TY - GEN A1 - Schorn, Sina A1 - Salman-Carvalho, Verena A1 - Littmann, Sten A1 - Ionescu, Danny A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Cypionka, Heribert T1 - Cell architecture of the giant sulfur bacterium achromatium oxaliferum BT - Extra-cytoplasmic localization of calcium carbonate bodies T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Achromatium oxaliferum is a large sulfur bacterium easily recognized by large intracellular calcium carbonate bodies. Although these bodies often fill major parts of the cells' volume, their role and specific intracellular location are unclear. In this study, we used various microscopy and staining techniques to identify the cell compartment harboring the calcium carbonate bodies. We observed that Achromatium cells often lost their calcium carbonate bodies, either naturally or induced by treatments with diluted acids, ethanol, sodium bicarbonate and UV radiation which did not visibly affect the overall shape and motility of the cells (except for UV radiation). The water-soluble fluorescent dye fluorescein easily diffused into empty cavities remaining after calcium carbonate loss. Membranes (stained with Nile Red) formed a network stretching throughout the cell and surrounding empty or filled calcium carbonate cavities. The cytoplasm (stained with FITC and SYBR Green for nucleic acids) appeared highly condensed and showed spots of dissolved Ca2+ (stained with Fura-2). From our observations, we conclude that the calcium carbonate bodies are located in the periplasm, in extra-cytoplasmic pockets of the cytoplasmic membrane and are thus kept separate from the cell's cytoplasm. This periplasmic localization of the carbonate bodies might explain their dynamic formation and release upon environmental changes. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1356 KW - sulfur-bacteria KW - calcium carbonate inclusions KW - extra-cytoplasmic pockets KW - calcite Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-549935 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schorn, Sina A1 - Salman-Carvalho, Verena A1 - Littmann, Sten A1 - Ionescu, Danny A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Cypionka, Heribert T1 - Cell architecture of the giant sulfur bacterium achromatium oxaliferum BT - Extra-cytoplasmic localization of calcium carbonate bodies JF - FEMS Microbiology Ecology N2 - Achromatium oxaliferum is a large sulfur bacterium easily recognized by large intracellular calcium carbonate bodies. Although these bodies often fill major parts of the cells' volume, their role and specific intracellular location are unclear. In this study, we used various microscopy and staining techniques to identify the cell compartment harboring the calcium carbonate bodies. We observed that Achromatium cells often lost their calcium carbonate bodies, either naturally or induced by treatments with diluted acids, ethanol, sodium bicarbonate and UV radiation which did not visibly affect the overall shape and motility of the cells (except for UV radiation). The water-soluble fluorescent dye fluorescein easily diffused into empty cavities remaining after calcium carbonate loss. Membranes (stained with Nile Red) formed a network stretching throughout the cell and surrounding empty or filled calcium carbonate cavities. The cytoplasm (stained with FITC and SYBR Green for nucleic acids) appeared highly condensed and showed spots of dissolved Ca2+ (stained with Fura-2). From our observations, we conclude that the calcium carbonate bodies are located in the periplasm, in extra-cytoplasmic pockets of the cytoplasmic membrane and are thus kept separate from the cell's cytoplasm. This periplasmic localization of the carbonate bodies might explain their dynamic formation and release upon environmental changes. KW - sulfur-bacteria KW - calcium carbonate inclusions KW - extra-cytoplasmic pockets KW - calcite Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiz200 SN - 1574-6941 VL - 96 IS - 2 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Oxford University Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wiebke, Ullmann T1 - Warum hat Bayern mehr Feldhasen als Brandenburg? JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 46 EP - 47 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Teckentrup, Lisa T1 - Gefahr an jeder Ecke BT - wie die Landschaftsstruktur die Verteilung von Beutetieren beeinflusst JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 54 EP - 55 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schäfer, Merlin T1 - Mut macht einsam BT - der Einfluss von Persönlichkeit auf das Zusammenleben von Tieren JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 52 EP - 53 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kowalski, Gabriele Joanna T1 - Auf dem Sprung BT - wie bewegen sich Tiere durch die Landschaft? JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 41 EP - 42 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Raatz, Larissa T1 - Wirtschaften in einer reich strukturierten Landschaft - geht das ? JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 32 EP - 33 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lozada Gobilard, Sissi Donna T1 - Können auch Pflanzen zwischen den Söllen "wandern" JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 30 EP - 31 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Litwin, Magdalena A1 - Colangeli, Pierluigi T1 - Wie und wohin reisen Wasserflöhe? JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 28 EP - 29 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maaß, Stefanie T1 - Blick in die Zukunft BT - wie werden sich Pflanzengemeinschaften in Brandenburg verändern? JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 24 EP - 25 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weiß, Lina A1 - Wulff, Monika T1 - Veränderung der Landnutzung in der nord-westlichen Uckermark von 1780 bis heute JF - Vielfalt in der Uckermark : Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 SP - 20 EP - 21 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - BOOK ED - Berlin-Brandenburgisches Institut für Biodiverstätsforschung, T1 - Vielfalt in der Uckermark BT - Forschungsprojekte 2015 - 2018 Y1 - 2019 PB - oerding print GmbH CY - Braunschweig ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tarazona, Natalia A. A1 - Machatschek, Rainhard Gabriel A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Unraveling the interplay between abiotic hydrolytic degradation and crystallization of bacterial polyesters comprising short and medium side-chain-length Polyhydroxyalkanoates JF - Biomacromolecules : an interdisciplinary journal focused at the interface of polymer science and the biological sciences N2 - Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted attention as degradable (co)polyesters which can be produced by microorganisms with variations in the side chain. This structural variation influences not only the thermomechanical properties of the material but also its degradation behavior. Here, we used Langmuir monolayers at the air-water (A-W) interface as suitable models for evaluating the abiotic degradation of two PHAs with different side-chain lengths and crystallinity. By controlling the polymer state (semi crystalline, amorphous), the packing density, the pH, and the degradation mechanism, we could draw several significant conclusions. (i) The maximum degree of crystallinity for a PHA film to be efficiently degraded up to pH = 12.3 is 40%. (ii) PHA made of repeating units with shorter side-chain length are more easily hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions. The efficiency of alkaline hydrolysis decreased by about 65% when the polymer was 40% crystalline. (iii) In PHA films with a relatively high initial crystallinity, abiotic degradation initiated a chemicrystallization phenomenon, detected as an increase in the storage modulus (E'). This could translate into an increase in brittleness and reduction in the material degradability. Finally, we demonstrate the stability of the measurement system for long-term experiments, which allows degradation conditions for polymers that could closely simulate real-time degradation. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01458 SN - 1525-7797 SN - 1526-4602 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 761 EP - 771 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Malinova, Irina A1 - Kössler, Stella A1 - Orawetz, Tom A1 - Matthes, Ulrike A1 - Orzechowski, Slawomir A1 - Koch, Anke A1 - Fettke, Jörg T1 - Identification of two Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane transporters able to transport glucose 1-phosphate JF - Plant & cell physiology N2 - Primary carbohydrate metabolism in plants includes several sugar and sugar-derivative transport processes. Over recent years, evidences have shown that in starch-related transport processes, in addition to glucose 6-phosphate, maltose, glucose and triose-phosphates, glucose 1-phosphate also plays a role and thereby increases the possible fluxes of sugar metabolites in planta. In this study, we report the characterization of two highly similar transporters, At1g34020 and At4g09810, in Arabidopsis thaliana, which allow the import of glucose 1-phosphate through the plasma membrane. Both transporters were expressed in yeast and were biochemically analyzed to reveal an antiport of glucose 1-phosphate/phosphate. Furthermore, we showed that the apoplast of Arabidopsis leaves contained glucose 1-phosphate and that the corresponding mutant of these transporters had higher glucose 1-phosphate amounts in the apoplast and alterations in starch and starch-related metabolism. KW - apoplast KW - Arabidopsis thaliana KW - glucose 1-phosphate transport KW - starch metabolism KW - sugar transport Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcz206 SN - 0032-0781 SN - 1471-9053 VL - 61 IS - 2 SP - 381 EP - 392 PB - Oxford University Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kunde, Miriam N. A1 - Martins, Renata Filipa A1 - Premier, Joe A1 - Fickel, Jörns A1 - Förster, Daniel W. T1 - Population and landscape genetic analysis of the Malayan sun bear Helarctos malayanus JF - Conservation genetics N2 - Conservation genetics can provide data needed by conservation practitioners for their decisions regarding the management of vulnerable or endangered species, such as the sun bear Helarctos malayanus. Throughout its range, the sun bear is threatened by loss and fragmentation of its habitat and the illegal trade of both live bears and bear parts. Sharply declining population numbers and population sizes, and a lack of natural dispersal between populations all threaten the genetic diversity of the remaining populations of this species. In this first population genetics study of sun bears using microsatellite markers, we analyzed 68 sun bear samples from Cambodia to investigate population structure and genetic diversity. We found evidence for two genetically distinct populations in the West and East of Cambodia. Ongoing or recent gene flow between these populations does not appear sufficient to alleviate loss of diversity in these populations, one of which (West Cambodia) is characterized by significant inbreeding. We were able to assign 85% of sun bears of unknown origin to one of the two populations with high confidence (assignment probability >= 85%), providing valuable information for future bear reintroduction programs. Further, our results suggest that developed land (mostly agricultural mosaics) acts as a barrier to gene flow for sun bears in Cambodia. We highlight that regional sun bear conservation action plans should consider promoting population connectivity and enforcing wildlife protection of this threatened species. KW - Sun bear KW - Helarctos malayanus KW - Microsatellite KW - Population genetics Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01233-w SN - 1566-0621 SN - 1572-9737 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 123 EP - 135 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Parfenteva, Olga A1 - Groth, Detlef A1 - Scheffler, Christiane A1 - Zaharova, Maria F. T1 - Influence of the A/T polymorphism of the FTO gene and sport specializations on the body composition of young Russian athletes JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: The polymorphism in FTO gene (rs9939609) is known to be associated with higher BMI and body fat mass content. However, environmental factors can modify this effect. The purpose of the present study was to investigate an association between sport specialization and the rs9939609 SNP in FTO gene in the cohort of professional and amateur young athletes. Methods: A total number of 250 young individuals 8-18 years old living in Moscow or Moscow district participated in the study. Individuals were divided into 3 groups in accordance with their physical activity level: control group (n = 49), amateurs (n = 67) and professionals (n = 137). Amateur and professional athletes were subdivided into groups according to their sport specialization. Quantile regression was used as a regression model, where the dependent (outcome) variable was BMI, along with percentage of body fat mass, and the independent variables (predictors) were the rs9939609 SNP in FTO gene, physical activity (active versus inactive), sport specialization (aerobic, intermittent sports and martial arts), nationality, level of sport experience (in years), gender and percentage of free fat mass content. Results: The regression analysis revealed that physical activity and sport specialization had greater impact compared to FTO allele in the group of physically active individuals. Physical activity, in particular aerobic, had negative associations with body fat mass and BMI. The rs9939609 SNP in FTO gene is associated with physical activity and aerobic activity. The magnitude of association becomes significantly larger at the upper quantiles of the body fat mass distribution. Conclusion: Physical activity and sport specialization explained more variance in body composition of physically active young individuals compared to the FTO polymorphism. Effect of interaction of physical activity, in particular aerobic, with the FTO polymorphism on body composition of young athletes was found. KW - physical activity KW - professional and amateur athletes KW - children and adolescents KW - BMI KW - percentage of fat mass KW - FTO KW - aerobic sports activity KW - quantile regression Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/0943 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 401 EP - 408 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - López de Guereñu, Anna A1 - Bastian, Philipp A1 - Wessig, Pablo A1 - John, Leonard A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Energy Transfer between Tm-Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles and a Small Organic Dye with Large Stokes Shift JF - Biosensors : open access journal N2 - Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) are being extensively studied for bioapplications due to their unique photoluminescence properties and low toxicity. Interest in RET applications involving UCNP is also increasing, but due to factors such as large sizes, ion emission distributions within the particles, and complicated energy transfer processes within the UCNP, there are still many questions to be answered. In this study, four types of core and core-shell NaYF4-based UCNP co-doped with Yb3+ and Tm3+ as sensitizer and activator, respectively, were investigated as donors for the Methyl 5-(8-decanoylbenzo[1,2-d:4,5-d ']bis([1,3]dioxole)-4-yl)-5-oxopentanoate (DBD-6) dye. The possibility of resonance energy transfer (RET) between UCNP and the DBD-6 attached to their surface was demonstrated based on the comparison of luminescence intensities, band ratios, and decay kinetics. The architecture of UCNP influenced both the luminescence properties and the energy transfer to the dye: UCNP with an inert shell were the brightest, but their RET efficiency was the lowest (17%). Nanoparticles with Tm3+ only in the shell have revealed the highest RET efficiencies (up to 51%) despite the compromised luminescence due to surface quenching. KW - resonance energy transfer KW - DBD dye KW - core shell UCNP KW - time-resolved luminescence Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/bios9010009 SN - 2079-6374 VL - 9 IS - 1 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Perkins, Daniel M. A1 - Perna, Andrea A1 - Adrian, Rita A1 - Cermeno, Pedro A1 - Gaedke, Ursula A1 - Huete-Ortega, Maria A1 - White, Ethan P. A1 - Yvon-Durocher, Gabriel T1 - Energetic equivalence underpins the size structure of tree and phytoplankton communities JF - Nature Communications N2 - The size structure of autotroph communities - the relative abundance of small vs. large individuals - shapes the functioning of ecosystems. Whether common mechanisms underpin the size structure of unicellular and multicellular autotrophs is, however, unknown. Using a global data compilation, we show that individual body masses in tree and phytoplankton communities follow power-law distributions and that the average exponents of these individual size distributions (ISD) differ. Phytoplankton communities are characterized by an average ISD exponent consistent with three-quarter-power scaling of metabolism with body mass and equivalence in energy use among mass classes. Tree communities deviate from this pattern in a manner consistent with equivalence in energy use among diameter size classes. Our findings suggest that whilst universal metabolic constraints ultimately underlie the emergent size structure of autotroph communities, divergent aspects of body size (volumetric vs. linear dimensions) shape the ecological outcome of metabolic scaling in forest vs. pelagic ecosystems. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-08039-3 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 10 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sroka, Pavel A1 - Godunko, Roman J. A1 - Rutschmann, Sereina A1 - Angeli, Kamila B. A1 - Salles, Frederico F. A1 - Gattolliat, Jean-Luc T1 - A new species of Bungona in Turkey (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) BT - an unexpected biogeographic pattern within a pantropical complex of mayflies JF - Zoosytematics and evolution N2 - By using an integrative approach, we describe a new species of mayfly, Bungona (Chopralla) pontica sp. n., from Turkey. The discovery of a representative of the tropical mayfly genus Bungona in the Middle East is rather unexpected. The new species shows all the main morphological characters of the subgenus Chopralla, which has its closest related species occurring in southeastern Asia. Barcoding clearly indicated that the new species represents an independent lineage isolated for a very long time from other members of the complex. The claw is equipped with two rows of three or four flattened denticles. This condition is a unique feature of Bungona (Chopralla) pontica sp. n. among West Palaearctic mayfly species. Within the subgenus Chopralla, the species can be identified by the presence of a simple, not bifid right prostheca (also present only in Bungona (Chopralla) liebenauae (Soldan, Braasch & Muu, 1987)), the shape of the labial palp, and the absence of protuberances on pronotum. KW - Biogeography KW - Cloeodes complex KW - Chopralla KW - integrative taxonomy KW - Middle East KW - new species Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.95.29487 SN - 1860-0743 VL - 95 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Pensoft Publ. CY - Sofia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jose Clemente-Moreno, Maria A1 - Omranian, Nooshin A1 - Saez, Patricia A1 - Maria Figueroa, Carlos A1 - Del-Saz, Nestor A1 - Elso, Mhartyn A1 - Poblete, Leticia A1 - Orf, Isabel A1 - Cuadros-Inostroza, Alvaro A1 - Cavieres, Lohengrin A1 - Bravo, Leon A1 - Fernie, Alisdair R. A1 - Ribas-Carbo, Miquel A1 - Flexas, Jaume A1 - Nikoloski, Zoran A1 - Brotman, Yariv A1 - Gago, Jorge T1 - Cytochrome respiration pathway and sulphur metabolism sustain stress tolerance to low temperature in the Antarctic species Colobanthus quitensis JF - New phytologist : international journal of plant science N2 - Understanding the strategies employed by plant species that live in extreme environments offers the possibility to discover stress tolerance mechanisms. We studied the physiological, antioxidant and metabolic responses to three temperature conditions (4, 15, and 23 degrees C) of Colobanthus quitensis (CQ), one of the only two native vascular species in Antarctica. We also employed Dianthus chinensis (DC), to assess the effects of the treatments in a non-Antarctic species from the same family. Using fused LASSO modelling, we associated physiological and biochemical antioxidant responses with primary metabolism. This approach allowed us to highlight the metabolic pathways driving the response specific to CQ. Low temperature imposed dramatic reductions in photosynthesis (up to 88%) but not in respiration (sustaining rates of 3.0-4.2 mu mol CO2 m(-2) s(-1)) in CQ, and no change in the physiological stress parameters was found. Its notable antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial cytochrome respiratory activity (20 and two times higher than DC, respectively), which ensure ATP production even at low temperature, was significantly associated with sulphur-containing metabolites and polyamines. Our findings potentially open new biotechnological opportunities regarding the role of antioxidant compounds and respiratory mechanisms associated with sulphur metabolism in stress tolerance strategies to low temperature. KW - Antarctica KW - antioxidant capacity KW - low temperature KW - photosynthesis KW - respiration KW - stress tolerance KW - sulphur metabolism Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16167 SN - 0028-646X SN - 1469-8137 VL - 225 IS - 2 SP - 754 EP - 768 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Devkar, Vikas A1 - Thirumalaikumar, Venkatesh P. A1 - Xue, Gang-Ping A1 - Vallarino, Jose G. A1 - Tureckova, Veronika A1 - Strnad, Miroslav A1 - Fernie, Alisdair R. A1 - Hoefgen, Rainer A1 - Mueller-Roeber, Bernd A1 - Balazadeh, Salma T1 - Multifaceted regulatory function of tomato SlTAF1 in the response to salinity stress JF - New phytologist : international journal of plant science N2 - Salinity stress limits plant growth and has a major impact on agricultural productivity. Here, we identify NAC transcription factor SlTAF1 as a regulator of salt tolerance in cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). While overexpression of SlTAF1 improves salinity tolerance compared with wild-type, lowering SlTAF1 expression causes stronger salinity-induced damage. Under salt stress, shoots of SlTAF1 knockdown plants accumulate more toxic Na+ ions, while SlTAF1 overexpressors accumulate less ions, in accordance with an altered expression of the Na+ transporter genes SlHKT1;1 and SlHKT1;2. Furthermore, stomatal conductance and pore area are increased in SlTAF1 knockdown plants during salinity stress, but decreased in SlTAF1 overexpressors. We identified stress-related transcription factor, abscisic acid metabolism and defence-related genes as potential direct targets of SlTAF1, correlating it with reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity and changes in hormonal response. Salinity-induced changes in tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and amino acids are more pronounced in SlTAF1 knockdown than wild-type plants, but less so in SlTAF1 overexpressors. The osmoprotectant proline accumulates more in SlTAF1 overexpressors than knockdown plants. In summary, SlTAF1 controls the tomato’s response to salinity stress by combating both osmotic stress and ion toxicity, highlighting this gene as a promising candidate for the future breeding of stress-tolerant crops. KW - abscisic acid (ABA) KW - ion homeostasis KW - NAC KW - proline KW - salt stress KW - SlTAF1 KW - transcription factors Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16247 SN - 0028-646X SN - 1469-8137 VL - 225 IS - 4 SP - 1681 EP - 1698 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Cook, Katherine V. A1 - Li, Chuang A1 - Cai, Haiyuan A1 - Krumholz, Lee R. A1 - Hambright, K. David A1 - Paerl, Hans W. A1 - Steffen, Morgan M. A1 - Wilson, Alan E. A1 - Burford, Michele A. A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Hamilton, David P. A1 - Jiang, Helong A1 - Sukenik, Assaf A1 - Latour, Delphine A1 - Meyer, Elisabeth I. A1 - Padisak, Judit A1 - Qin, Boqiang A1 - Zamor, Richard M. A1 - Zhu, Guangwei T1 - The global Microcystis interactome JF - Limnology and oceanography N2 - Bacteria play key roles in the function and diversity of aquatic systems, but aside from study of specific bloom systems, little is known about the diversity or biogeography of bacteria associated with harmful cyanobacterial blooms (cyanoHABs). CyanoHAB species are known to shape bacterial community composition and to rely on functions provided by the associated bacteria, leading to the hypothesized cyanoHAB interactome, a coevolved community of synergistic and interacting bacteria species, each necessary for the success of the others. Here, we surveyed the microbiome associated with Microcystis aeruginosa during blooms in 12 lakes spanning four continents as an initial test of the hypothesized Microcystis interactome. We predicted that microbiome composition and functional potential would be similar across blooms globally. Our results, as revealed by 16S rRNA sequence similarity, indicate that M. aeruginosa is cosmopolitan in lakes across a 280 degrees longitudinal and 90 degrees latitudinal gradient. The microbiome communities were represented by a wide range of operational taxonomic units and relative abundances. Highly abundant taxa were more related and shared across most sites and did not vary with geographic distance, thus, like Microcystis, revealing no evidence for dispersal limitation. High phylogenetic relatedness, both within and across lakes, indicates that microbiome bacteria with similar functional potential were associated with all blooms. While Microcystis and the microbiome bacteria shared many genes, whole-community metagenomic analysis revealed a suite of biochemical pathways that could be considered complementary. Our results demonstrate a high degree of similarity across global Microcystis blooms, thereby providing initial support for the hypothesized Microcystis interactome. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11361 SN - 0024-3590 SN - 1939-5590 VL - 65 SP - S194 EP - S207 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Massana, Ramon A1 - McMahon, Katherine D. A1 - Walsh, David A. T1 - Linking metagenomics to aquatic microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycles JF - Limnology and oceanography N2 - Microbial communities are essential components of aquatic ecosystems through their contribution to food web dynamics and biogeochemical processes. Aquatic microbial diversity is immense and a general challenge is to understand how metabolism and interactions of single organisms shape microbial community dynamics and ecosystem-scale biogeochemical transformations. Metagenomic approaches have developed rapidly, and proven to be powerful in linking microbial community dynamics to biogeochemical processes. In this review, we provide an overview of metagenomic approaches, followed by a discussion on some recent insights they have provided, including those in this special issue. These include the discovery of new taxa and metabolisms in aquatic microbiomes, insights into community assembly and functional ecology as well as evolutionary processes shaping microbial genomes and microbiomes, and the influence of human activities on aquatic microbiomes. Given that metagenomics can now be considered a mature technology where data generation and descriptive analyses are relatively routine and informative, we then discuss metagenomic-enabled research avenues to further link microbial dynamics to biogeochemical processes. These include the integration of metagenomics into well-designed ecological experiments, the use of metagenomics to inform and validate metabolic and biogeochemical models, and the pressing need for ecologically relevant model organisms and simple microbial systems to better interpret the taxonomic and functional information integrated in metagenomes. These research avenues will contribute to a more mechanistic and predictive understanding of links between microbial dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. Owing to rapid climate change and human impacts on aquatic ecosystems, the urgency of such an understanding has never been greater. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11382 SN - 0024-3590 SN - 1939-5590 VL - 65 SP - S2 EP - S20 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tabares Jimenez, Ximena del Carmen A1 - Zimmermann, Heike Hildegard A1 - Dietze, Elisabeth A1 - Ratzmann, Gregor A1 - Belz, Lukas A1 - Vieth-Hillebrand, Andrea A1 - Dupont, Lydie A1 - Wilkes, Heinz A1 - Mapani, Benjamin A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike T1 - Vegetation state changes in the course of shrub encroachment in an African savanna since about 1850 CE and their potential drivers JF - Ecology and evolution N2 - Shrub encroachment has far-reaching ecological and economic consequences in many ecosystems worldwide. Yet, compositional changes associated with shrub encroachment are often overlooked despite having important effects on ecosystem functioning. We document the compositional change and potential drivers for a northern Namibian Combretum woodland transitioning into a Terminalia shrubland. We use a multiproxy record (pollen, sedimentary ancient DNA, biomarkers, compound-specific carbon (delta C-13) and deuterium (delta D) isotopes, bulk carbon isotopes (delta(13)Corg), grain size, geochemical properties) from Lake Otjikoto at high taxonomical and temporal resolution. We provide evidence that state changes in semiarid environments may occur on a scale of one century and that transitions between stable states can span around 80 years and are characterized by a unique vegetation composition. We demonstrate that the current grass/woody ratio is exceptional for the last 170 years, as supported by n-alkane distributions and the delta C-13 and delta(13)Corg records. Comparing vegetation records to environmental proxy data and census data, we infer a complex network of global and local drivers of vegetation change. While our delta D record suggests physiological adaptations of woody species to higher atmospheric pCO(2) concentration and drought, our vegetation records reflect the impact of broad-scale logging for the mining industry, and the macrocharcoal record suggests a decrease in fire activity associated with the intensification of farming. Impact of selective grazing is reflected by changes in abundance and taxonomical composition of grasses and by an increase of nonpalatable and trampling-resistant taxa. In addition, grain-size and spore records suggest changes in the erodibility of soils because of reduced grass cover. Synthesis. We conclude that transitions to an encroached savanna state are supported by gradual environmental changes induced by management strategies, which affected the resilience of savanna ecosystems. In addition, feedback mechanisms that reflect the interplay between management legacies and climate change maintain the encroached state. KW - climate change KW - fossil pollen KW - land-use change KW - savanna ecology KW - sedimentary ancient DNA KW - state and transition KW - tree-grass interactions Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5955 SN - 2045-7758 VL - 10 IS - 2 SP - 962 EP - 979 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lozada Gobilard, Sissi Donna A1 - Weigend, M. A1 - Fischer, E. A1 - Janssens, S. B. A1 - Ackermann, M. A1 - Abrahamczyk, Stefan T1 - Breeding systems in Balsaminaceae in relation to pollen/ovule ratio, pollination syndromes, life history and climate zone JF - Plant biology N2 - Pollen/ovule (P/O) ratios are often used as proxy for breeding systems. Here, we investigate the relations between breeding systems and P/O ratios, pollination syndromes, life history and climate zone in Balsaminaceae. We conducted controlled breeding system experiments (autonomous and active self-pollination and outcrossing tests) for 65 Balsaminaceae species, analysed pollen grain and ovule numbers and evaluated the results in combination with data on pollination syndrome, life history and climate zone on a phylogenetic basis. Based on fruit set, we assigned three breeding systems: autogamy, self-compatibility and self-incompatibility. Self-pollination led to lower fruit set than outcrossing. We neither found significant P/O differences between breeding systems nor between pollination syndromes. However, the numbers of pollen grains and ovules per flower were significantly lower in autogamous species, but pollen grain and ovule numbers did not differ between most pollination syndromes. Finally, we found no relation between breeding system and climate zone, but a relation between climate zone and life history. In Balsaminaceae reproductive traits can change under resource or pollinator limitation, leading to the evolution of autogamy, but are evolutionary rather constant and not under strong selection pressure by pollinator guild and geographic range changes. Colonisation of temperate regions, however, is correlated with transitions towards annual life history. Pollen/ovule-ratios, commonly accepted as good indicators of breeding system, have a low predictive value in Balsaminaceae. In the absence of experimental data on breeding system, additional floral traits (overall pollen grain and ovule number, traits of floral morphology) may be used as proxies. KW - Annual KW - autogamy KW - cleistogamy KW - evolution KW - fly pollination KW - Impatiens KW - outcrossing KW - perennial KW - self-incompatibility KW - temperate KW - tropical Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12905 SN - 1435-8603 SN - 1438-8677 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 157 EP - 166 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Penone, Caterina A1 - Allan, Eric A1 - Soliveres, Santiago A1 - Felipe-Lucia, Maria R. A1 - Gossner, Martin M. A1 - Seibold, Sebastian A1 - Simons, Nadja K. A1 - Schall, Peter A1 - van der Plas, Fons A1 - Manning, Peter A1 - Manzanedo, Ruben D. A1 - Boch, Steffen A1 - Prati, Daniel A1 - Ammer, Christian A1 - Bauhus, Juergen A1 - Buscot, Francois A1 - Ehbrecht, Martin A1 - Goldmann, Kezia A1 - Jung, Kirsten A1 - Mueller, Joerg A1 - Mueller, Joerg C. A1 - Pena, Rodica A1 - Polle, Andrea A1 - Renner, Swen C. A1 - Ruess, Liliane A1 - Schoenig, Ingo A1 - Schrumpf, Marion A1 - Solly, Emily F. A1 - Tschapka, Marco A1 - Weisser, Wolfgang W. A1 - Wubet, Tesfaye A1 - Fischer, Markus T1 - Specialisation and diversity of multiple trophic groups are promoted by different forest features JF - Ecology letters N2 - While forest management strongly influences biodiversity, it remains unclear how the structural and compositional changes caused by management affect different community dimensions (e.g. richness, specialisation, abundance or completeness) and how this differs between taxa. We assessed the effects of nine forest features (representing stand structure, heterogeneity and tree composition) on thirteen above- and belowground trophic groups of plants, animals, fungi and bacteria in 150 temperate forest plots differing in their management type. Canopy cover decreased light resources, which increased community specialisation but reduced overall diversity and abundance. Features increasing resource types and diversifying microhabitats (admixing of oaks and conifers) were important and mostly affected richness. Belowground groups responded differently to those aboveground and had weaker responses to most forest features. Our results show that we need to consider forest features rather than broad management types and highlight the importance of considering several groups and community dimensions to better inform conservation. KW - biodiversity exploratories KW - dark diversity KW - forest management KW - global change KW - land-use KW - multidiversity KW - specialisation KW - temperate forests Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13182 SN - 1461-023X SN - 1461-0248 VL - 22 IS - 1 SP - 170 EP - 180 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Coloma, Sebastian A1 - Gaedke, Ursula A1 - Sivonen, Kaarina A1 - Hiltunen, Teppo T1 - Frequency of virus-resistant hosts determines experimental community dynamics JF - Ecology : a publication of the Ecological Society of America N2 - Parasites, such as bacterial viruses (phages), can have large effects on host populations both at the ecological and evolutionary levels. In the case of cyanobacteria, phages can reduce primary production and infected hosts release intracellular nutrients influencing planktonic food web structure, community dynamics, and biogeochemical cycles. Cyanophages may be of great importance in aquatic food webs during large cyanobacterial blooms unless the host population becomes resistant to phage infection. The consequences on plankton community dynamics of the evolution of phage resistance in bloom forming cyanobacterial populations are still poorly studied. Here, we examined the effect of different frequencies of a phage-resistant genotype within a filamentous nitrogen-fixing Nodularia spumigena population on an experimental plankton community. Three Nodularia populations with different initial frequencies (0%, 5%, and 50%) of phage-resistant genotypes were inoculated in separate treatments with the phage 2AV2, the green alga Chlorella vulgaris, and the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, which formed the experimental plankton community subjected to either nitrogen-limited or nitrogen-rich conditions. We found that the frequency of the phage-resistant Nodularia genotype determined experimental community dynamics. Cyanobacterial populations with a high frequency (50%) of the phage-resistant genotype dominated the cultures despite the presence of phages, retaining most of the intracellular nitrogen in the plankton community. In contrast, populations with low frequencies (0% and 5%) of the phage-resistant genotype were lysed and reduced to extinction by the phage, transferring the intracellular nitrogen held by Nodularia to Chlorella and rotifers, and allowing Chlorella to dominate the communities and rotifers to survive. This study shows that even though phages represent minuscule biomass, they can have key effects on community composition and eco-evolutionary feedbacks in plankton communities. KW - cyanobacteria KW - eco-evolutionary feedbacks KW - experimental evolution KW - host-parasite interaction KW - phage resistance KW - predator-prey interaction Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2554 SN - 0012-9658 SN - 1939-9170 VL - 100 IS - 1 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Block, Benjamin D. A1 - Denfeld, Blaize A. A1 - Stockwell, Jason D. A1 - Flaim, Giovanna A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Knoll, Lesley B. A1 - Maier, Dominique B. A1 - North, Rebecca L. A1 - Rautio, Milla A1 - Rusak, James A. A1 - Sadro, Steve A1 - Weyhenmeyer, Gesa A. A1 - Bramburger, Andrew J. A1 - Branstrator, Donn K. A1 - Salonen, Kalevi A1 - Hampton, Stephanie E. T1 - The unique methodological challenges of winter limnology JF - Limnology and Oceanography: Methods N2 - Winter is an important season for many limnological processes, which can range from biogeochemical transformations to ecological interactions. Interest in the structure and function of lake ecosystems under ice is on the rise. Although limnologists working at polar latitudes have a long history of winter work, the required knowledge to successfully sample under winter conditions is not widely available and relatively few limnologists receive formal training. In particular, the deployment and operation of equipment in below 0 degrees C temperatures pose considerable logistical and methodological challenges, as do the safety risks of sampling during the ice-covered period. Here, we consolidate information on winter lake sampling and describe effective methods to measure physical, chemical, and biological variables in and under ice. We describe variation in snow and ice conditions and discuss implications for sampling logistics and safety. We outline commonly encountered methodological challenges and make recommendations for best practices to maximize safety and efficiency when sampling through ice or deploying instruments in ice-covered lakes. Application of such practices over a broad range of ice-covered lakes will contribute to a better understanding of the factors that regulate lakes during winter and how winter conditions affect the subsequent ice-free period. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/lom3.10295 SN - 1541-5856 VL - 17 IS - 1 SP - 42 EP - 57 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kolmakova, Olesya V. A1 - Gladyshev, Michail I. A1 - Fonvielle, Jeremy Andre A1 - Ganzert, Lars A1 - Hornick, Thomas A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter T1 - Effects of zooplankton carcasses degradation on freshwater bacterial community composition and implications for carbon cycling JF - Environmental microbiology N2 - Non-predatory mortality of zooplankton provides an abundant, yet, little studied source of high quality labile organic matter (LOM) in aquatic ecosystems. Using laboratory microcosms, we followed the decomposition of organic carbon of fresh C-13-labelled Daphnia carcasses by natural bacterioplankton. The experimental setup comprised blank microcosms, that is, artificial lake water without any organic matter additions (B), and microcosms either amended with natural humic matter (H), fresh Daphnia carcasses (D) or both, that is, humic matter and Daphnia carcasses (HD). Most of the carcass carbon was consumed and respired by the bacterial community within 15 days of incubation. A shift in the bacterial community composition shaped by labile carcass carbon and by humic matter was observed. Nevertheless, we did not observe a quantitative change in humic matter degradation by heterotrophic bacteria in the presence of LOM derived from carcasses. However, carcasses were the main factor driving the bacterial community composition suggesting that the presence of large quantities of dead zooplankton might affect the carbon cycling in aquatic ecosystems. Our results imply that organic matter derived from zooplankton carcasses is efficiently remineralized by a highly specific bacterial community, but does not interfere with the bacterial turnover of more refractory humic matter. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14418 SN - 1462-2912 SN - 1462-2920 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 34 EP - 49 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schoenauer, Roman A1 - Larpin, Yu A1 - Babiychuk, Eduard B. A1 - Drucker, Patrick A1 - Babiychuk, Viktoriia S. A1 - Avota, Elita A1 - Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle A1 - Schumacher, Fabian A1 - Kleuser, Burkhard A1 - Koffel, Rene A1 - Draeger, Annette T1 - Down-regulation of acid sphingomyelinase and neutral sphingomyelinase-2 inversely determines the cellular resistance to plasmalemmal injury by pore-forming toxins JF - The FASEB journal : the official journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology N2 - Bacterial pore-forming toxins compromise plasmalemmal integrity, leading to Ca2+ influx, leakage of the cytoplasm, and cell death. Such lesions can be repaired by microvesicular shedding or by the endocytic uptake of the injured membrane sites. Cells have at their disposal an entire toolbox of repair proteins for the identification and elimination of membrane lesions. Sphingomyelinases catalyze the breakdown of sphingomyelin into ceramide and phosphocholine. Sphingomyelin is predominantly localized in the outer leaflet, where it is hydrolyzed by acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) after lysosomal fusion with the plasma membrane. The magnesium-dependent neutral sphingomyelinase (NSM)-2 is found at the inner leaflet of the plasmalemma. Because either sphingomyelinase has been ascribed a role in the cellular stress response, we investigated their role in plasma membrane repair and cellular survival after treatment with the pore-forming toxins listeriolysin O (LLO) or pneumolysin (PLY). Jurkat T cells, in which ASM or NSM-2 was down-regulated [ASM knockdown (KD) or NSM-2 KD cells], showed inverse reactions to toxin-induced membrane damage: ASM KD cells displayed reduced toxin resistance, decreased viability, and defects in membrane repair. In contrast, the down-regulation of NSM-2 led to an increase in viability and enhanced plasmalemmal repair. Yet, in addition to the increased plasmalemmal repair, the enhanced toxin resistance of NSM-2 KD cells also appeared to be dependent on the activation of p38/MAPK, which was constitutively activated, whereas in ASM KD cells, the p38/MAPK activation was constitutively blunted.Schoenauer, R., Larpin, Y., Babiychuk, E. B., Drucker, P., Babiychuk, V. S., Avota, E., Schneider-Schaulies, S., Schumacher, F., Kleuser, B., Koffel, R., Draeger, A. Down-regulation of acid sphingomyelinase and neutral sphingomyelinase-2 inversely determines the cellular resistance to plasmalemmal injury by pore-forming toxins. KW - membrane repair KW - blebbing KW - calcium KW - bacterial toxins KW - annexins Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201800033R SN - 0892-6638 SN - 1530-6860 VL - 33 IS - 1 SP - 275 EP - 285 PB - Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology CY - Bethesda ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tiegs, Scott D. A1 - Costello, David M. A1 - Isken, Mark W. A1 - Woodward, Guy A1 - McIntyre, Peter B. A1 - Gessner, Mark O. A1 - Chauvet, Eric A1 - Griffiths, Natalie A. A1 - Flecker, Alex S. A1 - Acuna, Vicenc A1 - Albarino, Ricardo A1 - Allen, Daniel C. A1 - Alonso, Cecilia A1 - Andino, Patricio A1 - Arango, Clay A1 - Aroviita, Jukka A1 - Barbosa, Marcus V. M. A1 - Barmuta, Leon A. A1 - Baxter, Colden V. A1 - Bell, Thomas D. C. A1 - Bellinger, Brent A1 - Boyero, Luz A1 - Brown, Lee E. A1 - Bruder, Andreas A1 - Bruesewitz, Denise A. A1 - Burdon, Francis J. A1 - Callisto, Marcos A1 - Canhoto, Cristina A1 - Capps, Krista A. A1 - Castillo, Maria M. A1 - Clapcott, Joanne A1 - Colas, Fanny A1 - Colon-Gaud, Checo A1 - Cornut, Julien A1 - Crespo-Perez, Veronica A1 - Cross, Wyatt F. A1 - Culp, Joseph M. A1 - Danger, Michael A1 - Dangles, Olivier A1 - de Eyto, Elvira A1 - Derry, Alison M. A1 - Diaz Villanueva, Veronica A1 - Douglas, Michael M. A1 - Elosegi, Arturo A1 - Encalada, Andrea C. A1 - Entrekin, Sally A1 - Espinosa, Rodrigo A1 - Ethaiya, Diana A1 - Ferreira, Veronica A1 - Ferriol, Carmen A1 - Flanagan, Kyla M. A1 - Fleituch, Tadeusz A1 - Shah, Jennifer J. Follstad A1 - Frainer, Andre A1 - Friberg, Nikolai A1 - Frost, Paul C. A1 - Garcia, Erica A. A1 - Lago, Liliana Garcia A1 - Garcia Soto, Pavel Ernesto A1 - Ghate, Sudeep A1 - Giling, Darren P. A1 - Gilmer, Alan A1 - Goncalves, Jose Francisco A1 - Gonzales, Rosario Karina A1 - Graca, Manuel A. S. A1 - Grace, Mike A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Guerold, Francois A1 - Gulis, Vlad A1 - Hepp, Luiz U. A1 - Higgins, Scott A1 - Hishi, Takuo A1 - Huddart, Joseph A1 - Hudson, John A1 - Imberger, Samantha A1 - Iniguez-Armijos, Carlos A1 - Iwata, Tomoya A1 - Janetski, David J. A1 - Jennings, Eleanor A1 - Kirkwood, Andrea E. A1 - Koning, Aaron A. A1 - Kosten, Sarian A1 - Kuehn, Kevin A. A1 - Laudon, Hjalmar A1 - Leavitt, Peter R. A1 - Lemes da Silva, Aurea L. A1 - Leroux, Shawn J. A1 - Leroy, Carri J. A1 - Lisi, Peter J. A1 - MacKenzie, Richard A1 - Marcarelli, Amy M. A1 - Masese, Frank O. A1 - Mckie, Brendan G. A1 - Oliveira Medeiros, Adriana A1 - Meissner, Kristian A1 - Milisa, Marko A1 - Mishra, Shailendra A1 - Miyake, Yo A1 - Moerke, Ashley A1 - Mombrikotb, Shorok A1 - Mooney, Rob A1 - Moulton, Tim A1 - Muotka, Timo A1 - Negishi, Junjiro N. A1 - Neres-Lima, Vinicius A1 - Nieminen, Mika L. A1 - Nimptsch, Jorge A1 - Ondruch, Jakub A1 - Paavola, Riku A1 - Pardo, Isabel A1 - Patrick, Christopher J. A1 - Peeters, Edwin T. H. M. A1 - Pozo, Jesus A1 - Pringle, Catherine A1 - Prussian, Aaron A1 - Quenta, Estefania A1 - Quesada, Antonio A1 - Reid, Brian A1 - Richardson, John S. A1 - Rigosi, Anna A1 - Rincon, Jose A1 - Risnoveanu, Geta A1 - Robinson, Christopher T. A1 - Rodriguez-Gallego, Lorena A1 - Royer, Todd V. A1 - Rusak, James A. A1 - Santamans, Anna C. A1 - Selmeczy, Geza B. A1 - Simiyu, Gelas A1 - Skuja, Agnija A1 - Smykla, Jerzy A1 - Sridhar, Kandikere R. A1 - Sponseller, Ryan A1 - Stoler, Aaron A1 - Swan, Christopher M. A1 - Szlag, David A1 - Teixeira-de Mello, Franco A1 - Tonkin, Jonathan D. A1 - Uusheimo, Sari A1 - Veach, Allison M. A1 - Vilbaste, Sirje A1 - Vought, Lena B. M. A1 - Wang, Chiao-Ping A1 - Webster, Jackson R. A1 - Wilson, Paul B. A1 - Woelfl, Stefan A1 - Xenopoulos, Marguerite A. A1 - Yates, Adam G. A1 - Yoshimura, Chihiro A1 - Yule, Catherine M. A1 - Zhang, Yixin X. A1 - Zwart, Jacob A. T1 - Global patterns and drivers of ecosystem functioning in rivers and riparian zones JF - Science Advances N2 - River ecosystems receive and process vast quantities of terrestrial organic carbon, the fate of which depends strongly on microbial activity. Variation in and controls of processing rates, however, are poorly characterized at the global scale. In response, we used a peer-sourced research network and a highly standardized carbon processing assay to conduct a global-scale field experiment in greater than 1000 river and riparian sites. We found that Earth’s biomes have distinct carbon processing signatures. Slow processing is evident across latitudes, whereas rapid rates are restricted to lower latitudes. Both the mean rate and variability decline with latitude, suggesting temperature constraints toward the poles and greater roles for other environmental drivers (e.g., nutrient loading) toward the equator. These results and data set the stage for unprecedented “next-generation biomonitoring” by establishing baselines to help quantify environmental impacts to the functioning of ecosystems at a global scale. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav0486 SN - 2375-2548 VL - 5 IS - 1 PB - American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Awan, Asad Bashir A1 - Schiebel, Juliane A1 - Boehm, Alexander A1 - Nitschke, Joerg A1 - Sarwar, Yasra A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Ali, Aamir T1 - Association of biofilm formation and cytotoxic potential with multidrug resistance in clinical isolates of pseudomonas aeruginosa JF - EXCLI Journal N2 - Multidrug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa having strong biofilm potential and virulence factors are a serious threat for hospitalized patients having compromised immunity In this study, 34 P. aeruginosa isolates of human origin (17 MDR and 17 non-MDR clinical isolates) were checked for biofilm formation potential in enriched and minimal media. The biofilms were detected using crystal violet method and a modified software package of the automated VideoScan screening method. Cytotoxic potential of the isolates was also investigated on HepG2, LoVo and T24 cell lines using automated VideoScan technology. Pulse field gel electrophoresis revealed 10 PFGE types in MDR and 8 in non-MDR isolates. Although all isolates showed biofilm formation potential, strong biofilm formation was found more in enriched media than in minimal media. Eight MDR isolates showed strong biofilm potential in both enriched and minimal media by both detection methods. Strong direct correlation between crystal violet and VideoScan methods was observed in identifying strong biofilm forming isolates. High cytotoxic effect was observed by 4 isolates in all cell lines used while 6 other isolates showed high cytotoxic effect on T24 cell line only. Strong association of multidrug resistance was found with biofilm formation as strong biofilms were observed significantly higher in MDR isolates (p-value < 0.05) than non-MDR isolates. No significant association of cytotoxic potential with multidrug resistance or biofilm formation was found (p-value > 0.05). The MDR isolates showing significant cytotoxic effects and strong biofilm formation impose a serious threat for hospitalized patients with weak immune system. KW - Pseudomonas aeruginosa KW - multidrug resistance KW - biofilm KW - cytotoxicity KW - VideoScan technology Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2018-1948 SN - 1611-2156 VL - 18 SP - 79 EP - 90 PB - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors CY - Dortmund ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heinrichs, Steffi A1 - Ammer, Christian A1 - Mund, Martina A1 - Boch, Steffen A1 - Budde, Sabine A1 - Fischer, Markus A1 - Mueller, Joerg A1 - Schoening, Ingo A1 - Schulze, Ernst-Detlef A1 - Schmidt, Wolfgang A1 - Weckesser, Martin A1 - Schall, Peter T1 - Landscape-Scale Mixtures of Tree Species are More Effective than Stand-Scale Mixtures for Biodiversity of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes and Lichens JF - Forests N2 - Tree species diversity can positively affect the multifunctionality of forests. This is why conifer monocultures of Scots pine and Norway spruce, widely promoted in Central Europe since the 18th and 19th century, are currently converted into mixed stands with naturally dominant European beech. Biodiversity is expected to benefit from these mixtures compared to pure conifer stands due to increased abiotic and biotic resource heterogeneity. Evidence for this assumption is, however, largely lacking. Here, we investigated the diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens at the plot (alpha diversity) and at the landscape (gamma diversity) level in pure and mixed stands of European beech and conifer species (Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir) in four regions in Germany. We aimed to identify compositions of pure and mixed stands in a hypothetical forest landscape that can optimize gamma diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens within regions. Results show that gamma diversity of the investigated groups is highest when a landscape comprises different pure stands rather than tree species mixtures at the stand scale. Species mainly associated with conifers rely on light regimes that are only provided in pure conifer forests, whereas mixtures of beech and conifers are more similar to beech stands. Combining pure beech and pure conifer stands at the landscape scale can increase landscape level biodiversity and conserve species assemblages of both stand types, while landscapes solely composed of stand scale tree species mixtures could lead to a biodiversity reduction of a combination of investigated groups of 7 up to 20%. KW - Fagus sylvatica KW - Pinus sylvestris KW - Picea abies KW - Pseudotsuga menziesii KW - forest management KW - tree species diversity KW - forest conversion KW - gamma diversity KW - landscape scale KW - Biodiversity Exploratories Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/f10010073 SN - 1999-4907 VL - 10 IS - 1 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heim, D. M. A1 - Heim, Olga A1 - Zeng, P. A. A1 - Zheng, Jeffrey T1 - Successful Creation of Regular Patterns in Variant Maps from Bat Echolocation Calls JF - Variant Construction from Theoretical Foundation to Applications N2 - We created variant maps based on bat echolocation call recordings and outline here the transformation process and describe the resulting visual features. The maps show regular patterns while characteristic features change when bat call recording properties change. By focusing on specific visual features, we found a set of projection parameters which allowed us to classify the variant maps into two distinct groups. These results are promising indicators that variant maps can be used as basis for new echolocation call classification algorithms. KW - Echolocation KW - Algorithms KW - Morphometry KW - Fourier KW - Analysis KW - Quaternions Y1 - 2019 SN - 978-981-13-2282-2 SN - 978-981-13-2281-5 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2282-2_25 SP - 391 EP - 400 PB - Springer CY - Singapore ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Groth, Detlef A1 - Scheffler, Christiane A1 - Hermanussen, Michael T1 - Body height in stunted Indonesian children depends directly on parental education and not via a nutrition mediated pathway BT - Evidence from tracing association chains by St. Nicolas House Analysis JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: Multiple linear correlations between parameters can be shown in correlation matrices. Correlations can be ranked, but can also be visualized in network graphs. Yet, translating a correlation matrix into a network graph is not trivial. In view of a popular child game, we propose to name this method St. Nicolas House Analysis. Material and methods: We present a new method (St. Nicolas House Analysis) that helps translating correlation matrices into network graphs. The performance of this and other network reconstruction methods was tested in randomly created virtual scale-free networks, networks consisting of bands or hubs, using balanced classification rate and the F1-Score for correctly predicting existing and non-existing edges. Thereafter we analyzed anthropometric data and information on parental education, obtained from an anthropometric survey in 908 Indonesian boys and 808 Indonesian girls. Seven parameters were analyzed: child height standard deviation score (hSDS), child BMI standard deviation scores (BMI_SDS), mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC), mean thickness of subscapular and triceps skinfold (mean SF), and elbow breadth; as well as maternal and paternal education (years of schooling). The parameters were considered as the nodes of the network; the edges represent the correlations between the nodes. Results: Performance measures, balanced classification rate and the F1-score, showed that St. Nicolas’ House Analysis was superior to methods using sophisticated correlation value thresholds and methods based on partial correlations for analyzing bands and hubs. We applied this method also in an Indonesia data set. Ranking correlations showed the direct association between parental education and child growth. Conclusion: St. Nicolas House Analysis confirmed that growth of Indonesian school children directly depends on maternal education, with no evidence that this effect is mediated by the state of nutrition. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/1027 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 445 EP - 451 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fritz, Amelie A1 - Makeyeva, Angelina A1 - Staub, Kaspar A1 - Groth, Detlef T1 - Influence of network properties on a migration induced secular height trend by Monte Carlo simulation JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: Recent research reported height biased migration of taller individuals and a Monte Carlo simulation showed that such preferential migration of taller individuals into network hubs can induce a secular trend of height. In the simulation model taller agents in the hubs raise the overall height of all individuals in the network by a community effect. However, it could be seen that the actual network structure influences the strength of this effect. In this paper the background and the influence of the network structure on the strength of the secular trend by migration is investigated. Material and methods: Three principal network types are analyzed: networks derived from street connections in Switzerland, more regular fishing net like networks and randomly generated ones. Our networks have between 10 and 152 nodes and between 20 and 307 edges connecting the nodes. Depending on the network size between 5.000 and 90.000 agents with an average height of 170 cm (SD 6.5 cm) are initially released into the network. In each iteration new agents are regenerated based on the actual average body height of the previous iteration and, to a certain proportion, corrected by body heights in the neighboring nodes. After generating new agents, a certain number of them migrated into neighbor nodes, the model let preferentially taller agents migrate into network hubs. Migration is balanced by back migration of the same number of agents from nodes with high centrality measures to less connected nodes. The latter is random as well, but not biased by the agents height. Furthermore the distribution of agents per node and their correlation to the centrality of the nodes is varied in a systematic manner. After 100 iterations, the secular trend, i.e. the gain in body height for the different networks, is investigated in relation to the network properties. Results: We observe an increase of average agent body height after 100 iterations if height biased migration is enabled. The increase rate depends on the height of the neighboring factor, the population distribution, the relationship between population in the nodes and their centrality as well as on the network topology. Networks with uniform like distributions of the agents in the nodes, uncorrelated associations between node centrality and agent number per node, as well as very heterogeneous networks with very different node centralities lead to biggest gains in average body height. Conclusion: Our simulations show, that height biased migration into network hubs can possibly contribute to the secular trend of height increase in the human population. The strength of this "tall by migration" event depends on the actual properties of the underlying network. There is a possible significance of this mechanism for social networks, when hubs are represented by individuals and edges as their personal relationships. However, the required high number of iterations to achieve significant effects in more natural network structures in our models requires further studies to test the relevance and real effect sizes in real world scenarios. KW - secular trend KW - body height KW - simulation KW - community effect KW - Monte Carlo method KW - network KW - centrality measures Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/1032 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 433 EP - 443 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mumm, Rebekka A1 - Scheffler, Christiane T1 - Lack of evidence of nutritional influence on height in four low and middle-income countries JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - ‘Nutrition influences height’ has been a common concept for the last decades. Recently, contradictory results occurred when studying the effectiveness of nutritional interventions, questioning the interaction of nutrition and height. Therefore, we hypothesize that, independently of population/country, nutrition does not affect height in children and adolescents. We analyzed data from the study “Young Lives” which was performed in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam to describe the health situation of children. We used linear mixed effect models to analyze the influence of nutrition on height. Furthermore, we used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test if the commonly assumed hypothetical interaction of height and nutrition can be supported by data from low and middle-income countries. Estimates for nutrition on height of linear mixed effect models were about zero and randomly significant or non-significant in all analyzed countries. Furthermore, SEM led to the rejection of the ‘nutrition influences height’-hypothesis, as data did not support the models based on this hypothesis. We do not find evidence for a nutritional influence on height in children and adolescents from low and middle-income countries. The widespread assumption that inadequate diet is reflected in short stature, which all modern nutritional interventions are based on, needs to be critically reviewed. KW - nutrition KW - height KW - children KW - low and middle-income Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/0988 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 421 EP - 432 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - GEN A1 - Dierschke, Hartmut A1 - Heinken, Thilo T1 - Vorwort T2 - Tuexenia : Mitteilungen der Floristisch-Soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Y1 - 2019 UR - https://www.tuexenia.de/publications/tuexenia/Tuexenia_2019_NS_039_0007-0007.pdf SN - 0722-494X IS - 39 SP - 7 EP - 7 PB - Floristisch-Soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft CY - Göttingen ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reimann, Anna A1 - Beyer, Rudolf A1 - Mumm, Rebekka A1 - Scheffler, Christiane T1 - Reference tables with centiles of limb to body height ratios of healthy human adults for assessing potential thalidomide embryopathy JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: Over 60 years ago the biggest drug catastrophe in Germany took place. The drug thalidomide, sold by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grunenthal GmbH starting in 1957 under the name "Contergan", caused severe birth defects in newborns. Chemie Grunenthal withdraw Contergan in 1961. Until nearly 30 years later in 1988 there were already over 10.000 children born with severe birth defects (e.g. dysmelia, amelia, congenital heart defect). Due to the high variability of the birth defects caused by thalidomide, later called thalidomide embryopathy, there is still no detailed information about the proportions of limbs. Aim: The aim is to develop reference centiles for limb measurements of men and women aged 19-70 years old. Method: For the calculation, data of healthy men and women (m = 2984, f = 2838) from former East Germany were used and centiles using the LMS-method were developed. Results: Centile tables for arm and leg length of men and women are presented in the results. The variability is small due to a homogeneous distribution of the measurements. A test with randomly chosen patient data shows that women under 171 cm stature and men under 180 cm stature can be assessed correctly. A severe shortening of limbs can be detected with this method. KW - thalidomide embryopathy KW - contergan KW - anthropometry KW - body proportions Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/0981 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 391 EP - 400 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lebedeva, Lidia A1 - Groth, Detlef A1 - Hermanussen, Michael A1 - Scheffler, Christiane A1 - Godina, Elena T1 - The network effects on conscripts' height in the central provinces of Russian empire in the middle of XIX century BT - at the beginning of XX century JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Background: We investigated average body height in the central provinces of the Russian empire in the middle of XIX century in view of the concept of "community effects on height". We analyzed body height correlations between neighboring districts at this time. We added information about secular changes in body height during the 19th century of this territory. Material and methods: The study used height data of conscripts, which were born in the years 1853-1863, and age 21 at the time of measurement. The territory of seven provinces was considered as a network with 105 nodes, each node representing one district with information on average male body height. In order to define neighboring districts three different approaches were used: based on the "common borders" method, based on Euclidean distances (from 60 to 120 km), based on real road connections. Results: Small but significant correlation coefficients were observed between 1st order districts in the network based on Euclidean distance of 100 km (r = 0.256, p-value = 0.006) and based on "the common borders" approach (r = 0.25, p-value = 0.02). Wherein no significant correlations were observed in the network based on road connections and between second order neighbors regardless of the method. Conclusion: Height correlation coefficients between 1st order neighboring districts observed in the Russian districts were very similar to values observed in the Polish study (r = 0.24). The considered Russian territory and the territory of Poland have a lot in common. They consist of both plains without mountains. In contradistinction to Poland the transport infrastructure in Russia was weakly developed in the middle of XIX century. In addition, the mobility of people was limited by serfdom. In this context the absent of significant correlation of second order neighbors can be explained by low population density and lack of migration and communication between the districts. KW - body height KW - correlation KW - conscripts KW - community effect on height KW - Russian empire Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/0984 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 371 EP - 377 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Friebel, Francis A1 - Hermanussen, Michael A1 - Scheffler, Christiane T1 - Popular ideas and convictions about factors influencing the growth as well as the adult height of children BT - a German-French comparison JF - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie N2 - Common knowledge suggests that growth in height is influenced by nutrition, genetics, health, and environmental and general living conditions. In addition, modern studies showed that also social mobility and dominance within the social group, may significantly affect adolescent growth and final height. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of popular ideas and beliefs about factors influencing the growth on the biology of child and adolescent growth. We hypothesized that these beliefs are culture-specific and age-dependent. We investigated 307 French and 315 German participants of all age-groups. We collected polarising statements by questionnaire that the participants had to agree or disagree on. French participants see a connection between nutrition and the body height of children. This is different in Germany and may be due to the fact that French food culture is more traditional. Genetic factors were generally overestimated and considered as the most important determinants of longitudinal-growth. The participants denied an influence of disease and social status. Participants over 35 years of age considered adult height to be independent of environmental factors. In conclusion, popular beliefs partly depend on culture and appear to change with age as a result of growing experience. KW - nutrition KW - genetics KW - health KW - environmental and general living conditions KW - child growth KW - adolescent growth KW - final height Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/0972 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 365 EP - 370 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - GEN A1 - Hermanussen, Michael A1 - Scheffler, Christiane A1 - Groth, Detlef A1 - Bogin, Barry T1 - Student work on trends in infant and child growth BT - an editorial T2 - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger : Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie KW - nutrition KW - impact on growth KW - geographic neighborhood KW - mortality bias KW - limb disproportions KW - physical activity KW - socioeconomic status KW - parental age KW - statistical tools Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/1052 SN - 0003-5548 VL - 76 IS - 5 SP - 363 EP - 364 PB - Schweizerbart CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schwabe, Angelika A1 - Tischew, Sabine A1 - Bergmeier, Erwin A1 - Garve, Eckhard A1 - Härdtle, Werner A1 - Heinken, Thilo A1 - Hölzel, Norbert A1 - Peppler-Lisbach, Cord A1 - Remy, Dominique A1 - Dierschke, Hartmut T1 - Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2020 BT - Borstgrasrasen JF - Tuexenia : Mitteilungen der Floristisch-Soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft N2 - Wie erstmals 2019 wird auch für das Jahr 2020 von der „Floristisch-soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft“ (FlorSoz) für Deutschland die „Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres“ vorgestellt. Damit soll wiederum für die Öffentlichkeit die Notwendigkeit des Schutzes gefährdeter Pflanzengesellschaften aufgezeigt werden. Für das Jahr 2020 wurden die Borstgrasrasen ausgewählt. Wie alle Pflanzengemeinschaften nährstoffarmer Standorte, sind auch die Borstgrasrasen stark gefährdet und regional sogar unmittelbar vom Aussterben bedroht. Wir konzentrieren uns vor allem auf die Bestände der planaren bis montanen Stufe (Unterverband Violenion caninae: Hundsveilchen-Borstgrasrasen). Die Standorte von Violenion caninae-Gesellschaften werden nicht gedüngt und sind auf extensive Beweidung, z.T. auch auf einschürige Mahd angewiesen. Für Borstgrasrasen bezeichnend sind eine Fülle gefährdeter Pflanzenarten wie z.B. Arnica montana (Arnika) und Antennaria dioica (Zweihäusiges Katzenpfötchen). Bei den Borstgrasrasen spielen für die zunehmend hohe Gefährdung nicht nur Flächenrückgänge durch Nutzungsaufgabe, Aufforstung, Sport- und Freizeitaktivitäten und Überbauung eine Rolle, sondern auch Änderungen der Struktur und Artenzusammensetzung durch direkte Düngung sowie atmogene Stickstoffeinträge sind von Bedeutung. Nährstoffanreicherungen führen zum Verlust der konkurrenzschwachen, gefährdeten Arten zugunsten einiger allgemein verbreiteter, häufig dominanter Gräser sowie konkurrenzkräftiger Kräuter. Wir skizzieren die Bedeutung der Borstgrasrasen als gefährdete Lebensgemeinschaften, geben Hinweise zur floristisch-soziologischen Erforschung und zu weiteren Naturschutz-Aspekten (Rückgang, Erhaltung, Möglichkeiten der Restitution). Ein wirksamer Schutz ist nur bei einem integrativen Naturschutzansatz mit geeigneter Nutzung möglich. N2 - As for the first time in 2019 the ‘Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft (FlorSoz)’ intro-duces the ‘Plant Community of the Year 2020’ for Germany. The FlorSoz proposal aims to alert the public that the conservation of endangered plant communities and their biodiversity is essential.For the year 2020 the plant community of mat-grass swards (Nardus stricta grassland) has been selected. Similar to other plant communities on nutrient-poor sites, Nardus grassland is highly endan-gered and in some regions on the brink of extinction. We focus on Nardus grassland of the lowland to montane levels with the characteristic Violenion caninae suballiance (named after Viola canina,the Heath Dog-violet). The sites of Violenion caninae communities are not fertilized and depend on extensive grazing, but there are also mat-grass swards which are mown once a year. Nardus grasslands host many threatened species, e.g., Arnica montana (Arnica) and Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting).The decline of Nardus grassland is not only due to abandonment, afforestation, outdoor activities and construction measures, but also due to changes in the structure and species composition through eutrophication by either direct manuring or by atmospheric nitrogen input. Eutrophication causes local decline or extinction of low-competitive, often endangered species which are replaced by ubiquists, mostly highly competitive species. For management, long-term conservation practices like extensive grazing or cutting once a year are essential. We give an outline of Nardus grassland as an endangered habitat type and summarize its current state of ecological and phytosociological research. In particular we take up the issue of conservation, including the loss of Nardus grasslands and their restoration. Effective conservation depends on an integrative nature-conservation approach, using suitable man-agement practices. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.14471/2019.39.017 SN - 0722-494X IS - 39 SP - 287 EP - 308 PB - Floristisch-soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. CY - Göttingen ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Batsios, Petros A1 - Gräf, Ralph A1 - Koonce, Michael P. A1 - Larochelle, Denis A. A1 - Meyer, Irene T1 - Nuclear envelope organization in Dictyostelium discoideum JF - The international journal of developmental biology N2 - The nuclear envelope consists of the outer and the inner nuclear membrane, the nuclear lamina and the nuclear pore complexes, which regulate nuclear import and export.The major constituent of the nuclear lamina of Dictyostelium is the lamin NE81. It can form filaments like B-type lamins and it interacts with Sun 1, as well as with the LEM/HeH-family protein Src1. Sun 1 and Src1 are nuclear envelope transmembrane proteins involved in the centrosome-nucleus connection and nuclear envelope stability at the nucleolar regions, respectively. In conjunction with a KASH-domain protein, Sun 1 usually forms a so-called LINC complex.Two proteins with functions reminiscent of KASH-domain proteins at the outer nuclear membrane of Dictyostelium are known; interaptin which serves as an actin connector and the kinesin Kif9 which plays a role in the microtubule-centrosome connector. However, both of these lack the conserved KASH-domain. The link of the centrosome to the nuclear envelope is essential for the insertion of the centrosome into the nuclear envelope and the appropriate spindle formation. Moreover, centrosome insertion is involved in perm eabilization of the mitotic nucleus, which ensures access of tubulin dimers and spindle assembly factors. Our recent progress in identifying key molecular players at the nuclear envelope of Dictyostelium promises further insights into the mechanisms of nuclear envelope dynamics. KW - nuclear envelop KW - Dictyostelium KW - lamin KW - NET KW - centrosome KW - centromere Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.190184rg SN - 0214-6282 SN - 1696-3547 VL - 63 IS - 8-10 SP - 509 EP - 519 PB - UBC Pr CY - Bilbao ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tanabe, Tomohisa Sebastian A1 - Leimkühler, Silke A1 - Dahl, Christiane ED - Poole, RK T1 - The functional diversity of the prokaryotic sulfur carrier protein TusA JF - Advances in microbial physiology N2 - Persulfide groups participate in a wide array of biochemical pathways and are chemically very versatile. The TusA protein has been identified as a central element supplying and transferring sulfur as persulfide to a number of important biosynthetic pathways, like molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis or thiomodifications in nucleosides of tRNAs. In recent years, it has furthermore become obvious that this protein is indispensable for the oxidation of sulfur compounds in the cytoplasm. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that different TusA protein variants exists in certain organisms, that have evolved to pursue specific roles in cellular pathways. The specific TusA-like proteins thereby cannot replace each other in their specific roles and are rather specific to one sulfur transfer pathway or shared between two pathways. While certain bacteria like Escherichia coli contain several copies of TusA-like proteins, in other bacteria like Allochromatium vinosum a single copy of TusA is present with an essential role for this organism. Here, we give an overview on the multiple roles of the various TusA-like proteins in sulfur transfer pathways in different organisms to shed light on the remaining mysteries of this versatile protein. Y1 - 2019 SN - 978-0-12-817715-0 SN - 978-0-12-817714-3 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ampbs.2019.07.004 SN - 0065-2911 VL - 75 SP - 233 EP - 277 PB - Elsevier Acad. Press CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hering, Robert A1 - Hauptfleisch, Morgan A1 - Geissler, Katja A1 - Marquart, Arnim A1 - Schoenen, Maria A1 - Blaum, Niels T1 - Shrub encroachment is not always land degradation BT - Insights from ground‐dwelling beetle species niches along a shrub cover gradient in a semi‐arid Namibian savanna JF - Land degradation & development N2 - Shrub encroachment in semi-arid savannas is induced by interacting effects of climate, fire suppression, and unsustainable livestock farming; it carries a severe risk of land degradation and strongly influences natural communities that provide key ecosystem functions. However, species-specific effects of shrub cover on many animal groups that act as indicators of degradation remain largely unknown. We analysed the consequences of shrub encroachment for ground-dwelling beetles in a semi-arid Namibian savanna rangeland, where beetles and vegetation were recorded along a shrub cover gradient (30%). Focusing on species niche breadths and optima, we identified two crucial shrub cover thresholds (2.9% and 10.0%), corresponding to major changes in the beetle communities with implications for savanna ecosystem functioning. Niche optima of most species were between the first and second thresholds; beyond the second threshold, saprophagous, coprophagous, and rare predatory beetles declined in numbers and diversity. This is problematic because beetles provide important ecosystem functions, such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. However, we also found that certain species were adapted to high shrub cover, thus providing examples of niche differentiation. Despite the predominantly negative effects of heavy shrub encroachment on beetle communities, shrubs in their early life stages apparently provide essential structures, which enhance habitat quality for ground-dwelling beetles. Our results demonstrate that shrub encroachment can have mixed effects on ground-dwelling beetle communities and hence on savanna ecosystem functioning. We, therefore, conclude that rangeland management and restoration should consider the complex trade-offs between species-specific effects and the level of encroachment for sustainable land use. KW - Coleoptera KW - rangeland KW - semi-arid savanna KW - shrub encroachment KW - species niche KW - threshold Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3197 SN - 1085-3278 SN - 1099-145X VL - 30 IS - 1 SP - 14 EP - 24 PB - Wiley CY - Chichester ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rosenbaum, Benjamin A1 - Raatz, Michael A1 - Weithoff, Guntram A1 - Fussmann, Gregor F. A1 - Gaedke, Ursula T1 - Estimating parameters from multiple time series of population dynamics using bayesian inference JF - Frontiers in ecology and evolution N2 - Empirical time series of interacting entities, e.g., species abundances, are highly useful to study ecological mechanisms. Mathematical models are valuable tools to further elucidate those mechanisms and underlying processes. However, obtaining an agreement between model predictions and experimental observations remains a demanding task. As models always abstract from reality one parameter often summarizes several properties. Parameter measurements are performed in additional experiments independent of the ones delivering the time series. Transferring these parameter values to different settings may result in incorrect parametrizations. On top of that, the properties of organisms and thus the respective parameter values may vary considerably. These issues limit the use of a priori model parametrizations. In this study, we present a method suited for a direct estimation of model parameters and their variability from experimental time series data. We combine numerical simulations of a continuous-time dynamical population model with Bayesian inference, using a hierarchical framework that allows for variability of individual parameters. The method is applied to a comprehensive set of time series from a laboratory predator-prey system that features both steady states and cyclic population dynamics. Our model predictions are able to reproduce both steady states and cyclic dynamics of the data. Additionally to the direct estimates of the parameter values, the Bayesian approach also provides their uncertainties. We found that fitting cyclic population dynamics, which contain more information on the process rates than steady states, yields more precise parameter estimates. We detected significant variability among parameters of different time series and identified the variation in the maximum growth rate of the prey as a source for the transition from steady states to cyclic dynamics. By lending more flexibility to the model, our approach facilitates parametrizations and shows more easily which patterns in time series can be explained also by simple models. Applying Bayesian inference and dynamical population models in conjunction may help to quantify the profound variability in organismal properties in nature. KW - Bayesian inference KW - chemostat experiments KW - ordinary differential equation KW - parameter estimation KW - population dynamics KW - predator prey KW - time series analysis KW - trait variability Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2018.00234 SN - 2296-701X VL - 6 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gonzalez-Fortes, Gloria M. A1 - Tassi, F. A1 - Trucchi, E. A1 - Henneberger, K. A1 - Paijmans, Johanna L. A. A1 - Diez-del-Molino, D. A1 - Schroeder, H. A1 - Susca, R. R. A1 - Barroso-Ruiz, C. A1 - Bermudez, F. J. A1 - Barroso-Medina, C. A1 - Bettencourt, A. M. S. A1 - Sampaio, H. A. A1 - Salas, A. A1 - de Lombera-Hermida, A. A1 - Fabregas Valcarce, Ramón A1 - Vaquero, M. A1 - Alonso, S. A1 - Lozano, Marina A1 - Rodriguez-Alvarez, Xose Pedro A1 - Fernandez-Rodriguez, C. A1 - Manica, Andrea A1 - Hofreiter, Michael A1 - Barbujani, Guido T1 - A western route of prehistoric human migration from Africa into the Iberian Peninsula JF - Proceedings of the Royal Society of London : B, Biological sciences N2 - Being at the western fringe of Europe, Iberia had a peculiar prehistory and a complex pattern of Neolithization. A few studies, all based on modern populations, reported the presence of DNA of likely African origin in this region, generally concluding it was the result of recent gene flow, probably during the Islamic period. Here, we provide evidence of much older gene flow from Africa to Iberia by sequencing whole genomes from four human remains from northern Portugal and southern Spain dated around 4000 years BP (from the Middle Neolithic to the Bronze Age). We found one of them to carry an unequivocal sub-Saharan mitogenome of most probably West or West-Central African origin, to our knowledge never reported before in prehistoric remains outside Africa. Our analyses of ancient nuclear genomes show small but significant levels of sub-Saharan African affinity in several ancient Iberian samples, which indicates that what we detected was not an occasional individual phenomenon, but an admixture event recognizable at the population level. We interpret this result as evidence of an early migration process from Africa into the Iberian Peninsula through a western route, possibly across the Strait of Gibraltar. KW - palaeogenome KW - Africa KW - Iberia KW - mitochondrial DNA KW - gene flow KW - admixture Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.2288 SN - 0962-8452 SN - 1471-2954 VL - 286 IS - 1895 PB - Royal Society CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sperber, Hannah Sabeth A1 - Welke, Robert-William A1 - Petazzi, Roberto Arturo A1 - Bergmann, Ronny A1 - Schade, Matthias A1 - Shai, Yechiel A1 - Chiantia, Salvatore A1 - Herrmann, Andreas A1 - Schwarzer, Roland T1 - Self-association and subcellular localization of Puumala hantavirus envelope proteins JF - Scientific reports N2 - Hantavirus assembly and budding are governed by the surface glycoproteins Gn and Gc. In this study, we investigated the glycoproteins of Puumala, the most abundant Hantavirus species in Europe, using fluorescently labeled wild-type constructs and cytoplasmic tail (CT) mutants. We analyzed their intracellular distribution, co-localization and oligomerization, applying comprehensive live, single-cell fluorescence techniques, including confocal microscopy, imaging flow cytometry, anisotropy imaging and Number&Brightness analysis. We demonstrate that Gc is significantly enriched in the Golgi apparatus in absence of other viral components, while Gn is mainly restricted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Importantly, upon co-expression both glycoproteins were found in the Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, we show that an intact CT of Gc is necessary for efficient Golgi localization, while the CT of Gn influences protein stability. Finally, we found that Gn assembles into higher-order homo-oligomers, mainly dimers and tetramers, in the ER while Gc was present as mixture of monomers and dimers within the Golgi apparatus. Our findings suggest that PUUV Gc is the driving factor of the targeting of Gc and Gn to the Golgi region, while Gn possesses a significantly stronger self-association potential. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36879-y SN - 2045-2322 VL - 9 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Luis Horreo, Jose A1 - Luisa Pelaez, Maria A1 - Breedveld, Merel Cathelijne A1 - Suarez, Teresa A1 - Urieta, Maria A1 - Fitze, Patrick S. T1 - Population structure of the oviparous South-West European common lizard JF - European journal of wildlife research N2 - Gene flow is an important factor determining the evolution of a species, since it directly affects population structure and species’ adaptation. Here, we investigated population structure, population history, and migration among populations covering the entire distribution of the geographically isolated South-West European common lizard (Zootoca vivipara louislantzi) using 34 newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers. The analyses unravelled the presence of isolation by distance, inbreeding, recent bottlenecks, genetic differentiation, and low levels of migration among most populations, suggesting that Z. vivipara louislantzi is threatened. The results point to discontinuous populations and are in line with physical barriers hindering longitudinal migration south to the central Pyrenean cordillera and latitudinal migration in the central Pyrenees. In contrast, evidence for longitudinal migration exists from the lowlands north to the central Pyrenean cordillera and the Cantabrian Mountains. The locations of the populations south to the central Pyrenean cordillera were identified as the first to be affected by global warming; thus, management actions aimed at avoiding population declines should start in this area. KW - Climate change KW - Conservation KW - First-generation migrant KW - gene flow KW - IBD KW - Zootoca vivipara Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-018-1242-6 SN - 1612-4642 SN - 1439-0574 VL - 65 IS - 1 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yamamichi, Masato A1 - Klauschies, Toni A1 - Miner, Brooks E. A1 - van Velzen, Ellen T1 - Modelling inducible defences in predator-prey interactions BT - assumptions and dynamical consequences of three distinct approaches JF - Ecology letters N2 - Inducible defences against predation are widespread in the natural world, allowing prey to economise on the costs of defence when predation risk varies over time or is spatially structured. Through interspecific interactions, inducible defences have major impacts on ecological dynamics, particularly predator-prey stability and phase lag. Researchers have developed multiple distinct approaches, each reflecting assumptions appropriate for particular ecological communities. Yet, the impact of inducible defences on ecological dynamics can be highly sensitive to the modelling approach used, making the choice of model a critical decision that affects interpretation of the dynamical consequences of inducible defences. Here, we review three existing approaches to modelling inducible defences: Switching Function, Fitness Gradient and Optimal Trait. We assess when and how the dynamical outcomes of these approaches differ from each other, from classic predator-prey dynamics and from commonly observed eco-evolutionary dynamics with evolving, but non-inducible, prey defences. We point out that the Switching Function models tend to stabilise population dynamics, and the Fitness Gradient models should be carefully used, as the difference with evolutionary dynamics is important. We discuss advantages of each approach for applications to ecological systems with particular features, with the goal of providing guidelines for future researchers to build on. KW - Adaptive dynamics KW - fitness gradient KW - inducible defence KW - optimal trait KW - phenotypic plasticity KW - predator-prey dynamics KW - reaction norm KW - switching function Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13183 SN - 1461-023X SN - 1461-0248 VL - 22 IS - 2 SP - 390 EP - 404 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Langhammer, Maria A1 - Thober, Jule A1 - Lange, Martin A1 - Frank, Karin A1 - Grimm, Volker T1 - Agricultural landscape generators for simulation models BT - a review of existing solutions and an outline of future directions JF - Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog N2 - There is an increasing need for an assessment of the impacts of land use and land use change (LUCC). In this context, simulation models are valuable tools for investigating the impacts of stakeholder actions or policy decisions. Agricultural landscape generators (ALGs), which systematically and automatically generate realistic but simplified representations of land cover in agricultural landscapes, can provide the input for LUCC models. We reviewed existing ALGs in terms of their objectives, design and scope. We found eight ALGs that met our definition. They were based either on generic mathematical algorithms (pattern-based) or on representations of ecological or land use processes (process-based). Most ALGs integrate only a few landscape metrics, which limits the design of the landscape pattern and thus the range of applications. For example, only a few specific farming systems have been implemented. We conclude that existing ALGs contain useful approaches that can be used for specific purposes, but ideally generic modular ALGs are developed that can be used for a wide range of scenarios, regions and model types. We have compiled features of such generic ALGs and propose a possible software architecture. Considerable joint efforts are required to develop such generic ALGs, but the benefits in terms of a better understanding and development of more efficient agricultural policies would be high. KW - Agricultural landscape KW - Field pattern KW - Agricultural landscape generator KW - Landscape simulator KW - Neutral landscape model KW - Process-based model Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.12.010 SN - 0304-3800 SN - 1872-7026 VL - 393 SP - 135 EP - 151 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Coraman, Emrah A1 - Dietz, Christian A1 - Hempel, Elisabeth A1 - Ghazaryan, Astghik A1 - Levin, Eran A1 - Presetnik, Primoz A1 - Zagmajster, Maja A1 - Mayer, Frieder T1 - Reticulate evolutionary history of a Western Palaearctic Bat Complex explained by multiple mtDNA introgressions in secondary contacts JF - Journal of biogeography N2 - Aim There is an increasing evidence showing that species within various taxonomic groups have reticulate evolutionary histories with several cases of introgression events. Investigating the phylogeography of species complexes can provide insight into these introgressions, and when and where these hybridizations occurred. In this study, we investigate the biogeography of a widely distributed Western Palaearctic bat species complex, namely Myotis nattereri sensu lato. This complex exhibits high genetic diversity and in its western distribution range is composed of deeply diverged genetical lineages. However, little is known about the genetic structure of the eastern populations. We also infer the conservation and taxonomical implications of the identified genetic divergences. Taxon Myotis nattereri sensu lato including M. schaubi. Location Western Palaearctic. Methods We analysed 161 specimens collected from 67 locations and sequenced one mitochondrial and four nuclear DNA markers, and combined these with the available GenBank sequences. We used haplotype networks, PCA, t-SNE and Bayesian clustering algorithms to investigate the population structure and Bayesian trees to infer the phylogenetic relationship of the lineages. Results We identified deeply divergent genetical lineages. In some cases, nuclear and mitochondrial markers were discordant, which we interpret are caused by hybridization between lineages. We identified three such introgression events. These introgressions occurred when spatially separated lineages came into contact after range expansions. Based on the genetic distinction of the identified lineages, we suggest a revision in the taxonomy of this species group with two possible new species: M. hoveli and M. tschuliensis. Main conclusions Our findings suggest that the M. nattereri complex has a reticulate evolutionary history with multiple cases of hybridizations between some of the identified lineages. KW - cryptic species KW - glacial refugia KW - hybridization KW - introgression KW - range expansions KW - the Caucasus Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13509 SN - 0305-0270 SN - 1365-2699 VL - 46 IS - 2 SP - 343 EP - 354 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Martiel, Isabelle A1 - Müller-Werkmeister, Henrike A1 - Cohen, Aina E. T1 - Strategies for sample delivery for femtosecond crystallography JF - Acta Crystallographica : Section D, Structural biology N2 - Highly efficient data-collection methods are required for successful macromolecular crystallography (MX) experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). XFEL beamtime is scarce, and the high peak brightness of each XFEL pulse destroys the exposed crystal volume. It is therefore necessary to combine diffraction images from a large number of crystals (hundreds to hundreds of thousands) to obtain a final data set, bringing about sample-refreshment challenges that have previously been unknown to the MX synchrotron community. In view of this experimental complexity, a number of sample delivery methods have emerged, each with specific requirements, drawbacks and advantages. To provide useful selection criteria for future experiments, this review summarizes the currently available sample delivery methods, emphasising the basic principles and the specific sample requirements. Two main approaches to sample delivery are first covered: (i) injector methods with liquid or viscous media and (ii) fixed-target methods using large crystals or using microcrystals inside multi-crystal holders or chips. Additionally, hybrid methods such as acoustic droplet ejection and crystal extraction are covered, which combine the advantages of both fixed-target and injector approaches. KW - sample delivery KW - serial femtosecond crystallography KW - protein microcrystals KW - XFELs Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1107/S2059798318017953 SN - 2059-7983 SN - 0907-4449 VL - 75 SP - 160 EP - 177 PB - Bognor Regis CY - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lozada Gobilard, Sissi Donna A1 - Stang, Susanne A1 - Pirhofer-Walzl, Karin A1 - Kalettka, Thomas A1 - Heinken, Thilo A1 - Schröder, Boris A1 - Eccard, Jana A1 - Joshi, Jasmin Radha T1 - Environmental filtering predicts plant-community trait distribution and diversity BT - Kettle holes as models of meta-community systems JF - Ecology and evolution N2 - Meta-communities of habitat islands may be essential to maintain biodiversity in anthropogenic landscapes allowing rescue effects in local habitat patches. To understand the species-assembly mechanisms and dynamics of such ecosystems, it is important to test how local plant-community diversity and composition is affected by spatial isolation and hence by dispersal limitation and local environmental conditions acting as filters for local species sorting.We used a system of 46 small wetlands (kettle holes)natural small-scale freshwater habitats rarely considered in nature conservation policiesembedded in an intensively managed agricultural matrix in northern Germany. We compared two types of kettle holes with distinct topographies (flat-sloped, ephemeral, frequently plowed kettle holes vs. steep-sloped, more permanent ones) and determined 254 vascular plant species within these ecosystems, as well as plant functional traits and nearest neighbor distances to other kettle holes.Differences in alpha and beta diversity between steep permanent compared with ephemeral flat kettle holes were mainly explained by species sorting and niche processes and mass effect processes in ephemeral flat kettle holes. The plant-community composition as well as the community trait distribution in terms of life span, breeding system, dispersal ability, and longevity of seed banks significantly differed between the two habitat types. Flat ephemeral kettle holes held a higher percentage of non-perennial plants with a more persistent seed bank, less obligate outbreeders and more species with seed dispersal abilities via animal vectors compared with steep-sloped, more permanent kettle holes that had a higher percentage of wind-dispersed species. In the flat kettle holes, plant-species richness was negatively correlated with the degree of isolation, whereas no such pattern was found for the permanent kettle holes.Synthesis: Environment acts as filter shaping plant diversity (alpha and beta) and plant-community trait distribution between steep permanent compared with ephemeral flat kettle holes supporting species sorting and niche mechanisms as expected, but we identified a mass effect in ephemeral kettle holes only. Flat ephemeral kettle holes can be regarded as meta-ecosystems that strongly depend on seed dispersal and recruitment from a seed bank, whereas neighboring permanent kettle holes have a more stable local species diversity. KW - biodiversity KW - dispersal KW - disturbance KW - landscape diversity KW - life-history traits KW - plant diversity KW - seed bank KW - species assembly KW - wetland vegetation Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4883 SN - 2045-7758 VL - 9 IS - 4 SP - 1898 EP - 1910 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lachmann, Sabrina C. A1 - Mettler-Altmann, Tabea A1 - Wacker, Alexander A1 - Spijkerman, Elly T1 - Nitrate or ammonium BT - Influences of nitrogen source on the physiology of a green alga JF - Ecology and evolution N2 - In freshwaters, algal species are exposed to different inorganic nitrogen (Ni) sources whose incorporation varies in biochemical energy demand. We hypothesized that due to the lesser energy requirement of ammonium (NH4+)-use, in contrast to nitrate (NO3-)-use, more energy remains for other metabolic processes, especially under CO2-and phosphorus (Pi) limiting conditions. Therefore, we tested differences in cell characteristics of the green alga Chlamydomonas acidophila grown on NH4+ or NO3- under covariation of CO2 and Pi-supply in order to determine limitations, in a full-factorial design. As expected, results revealed higher carbon fixation rates for NH4+ grown cells compared to growth with NO3- under low CO2 conditions. NO3- -grown cells accumulated more of the nine analyzed amino acids, especially under Pi-limited conditions, compared to cells provided with NH4+. This is probably due to a slower protein synthesis in cells provided with NO3-. In contrast to our expectations, compared to NH4+ -grown cells NO3- -grown cells had higher photosynthetic efficiency under Pi-limitation. In conclusion, growth on the Ni-source NH4+ did not result in a clearly enhanced Ci-assimilation, as it was highly dependent on Pi and CO2 conditions (replete or limited). Results are potentially connected to the fact that C. acidophila is able to use only CO2 as its inorganic carbon (Ci) source. KW - amino acids KW - carbon uptake kinetics KW - CO2 conditions KW - nitrogen KW - phosphorus limitation Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4790 SN - 2045-7758 VL - 9 IS - 3 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - GEN A1 - de Vera, Jean-Pierre Paul A1 - Alawi, Mashal A1 - Backhaus, Theresa A1 - Baque, Mickael A1 - Billi, Daniela A1 - Boettger, Ute A1 - Berger, Thomas A1 - Bohmeier, Maria A1 - Cockell, Charles A1 - Demets, Rene A1 - de la Torre Noetzel, Rosa A1 - Edwards, Howell A1 - Elsaesser, Andreas A1 - Fagliarone, Claudia A1 - Fiedler, Annelie A1 - Foing, Bernard A1 - Foucher, Frederic A1 - Fritz, Jörg A1 - Hanke, Franziska A1 - Herzog, Thomas A1 - Horneck, Gerda A1 - Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm A1 - Huwe, Björn A1 - Joshi, Jasmin Radha A1 - Kozyrovska, Natalia A1 - Kruchten, Martha A1 - Lasch, Peter A1 - Lee, Natuschka A1 - Leuko, Stefan A1 - Leya, Thomas A1 - Lorek, Andreas A1 - Martinez-Frias, Jesus A1 - Meessen, Joachim A1 - Moritz, Sophie A1 - Moeller, Ralf A1 - Olsson-Francis, Karen A1 - Onofri, Silvano A1 - Ott, Sieglinde A1 - Pacelli, Claudia A1 - Podolich, Olga A1 - Rabbow, Elke A1 - Reitz, Günther A1 - Rettberg, Petra A1 - Reva, Oleg A1 - Rothschild, Lynn A1 - Garcia Sancho, Leo A1 - Schulze-Makuch, Dirk A1 - Selbmann, Laura A1 - Serrano, Paloma A1 - Szewzyk, Ulrich A1 - Verseux, Cyprien A1 - Wadsworth, Jennifer A1 - Wagner, Dirk A1 - Westall, Frances A1 - Wolter, David A1 - Zucconi, Laura T1 - Limits of life and the habitability of Mars BT - the ESA space experiment BIOMEX on the ISS T2 - Astrobiology N2 - BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports-among others-the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit. KW - EXPOSE-R2 KW - BIOMEX KW - Habitability KW - Limits of life KW - Extremophiles KW - Mars Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2018.1897 SN - 1531-1074 SN - 1557-8070 VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - 145 EP - 157 PB - Liebert CY - New Rochelle ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ferrari, Camilla A1 - Proost, Sebastian A1 - Janowski, Marcin Andrzej A1 - Becker, Jörg A1 - Nikoloski, Zoran A1 - Bhattacharya, Debashish A1 - Price, Dana A1 - Tohge, Takayuki A1 - Bar-Even, Arren A1 - Fernie, Alisdair R. A1 - Stitt, Mark A1 - Mutwil, Marek T1 - Kingdom-wide comparison reveals the evolution of diurnal gene expression in Archaeplastida JF - Nature Communications N2 - Plants have adapted to the diurnal light-dark cycle by establishing elaborate transcriptional programs that coordinate many metabolic, physiological, and developmental responses to the external environment. These transcriptional programs have been studied in only a few species, and their function and conservation across algae and plants is currently unknown. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of the diurnal cycle of nine members of Archaeplastida, and we observed that, despite large phylogenetic distances and dramatic differences in morphology and lifestyle, diurnal transcriptional programs of these organisms are similar. Expression of genes related to cell division and the majority of biological pathways depends on the time of day in unicellular algae but we did not observe such patterns at the tissue level in multicellular land plants. Hence, our study provides evidence for the universality of diurnal gene expression and elucidates its evolutionary history among different photosynthetic eukaryotes. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08703-2 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 10 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Maes, Sybryn L. A1 - Blondeel, Haben A1 - Perring, Michael P. A1 - Depauw, Leen A1 - Brumelis, Guntis A1 - Brunet, Jörg A1 - Decocq, Guillaume A1 - den Ouden, Jan A1 - Haerdtle, Werner A1 - Hedl, Radim A1 - Heinken, Thilo A1 - Heinrichs, Steffi A1 - Jaroszewicz, Bogdan A1 - Kirby, Keith J. A1 - Kopecky, Martin A1 - Malis, Frantisek A1 - Wulf, Monika A1 - Verheyen, Kris T1 - Litter quality, land-use history, and nitrogen deposition effects on topsoil conditions across European temperate deciduous forests JF - Forest ecology and management N2 - Topsoil conditions in temperate forests are influenced by several soil-forming factors, such as canopy composition (e.g. through litter quality), land-use history, atmospheric deposition, and the parent material. Many studies have evaluated the effects of single factors on physicochemical topsoil conditions, but few have assessed the simultaneous effects of multiple drivers. Here, we evaluate the combined effects of litter quality, land-use history (past land cover as well as past forest management), and atmospheric deposition on several physicochemical topsoil conditions of European temperate deciduous forest soils: bulk density, proportion of exchangeable base cations, carbon/nitrogen-ratio (C/N), litter mass, bio-available and total phosphorus, pH(KCI)and soil organic matter. We collected mineral soil and litter layer samples, and measured site characteristics for 190 20 x 20 m European mixed forest plots across gradients of litter quality (derived from the canopy species composition) and atmospheric deposition, and for different categories of past land cover and past forest management. We accounted for the effects of parent material on topsoil conditions by clustering our plots into three soil type groups based on texture and carbonate concentration. We found that litter quality was a stronger driver of topsoil conditions compared to land-use history or atmospheric deposition, while the soil type also affected several topsoil conditions here. Plots with higher litter quality had soils with a higher proportion of exchangeable base cations, and total phosphorus, and lower C/N-ratios and litter mass. Furthermore, the observed litter quality effects on the topsoil were independent from the regional nitrogen deposition or the soil type, although the soil type likely (co)-determined canopy composition and thus litter quality to some extent in the investigated plots. Litter quality effects on topsoil phosphorus concentrations did interact with past land cover, highlighting the need to consider land-use history when evaluating canopy effects on soil conditions. We conclude that forest managers can use the canopy composition as an important tool for influencing topsoil conditions, although soil type remains an important factor to consider. KW - Soil fertility KW - Ancient forest KW - Post-agricultural forest KW - Coppice KW - High forest KW - pH KW - Phosphorus KW - Base cations KW - Nutrient cycling KW - Decomposition Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.056 SN - 0378-1127 SN - 1872-7042 VL - 433 SP - 405 EP - 418 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - GEN A1 - Sowemimo, Oluwakemi A1 - Borcherds, Wade A1 - Knox-Brown, Patrick A1 - Rindfleisch, Tobias A1 - Thalhammer, Anja A1 - Daughdrill, Gary T1 - Evolution of Transient Helicity and Disorder in Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein COR15A T2 - Biophysical journal N2 - Cold regulated protein 15A (COR15A) is a nuclear encoded, intrinsically disordered protein that is found in Arabidopsis thaliana. It belongs to the Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) family of proteins and is responsible for increased freezing tolerance in plants. COR15A is intrinsically disordered in dilute solutions and adopts a helical structure upon dehydration or in the presence of co-solutes such as TFE and ethylene glycol. This helical structure is thought to be important for protecting plants from dehydration induced by freezing. Multiple protein sequence alignments revealed the presence of several conserved glycine residues that we hypothesize keeps COR15A from becoming helical in dilute solutions. Using AGADIR, the change in helical content of COR15A when these conserved glycine residues were mutated to alanine residues was predicted. Based on the predictions, glycine to alanine mutants were made at position 68, and 54,68,81, and 84. Labeled samples of wildtype COR15A and mutant proteins were purified and NMR experiments were performed to examine any structural changes induced by the mutations. To test the effects of dehydration on the structure of COR15A, trifluoroethanol, an alcohol based co solvent that is proposed to induce/stabilize helical structure in peptides was added to the NMR samples, and the results of the experiment showed an increase in helical content, compared to the samples without TFE. To test the functional differences between wild type and the mutants, liposome leakage assays were performed. The results from these assays suggest the more helical mutants may augment membrane stability. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2018.11.2553 SN - 0006-3495 SN - 1542-0086 VL - 116 IS - 3 SP - 473A EP - 473A PB - Cell Press CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Batsios, Petros A1 - Ishikawa-Ankerhold, Hellen Christina A1 - Roth, Heike A1 - Schleicher, Michael A1 - Wong, Catherine C. L. A1 - Müller-Taubenberger, Annette T1 - Ate1-mediated posttranslational arginylation affects substrate adhesion and cell migration in Dictyostelium discoideum JF - Molecular biology of the cell : the official publication of the American Society for Cell Biology N2 - The highly conserved enzyme arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase (Ate1) mediates arginylation, a posttranslational modification that is only incompletely understood at its molecular level. To investigate whether arginylation affects actin-dependent processes in a simple model organism, Dictyostelium discoideum, we knocked out the gene encoding Ate1 and characterized the phenotype of ate1-null cells. Visualization of actin cytoskeleton dynamics by live-cell microscopy indicated significant changes in comparison to wild-type cells. Ate1-null cells were almost completely lacking focal actin adhesion sites at the substrate-attached surface and were only weakly adhesive. In two-dimensional chemotaxis assays toward folate or cAMP, the motility of ate1-null cells was increased. However, in three-dimensional chemotaxis involving more confined conditions, the motility of ate1-null cells was significantly reduced. Live-cell imaging showed that GFP-tagged Ate1 rapidly relocates to sites of newly formed actin-rich protrusions. By mass spectrometric analysis, we identified four arginylation sites in the most abundant actin isoform of Dictyostelium, in addition to arginylation sites in other actin isoforms and several actin-binding proteins. In vitro polymerization assays with actin purified from ate1-null cells revealed a diminished polymerization capacity in comparison to wild-type actin. Our data indicate that arginylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of cytoskeletal activities. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E18-02-0132 SN - 1059-1524 SN - 1939-4586 VL - 30 IS - 4 SP - 453 EP - 466 PB - American Society for Cell Biology CY - Bethesda ER - TY - GEN A1 - Ozcelikay, Goksu A1 - Kurbanoglu, Sevinc A1 - Zhang, Xiaorong A1 - Söz, Çağla Kosak A1 - Wollenberger, Ulla A1 - Ozkan, Sibel A. A1 - Yarman, Aysu A1 - Scheller, Frieder W. T1 - Electrochemical MIP Sensor for Butyrylcholinesterase T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) mimic the binding sites of antibodies by substituting the amino acid-scaffold of proteins by synthetic polymers. In this work, the first MIP for the recognition of the diagnostically relevant enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) is presented. The MIP was prepared using electropolymerization of the functional monomer o-phenylenediamine and was deposited as a thin film on a glassy carbon electrode by oxidative potentiodynamic polymerization. Rebinding and removal of the template were detected by cyclic voltammetry using ferricyanide as a redox marker. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity of BuChE rebound to the MIP was measured via the anodic oxidation of thiocholine, the reaction product of butyrylthiocholine. The response was linear between 50 pM and 2 nM concentrations of BuChE with a detection limit of 14.7 pM. In addition to the high sensitivity for BuChE, the sensor responded towards pseudo-irreversible inhibitors in the lower mM range. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 1138 KW - molecularly imprinted polymers KW - biomimetic sensors KW - butyrylcholinesterase KW - o-phenylenediamine KW - rivastigmine Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-501854 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 1138 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hausmann, Christian A1 - Zoschke, Christian A1 - Wolff, Christopher A1 - Darvin, Maxim E. A1 - Sochorova, Michaela A1 - Kovacik, Andrej A1 - Wanjiku, Barbara A1 - Schumacher, Fabian A1 - Tigges, Julia A1 - Kleuser, Burkhard A1 - Lademann, Juergen A1 - Fritsche, Ellen A1 - Vavrova, Katerina A1 - Ma, Nan A1 - Schaefer-Korting, Monika T1 - Fibroblast origin shapes tissue homeostasis, epidermal differentiation, and drug uptake JF - Scientific reports N2 - Preclinical studies frequently lack predictive value for human conditions. Human cell-based disease models that reflect patient heterogeneity may reduce the high failure rates of preclinical research. Herein, we investigated the impact of primary cell age and body region on skin homeostasis, epidermal differentiation, and drug uptake. Fibroblasts derived from the breast skin of female 20- to 30-yearolds or 60- to 70-year-olds and fibroblasts from juvenile foreskin (<10 years old) were compared in cell monolayers and in reconstructed human skin (RHS). RHS containing aged fibroblasts differed from its juvenile and adult counterparts, especially in terms of the dermal extracellular matrix composition and interleukin-6 levels. The site from which the fibroblasts were derived appeared to alter fibroblast-keratinocyte crosstalk by affecting, among other things, the levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Consequently, the epidermal expression of filaggrin and e-cadherin was increased in RHS containing breast skin fibroblasts, as were lipid levels in the stratum corneum. In conclusion, the region of the body from which fibroblasts are derived appears to affect the epidermal differentiation of RHS, while the age of the fibroblast donors determines the expression of proteins involved in wound healing. Emulating patient heterogeneity in preclinical studies might improve the treatment of age-related skin conditions. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39770-6 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 9 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Demal, Till Joscha A1 - Heise, Melina A1 - Reiz, Benedikt A1 - Dogra, Deepika A1 - Braenne, Ingrid A1 - Reichenspurner, Hermann A1 - Männer, Jörg A1 - Aherrahrou, Zouhair A1 - Schunkert, Heribert A1 - Erdmann, Jeanette A1 - Abdelilah-Seyfried, Salim T1 - A familial congenital heart disease with a possible multigenic origin involving a mutation in BMPR1A JF - Scientific reports N2 - The genetics of many congenital heart diseases (CHDs) can only unsatisfactorily be explained by known chromosomal or Mendelian syndromes. Here, we present sequencing data of a family with a potentially multigenic origin of CHD. Twelve of nineteen family members carry a familial mutation [NM_004329.2:c.1328 G > A (p.R443H)] which encodes a predicted deleterious variant of BMPR1A. This mutation co-segregates with a linkage region on chromosome 1 that associates with the emergence of severe CHDs including Ebstein’s anomaly, atrioventricular septal defect, and others. We show that the continuous overexpression of the zebrafish homologous mutation bmpr1aap.R438H within endocardium causes a reduced AV valve area, a downregulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling at the AV canal, and growth of additional tissue mass in adult zebrafish hearts. This finding opens the possibility of testing genetic interactions between BMPR1A and other candidate genes within linkage region 1 which may provide a first step towards unravelling more complex genetic patterns in cardiovascular disease aetiology. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39648-7 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 9 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sedaghatmehr, Mastoureh A1 - Thirumalaikumar, Venkatesh P. A1 - Kamranfar, Iman A1 - Marmagne, Anne A1 - Masclaux-Daubresse, Celine A1 - Balazadeh, Salma T1 - A regulatory role of autophagy for resetting the memory of heat stress in plants JF - Plant, cell & environment : cell physiology, whole-plant physiology, community physiology N2 - As sessile life forms, plants are repeatedly confronted with adverse environmental conditions, which can impair development, growth, and reproduction. During evolution, plants have established mechanisms to orchestrate the delicate balance between growth and stress tolerance, to reset cellular biochemistry once stress vanishes, or to keep a molecular memory, which enables survival of a harsher stress that may arise later. Although there are several examples of memory in diverse plants species, the molecular machinery underlying the formation, duration, and resetting of stress memories is largely unknown so far. We report here that autophagy, a central self-degradative process, assists in resetting cellular memory of heat stress (HS) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Autophagy is induced by thermopriming (moderate HS) and, intriguingly, remains high long after stress termination. We demonstrate that autophagy mediates the specific degradation of heat shock proteins at later stages of the thermorecovery phase leading to the accumulation of protein aggregates after the second HS and a compromised heat tolerance. Autophagy mutants retain heat shock proteins longer than wild type and concomitantly display improved thermomemory. Our findings reveal a novel regulatory mechanism for HS memory in plants. KW - Arabidopsis KW - heat shock proteins KW - priming KW - resetting Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13426 SN - 0140-7791 SN - 1365-3040 VL - 42 IS - 3 SP - 1054 EP - 1064 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Küken, Anika A1 - Nikoloski, Zoran T1 - Computational Approaches to Design and Test Plant Synthetic Metabolic Pathways JF - Plant physiology : an international journal devoted to physiology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics and environmental biology of plants N2 - Successfully designed and implemented plant-specific synthetic metabolic pathways hold promise to increase crop yield and nutritional value. Advances in synthetic biology have already demonstrated the capacity to design artificial biological pathways whose behavior can be predicted and controlled in microbial systems. However, the transfer of these advances to model plants and crops faces the lack of characterization of plant cellular pathways and increased complexity due to compartmentalization and multicellularity. Modern computational developments provide the means to test the feasibility of plant synthetic metabolic pathways despite gaps in the accumulated knowledge of plant metabolism. Here, we provide a succinct systematic review of optimization-based and retrobiosynthesis approaches that can be used to design and in silico test synthetic metabolic pathways in large-scale plant context-specific metabolic models. In addition, by surveying the existing case studies, we highlight the challenges that these approaches face when applied to plants. Emphasis is placed on understanding the effect that metabolic designs can have on native metabolism, particularly with respect to metabolite concentrations and thermodynamics of biochemical reactions. In addition, we discuss the computational developments that may help to transform the identified challenges into opportunities for plant synthetic biology. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.18.01273 SN - 0032-0889 SN - 1532-2548 VL - 179 IS - 3 SP - 894 EP - 906 PB - American Society of Plant Physiologists CY - Rockville ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gendre, Delphine A1 - Baral, Anirban A1 - Dang, Xie A1 - Esnay, Nicolas A1 - Boutte, Yohann A1 - Stanislas, Thomas A1 - Vain, Thomas A1 - Claverol, Stephane A1 - Gustavsson, Anna A1 - Lin, Deshu A1 - Grebe, Markus A1 - Bhalerao, Rishikesh P. T1 - Rho-of-plant activated root hair formation requires Arabidopsis YIP4a/b gene function JF - Development : Company of Biologists N2 - Root hairs are protrusions from root epidermal cells with crucial roles in plant soil interactions. Although much is known about patterning, polarity and tip growth of root hairs, contributions of membrane trafficking to hair initiation remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the trans-Golgi network-localized YPT-INTERACTING PROTEIN 4a and YPT-INTERACTING PROTEIN 4b (YIP4a/b) contribute to activation and plasma membrane accumulation of Rho-of-plant (ROP) small GTPases during hair initiation, identifying YIP4a/b as central trafficking components in ROP-dependent root hair formation. KW - ROP KW - YIP KW - Root hair KW - Secretion KW - Trans-Golgi network Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.168559 SN - 0950-1991 SN - 1477-9129 VL - 146 IS - 5 PB - The Company of Biologists CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schirmer, Annika A1 - Herde, Antje A1 - Eccard, Jana A1 - Dammhahn, Melanie T1 - Individuals in space: personality-dependent space use, movement and microhabitat use facilitate individual spatial niche specialization JF - Oecologia N2 - Personality-dependent space use and movement might be crucially influencing ecological interactions, giving way to individual niche specialization. This new approach challenges classical niche theory with potentially great ecological consequences, but so far has only scarce empirical support. Here, we investigated if and how consistent inter-individual differences in behavior predict space use and movement patterns in free-ranging bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and thereby contribute to individual niche specialization. Individuals were captured and marked from three different subpopulations in North-East Germany. Inter-individual differences in boldness and exploration were quantified via repeated standardized tests directly in the field after capture. Subsequently, space use and movement patterns of a representative sample of the behavioral variation (n=21 individuals) were monitored via automated VHF telemetry for a period of four days, yielding on average 384 locations per individual. Bolder individuals occupied larger home ranges and core areas (estimated via kernel density analyses), moved longer distances, spatially overlapped with fewer conspecifics and preferred different microhabitats based on vegetation cover compared to shyer individuals. We found evidence for personality-dependent space use, movement, and occupation of individual spatial niches in bank voles. Thus, besides dietary niche specialization also spatial dimensions of ecological niches vary among individuals within populations, which may have important consequences for ecological interactions within- and between species. KW - Ecological niche KW - Inter-individual differences KW - Intraspecific competition KW - Movement ecology KW - Small mammal Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-019-04365-5 SN - 0029-8549 SN - 1432-1939 VL - 189 IS - 3 SP - 647 EP - 660 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hoffmann, Stefan A. A1 - Hao, Nan A1 - Shearwin, Keith E. A1 - Arndt, Katja Maren T1 - Characterizing transcriptional interference between converging genes in bacteria JF - ACS synthetic biology N2 - Antisense transcription is common in naturally occurring genomes and is increasingly being used in synthetic genetic circuitry as a tool for gene expression control. Mutual influence on the expression of convergent genes can be mediated by antisense RNA effects and by transcriptional interference (TI). We aimed to quantitatively characterize long-range TI between convergent genes with untranslated intergenic spacers of increasing length. After controlling for antisense RNA-mediated effects, which contributed about half of the observed total expression inhibition, the TI effect was modeled. To achieve model convergence, RNA polymerase processivity and collision resistance were assumed to be modulated by ribosome trailing. The spontaneous transcription termination rate in regions of untranslated DNA was experimentally determined. Our modeling suggests that an elongating RNA polymerase with a trailing ribosome is about 13 times more likely to resume transcription than an opposing RNA polymerase without a trailing ribosome, upon head-on collision of the two. KW - gene regulation KW - antisense transcription KW - transcriptional interference KW - mathematical modeling KW - Escherichia coli Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.8b00477 SN - 2161-5063 VL - 8 IS - 3 SP - 466 EP - 473 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Machatschek, Rainhard Gabriel A1 - Schöne, Anne-Christin A1 - Raschdorf, Elisa A1 - Ihlenburg, Ramona A1 - Schulz, Burkhard A1 - Lendlein, Andreas T1 - Interfacial properties of morpholine-2,5-dione-based oligodepsipeptides and multiblock copolymers JF - MRS Communications N2 - Oligodepsipeptides (ODPs) with alternating amide and ester bonds prepared by ring-opening polymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione derivatives are promising matrices for drug delivery systems and building blocks for multifunctional biomaterials. Here, we elucidate the behavior of three telechelic ODPs and one multiblock copolymer containing ODP blocks at the air-water interface. Surprisingly, whereas the oligomers and multiblock copolymers crystallize in bulk, no crystallization is observed at the air-water interface. Furthermore, polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy is used to elucidate hydrogen bonding and secondary structures in ODP monolayers. The results will direct the development of the next ODP-based biomaterial generation with tailored properties for highly sophisticated applications. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2019.21 SN - 2159-6859 SN - 2159-6867 VL - 9 IS - 1 SP - 170 EP - 180 PB - Cambridge Univ. Press CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hermanussen, Michael A1 - Pulungan, Aman B. A1 - Scheffler, Christiane A1 - Mumm, Rebekka A1 - Rogol, Alan D. A1 - Pop, Raluca A1 - Swanson, James M. A1 - Sonuga-Barke, Edmund A1 - Reimann, Anna A1 - Siniarska-Wolanska, Anna A1 - Musalek, Martin A1 - Bogin, Barry A1 - Boldsen, Jesper L. A1 - Tassenaar, (Vincent) A1 - Groth, Detlef A1 - Liu, Yuk-Chien A1 - Meigen, Christof A1 - Quanjer, Bjorn A1 - Thompson, Kristina A1 - Ozer, Baak Koca A1 - Bryl, Ewa A1 - Mamrot, Paula A1 - Hanc, Tomasz A1 - Koziel, Slawomir A1 - Soderhall, Jani A1 - Gomula, Aleksandra A1 - Banik, Sudip Datta A1 - Roelants, Mathieu A1 - Veldre, Gudrun A1 - Lieberman, Leslie Sue A1 - Sievert, Lynnette Leidy T1 - Meeting Reports BT - The Role of Beliefs and Perception on Body Size. Proceedings of the 26th Aschauer Soiree, Held at Aschauhof, Altenhof, Germany, May 26th, 2018 JF - Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews N2 - Thirty-one scientists met at Aschauhof, Germany to discuss the role of beliefs and self-perception on body size. In view of apparent growth stimulatory effects of dominance within the social group that is observed in social mammals, they discussed various aspects of competitive growth strategies and growth adjustments. Presentations included new data from Indonesia, a cohort-based prospective study from Merida, Yucatan, and evidence from recent meta-analyses and patterns of growth in the socially deprived. The effects of stress experienced during pregnancy and adverse childhood events were discussed, as well as obesity in school children, with emphasis on problems when using z-scores in extremely obese children. Aspects were presented on body image in African-American women, and body perception and the disappointments of menopause in view of feelings of attractiveness in different populations. Secular trends in height were presented, including short views on so called 'racial types' vs bio-plasticity, and historic data on early-life nutritional status and later-life socioeconomic outcomes during the Dutch potato famine. New tools for describing body proportions in patients with variable degrees of phocomelia were presented along with electronic growth charts. Bio-statisticians discussed the influence of randomness, community and network structures, and presented novel tools and methods for analyzing social network data. KW - Body size KW - Social group KW - Social network KW - Body perception KW - Competitive growth strategies KW - Growth adjustment Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.17458/per.vol16.2019.hps.mr.26achauersoiree SN - 1565-4753 VL - 16 IS - 3 SP - 383 EP - 400 PB - Medical Media CY - Netanya ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Middeldorp, Christel M. A1 - Mahajan, Anubha A1 - Horikoshi, Momoko A1 - Robertson, Neil R. A1 - Beaumont, Robin N. A1 - Bradfield, Jonathan P. A1 - Bustamante, Mariona A1 - Cousminer, Diana L. A1 - Day, Felix R. A1 - De Silva, N. Maneka A1 - Guxens, Monica A1 - Mook-Kanamori, Dennis O. A1 - St Pourcain, Beate A1 - Warrington, Nicole M. A1 - Adair, Linda S. A1 - Ahlqvist, Emma A1 - Ahluwalia, Tarunveer Singh A1 - Almgren, Peter A1 - Ang, Wei A1 - Atalay, Mustafa A1 - Auvinen, Juha A1 - Bartels, Meike A1 - Beckmann, Jacques S. A1 - Bilbao, Jose Ramon A1 - Bond, Tom A1 - Borja, Judith B. A1 - Cavadino, Alana A1 - Charoen, Pimphen A1 - Chen, Zhanghua A1 - Coin, Lachlan A1 - Cooper, Cyrus A1 - Curtin, John A. A1 - Custovic, Adnan A1 - Das, Shikta A1 - Davies, Gareth E. A1 - Dedoussis, George V. A1 - Duijts, Liesbeth A1 - Eastwood, Peter R. A1 - Eliasen, Anders U. A1 - Elliott, Paul A1 - Eriksson, Johan G. A1 - Estivill, Xavier A1 - Fadista, Joao A1 - Fedko, Iryna O. A1 - Frayling, Timothy M. A1 - Gaillard, Romy A1 - Gauderman, W. James A1 - Geller, Frank A1 - Gilliland, Frank A1 - Gilsanz, Vincente A1 - Granell, Raquel A1 - Grarup, Niels A1 - Groop, Leif A1 - Hadley, Dexter A1 - Hakonarson, Hakon A1 - Hansen, Torben A1 - Hartman, Catharina A. A1 - Hattersley, Andrew T. A1 - Hayes, M. Geoffrey A1 - Hebebrand, Johannes A1 - Heinrich, Joachim A1 - Helgeland, Oyvind A1 - Henders, Anjali K. A1 - Henderson, John A1 - Henriksen, Tine B. A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N. A1 - Hivert, Marie-France A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Holloway, John W. A1 - Holt, Patrick A1 - Hottenga, Jouke-Jan A1 - Hypponen, Elina A1 - Iniguez, Carmen A1 - Johansson, Stefan A1 - Jugessur, Astanand A1 - Kahonen, Mika A1 - Kalkwarf, Heidi J. A1 - Kaprio, Jaakko A1 - Karhunen, Ville A1 - Kemp, John P. A1 - Kerkhof, Marjan A1 - Koppelman, Gerard H. A1 - Korner, Antje A1 - Kotecha, Sailesh A1 - Kreiner-Moller, Eskil A1 - Kulohoma, Benard A1 - Kumar, Ashish A1 - Kutalik, Zoltan A1 - Lahti, Jari A1 - Lappe, Joan M. A1 - Larsson, Henrik A1 - Lehtimaki, Terho A1 - Lewin, Alexandra M. A1 - Li, Jin A1 - Lichtenstein, Paul A1 - Lindgren, Cecilia M. A1 - Lindi, Virpi A1 - Linneberg, Allan A1 - Liu, Xueping A1 - Liu, Jun A1 - Lowe, William L. A1 - Lundstrom, Sebastian A1 - Lyytikainen, Leo-Pekka A1 - Ma, Ronald C. W. A1 - Mace, Aurelien A1 - Magi, Reedik A1 - Magnus, Per A1 - Mamun, Abdullah A. A1 - Mannikko, Minna A1 - Martin, Nicholas G. A1 - Mbarek, Hamdi A1 - McCarthy, Nina S. A1 - Medland, Sarah E. A1 - Melbye, Mads A1 - Melen, Erik A1 - Mohlke, Karen L. A1 - Monnereau, Claire A1 - Morgen, Camilla S. A1 - Morris, Andrew P. A1 - Murray, Jeffrey C. A1 - Myhre, Ronny A1 - Najman, Jackob M. A1 - Nivard, Michel G. A1 - Nohr, Ellen A. A1 - Nolte, Ilja M. A1 - Ntalla, Ioanna A1 - Oberfield, Sharon E. A1 - Oken, Emily A1 - Oldehinkel, Albertine J. A1 - Pahkala, Katja A1 - Palviainen, Teemu A1 - Panoutsopoulou, Kalliope A1 - Pedersen, Oluf A1 - Pennell, Craig E. A1 - Pershagen, Goran A1 - Pitkanen, Niina A1 - Plomin, Robert A1 - Power, Christine A1 - Prasad, Rashmi B. A1 - Prokopenko, Inga A1 - Pulkkinen, Lea A1 - Raikkonen, Katri A1 - Raitakari, Olli T. A1 - Reynolds, Rebecca M. A1 - Richmond, Rebecca C. A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Rodriguez, Alina A1 - Rose, Richard J. A1 - Salem, Rany A1 - Santa-Marina, Loreto A1 - Saw, Seang-Mei A1 - Schnurr, Theresia M. A1 - Scott, James G. A1 - Selzam, Saskia A1 - Shepherd, John A. A1 - Simpson, Angela A1 - Skotte, Line A1 - Sleiman, Patrick M. A. A1 - Snieder, Harold A1 - Sorensen, Thorkild I. A. A1 - Standl, Marie A1 - Steegers, Eric A. P. A1 - Strachan, David P. A1 - Straker, Leon A1 - Strandberg, Timo A1 - Taylor, Michelle A1 - Teo, Yik-Ying A1 - Thiering, Elisabeth A1 - Torrent, Maties A1 - Tyrrell, Jessica A1 - Uitterlinden, Andre G. A1 - van Beijsterveldt, Toos A1 - van der Most, Peter J. A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M. A1 - Viikari, Jorma A1 - Vilor-Tejedor, Natalia A1 - Vogelezang, Suzanne A1 - Vonk, Judith M. A1 - Vrijkotte, Tanja G. M. A1 - Vuoksimaa, Eero A1 - Wang, Carol A. A1 - Watkins, William J. A1 - Wichmann, H-Erich A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Williams, Gail M. A1 - Wilson, James F. A1 - Wray, Naomi R. A1 - Xu, Shujing A1 - Xu, Cheng-Jian A1 - Yaghootkar, Hanieh A1 - Yi, Lu A1 - Zafarmand, Mohammad Hadi A1 - Zeggini, Eleftheria A1 - Zemel, Babette S. A1 - Hinney, Anke A1 - Lakka, Timo A. A1 - Whitehouse, Andrew J. O. A1 - Sunyer, Jordi A1 - Widen, Elisabeth E. A1 - Feenstra, Bjarke A1 - Sebert, Sylvain A1 - Jacobsson, Bo A1 - Njolstad, Pal R. A1 - Stoltenberg, Camilla A1 - Smith, George Davey A1 - Lawlor, Debbie A. A1 - Paternoster, Lavinia A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J. A1 - Ong, Ken K. A1 - Bisgaard, Hans A1 - Bonnelykke, Klaus A1 - Jaddoe, Vincent W. V. A1 - Tiemeier, Henning A1 - Jarvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - Evans, David M. A1 - Perry, John R. B. A1 - Grant, Struan F. A. A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I. A1 - Freathy, Rachel M. A1 - McCarthy, Mark I. A1 - Felix, Janine F. T1 - The Early Growth Genetics (EGG) and EArly Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology (EAGLE) consortia BT - design, results and future prospects JF - European journal of epidemiology N2 - The impact of many unfavorable childhood traits or diseases, such as low birth weight and mental disorders, is not limited to childhood and adolescence, as they are also associated with poor outcomes in adulthood, such as cardiovascular disease. Insight into the genetic etiology of childhood and adolescent traits and disorders may therefore provide new perspectives, not only on how to improve wellbeing during childhood, but also how to prevent later adverse outcomes. To achieve the sample sizes required for genetic research, the Early Growth Genetics (EGG) and EArly Genetics and Lifecourse Epidemiology (EAGLE) consortia were established. The majority of the participating cohorts are longitudinal population-based samples, but other cohorts with data on early childhood phenotypes are also involved. Cohorts often have a broad focus and collect(ed) data on various somatic and psychiatric traits as well as environmental factors. Genetic variants have been successfully identified for multiple traits, for example, birth weight, atopic dermatitis, childhood BMI, allergic sensitization, and pubertal growth. Furthermore, the results have shown that genetic factors also partly underlie the association with adult traits. As sample sizes are still increasing, it is expected that future analyses will identify additional variants. This, in combination with the development of innovative statistical methods, will provide detailed insight on the mechanisms underlying the transition from childhood to adult disorders. Both consortia welcome new collaborations. Policies and contact details are available from the corresponding authors of this manuscript and/or the consortium websites. KW - Genetics KW - Consortium KW - Childhood traits and disorders KW - Longitudinal Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-019-00502-9 SN - 0393-2990 SN - 1573-7284 VL - 34 IS - 3 SP - 279 EP - 300 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Steger, Kristin A1 - Kim, Amy Taeyen A1 - Ganzert, Lars A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Smart, David R. T1 - Floodplain soil and its bacterial composition are strongly affected by depth JF - FEMS microbiology ecology N2 - We studied bacterial abundance and community structure of five soil cores using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Shifts in the soil bacterial composition were more pronounced within a vertical profile than across the landscape. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) concentrations decreased exponentially with soil depth and revealed a buried carbon-rich horizon between 0.8 and 1.3 m across all soil cores. This buried horizon was phylogenetically similar to its surrounding subsoils supporting the idea that the type of carbon, not necessarily the amount of carbon was driving the apparent similarities. In contrast to other studies, Nitrospirae was one of our major phyla with relatively high abundances throughout the soil profile except for the surface soil. Although depth is the major driver shaping soil bacterial community structure, positive correlations with SOC and N concentrations, however, were revealed with the bacterial abundance of Acidobacteria, one of the major, and Gemmatimonadetes, one of the minor phyla in our study. Our study showed that bacterial diversity in soils below 2.0 m can be still as high if not higher than in the above laying subsurface soil suggesting that various bacteria throughout the soil profile influence major biogeochemical processes in floodplain soils. KW - 16S rRNA gene sequencing KW - alluvial soil KW - buried horizon KW - Nitrospirae KW - soil bacterial diversity KW - SOC Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiz014 SN - 0168-6496 SN - 1574-6941 VL - 95 IS - 3 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Diekmann, Martin A1 - Andres, Christian A1 - Becker, Thomas A1 - Bennie, Jonathan A1 - Blueml, Volker A1 - Bullock, James M. A1 - Culmsee, Heike A1 - Fanigliulo, Miriam A1 - Hahn, Annett A1 - Heinken, Thilo A1 - Leuschner, Christoph A1 - Luka, Stefanie A1 - Meissner, Justus A1 - Müller, Josef A1 - Newton, Adrian A1 - Peppler-Lisbach, Cord A1 - Rosenthal, Gert A1 - van den Berg, Leon J. L. A1 - Vergeer, Philippine A1 - Wesche, Karsten T1 - Patterns of long-term vegetation change vary between different types of semi-natural grasslands in Western and Central Europe JF - Journal of vegetation science N2 - Questions Has plant species richness in semi-natural grasslands changed over recent decades? Do the temporal trends of habitat specialists differ from those of habitat generalists? Has there been a homogenization of the grassland vegetation? Location Different regions in Germany and the UK. Methods We conducted a formal meta-analysis of re-survey vegetation studies of semi-natural grasslands. In total, 23 data sets were compiled, spanning up to 75 years between the surveys, including 13 data sets from wet grasslands, six from dry grasslands and four from other grassland types. Edaphic conditions were assessed using mean Ellenberg indicator values for soil moisture, nitrogen and pH. Changes in species richness and environmental variables were evaluated using response ratios. Results In most wet grasslands, total species richness declined over time, while habitat specialists almost completely vanished. The number of species losses increased with increasing time between the surveys and were associated with a strong decrease in soil moisture and higher soil nutrient contents. Wet grasslands in nature reserves showed no such changes or even opposite trends. In dry grasslands and other grassland types, total species richness did not consistently change, but the number or proportions of habitat specialists declined. There were also considerable changes in species composition, especially in wet grasslands that often have been converted into intensively managed, highly productive meadows or pastures. We did not find a general homogenization of the vegetation in any of the grassland types. Conclusions The results document the widespread deterioration of semi-natural grasslands, especially of those types that can easily be transformed to high production grasslands. The main causes for the loss of grassland specialists are changed management in combination with increased fertilization and nitrogen deposition. Dry grasslands are most resistant to change, but also show a long-term trend towards an increase in more mesotrophic species. KW - dry grasslands KW - fragmentation KW - homogenization KW - management KW - meta-analysis KW - nitrogen deposition KW - quasi-permanent plot KW - re-survey KW - species richness KW - wet grasslands Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12727 SN - 1100-9233 SN - 1654-1103 VL - 30 IS - 2 SP - 187 EP - 202 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schlaad, Helmut A1 - Luedecke, Nils T1 - Bio-sourced chelating poly(2-oxazoline)s T2 - Abstracts of papers : joint conference / The Chemical Institute of Cananda, CIC, American Chemical Society, ACS Y1 - 2019 SN - 0065-7727 VL - 257 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sowemimo, Oluwakemi T. A1 - Knox-Brown, Patrick A1 - Borcherds, Wade A1 - Rindfleisch, Tobias A1 - Thalhammer, Anja A1 - Daughdrill, Gary W. T1 - Conserved Glycines Control Disorder and Function in the Cold-Regulated Protein, COR15A JF - Biomolecules N2 - Cold-regulated (COR) 15A is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) from Arabidopsis thaliana important for freezing tolerance. During freezing-induced cellular dehydration, COR15A transitions from a disordered to mostly alpha-helical structure. We tested whether mutations that increase the helicity of COR15A also increase its protective function. Conserved glycine residues were identified and mutated to alanine. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify residue-specific changes in helicity for wildtype (WT) COR15A and the mutants. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to monitor the coil-helix transition in response to increasing concentrations of trifluoroethanol (TFE) and ethylene glycol. The impact of the COR15A mutants on the stability of model membranes during a freeze-thaw cycle was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The results of these experiments showed the mutants had a higher content of alpha-helical structure and the increased alpha-helicity improved membrane stabilization during freezing. Comparison of the TFE- and ethylene glycol-induced coil-helix transitions support our conclusion that increasing the transient helicity of COR15A in aqueous solution increases its ability to stabilize membranes during freezing. Altogether, our results suggest the conserved glycine residues are important for maintaining the disordered structure of COR15A but are also compatible with the formation of alpha-helical structure during freezing induced dehydration. KW - COR15A KW - Late embryogenesis abundant KW - intrinsically disordered proteins KW - Trifluoroethanol KW - Nuclear magnetic resonance Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9030084 SN - 2218-273X VL - 9 IS - 3 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bubner, Ben A1 - Buchheit, Ramona A1 - Friedrich, Frank A1 - Kummer, Volker A1 - Scholler, Markus T1 - Species identification of European forest pathogens of the genus Milesina (Pucciniales) using urediniospore morphology and molecular barcoding including M. woodwardiana sp. nov. JF - MycoKeys N2 - Species of rust fungi of the genus Milesina (Pucciiastraceae, Pucciniales) are distributed mainly in northern temperate regions. They host-alternate between needles of fir (Abies spp.) and fronds of ferns (species of Polypodiales). Milesina species are distinguished based on host taxonomy and urediniospore morphology. In this study, 12 species of Milesina from Europe were revised. Specimens were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy for urediniospore morphology with a focus on visualising germ pores (number, size and position) and echinulation. In addition, barcode loci (ITS, nad6, 28S) were used for species delimitation and for molecular phylogenetic analyses. Barcodes of 72 Milesina specimens were provided, including 11 of the 12 species. Whereas urediniospore morphology features were sufficient to distinguish all 12 Milesina species except for 2 (M. blechni and M. kriegeriana), ITS sequences separated only 4 of 11 species. Sequencing with 28S and nad6 did not improve species resolution. Phylogenetic analysis, however, revealed four phylogenetic groups within Milesina that also correlate with specific urediniospore characters (germ pore number and position and echinulation). These groups are proposed as new sections within Milesina (sections Milesina, Vogesiacae M. Scholler & Bubner, sect. nov., Scolopendriorum M. Scholler & Bubner, sect. nov. and Carpaticae M. Scholler & Bubner, sect. nov.). In addition, Milesina woodwardiana Buchheit & M. Scholler, sp. nov. on Woodwardia radicans, a member of the type section Milesina, is newly described. An identification key for European Milesina species, based on urediniospore features, is provided. KW - Abies alba KW - Polypodiales KW - GBOL KW - germ pores KW - host alternation KW - Uredinopsis KW - Europe Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.48.30350 SN - 1314-4057 SN - 1314-4049 IS - 48 SP - 1 EP - 40 PB - Pensoft Publishers CY - Sofia ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Duffus, Benjamin R. A1 - Hartmann, Tobias A1 - Teutloff, Christian A1 - Leimkühler, Silke T1 - Refining catalytic insights toward the chemical mechanism of R. capsulatus formate dehydrogenase via EPR spectroscopy T2 - Abstracts of papers : joint conference / The Chemical Institute of Cananda, CIC, American Chemical Society, ACS Y1 - 2019 SN - 0065-7727 VL - 257 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dong, Yang A1 - Jantzen, Friederike A1 - Stacey, Nicola A1 - Langowski, Lukasz A1 - Moubayidin, Laila A1 - Simura, Jan A1 - Ljung, Karin A1 - Ostergaard, Lars T1 - Regulatory Diversification of INDEHISCENT in the Capsella Genus Directs Variation in Fruit Morphology JF - Current biology N2 - Evolution of gene-regulatory sequences is considered the primary driver of morphological variation [1-3]. In animals, the diversity of body plans between distantly related phyla is due to the differential expression patterns of conserved "toolkit' genes [4]. In plants, variation in expression domains similarly underlie most of the reported diversity of organ shape both in natural evolution and in the domestication of crops [5-9]. The heart-shaped fruit from members of the Capsella genus is a morphological novelty that has evolved after Capsella diverged from Arabidopsis similar to 8 mya [10]. Comparative studies of fruit growth in Capsella and Arabidopsis revealed that the difference in shape is caused by local control of anisotropic growth [11]. Here, we show that sequence variation in regulatory domains of the fruit-tissue identity gene, INDEHISCENT (IND), is responsible for expansion of its expression domain in the heart-shaped fruits from Capsella rubella. We demonstrate that expression of this CrIND gene in the apical part of the valves in Capsella contributes to the heart-shaped appearance. While studies on morphological diversity have revealed the importance of cis-regulatory sequence evolution, few examples exist where the downstream effects of such variation have been characterized in detail. We describe here how CrIND exerts its function on Capsella fruit shape by binding sequence elements of auxin biosynthesis genes to activate their expression and ensure auxin accumulation into highly localized maxima in the fruit valves. Thus, our data provide a direct link between changes in expression pattern and altered hormone homeostasis in the evolution of morphological novelty. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.01.057 SN - 0960-9822 SN - 1879-0445 VL - 29 IS - 6 SP - 1038 EP - 1046 PB - Cell Press CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kruse, Stefan A1 - Gerdes, Alexander A1 - Kath, Nadja J. A1 - Epp, Laura Saskia A1 - Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen Rosemarie A1 - Pestryakova, Luidmila Agafyevna A1 - Herzschuh, Ulrike T1 - Dispersal distances and migration rates at the arctic treeline in Siberia - a genetic and simulation-based study JF - Biogeosciences N2 - A strong temperature increase in the Arctic is expected to lead to latitudinal treeline shift. This tundra-taiga turnover would cause a positive vegetation-climate feedback due to albedo decrease. However, reliable estimates of tree migration rates are currently lacking due to the complex processes involved in forest establishment, which depend strongly on seed dispersal. We aim to fill this gap using LAVESI, an individual-based and spatially explicit Larix vegetation simulator. LAVESI was designed to simulate plots within homogeneous forests. Here, we improve the implementation of the seed dispersal function via field-based investigations. We inferred the effective seed dispersal distances of a typical open-forest stand on the southern Taymyr Peninsula (northern central Siberia) from genetic parentage analysis using eight nuclear microsatellite markers. The parentage analysis gives effective seed dispersal distances (median similar to 10 m) close to the seed parents. A comparison between simulated and observed effective seed dispersal distances reveals an overestimation of recruits close to the releasing tree and a shorter dispersal distance generally. We thus adapted our model and used the newly parameterised version to simulate south-to-north transects; a slow-moving treeline front was revealed. The colonisation of the tundra areas was assisted by occasional long-distance seed dispersal events beyond the treeline area. The treeline (similar to 1 tree ha(-1)) advanced by similar to 1.6 m yr(-1), whereas the forest line (similar to 100 trees ha(-1)) advanced by only similar to 0.6 m yr(-1). We conclude that the treeline in northern central Siberia currently lags behind the current strong warming and will continue to lag in the near future. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1211-2019 SN - 1726-4170 SN - 1726-4189 VL - 16 IS - 6 SP - 1211 EP - 1224 PB - Copernicus CY - Göttingen ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Radchuk, Viktoriia A1 - De Laender, Frederik A1 - Cabral, Juliano Sarmento A1 - Boulangeat, Isabelle A1 - Crawford, Michael Scott A1 - Bohn, Friedrich A1 - De Raedt, Jonathan A1 - Scherer, Cedric A1 - Svenning, Jens-Christian A1 - Thonicke, Kirsten A1 - Schurr, Frank M. A1 - Grimm, Volker A1 - Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie T1 - The dimensionality of stability depends on disturbance type JF - Ecology letters N2 - Ecosystems respond in various ways to disturbances. Quantifying ecological stability therefore requires inspecting multiple stability properties, such as resistance, recovery, persistence and invariability. Correlations among these properties can reduce the dimensionality of stability, simplifying the study of environmental effects on ecosystems. A key question is how the kind of disturbance affects these correlations. We here investigated the effect of three disturbance types (random, species-specific, local) applied at four intensity levels, on the dimensionality of stability at the population and community level. We used previously parameterized models that represent five natural communities, varying in species richness and the number of trophic levels. We found that disturbance type but not intensity affected the dimensionality of stability and only at the population level. The dimensionality of stability also varied greatly among species and communities. Therefore, studying stability cannot be simplified to using a single metric and multi-dimensional assessments are still to be recommended. KW - Community model KW - disturbance intensity KW - disturbance type KW - extinction KW - individual-based model KW - invariability KW - persistence KW - recovery KW - resistance Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13226 SN - 1461-023X SN - 1461-0248 VL - 22 IS - 4 SP - 674 EP - 684 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weiss, Lina A1 - Schalow, Linda A1 - Jeltsch, Florian A1 - Geissler, Katja T1 - Experimental evidence for root competition effects on community evenness in one of two phytometer species JF - Journal of plant ecology N2 - Aims Plant-plant interactions, being positive or negative, are recognized to be key factors in structuring plant communities. However, it is thought that root competition may be less important than shoot competition due to greater size symmetry belowground. Because direct experimental tests on the importance of root competition are scarce, we aim at elucidating whether root competition may have direct or indirect effects on community structure. Indirect effects may occur by altering the overall size asymmetry of competition through root-shoot competitive interactions. Methods We used a phytometer approach to examine the effects of root, shoot and total competition intensity and importance on evenness of experimental plant communities. Thereby two different phytometer species, Festuca brevipila and Dianthus carthusianorum, were grown in small communities of six grassland species over three levels of light and water availability, interacting with neighbouring shoots, roots, both or not at all. Important Findings We found variation in community evenness to be best explained if root and shoot (but not total) competition were considered. However, the effects were species specific: in Dianthus communities increasing root competition increased plant community evenness, while in Festuca communities shoot competition was the driving force of this evenness response. Competition intensities were influenced by environmental conditions in Dianthus, but not in Festuca phytometer plants. While we found no evidence for root-shoot interactions for neither phytometer species root competition in Dianthus communities led to increased allocation to shoots, thereby increasing the potential ability to perform in size-asymmetric competition for light. Our experiment demonstrates the potential role of root competition in structuring plant communities. KW - plant-plant interactions KW - root and shoot competition KW - intensity vs KW - importance KW - experimental plant communities KW - asymmetry of competition Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rty021 SN - 1752-9921 SN - 1752-993X VL - 12 IS - 2 SP - 281 EP - 291 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jaric, Ivan A1 - Heger, Tina A1 - Monzon, Federico Castro A1 - Jeschke, Jonathan M. A1 - Kowarik, Ingo A1 - McConkey, Kim R. A1 - Pysek, Petr A1 - Sagouis, Alban A1 - Essl, Franz T1 - Crypticity in Biological Invasions JF - Trends in Ecology & Evolution N2 - Ecological effects of alien species can be dramatic, but management and prevention of negative impacts are often hindered by crypticity of the species or their ecological functions. Ecological functions can change dramatically over time, or manifest after long periods of an innocuous presence. Such cryptic processes may lead to an underestimation of long-term impacts and constrain management effectiveness. Here, we present a conceptual framework of crypticity in biological invasions. We identify the underlying mechanisms, provide evidence of their importance, and illustrate this phenomenon with case studies. This framework has potential to improve the recognition of the full risks and impacts of invasive species. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2018.12.008 SN - 0169-5347 SN - 1872-8383 VL - 34 IS - 4 SP - 291 EP - 302 PB - Elsevier CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nunes-Nesi, Adriano A1 - Alseekh, Saleh A1 - de Oliveira Silva, Franklin Magnum A1 - Omranian, Nooshin A1 - Lichtenstein, Gabriel A1 - Mirnezhad, Mohammad A1 - Romero Gonzalez, Roman R. A1 - Sabio y Garcia, Julia A1 - Conte, Mariana A1 - Leiss, Kirsten A. A1 - Klinkhamer, Peter Gerardus Leonardus A1 - Nikoloski, Zoran A1 - Carrari, Fernando A1 - Fernie, Alisdair R. T1 - Identification and characterization of metabolite quantitative trait loci in tomato leaves and comparison with those reported for fruits and seeds JF - Metabolomics N2 - IntroductionTo date, most studies of natural variation and metabolite quantitative trait loci (mQTL) in tomato have focused on fruit metabolism, leaving aside the identification of genomic regions involved in the regulation of leaf metabolism.ObjectiveThis study was conducted to identify leaf mQTL in tomato and to assess the association of leaf metabolites and physiological traits with the metabolite levels from other tissues.MethodsThe analysis of components of leaf metabolism was performed by phenotypying 76 tomato ILs with chromosome segments of the wild species Solanum pennellii in the genetic background of a cultivated tomato (S. lycopersicum) variety M82. The plants were cultivated in two different environments in independent years and samples were harvested from mature leaves of non-flowering plants at the middle of the light period. The non-targeted metabolite profiling was obtained by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS). With the data set obtained in this study and already published metabolomics data from seed and fruit, we performed QTL mapping, heritability and correlation analyses.ResultsChanges in metabolite contents were evident in the ILs that are potentially important with respect to stress responses and plant physiology. By analyzing the obtained data, we identified 42 positive and 76 negative mQTL involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism.ConclusionsOverall, these findings allowed the identification of S. lycopersicum genome regions involved in the regulation of leaf primary carbon and nitrogen metabolism, as well as the association of leaf metabolites with metabolites from seeds and fruits. KW - Metabolite QTL KW - Tomato KW - Leaf metabolism KW - Metabolite network Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-019-1503-8 SN - 1573-3882 SN - 1573-3890 VL - 15 IS - 46 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Batista, Rita A. A1 - Figueiredo, Duarte Dionisio A1 - Santos-Gonzalez, Juan A1 - Köhler, Claudia T1 - Auxin regulates endosperm cellularization in Arabidopsis JF - Genes & Development N2 - The endosperm is an ephemeral tissue that nourishes the developing embryo, similar to the placenta in mammals. In most angiosperms, endosperm development starts as a syncytium, in which nuclear divisions are not followed by cytokinesis. The timing of endosperm cellularization largely varies between species, and the event triggering this transition remains unknown. Here we show that increased auxin biosynthesis in the endosperm prevents its cellularization, leading to seed arrest. Auxin-overproducing seeds phenocopy paternal-excess triploid seeds derived from hybridizations of diploid maternal plants with tetraploid fathers. Concurrently, auxin-related genes are strongly overexpressed in triploid seeds, correlating with increased auxin activity. Reducing auxin biosynthesis and signaling reestablishes endosperm cellularization in triploid seeds and restores their viability, highlighting a causal role of increased auxin in preventing endosperm cellularization. We propose that auxin determines the time of endosperm cellularization, and thereby uncovered a central role of auxin in establishing hybridization barriers in plants. KW - auxin KW - cellularization KW - endosperm KW - hybridization barrier KW - seed development KW - triploid block Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.316554.118 SN - 0890-9369 SN - 1549-5477 VL - 33 IS - 7-8 SP - 466 EP - 476 PB - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press CY - Cold Spring Harbor, NY ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Numberger, Daniela A1 - Riedel, Thomas A1 - McEwen, Gayle A1 - Nübel, Ulrich A1 - Frentrup, Martinique A1 - Schober, Isabel A1 - Bunk, Boyke A1 - Spröer, Cathrin A1 - Overmann, Jörg A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Greenwood, Alex D. T1 - Genomic analysis of three Clostridioides difficile isolates from urban water sources JF - Anaerobe N2 - We investigated inflow of a wastewater treatment plant and sediment of an urban lake for the presence of Clostridioides difficile by cultivation and PCR. Among seven colonies we sequenced the complete genomes of three: two non-toxigenic isolates from wastewater and one toxigenic isolate from the urban lake. For all obtained isolates, a close genomic relationship with human-derived isolates was observed. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - Clostridioides difficile KW - Genomes KW - Sediment KW - Wastewater Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.01.002 SN - 1075-9964 SN - 1095-8274 VL - 56 SP - 22 EP - 26 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scheller, Frieder W. A1 - Zhang, Xiaorong A1 - Yarman, Aysu A1 - Wollenberger, Ulla A1 - Gyurcsányi, Róbert E. T1 - Molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors for biopolymers JF - Current opinion in electrochemistry N2 - Electrochemical synthesis and signal generation dominate among the almost 1200 articles published annually on protein-imprinted polymers. Such polymers can be easily prepared directly on the electrode surface, and the polymer thickness can be precisely adjusted to the size of the target to enable its free exchange. In this architecture, the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer represents only one ‘separation plate’; thus, the selectivity does not reach the values of ‘bulk’ measurements. The binding of target proteins can be detected straightforwardly by their modulating effect on the diffusional permeability of a redox marker through the thin MIP films. However, this generates an ‘overall apparent’ signal, which may include nonspecific interactions in the polymer layer and at the electrode surface. Certain targets, such as enzymes or redox active proteins, enables a more specific direct quantification of their binding to MIPs by in situ determination of the enzyme activity or direct electron transfer, respectively. KW - Electropolymerization KW - Direct electron transfer KW - Redox marker KW - Epitope imprinting KW - Biomarker Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2018.12.005 SN - 2451-9103 VL - 14 SP - 53 EP - 59 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Neukranz, Yannika A1 - Kotter, Annika A1 - Beilschmidt, Lena A1 - Marelja, Zvonimir A1 - Helm, Mark A1 - Graf, Ralph A1 - Leimkühler, Silke T1 - Analysis of the Cellular Roles of MOCS3 Identifies a MOCS3-Independent Localization of NFS1 at the Tips of the Centrosome JF - Biochemistry N2 - The deficiency of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) is an autosomal recessive disease, which leads to the loss of activity of all molybdoenzymes in humans with sulfite oxidase being the essential protein. Moco deficiency generally results in death in early childhood. Moco is a sulfur-containing cofactor synthesized in the cytosol with the sulfur being provided by a sulfur relay system composed of the L-cysteine desulfurase NFS1, MOCS3, and MOCS2A. Human MOCS3 is a dual-function protein that was shown to play an important role in Moco biosynthesis and in the mcm(5)s(2) U thio modifications of nucleosides in cytosolic tRNAs for Lys, Gln, and Glu. In this study, we constructed a homozygous MOCS3 knockout in HEK293T cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The effects caused by the absence of MOCS3 were analyzed in detail. We show that sulfite oxidase activity was almost completely abolished, on the basis of the absence of Moco in these cells. In addition, mcm(5)s(2)U thio-modified tRNAs were not detectable. Because the L-cysteine desulfurase NFS1 was shown to act as a sulfur donor for MOCS3 in the cytosol, we additionally investigated the impact of a MOCS3 knockout on the cellular localization of NFS1. By different methods, we identified a MOCS3-independent novel localization of NFS1 at the centrosome. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.8b01160 SN - 0006-2960 VL - 58 IS - 13 SP - 1786 EP - 1798 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Altintas, Zeynep A1 - Takiden, Aref A1 - Utesch, Tillmann A1 - Mroginski, Maria A. A1 - Schmid, Bianca A1 - Scheller, Frieder W. A1 - Süssmuth, Roderich D. T1 - Integrated approaches toward high-affinity artificial protein binders obtained via computationally simulated epitopes for protein recognition JF - Advanced functional materials N2 - Widely used diagnostic tools make use of antibodies recognizing targeted molecules, but additional techniques are required in order to alleviate the disadvantages of antibodies. Herein, molecular dynamic calculations are performed for the design of high affinity artificial protein binding surfaces for the recognition of neuron specific enolase (NSE), a known cancer biomarker. Computational simulations are employed to identify particularly stabile secondary structure elements. These epitopes are used for the subsequent molecular imprinting, where surface imprinting approach is applied. The molecular imprints generated with the calculated epitopes of greater stability (Cys-Ep1) show better binding properties than those of lower stability (Cys-Ep5). The average binding strength of imprints created with stabile epitopes is found to be around twofold and fourfold higher for the NSE derived peptide and NSE protein, respectively. The recognition of NSE is investigated in a wide concentration range, where high sensitivity (limit of detection (LOD) = 0.5 ng mL(-1)) and affinity (dissociation constant (K-d) = 5.3 x 10(-11)m) are achieved using Cys-Ep1 imprints reflecting the stable structure of the template molecules. This integrated approach employing stability calculations for the identification of stabile epitopes is expected to have a major impact on the future development of high affinity protein capturing binders. KW - artificial protein binders KW - cancer markers KW - computationally simulated epitopes KW - molecular imprinting KW - protein recognition Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201807332 SN - 1616-301X SN - 1616-3028 VL - 29 IS - 15 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yan, Wenhao A1 - Chen, Dijun A1 - Schumacher, Julia A1 - Durantini, Diego A1 - Engelhorn, Julia A1 - Chen, Ming A1 - Carles, Cristel C. A1 - Kaufmann, Kerstin T1 - Dynamic control of enhancer activity drives stage-specific gene expression during flower morphogenesis JF - Nature Communications N2 - Enhancers are critical for developmental stage-specific gene expression, but their dynamic regulation in plants remains poorly understood. Here we compare genome-wide localization of H3K27ac, chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic changes during flower development in Arabidopsis. H3K27ac prevalently marks promoter-proximal regions, suggesting that H3K27ac is not a hallmark for enhancers in Arabidopsis. We provide computational and experimental evidence to confirm that distal DNase. hypersensitive sites are predictive of enhancers. The predicted enhancers are highly stage-specific across flower development, significantly associated with SNPs for flowering-related phenotypes, and conserved across crucifer species. Through the integration of genome-wide transcription factor (TF) binding datasets, we find that floral master regulators and stage-specific TFs are largely enriched at developmentally dynamic enhancers. Finally, we show that enhancer clusters and intronic enhancers significantly associate with stage-specific gene regulation by floral master TFs. Our study provides insights into the functional flexibility of enhancers during plant development, as well as hints to annotate plant enhancers. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09513-2 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 10 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chapman, Eric M. A1 - Lant, Benjamin A1 - Ohashi, Yota A1 - Yu, Bin A1 - Schertzberg, Michael A1 - Go, Christopher A1 - Dogra, Deepika A1 - Koskimaki, Janne A1 - Girard, Romuald A1 - Li, Yan A1 - Fraser, Andrew G. A1 - Awad, Issam A. A1 - Abdelilah-Seyfried, Salim A1 - Gingras, Anne-Claude A1 - Derry, William Brent T1 - A conserved CCM complex promotes apoptosis non-autonomously by regulating zinc homeostasis JF - Nature Communications N2 - Apoptotic death of cells damaged by genotoxic stress requires regulatory input from surrounding tissues. The C. elegans scaffold protein KRI-1, ortholog of mammalian KRIT1/CCM1, permits DNA damage-induced apoptosis of cells in the germline by an unknown cell non-autonomous mechanism. We reveal that KRI-1 exists in a complex with CCM-2 in the intestine to negatively regulate the ERK-5/MAPK pathway. This allows the KLF-3 transcription factor to facilitate expression of the SLC39 zinc transporter gene zipt-2.3, which functions to sequester zinc in the intestine. Ablation of KRI-1 results in reduced zinc sequestration in the intestine, inhibition of IR-induced MPK-1/ERK1 activation, and apoptosis in the germline. Zinc localization is also perturbed in the vasculature of krit1(-/-) zebrafish, and SLC39 zinc transporters are mis-expressed in Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) patient tissues. This study provides new insights into the regulation of apoptosis by cross-tissue communication, and suggests a link between zinc localization and CCM disease. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09829-z SN - 2041-1723 VL - 10 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reschke, Stefan A1 - Duffus, Benjamin R. A1 - Schrapers, Peer A1 - Mebs, Stefan A1 - Teutloff, Christian A1 - Dau, Holger A1 - Haumann, Michael A1 - Leimkühler, Silke T1 - Identification of YdhV as the First Molybdoenzyme Binding a Bis-Mo-MPT Cofactor in Escherichia coli JF - Biochemistry N2 - The oxidoreductase YdhV in Escherichia coli has been predicted to belong to the family of molybdenum/tungsten cofactor (Moco/Wco)-containing enzymes. In this study, we characterized the YdhV protein in detail, which shares amino acid sequence homology with a tungsten-containing benzoyl-CoA reductase binding the bis-W-MPT (for metal-binding pterin) cofactor. The cofactor was identified to be of a bis-Mo-MPT type with no guanine nucleotides present, which represents a form of Moco that has not been found previously in any molybdoenzyme. Our studies showed that YdhV has a preference for bis-Mo-MPT over bis-W-MPT to be inserted into the enzyme. In-depth characterization of YdhV by X-ray absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies revealed that the bis-Mo-MPT cofactor in YdhV is redox active. The bis-Mo-MPT and bis-W-MPT cofactors include metal centers that bind the four sulfurs from the two dithiolene groups in addition to a cysteine and likely a sulfido ligand. The unexpected presence of a bis-Mo-MPT cofactor opens an additional route for cofactor biosynthesis in E. coli and expands the canon of the structurally highly versatile molybdenum and tungsten cofactors. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00078 SN - 0006-2960 VL - 58 IS - 17 SP - 2228 EP - 2242 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heim, Ramona J. A1 - Hölzel, Norbert A1 - Heinken, Thilo A1 - Kamp, Johannes A1 - Thomas, Alexander A1 - Darman, Galina F. A1 - Smirenski, Sergei M. A1 - Heim, Wieland T1 - Post-burn and long-term fire effects on plants and birds in floodplain wetlands of the Russian Far East JF - Biodiversity and conservation N2 - Wildfires affect biodiversity at multiple levels. While vegetation is directly changed by fire events, animals are often indirectly affected through changes in habitat and food availability. Globally, fire frequency and the extent of fires are predicted to increase in the future. The impact of fire on the biodiversity of temperate wetlands has gained little attention so far. We compared species richness and abundance of plants and birds in burnt and unburnt areas in the Amur floodplain/Russian Far East in the year of fire and 1 year after. We also analysed vegetation recovery in relation to time since fire over a period of 18 years. Plant species richness was higher in burnt compared to unburnt plots in the year of the fire, but not in the year after. This suggests that fire has a positive short-term effect on plant diversity. Bird species richness and abundance were lower on burnt compared to unburnt plots in the year of the fire, but not in the year after. Over a period of 18 years, high fire frequency led to an increase in herb cover and a decrease in grass cover. We show that the effects on biodiversity are taxon- and species-specific. Fire management strategies in temperate wetlands should consider fire frequency as a key driving force of vegetation structure, with carry-over effects on higher trophic levels. Designing fire refuges, i.e., areas that do not burn annually, might locally be necessary to maintain high species richness. KW - Disturbance KW - Bird species richness KW - Vegetation structure KW - Fire frequency KW - Amur River Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01746-3 SN - 0960-3115 SN - 1572-9710 VL - 28 IS - 6 SP - 1611 EP - 1628 PB - Springer CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Liu, Junzhong A1 - Feng, Lili A1 - Gu, Xueting A1 - Deng, Xian A1 - Qiu, Qi A1 - Li, Qun A1 - Zhang, Yingying A1 - Wang, Muyang A1 - Deng, Yiwen A1 - Wang, Ertao A1 - He, Yuke A1 - Bäurle, Isabel A1 - Li, Jianming A1 - Cao, Xiaofeng A1 - He, Zuhua T1 - An H3K27me3 demethylase-HSFA2 regulatory loop orchestrates transgenerational thermomemory in Arabidopsis JF - Cell research N2 - Global warming has profound effects on plant growth and fitness. Plants have evolved sophisticated epigenetic machinery to respond quickly to heat, and exhibit transgenerational memory of the heat-induced release of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). However, how thermomemory is transmitted to progeny and the physiological relevance are elusive. Here we show that heat-induced HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (HSFA2) directly activates the H3K27me3 demethylase RELATIVE OF EARLY FLOWERING 6 (REF6), which in turn derepresses HSFA2. REF6 and HSFA2 establish a heritable feedback loop, and activate an E3 ubiquitin ligase, SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING 3 (SGS3)-INTERACTING PROTEIN 1 (SGIP1). SGIP1-mediated SGS3 degradation leads to inhibited biosynthesis of trans-acting siRNA (tasiRNA). The REF6-HSFA2 loop and reduced tasiRNA converge to release HEAT-INDUCED TAS1 TARGET 5 (HTT5), which drives early flowering but attenuates immunity. Thus, heat induces transmitted phenotypes via a coordinated epigenetic network involving histone demethylases, transcription factors, and tasiRNAs, ensuring reproductive success and transgenerational stress adaptation. KW - Chromatin KW - Epigenetic memory KW - Epigenetics KW - Innate immunity KW - Plant signalling Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-019-0145-8 SN - 1001-0602 SN - 1748-7838 VL - 29 IS - 5 SP - 379 EP - 390 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schälicke, Svenja A1 - Sobisch, Lydia-Yasmin A1 - Martin-Creuzburg, Dominik A1 - Wacker, Alexander T1 - Food quantity-quality co-limitation BT - interactive effects of dietary carbon and essential lipid supply on population growth of a freshwater rotifer JF - Freshwater biology N2 - Food quantity and quality are highly variable in natural systems. Therefore, their interplay and the associated effects on consumer population growth are important for predator-prey interactions and community dynamics. Experiments in which consumers were exposed to elemental nutrient limitations along food quantity gradients suggest that food quality effects on consumer performance are relevant only at high food quantities. However, elemental nutrients act differently on physiological processes than biochemical nutrients. So far, the interactive effects of food quantity and biochemical compounds on consumer performance have been insufficiently studied. We studied interactive effects of food quantity and biochemical food quality on population growth, including fecundity and survival, of the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. We hypothesised that these life history traits are differently affected by the availability of biochemical nutrients and that food quality effects gain importance with increasing food quantity. In a first experiment, we established food quantity and quality gradients by providing rotifers with different concentrations of a low-quality food, the sterol-free cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus, supplemented with increasing amounts of cholesterol. In a second experiment, food quantity and quality gradients were established by providing different proportions of two prey species differing in biochemical food quality, i.e. S.elongatus and the lipid-rich alga Nannochloropsis limnetica, at different total food concentrations. We found that the effects of cholesterol supplementation on population growth increased with increasing food quantity. This interactive effect on population growth was mainly due to food quality effects on fecundity, as effects on survival remained constant along the food quantity gradient. In contrast, when feeding on the mixed algal diet, the food quality effect associated with increasing the proportion of the high-quality alga did not change along the food quantity gradient. The data on survival and fecundity demonstrate the missing interactive effect of food quantity and quality on population growth, as both traits were oppositely affected. Survival was affected by food quality primarily at low food quantity, whereas food quality effects on fecundity were stronger at high food quantity. Our results highlight the significance of essential biochemicals in mediating the interactive effects of food quantity and quality on population growth. The interplay between food quantity and biochemical food quality limitation seems to influence resource allocation patterns in order to optimise survival or reproduction, which may strongly affect population dynamics in variable environments. As opposed to exploring the function of a single nutrient via supplementation, using algae mixtures allowed us to assess food quality effects on consumer performance in a more natural context by taking potential interactive effects of multiple co-limiting nutrients into account. KW - Brachionus calyciflorus KW - fecundity KW - population growth rate KW - sterols KW - survival Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13272 SN - 0046-5070 SN - 1365-2427 VL - 64 IS - 5 SP - 903 EP - 912 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - de la Cruz, Jorge Gonzalez A1 - Machens, Fabian A1 - Messerschmidt, Katrin A1 - Bar-Even, Arren T1 - Core Catalysis of the Reductive Glycine Pathway Demonstrated in Yeast JF - ACS synthetic biology N2 - One-carbon (C1) compounds are attractive microbial feedstocks as they can be efficiently produced from widely available resources. Formate, in particular, represents a promising growth substrate, as it can be generated from electrochemical reduction of CO2 and fed to microorganisms in a soluble form. We previously identified the synthetic reductive glycine pathway as the most efficient route for aerobic growth on formate. We further demonstrated pathway activity in Escherichia coli after expression of both native and foreign genes. Here, we explore whether the reductive glycine pathway could be established in a model microorganism using only native enzymes. We used the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as host and show that overexpression of only endogenous enzymes enables glycine biosynthesis from formate and CO2 in a strain that is otherwise auxotrophic for glycine. We find the pathway to be highly active in this host, where 0.125 mM formate is sufficient to support growth. Notably, the formate-dependent growth rate of the engineered S. cerevisiae strain remained roughly constant over a very wide range of formate concentrations, 1-500 mM, indicating both high affinity for formate use and high tolerance toward elevated concentration of this C1 feedstock. Our results, as well the availability of endogenous NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase, indicate that yeast might be an especially suitable host for engineering growth on formate. KW - metabolic engineering KW - synthetic biology KW - one-carbon metabolism KW - carbon labeling KW - tetrahydrofolate KW - glycine cleavage system Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.8b00464 SN - 2161-5063 VL - 8 IS - 5 SP - 911 EP - 917 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Guislain, Alexis A1 - Beisner, Beatrix E. A1 - Köhler, Jan T1 - Variation in species light acquisition traits under fluctuating light regimes BT - implications for non-equilibrium coexistence JF - Oikos N2 - Resource distribution heterogeneity offers niche opportunities for species with different functional traits to develop and potentially coexist. Available light (photosynthetically active radiation or PAR) for suspended algae (phytoplankton) may fluctuate greatly over time and space. Species-specific light acquisition traits capture important aspects of the ecophysiology of phytoplankton and characterize species growth at either limiting or saturating daily PAR supply. Efforts have been made to explain phytoplankton coexistence using species-specific light acquisition traits under constant light conditions, but not under fluctuating light regimes that should facilitate non-equilibrium coexistence. In the well-mixed, hypertrophic Lake TaiHu (China), we incubated the phytoplankton community in bottles placed either at fixed depths or moved vertically through the water column to mimic vertical mixing. Incubations at constant depths received only the diurnal changes in light, while the moving bottles received rapidly fluctuating light. Species-specific light acquisition traits of dominant cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae, Microcystis spp.) and diatom (Aulacoseira granulata, Cyclotella pseudostelligera) species were characterized from their growth-light relationships that could explain relative biomasses along the daily PAR gradient under both constant and fluctuating light. Our study demonstrates the importance of interspecific differences in affinities to limiting and saturating light for the coexistence of phytoplankton species in spatially heterogeneous light conditions. Furthermore, we observed strong intraspecific differences in light acquisition traits between incubation under constant and fluctuating light - leading to the reversal of light utilization strategies of species. This increased the niche space for acclimated species, precluding competitive exclusion. These observations could enhance our understanding of the mechanisms behind the Paradox of the Plankton. KW - niche partitioning KW - phytoplankton photoacclimation Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.05297 SN - 0030-1299 SN - 1600-0706 VL - 128 IS - 5 SP - 716 EP - 728 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yu, Yanjun A1 - Wu, Shenjie A1 - Nowak, Jacqueline A1 - Wang, Guangda A1 - Han, Libo A1 - Feng, Zhidi A1 - Mendrinna, Amelie A1 - Ma, Yinping A1 - Wang, Huan A1 - Zhang, Xiaxia A1 - Tian, Juan A1 - Dong, Li A1 - Nikoloski, Zoran A1 - Persson, Staffan A1 - Kong, Zhaosheng T1 - Live-cell imaging of the cytoskeleton in elongating cotton fibres JF - Nature plants N2 - Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibres consist of single cells that grow in a highly polarized manner, assumed to be controlled by the cytoskeleton(1-3). However, how the cytoskeletal organization and dynamics underpin fibre development remains unexplored. Moreover, it is unclear whether cotton fibres expand via tip growth or diffuse growth(2-4). We generated stable transgenic cotton plants expressing fluorescent markers of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Live-cell imaging revealed that elongating cotton fibres assemble a cortical filamentous actin network that extends along the cell axis to finally form actin strands with closed loops in the tapered fibre tip. Analyses of F-actin network properties indicate that cotton fibres have a unique actin organization that blends features of both diffuse and tip growth modes. Interestingly, typical actin organization and endosomal vesicle aggregation found in tip-growing cell apices were not observed in fibre tips. Instead, endomembrane compartments were evenly distributed along the elongating fibre cells and moved bi-directionally along the fibre shank to the fibre tip. Moreover, plus-end tracked microtubules transversely encircled elongating fibre shanks, reminiscent of diffusely growing cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that cotton fibres elongate via a unique tip-biased diffuse growth mode. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-019-0418-8 SN - 2055-026X SN - 2055-0278 VL - 5 IS - 5 SP - 498 EP - 504 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pennekamp, Frank A1 - Iles, Alison C. A1 - Garland, Joshua A1 - Brennan, Georgina A1 - Brose, Ulrich A1 - Gaedke, Ursula A1 - Jacob, Ute A1 - Kratina, Pavel A1 - Matthews, Blake A1 - Munch, Stephan A1 - Novak, Mark A1 - Palamara, Gian Marco A1 - Rall, Bjorn C. A1 - Rosenbaum, Benjamin A1 - Tabi, Andrea A1 - Ward, Colette A1 - Williams, Richard A1 - Ye, Hao A1 - Petchey, Owen L. T1 - The intrinsic predictability of ecological time series and its potential to guide forecasting JF - Ecological monographs : a publication of the Ecological Society of America. KW - empirical dynamic modelling KW - forecasting KW - information theory KW - permutation entropy KW - population dynamics KW - time series analysis Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1359 SN - 0012-9615 SN - 1557-7015 VL - 89 IS - 2 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mota, Cristiano A1 - Esmaeeli Moghaddam Tabalvandani, Mariam A1 - Coelho, Catarina A1 - Santos-Silva, Teresa A1 - Wolff, Martin A1 - Foti, Alessandro A1 - Leimkühler, Silke A1 - Romao, Maria Joao T1 - Human aldehyde oxidase (hAOX1) BT - structure determination of the Moco-free form of the natural variant G1269R and biophysical studies of single nucleotide polymorphisms JF - FEBS Open Bio N2 - Human aldehyde oxidase (hAOX1) is a molybdenum enzyme with high toxicological importance, but its physiological role is still unknown. hAOX1 metabolizes different classes of xenobiotics and is one of the main drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, along with cytochrome P450. hAOX1 oxidizes and inactivates a large number of drug molecules and has been responsible for the failure of several phase I clinical trials. The interindividual variability of drug-metabolizing enzymes caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is highly relevant in pharmaceutical treatments. In this study, we present the crystal structure of the inactive variant G1269R, revealing the first structure of a molybdenum cofactor (Moco)-free form of hAOX1. These data allowed to model, for the first time, the flexible Gate 1 that controls access to the active site. Furthermore, we inspected the thermostability of wild-type hAOX1 and hAOX1 with various SNPs (L438V, R1231H, G1269R or S1271L) by CD spectroscopy and ThermoFAD, revealing that amino acid exchanges close to the Moco site can impact protein stability up to 10 degrees C. These results correlated with biochemical and structural data and enhance our understanding of hAOX1 and the effect of SNPs in the gene encoding this enzyme in the human population. EnzymesAldehyde oxidase (); xanthine dehydrogenase (); xanthine oxidase (). DatabasesStructural data are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession number . KW - human aldehyde oxidase KW - molybdenum cofactor KW - single nucleotide polymorphism KW - xanthine oxidase Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.12617 SN - 2211-5463 VL - 9 IS - 5 SP - 925 EP - 934 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER -