@article{ReschkeMebsSigfridssonClaussetal.2017, author = {Reschke, Stefan and Mebs, Stefan and Sigfridsson-Clauss, Kajsa G. V. and Kositzki, Ramona and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Haumann, Michael}, title = {Protonation and Sulfido versus Oxo Ligation Changes at the Molybdenum Cofactor in Xanthine Dehydrogenase (XDH) Variants Studied by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy}, series = {Inorganic chemistry}, volume = {56}, journal = {Inorganic chemistry}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0020-1669}, doi = {10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b02846}, pages = {2165 -- 2176}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Enzymes of the xanthine oxidase family are among the best characterized mononuclear molybdenum enzymes. Open questions about their mechanism of transfer of an oxygen atom to the substrate remain. The enzymes share a molybdenum cofactor (Moco) with the metal ion binding a molybdopterin (MPT) molecule via its dithiolene function and terminal sulfur and oxygen groups. For xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) from the bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, we used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the Mo site structure, its changes in a pH range of 5-10, and the influence of amino acids (Glu730 and Gln179) close to Moco in wild-type (WT), Q179A, and E730A variants, complemented by enzyme kinetics and quantum chemical studies. Oxidized WT and Q179A revealed a similar Mo (VI) ion with each one MPT, Mo=O, Mo-O-, and Mo=S ligand, and a weak Mo-O(E730) bond at alkaline pH. Protonation of an oxo to a hydroxo (OH) ligand (pK similar to 6.8) causes inhibition of XDH at acidic pH, whereas deprotonated xanthine (pK similar to 8.8) is an inhibitor at alkaline pH. A similar acidic pK for the WT and Q179A. variants, as well as the metrical parameters of the Mo site and density functional theory calculations, suggested protonation at the equatorial oxo group. The sulfido was replaced with an oxo ligand in the inactive E730A variant, further showing another oxo and one Mo OH ligand at Mo, which are independent of pH. Our findings suggest a reaction mechanism for XDH in which an initial oxo rather than a hydroxo group and the sulfido ligand are essential for xanthine oxidation.}, language = {en} } @misc{CabralValenteHartig2017, author = {Cabral, Juliano Sarmento and Valente, Luis and Hartig, Florian}, title = {Mechanistic simulation models in macroecology and biogeography}, series = {Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology}, volume = {40}, journal = {Ecography : pattern and diversity in ecology}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0906-7590}, doi = {10.1111/ecog.02480}, pages = {267 -- 280}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Macroecology and biogeography are concerned with understanding biodiversity patterns across space and time. In the past, the two disciplines have addressed this question mainly with correlative approaches, despite frequent calls for more mechanistic explanations. Recent advances in computational power, theoretical understanding, and statistical tools are, however, currently facilitating the development of more system-oriented, mechanistic models. We review these models, identify different model types and theoretical frameworks, compare their processes and properties, and summarize emergent findings. We show that ecological (physiology, demographics, dispersal, biotic interactions) and evolutionary processes, as well as environmental and human-induced drivers, are increasingly modelled mechanistically; and that new insights into biodiversity dynamics emerge from these models. Yet, substantial challenges still lie ahead for this young research field. Among these, we identify scaling, calibration, validation, and balancing complexity as pressing issues. Moreover, particular process combinations are still understudied, and so far models tend to be developed for specific applications. Future work should aim at developing more flexible and modular models that not only allow different ecological theories to be expressed and contrasted, but which are also built for tight integration with all macroecological data sources. Moving the field towards such a 'systems macroecology' will test and improve our understanding of the causal pathways through which eco-evolutionary processes create diversity patterns across spatial and temporal scales.}, language = {en} } @article{HahnMeyerSchroeteretal.2017, author = {Hahn, Marc Benjamin and Meyer, Susann and Schr{\"o}ter, Maria-Astrid and Seitz, Harald and Kunte, Hans-J{\"o}rg and Solomun, Tihomir and Sturm, Heinz}, title = {Direct electron irradiation of DNA in a fully aqueous environment}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies}, volume = {19}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : PCCP ; a journal of European chemical societies}, number = {3}, publisher = {RSC Publ.}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/c6cp07707b}, pages = {1798 -- 1805}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We report on a study in which plasmid DNA in water was irradiated with 30 keV electrons generated by a scanning electron microscope and passed through a 100 nm thick Si3N4 membrane. The corresponding Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the kinetic energy spectrum of the electrons throughout the water is dominated by low energy electrons (<100 eV). The DNA radiation damage, single-strand breaks (SSBs) and double-strand breaks (DSBs), was determined by gel electrophoresis. The median lethal dose of D-1/2 = 1.7 +/- 0.3 Gy was found to be much smaller as compared to partially or fully hydrated DNA irradiated under vacuum conditions. The ratio of the DSBs to SSBs was found to be 1 : 12 as compared to 1 : 88 found for hydrated DNA. Our method enables quantitative measurements of radiation damage to biomolecules (DNA, proteins) in solutions under varying conditions (pH, salinity, co-solutes) for an electron energy range which is difficult to probe by standard methods.}, language = {en} } @article{RiedelSabirSchelleretal.2017, author = {Riedel, M. and Sabir, N. and Scheller, Frieder W. and Parak, Wolfgang J. and Lisdat, Fred}, title = {Connecting quantum dots with enzymes}, series = {Nanoscale}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nanoscale}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2040-3364}, doi = {10.1039/c7nr00091j}, pages = {2814 -- 2823}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The combination of the biocatalytic features of enzymes with the unique physical properties of nanoparticles in a biohybrid system provides a promising approach for the development of advanced bioelectrocatalytic devices. This study describes the construction of photoelectrochemical signal chains based on CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) modified gold electrodes as light switchable elements, and low molecular weight redox molecules for the combination with different biocatalysts. Photoelectrochemical and photoluminescence experiments verify that electron transfer can be achieved between the redox molecules hexacyanoferrate and ferrocene, and the QDs under illumination. Since for both redox mediators a concentration dependent photocurrent change has been found, light switchable enzymatic signal chains are built up with fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) and pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase ((PQQ) GDH) for the detection of sugars. After immobilization of the enzymes at the QD electrode the biocatalytic oxidation of the substrates can be followed by conversion of the redox mediator in solution and subsequent detection at the QD electrode. Furthermore, (PQQ) GDH has been assembled together with ferrocenecarboxylic acid on top of the QD electrode for the construction of a funtional biohybrid architecture, showing that electron transfer can be realized from the enzyme over the redox mediator to the QDs and subsequently to the electrode in a completely immobilized fashion. The results obtained here do not only provide the basis for light-switchable biosensing and bioelectrocatalytic applications, but may also open the way for self-driven point-of-care systems by combination with solar cell approaches (power generation at the QD electrode by enzymatic substrate consumption).}, language = {en} } @article{SimonsLewinsohnBluethgenetal.2017, author = {Simons, Nadja K. and Lewinsohn, Thomas and Bluethgen, Nico and Buscot, Francois and Boch, Steffen and Daniel, Rolf and Gossner, Martin M. and Jung, Kirsten and Kaiser, Kristin and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Prati, Daniel and Renner, Swen C. and Socher, Stephanie A. and Sonnemann, Ilja and Weiner, Christiane N. and Werner, Michael and Wubet, Tesfaye and Wurst, Susanne and Weisser, Wolfgang W.}, title = {Contrasting effects of grassland management modes on species-abundance distributions of multiple groups}, series = {Agriculture, ecosystems \& environment : an international journal for scientific research on the relationship of agriculture and food production to the biosphere}, volume = {237}, journal = {Agriculture, ecosystems \& environment : an international journal for scientific research on the relationship of agriculture and food production to the biosphere}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0167-8809}, doi = {10.1016/j.agee.2016.12.022}, pages = {143 -- 153}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Intensive land use is a major cause of biodiversity loss, but most studies comparing the response of multiple taxa rely on simple diversity measures while analyses of other community attributes are only recently gaining attention. Species-abundance distributions (SADs) are a community attribute that can be used to study changes in the overall abundance structure of species groups, and whether these changes are driven by abundant or rare species. We evaluated the effect of grassland management intensity for three land-use modes (fertilization, mowing, grazing) and their combination on species richness and SADs for three belowground (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, prokaryotes and insect larvae) and seven aboveground groups (vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens; arthropod herbivores; arthropod pollinators; bats and birds). Three descriptors of SADs were evaluated: general shape (abundance decay rate), proportion of rare species (rarity) and proportional abundance of the commonest species (dominance). Across groups, taxonomic richness was largely unaffected by land-use intensity and only decreased with increasing mowing intensity. Of the three SAD descriptors, abundance decay rate became steeper with increasing combined land-use intensity across groups. This reflected a decrease in rarity among plants, herbivores and vertebrates. Effects of fertilization on the three descriptors were similar to the combined land-use intensity effects. Mowing intensity only affected the SAD descriptors of insect larvae and vertebrates, while grazing intensity produced a range of effects on different descriptors in distinct groups. Overall, belowground groups had more even abundance distribtitions than aboveground groups. Strong differences among aboveground groups and between above- and belowground groups indicate that no single taxonomic group can serve as an indicator for effects in other groups. In the past, the use of SADs has been hampered by concerns over theoretical models underlying specific forms of SADs. Our study shows that SAD descriptors that are not connected to a particular model are suitable to assess the effect of land use on community structure.}, language = {en} } @article{TritschMartensSunetal.2017, author = {Tritsch, Christian and Martens, Jochen and Sun, Yue-Hua and Heim, Wieland and Strutzenberger, Patrick and P{\"a}ckert, Martin}, title = {Improved sampling at the subspecies level solves a taxonomic dilemma}, series = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, volume = {107}, journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {San Diego}, issn = {1055-7903}, doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.014}, pages = {538 -- 550}, year = {2017}, abstract = {A recent full species-level phylogeny of tits, titmice and chickadees (Paridae) has placed the Chinese endemic black-bibbed tit (Poecile hypermelaenus) as the sister to the Palearctic willow tit (P. montanus). Because this sister-group relationship is in striking disagreement with the traditional affiliation of P. hypermelaenus close to the marsh tit (P. palustris) we tested this phylogenetic hypothesis in a multi locus analysis with an extended taxon sampling including sixteen subspecies of willow tits and marsh tits. As a taxonomic reference we included type specimens in our analysis. The molecular genetic study was complemented with an analysis of biometric data obtained from museum specimens. Our phylogenetic reconstructions, including a comparison of all GenBank data available for our target species, clearly show that the genetic lineage previously identified as P. hypermelaenus actually refers to P. weigoldicus because sequences were identical to that of a syntype of this taxon. The close relationship of P. weigoldicus and P. montanus - despite large genetic distances between the two taxa - is in accordance with current taxonomy and systematics. In disagreement with the previous phylogenetic hypothesis but in accordance with most taxonomic authorities, all our P. hypermelaenus specimens fell in the sister Glade of all western and eastern Palearctic P. palustris. Though shared haplotypes among the Chinese populations of the two latter species might indicate mitochondrial introgression in this part of the breeding range, further research is needed here due to the limitations of our own sampling.}, language = {en} } @article{SharmaRuelensMaggenetal.2017, author = {Sharma, Neha and Ruelens, Philip and Maggen, Thomas and Dochy, Niklas and Torfs, Sanne and Kaufmann, Kerstin and Rohde, Antje and Geuten, Koen}, title = {A Flowering Locus C Homolog Is a Vernalization-Regulated Repressor in Brachypodium and Is Cold Regulated in Wheat}, series = {Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants}, volume = {173}, journal = {Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Society of Plant Physiologists}, address = {Rockville}, issn = {0032-0889}, doi = {10.1104/pp.16.01161}, pages = {1301 -- 1315}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Winter cereals require prolonged cold to transition from vegetative to reproductive development. This process, referred to as vernalization, has been extensively studied in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). In Arabidopsis, a key flowering repressor called FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) quantitatively controls the vernalization requirement. By contrast, in cereals, the vernalization response is mainly regulated by the VERNALIZATION genes, VRN1 and VRN2. Here, we characterize ODDSOC2, a recently identified FLC ortholog in monocots, knowing that it belongs to the FLC lineage. By studying its expression in a diverse set of Brachypodium accessions, we find that it is a good predictor of the vernalization requirement. Analyses of transgenics demonstrated that BdODDSOC2 functions as a vernalization-regulated flowering repressor. In most Brachypodium accessions BdODDSOC2 is down-regulated by cold, and in one of the winter accessions in which this down-regulation was evident, BdODDSOC2 responded to cold before BdVRN1. When stably down-regulated, the mechanism is associated with spreading H3K27me3 modifications at the BdODDSOC2 chromatin. Finally, homoeolog-specific gene expression analyses identify TaAGL33 and its splice variant TaAGL22 as the FLC orthologs in wheat (Triticum aestivum) behaving most similar to Brachypodium ODDSOC2. Overall, our study suggests that ODDSOC2 is not only phylogenetically related to FLC in eudicots but also functions as a flowering repressor in the vernalization pathway of Brachypodium and likely other temperate grasses. These insights could prove useful in breeding efforts to refine the vernalization requirement of temperate cereals and adapt varieties to changing climates.}, language = {en} } @article{LehmannFlorisWoiteketal.2017, author = {Lehmann, Andreas and Floris, Jo{\"e}l and Woitek, Ulrich and Ruehli, Frank J. and Staub, Kaspar}, title = {Temporal trends, regional variation and socio-economic differences in height, BMI and body proportions among German conscripts, 1956-2010}, series = {Public Health Nutrition}, volume = {20}, journal = {Public Health Nutrition}, number = {3}, publisher = {Cambridge Univ. Press}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1368-9800}, doi = {10.1017/S1368980016002408}, pages = {391 -- 403}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Objective: We analyse temporal trends and regional variation among the most recent available anthropometric data from German conscription in the years 2008-2010 and their historical contextualization since 1956. Design/setting/subjects: The overall sample included German conscripts (N 13 857 313) from 1956 to 2010. Results: German conscripts changed from growing in height to growing in breadth. Over the analysed 54 years, average height of 19-year-old conscripts increased by 6.5 cm from 173.5 cm in 1956 (birth year 1937) to 180.0 cm in 2010 (birth year 1991). This increase plateaued since the 1990s (1970s birth years). The increase in average weight, however, did not lessen during the last two decades but increased in two steps: at the end of the 1980s and after 1999. The weight and BMI distributions became increasingly right-skewed, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 11.6 \% and 2.1 \% in 1984 to 19.9 \% and 8.5 \% in 2010, respectively. The north-south gradient in height (north = taller) persisted during our observations. Height and weight of conscripts from East Germany matched the German average between the early 1990s and 2009. Between the 1980s and the early 1990s, the average chest circumference increased, the average difference between chest circumference when inhaling and exhaling decreased, as did leg length relative to trunk length. Conclusions: Measuring anthropometric data for military conscripts yielded year-by-year monitoring of the health status of young men at a proscribed age. Such findings contribute to a more precise identification of groups at risk and thus help with further studies and to target interventions.}, language = {en} } @article{LecourieuxKappelPierietal.2017, author = {Lecourieux, Fatma and Kappel, Christian and Pieri, Philippe and Charon, Justine and Pillet, Jeremy and Hilbert, Ghislaine and Renaud, Christel and Gomes, Eric and Delrot, Serge and Lecourieux, David}, title = {Dissecting the Biochemical and Transcriptomic Effects of a Locally Applied Heat Treatment on Developing Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Berries}, series = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-462X}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2017.00053}, pages = {23}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Reproductive development of grapevine and berry composition are both strongly influenced by temperature. To date, the molecular mechanisms involved in grapevine berries response to high temperatures are poorly understood. Unlike recent data that addressed the effects on berry development of elevated temperatures applied at the whole plant level, the present work particularly focuses on the fruit responses triggered by direct exposure to heat treatment (HT). In the context of climate change, this work focusing on temperature effect at the microclimate level is of particular interest as it can help to better understand the consequences of leaf removal (a common viticultural practice) on berry development. HT (+8 degrees C) was locally applied to clusters from Cabernet Sauvignon fruiting cuttings at three different developmental stages (middle green, veraison and middle ripening). Samples were collected 1, 7, and 14 days after treatment and used for metabolic and transcriptomic analyses. The results showed dramatic and specific biochemical and transcriptomic changes in heat exposed berries, depending on the developmental stage and the stress duration. When applied at the herbaceous stage, HT delayed the onset of veraison. Heating also strongly altered the berry concentration of amino acids and organic acids (e.g., phenylalanine, raminobutyric acid and malate) and decreased the anthocyanin content at maturity. These physiological alterations could be partly explained by the deep remodeling of transcriptome in heated berries. More than 7000 genes were deregulated in at least one of the nine experimental conditions. The most affected processes belong to the categories "stress responses," protein metabolism" and "secondary metabolism," highlighting the intrinsic capacity of grape berries to perceive HT and to build adaptive responses. Additionally, important changes in processes related to "transport," "hormone" and "cell wall" might contribute to the postponing of veraison. Finally, opposite effects depending on heating duration were observed for genes encoding enzymes of the general phenylpropanoid pathway, suggesting that the HI induced decrease in anthocyanin content may result from a combination of transcript abundance and product degradation.}, language = {en} } @article{RuelensZhangvanMouriketal.2017, author = {Ruelens, Philip and Zhang, Zhicheng and van Mourik, Hilda and Maere, Steven and Kaufmann, Kerstin and Geuten, Koen}, title = {The Origin of Floral Organ Identity Quartets}, series = {The plant cell}, volume = {29}, journal = {The plant cell}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Society of Plant Physiologists}, address = {Rockville}, issn = {1040-4651}, doi = {10.1105/tpc.16.00366}, pages = {229 -- 242}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The origin of flowers has puzzled plant biologists ever since Darwin referred to their sudden appearance in the fossil record as an abominable mystery. Flowers are considered to be an assembly of protective, attractive, and reproductive male and female leaf-like organs. Their origin cannot be understood by a morphological comparison to gymnosperms, their closest relatives, which develop separate male or female cones. Despite these morphological differences, gymnosperms and angiosperms possess a similar genetic toolbox consisting of phylogenetically related MADS domain proteins. Using ancestral MADS domain protein reconstruction, we trace the evolution of organ identity quartets along the stem lineage of crown angiosperms. We provide evidence that current floral quartets specifying male organ identity, which consist of four types of subunits, evolved from ancestral complexes of two types of subunits through gene duplication and integration of SEPALLATA proteins just before the origin of flowering plants. Our results suggest that protein interaction changes underlying this compositional shift were the result of a gradual and reversible evolutionary trajectory. Modeling shows that such compositional changes may have facilitated the evolution of the perfect, bisexual flower.}, language = {en} } @article{SainiGuentherAichneretal.2017, author = {Saini, Jeetendra and Guenther, Franziska and Aichner, Bernhard and Mischke, Steffen and Herzschuh, Ulrike and Zhang, Chengjun and Maeusbacher, Roland and Gleixner, Gerd}, title = {Climate variability in the past similar to 19,000 yr in NE Tibetan Plateau inferred from biomarker and stable isotope records of Lake Donggi Cona}, series = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal}, volume = {157}, journal = {Quaternary science reviews : the international multidisciplinary research and review journal}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0277-3791}, doi = {10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.12.023}, pages = {129 -- 140}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We investigated 4.84-m-long sediment record spanning over the Late Glacial and Holocene from Lake Donggi Cona to be able to reconstruct circulation pattern on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Presently, Lake Donggi Cona is located at the boundaries of Westerlies and Asian monsoon circulations in the northeastern TP. However, the exact timing and stimulating mechanisms for climatic changes and monsoon shifts in this region are still debated. We used a 19-ka-long stable isotope record of sedimentary n-alkanes to address this discrepancy by providing insights into paleohydrological conditions. The SD of nC(23) is influenced by lake water evaporation; the BD. values of sedimentary nC(29) are mainly controlled by moisture source and temperature changes. Long-chain n-alkanes dominate over the core whereas three mean clusters (i.e. microbial, aquatic and terrestrial) can be inferred. Multi-proxies suggest five major episodes in the history of Lake Donggi Cona. The Lake Donggi Cona record indicates that the Late Glacial(18.4-14.8 cal ka BP) was dominated by low productivity of mainly microbial and aquatic organisms. Relatively low delta D values suggest low temperatures and moist conditions eventually caused by stronger Westerlies, winter monsoon and melt-water influence. Likely, the shift (similar to 17.9 cal ka BP) from microbial to enhanced aquatic input suggests either a change from deep to shallow water lake or a break in local stratification. Between 14.8 and 13.0 cal ka BP, variable climatic conditions prevailed. Although the Westerlies weekend, the increase in temperature enhanced the permafrost and snow melting (displayed by a high sedimentary accumulation rate). Higher delta D values indicate increasingly arid conditions with higher temperatures which eventually lead to high evaporative conditions and lowest lake levels. Low vegetation cover and high erosion rates led to high sediment accumulation resulting in stratification followed by anoxia in the terminal lake. From 13.0 to 9.2 cal ka BP, lowered values of 813 along with high contents of terrestrial organic matter marked the early-Holocene warming indicating a further strengthening of summer precipitation and higher lake levels. A cooling trend was observed in the mid-Holocene between 9.2 and 3.0 cal ka BP accompanied by higher moisture availability (displayed by lowered SD values) caused by reduced evaporative conditions due to a drop in temperature and recovering Westerlies. After 3.0 cal ka BP, a decrease in lake productivity and cold and semi-arid conditions prevailed suggesting lower lake levels and reduced moisture from recycled air masses and Westerlies. We propose that the summer monsoon was the predominant moisture source during the Belling-Allered warm complex and early -Holocene followed by Westerlies in mid-to-late Holocene period. Stable carbon isotope values-32\%o indicate the absence of C-4 -type vegetation in the region contradicting with their presence in the Lake Qinghai record. The 81) record from lake Donggi Cona highlights the importance of the interplay between Westerlies and summer monsoon circulation at this location, which is highly dynamic in northeastern plateau compared to the North Atlantic circulation and insolation changes. Consequently lake Donggi Cona might be an important anchor point for environmental reconstructions on the Tibetan Plateau. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.}, language = {en} } @article{BauerWerthHaAnNguyenetal.2017, author = {Bauer, Daniel and Werth, Felix and Ha An Nguyen, and Kiecker, Felix and Eberle, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Critical role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for synergistic enhancement of apoptosis by vemurafenib and the potassium channel inhibitor TRAM-34 in melanoma cells}, series = {Cell death \& disease}, volume = {8}, journal = {Cell death \& disease}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-4889}, doi = {10.1038/cddis.2017.6}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Inhibition of MAP kinase pathways by selective BRAF inhibitors, such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib, have evolved as key therapies of BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, tumor relapse and therapy resistance have remained as major problems, which may be addressed by combination with other pathway inhibitors. Here we identified the potassium channel inhibitor TRAM-34 as highly effective in combination with vemurafenib. Thus apoptosis was significantly enhanced and cell viability was decreased. The combination vemurafenib/TRAM-34 was also effective in vemurafenib-resistant cells, suggesting that acquired resistance may be overcome. Vemurafenib decreased ERK phosphorylation, suppressed antiapoptotic Mcl-1 and enhanced proapoptotic Puma and Bim. The combination resulted in enhancement of proapoptotic pathways as caspase-3 and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Indicating a special mechanism of vemurafenib-induced apoptosis, we found strong enhancement of intracellular ROS levels already at 1 h of treatment. The critical role of ROS was demonstrated by the antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), which decreased intracellular ROS as well as apoptosis. Also caspase activation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were suppressed, proving ROS as an upstream effect. Thus ROS represents an initial and independent apoptosis pathway in melanoma cells that is of particular importance for vemurafenib and its combination with TRAM-34.}, language = {en} } @article{NakamuraClaesGrebeetal.2017, author = {Nakamura, Moritaka and Claes, Andrea R. and Grebe, Tobias and Hermkes, Rebecca and Viotti, Corrado and Ikeda, Yoshihisa and Grebe, Markus}, title = {Auxin and ROP GTPase Signaling of Polar Nuclear Migration in Root Epidermal Hair Cells}, series = {Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants}, volume = {176}, journal = {Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Society of Plant Physiologists}, address = {Rockville}, issn = {0032-0889}, doi = {10.1104/pp.17.00713}, pages = {378 -- 391}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Polar nuclear migration is crucial during the development of diverse eukaryotes. In plants, root hair growth requires polar nuclear migration into the outgrowing hair. However, knowledge about the dynamics and the regulatory mechanisms underlying nuclear movements in root epidermal cells remains limited. Here, we show that both auxin and Rho-of-Plant (ROP) signaling modulate polar nuclear position at the inner epidermal plasma membrane domain oriented to the cortical cells during cell elongation as well as subsequent polar nuclear movement to the outer domain into the emerging hair bulge in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Auxin signaling via the nuclear AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR7 (ARF7)/ARF19 and INDOLE ACETIC ACID7 pathway ensures correct nuclear placement toward the inner membrane domain. Moreover, precise inner nuclear placement relies on SPIKE1 Rho-GEF, SUPERCENTIPEDE1 Rho-GDI, and ACTIN7 (ACT7) function and to a lesser extent on VTI11 vacuolar SNARE activity. Strikingly, the directionality and/or velocity of outer polar nuclear migration into the hair outgrowth along actin strands also are ACT7 dependent, auxin sensitive, and regulated by ROP signaling. Thus, our findings provide a founding framework revealing auxin and ROP signaling of inner polar nuclear position with some contribution by vacuolar morphology and of actin-dependent outer polar nuclear migration in root epidermal hair cells.}, language = {en} } @article{HeinzeJoshi2017, author = {Heinze, Johannes and Joshi, Jasmin Radha}, title = {Plant-soil feedback effects can be masked by aboveground herbivory under natural field conditions}, series = {Oecologia}, volume = {186}, journal = {Oecologia}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0029-8549}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-017-3997-y}, pages = {235 -- 246}, year = {2017}, abstract = {For plants, herbivory and interactions with their surrounding soil ecosystem are crucial factors influencing individual performance and plant-community composition. Until now, research has mostly focused on individual effects of herbivory or plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) on plant growth and community composition, but few studies have explicitly investigated herbivory in the context of PSFs. These few studies, however, were performed under greenhouse conditions even though PSFs and herbivory may differ between greenhouse and field conditions. Therefore, we performed a field experiment in a grassland, testing the growth responses of three grass species that consistently differ in local abundance, on soils previously conditioned by these species. We tested these PSF effects for the three species both in the presence and in the absence of aboveground herbivores. Without herbivores, the two subdominant species suffered from negative PSF effects. However, in the presence of herbivores and on heterospecific soils, the same two species experienced a significant loss of shoot biomass, whereas, in contrast, enhanced root growth was observed on conspecific soils, resulting in overall neutral PSF effects. The dominant species was not damaged by herbivores and showed overall neutral PSF effects in the field with and without herbivores. Our study provides empirical evidence that negative PSF effects that exist under natural field conditions in grasslands can be overwhelmed by aboveground herbivory. Hence, potential PSF effects might not be detected in the field, because other abiotic and biotic interactions such as aboveground herbivory have stronger effects on plant performance and might therefore mask or override these PSF effects.}, language = {en} } @article{GietlerNykielOrzechowskietal.2017, author = {Gietler, Marta and Nykiel, Malgorzata and Orzechowski, Slawomir and Fettke, J{\"o}rg and Zagdanska, Barbara}, title = {Protein carbonylation linked to wheat seedling tolerance to water deficiency}, series = {Environmental and experimental botany}, volume = {137}, journal = {Environmental and experimental botany}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0098-8472}, doi = {10.1016/j.envexpbot.2017.02.004}, pages = {84 -- 95}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The appearance of the first leaf from the coleoptile in wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.) coincides with the development of seedling susceptibility to water deficiency on the fifth day following imbibition. In dehydrated wheat seedlings, an increase in the protein carbonyl group has been observed. The coincidence of higher protein carbonylation levels with development of dehydration intolerance drew our attention. To gain more insight into the molecular basis of wheat drought tolerance, the seedling profiles of carbonylated proteins were analysed and compared. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF and LC-MS/MS) were used to indicate and identify differential carbonylated proteins. Among the protein spots with at least a two-fold change in protein abundance in dehydrated seedlings in relation to control (well-watered) plants during the tolerant phase of growth, 19 carbonylated proteins increased and 18 carbonylated proteins decreased in abundance. Among 26 differentially expressed carbonylated proteins in sensitive seedlings, the abundance of 10 protein spots increased while that of 16 proteins decreased upon dehydration. We have demonstrated a link between protein carbonylation and seedling sensitivity to dehydration. The analysis of carbonylated protein profiles clearly showed that proteins with a potential role in the maintenance of dehydration tolerance in wheat seedlings are mainly linked to energy production, anti-fungal and/or insecticidal activity, or to the regulation of both protein synthesis and degradation.}, language = {en} } @article{BuehningVallerianiLeimkuehler2017, author = {B{\"u}hning, Martin and Valleriani, Angelo and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {The role of SufS is restricted to Fe-S cluster biosynthesis in escherichia coli}, series = {Biochemistry}, volume = {56}, journal = {Biochemistry}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0006-2960}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00040}, pages = {1987 -- 2000}, year = {2017}, abstract = {In Escherichia coli, two different systems that are important for the coordinate formation of Fe-S clusters have been identified, namely, the ISC and SUF systems. The ISC system is the housekeeping Fe-S machinery, which provides Fe-S clusters for numerous cellular proteins. The IscS protein of this system was additionally revealed to be the primary sulfur donor for several sulfur-containing molecules with important biological functions, among which are the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) and thiolated nucleosides in tRNA. Here, we show that deletion of central components of the ISC system in addition to IscS leads to an overall decrease in Fe-S cluster enzyme and molybdoenzyme activity in addition to a decrease in the number of Fe-S-dependent thiomodifications of tRNA, based on the fact that some proteins involved in Moco biosynthesis and tRNA thiolation are Fe-S-dependent. Complementation of the ISC deficient strains with the suf operon restored the activity of Fe-S-containing proteins, including the MoaA protein, which is involved in the conversion of 5′GTP to cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate in the fist step of Moco biosynthesis. While both systems share a high degree of similarity, we show that the function of their respective l-cysteine desulfurase IscS or SufS is specific for each cellular pathway. It is revealed that SufS cannot play the role of IscS in sulfur transfer for the formation of 2-thiouridine, 4-thiouridine, or the dithiolene group of molybdopterin, being unable to interact with TusA or ThiI. The results demonstrate that the role of the SUF system is exclusively restricted to Fe-S cluster assembly in the cell.}, language = {en} } @article{FruscalzoFrommerLonderoetal.2017, author = {Fruscalzo, Arrigo and Frommer, Julia-Marie and Londero, Ambrogio P. and Henze, Andrea and Schweigert, Florian J. and Nofer, Jerzy-Roch and Steinhard, Johannes and Klockenbusch, Walter and Schmitz, Ralf and Raila, Jens}, title = {First trimester TTR-RBP4-ROH complex and angiogenic factors in the prediction of small for gestational age infant's outcome}, series = {Archives of gynecology and obstetrics}, volume = {295}, journal = {Archives of gynecology and obstetrics}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {0932-0067}, doi = {10.1007/s00404-017-4338-4}, pages = {1157 -- 1165}, year = {2017}, abstract = {To study the role of the TTR-RBP4-ROH complex components (transthyretin, serum retinol binding protein, retinol) and of angiogenic factors PlGF (placental growth factor) and sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) in pregnancies complicated by small for gestational age infants (SGA). Case control study conducted on maternal serum collected between 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. TTR, RBP4, ROH, PlGF and sFlt-1 were measured in SGA patients (birth weight < 10\%) who delivered at term (n = 37) and before 37 weeks of gestation (n = 17) and in a matched control group with uneventful pregnancies (n = 37). We found decreased RBP4 in SGA patients that delivered fetuses < 3\% and in fetuses delivered after the 37 weeks of gestation compared to controls [1.50 (95\% CI 1.40-1.75) vs 1.62 (95\% CI 1.47-1.98), p < 0.05]. Further, we found lower PlGF and sFlt-1 concentrations in SGA that delivered before 37 weeks of gestation compared to controls (respectively, PIGF and sFlt-1: 39.7 pg/ml (95\% CI 32.3-66.3) vs 62.9 pg/ml (95\% CI 45.2-78.4) and 906 pg/ml (95\% CI 727-1626) vs 1610 pg/ml (95\% CI 1088-212), p < 0.05). First trimester maternal serum RBP4 and angiogenic factors PlGF and sFlt-1 can differently predict the timing of delivery of pregnancies complicated by SGA fetuses.}, language = {en} } @article{TomioloMetzBlackwoodetal.2017, author = {Tomiolo, Sara and Metz, Johannes and Blackwood, Christopher B. and Djendouci, Karin and Henneberg, Lorenz and Mueller, Caroline and Tielboerger, Katja}, title = {Short-term drought and long-term climate legacy affect production of chemical defenses among plant ecotypes}, series = {Environmental and Experimental Botany}, volume = {141}, journal = {Environmental and Experimental Botany}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0098-8472}, doi = {10.1016/j.envexpbot.2017.07.009}, pages = {124 -- 131}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Long and short-term climatic variation affect the ability of plants to simultaneously cope with increasing abiotic stress and biotic interactions. Specifically, ecotypes adapted to different climatic conditions (i.e., long-term legacy) may have to adjust their allocation to chemical defenses against enemies under acute drought (i.e., short-term response). Although several studies have addressed drought effects on chemical defense production, little is known about their intraspecific variation along resource gradients. Studying intraspecific variation is important for understanding how different environments select for defense strategies and how these may be affected directly and indirectly by changing climatic conditions. We conducted greenhouse experiments with the annual Biscutella didyma (Brassicaceae) to test the effects of long-term climatic legacy versus short-term drought stress on the concentrations of defense compounds (glucosinolates). To this aim, four ecotypes originating from a steep aridity gradient were exposed to contrasting water treatments. Concentrations of chemical defenses were measured separately in leaves of young (8 weeks) and old (14 weeks) plants, respectively. For young plants, ecotypes from the wettest climate (long-term legacy) as well as plants receiving high water treatments (short-term response) were better defended. A marginally significant interaction suggested that wetter ecotypes experienced a larger shift in defense production across water treatments. Older plants contained much lower glucosinolate concentrations and showed no differences between ecotypes and water treatments. Our results indicate that younger plants invest more resources into chemical defenses, possibly due to higher vulnerability to tissue loss compared to older plants. We propose that the strong response of wet ecotypes to water availability may be explained by a less pronounced adaptation to drought.}, language = {en} } @article{HeimTrenseSokolovaetal.2017, author = {Heim, Wieland and Trense, Daronja and Sokolova, Galina V. and Kitagawa, Tamaki}, title = {Increased populations of endangered cranes after Amur River flood}, series = {Waterbirds}, volume = {40}, journal = {Waterbirds}, publisher = {Waterbirds SOC}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1524-4695}, doi = {10.1675/063.040.0309}, pages = {282 -- 288}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Dam construction on the Zeya River, which is an important tributary of the Amur River in Far East Russia, has caused significant declines in water levels and frequency of floods in the adjacent floodplains since 1980. However, an extreme flood event occurred in 2013. Populations of six crane species were monitored before and after these drastic water level changes at Muraviovka Park in Far East Russia, an important breeding and stop-over site. Individuals were counted by territory mapping during the breeding season (2000-2015) and by roosting site counts during autumn migration (2006-2015). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether changes in water levels had a significant impact on local and migratory crane populations. We found a positive effect of flooding on numbers of breeding Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) and White-naped Cranes (Antigone vipio), as well as on numbers of roosting Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) in autumn. Siberian Cranes (Leucogeranus leucogeranus) were only observed after the wetlands were flooded. The results of this study highlight the importance of elevated Amur River water levels for crane populations of global importance.}, language = {en} } @article{PerillonPoeschkeLewandowskietal.2017, author = {P{\´e}rillon, C{\´e}cile and P{\"o}schke, Franziska and Lewandowski, J{\"o}rg and Hupfer, Michael and Hilt, Sabine}, title = {Stimulation of epiphyton growth by lacustrine groundwater discharge to an oligo-mesotrophic hard-water lake}, series = {Freshwater Science}, volume = {36}, journal = {Freshwater Science}, publisher = {Univ. of Chicago Press}, address = {Chicago}, issn = {2161-9549}, doi = {10.1086/692832}, pages = {555 -- 570}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Periphyton is a major contributor to aquatic primary production and often competes with phytoplankton and submerged macrophytes for resources. In nutrient-limited environments, mobilization of sediment nutrients by groundwater can significantly affect periphyton (including epiphyton) development in shallow littoral zones and may affect other lake primary producers. We hypothesized that epiphyton growth in the littoral zone of temperate oligomesotrophic hard-water lakes could be stimulated by nutrient (especially P) supply via lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD). We compared the dry mass, chlorophyll a (chl a), and nutrient content of epiphyton grown on artificial substrates at different sites in a groundwater-fed lake and in experimental chambers with and without LGD. During the spring-summer periods, epiphyton accumulated more biomass, especially algae, in littoral LGD sites and in experimental chambers with LGD compared to controls without LGD. Epiphyton chl a accumulation reached up to 46 mg chl a/m(2) after 4 wk when exposed to LGD, compared to a maximum of 23 mg chl a/m(2) at control (C) sites. In the field survey, differences in epiphyton biomass between LGD and C sites were most pronounced at the end of summer, when epilimnetic P concentrations were lowest and epiphyton C:P ratios indicated P limitation. Groundwater-borne P may have facilitated epiphyton growth on macrophytes and periphyton growth on littoral sediments. Epiphyton stored up to 35 mg P/m(2) in 4 wk (which corresponds to 13\% of the total P content of the littoral waters), preventing its use by phytoplankton, and possibly contributing to the stabilization of a clear-water state. However, promotion of epiphyton growth by LGD may have contributed to an observed decline in macrophyte abundance caused by epiphyton shading and a decreased resilience of small charophytes to drag forces in shallow littoral areas of the studied lake in recent decades.}, language = {en} } @article{ParagasHumphreysMinetal.2017, author = {Paragas, Erickson M. and Humphreys, Sara C. and Min, Joshua and Joswig-Jones, Carolyn A. and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Jones, Jeffrey P.}, title = {ecoAO}, series = {ACS OMEGA}, volume = {2}, journal = {ACS OMEGA}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2470-1343}, doi = {10.1021/acsomega.7b01054}, pages = {4820 -- 4827}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Although aldehyde oxidase (AO) is an important hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme, it remains understudied and is consequently often overlooked in preclinical studies, an oversight that has resulted in the failure of multiple clinical trials. AO's preclusion to investigation stems from the following: (1) difficulties synthesizing metabolic standards due to the chemospecificity and regiospecificity of the enzyme and (2) significant inherent variability across existing in vitro systems including liver cytosol, S9 fractions, and primary hepatocytes, which lack specificity and generate discordant expression and activity profiles. Here, we describe a practical bacterial biotransformation system, ecoAO, addressing both issues simultaneously. ecoAO is a cell paste of MoCo-producing Escherichia coli strain TP1017 expressing human AO. It exhibits specific activity toward known substrates, zoniporide, 4-trans-(N,N-dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde, O6-benzylguanine, and zaleplon; it also has utility as a biocatalyst, yielding milligram quantities of synthetically challenging metabolite standards such as 2-oxo-zoniporide. Moreover, ecoAO enables routine determination of kcat and V/K, which are essential parameters for accurate in vivo clearance predictions. Furthermore, ecoAO has potential as a preclinical in vitro screening tool for AO activity, as demonstrated by its metabolism of 3-aminoquinoline, a previously uncharacterized substrate. ecoAO promises to provide easy access to metabolites with the potential to improve pharmacokinetic clearance predictions and guide drug development.}, language = {en} } @article{BengfortvanVelzenGaedke2017, author = {Bengfort, Michael and van Velzen, Ellen and Gaedke, Ursula}, title = {Slight phenotypic variation in predators and prey causes complex predator-prey oscillations}, series = {Ecological Complexity}, volume = {31}, journal = {Ecological Complexity}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1476-945X}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecocom.2017.06.003}, pages = {115 -- 124}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Predator-prey oscillations are expected to show a 1/4-phase lag between predator and prey. However, observed dynamics of natural or experimental predator-prey systems are often more complex. A striking but hardly studied example are sudden interruptions of classic 1/4-lag cycles with periods of antiphase oscillations, or periods without any regular predator-prey oscillations. These interruptions occur for a limited time before the system reverts to regular 1/4-lag oscillations, thus yielding intermittent cycles. Reasons for this behaviour are often difficult to reveal in experimental systems. Here we test the hypothesis that such complex dynamical behaviour may result from minor trait variation and trait adaptation in both the prey and predator, causing recurrent small changes in attack rates that may be hard to capture by empirical measurements. Using a model structure where the degree of trait variation in the predator can be explicitly controlled, we show that a very limited amount of adaptation resulting in 10-15\% temporal variation in attack rates is already sufficient to generate these intermittent dynamics. Such minor variation may be present in experimental predator-prey systems, and may explain disruptions in regular 1/4-lag oscillations.}, language = {en} } @article{SchallGossnerHeinrichsetal.2017, author = {Schall, Peter and Gossner, Martin M. and Heinrichs, Steffi and Fischer, Markus and Boch, Steffen and Prati, Daniel and Jung, Kirsten and Baumgartner, Vanessa and Blaser, Stefan and B{\"o}hm, Stefan and Buscot, Francois and Daniel, Rolf and Goldmann, Kezia and Kaiser, Kristin and Kahl, Tiemo and Lange, Markus and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg Hans and Overmann, J{\"o}rg and Renner, Swen C. and Schulze, Ernst-Detlef and Sikorski, Johannes and Tschapka, Marco and T{\"u}rke, Manfred and Weisser, Wolfgang W. and Wemheuer, Bernd and Wubet, Tesfaye and Ammer, Christian}, title = {The impact of even-aged and uneven-aged forest management on regional biodiversity of multiple taxa in European beech forests}, series = {Journal of applied ecology : an official journal of the British Ecological Society}, volume = {55}, journal = {Journal of applied ecology : an official journal of the British Ecological Society}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0021-8901}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2664.12950}, pages = {267 -- 278}, year = {2017}, abstract = {1. For managed temperate forests, conservationists and policymakers favour fine-grained uneven-aged (UEA) management over more traditional coarse-grained even-aged (EA) management, based on the assumption that within-stand habitat heterogeneity enhances biodiversity. There is, however, little empirical evidence to support this assumption. We investigated for the first time how differently grained forest management systems affect the biodiversity of multiple above- and below-ground taxa across spatial scales. 2. We sampled 15 taxa of animals, plants, fungi and bacteria within the largest contiguous beech forest landscape of Germany and classified them into functional groups. Selected forest stands have been managed for more than a century at different spatial grains. The EA (coarse-grained management) and UEA (fine-grained) forests are comparable in spatial arrangement, climate and soil conditions. These were compared to forests of a nearby national park that have been unmanaged for at least 20years. We used diversity accumulation curves to compare -diversity for Hill numbers D-0 (species richness), D-1 (Shannon diversity) and D-2 (Simpson diversity) between the management systems. Beta diversity was quantified as multiple-site dissimilarity. 3. Gamma diversity was higher in EA than in UEA forests for at least one of the three Hill numbers for six taxa (up to 77\%), while eight showed no difference. Only bacteria showed the opposite pattern. Higher -diversity in EA forests was also found for forest specialists and saproxylic beetles. 4. Between-stand -diversity was higher in EA than in UEA forests for one-third (all species) and half (forest specialists) of all taxa, driven by environmental heterogeneity between age-classes, while -diversity showed no directional response across taxa or for forest specialists. 5. Synthesis and applications. Comparing EA and uneven-aged forest management in Central European beech forests, our results show that a mosaic of different age-classes is more important for regional biodiversity than high within-stand heterogeneity. We suggest reconsidering the current trend of replacing even-aged management in temperate forests. Instead, the variability of stages and stand structures should be increased to promote landscape-scale biodiversity.}, language = {en} } @article{BuschKlausPenoneetal.2017, author = {Busch, Verena and Klaus, Valentin H. and Penone, Caterina and Sch{\"a}fer, Deborah and Boch, Steffen and Prati, Daniel and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Socher, Stephanie A. and Niinemets, {\"U}lo and Penuelas, Josep and H{\"o}lzel, Norbert and Fischer, Markus and Kleinebecker, Till}, title = {Nutrient stoichiometry and land use rather than species richness determine plant functional diversity}, series = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {8}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {2045-7758}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.3609}, pages = {601 -- 616}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Plant functional traits reflect individual and community ecological strategies. They allow the detection of directional changes in community dynamics and ecosystemic processes, being an additional tool to assess biodiversity than species richness. Analysis of functional patterns in plant communities provides mechanistic insight into biodiversity alterations due to anthropogenic activity. Although studies have consi-dered of either anthropogenic management or nutrient availability on functional traits in temperate grasslands, studies combining effects of both drivers are scarce. Here, we assessed the impacts of management intensity (fertilization, mowing, grazing), nutrient stoichiometry (C, N, P, K), and vegetation composition on community-weighted means (CWMs) and functional diversity (Rao's Q) from seven plant traits in 150 grasslands in three regions in Germany, using data of 6 years. Land use and nutrient stoichiometry accounted for larger proportions of model variance of CWM and Rao's Q than species richness and productivity. Grazing affected all analyzed trait groups; fertilization and mowing only impacted generative traits. Grazing was clearly associated with nutrient retention strategies, that is, investing in durable structures and production of fewer, less variable seed. Phenological variability was increased. Fertilization and mowing decreased seed number/mass variability, indicating competition-related effects. Impacts of nutrient stoichiometry on trait syndromes varied. Nutrient limitation (large N:P, C:N ratios) promoted species with conservative strategies, that is, investment in durable plant structures rather than fast growth, fewer seed, and delayed flowering onset. In contrast to seed mass, leaf-economics variability was reduced under P shortage. Species diversity was positively associated with the variability of generative traits. Synthesis. Here, land use, nutrient availability, species richness, and plant functional strategies have been shown to interact complexly, driving community composition, and vegetation responses to management intensity. We suggest that deeper understanding of underlying mechanisms shaping community assembly and biodiversity will require analyzing all these parameters.}, language = {en} } @article{MeyerPtacnikHillebrandetal.2017, author = {Meyer, Sebastian Tobias and Ptacnik, Robert and Hillebrand, Helmut and Bessler, Holger and Buchmann, Nina and Ebeling, Anne and Eisenhauer, Nico and Engels, Christof and Fischer, Markus and Halle, Stefan and Klein, Alexandra-Maria and Oelmann, Yvonne and Roscher, Christiane and Rottstock, Tanja and Scherber, Christoph and Scheu, Stefan and Schmid, Bernhard and Schulze, Ernst-Detlef and Temperton, Vicky M. and Tscharntke, Teja and Voigt, Winfried and Weigelt, Alexandra and Wilcke, Wolfgang and Weisser, Wolfgang W.}, title = {Biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships depend on identity and number of measured functions}, series = {Nature Ecology \& Evolution}, volume = {2}, journal = {Nature Ecology \& Evolution}, number = {1}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2397-334X}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-017-0391-4}, pages = {44 -- 49}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Biodiversity ensures ecosystem functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services, but it remains unclear how biodiversity-ecosystem multifunctionality relationships depend on the identity and number of functions considered. Here, we demonstrate that ecosystem multifunctionality, based on 82 indicator variables of ecosystem functions in a grassland biodiversity experiment, increases strongly with increasing biodiversity. Analysing subsets of functions showed that the effects of biodiversity on multifunctionality were stronger when more functions were included and that the strength of the biodiversity effects depended on the identity of the functions included. Limits to multifunctionality arose from negative correlations among functions and functions that were not correlated with biodiversity. Our findings underline that the management of ecosystems for the protection of biodiversity cannot be replaced by managing for particular ecosystem functions or services and emphasize the need for specific management to protect biodiversity. More plant species from the experimental pool of 60 species contributed to functioning when more functions were considered. An individual contribution to multifunctionality could be demonstrated for only a fraction of the species.}, language = {en} } @misc{DuncanRosa2017, author = {Duncan, Susan and Rosa, Stefanie Nunes}, title = {Gaining insight into plant gene transcription using smFISH}, series = {Transcription}, volume = {9}, journal = {Transcription}, number = {3}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Philadelphia}, issn = {2154-1264}, doi = {10.1080/21541264.2017.1372043}, pages = {166 -- 170}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Single molecule RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (smFISH) enables gene transcription to be assessed at the cellular level. In this point of view article, we describe our recent smFISH research in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and discuss how this technique could further knowledge of plant gene transcription in the future.}, language = {en} } @article{Yarman2017, author = {Yarman, Aysu}, title = {Development of a molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensor for tyrosinase}, series = {Turkish journal of chemistry}, volume = {42}, journal = {Turkish journal of chemistry}, number = {2}, publisher = {T{\"u}rkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik Ara{\c{s}}t{\i}rma Kurumu}, address = {Ankara}, issn = {1300-0527}, doi = {10.3906/kim-1708-68}, pages = {346 -- 354}, year = {2017}, abstract = {For the first time a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based sensor for tyrosinase is described. This sensor is based on the electropolymerization of scopoletin or o-phenylenediamine in the presence of tyrosinase from mushrooms, which has a high homology to the human enzyme. The template was removed either by treatment with proteinase Kor by alkaline treatment. The measuring signal was generated either by measuring the formation of a product by the target enzyme or by evaluation of the permeability of the redox marker ferricyanide. The o-phenylenediamine-based MIP sensor has a linear measuring range up to 50 nM of tyrosinase with a limit of detection of 3.97 nM (R 2 = 0.994) and shows good discrimination towards other proteins, e.g., bovine serum albumin and cytochrome c.}, language = {en} } @article{ChangKnappEnketal.2017, author = {Chang, Dan and Knapp, Michael and Enk, Jacob and Lippold, Sebastian and Kircher, Martin and Lister, Adrian M. and MacPhee, Ross D. E. and Widga, Christopher and Czechowski, Paul and Sommer, Robert and Hodges, Emily and St{\"u}mpel, Nikolaus and Barnes, Ian and Dal{\´e}n, Love and Derevianko, Anatoly and Germonpr{\´e}, Mietje and Hillebrand-Voiculescu, Alexandra and Constantin, Silviu and Kuznetsova, Tatyana and Mol, Dick and Rathgeber, Thomas and Rosendahl, Wilfried and Tikhonov, Alexey N. and Willerslev, Eske and Hannon, Greg and Lalueza i Fox, Carles and Joger, Ulrich and Poinar, Hendrik N. and Hofreiter, Michael and Shapiro, Beth}, title = {The evolutionary and phylogeographic history of woolly mammoths}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/srep44585}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Near the end of the Pleistocene epoch, populations of the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) were distributed across parts of three continents, from western Europe and northern Asia through Beringia to the Atlantic seaboard of North America. Nonetheless, questions about the connectivity and temporal continuity of mammoth populations and species remain unanswered. We use a combination of targeted enrichment and high-throughput sequencing to assemble and interpret a data set of 143 mammoth mitochondrial genomes, sampled from fossils recovered from across their Holarctic range. Our dataset includes 54 previously unpublished mitochondrial genomes and significantly increases the coverage of the Eurasian range of the species. The resulting global phylogeny confirms that the Late Pleistocene mammoth population comprised three distinct mitochondrial lineages that began to diverge ~1.0-2.0 million years ago (Ma). We also find that mammoth mitochondrial lineages were strongly geographically partitioned throughout the Pleistocene. In combination, our genetic results and the pattern of morphological variation in time and space suggest that male-mediated gene flow, rather than large-scale dispersals, was important in the Pleistocene evolutionary history of mammoths.}, language = {en} } @article{FriemelMareljaLietal.2017, author = {Friemel, Martin and Marelja, Zvonimir and Li, Kuanyu and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {The N-Terminus of Iron-Sulfur Cluster Assembly Factor ISD11 Is Crucial for Subcellular Targeting and Interaction with L-Cysteine Desulfurase NFS1}, series = {Biochemistry}, volume = {56}, journal = {Biochemistry}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0006-2960}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biochem.6b01239}, pages = {1797 -- 1808}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Assembly of iron sulfur (FeS) clusters is an important process in living cells. The initial sulfur mobilization step for FeS cluster biosynthesis is catalyzed by L-cysteine desulfurase NFS1, a reaction that is localized in mitochondria in humans. In humans, the function of NFS1 depends on the ISD11 protein, which is required to stabilize its structure. The NFS1/ISD11 complex further interacts with scaffold protein ISCU and regulator protein frataxin, thereby forming a quaternary complex for FeS cluster formation. It has been suggested that the role of ISD11 is not restricted to its role in stabilizing the structure of NFS1, because studies of single-amino acid variants of ISD11 additionally demonstrated its importance for the correct assembly of the quaternary complex. In this study, we are focusing on the N-terminal region of ISD11 to determine the role of N-terminal amino acids in the formation of the complex with NFS1 and to reveal the mitochondria) targeting sequence for subcellular localization. Our in vitro studies with the purified proteins and in vivo studies in a cellular system show that the first 10 N-terminal amino acids of ISD11 are indispensable for the activity of NFS1 and especially the conserved "LYR" motif is essential for the role of ISD11 in forming a stable and active complex with NFS1.}, language = {en} } @article{DolotovskayaBordalloHausetal.2017, 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 = {181}, journal = {Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society}, number = {2}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0024-4082}, doi = {10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx001}, pages = {471 -- 483}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Complete mitochondrial (mtDNA) genomes have proved to be useful in reconstructing primate phylogenies with higher resolution and confidence compared to reconstructions based on partial mtDNA sequences. Here, we analyse complete mtDNA genomes of African green monkeys (genus Chlorocebus), a widely distributed primate genus in Africa representing an interesting phylogeographical model for the evolution of savannah species. Previous studies on partial mtDNA sequences revealed nine major clades, suggesting several cases of para- and polyphyly among Chlorocebus species. However, in these studies, phylogenetic relationships among several clades were not resolved, and divergence times were not estimated. We analysed complete mtDNA genomes for ten Chlorocebus samples representing major mtDNA clades to find stronger statistical support in the phylogenetic reconstruction than in the previous studies and to estimate divergence times. Our results confirmed para- and polyphyletic relationships of most Chlorocebus species, while the support for the phylogenetic relationships between the mtDNA clades increased compared to the previous studies. Our results indicate an initial west-east division in the northern part of the Chlorocebus range with subsequent divergence into north-eastern and southern clades. This phylogeographic scenario contrasts with that for another widespread African savannah primate genus, the baboons (Papio), for which a dispersal from southern Africa into East and West Africa was suggested.}, language = {en} } @article{MummCzernitzkiBentsetal.2017, author = {Mumm, Rebekka and Czernitzki, Anna-Franziska and Bents, Dominik and Musalek, Martin}, title = {Socioeconomic situation and growth in infants and juveniles}, series = {Anthropologischer Anzeiger : journal of biological and clinical anthropology ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie}, volume = {74}, journal = {Anthropologischer Anzeiger : journal of biological and clinical anthropology ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie}, publisher = {Schweizerbart}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0003-5548}, doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2017/0706}, pages = {101 -- 107}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background: Physical growth of children and adolescents depends on the interaction of genetic and environmental factors e.g. diet and living conditions. Aim: We aim to discuss the influence of socioeconomic situation, using income inequality and GDP per capita as indicators, on body height, body weight and the variability of height and weight in infants and juveniles. Material and methods: We re-analyzed data from 439 growth studies on height and weight published during the last 35 years. We added year-and country-matched GDP per capita (in current US\$) and the Gini coefficient for each study. The data were divided into two age groups: infants (age 2) and juveniles (age 7). We used Pearson correlation and principal component analysis to investigate the data. Results: Gini coefficient negatively correlated with body height and body weight in infants and juveniles. GDP per capita showed a positive correlation with height and weight in both age groups. In infants the standard deviation of height increases with increasing Gini coefficient. The opposite is true for juveniles. A correlation of weight variability and socioeconomic indicators is absent in infants. In juveniles the variability of weight increases with declining Gini coefficient and increasing logGDP per capita. Discussion: Poverty and income inequality are generally associated with poor growth in height and weight. The analysis of the within-population height and weight variations however, shows that the associations between wealth, income, and anthropometric parameters are very complex and cannot be explained by common wisdom. They point towards an independent regulation of height and weight.}, language = {en} } @misc{YangDarkoHuangetal.2017, author = {Yang, Xiaoping and Darko, Kwame Oteng and Huang, Yanjun and He, Caimei and Yang, Huansheng and He, Shanping and Li, Jianzhong and Li, Jian and Hocher, Berthold and Yin, Yulong}, title = {Resistant starch regulates gut microbiota}, series = {Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology}, volume = {42}, journal = {Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Karger}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1015-8987}, doi = {10.1159/000477386}, pages = {306 -- 318}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Starch is one of the most popular nutritional sources for both human and animals. Due to the variation of its nutritional traits and biochemical specificities, starch has been classified into rapidly digestible, slowly digestible and resistant starch. Resistant starch has its own unique chemical structure, and various forms of resistant starch are commercially available. It has been found being a multiple-functional regulator for treating metabolic dysfunction. Different functions of resistant starch such as modulation of the gut microbiota, gut peptides, circulating growth factors, circulating inflammatory mediators have been characterized by animal studies and clinical trials. In this mini-review, recent remarkable progress in resistant starch on gut microbiota, particularly the effect of structure, biochemistry and cell signaling on nutrition has been summarized, with highlights on its regulatory effect on gut microbiota.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Neuber2017, author = {Neuber, Corinna}, title = {Analytik zur Biotransformation des Sphingosin 1-phosphat-abbauproduktes (2E)-Hexadecenal}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {161}, year = {2017}, language = {de} } @article{LiXuWangetal.2017, author = {Li, Zhengdong and Xu, Xun and Wang, Weiwei and Kratz, Karl and Sun, Xianlei and Zou, Jie and Deng, Zijun and Jung, Friedrich Wilhelm and Gossen, Manfred and Ma, Nan and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Modulation of the mesenchymal stem cell migration capacity via preconditioning with topographic microstructure}, series = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, volume = {67}, journal = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, publisher = {IOS Press}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1386-0291}, doi = {10.3233/CH-179208}, pages = {267 -- 278}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Controlling mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) behavior is necessary to fully exploit their therapeutic potential. Various approaches are employed to effectively influence the migration capacity of MSCs. Here, topographic microstructures with different microscale roughness were created on polystyrene (PS) culture vessel surfaces as a feasible physical preconditioning strategy to modulate MSC migration. By analyzing trajectories of cells migrating after reseeding, we demonstrated that the mobilization velocity of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) could be promoted by and persisted after brief preconditioning with the appropriate microtopography. Moreover, the elevated activation levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in hADSCs were also observed during and after the preconditioning process. These findings underline the potential enhancement of in vivo therapeutic efficacy in regenerative medicine via transplantation of topographic microstructure preconditioned stem cells.}, language = {en} } @article{PyšekPerglEssletal.2017, author = {Pyšek, Petr and Pergl, Jan and Essl, Franz and Lenzner, Bernd and Dawson, Wayne and Kreft, Holger and Weigelt, Patrick and Winter, Marten and Kartesz, John and Nishino, Misako and Antonova, Liubov A. and Barcelona, Julie F. and Cabezas, Francisco Jos{\´e} and C{\´a}rdenas L{\´o}pez, Dairon and C{\´a}rdenas-Toro, Juliana and Castańo, Nicol{\´a}s and Chac{\´o}n, Eduardo and Chatelain, Cyrille and Dullinger, Stefan and Ebel, Aleksandr L. and Figueiredo, Estrela and Fuentes, Nicol and Genovesi, Piero and Groom, Quentin J. and Henderson, Lesley and Inderjit, and Kupriyanov, Andrey and Masciadri, Silvana and Maurel, No{\"e}lie and Meerman, Jan and Morozova, Olʹga V. and Moser, Dietmar and Nickrent, Daniel and Nowak, Pauline M. and Pagad, Shyama and Patzelt, Annette and Pelser, Pieter B. and Seebens, Hanno and Shu, Wen-sheng and Thomas, Jacob and Velayos, Mauricio and Weber, Ewald and Wieringa, Jan J. and Baptiste, Maria P. and Kleunen, Mark van}, title = {Naturalized alien flora of the world}, series = {Preslia : the journal of the Czech Botanical Society}, volume = {89}, journal = {Preslia : the journal of the Czech Botanical Society}, number = {3}, publisher = {Czech Botanical Soc.}, address = {Praha}, issn = {0032-7786}, doi = {10.23855/preslia.2017.203}, pages = {203 -- 274}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Using the recently built Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database, containing data on the distribution of naturalized alien plants in 483 mainland and 361 island regions of the world, we describe patterns in diversity and geographic distribution of naturalized and invasive plant species, taxonomic, phylogenetic and life-history structure of the global naturalized flora as well as levels of naturalization and their determinants. The mainland regions with the highest numbers of naturalized aliens are some Australian states (with New South Wales being the richest on this continent) and several North American regions (of which California with 1753 naturalized plant species represents the world’s richest region in terms of naturalized alien vascular plants). England, Japan, New Zealand and the Hawaiian archipelago harbour most naturalized plants among islands or island groups. These regions also form the main hotspots of the regional levels of naturalization, measured as the percentage of naturalized aliens in the total flora of the region. Such hotspots of relative naturalized species richness appear on both the western and eastern coasts of North America, in north-western Europe, South Africa, south-eastern Australia, New Zealand, and India. High levels of island invasions by naturalized plants are concentrated in the Pacific, but also occur on individual islands across all oceans. The numbers of naturalized species are closely correlated with those of native species, with a stronger correlation and steeper increase for islands than mainland regions, indicating a greater vulnerability of islands to invasion by species that become successfully naturalized. South Africa, India, California, Cuba, Florida, Queensland and Japan have the highest numbers of invasive species. Regions in temperate and tropical zonobiomes harbour in total 9036 and 6774 naturalized species, respectively, followed by 3280 species naturalized in the Mediterranean zonobiome, 3057 in the subtropical zonobiome and 321 in the Arctic. The New World is richer in naturalized alien plants, with 9905 species compared to 7923 recorded in the Old World. While isolation is the key factor driving the level of naturalization on islands, zonobiomes differing in climatic regimes, and socioeconomy represented by per capita GDP, are central for mainland regions. The 11 most widely distributed species each occur in regions covering about one third of the globe or more in terms of the number of regions where they are naturalized and at least 35\% of the Earth’s land surface in terms of those regions’ areas, with the most widely distributed species Sonchus oleraceus occuring in 48\% of the regions that cover 42\% of the world area. Other widely distributed species are Ricinus communis, Oxalis corniculata, Portulaca oleracea, Eleusine indica, Chenopodium album, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Stellaria media, Bidens pilosa, Datura stramonium and Echinochloa crus-galli. Using the occurrence as invasive rather than only naturalized yields a different ranking, with Lantana camara (120 regions out of 349 for which data on invasive status are known), Calotropis procera (118), Eichhornia crassipes (113), Sonchus oleraceus (108) and Leucaena leucocephala (103) on top. As to the life-history spectra, islands harbour more naturalized woody species (34.4\%) thanmainland regions (29.5\%), and fewer annual herbs (18.7\% compared to 22.3\%). Ranking families by their absolute numbers of naturalized species reveals that Compositae (1343 species), Poaceae (1267) and Leguminosae (1189) contribute most to the global naturalized alien flora. Some families are disproportionally represented by naturalized aliens on islands (Arecaceae, Araceae, Acanthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Convolvulaceae, Rubiaceae, Malvaceae), and much fewer so on mainland (e.g. Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Boraginaceae). Relating the numbers of naturalized species in a family to its total global richness shows that some of the large species-rich families are over-represented among naturalized aliens (e.g. Poaceae, Leguminosae, Rosaceae, Amaranthaceae, Pinaceae), some under-represented (e.g. Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae), whereas the one richest in naturalized species, Compositae, reaches a value expected from its global species richness. Significant phylogenetic signal indicates that families with an increased potential of their species to naturalize are not distributed randomly on the evolutionary tree. Solanum (112 species), Euphorbia (108) and Carex (106) are the genera richest in terms of naturalized species; over-represented on islands are Cotoneaster, Juncus, Eucalyptus, Salix, Hypericum, Geranium and Persicaria, while those relatively richer in naturalized species on the mainland are Atriplex, Opuntia, Oenothera, Artemisia, Vicia, Galium and Rosa. The data presented in this paper also point to where information is lacking and set priorities for future data collection. The GloNAF database has potential for designing concerted action to fill such data gaps, and provide a basis for allocating resources most efficiently towards better understanding and management of plant invasions worldwide.}, language = {en} } @article{SanderEccardHeim2017, author = {Sander, Martha Maria and Eccard, Jana and Heim, Wieland}, title = {Flight range estimation of migrant yellow-browed warblers phylloscopus inornatus on the East Asian flyway}, series = {Bird study : the journal of the British Trust for Ornithology}, volume = {64}, journal = {Bird study : the journal of the British Trust for Ornithology}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {0006-3657}, doi = {10.1080/00063657.2017.1409696}, pages = {569 -- 572}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Fat loads were quantified for 2125 Yellow-browed Warblers Phylloscopus inornatus trapped at a stop-over site in Far East Russia during autumn migration. Flight ranges of 660-820km were estimated for the fattest individuals, suggesting that they would need to stop for refuelling at least six times to reach their wintering areas in South East Asia.}, language = {en} } @article{LeimkuehlerMendel2017, author = {Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Mendel, Ralf-Rainer}, title = {Molybdenum Cofactor Biosynthesis}, series = {Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes: biochemistry}, volume = {5}, journal = {Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes: biochemistry}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, isbn = {978-1-78262-391-5}, doi = {10.1039/9781782623915}, pages = {100 -- 116}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) is highly conserved among all kingdoms of life. In all molybdoenzymes with the exception of nitrogenase, the molybdenum atom is coordinated to a dithiolene group present in the pterin-based 6-alkyl side chain of molybdopterin (MPT). In general, the biosynthesis of Moco can be divided into three steps in eukaryotes, and four steps in bacteria and archaea: (i) the starting point is the formation of the cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP) from 5′GTP, (ii) in the second step the two sulfur molecules are inserted into cPMP leading to the formation of MPT, (iii) in the third step the molybdenum atom is inserted into molybdopterin to form Moco and (iv) additional modification of Moco occurs in bacteria and archaea with the attachment of a nucleotide (CMP or GMP) to the phosphate group of MPT, forming the dinucleotide variants of Moco. This review will focus on the biosynthesis of Moco in bacteria, humans and plants.}, language = {en} } @article{NishinoOkamotoLeimkuehler2017, author = {Nishino, Takeshi and Okamoto, Ken and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {Enzymes of the Xanthine Oxidase Family}, series = {Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes : biochemistry}, volume = {5}, journal = {Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes : biochemistry}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, isbn = {978-1-78262-391-5}, doi = {10.1039/9781782623915-00192}, pages = {192 -- 239}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Enzymes from the xanthine oxidase (XO) family of molybdenum enzymes are generally, with some exceptions, molybdenum iron-sulfur flavin hydroxylases. Mammalian xanthine oxidoreductase and aldehyde oxidase were among the first enzymes to be studied in detail more than 100 years ago and, surprisingly, they continue to be thoroughly studied in molecular detail with many open and unresolved questions remaining. Enzymes of the XO family are characterized by a molybdenum cofactor (Moco) active site with a MoVIOS(OH) ligand sphere where substrate hydroxylation of either aromatic or aliphatic carbon centers is catalyzed. During the reaction, electrons are transferred to the oxidizing substrate, most commonly O2 or NAD+, which react at the FAD site.}, language = {en} } @article{LeimkuehlerLemaireIobbiNivol2017, author = {Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Lemaire, Olivier N. and Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal}, title = {Bacterial Molybdoenzymes}, series = {Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes : biochemistry}, volume = {5}, journal = {Molybdenum and tungsten enzymes : biochemistry}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, isbn = {978-1-78262-391-5}, doi = {10.1039/9781782623915-00117}, pages = {117 -- 142}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The biogenesis of molybdoenzymes is a cytoplasmic event requiring both the folded apoenzymes and the matured molybdenum cofactor. The structure and the complexity of the molybdenum cofactor varies in each molybdoenzyme family and consequently different accessory proteins are required for the maturation of the respective enzymes. Thus, for enzymes of both the DMSO reductase and xanthine oxidase families, specific chaperones exist which are dedicated to increase the stability and the folding of specific members of each family. In this review, we describe the role of these chaperones for molybdoenzyme maturation. We present a model which describes step by step the mechanism of the maturation of representative molybdoenzymes from each family.}, language = {en} } @article{LuHasanZengetal.2017, author = {Lu, Yong-Ping and Hasan, Ahmed A. and Zeng, Shufei and Hocher, Berthold}, title = {Plasma ET-1 concentrations are elevated in pregnant women with hypertension - meta-analysis of clinical studies}, series = {Kidney \& blood pressure research : official organ of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Nephrologie ; official organ of the Deutsche Liga zur Bek{\"a}mpfung des Hohen Blutdruckes e.V., Deutsche Hypertonie-Gesellschaft}, volume = {42}, journal = {Kidney \& blood pressure research : official organ of the Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Nephrologie ; official organ of the Deutsche Liga zur Bek{\"a}mpfung des Hohen Blutdruckes e.V., Deutsche Hypertonie-Gesellschaft}, number = {4}, publisher = {Karger}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1420-4096}, doi = {10.1159/000482004}, pages = {654 -- 663}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background/Aims: The ET system might be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The objective is to analyse the impact of ET-1 in hypertensive pregnant women by a strict meta-analysis of published human clinical studies. Methods: Based on the principle of Cochrane systematic reviews, Cohort studies in PubMed (Medline), Google Scholar and China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc) designed to identify the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathophysiology of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were screened. Review Manager Version 5.0 (Rev-Man 5.0) was applied for statistical analysis. Mean difference and 95\% confidence interval (CI) were shown in inverse variance (IV) fixed-effects model or IV random-effects model. Results: Sixteen published cohort studies including 1739 hypertensive cases and 409 controls were used in the meta-analysis. ET-1 plasma concentrations were higher in hypertensive pregnant women as compared to the controls (mean difference between groups: 19.02 [15.60～22.44], P < 0.00001,). These finding were driven by severity of hypertension and/or degree of proteinuria. Conclusion: Plasma ET-1 concentrations are elevated in hypertensive disorders during human pregnancy. In particular women with preeclampsia (hypertensive pregnant women with proteinuria) have substantially elevated plasma ET-1 concentration as compared to pregnant women with normal blood pressure.}, language = {en} } @article{ZouWangNeffeetal.2017, author = {Zou, Jie and Wang, Weiwei and Neffe, Axel T. and Xu, Xun and Li, Zhengdong and Deng, Zijun and Sun, Xianlei and Ma, Nan and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Adipogenic differentiation of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells in 3D architectured gelatin based hydrogels (ArcGel)}, series = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, volume = {67}, journal = {Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation : blood flow and vessels}, number = {3-4}, publisher = {IOS Press}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1386-0291}, doi = {10.3233/CH-179210}, pages = {297 -- 307}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Polymeric matrices mimicking multiple functions of the ECM are expected to enable a material induced regeneration of tissues. Here, we investigated the adipogenic differentiation of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) in a 3D architectured gelatin based hydrogel (ArcGel) prepared from gelatin and L-lysine diisocyanate ethyl ester (LDI) in an one-step process, in which the formation of an open porous morphology and the chemical network formation were integrated. The ArcGel was designed to support adipose tissue regeneration with its 3D porous structure, high cell biocompatibility, and mechanical properties compatible with human subcutaneous adipose tissue. The ArcGel could support initial cell adhesion and survival of hADSCs. Under static culture condition, the cells could migrate into the inner part of the scaffold with a depth of 840 +/- 120 mu m after 4 days, and distributed in the whole scaffold (2mm in thickness) within 14 days. The cells proliferated in the scaffold and the fold increase of cell number after 7 days of culture was 2.55 +/- 0.08. The apoptotic rate of hADSCs in the scaffold was similar to that of cells maintained on tissue culture plates. When cultured in adipogenic induction medium, the hADSCs in the scaffold differentiated into adipocytes with a high efficiency (93 +/- 1\%). Conclusively, this gelatin based 3D scaffold presented high cell compatibility for hADSC cultivation and differentiation, which could serve as a potential implant material in clinical applications for adipose tissue reparation and regeneration.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwiebsThomasKleuseretal.2017, author = {Schwiebs, Anja and Thomas, Dominique Jeanette and Kleuser, Burkhard and Pfeilschifter, Josef and Radeke, Heinfried H.}, title = {Nuclear translocation of SGPP-1 and decrease of SGPL-1 activity contribute to sphingolipid rheostat regulation of inflammatory dendritic cells}, series = {Mediators of inflammation}, journal = {Mediators of inflammation}, publisher = {Hindawi Publishing Corp.}, address = {London}, issn = {0962-9351}, doi = {10.1155/2017/5187368}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {A balanced sphingolipid rheostat is indispensable for dendritic cell function and survival and thus initiation of an immune response. Sphingolipid levels are dynamically maintained by the action of sphingolipid enzymes of which sphingosine kinases, S1P phosphatases (SGPP-1/2) and S1P lyase (SGPL-1), are pivotal in the balance of S1P and sphingosine levels. In this study, we present that SGPP-1 and SGPL-1 are regulated in inflammatory dendritic cells and contribute to S1P fate. TLR-dependent activation caused SGPL-1 protein downregulation with subsequent decrease of enzymatic activity by two-thirds. In parallel, confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed that endogenous SGPP-1 was expressed in nuclei of naive dendritic cells and was translocated into the cytoplasmatic compartment upon inflammatory stimulation resulting in dephosphorylation of S1P. Mass spectrometric determination showed that a part of the resulting sphingosine was released from the cell, increasing extracellular levels. Another route of diminishing intracellular S1P was possibly taken by its export via ATP-binding cassette transporter C1 which was upregulated in array analysis, while the S1P transporter, spinster homolog 2, was not relevant in dendritic cells. These investigations newly describe the sequential expression and localization of the endogenous S1P regulators SGPP-1 and SGPL-1 and highlight their contribution to the sphingolipid rheostat in inflammation.}, language = {en} } @article{WestburyDalerumbNorenetal.2017, author = {Westbury, Michael V. and Dalerumb, Fredrik and Noren, Karin and Hofreiter, Michael}, title = {Complete mitochondrial genome of a bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), along with phylogenetic considerations}, series = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B}, volume = {2}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA. Part B}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2380-2359}, doi = {10.1080/23802359.2017.1331325}, pages = {298 -- 299}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis, is the only member of its genus and is thought to occupy a basal position within the dog family. These factors can lead to challenges in complete mitochondrial reconstructions and accurate phylogenetic positioning. Here, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of the bat-eared fox recovered using shotgun sequencing and iterative mapping to three distantly related species. Phylogenetic analyses placed the bat-eared fox basal in the Canidae family within the clade including true foxes (Vulpes) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes) with high support values. This position is in good agreement with previously published results based on short fragments of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, therefore adding more support to the basal positioning of the bat-eared fox within Canidae.}, language = {en} } @article{OPUS4-56760, title = {Plant Hormones}, series = {Methods in Molecular Biology}, journal = {Methods in Molecular Biology}, number = {1497}, editor = {Kleine-Vehn, J{\"u}rgen and Sauer, Michael}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, isbn = {978-1-4939-6467-3}, issn = {1064-3745}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-6469-7}, pages = {XI, 288}, year = {2017}, abstract = {This volume aims to present a representative cross-section of modern experimental approaches relevant to Plant Hormone Biology, ranging from relatively simple physiological to highly sophisticated methods. Chapters describe physiological, developmental, microscopy-based techniques, measure hormone contents, and heterologous systems. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.}, language = {en} } @misc{KleineVehnSauer2017, author = {Kleine-Vehn, J{\"u}rgen and Sauer, Michael}, title = {Preface}, series = {Plant Hormones: Methods and Protocols}, volume = {1497}, journal = {Plant Hormones: Methods and Protocols}, editor = {Kleine-Vehn, J{\"u}rgen and Sauer, Michael}, edition = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, isbn = {978-1-4939-6469-7}, issn = {1064-3745}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-6469-7}, pages = {V -- V}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Janowski2017, author = {Janowski, Marcin Andrzej}, title = {Investigating role of the essential GTPase - AtRsgA in the assembly of the small ribosomal subunit in Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {114}, year = {2017}, language = {en} } @article{HenkelColemanSchraplauetal.2017, author = {Henkel, Janin and Coleman, Charles Dominic and Schraplau, Anne and J{\"o}hrens, Korinna and Weber, Daniela and Castro, Jose Pedro and Hugo, Martin and Schulz, Tim Julius and Kr{\"a}mer, Stephanie and Sch{\"u}rmann, Annette and P{\"u}schel, Gerhard Paul}, title = {Induction of Steatohepatitis (NASH) with Insulin Resistance in Wild-type B6 Mice by a Western-type Diet Containing Soybean Oil and Cholesterol}, series = {Molecular medicine}, volume = {23}, journal = {Molecular medicine}, publisher = {Feinstein Inst. for Medical Research}, address = {Manhasset}, issn = {1076-1551}, doi = {10.2119/molmed.2016.00203}, pages = {70 -- 82}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are hepatic manifestations of the metabolic syndrome. Many currently used animal models of NAFLD/NASH lack clinical features of either NASH or metabolic syndrome such as hepatic inflammation and fibrosis (e.g., high-fat diets) or overweight and insulin resistance (e.g., methionine-choline-deficient diets), or they are based on monogenetic defects (e.g., ob/ob mice). In the current study, a Western-type diet containing soybean oil with high n-6-PUFA and 0.75\% cholesterol (SOD + Cho) induced steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis accompanied by hepatic lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in livers of C57BL/6-mice, which in addition showed increased weight gain and insulin resistance, thus displaying a phenotype closely resembling all clinical features of NASH in patients with metabolic syndrome. In striking contrast, a soybean oil-containing Western-type diet without cholesterol (SOD) induced only mild steatosis but not hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, weight gain or insulin resistance. Another high-fat diet, mainly consisting of lard and supplemented with fructose in drinking water (LAD + Fru), resulted in more prominent weight gain, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis than SOD + Cho, but livers were devoid of inflammation and fibrosis. Although both LAD + Fru-and SOD + Cho-fed animals had high plasma cholesterol, liver cholesterol was elevated only in SOD + Cho animals. Cholesterol induced expression of chemotactic and inflammatory cytokines in cultured Kupffer cells and rendered hepatocytes more susceptible to apoptosis. In summary, dietary cholesterol in the SOD + Cho diet may trigger hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. SOD + Cho-fed animals may be a useful disease model displaying many clinical features of patients with the metabolic syndrome and NASH.}, language = {en} } @misc{GonzalezFortesJonesLightfootetal.2017, author = {Gonz{\´a}lez-Fortes, Gloria M. and Jones, Eppie R. and Lightfoot, Emma and Bonsall, Clive and Lazar, Catalin and Grandal-d'Anglade, Aurora and Garralda, Mar{\´i}a Dolores and Drak, Labib and Siska, Veronika and Simalcsik, Angela and Boroneant, Adina and Roman{\´i}, Juan Ram{\´o}n Vidal and Vaqueiro Rodr{\´i}guez, Marcos and Arias, Pablo and Pinhasi, Ron and Manica, Andrea and Hofreiter, Michael}, title = {Paleogenomic evidence for multi-generational mixing between Neolithic Farmers and Mesolithic Hunter-Gatherers in the lower Danube Basin}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {794}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-44011}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-440115}, pages = {1801 -- 1820}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The transition from hunting and gathering to farming involved profound cultural and technological changes. In Western and Central Europe, these changes occurred rapidly and synchronously after the arrival of early farmers of Anatolian origin [1-3], who largely replaced the local Mesolithic hunter-gatherers [1, 4-6]. Further east, in the Baltic region, the transition was gradual, with little or no genetic input from incoming farmers [7]. Here we use ancient DNA to investigate the relationship between hunter-gatherers and farmers in the Lower Danube basin, a geographically intermediate area that is characterized by a rapid Neolithic transition but also by the presence of archaeological evidence that points to cultural exchange, and thus possible admixture, between hunter-gatherers and farmers. We recovered four human paleogenomes (1.13 to 4.13 coverage) from Romania spanning a time transect between 8.8 thousand years ago (kya) and 5.4 kya and supplemented them with two Mesolithic genomes (1.73- and 5.33) from Spain to provide further context on the genetic background of Mesolithic Europe. Our results show major Western hunter-gatherer (WHG) ancestry in a Romanian Eneolithic sample with a minor, but sizeable, contribution from Anatolian farmers, suggesting multiple admixture events between hunter-gatherers and farmers. Dietary stableisotope analysis of this sample suggests a mixed terrestrial/ aquatic diet. Our results provide support for complex interactions among hunter-gatherers and farmers in the Danube basin, demonstrating that in some regions, demic and cultural diffusion were not mutually exclusive, but merely the ends of a continuum for the process of Neolithization.}, language = {en} } @misc{SchmiedchenLongardtBuehreretal.2017, author = {Schmiedchen, Bettina and Longardt, Ann Carolin and B{\"u}hrer, Christoph and Raila, Jens and Loui, Andrea and Schweigert, Florian J.}, title = {The Relative Dose Response Test Based on Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Is Not Suitable to Assess Vitamin A Status in Very Low Birth Weight Infants}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-399853}, pages = {6}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background: The relative dose response (RDR) test, which quantifies the increase in serum retinol after vitamin A administration, is a qualitative measure of liver vitamin A stores. Particularly in preterm infants, the feasibility of the RDR test involving blood is critically dependent on small sample volumes. Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether the RDR calculated with retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) might be a substitute for the classical retinol-based RDR test for assessing vitamin A status in very preterm infants. Methods: This study included preterm infants with a birth weight below 1,500 g (n = 63, median birth weight 985 g, median gestational age 27.4 weeks) who were treated with 5,000 IU retinyl palmitate intramuscularly 3 times a week for 4 weeks. On day 3 (first vitamin A injection) and day 28 of life (last vitamin A injection), the RDR was calculated and compared using serum retinol and RBP4 concentrations. Results: The concentrations of retinol (p < 0.001) and RBP4 (p < 0.01) increased significantly from day 3 to day 28. On day 3, the median (IQR) retinol-RDR was 27\% (8.4-42.5) and the median RBP4-RDR was 8.4\% (-3.4 to 27.9), compared to 7.5\% (-10.6 to 20.8) and -0.61\% (-19.7 to 15.3) on day 28. The results for retinol-RDR and RBP4-RDR revealed no significant correlation. The agreement between retinol-RDR and RBP4-RDR was poor (day 3: Cohen's κ = 0.12; day 28: Cohen's κ = 0.18). Conclusion: The RDR test based on circulating RBP4 is unlikely to reflect the hepatic vitamin A status in preterm infants.}, language = {en} } @article{BergholzMayGiladietal.2017, author = {Bergholz, Kolja and May, Felix and Giladi, Itamar and Ristow, Michael and Ziv, Yaron and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Environmental heterogeneity drives fine-scale species assembly and functional diversity of annual plants in a semi-arid environment}, series = {Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics}, volume = {24}, journal = {Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Jena}, issn = {1433-8319}, doi = {10.1016/j.ppees.2017.01.001}, pages = {138 -- 146}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Spatial environmental heterogeneity is considered a fundamental factor for the maintenance of plant species richness. However, it still remains unclear whether heterogeneity may also facilitate coexistence at fine grain sizes or whether other processes, like mass effects and source sink dynamics due to dispersal, control species composition and diversity at these scales. In this study, we used two complimentary analyses to identify the role of heterogeneity within 15 m x 15 m plots for the coexistence of species-rich annual communities in a semi-arid environment along a steep precipitation gradient. Specifically, we: (a) analyzed the effect of environmental heterogeneity on species, functional and phylogenetic diversity within microsites (alpha diversity, 0.06 m(2) and 1 m(2)), across microsites (beta diversity), and diversity at the entire plot (gamma diversity); (b) further we used two null models to detect non-random trait and phylogenetic patterns in order to infer assembly processes, i.e. whether co-occurring species tend to share similar traits (trait convergence) or dissimilar traits (trait divergence). In general, our results showed that heterogeneity had a positive effect on community diversity. Specifically, for alpha diversity, the effect was significant for functional diversity, and not significant for either species or phylogenetic diversities. For beta diversity, all three measures of community diversity (species, functional, and phylogenetic) increased significantly, as they also did for gamma diversity, where functional measures were again stronger than for species or phylogenetic measures. In addition, the null model approach consistently detected trait convergence, indicating that species with similar traits tended to co-occur and had high abundances in a given microsite. While null model analysis across the phylogeny partly supported these trait findings, showing phylogenetic underdispersion at the 1m(2) grain size, surprisingly when species abundances in microsites were analyzed they were more evenly distributed across the phylogenetic tress than expected (phylogenetic overdispersion). In conclusion, our results provide compelling support that environmental heterogeneity at a relatively fine scale is an important factor for species co-existence as it positively affects diversity as well as influences species assembly. Our study underlines the need for trait-based approaches conducted at fine grain sizes in order to better understand species coexistence and community assembly. (C) 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} }