamandua male x C. compressirostris female were investigated concerning: (1) fertility; (2) survival of F2-fish and (3) new gene combinations in the F2-generation concerning the structure of the electric organ and features of the electric organ discharge. These F1-hybrids achieved sexual maturity at about 12-13.5 cm total length. A breeding group comprising six males and 13 females spawned 28 times naturally proving these F1-fish to be fertile. On average 228 eggs were spawned, the average fertilization rate was 47.8\%. Eggs started to hatch 70-72 h after fertilization, average hatching rate was 95.6\%. Average mortality rate during embryonic development amounted to 2.3\%. Average malformation rate during the free embryonic stage was 27.7\%. Exogenous feeding started on day 11. In total, we raised 353 normally developed larvae all of which died consecutively, the oldest specimen reaching an age of 5 months. During survival, the activities of the larval and adult electric organs were recorded and the structure of the adult electric organ was investigated histologically.},
language = {en}
}
@article{PottsSchlaegel2020,
author = {Potts, Jonathan R. and Schl{\"a}gel, Ulrike E.},
title = {Parametrizing diffusion-taxis equations from animal movement trajectories using step selection analysis},
series = {Methods in ecology and evolution : an official journal of the British Ecological Society},
volume = {11},
journal = {Methods in ecology and evolution : an official journal of the British Ecological Society},
number = {9},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {2041-210X},
doi = {10.1111/2041-210X.13406},
pages = {1092 -- 1105},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Mathematical analysis of partial differential equations (PDEs) has led to many insights regarding the effect of organism movements on spatial population dynamics. However, their use has mainly been confined to the community of mathematical biologists, with less attention from statistical and empirical ecologists. We conjecture that this is principally due to the inherent difficulties in fitting PDEs to data. To help remedy this situation, in the context of movement ecology, we show how the popular technique of step selection analysis (SSA) can be used to parametrize a class of PDEs, calleddiffusion-taxismodels, from an animal's trajectory. We examine the accuracy of our technique on simulated data, then demonstrate the utility of diffusion-taxis models in two ways. First, for non-interacting animals, we derive the steady-state utilization distribution in a closed analytic form. Second, we give a recipe for deriving spatial pattern formation properties that emerge from interacting animals: specifically, do those interactions cause heterogeneous spatial distributions to emerge and if so, do these distributions oscillate at short times or emerge without oscillations? The second question is applied to data on concurrently tracked bank volesMyodes glareolus. Our results show that SSA can accurately parametrize diffusion-taxis equations from location data, providing the frequency of the data is not too low. We show that the steady-state distribution of our diffusion-taxis model, where it is derived, has an identical functional form to the utilization distribution given by resource selection analysis (RSA), thus formally linking (fine scale) SSA with (broad scale) RSA. For the bank vole data, we show how our SSA-PDE approach can give predictions regarding the spatial aggregation and segregation of different individuals, which are difficult to predict purely by examining results of SSA. Our methods provide a user-friendly way into the world of PDEs, via a well-used statistical technique, which should lead to tighter links between the findings of mathematical ecology and observations from empirical ecology. By providing a non-speculative link between observed movement behaviours and space use patterns on larger spatio-temporal scales, our findings will also aid integration of movement ecology into understanding spatial species distributions.},
language = {en}
}
@article{MendelHercherZupoketal.2020,
author = {Mendel, Ralf R. and Hercher, Thomas W. and Zupok, Arkadiusz and Hasnat, Muhammad Abrar and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke},
title = {The requirement of inorganic Fe-S clusters for the biosynthesis of the organometallic molybdenum cofactor},
series = {Inorganics : open access journal},
volume = {8},
journal = {Inorganics : open access journal},
number = {7},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2304-6740},
doi = {10.3390/inorganics8070043},
pages = {23},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are essential protein cofactors. In enzymes, they are present either in the rhombic [2Fe-2S] or the cubic [4Fe-4S] form, where they are involved in catalysis and electron transfer and in the biosynthesis of metal-containing prosthetic groups like the molybdenum cofactor (Moco). Here, we give an overview of the assembly of Fe-S clusters in bacteria and humans and present their connection to the Moco biosynthesis pathway. In all organisms, Fe-S cluster assembly starts with the abstraction of sulfur froml-cysteine and its transfer to a scaffold protein. After formation, Fe-S clusters are transferred to carrier proteins that insert them into recipient apo-proteins. In eukaryotes like humans and plants, Fe-S cluster assembly takes place both in mitochondria and in the cytosol. Both Moco biosynthesis and Fe-S cluster assembly are highly conserved among all kingdoms of life. Moco is a tricyclic pterin compound with molybdenum coordinated through its unique dithiolene group. Moco biosynthesis begins in the mitochondria in a Fe-S cluster dependent step involving radical/S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) chemistry. An intermediate is transferred to the cytosol where the dithiolene group is formed, to which molybdenum is finally added. Further connections between Fe-S cluster assembly and Moco biosynthesis are discussed in detail.},
language = {en}
}
@article{VindasPicadoYaneyKellerStAndrewsetal.2020,
author = {Vindas-Picado, Jos{\´e} and Yaney-Keller, Adam and St. Andrews, Laura and Panagopoulou, Aliki and Santidri{\´a}n Tomillo, Pilar},
title = {Effectiveness of shading to mitigate the impact of high temperature on sea turtle clutches considering the effect on primary sex ratios},
series = {Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change : an international journal devoted to scientific, engineering, socio-economic and policy responses to environmental change},
volume = {25},
journal = {Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change : an international journal devoted to scientific, engineering, socio-economic and policy responses to environmental change},
number = {8},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Dordrecht},
issn = {1381-2386},
doi = {10.1007/s11027-020-09932-3},
pages = {1509 -- 1521},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Developmental success of sea turtle clutches depends on incubation temperature, which also determines sex ratio of hatchlings. As global temperatures are rising, several studies have proposed mitigation strategies such as irrigation and shading to increase hatching success. Our study expands upon this research and measures the effects of using boxes with different degrees of shade coverage (50\%, 80\%, and 90\%) on sand temperature and water content. Boxes were fully covered with fabric in 2017/2018 (top and sides) but were side open in 2018/2019. We took measurements at olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtle nest depths (45 and 75 cm) at Playa Grande, Costa Rica. Shading reduced temperature by up to 0.8 degrees C and up to 0.4 degrees C at 45 cm and 75 cm, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between shading and control treatments at both depths, but differences between shade treatments were only significant when using side open boxes, possibly due to air flow. Shading had no effect on water content. While the impact of using shaded boxes on temperature was low, the potential impact on primary sex ratios was large. If shading were applied to leatherback clutches, the percentage of female hatchlings could vary by up to 50\%, with a maximum difference around the pivotal temperature (temperature with 1:1 sex ratio). Shading can be useful to increase hatching success, but we recommend avoiding it at temperatures within the transitional range (temperatures that produce both sexes), or using it only during the last third of incubation, when sex is already determined. As global warming will likely continue, understanding potential impact and effectiveness of mitigation strategies may be critical for the survival of threatened sea turtle populations.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KorniienkoTiedemannVateretal.2020,
author = {Korniienko, Yevheniia and Tiedemann, Ralph and Vater, Marianne and Kirschbaum, Frank},
title = {Ontogeny of the electric organ discharge and of the papillae of the electrocytes in the weakly electric fish Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus (Teleostei: Mormyridae)},
series = {The journal of comparative neurology},
volume = {529},
journal = {The journal of comparative neurology},
number = {5},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {0021-9967},
doi = {10.1002/cne.25003},
pages = {1052 -- 1065},
year = {2020},
abstract = {The electric organ of the mormyrid weakly electric fish,Campylomormyrus rhynchophorus(Boulenger, 1898), undergoes changes in both the electric organ discharge (EOD) and the light and electron microscopic morphology as the fish mature from the juvenile to the adult form. Of particular interest was the appearance of papillae, surface specializations of the uninnervated anterior face of the electrocyte, which have been hypothesized to increase the duration of the EOD. In a 24.5 mm long juvenile the adult electric organ (EO) was not yet functional, and the electrocytes lacked papillae. A 40 mm long juvenile, which produced a short biphasic EOD of 1.3 ms duration, shows small papillae (average area 136 mu m(2)). In contrast, the EOD of a 79 mm long juvenile was triphasic. The large increase in duration of the EOD to 23.2 ms was accompanied by a small change in size of the papillae (average area 159 mu m(2)). Similarly, a 150 mm long adult produced a triphasic EOD of comparable duration to the younger stage (24.7 ms) but featured a prominent increase in size of the papillae (average area 402 mu m(2)). Thus, there was no linear correlation between EOD duration and papillary size. The most prominent ultrastructural change was at the level of the myofilaments, which regularly extended into the papillae, only in the oldest specimen-probably serving a supporting function. Physiological mechanisms, like gene expression levels, as demonstrated in someCampylomormyrusspecies, might be more important concerning the duration of the EOD.},
language = {en}
}
@article{CrawfordKaramatLehotaietal.2020,
author = {Crawford, Tim and Karamat, Fazeelat and Lehotai, N{\´o}ra and Rentoft, Matilda and Blomberg, Jeanette and Strand, {\AA}sa and Bj{\"o}rklund, Stefan},
title = {Specific functions for mediator complex subunits from different modules in the transcriptional response of arabidopsis thaliana to abiotic stress},
series = {Scientific reports},
volume = {10},
journal = {Scientific reports},
number = {1},
publisher = {Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature},
address = {London},
issn = {2045-2322},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-61758-w},
pages = {1 -- 18},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Adverse environmental conditions are detrimental to plant growth and development. Acclimation to abiotic stress conditions involves activation of signaling pathways which often results in changes in gene expression via networks of transcription factors (TFs). Mediator is a highly conserved co-regulator complex and an essential component of the transcriptional machinery in eukaryotes. Some Mediator subunits have been implicated in stress-responsive signaling pathways; however, much remains unknown regarding the role of plant Mediator in abiotic stress responses. Here, we use RNA-seq to analyze the transcriptional response of Arabidopsis thaliana to heat, cold and salt stress conditions. We identify a set of common abiotic stress regulons and describe the sequential and combinatorial nature of TFs involved in their transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, we identify stress-specific roles for the Mediator subunits MED9, MED16, MED18 and CDK8, and putative TFs connecting them to different stress signaling pathways. Our data also indicate different modes of action for subunits or modules of Mediator at the same gene loci, including a co-repressor function for MED16 prior to stress. These results illuminate a poorly understood but important player in the transcriptional response of plants to abiotic stress and identify target genes and mechanisms as a prelude to further biochemical characterization.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KolyvushkoLatzkeDahmanietal.2020,
author = {Kolyvushko, Oleksandr and Latzke, Juliane and Dahmani, Ismail and Osterrieder, Nikolaus and Chiantia, Salvatore and Azab, Walid},
title = {Differentially-charged liposomes interact with alphaherpesviruses and interfere with virus entry},
series = {Pathogens},
volume = {9},
journal = {Pathogens},
number = {5},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2076-0817},
doi = {10.3390/pathogens9050359},
pages = {9},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane is induced by infection with several members of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily. There is evidence that PS is used by the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) during entry, but the exact role of PS and other phospholipids in the entry process remains unknown. Here, we investigated the interaction of differently charged phospholipids with virus particles and determined their influence on infection. Our data show that liposomes containing negatively charged PS or positively charged DOTAP (N-[1-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium) inhibited EHV-1 infection, while neutral phosphatidylcholine (PC) had no effect. Inhibition of infection with PS was transient, decreased with time, and was dose dependent. Our findings indicate that both cationic and anionic phospholipids can interact with the virus and reduce infectivity, while, presumably, acting through different mechanisms. Charged phospholipids were found to have antiviral effects and may be used to inhibit EHV-1 infection.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchenkeSchjeidePuescheletal.2020,
author = {Schenke, Maren and Schjeide, Brit-Maren and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul and Seeger, Bettina},
title = {Analysis of motor neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells for the use in cell-based Botulinum neurotoxin activity assays},
series = {Toxins},
volume = {12},
journal = {Toxins},
number = {5},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2072-6651},
doi = {10.3390/toxins12050276},
pages = {20},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are potent neurotoxins produced by bacteria, which inhibit neurotransmitter release, specifically in their physiological target known as motor neurons (MNs). For the potency assessment of BoNTs produced for treatment in traditional and aesthetic medicine, the mouse lethality assay is still used by the majority of manufacturers, which is ethically questionable in terms of the 3Rs principle. In this study, MNs were differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells based on three published protocols. The resulting cell populations were analyzed for their MN yield and their suitability for the potency assessment of BoNTs. MNs produce specific gangliosides and synaptic proteins, which are bound by BoNTs in order to be taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis, which is followed by cleavage of specific soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment receptor (SNARE) proteins required for neurotransmitter release. The presence of receptors and substrates for all BoNT serotypes was demonstrated in MNs generated in vitro. In particular, the MN differentiation protocol based on Du et al. yielded high numbers of MNs in a short amount of time with high expression of BoNT receptors and targets. The resulting cells are more sensitive to BoNT/A1 than the commonly used neuroblastoma cell line SiMa. MNs are, therefore, an ideal tool for being combined with already established detection methods.},
language = {en}
}
@article{SchneebergerTaborsky2020,
author = {Schneeberger, Karin and Taborsky, Michael},
title = {The role of sensory ecology and cognition in social decisions},
series = {Functional ecology : an official journal of the British Ecological Society},
volume = {34},
journal = {Functional ecology : an official journal of the British Ecological Society},
number = {2},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {0269-8463},
doi = {10.1111/1365-2435.13488},
pages = {302 -- 309},
year = {2020},
abstract = {1. We generally assume that animals should maximize information acquisition about their environment to make prudent decisions. But this is a naive assumption, as gaining information typically involves costs.
2. This is especially so in the social context, where interests between interacting partners usually diverge. The arms race involved in mutual assessment is characterized by the attempt to obtain revealing information from a partner while providing only as much information by oneself as is conducive to one's own intentions.
3. If obtaining information occasions costs in terms of time, energy and risk, animals should be selected to base their decisions on a cost-benefit ratio that takes account of the trade-off between the risk of making wrong choices and the costs involved in information acquisition, processing and use.
4. In addition, there may be physiological and/or environmental constraints limiting the ability to obtaining, processing and utilizing reliable information.
5. Here, we discuss recent empirical evidence for the proposition that social decisions are to an important extent based on the costs that result from acquiring, processing, evaluating and storing information. Using examples from different taxa and ecological contexts, we aim at drawing attention to the often neglected costs of information recipience, with emphasis on the potential role of sensory ecology and cognition in social decisions.},
language = {en}
}
@article{OlasFichtnerApelt2020,
author = {Olas, Justyna Jadwiga and Fichtner, Franziska and Apelt, Federico},
title = {All roads lead to growth},
series = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {71},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
number = {1},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {0022-0957},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/erz406},
pages = {11 -- 21},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Plant growth is a highly complex biological process that involves innumerable interconnected biochemical and signalling pathways. Many different techniques have been developed to measure growth, unravel the various processes that contribute to plant growth, and understand how a complex interaction between genotype and environment determines the growth phenotype. Despite this complexity, the term 'growth' is often simplified by researchers; depending on the method used for quantification, growth is viewed as an increase in plant or organ size, a change in cell architecture, or an increase in structural biomass. In this review, we summarise the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth, highlight state-of-the-art imaging and non-imaging-based techniques to quantitatively measure growth, including a discussion of their advantages and drawbacks, and suggest a terminology for growth rates depending on the type of technique used.},
language = {en}
}
@article{WeyrichYasarLenzetal.2020,
author = {Weyrich, Alexandra and Yasar, Selma and Lenz, Dorina and Fickel, J{\"o}rns},
title = {Tissue-specific epigenetic inheritance after paternal heat exposure in male wild guinea pigs},
series = {Mammalian genome},
volume = {31},
journal = {Mammalian genome},
number = {5-6},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {New York},
issn = {0938-8990},
doi = {10.1007/s00335-020-09832-6},
pages = {157 -- 169},
year = {2020},
abstract = {External temperature change has been shown to modify epigenetic patterns, such as DNA methylation, which regulates gene expression. DNA methylation is heritable, and as such provides a mechanism to convey environmental information to subsequent generations. Studies on epigenetic response to temperature increase are still scarce in wild mammals, even more so studies that compare tissue-specific epigenetic responses. Here, we aim to address differential epigenetic responses on a gene and gene pathway level in two organs, liver and testis. We chose these organs, because the liver is the main metabolic and thermoregulation organ, and epigenetic modifications in testis are potentially transmitted to the F2 generation. We focused on the transmission of DNA methylation changes to naive male offspring after paternal exposure to an ambient temperature increase of 10 degrees C, and investigated differential methylated regions of sons sired before and after the paternal exposure using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. We detected both a highly tissue-specific epigenetic response, reflected in genes involved in organ-specific metabolic pathways, and a more general regulation of single genes epigenetically modified in both organs. We conclude that genomes are context-specifically differentially epigenetically regulated in response to temperature increase. These findings emphasize the epigenetic relevance in cell differentiation, which is essential for the specific function(s) of complex organs, and is represented in a diverse molecular regulation of genes and gene pathways. The results also emphasize the paternal contribution to adaptive processes.},
language = {en}
}
@article{KoonceTikhonenkoGraef2020,
author = {Koonce, Michael and Tikhonenko, Irina and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
title = {Dictyostelium cell fixation},
series = {Methods and protocols},
volume = {3},
journal = {Methods and protocols},
number = {3},
publisher = {MDPI},
address = {Basel},
issn = {2409-9279},
doi = {10.3390/mps3030047},
pages = {6},
year = {2020},
abstract = {We share two simple modifications to enhance the fixation and imaging of relatively small, motile, and rounded model cells. These include cell centrifugation and the addition of trace amounts of glutaraldehyde to existing fixation methods. Though they need to be carefully considered in each context, they have been useful to our studies of the spatial relationships of the microtubule cytoskeletal system.},
language = {en}
}
@article{DragoPawlakWeithoff2020,
author = {Drago, Claudia and Pawlak, Julia and Weithoff, Guntram},
title = {Biogenic aggregation of small microplastics alters their ingestion by a common freshwater micro-invertebrate},
series = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
volume = {8},
journal = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
publisher = {Frontiers Media},
address = {Lausanne},
issn = {2296-665X},
doi = {10.3389/fenvs.2020.574274},
pages = {11},
year = {2020},
abstract = {In recent years, increasing concerns have been raised about the environmental risk of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. Small microplastics enter the water either directly or accumulate through disintegration of larger plastic particles. These particles might then be ingested by filter-feeding zooplankton, such as rotifers. Particles released into the water may also interact with the biota through the formation of aggregates, which might alter the uptake by zooplankton. In this study, we tested for size-specific aggregation of polystyrene microspheres and their ingestion by a common freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. The ingestion of three sizes of polystyrene microspheres (MS) 1-, 3-, and 6-mu m was investigated. Each MS size was tested in combination with three different treatments: MS as the sole food intake, MS in association with food algae and MS aggregated with biogenic matter. After 72 h incubation in pre-filtered natural river water, the majority of the 1-mu m spheres occurred as aggregates. The larger the particles, the higher the relative number of single particles and the larger the aggregates. All particles were ingested by the rotifer following a Type-II functional response. The presence of algae did not influence the ingestion of the MS for all three sizes. The biogenic aggregation of microspheres led to a significant size-dependent alteration in their ingestion. Rotifers ingested more microspheres (MS) when exposed to aggregated 1- and 3-mu m MS as compared to single spheres, whereas fewer aggregated 6-mu m spheres were ingested. This indicates that the small particles when aggregated were in an effective size range for Brachionus, while the aggregated larger spheres became too large to be efficiently ingested. These observations provide the first evidence of a size- and aggregation-dependent feeding interaction between microplastics and rotifers. Microplastics when aggregated with biogenic particles in a natural environment can rapidly change their size-dependent availability. The aggregation properties of microplastics should be taken into account when performing experiments mimicking the natural environment.},
language = {en}
}
@article{LenznerMagallonDawsonetal.2020,
author = {Lenzner, Bernd and Magallon, Susana and Dawson, Wayne and Kreft, Holger and K{\"o}nig, Christian and Pergl, Jan and Pysek, Petr and Weigelt, Patrick and van Kleunen, Mark and Winter, Marten and Dullinger, Stefan and Essl, Franz},
title = {Role of diversification rates and evolutionary history as a driver of plant naturalization success},
series = {New phytologist : international journal of plant science},
volume = {229},
journal = {New phytologist : international journal of plant science},
number = {5},
publisher = {Wiley},
address = {Hoboken},
issn = {0028-646X},
doi = {10.1111/nph.17014},
pages = {2998 -- 3008},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Human introductions of species beyond their natural ranges and their subsequent establishment are defining features of global environmental change. However, naturalized plants are not uniformly distributed across phylogenetic lineages, with some families contributing disproportionately more to the global alien species pool than others. Additionally, lineages differ in diversification rates, and high diversification rates have been associated with characteristics that increase species naturalization success. Here, we investigate the role of diversification rates in explaining the naturalization success of angiosperm plant families. We use five global data sets that include native and alien plant species distribution, horticultural use of plants, and a time-calibrated angiosperm phylogeny. Using phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models, we analysed the effect of diversification rate, different geographical range measures, and horticultural use on the naturalization success of plant families. We show that a family's naturalization success is positively associated with its evolutionary history, native range size, and economic use. Investigating interactive effects of these predictors shows that native range size and geographic distribution additionally affect naturalization success. High diversification rates and large ranges increase naturalization success, especially of temperate families. We suggest this may result from lower ecological specialization in temperate families with large ranges, compared with tropical families with smaller ranges.},
language = {en}
}
@article{AbdirashidLenhard2020,
author = {Abdirashid, Hashim and Lenhard, Michael},
title = {Say it with double flowers},
series = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {71},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
number = {9},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {0022-0957},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraa109},
pages = {2469 -- 2471},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Every year, lovers world-wide rely on mutants to show their feelings on Valentine's Day. This is because many of the most popular ornamental flowering plants have been selected to form extra petals at the expense of reproductive organs to enhance their attractiveness and aesthetic value to humans. This so-called 'double flower' (DF) phenotype, first described more than 2000 years ago (Meyerowitz et al., 1989) is present, for example, in many modern roses, carnations, peonies, and camellias. Gattolin et al. (2020) now identify a unifying explanation for the molecular basis of many of these DF cultivars.},
language = {en}
}
@article{HofreiterHartmann2020,
author = {Hofreiter, Michael and Hartmann, Stefanie},
title = {Reconstructing protein-coding sequences from ancient DNA},
series = {Odorant binding and chemosensory proteins},
volume = {642},
journal = {Odorant binding and chemosensory proteins},
publisher = {Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier},
address = {Cambridge, MA.},
isbn = {978-0-12-821157-1},
issn = {0076-6879},
doi = {10.1016/bs.mie.2020.05.008},
pages = {21 -- 33},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Obtaining information about functional details of proteins of extinct species is of critical importance for a better understanding of the real-life appearance, behavior and ecology of these lost entries in the book of life. In this chapter, we discuss the possibilities to retrieve the necessary DNA sequence information from paleogenomic data obtained from fossil specimens, which can then be used to express and subsequently analyze the protein of interest. We discuss the problems specific to ancient DNA, including mis-coding lesions, short read length and incomplete paleogenome assemblies. Finally, we discuss an alternative, but currently rarely used approach, direct PCR amplification, which is especially useful for comparatively short proteins.},
language = {en}
}
@article{ApriyantoTambunan2020,
author = {Apriyanto, Ardha and Tambunan, Van Basten},
title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of oil palm pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust},
series = {Mitochondrial DNA: Part B},
volume = {5},
journal = {Mitochondrial DNA: Part B},
number = {3},
publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group},
address = {Abingdon},
issn = {2380-2359},
doi = {10.1080/23802359.2020.1823899},
pages = {3450 -- 3452},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Elaeidobius kamerunicusis the most important insect pollinator in oil palm plantations. In this study, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) ofE. kamerunicus(17.729 bp), a member of the Curculionidae family, will be reported. The mitogenome consisted of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a putative control region (CR). Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) using maximum Likelihood (ML) methods indicated thatE. kamerunicusbelongs to the Curculionidae family. This mitochondrial genome provides essential information for understanding genetic populations, phylogenetics, molecular evolution, and other biological applications in this species.},
language = {en}
}
@article{DolotovskayaBordalloHausetal.2020,
author = {Dolotovskaya, Sofya and Bordallo, Juan Torroba and Haus, Tanja and Noll, Angela and Hofreiter, Michael and Zinner, Dietmar and Roos, Christian},
title = {Comparing mitogenomic timetrees for two African savannah primate genera (Chlorocebus and Papio)},
series = {Zoological journal of the Linnean Society},
volume = {190},
journal = {Zoological journal of the Linnean Society},
number = {3},
publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
address = {Oxford},
issn = {0024-4082},
doi = {10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa026},
pages = {1071 -- 1073},
year = {2020},
language = {en}
}
@article{EccardLiesenjohannDammhahn2020,
author = {Eccard, Jana and Liesenjohann, Thilo and Dammhahn, Melanie},
title = {Among-individual differences in foraging modulate resource exploitation under perceived predation risk},
series = {Oecologia},
volume = {194},
journal = {Oecologia},
number = {4},
publisher = {Springer},
address = {Berlin},
issn = {0029-8549},
doi = {10.1007/s00442-020-04773-y},
pages = {621 -- 634},
year = {2020},
abstract = {Foraging is risky and involves balancing the benefits of resource acquisition with costs of predation. Optimal foraging theory predicts where, when and how long to forage in a given spatiotemporal distribution of risks and resources. However, significant variation in foraging behaviour and resource exploitation remain unexplained. Using single foragers in artificial landscapes of perceived risks and resources with diminishing returns, we aimed to test whether foraging behaviour and resource exploitation are adjusted to risk level, vary with risk during different components of foraging, and (co)vary among individuals. We quantified foraging behaviour and resource exploitation for 21 common voles (Microtus arvalis). By manipulating ground cover, we created simple landscapes of two food patches varying in perceived risk during feeding in a patch and/or while travelling between patches. Foraging of individuals was variable and adjusted to risk level and type. High risk during feeding reduced feeding duration and food consumption more strongly than risk while travelling. Risk during travelling modified the risk effects of feeding for changes between patches and resulting evenness of resource exploitation. Across risk conditions individuals differed consistently in when and how long they exploited resources and exposed themselves to risk. These among-individual differences in foraging behaviour were associated with consistent patterns of resource exploitation. Thus, different strategies in foraging-under-risk ultimately lead to unequal payoffs and might affect lower trophic levels in food webs. Inter-individual differences in foraging behaviour, i.e. foraging personalities, are an integral part of foraging behaviour and need to be fully integrated into optimal foraging theory.},
language = {en}
}