@phdthesis{Breuer2016,
  author    = {Breuer, David},
  title     = {The plant cytoskeleton as a transportation network},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-93583},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {164},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The cytoskeleton is an essential component of living cells. It is composed of different types of protein filaments that form complex, dynamically rearranging, and interconnected networks. The cytoskeleton serves a multitude of cellular functions which further depend on the cell context. In animal cells, the cytoskeleton prominently shapes the cell's mechanical properties and movement. In plant cells, in contrast, the presence of a rigid cell wall as well as their larger sizes highlight the role of the cytoskeleton in long-distance intracellular transport. As it provides the basis for cell growth and biomass production, cytoskeletal transport in plant cells is of direct environmental and economical relevance. However, while knowledge about the molecular details of the cytoskeletal transport is growing rapidly, the organizational principles that shape these processes on a whole-cell level remain elusive. This thesis is devoted to the following question: How does the complex architecture of the plant cytoskeleton relate to its transport functionality? The answer requires a systems level perspective of plant cytoskeletal structure and transport. To this end, I combined state-of-the-art confocal microscopy, quantitative digital image analysis, and mathematically powerful, intuitively accessible graph-theoretical approaches. This thesis summarizes five of my publications that shed light on the plant cytoskeleton as a transportation network: (1) I developed network-based frameworks for accurate, automated quantification of cytoskeletal structures, applicable in, e.g., genetic or chemical screens; (2) I showed that the actin cytoskeleton displays properties of efficient transport networks, hinting at its biological design principles; (3) Using multi-objective optimization, I demonstrated that different plant cell types sustain cytoskeletal networks with cell-type specific and near-optimal organization; (4) By investigating actual transport of organelles through the cell, I showed that properties of the actin cytoskeleton are predictive of organelle flow and provided quantitative evidence for a coordination of transport at a cellular level; (5) I devised a robust, optimization-based method to identify individual cytoskeletal filaments from a given network representation, allowing the investigation of single filament properties in the network context. The developed methods were made publicly available as open-source software tools. Altogether, my findings and proposed frameworks provide quantitative, system-level insights into intracellular transport in living cells. Despite my focus on the plant cytoskeleton, the established combination of experimental and theoretical approaches is readily applicable to different organisms. Despite the necessity of detailed molecular studies, only a complementary, systemic perspective, as presented here, enables both understanding of cytoskeletal function in its evolutionary context as well as its future technological control and utilization.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Nietzsche2016,
  author    = {Nietzsche, Madlen},
  title     = {Identifizierung und Charakterisierung neuer Komponenten der SnRK1-Signaltransduktion in Arabidopsis thaliana},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-98678},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xi, 182},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {F{\"u}r alle Organismen ist die Aufrechterhaltung ihres energetischen Gleichgewichts unter fluktuierenden Umweltbedingungen lebensnotwendig. In Eukaryoten steuern evolution{\"a}r konservierte Proteinkinasen, die in Pflanzen als SNF1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE1 (SnRK1) bezeichnet werden, die Adaption an Stresssignale aus der Umwelt und an die Limitierung von N{\"a}hrstoffen und zellul{\"a}rer Energie. Die Aktivierung von SnRK1 bedingt eine umfangreiche transkriptionelle Umprogrammierung, die allgemein zu einer Repression energiekonsumierender Prozesse wie beispielsweise Zellteilung und Proteinbiosynthese und zu einer Induktion energieerzeugender, katabolischer Stoffwechselwege f{\"u}hrt. Wie unterschiedliche Signale zu einer generellen sowie teilweise gewebe- und stressspezifischen SnRK1-vermittelten Antwort f{\"u}hren ist bisher noch nicht ausreichend gekl{\"a}rt, auch weil bislang nur wenige Komponenten der SnRK1-Signaltransduktion identifiziert wurden. In dieser Arbeit konnte ein Protein-Protein-Interaktionsnetzwerk um die SnRK1αUntereinheiten aus Arabidopsis AKIN10/AKIN11 etabliert werden. Dadurch wurden zun{\"a}chst Mitglieder der pflanzenspezifischen DUF581-Proteinfamilie als Interaktionspartner der SnRK1α-Untereinheiten identifiziert. Diese Proteine sind {\"u}ber ihre konservierte DUF581Dom{\"a}ne, in der ein Zinkfinger-Motiv lokalisiert ist, f{\"a}hig mit AKIN10/AKIN11 zu interagieren. In planta Ko-Expressionsanalysen zeigten, dass die DUF581-Proteine eine Verschiebung der nucleo-cytoplasmatischen Lokalisierung von AKIN10 hin zu einer nahezu ausschließlichen zellkernspezifischen Lokalisierung beg{\"u}nstigen sowie die Ko-Lokalisierung von AKIN10 und DUF581-Proteinen im Nucleus. In Bimolekularen Fluoreszenzkomplementations-Analysen konnte die zellkernspezifische Interaktion von DUF581-Proteinen mit SnRK1α-Untereinheiten in planta best{\"a}tigt werden. Außerhalb der DUF581-Dom{\"a}ne weisen die Proteine einander keine große Sequenz{\"a}hnlichkeit auf. Aufgrund ihrer F{\"a}higkeit mit SnRK1 zu interagieren, dem Fehlen von SnRK1Phosphorylierungsmotiven sowie ihrer untereinander sehr variabler gewebs-, entwicklungs- und stimulusspezifischer Expression wurde f{\"u}r DUF581-Proteine eine Funktion als Adaptoren postuliert, die unter bestimmten physiologischen Bedingungen spezifische Substratproteine in den SnRK1-Komplex rekrutieren. Auf diese Weise k{\"o}nnten DUF581Proteine die Interaktion von SnRK1 mit deren Zielproteinen modifizieren und eine Feinjustierung der SnRK1-Signalweiterleitung erm{\"o}glichen. Durch weiterf{\"u}hrende Interaktionsstudien konnten DUF581-interagierende Proteine darunter Transkriptionsfaktoren, Proteinkinasen sowie regulatorische Proteine gefunden werden, die teilweise ebenfalls Wechselwirkungen mit SnRK1α-Untereinheiten aufzeigten. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde eines dieser Proteine f{\"u}r das eine Beteiligung an der SnRK1Signalweiterleitung als Transkriptionsregulator vermutet wurde n{\"a}her charakterisiert. STKR1 (STOREKEEPER RELATED 1), ein spezifischer Interaktionspartner von DUF581-18, geh{\"o}rt zu einer pflanzenspezifischen Leucin-Zipper-Transkriptionsfaktorfamilie und interagiert in Hefe sowie in planta mit SnRK1. Die zellkernspezifische Interaktion von STKR1 und AKIN10 in Pflanzen unterst{\"u}tzt die Vermutung der kooperativen Regulation von Zielgenen. Weiterhin stabilisierte die Anwesenheit von AKIN10 die Proteingehalte von STKR1, das wahrscheinlich {\"u}ber das 26S Proteasom abgebaut wird. Da es sich bei STKR1 um ein Phosphoprotein mit SnRK1-Phosphorylierungsmotiv handelt, stellt es sehr wahrscheinlich ein SnRK1-Substrat dar. Allerdings konnte eine SnRK1-vermittelte Phosphorylierung von STKR1 in dieser Arbeit nicht gezeigt werden. Der Verlust von einer Phosphorylierungsstelle beeinflusste die Homo- und Heterodimerisierungsf{\"a}higkeit von STKR1 in Hefeinteraktionsstudien, wodurch eine erh{\"o}hte Spezifit{\"a}t der Zielgenregulation erm{\"o}glicht werden k{\"o}nnte. Außerdem wurden Arabidopsis-Pflanzen mit einer ver{\"a}nderten STKR1-Expression ph{\"a}notypisch, physiologisch und molekularbiologisch charakterisiert. W{\"a}hrend der Verlust der STKR1-Expression zu Pflanzen f{\"u}hrte, die sich kaum von Wildtyp-Pflanzen unterschieden, bedingte die konstitutive {\"U}berexpression von STKR1 ein stark vermindertes Pflanzenwachstum sowie Entwicklungsverz{\"o}gerungen hinsichtlich der Bl{\"u}hinduktion und Seneszenz {\"a}hnlich wie sie auch bei SnRK1α-{\"U}berexpression beschrieben wurden. Pflanzen dieser Linien waren nicht in der Lage Anthocyane zu akkumulieren und enthielten geringere Gehalte an Chlorophyll und Carotinoiden. Neben einem erh{\"o}hten n{\"a}chtlichen St{\"a}rkeumsatz waren die Pflanzen durch geringere Saccharosegehalte im Vergleich zum Wildtyp gekennzeichnet. Eine Transkriptomanalyse ergab, dass in den STKR1-{\"u}berexprimierenden Pflanzen unter Energiemangelbedingungen, hervorgerufen durch eine verl{\"a}ngerte Dunkelphase, eine gr{\"o}ßere Anzahl an Genen im Vergleich zum Wildtyp differentiell reguliert war als w{\"a}hrend der Lichtphase. Dies spricht f{\"u}r eine Beteiligung von STKR1 an Prozessen, die w{\"a}hrend der verl{\"a}ngerten Dunkelphase aktiv sind. Ein solcher ist beispielsweise die SnRK1-Signaltransduktion, die unter energetischem Stress aktiviert wird. Die STKR1{\"U}berexpression f{\"u}hrte zudem zu einer verst{\"a}rkten transkriptionellen Induktion von Abwehrassoziierten Genen sowie NAC- und WRKY-Transkriptionsfaktoren nach verl{\"a}ngerter Dunkelphase. Die Transkriptomdaten deuteten auf eine stimulusunabh{\"a}ngige Induktion von Abwehrprozessen hin und konnten eine Erkl{\"a}rung f{\"u}r die ph{\"a}notypischen und physiologischen Auff{\"a}lligkeiten der STKR1-{\"U}berexprimierer liefern.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Kloss2016,
  author    = {Kloß, Lena},
  title     = {The link between genetic diversity and species diversity},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {109},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Bolger2016,
  author    = {Bolger, Anthony},
  title     = {Sequencing the Genome of the stress-tolerant wild tomato Solanum pennellii and Novel Algorithms motivated thereby},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {143},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Dotzek2016,
  author    = {Dotzek, Jana},
  title     = {Mitochondria in the genus Oenothera - Non-Mendelian inheritance patterns, in vitro structure and evolutionary dynamics},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {134},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Beltran2016,
  author    = {Beltran, Juan Camilo Moreno},
  title     = {Characterization of the Clp protease complex and identification of putative substrates in N. tabacum},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Klauschies2016,
  author    = {Klauschies, Toni},
  title     = {Revealing causes and consequences of functional diversity using trait-based models},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {231},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Zhang2016,
  author    = {Zhang, Youjun},
  title     = {Investigation of the TCA cycle and glycolytic metabolons and their physiological impacts in plants},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {175},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Reinecke2016,
  author    = {Reinecke, Antje Adriana},
  title     = {Impact of protein structure on the mechanics and assembly of mytilus byssal threads},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {101},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{ShahnejatBushehri2016,
  author    = {Shahnejat-Bushehri, Sara},
  title     = {Unravelling the role of the Arabidopsis NAC transcription factor JUNGBRUNNEN1 (JUB1) for the regulation of growth and stress responses},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {155},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Makower2016,
  author    = {Makower, Katharina},
  title     = {The roles of secondary metabolites in microcystis inter-strain interactions},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-93916},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {X, 131},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Among the bloom-forming and potentially harmful cyanobacteria, the genus Microcystis represents a most diverse taxon, on the genomic as well as on morphological and secondary metabolite levels. Microcystis communities are composed of a variety of diversified strains. The focus of this study lies on potential interactions between Microcystis representatives and the roles of secondary metabolites in these interaction processes. The role of secondary metabolites functioning as signaling molecules in the investigated interactions is demonstrated exemplary for the prevalent hepatotoxin microcystin. The extracellular and intracellular roles of microcystin are tested in microarray-based transcriptomic approaches. While an extracellular effect of microcystin on Microcystis transcription is confirmed and connected to a specific gene cluster of another secondary metabolite in this study, the intracellularly occurring microcystin is related with several pathways of the primary metabolism. A clear correlation of a microcystin knockout and the SigE-mediated regulation of carbon metabolism is found. According to the acquired transcriptional data, a model is proposed that postulates the regulating effect of microcystin on transcriptional regulators such as the alternative sigma factor SigE, which in return captures an essential role in sugar catabolism and redox-state regulation. For the purpose of simulating community conditions as found in the field, Microcystis colonies are isolated from the eutrophic lakes near Potsdam, Germany and established as stably growing under laboratory conditions. In co-habitation simulations, the recently isolated field strain FS2 is shown to specifically induce nearly immediate aggregation reactions in the axenic lab strain Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806. In transcriptional studies via microarrays, the induced expression program in PCC 7806 after aggregation induction is shown to involve the reorganization of cell envelope structures, a highly altered nutrient uptake balance and the reorientation of the aggregating cells to a heterotrophic carbon utilization, e.g. via glycolysis. These transcriptional changes are discussed as mechanisms of niche adaptation and acclimation in order to prevent competition for resources.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Rolke2016,
  author    = {Rolke, Daniel},
  title     = {R{\"a}umliche und zeitliche Expressionsmuster sowie Funktionen der Serotonin-Rezeptor-Subtypen der Honigbiene, Apis mellifera L., 1758},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-96667},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xii, 125},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Das biogene Amin Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamin, 5-HT) agiert als wichtiger chemischer Botenstoff bei einer Vielzahl von Organismen. Das durch 5 HT vermittelte Signal wird dabei durch spezifische Rezeptoren wahrgenommen und in eine zellul{\"a}re Reaktion umgesetzt. Diese 5 HT Rezeptoren geh{\"o}ren {\"u}berwiegend zur Familie der G Protein gekoppelten Rezeptoren (GPCRs). Die Honigbiene Apis mellifera bietet unter anderem aufgrund ihrer eusozialen Lebensweise vielf{\"a}ltige Ansatzpunkte zur Erforschung der Funktionen des serotonergen Systems in Insekten. Bei A. mellifera wurden bereits vier 5-HT-Rezeptor-Subtypen beschrieben und molekular sowie pharmakologisch charakterisiert: Am5 HT1A, Am5 HT2α, Am5 HT2β und Am5 HT7. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, gewebespezifische sowie alters- und tageszeitabh{\"a}ngige Expressionsmuster der 5 HT Rezeptor-Subtypen zu untersuchen, um zu einem umfassenden Verst{\"a}ndnis des serotonergen Systems der Honigbiene beizutragen und eine Basis zur Hypothesenentwicklung f{\"u}r m{\"o}gliche physiologische Funktionen zu schaffen. Es wurde die Expression der 5 HT Rezeptorgene sowohl im zentralen Nervensystem, als auch in Teilen des Verdauungs-, Exkretions- und Speicheldr{\"u}sensystems gemessen. Dabei konnte gezeigt werden, dass die untersuchten 5-HT-Rezeptor-Subtypen generell weit im Organismus der Honigbiene verbreitet sind. Interessanterweise unterschieden sich die untersuchten Gewebe hinsichtlich der mRNA-Expressionsmuster der untersuchten Rezeptoren. W{\"a}hrend beispielsweise im Gehirn Am5 ht1A und Am5 ht7 st{\"a}rker als Am5 ht2α und Am5 ht2β exprimiert wurden, zeigte sich in Darmgewebe ein umgekehrtes Muster. Es war bereits bekannt, dass es bei der Expression der Am5-ht2-Gene zu alternativem Spleißen kommt. Dies f{\"u}hrt zur Entstehung der verk{\"u}rzten mRNA-Varianten Am5 ht2αΔIII und Am5 ht2βΔII. Die daraus resultierenden Proteine k{\"o}nnen nicht als funktionelle GPCRs agieren. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass diese verk{\"u}rzten Spleißvarianten dennoch ubiquit{\"a}r in der Honigbiene exprimiert werden. Bemerkenswerterweise wurden gewebe{\"u}bergreifende {\"A}hnlichkeiten der Expressionsmuster der Spleißvarianten gegen{\"u}ber deren zugeh{\"o}rigen Volll{\"a}ngenvarianten festgestellt, welche auf Funktionen der verk{\"u}rzten Varianten in vivo hindeuten. Im Hinblick auf die bei A. mellifera haupts{\"a}chlich altersbedingte Arbeitsteilung wurde die Expression der 5 HT Rezeptor-Subtypen in Gehirnen von unterschiedlich alten Arbeiterinnen mit unterschiedlichen sozialen Rollen verglichen. W{\"a}hrend auf mRNA-Ebene keines der vier 5 HT Rezeptor-Subtypen eine altersabh{\"a}ngig unterschiedliche Expression zeigte, konnte f{\"u}r das Am5-HT1A-Protein eine h{\"o}here Konzentration in den Gehirnen {\"a}lterer Tiere gefunden werden. Dies deutet auf eine posttranskriptionale Regulation der 5 HT1A Rezeptorexpression hin, welche im Zusammenhang mit der Arbeitsteilung stehen k{\"o}nnte. Es erfolgte die Untersuchung tageszeitlicher {\"A}nderungen sowohl der Expression der 5 HT Rezeptor-Subtypen, als auch des biogenen Amins 5 HT selbst. W{\"a}hrend es in den Gehirnen von Arbeiterinnen, welche unter nat{\"u}rlichen Bedingungen gehalten wurden, zu keiner tageszeitabh{\"a}ngigen Ver{\"a}nderung des 5 HT-Titers kam, zeigte die mRNA-Expression von Am5-ht2α und Am5-ht2β eine periodische Oszillation mit Zunahme w{\"a}hrend des Tages und Abnahme w{\"a}hrend der Nacht. Diese Regulation wird durch externe Faktoren hervorgerufen und ist nicht auf einen endogenen circadianen Rhythmus zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren. Dies ging aus der Wiederholung der Expressionsmessungen an Gehirnen von Bienen, welche unter konstanten Laborbedingungen gehalten wurden, hervor. Weiterhin wurde die Beteiligung des serotonergen Systems an der Steuerung von Aspekten des circadianen lokomotorischen Aktivit{\"a}tsrhythmus anhand von Verhaltensexperimenten untersucht. Mit 5 HT gef{\"u}tterte Arbeiterinnen zeigten dabei unter konstanten Bedingungen eine l{\"a}ngere Periode des Aktivit{\"a}tsrhythmus als Kontrolltiere. Dies deutet auf einen Einfluss von 5 HT auf die Modulation der Synchronisation der inneren Uhr hin. Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse tragen wesentlich zum tieferen Verst{\"a}ndnis des serotonergen Systems der Honigbiene bei und bieten Ansatzpunkte f{\"u}r weitergehende Studien zur Funktion von 5 HT im Zusammenhang mit der Modulation von physiologischen Prozessen, Arbeitsteilung und circadianen Rhythmen.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Orf2016,
  author    = {Orf, Isabel},
  title     = {Photorespiratory metabolism in the cyanobacterial model Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {90},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Geyer2016,
  author    = {Geyer, Juliane},
  title     = {Adapting biodiversity conservation management to climate change},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {198},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Pellizzer2016,
  author    = {Pellizzer, Tommaso},
  title     = {A novel approach to identify plastidic factors for plastome genome incompatibility and evidence for the central involvement of the chloroplast in leaf shaping},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {136},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Korkuć2016,
  author    = {Korkuć, Paula},
  title     = {Spatial investigations of protein structures with regard to compound binding and post-translational modifications},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {141},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sokolowska2016,
  author    = {Sokolowska, Ewelina Maria},
  title     = {Implementation of a plasmodesmata gatekeeper system, and its effect on intercellular transport},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {143},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sin2016,
  author    = {Sin, Celine},
  title     = {Post-transcriptional control of gene expression},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-102469},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xxv, 238},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Gene expression describes the process of making functional gene products (e.g. proteins or special RNAs) from instructions encoded in the genetic information (e.g. DNA). This process is heavily regulated, allowing cells to produce the appropriate gene products necessary for cell survival, adapting production as necessary for different cell environments. Gene expression is subject to regulation at several levels, including transcription, mRNA degradation, translation and protein degradation. When intact, this system maintains cell homeostasis, keeping the cell alive and adaptable to different environments. Malfunction in the system can result in disease states and cell death. In this dissertation, we explore several aspects of gene expression control by analyzing data from biological experiments. Most of the work following uses a common mathematical model framework based on Markov chain models to test hypotheses, predict system dynamics or elucidate network topology. Our work lies in the intersection between mathematics and biology and showcases the power of statistical data analysis and math modeling for validation and discovery of biological phenomena.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Shikangalah2016,
  author    = {Shikangalah, Rosemary Ndawapeka},
  title     = {An ecohydrological impact assessment in urban areas},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-102356},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {ii, 105},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Over the last decades, the world's population has been growing at a faster rate, resulting in increased urbanisation, especially in developing countries. More than half of the global population currently lives in urbanised areas with an increasing tendency. The growth of cities results in a significant loss of vegetation cover, soil compaction and sealing of the soil surface which in turn results in high surface runoff during high-intensity storms and causes the problem of accelerated soil water erosion on streets and building grounds. Accelerated soil water erosion is a serious environmental problem in cities as it gives rise to the contamination of aquatic bodies, reduction of ground water recharge and increase in land degradation, and also results in damages to urban infrastructures, including drainage systems, houses and roads. Understanding the problem of water erosion in urban settings is essential for the sustainable planning and management of cities prone to water erosion. However, in spite of the vast existence of scientific literature on water erosion in rural regions, a concrete understanding of the underlying dynamics of urban erosion still remains inadequate for the urban dryland environments. This study aimed at assessing water erosion and the associated socio-environmental determinants in a typical dryland urban area and used the city of Windhoek, Namibia, as a case study. The study used a multidisciplinary approach to assess the problem of water erosion. This included an in depth literature review on current research approaches and challenges of urban erosion, a field survey method for the quantification of the spatial extent of urban erosion in the dryland city of Windhoek, and face to face interviews by using semi-structured questionnaires to analyse the perceptions of stakeholders on urban erosion. The review revealed that around 64\% of the literatures reviewed were conducted in the developed world, and very few researches were carried out in regions with extreme climate, including dryland regions. Furthermore, the applied methods for erosion quantification and monitoring are not inclusive of urban typical features and they are not specific for urban areas. The reviewed literature also lacked aspects aimed at addressing the issues of climate change and policies regarding erosion in cities. In a field study, the spatial extent and severity of an urban dryland city, Windhoek, was quantified and the results show that nearly 56\% of the city is affected by water erosion showing signs of accelerated erosion in the form of rills and gullies, which occurred mainly in the underdeveloped, informal and semi-formal areas of the city. Factors influencing the extent of erosion in Windhoek included vegetation cover and type, socio-urban factors and to a lesser extent slope estimates. A comparison of an interpolated field survey erosion map with a conventional erosion assessment tool (the Universal Soil Loss Equation) depicted a large deviation in spatial patterns, which underlines the inappropriateness of traditional non-urban erosion tools to urban settings and emphasises the need to develop new erosion assessment and management methods for urban environments. It was concluded that measures for controlling water erosion in the city need to be site-specific as the extent of erosion varied largely across the city. The study also analysed the perceptions and understanding of stakeholders of urban water erosion in Windhoek, by interviewing 41 stakeholders using semi-structured questionnaires. The analysis addressed their understanding of water erosion dynamics, their perceptions with regards to the causes and the seriousness of erosion damages, and their attitudes towards the responsibilities for urban erosion. The results indicated that there is less awareness of the process as a phenomenon, instead there is more awareness of erosion damages and the factors contributing to the damages. About 69\% of the stakeholders considered erosion damages to be ranging from moderate to very serious. However, there were notable disparities between the private householders and public authority groups. The study further found that the stakeholders have no clear understanding of their responsibilities towards the management of the control measures and payment for the damages. The private householders and local authority sectors pointed fingers at each other for the responsibilities for erosion damage payments and for putting up prevention measures. The reluctance to take responsibility could create a predicament for areas affected, specifically in the informal settlements where land management is not carried out by the local authority and land is not owned by the occupants. The study concluded that in order to combat urban erosion, it is crucial to understand diverse dynamics aggravating the process of urbanisation from different scales. Accordingly, the study suggests that there is an urgent need for the development of urban-specific approaches that aim at: (a) incorporating the diverse socio-economic-environmental aspects influencing erosion, (b) scientifically improving natural cycles that influence water storages and nutrients for plants in urbanised dryland areas in order to increase the amount of vegetation cover, (c) making use of high resolution satellite images to improve the adopted methods for assessing urban erosion, (d) developing water erosion policies, and (e) continuously monitoring the impact of erosion and the influencing processes from local, national and international levels.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Reichel2016,
  author    = {Reichel, Victoria Eleonore},
  title     = {Biomedical applications and multifunctional nanostructures based on magnetite nanoparticles synthesized in presence of biological additives},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {94, XX},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Heinze2016,
  author    = {Heinze, Johannes},
  title     = {The impact of soil microbiota on plant species performance and diversity in semi-natural grasslands},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {157},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Wutke2016,
  author    = {Wutke, Saskia},
  title     = {Tracing Changes in Space and Time},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {x, 84},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The horse is a fascinating animal symbolizing power, beauty, strength and grace. Among all the animal species domesticated the horse had the largest impact on the course of human history due to its importance for warfare and transportation. Studying the process of horse domestication contributes to the knowledge about the history of horses and even of our own species. Research based on molecular methods has increasingly focused on the genetic basis of horse domestication. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses of modern and ancient horses detected immense maternal diversity, probably due to many mares that contributed to the domestic population. However, mtDNA does not provide an informative phylogeographic structure. In contrast, Y chromosome analyses displayed almost complete uniformity in modern stallions but relatively high diversity in a few ancient horses. Further molecular markers that seem to be well suited to infer the domestication history of horses or genetic and phenotypic changes during this process are loci associated with phenotypic traits. This doctoral thesis consists of three different parts for which I analyzed various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with coat color, locomotion or Y chromosomal variation of horses. These SNPs were genotyped in 350 ancient horses from the Chalcolithic (5,000 BC) to the Middle Ages (11th century). The distribution of the samples ranges from China to the Iberian Peninsula and Iceland. By applying multiplexed next-generation sequencing (NGS) I sequenced short amplicons covering the relevant positions: i) eight coat-color-associated mutations in six genes to deduce the coat color phenotype; ii) the so-called 'Gait-keeper' SNP in the DMRT3 gene to screen for the ability to amble; iii) 16 SNPs previously detected in ancient horses to infer the corresponding haplotype. Based on these data I investigated the occurrence and frequencies of alleles underlying the respective phenotypes as well as Y chromosome haplotypes at different times and regions. Also, selection coefficients for several Y chromosome lineages or phenotypes were estimated. Concerning coat color differences in ancient horses my work constitutes the most comprehensive study to date. I detected an increase of chestnut horses in the Middle Ages as well as differential selection for spotted and solid phenotypes over time which reflects changing human preferences. With regard to ambling horses, the corresponding allele was present in medieval English and Icelandic horses. Based on these results I argue that Norse settlers, who frequently invaded parts of Britain, brought ambling individuals to Iceland from the British Isles which can be regarded the origin of this trait. Moreover, these settlers appear to have selected for ambling in Icelandic horses. Relating to the third trait, the paternal diversity, these findings represent the largest ancient dataset of Y chromosome variation in non-humans. I proved the existence of several Y chromosome haplotypes in early domestic horses. The decline of Y chromosome variation coincides with the movement of nomadic peoples from the Eurasian steppes and later with different breeding practices in the Roman period. In conclusion, positive selection was estimated for several phenotypes/lineages in different regions or times which indicates that these were preferred by humans. Furthermore, I could successfully infer the distribution and dispersal of horses in association with human movements and actions. Thereby, a better understanding of the influence of people on the changing appearance and genetic diversity of domestic horses could be gained. My results also emphasize the close relationship of ancient genetics and archeology or history and that only in combination well-founded conclusions can be reached.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{AvcilarKucukgoze2016,
  author    = {Avcilar-Kucukgoze, Irem},
  title     = {Effect of tRNA Aminoacylation and Cellular Resources Allocation on the Dynamics of Translation in Escherichia coli},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {131},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hofferek2016,
  author    = {Hofferek, Vinzenz},
  title     = {Starvation response of Drosophila melanogaster},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {105},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Stief2016,
  author    = {Stief, Anna},
  title     = {Genetics and ecology of plant heat stress memory},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {175},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Brzezinka2016,
  author    = {Brzezinka, Krzysztof},
  title     = {Chromatin dynamics during heat stress memory in plants},
  pages     = {140},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Mengin2016,
  author    = {Mengin, Virginie},
  title     = {Role of the clock in the regulation of growth and metabolism in stable and fluctuating environmental conditions},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {284},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Xu2016,
  author    = {Xu, Ke},
  title     = {Functional characterization of two MYB transcription factors, MYB95 and MYB47, in Arabidopsis thaliana},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {108},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Brzezinka2016,
  author    = {Brzezinka, Magdalena},
  title     = {Investigation of novel proteins and polysaccharides associated with coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {123},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Rottstock2016,
  author    = {Rottstock, Tanja},
  title     = {Effects of plant community diversity and composition on fungal pathogens in experimental grasslands},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {139},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Barahimipour2016,
  author    = {Barahimipour, Rouhollah},
  title     = {Optimization of transgene expression in the nuclear genome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and characterization of Chlamydomonas expression strains},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {152},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sviben2016,
  author    = {Sviben, Sanja},
  title     = {Calcite biomineralization in coccolithophores},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {119},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{ArmaregoMarriott2016,
  author    = {Armarego-Marriott, Tegan},
  title     = {From dark to light},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {158},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Prokopović2016,
  author    = {Prokopović, Vladimir Z.},
  title     = {Light-triggered release of bioactive compounds from HA/PLL multilayer films for stimulation of cells},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-97927},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {91},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {The concept of targeting cells and tissues by controlled delivery of molecules is essential in the field of biomedicine. The layer-by-layer (LbL) technology for the fabrication of polymer multilayer films is widely implemented as a powerful tool to assemble tailor-made materials for controlled drug delivery. The LbL films can as well be engineered to act as mimics of the natural cellular microenvironment. Thus, due to the myriad possibilities such as controlled cellular adhesion and drug delivery offered by LbL films, it becomes easily achievable to direct the fate of cells by growing them on the films. The aim of this work was to develop an approach for non-invasive and precise control of the presentation of bioactive molecules to cells. The strategy is based on employment of the LbL films, which function as support for cells and at the same time as reservoirs for bioactive molecules to be released in a controlled manner. UV light is used to trigger the release of the stored ATP with high spatio-temporal resolution. Both physico-chemical (competitive intermolecular interactions in the film) and biological aspects (cellular response and viability) are addressed in this study. Biopolymers hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly-L-lysine (PLL) were chosen as the building blocks for the LbL film assembly. Poor cellular adhesion to native HA/PLL films as well as significant degradation by cells within a few days were shown. However, coating the films with gold nanoparticles not only improved cellular adhesion and protected the films from degradation, but also formed a size-exclusion barrier with adjustable cut-off in the size range of a few tens of kDa. The films were shown to have high reservoir capacity for small charged molecules (reaching mM levels in the film). Furthermore, they were able to release the stored molecules in a sustained manner. The loading and release are explained by a mechanism based on interactions between charges of the stored molecules and uncompensated charges of the biopolymers in the film. Charge balance and polymer dynamics in the film play the pivotal role. Finally, the concept of light-triggered release from the films has been proven using caged ATP loaded into the films from which ATP was released on demand. ATP induces a fast cellular response, i.e. increase in intracellular [Ca2+], which was monitored in real-time. Limitations of the cellular stimulation by the proposed approach are highlighted by studying the stimulation as a function of irradiation parameters (time, distance, light power). Moreover, caging molecules bind to the film stronger than ATP does, which opens new perspectives for the use of the most diverse chemical compounds as caging molecules. Employment of HA/PLL films as a nouvelle support for cellular growth and hosting of bioactive molecules, along with the possibility to stimulate individual cells using focused light renders this approach highly efficient and unique in terms of precision and spatio-temporal resolution among those previously described. With its high potential, the concept presented herein provides the foundation for the design of new intelligent materials for single cell studies, with the focus on tissue engineering, diagnostics, and other cell-based applications.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Connor2016,
  author    = {Connor, Daniel Oliver},
  title     = {Identifikation und Charakterisierung neuer immunogener Proteine und anschließende Generierung rekombinanter Antik{\"o}rper mittels Phage Display},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-104120},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {VII, 112, lv Seiten},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Seit der Einf{\"u}hrung von Antibiotika in die medizinische Behandlung von bakteriellen Infektionskrankheiten existiert ein Wettlauf zwischen der Evolution von Bakterienresistenzen und der Entwicklung wirksamer Antibiotika. W{\"a}hrend bis in die 80er Jahre verst{\"a}rkt an neuen Antibiotika geforscht wurde, gewinnen multiresistente Keime heute zunehmend die Oberhand. Um einzelne Pathogene erfolgreich nachzuweisen und zu bek{\"a}mpfen, ist ein grundlegendes Wissen {\"u}ber den Erreger unumg{\"a}nglich. Bakterielle Proteine, die bei einer Infektion vorrangig vom Immunsystem prozessiert und pr{\"a}sentiert werden, k{\"o}nnten f{\"u}r die Entwicklung von Impfstoffen oder gezielten Therapeutika n{\"u}tzlich sein. Auch f{\"u}r die Diagnostik w{\"a}ren diese immundominanten Proteine interessant. Allerdings herrscht ein Mangel an Wissen {\"u}ber spezifische Antigene vieler pathogener Bakterien, die eine eindeutige Diagnostik eines einzelnen Erregers erlauben w{\"u}rden. Daher wurden in dieser Arbeit vier verschiedene Humanpathogene mittels Phage Display untersucht: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, Borrelia burgdorferi und Clostridium difficile. Hierf{\"u}r wurden aus der genomischen DNA der vier Erreger Bibliotheken konstruiert und durch wiederholte Selektion und Amplifikation, dem sogenannten Panning, immunogene Proteine isoliert. F{\"u}r alle Erreger bis auf C. difficile wurden immunogene Proteine aus den jeweiligen Bibliotheken isoliert. Die identifizierten Proteine von N. meningitidis und B. burgdorferi waren gr{\"o}ßtenteils bekannt, konnten aber in dieser Arbeit durch Phage Display verifiziert werden. F{\"u}r N. gonorrhoeae wurden 21 potentiell immunogene Oligopeptide isoliert, von denen sechs Proteine als neue zuvor unbeschriebene Proteine mit immunogenem Charakter identifiziert wurden. Von den Phagen-pr{\"a}sentierten Oligopeptide der 21 immunogenen Proteine wurden Epitopmappings mit verschiedenen polyklonalen Antik{\"o}rpern durchgef{\"u}hrt, um immunogene Bereiche n{\"a}her zu identifizieren und zu charakterisieren. Bei zehn Proteinen wurden lineare Epitope eindeutig mit drei polyklonalen Antik{\"o}rpern identifiziert, von f{\"u}nf weiteren Proteinen waren Epitope mit mindestens einem Antik{\"o}rper detektierbar. F{\"u}r eine weitere Charakterisierung der ermittelten Epitope wurden Alaninscans durchgef{\"u}hrt, die eine detaillierte Auskunft {\"u}ber kritische Aminos{\"a}uren f{\"u}r die Bindung des Antik{\"o}rpers an das Epitop geben. Ausgehend von dem neu identifizierten Protein mit immunogenem Charakter NGO1634 wurden 26 weitere Proteine aufgrund ihrer funktionellen {\"A}hnlichkeit ausgew{\"a}hlt und mithilfe bioinformatischer Analysen auf ihre Eignung zur Entwicklung einer diagnostischen Anwendung analysiert. Durch Ausschluss der meisten Proteine aufgrund ihrer Lokalisation, Membrantopologie oder unspezifischen Proteinsequenz wurden scFv-Antik{\"o}rper gegen acht Proteine mittels Phage Display generiert und anschließend als scFv-Fc-Fusionsantik{\"o}rper produziert und charakterisiert. Die hier identifizierten Proteine und linearen Epitope k{\"o}nnten einen Ansatzpunkt f{\"u}r die Entwicklung einer diagnostischen oder therapeutischen Anwendung bieten. Lineare Epitopsequenzen werden h{\"a}ufig f{\"u}r die Impfstoffentwicklung eingesetzt, sodass vor allem die in dieser Arbeit bestimmten Epitope von Membranproteinen interessante Kandidaten f{\"u}r weitere Untersuchungen in diese Richtung sind. Durch weitere Untersuchungen k{\"o}nnten m{\"o}glicherweise unbekannte Virulenzfaktoren entdeckt werden, deren Inhibierung einen entscheidenden Einfluss auf Infektionen haben k{\"o}nnten.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Maier2016,
  author    = {Maier, Natalia},
  title     = {Aufbau eines Testsystems zum Nachweis von Ethylglucuronid (EtG) in Haaren},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {IX, 122},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{BeineGolovchuk2016,
  author    = {Beine-Golovchuk, Olga},
  title     = {Characterization and functional complementation of the arabidopsis ribosomal Reil1 - 1Reil2-1 double mutant},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {106},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{EbrahimianMotlagh2016,
  author    = {Ebrahimian Motlagh, Saghar},
  title     = {Functional characterization of stress-responsive transcription factors and their gene regulatory networks in Arabidopsis thaliana},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {155, X},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{RuizMartinez2016,
  author    = {Ruiz-Martinez, Maria},
  title     = {Characterisation and engineering of lignocellulolytic enzymes from the soil bacterium Sorangium cellulosum},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {137},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hoffmann2016,
  author    = {Hoffmann, Stefan},
  title     = {In vivo Selection of Switchable DNA-Binding Proteins},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {97},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Laux2016,
  author    = {Laux, Eva-Maria},
  title     = {Electric field-assisted immobilization and alignment of biomolecules},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-90271},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {IX, 120},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {In this dissertation, an electric field-assisted method was developed and applied to achieve immobilization and alignment of biomolecules on metal electrodes in a simple one-step experiment. Neither modifications of the biomolecule nor of the electrodes were needed. The two major electrokinetic effects that lead to molecule motion in the chosen electrode configurations used were identified as dielectrophoresis and AC electroosmotic flow. To minimize AC electroosmotic flow, a new 3D electrode configuration was designed. Thus, the influence of experimental parameters on the dielectrophoretic force and the associated molecule movement could be studied. Permanent immobilization of proteins was examined and quantified absolutely using an atomic force microscope. By measuring the volumes of the immobilized protein deposits, a maximal number of proteins contained therein was calculated. This was possible since the proteins adhered to the tungsten electrodes even after switching off the electric field. The permanent immobilization of functional proteins on surfaces or electrodes is one crucial prerequisite for the fabrication of biosensors. Furthermore, the biofunctionality of the proteins must be retained after immobilization. Due to the chemical or physical modifications on the proteins caused by immobilization, their biofunctionality is sometimes hampered. The activity of dielectrophoretically immobilized proteins, however, was proven here for an enzyme for the first time. The enzyme horseradish peroxidase was used exemplarily, and its activity was demonstrated with the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123, a non-fluorescent precursor of the fluorescence dye rhodamine 123. Molecular alignment and immobilization - reversible and permanent - was achieved under the influence of inhomogeneous AC electric fields. For orientational investigations, a fluorescence microscope setup, a reliable experimental procedure and an evaluation protocol were developed and validated using self-made control samples of aligned acridine orange molecules in a liquid crystal. Lambda-DNA strands were stretched and aligned temporarily between adjacent interdigitated electrodes, and the orientation of PicoGreen molecules, which intercalate into the DNA strands, was determined. Similarly, the aligned immobilization of enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein was demonstrated exploiting the protein's fluorescence and structural properties. For this protein, the angle of the chromophore with respect to the protein's geometrical axis was determined in good agreement with X-ray crystallographic data. Permanent immobilization with simultaneous alignment of the proteins was achieved along the edges, tips and on the surface of interdigitated electrodes. This was the first demonstration of aligned immobilization of proteins by electric fields. Thus, the presented electric field-assisted immobilization method is promising with regard to enhanced antibody binding capacities and enzymatic activities, which is a requirement for industrial biosensor production, as well as for general interaction studies of proteins.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Reil2016,
  author    = {Reil, Daniela},
  title     = {Puumala hantavirus dynamics in bank voles: identification of environmental correlates to predict human infection risk},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {85},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Bartholomaeus2016,
  author    = {Bartholom{\"a}us, Alexander},
  title     = {Analyzing Transcriptional and Translational Control in E. coli using Deep-Seq Data},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {179},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Loewenberg2016,
  author    = {L{\"o}wenberg, Candy},
  title     = {Shape-memory effect of gelatin-based hydrogels},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {122},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Peter2016,
  author    = {Peter, Tatjana},
  title     = {Molekulare Charakterisierung von CP75, einem neuen centrosomalen Protein in Dictyostelium discoideum},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-96472},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {III, 93},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Das Centrosom ist ein Zellkern-assoziiertes Organell, das nicht von einer Membran umschlossen ist. Es spielt eine wichtige Rolle in vielen Mikrotubuli- abhängigen Prozessen wie Organellenpositionierung, Zellpolarität oder die Organisation der mitotischen Spindel. Das Centrosom von Dictyostelium besteht aus einer dreischichtigen Core-Struktur umgeben von einer Corona, die Mikrotubuli-nukleierende Komplexe enthält. Die Verdoppelung des Centrosoms in Dictyostelium findet zu Beginn der Mitose statt. In der Prophase vergrößert sich die geschichtete Core-Struktur und die Corona löst sich auf. Anschließend trennen sich die beiden äußeren Lagen der Core-Struktur und bilden in der Metaphase die beiden Spindelpole, die in der Telophase zu zwei vollständigen Centrosomen heranreifen. Das durch eine Proteom-Analyse identifizierte Protein CP75 lokalisiert am Centrosom abhängig von den Mitosephasen. Es dissoziiert von der Core-Struktur in der Prometaphase und erscheint an den Spindelpolen in der Telophase wieder. Dieses Verhalten korreliert mit dem Verhalten der mittleren Lage der Core-Struktur in der Mitose, was darauf hinweist, dass CP75 eine Komponente dieser Schicht sein könnte. Die FRAP-Experimente am Interphase- Centrosom zeigen, dass GFP-CP75 dort nicht mobil ist. Das deutet darauf hin, dass das Protein wichtige Funktionen im Strukturerhalt der centrosomalen Core- Struktur {\"u}bernehmen könnte. Sowohl die C- als auch die N-terminale Domäne von CP75 enthalten centrosomale Targeting-Domäne. Als GFP-Fusionsproteine (GFP-CP75-N und -C) lokalisieren die beiden Fragmente am Centrosom in der Interphase. Während GFP-CP75-C in der Mitose am Centrosom verbleibt, verschwindet GFP-CP75-N in der Metaphase und kehrt erst in der späten Telophase zur{\"u}ck. GFP-CP75-C und GFP-CP75O/E kolokalisieren mit F-Aktin am Zellcortex, zeigen aber keine Interaktion mit Aktin mit der BioID-Methode. Die N-terminale Domäne von CP75 enthält eine potentielle Plk1- Phosphorylierungssequenz. Die Überexpression der nichtphosphorylierbaren Punktmutante (GFP-CP75-Plk-S143A) ruft verschiedene Phänotypen wie verlängerte oder {\"u}berzählige Centrosomen, vergrößerte Zellkerne und Anreicherung von detyrosinierten Mikrotubuli hervor. Die ähnlichen Phänotypen konnten auch bei GFP-CP75-N und CP75-RNAi beobachtet werden. Der Phänotyp der detyrosinierten Mikrotubuli bringt erstmals den Beweis daf{\"u}r, dass I in Dictyostelium posttranslationale Modifikation an Tubulinen stattfindet. Außerdem zeigten CP75-RNAi-Zellen Defekte in der Organisation der mitotischen Spindel. Mittels BioID-Methode konnten drei potentielle Interaktionspartner von CP75 identifiziert werden. Diese drei Proteine CP39, CP91 und Cep192 sind ebenfalls Bestandteile des Centrosoms.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Synodinos2016,
  author    = {Synodinos, Alexios D.},
  title     = {Savanna dynamics under extreme conditions},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-395000},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {x, 168},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Savannas cover a broad geographical range across continents and are a biome best described by a mix of herbaceous and woody plants. The former create a more or less continuous layer while the latter should be sparse enough to leave an open canopy. What has long intrigued ecologists is how these two competing plant life forms of vegetation coexist. Initially attributed to resource competition, coexistence was considered the stable outcome of a root niche differentiation between trees and grasses. The importance of environmental factors became evident later, when data from moister environments demonstrated that tree cover was often lower than what the rainfall conditions would allow for. Our current understanding relies on the interaction of competition and disturbances in space and time. Hence, the influence of grazing and fire and the corresponding feedbacks they generate have been keenly investigated. Grazing removes grass cover, initiating a self-reinforcing process propagating tree cover expansion. This is known as the encroachment phenomenon. Fire, on the other hand, imposes a bottleneck on the tree population by halting the recruitment of young trees into adulthood. Since grasses fuel fires, a feedback linking grazing, grass cover, fire, and tree cover is created. In African savannas, which are the focus of this dissertation, these feedbacks play a major role in the dynamics. The importance of these feedbacks came into sharp focus when the notion of alternative states began to be applied to savannas. Alternative states in ecology arise when different states of an ecosystem can occur under the same conditions. According to this an open savanna and a tree-dominated savanna can be classified as alternative states, since they can both occur under the same climatic conditions. The aforementioned feedbacks are critical in the creation of alternative states. The grass-fire feedback can preserve an open canopy as long as fire intensity and frequency remain above a certain threshold. Conversely, crossing a grazing threshold can force an open savanna to shift to a tree-dominated state. Critically, transitions between such alternative states can produce hysteresis, where a return to pre-transition conditions will not suffice to restore the ecosystem to its original state. In the chapters that follow, I will cover aspects relating to the coexistence mechanisms and the role of feedbacks in tree-grass interactions. Coming back to the coexistence question, due to the overwhelming focus on competition and disturbance another important ecological process was neglected: facilitation. Therefore, in the first study within this dissertation I examine how facilitation can expand the tree-grass coexistence range into drier conditions. For the second study I focus on another aspect of savanna dynamics which remains underrepresented in the literature: the impacts of inter-annual rainfall variability upon savanna trees and the resilience of the savanna state. In the third and final study within this dissertation I approach the well-researched encroachment phenomenon from a new perspective: I search for an early warning indicator of the process to be used as a prevention tool for savanna conservation. In order to perform all this work I developed a mathematical ecohydrological model of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) with three variables: soil moisture content, grass cover and tree cover. Facilitation: Results showed that the removal of grass cover through grazing was detrimental to trees under arid conditions, contrary to expectation based on resource competition. The reason was that grasses preserved moisture in the soil through infiltration and shading, thus ameliorating the harsh conditions for trees in accordance with the Stress Gradient Hypothesis. The exclusion of grasses from the model further demonstrated this: tree cover was lower in the absence of grasses, indicating that the benefits of grass facilitation outweighed the costs of grass competition for trees. Thus, facilitation expanded the climatic range where savannas persisted into drier conditions. Rainfall variability: By adjusting the model to current rainfall patterns in East Africa, I simulated conditions of increasing inter-annual rainfall variability for two distinct mean rainfall scenarios: semi-arid and mesic. Alternative states of tree-less grassland and tree-dominated savanna emerged in both cases. Increasing variability reduced semi-arid savanna tree cover to the point that at high variability the savanna state was eliminated, because variability intensified resource competition and strengthened the fire disturbance during high rainfall years. Mesic savannas, on the other hand, became more resilient along the variability gradient: increasing rainfall variability created more opportunities for the rapid growth of trees to overcome the fire disturbance, boosting the chances of savannas persisting and thus increasing mesic savanna resilience. Preventing encroachment: The breakdown in the grass-fire feedback caused by heavy grazing promoted the expansion of woody cover. This could be irreversible due to the presence of alternative states of encroached and open savanna, which I found along a simulated grazing gradient. When I simulated different short term heavy grazing treatments followed by a reduction to the original grazing conditions, certain cases converged to the encroached state. Utilising woody cover changes only during the heavy grazing treatment, I developed an early warning indicator which identified these cases with a high risk of such hysteresis and successfully distinguished them from those with a low risk. Furthermore, after validating the indicator on encroachment data, I demonstrated that it appeared early enough for encroachment to be prevented through realistic grazing-reduction treatments. Though this dissertation is rooted in the theory of savanna dynamics, its results can have significant applications in savanna conservation. Facilitation has only recently become a topic of interest within savanna literature. Given the threat of increasing droughts and a general anticipation of drier conditions in parts of Africa, insights stemming from this research may provide clues for preserving arid savannas. The impacts of rainfall variability on savannas have not yet been thoroughly studied, either. Conflicting results appear as a result of the lack of a robust theoretical understanding of plant interactions under variable conditions. . My work and other recent studies argue that such conditions may increase the importance of fast resource acquisition creating a 'temporal niche'. Woody encroachment has been extensively studied as phenomenon, though not from the perspective of its early identification and prevention. The development of an encroachment forecasting tool, as the one presented in this work, could protect both the savanna biome and societies dependent upon it for (economic) survival. All studies which follow are bound by the attempt to broaden the horizons of savanna-related research in order to deal with extreme conditions and phenomena; be it through the enhancement of the coexistence debate or the study of an imminent external threat or the development of a management-oriented tool for the conservation of savannas.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Putzler2016,
  author    = {Putzler, Sascha},
  title     = {Molekulare Charakterisierung des Centrosom-assoziierten Proteins CP91 in Dictyostelium discoideum},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-394689},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {111},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Das Dictyostelium-Centrosom ist ein Modell f{\"u}r acentriol{\"a}re Centrosomen. Es besteht aus einer dreischichtigen Kernstruktur und ist von einer Corona umgeben, welche Nukleationskomplexe f{\"u}r Mikrotubuli beinhaltet. Die Verdoppelung der Kernstruktur wird einmal pro Zellzyklus am {\"U}bergang der G2 zur M-Phase gestartet. Durch eine Proteomanalyse isolierter Centrosomen konnte CP91 identifiziert werden, ein 91 kDa großes Coiled-Coil Protein, das in der centrosomalen Kernstruktur lokalisiert. GFP-CP91 zeigte fast keine Mobilit{\"a}t in FRAP-Experimenten w{\"a}hrend der Interphase, was darauf hindeutet, dass es sich bei CP91 um eine Strukturkomponente des Centrosoms handelt. In der Mitose hingegen dissoziieren das GFP-CP91 als auch das endogene CP91 ab und fehlen an den Spindelpolen von der sp{\"a}ten Prophase bis zur Anaphase. Dieses Verhalten korreliert mit dem Verschwinden der zentralen Schicht der Kernstruktur zu Beginn der Centrosomenverdopplung. Somit ist CP91 mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit ein Bestandteil dieser Schicht. CP91-Fragmente der N-terminalen bzw. C-terminalen Dom{\"a}ne (GFP-CP91 N-Terminus, GFP-CP91 C-Terminus) lokalisieren als GFP-Fusionsproteine exprimiert auch am Centrosom, zeigen aber nicht die gleiche mitotische Verteilung des Volll{\"a}ngenproteins. Das CP91-Fragment der zentralen Coiled-Coil Dom{\"a}ne (GFP-CP91cc) lokalisiert als GFP-Fusionsprotein exprimiert, als ein diffuser cytosolische Cluster, in der N{\"a}he des Centrosoms. Es zeigt eine partiell {\"a}hnliche mitotische Verteilung wie das Volll{\"a}ngenprotein. Dies l{\"a}sst eine regulatorische Dom{\"a}ne innerhalb der Coiled-Coil Dom{\"a}ne vermuten. Die Expression der GFP-Fusionsproteine unterdr{\"u}ckt die Expression des endogenen CP91 und bringt {\"u}berz{\"a}hlige Centrosomen hervor. Dies war auch eine markante Eigenschaft nach der Unterexpression von CP91 durch RNAi. Zus{\"a}tzlich zeigte sich in CP91-RNAi Zellen eine stark erh{\"o}hte Ploidie verursacht durch schwere Defekte in der Chromosomensegregation verbunden mit einer erh{\"o}hten Zellgr{\"o}ße und Defekten im Abschn{\"u}rungsprozess w{\"a}hrend der Cytokinese. Die Unterexpression von CP91 durch RNAi hatte auch einen direkten Einfluss auf die Menge an den centrosomalen Proteinen CP39, CP55 und CEP192 und dem Centromerprotein Cenp68 in der Interphase. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass CP91 eine zentrale centrosomale Kernkomponente ist und f{\"u}r den Zusammenhalt der beiden {\"a}ußeren Schichten der Kernstruktur ben{\"o}tigt wird. Zudem spielt CP91 eine wichtige Rolle f{\"u}r eine ordnungsgem{\"a}ße Centrosomenbiogenese und, unabh{\"a}ngig davon, bei dem Abschn{\"u}rungsprozess der Tochterzellen w{\"a}hrend der Cytokinese.},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Friess2016,
  author    = {Frieß, Fabian},
  title     = {Shape-memory polymer micronetworks},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {xiv, 111 S.},
  year      = {2016},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sauter2016,
  author    = {Sauter, J{\"o}rg},
  title     = {The molecular origin of plant cell wall swelling},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {iii, 127 S.},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {In dieser Arbeit werden die Eigenschaften von hydratisierten Hemicellulose Polysacchariden mittels Computersimulation untersucht. Die hohe Quellfähigkeit von Materialien die aus diesen Molek{\"u}len bestehen, erlaubt die Erzeugung von zielgerichteter Bewegung in Planzenmaterialien, ausschließlich gesteuert durch Wasseraufnahme. Um den molekularen Ursprung dieses Quellvermögens zu untersuchen wird, im Vergleich mit Experimenten, ein atomistisches Modell f{\"u}r Hemicellulose Polysaccharide entwickelt und getestet. Unter Verwendung dieses Modells werden Simulationen von kleinen Polysacchariden benutzt um die Wechselwirkungen mit Wasser, den Einfluss von Wasser auf die Konformationsfreiheit der Molek{\"u}le, und die Quellfähigkeit, quantifiziert durch den osmotischen Druck, zu verstehen. Es wird gezeigt, dass verzweigte und lineare Polysaccharide unterschiedliche Hydratisierungseingenschaften im Vergleich zu lineare Polysacchariden aufweisen. Um das Quellverhalten auf Längen- und Zeitskalen untersuchen zu können die {\"u}ber die Begrenzungen atomistischer Simulationen hinausgehen, wurde eine Prozedur entwickelt um {\"u}bertragbare vergröberte Modelle herzuleiten. Die Übertragbarkeit der vegröberten Modelle wird gezeigt, sowohl {\"u}ber unterschiedliche Polysaccharidkonzentrationen als auch {\"u}ber unterschiedliche Polymerlängen. Daher erlaubt die Prozedur die Konstruktion von großen vergröberter Systemen ausgehend von kleinen atomistischen Referenzsystemen. Abschließend wird das vergröberte Modell verwendet um zu zeigen, dass lineare und verzweigte Polysaccharide ein unterschiedliches Quellverhalten aufweisen, wenn sie mit einem Wasserbad gekoppelt werden.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Fiedler2016,
  author    = {Fiedler, Dorothea},
  title     = {Impact of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen on Freshwater Phytoplankton},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam},
  pages     = {XIII, 92},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {In freshwater sciences, nitrogen gained increasing attention in the past as an important resource potentially influencing phytoplankton growth and thus eutrophication. Most studies and all management approaches, however, are still restricted to dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN = nitrate + nitrite + ammonium) since dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was considered to be refractory for most of the photoautotrophs. In the meantime this assumption has been disproved for all aquatic systems. While research on DON in marine ecosystems substantially increased, in freshwater a surprisingly small number of investigations has been carried out on DON utilization by phytoplankton or even the occurrence and seasonal development of total DON or its compounds in lakes. Therefore, our present knowledge on DON utilization by phytoplankton is often based on single species experiments using a sole, usually low molecular weight DON component, often in unnaturally high amounts mainly carried out with marine phytoplankton species. Thus, we know that some phytoplankton species can take up different DON fractions if they are available in high concentrations and as sole nitrogen source. This does not necessarily imply that phytoplankton would perform likewise in natural environments. In addition, it will be difficult to draw conclusions on the behavior of freshwater phytoplankton from experiments with marine phytoplankton since the nutrient regime in marine environments differs from that of freshwater. In the light of the parallel availability of inorganic and organic nitrogen species in natural freshwater ecosystems, several questions must be raised: "If inorganic nitrogen is available, would phytoplankton really rely on an organic nitrogen source? Could a connection be detected between the seasonal development of DON and changes in the phytoplankton community composition as found for inorganic nitrogen? And if we reduce the input of inorganic nitrogen in lakes and rivers would the importance of DON as nitrogen source for phytoplankton increase, counteracting all management efforts or even leading to undesired effects due to changes in phytoplankton physiology and biodiversity?" I experimentally addressed the questions whether those DON compounds differentially influence growth, physiology and composition of phytoplankton both as sole available nitrogen source and in combination with other nitrogen compounds. I hypothesized that all offered DON - compounds (urea, natural organic matter (NOM), dissolved free and combined amino acids (DFAA, DCAA)) could be utilized by phytoplankton at natural concentrations. However, I assumed that the availability would decrease with increasing compound complexity. I furthermore hypothesized that the occurrence of low DIN concentrations would not affect the utilization of DON negatively. The nitrogen source, whatsoever, would have an impact on phytoplankton physiology as well as community composition. To investigate these questions and assumptions I conducted bioassays with algae monocultures as well as phytoplankton communities testing the utilization of various DON compounds by several freshwater phytoplankton species. Especially the potential utilization of NOM, a complex DON compound mainly consisting of humic substances is of interest, since it is usually regarded to be refractory. In order to be able to use natural concentrations of DON - compounds for my experiments the concentration of total DON and some DON - compounds (urea, humic substances, heigh molecular weight substances) was assessed in Lake M{\"u}ggelsee. All compounds were able to support algae growth in the low natural concentrations supplied. However, I found that the offered DON compounds differ in their availability to various algae species, both, as sole nitrogen source or in combination with low DIN concentrations. As expected, the availability decreased with increasing complexity of the nitrogen compound. Furthermore, I could show that changes in algal physiology (nitrogen storage, metabolism) occur depending on the utilized nitrogen source. Especially the secondary photosynthetic pigment composition, heterocyst frequency and C:N - ratio of the algae were affected. The uptake and usage of certain nitrogen compounds might be more costly, potentially resulting in those physiology changes. Whereas laboratory experiments with single species revealed strong effects of DON, algal responses to DON in a multi-species situation remain unclear. Experiments with phytoplankton communities from Lake M{\"u}ggelsee revealed that the nitrogen pool composition does influence the phytoplankton community structure. The findings furthermore show that several species combined might utilize the supplied nitrogen completely different than monocultures in the laboratory. Thus, besides the actual ability of algae to use the offered nitrogen sources other factors, such as interspecific competition, may be of importance. I further investigated, if the results of the laboratory experiments, can be verified in the field. Here, I surveyed the seasonal development of several dissolved organic matter (DOM) components (urea, high molecular weight substances (HMWS), humic substances (HS)) and associated parameters (Specific UV-absorption (SUVA), C:N - ratio) in Lake M{\"u}ggelsee between 2011 and 2013. Furthermore, data from the long term measurements series of Lake M{\"u}ggelsee such as physical (temperature, light, pH, O2) and chemical parameters (nitrogen, phosphorous, silica, inorganic carbon), zooplankton and phytoplankton data were used to investigate how much of the variability of the phytoplankton composition in Lake M{\"u}ggelsee can be explained by DON/DOM concentration and composition, relative to the other groups of explanatory variables. The results show that DON mainly consists of rather complex compounds such as humic substances and biopolymers (80 \%) and that only slight seasonal trends are detectable. Using variance partitioning I could show, that the usually investigated nutrients (DIN, silica, inorganic carbon, phosphorous) and abiotic factors together explain most of the algae composition as was to be expected (57.1 \% of modeled variance). However, DOM and the associated parameters uniquely explain 10.3 \% of the variance and thus slightly more than zooplankton with 9.3 \%. I could therefore prove, that the composition of DOM (nitrogen and carbon) is connected to the algae composition in an eutrophic lake such as Lake M{\"u}ggelsee. DON - compounds such as urea, however, could not be correlated with the occurrence of specific phytoplankton species. Overall, the results of this study imply that DON can be a valuable nitrogen source for freshwater phytoplankton. DON is used by various species even when DIN is available in low concentrations. Through the reduction of DIN in lakes and rivers, the DON:DIN ratio might be changed, resulting even in an increased importance of DON as phytoplankton nitrogen source. My work suggests that not only N2-fixation but also DON utilization might compensate for reduced N - input. Changes from DIN to DON as main nitrogen source might also promote certain, potentially undesired algae species and influence the biodiversity of a limnic ecosystem through changes in the phytoplankton community structure. Thus, DON, especially urea, should be included in calculations concerning total available nitrogen and when determining nitrogen threshold values. Furthermore, the input-reduction of DON, for example from waste-water treatment plants should also be evaluated and the results of my thesis should find consideration when planning to reduce the nitrogen input in freshwater.},
  language  = {en}
}