@article{KnoxBrownRindfleischGuentheretal.2020, author = {Knox-Brown, Patrick and Rindfleisch, Tobias and G{\"u}nther, Anne and Balow, Kim and Bremer, Anne and Walther, Dirk and Miettinen, Markus S. and Hincha, Dirk K. and Thalhammer, Anja}, title = {Similar Yet Different}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {21}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {8}, publisher = {Molecular Diversity Preservation International}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms21082794}, pages = {25}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The importance of intrinsically disordered late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins in the tolerance to abiotic stresses involving cellular dehydration is undisputed. While structural transitions of LEA proteins in response to changes in water availability are commonly observed and several molecular functions have been suggested, a systematic, comprehensive and comparative study of possible underlying sequence-structure-function relationships is still lacking. We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as well as spectroscopic and light scattering experiments to characterize six members of two distinct, lowly homologous clades of LEA_4 family proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana. We compared structural and functional characteristics to elucidate to what degree structure and function are encoded in LEA protein sequences and complemented these findings with physicochemical properties identified in a systematic bioinformatics study of the entire Arabidopsis thaliana LEA_4 family. Our results demonstrate that although the six experimentally characterized LEA_4 proteins have similar structural and functional characteristics, differences concerning their folding propensity and membrane stabilization capacity during a freeze/thaw cycle are obvious. These differences cannot be easily attributed to sequence conservation, simple physicochemical characteristics or the abundance of sequence motifs. Moreover, the folding propensity does not appear to be correlated with membrane stabilization capacity. Therefore, the refinement of LEA_4 structural and functional properties is likely encoded in specific patterns of their physicochemical characteristics.}, language = {en} } @article{SinghDaniSharmaetal.2006, author = {Singh, Jasbir and Dani, Harinder M. and Sharma, Reeta and Steinberg, Pablo}, title = {Inhibition of the biosynthesis of SRP polypeptides and secretory proteins by aflatoxin B-1 can disrupt protein targeting}, series = {Cell biochemistry and function}, volume = {24}, journal = {Cell biochemistry and function}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Chichester}, issn = {0263-6484}, doi = {10.1027/cbf.1285}, pages = {507 -- 510}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Cell culture and western blotting studies revealed that aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) inhibits the biosynthesis of two of the constituent polypeptides of signal recognition particle (SRP) (SRP54 and 72). SRP escorts polyribosomes carrying signal peptides from free form in the cytosol to the bound form on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane during protein targeting. These effects of AFB(1) on SRP biosynthesis may inhibit the formation of functional SRP Our experiments have further shown that AFB(1) also inhibits the biosynthesis/translocation of a secretory protein, preprolactin, which fails to appear in the lumen of ER consequent to the treatment with this hepatocarcinogen. The results of the experiments presented in this article therefore enable us to infer for the first time that aflatoxin B-1 may inhibit the functioning of SRP as an escort and deplete the ER of polyribosomes for secretory protein synthesis. As these secretory proteins are important components of the plasma membrane, gap junctions and intercellular matrix, their absence from these locations could disturb cell to cell communication leading to tumorigenesis.}, language = {en} } @article{MaaresKeilKozaetal.2018, author = {Maares, Maria and Keil, Claudia and Koza, Jenny and Straubing, Sophia and Schwerdtle, Tanja and Haase, Hajo}, title = {In Vitro Studies on Zinc Binding and Buffering by Intestinal Mucins}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {19}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {9}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms19092662}, pages = {20}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The investigation of luminal factors influencing zinc availability and accessibility in the intestine is of great interest when analyzing parameters regulating intestinal zinc resorption. Of note, intestinal mucins were suggested to play a beneficial role in the luminal availability of zinc. Their exact zinc binding properties, however, remain unknown and the impact of these glycoproteins on human intestinal zinc resorption has not been investigated in detail. Thus, the aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of intestinal mucins on luminal uptake of zinc into enterocytes and its transfer into the blood. In the present study, in vitro zinc binding properties of mucins were analyzed using commercially available porcine mucins and secreted mucins of the goblet cell line HT-29-MTX. The molecular zinc binding capacity and average zinc binding affinity of these glycoproteins demonstrates that mucins contain multiple zinc-binding sites with biologically relevant affinity within one mucin molecule. Zinc uptake into the enterocyte cell line Caco-2 was impaired by zinc-depleted mucins. Yet this does not represent their form in the intestinal lumen in vivo under zinc adequate conditions. In fact, zinc-uptake studies into enterocytes in the presence of mucins with differing degree of zinc saturation revealed zinc buffering by these glycoproteins, indicating that mucin-bound zinc is still available for the cells. Finally, the impact of mucins on zinc resorption using three-dimensional cultures was studied comparing the zinc transfer of a Caco-2/HT-29-MTX co-culture and conventional Caco-2 monoculture. Here, the mucin secreting co-cultures yielded higher fractional zinc resorption and elevated zinc transport rates, suggesting that intestinal mucins facilitate the zinc uptake into enterocytes and act as a zinc delivery system for the intestinal epithelium.}, language = {en} } @misc{FritzRosaSicard2018, author = {Fritz, Michael Andre and Rosa, Stefanie and Sicard, Adrien}, title = {Mechanisms Underlying the Environmentally Induced Plasticity of Leaf Morphology}, series = {Frontiers in genetics}, volume = {9}, journal = {Frontiers in genetics}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-8021}, doi = {10.3389/fgene.2018.00478}, pages = {25}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The primary function of leaves is to provide an interface between plants and their environment for gas exchange, light exposure and thermoregulation. Leaves have, therefore a central contribution to plant fitness by allowing an efficient absorption of sunlight energy through photosynthesis to ensure an optimal growth. Their final geometry will result from a balance between the need to maximize energy uptake while minimizing the damage caused by environmental stresses. This intimate relationship between leaf and its surroundings has led to an enormous diversification in leaf forms. Leaf shape varies between species, populations, individuals or even within identical genotypes when those are subjected to different environmental conditions. For instance, the extent of leaf margin dissection has, for long, been found to inversely correlate with the mean annual temperature, such that Paleobotanists have used models based on leaf shape to predict the paleoclimate from fossil flora. Leaf growth is not only dependent on temperature but is also regulated by many other environmental factors such as light quality and intensity or ambient humidity. This raises the question of how the different signals can be integrated at the molecular level and converted into clear developmental decisions. Several recent studies have started to shed the light on the molecular mechanisms that connect the environmental sensing with organ-growth and patterning. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on the influence of different environmental signals on leaf size and shape, their integration as well as their importance for plant adaptation.}, language = {en} } @article{ColomaGaedkeSivonenetal.2019, author = {Coloma, Sebastian and Gaedke, Ursula and Sivonen, Kaarina and Hiltunen, Teppo}, title = {Frequency of virus-resistant hosts determines experimental community dynamics}, series = {Ecology : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {100}, journal = {Ecology : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0012-9658}, doi = {10.1002/ecy.2554}, pages = {10}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{RyoJeschkeRilligetal.2020, author = {Ryo, Masahiro and Jeschke, Jonathan M. and Rillig, Matthias C. and Heger, Tina}, title = {Machine learning with the hierarchy-of-hypotheses (HoH) approach discovers novel pattern in studies on biological invasions}, series = {Research synthesis methods}, volume = {11}, journal = {Research synthesis methods}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1759-2879}, doi = {10.1002/jrsm.1363}, pages = {66 -- 73}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Research synthesis on simple yet general hypotheses and ideas is challenging in scientific disciplines studying highly context-dependent systems such as medical, social, and biological sciences. This study shows that machine learning, equation-free statistical modeling of artificial intelligence, is a promising synthesis tool for discovering novel patterns and the source of controversy in a general hypothesis. We apply a decision tree algorithm, assuming that evidence from various contexts can be adequately integrated in a hierarchically nested structure. As a case study, we analyzed 163 articles that studied a prominent hypothesis in invasion biology, the enemy release hypothesis. We explored if any of the nine attributes that classify each study can differentiate conclusions as classification problem. Results corroborated that machine learning can be useful for research synthesis, as the algorithm could detect patterns that had been already focused in previous narrative reviews. Compared with the previous synthesis study that assessed the same evidence collection based on experts' judgement, the algorithm has newly proposed that the studies focusing on Asian regions mostly supported the hypothesis, suggesting that more detailed investigations in these regions can enhance our understanding of the hypothesis. We suggest that machine learning algorithms can be a promising synthesis tool especially where studies (a) reformulate a general hypothesis from different perspectives, (b) use different methods or variables, or (c) report insufficient information for conducting meta-analyses.}, language = {en} } @article{SchaubKlaassenBoutenetal.2020, author = {Schaub, Tonio and Klaassen, Raymond H. G. and Bouten, Willem and Schlaich, Almut E. and Koks, Ben J.}, title = {Collision risk of Montagu's Harriers Circus pygargus with wind turbines derived from high-resolution GPS tracking}, series = {Ibis : the international journal of avian science ; the journal of the British Ornithologists' Union}, volume = {162}, journal = {Ibis : the international journal of avian science ; the journal of the British Ornithologists' Union}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0019-1019}, doi = {10.1111/ibi.12788}, pages = {520 -- 534}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Flight behaviour characteristics such as flight altitude and avoidance behaviour determine the species-specific collision risk of birds with wind turbines. However, traditional observational methods exhibit limited positional accuracy. High-resolution GPS telemetry represents a promising method to overcome this drawback. In this study, we used three-dimensional GPS tracking data including high-accuracy tracks recorded at 3-s intervals to investigate the collision risk of breeding male Montagu's Harriers Circus pygargus in the Dutch-German border region. Avoidance of wind turbines was quantified by a novel approach comparing observed flights to a null model of random flight behaviour. On average, Montagu's Harriers spent as much as 8.2 h per day in flight. Most flights were at low altitude, with only 7.1\% within the average rotor height range (RHR; 45-125 m). Montagu's Harriers showed significant avoidance behaviour, approaching turbines less often than expected, particularly when flying within the RHR (avoidance rate of 93.5\%). For the present state, with wind farms situated on the fringes of the regional nesting range, collision risk models based on our new insights on flight behaviour indicated 0.6-2.0 yearly collisions of adult males (as compared with a population size of c. 40 pairs). However, the erection of a new wind farm inside the core breeding area could markedly increase mortality (up to 9.7 yearly collisions). If repowering of the wind farms was carried out using low-reaching modern turbines (RHR 36-150 m), mortality would more than double, whereas it would stay approximately constant if higher turbines (RHR 86-200 m) were used. Our study demonstrates the great potential of high-resolution GPS tracking for collision risk assessments. The resulting information on collision-related flight behaviour allows for performing detailed scenario analyses on wind farm siting and turbine design, in contrast to current environmental assessment practices. With regard to Montagu's Harriers, we conclude that although the deployment of higher wind turbines represents an opportunity to reduce collision risk for this species, precluding wind energy developments in core breeding areas remains the most important mitigation measure.}, language = {en} } @misc{PonceSchererBoekstegersetal.2019, author = {Ponce, Carol Barahona and Scherer, Dominique and Boekstegers, Felix and Garate-Calderon, Valentina and Jenab, Mazda and Aleksandrova, Krasimira and Katzke, Verena and Weiderpass, Elisabete and Bonet, Catalina and Moradi, Tahereh and Fischer, Krista and Bossers, Willem and Brenner, Hermann and Sch{\"o}ttker, Ben and Holleczek, Bernd and Hveem, Kristian and Eklund, Niina and Voelker, Uwe and Waldenberger, Melanie and Bermejo, Justo Lorenzo}, title = {Arsenic and gallbladder cancer risk}, series = {International journal of cancer}, volume = {146}, journal = {International journal of cancer}, number = {9}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0020-7136}, doi = {10.1002/ijc.32837}, pages = {2648 -- 2650}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{VoigtSchollBaueretal.2020, author = {Voigt, Christian and Scholl, Julia M. and Bauer, Juliane and Teige, Tobias and Yovel, Yossi and Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie and Gras, Pierre}, title = {Movement responses of common noctule bats to the illuminated urban landscape}, series = {Landscape ecology}, volume = {35}, journal = {Landscape ecology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0921-2973}, doi = {10.1007/s10980-019-00942-4}, pages = {189 -- 201}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Context Cities are a challenging habitat for obligate nocturnal mammals because of the ubiquitous use of artificial light at night (ALAN). How nocturnal animals move in an urban landscape, particularly in response to ALAN is largely unknown. Objectives We studied the movement responses, foraging and commuting, of common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) to urban landscape features in general and ALAN in particular. Methods We equipped 20 bats with miniaturized GPS loggers in the Berlin metropolitan area and related spatial positions of bats to anthropogenic and natural landscape features and levels of ALAN. Results Common noctules foraged close to ALAN only next to bodies of water or well vegetated areas, probably to exploit swarms of insects lured by street lights. In contrast, they avoided illuminated roads, irrespective of vegetation cover nearby. Predictive maps identified most of the metropolitan area as non-favoured by this species because of high levels of impervious surfaces and ALAN. Dark corridors were used by common noctules for commuting and thus likely improved the permeability of the city landscape. Conclusions We conclude that the spatial use of common noctules, previously considered to be more tolerant to light than other bats, is largely constrained by ALAN. Our study is the first individual-based GPS tracking study to show sensitive responses of nocturnal wildlife to light pollution. Approaches to protect urban biodiversity need to include ALAN to safeguard the larger network of dark habitats for bats and other nocturnal species in cities.}, language = {en} } @misc{AlbersUestuenWitzeletal.2018, author = {Albers, Philip and Uestuen, Suayib and Witzel, Katja and Bornke, Frederik}, title = {Identification of a novel target of the bacterial effector HopZ1a}, series = {Phytopathology}, volume = {108}, journal = {Phytopathology}, number = {10}, publisher = {American Phytopathological Society}, address = {Saint Paul}, issn = {0031-949X}, pages = {1}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae is a gram-negative bacterium which infects a wide range of plant species including important crops plants. To suppress plant immunity and cause disease P.syringae injects type-III effector proteins (T3Es) into the plant cell cytosol. In this study, we identified a novel target of the well characterized bacterial T3E HopZ1a. HopZ1a is an acetyltransferase that was shown to disrupt vesicle transport during innate immunity by acetylating tubulin. Using a yeast-two-hybrid screen approach, we identified a REMORIN (REM) protein from tobacco as a novel HopZ1a target. HopZ1a interacts with REM at the plasma membrane (PM) as shown by split-YFP experiments. Interestingly, we found that PBS1, a well-known kinase involved in plant immunity also interacts with REM in pull-down assays, and at the PM as shown by BiFC. Furthermore, we confirmed that REM is phosphorylated by PBS1 in vitro. Overexpression of REM provokes the upregulation of defense genes and leads to disease-like phenotypes pointing to a role of REM in plant immune signaling. Further protein-protein interaction studies reveal novel REM binding partners with a possible role in plant immune signaling. Thus, REM might act as an assembly hub for an immune signaling complex targeted by HopZ1a. Taken together, this is the first report describing that a REM protein is targeted by a bacterial effector. How HopZ1a might mechanistically manipulate the plant immune system through interfering with REM function will be discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{FrancoObregonCambriaGreutertetal.2018, author = {Franco-Obregon, Alfredo and Cambria, Elena and Greutert, Helen and Wernas, Timon and Hitzl, Wolfgang and Egli, Marcel and Sekiguchi, Miho and Boos, Norbert and Hausmann, Oliver and Ferguson, Stephen J. and Kobayashi, Hiroshi and W{\"u}rtz-Kozak, Karin}, title = {TRPC6 in simulated microgravity of intervertebral disc cells}, series = {European Spine Journal}, volume = {27}, journal = {European Spine Journal}, number = {10}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0940-6719}, doi = {10.1007/s00586-018-5688-8}, pages = {2621 -- 2630}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Purpose Prolonged bed rest and microgravity in space cause intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are implicated in mechanosensing of several tissues, but are poorly explored in IVDs. Methods Primary human IVD cells from surgical biopsies composed of both annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus (passage 1-2) were exposed to simulated microgravity and to the TRPC channel inhibitor SKF-96365 (SKF) for up to 5days. Proliferative capacity, cell cycle distribution, senescence and TRPC channel expression were analyzed. Results Both simulated microgravity and TRPC channel antagonism reduced the proliferative capacity of IVD cells and induced senescence. While significant changes in cell cycle distributions (reduction in G1 and accumulation in G2/M) were observed upon SKF treatment, the effect was small upon 3days of simulated microgravity. Finally, downregulation of TRPC6 was shown under simulated microgravity. Conclusions Simulated microgravity and TRPC channel inhibition both led to reduced proliferation and increased senescence. Furthermore, simulated microgravity reduced TRPC6 expression. IVD cell senescence and mechanotransduction may hence potentially be regulated by TRPC6 expression. This study thus reveals promising targets for future studies.}, language = {en} } @misc{Kleuser2018, author = {Kleuser, Burkhard}, title = {The enigma of sphingolipids in health and disease}, series = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, number = {10}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms19103126}, pages = {3}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @article{GoetzNaherFettkeetal.2018, author = {G{\"o}tz, Klaus-Peter and Naher, Jobadatun and Fettke, J{\"o}rg and Chmielewski, Frank M.}, title = {Changes of proteins during dormancy and bud development of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.)}, series = {Scientia horticulturae : an international journal sponsored by the International Society for Horticultural Science}, volume = {239}, journal = {Scientia horticulturae : an international journal sponsored by the International Society for Horticultural Science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0304-4238}, doi = {10.1016/j.scienta.2018.05.016}, pages = {41 -- 49}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Trees control the flowering processes in response to both environmental and endogenous (mechanisms at cellular/tissue level) conditions. Dormancy of flower buds is characterized by the reduction of growth and the enhancement of frost and desiccation resistance. The release of endodormancy and the beginning of ontogenetic development, as two important dates for developing reliable phenological models, escape from any visible signs. Thus, we identified - to our knowledge as first - relevant proteins in sweet cherry buds occurring during these phenological phases at high time resolution in three seasons (2012/13-2014/15) under natural conditions in Northeast Germany. The protein content of buds from the first week of October to leaf fall, from leaf fall to the end of endodormancy (t1), from t1 to the beginning of ontogenetic development (t1*), and from t1* until swollen bud, was comparable in each of the seasons. The increase of the protein content began after swollen bud and markedly differences occurred at side green, green tip, tight and open cluster. SDS gel electrophoresis followed by peptide mass fingerprinting accomplished by MALDI-TOF MS was applied for protein identification. 'Volume intensity' has been used to demonstrate the pattern and changes of proteins. None of the analysed proteins like for cell proliferation/differentiation (Phytosulfokines 3), carbon fixation (Rubisco), and defense against pathogenes (Major allergen Pru sv 1) indicates the date of endodormancy release or the beginning of the (invisible) ontogenetic development. The stages around green tip, tight, and open cluster resulted in markedly increase of the volume intensity of the protein for cell proliferation/differentiation and the carbon fixation, whereas the volume intensity of a protein for defense against pathogens markedly decreased. The pattern and changes of the volume intensity of neoxanthin synthase (NXS) in sweet cherry buds followed the increasing demand during endo- and ecodormancy to produce neoxanthin, which is a prominent member of the group of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers.}, language = {en} } @article{NavarroRetamalBremerIngolfssonetal.2018, author = {Navarro-Retamal, Carlos and Bremer, Anne and Ingolfsson, Helgi I. and Alzate-Morales, Jans and Caballero, Julio and Thalhammer, Anja and Gonzalez, Wendy and Hincha, Dirk K.}, title = {Folding and Lipid Composition Determine Membrane Interaction of the Disordered Protein COR15A}, series = {Biophysical journal}, volume = {115}, journal = {Biophysical journal}, number = {6}, publisher = {Cell Press}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0006-3495}, doi = {10.1016/j.bpj.2018.08.014}, pages = {968 -- 980}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Plants from temperate climates, such as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, are challenged with seasonal low temperatures that lead to increased freezing tolerance in fall in a process termed cold acclimation. Among other adaptations, this involves the accumulation of cold-regulated (COR) proteins, such as the intrinsically disordered chloroplast-localized protein COR15A. Together with its close homolog COR15B, it stabilizes chloroplast membranes during freezing. COR15A folds into amphipathic alpha-helices in the presence of high concentrations of low-molecular-mass crowders or upon dehydration. Under these conditions, the (partially) folded protein binds peripherally to membranes. In our study, we have used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the details of COR15A-membrane binding and its effects on membrane structure and dynamics. Simulation results indicate that at least partial folding of COR15A and the presence of highly unsaturated galactolipids in the membranes are necessary for efficient membrane binding. The bound protein is stabilized on the membrane by interactions of charged and polar amino acids with galactolipid headgroups and by interactions of hydrophobic amino acids with the upper part of the fatty acyl chains. Experimentally, the presence of liposomes made from a mixture of lipids mimicking chloroplast membranes induces additional folding in COR15A under conditions of partial dehydration, in agreement with the simulation results.}, language = {en} } @article{BrueggerGobetSigletal.2018, author = {Br{\"u}gger, Sandra Olivia and Gobet, Erika and Sigl, Michael and Osmont, Dimitri and Papina, Tatyana and Rudaya, Natalia and Schwikowski-Gigar, Margit and Tinner, Willy}, title = {Ice records provide new insights into climatic vulnerability of Central Asian forest and steppe communities}, series = {Global and planetary change}, volume = {169}, journal = {Global and planetary change}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0921-8181}, doi = {10.1016/j.gloplacha.2018.07.010}, pages = {188 -- 201}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Forest and steppe communities in the Altai region of Central Asia are threatened by changing climate and anthropogenic pressure. Specifically, increasing drought and grazing pressure may cause collapses of moisture-demanding plant communities, particularly forests. Knowledge about past vegetation and fire responses to climate and land use changes may help anticipating future ecosystem risks, given that it has the potential to disclose mechanisms and processes that govern ecosystem vulnerability. We present a unique paleoecological record from the high-alpine Tsambagarav glacier in the Mongolian Altai that provides novel large-scale information on vegetation, fire and pollution with an exceptional temporal resolution and precision. Our palynological record identifies several late-Holocene boreal forest expansions, contractions and subsequent recoveries. Maximum forest expansions occurred at 3000-2800 BC, 2400-2100 BC, and 1900-1800 BC. After 1800 BC mixed boreal forest communities irrecoverably declined. Fires reached a maximum at 1600 BC, 200 years after the final forest collapse. Our multiproxy data suggest that burning peaked in response to dead biomass accumulation resulting from forest diebacks. Vegetation and fire regimes partly decoupled from climate after 1700 AD, when atmospheric industrial pollution began, and land use intensified. We conclude that moisture availability was more important than temperature for past vegetation dynamics, in particular for forest loss and steppe expansion. The past Mongolian Altai evidence implies that in the future forests of the Russian Altai may collapse in response to reduced moisture availability.}, language = {en} } @article{FeddersMuenznerWeberetal.2021, author = {Fedders, Ronja and Muenzner, Matthias and Weber, Pamela and Sommerfeld, Manuela and Knauer, Miriam and Kedziora, Sarah and Kast, Naomi and Heidenreich, Steffi and Raila, Jens and Weger, Stefan and Henze, Andrea and Schupp, Michael}, title = {Liver-secreted RBP4 does not impair glucose homeostasis in mice}, series = {The journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {293}, journal = {The journal of biological chemistry}, number = {39}, publisher = {American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology}, address = {Bethesda}, issn = {1083-351X}, doi = {10.1074/jbc.RA118.004294}, pages = {15269 -- 15276}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is the major transport protein for retinol in blood. Recent evidence from genetic mouse models shows that circulating RBP4 derives exclusively from hepatocytes. Because RBP4 is elevated in obesity and associates with the development of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, we tested whether a liver-specific overexpression of RBP4 in mice impairs glucose homeostasis. We used adeno-associated viruses (AAV) that contain a highly liver-specific promoter to drive expression of murine RBP4 in livers of adult mice. The resulting increase in serum RBP4 levels in these mice was comparable with elevated levels that were reported in obesity. Surprisingly, we found that increasing circulating RBP4 had no effect on glucose homeostasis. Also during a high-fat diet challenge, elevated levels of RBP4 in the circulation failed to aggravate the worsening of systemic parameters of glucose and energy homeostasis. These findings show that liver-secreted RBP4 does not impair glucose homeostasis. We conclude that a modest increase of its circulating levels in mice, as observed in the obese, insulin-resistant state, is unlikely to be a causative factor for impaired glucose homeostasis.}, language = {en} } @article{GuerreroRamirezCravenReichetal.2017, author = {Guerrero-Ramirez, Nathaly Rokssana and Craven, Dylan and Reich, Peter B. and Ewel, John J. and Isbell, Forest and Koricheva, Julia and Parrotta, John A. and Auge, Harald and Erickson, Heather E. and Forrester, David I. and Hector, Andy and Joshi, Jasmin Radha and Montagnini, Florencia and Palmborg, Cecilia and Piotto, Daniel and Potvin, Catherine and Roscher, Christiane and van Ruijven, Jasper and Tilman, David and Wilsey, Brian and Eisenhauer, Nico}, title = {Diversity-dependent temporal divergence of ecosystem functioning in experimental ecosystems}, series = {Nature ecology \& evolution}, volume = {1}, journal = {Nature ecology \& evolution}, number = {11}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2397-334X}, doi = {10.1038/s41559-017-0325-1}, pages = {1639 -- 1642}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning generally increase over time, but the underlying processes remain unclear. Using 26 long-term grassland and forest experimental ecosystems, we demonstrate that biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships strengthen mainly by greater increases in functioning in high-diversity communities in grasslands and forests. In grasslands, biodiversity effects also strengthen due to decreases in functioning in low-diversity communities. Contrasting trends across grasslands are associated with differences in soil characteristics.}, language = {en} } @article{BerryRosaHowardetal.2017, author = {Berry, Scott and Rosa, Stefanie and Howard, Martin and Buhler, Marc and Dean, Caroline}, title = {Disruption of an RNA-binding hinge region abolishes LHP1-mediated epigenetic repression}, series = {Genes \& Development}, volume = {31}, journal = {Genes \& Development}, publisher = {Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press}, address = {Cold Spring Harbor, NY}, issn = {0890-9369}, doi = {10.1101/gad.305227.117}, pages = {2115 -- 2120}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Epigenetic maintenance of gene repression is essential for development. Polycomb complexes are central to this memory, but many aspects of the underlying mechanism remain unclear. LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1 (LHP1) binds Polycomb-deposited H3K27me3 and is required for repression of many Polycomb target genes in Arabidopsis. Here we show that LHP1 binds RNA in vitro through the intrinsically disordered hinge region. By independently perturbing the RNA-binding hinge region and H3K27me3 (trimethylation of histone H3 at Lys27) recognition, we found that both facilitate LHP1 localization and H3K27me3 maintenance. Disruption of the RNAbinding hinge region also prevented formation of subnuclear foci, structures potentially important for epigenetic repression.}, language = {en} } @article{WendlerEnenkel2019, author = {Wendler, Petra and Enenkel, Cordula}, title = {Nuclear Transport of Yeast Proteasomes}, series = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2296-889X}, doi = {10.3389/fmolb.2019.00034}, pages = {12}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Proteasomes are key proteases in regulating protein homeostasis. Their holo-enzymes are composed of 40 different subunits which are arranged in a proteolytic core (CP) flanked by one to two regulatory particles (RP). Proteasomal proteolysis is essential for the degradation of proteins which control time-sensitive processes like cell cycle progression and stress response. In dividing yeast and human cells, proteasomes are primarily nuclear suggesting that proteasomal proteolysis is mainly required in the nucleus during cell proliferation. In yeast, which have a closed mitosis, proteasomes are imported into the nucleus as immature precursors via the classical import pathway. During quiescence, the reversible absence of proliferation induced by nutrient depletion or growth factor deprivation, proteasomes move from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm of quiescent yeast, proteasomes are dissociated into CP and RP and stored in membrane-less cytoplasmic foci, named proteasome storage granules (PSGs). With the resumption of growth, PSGs clear and mature proteasomes are transported into the nucleus by Blm10, a conserved 240 kDa protein and proteasome-intrinsic import receptor. How proteasomes are exported from the nucleus into the cytoplasm is unknown.}, language = {en} } @article{MoeserLorenzSajfutdinowetal.2018, author = {M{\"o}ser, Christin and Lorenz, Jessica S. and Sajfutdinow, Martin and Smith, David M.}, title = {Pinpointed Stimulation of EphA2 Receptors via DNA-Templated Oligovalence}, series = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, number = {11}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms19113482}, pages = {19}, year = {2018}, abstract = {DNA nanostructures enable the attachment of functional molecules to nearly any unique location on their underlying structure. Due to their single-base-pair structural resolution, several ligands can be spatially arranged and closely controlled according to the geometry of their desired target, resulting in optimized binding and/or signaling interactions. Here, the efficacy of SWL, an ephrin-mimicking peptide that binds specifically to EphrinA2 (EphA2) receptors, increased by presenting up to three of these peptides on small DNA nanostructures in an oligovalent manner. Ephrin signaling pathways play crucial roles in tumor development and progression. Moreover, Eph receptors are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, the quantitative impact of SWL valency on binding, phosphorylation (key player for activation) and phenotype regulation in EphA2-expressing prostate cancer cells was demonstrated. EphA2 phosphorylation was significantly increased by DNA trimers carrying three SWL peptides compared to monovalent SWL. In comparison to one of EphA2's natural ligands ephrin-A1, which is known to bind promiscuously to multiple receptors, pinpointed targeting of EphA2 by oligovalent DNA-SWL constructs showed enhanced cell retraction. Overall, we show that DNA scaffolds can increase the potency of weak signaling peptides through oligovalent presentation and serve as potential tools for examination of complex signaling pathways.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwanholdIobbiNivolLehmannetal.2018, author = {Schwanhold, Nadine and Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal and Lehmann, Angelika and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {Same but different}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {13}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {11}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0201935}, pages = {24}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The maturation of bacterial molybdoenzymes is a complex process leading to the insertion of the bulky bis-molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide (bis-MGD) cofactor into the apoenzyme. Most molybdoenzymes were shown to contain a specific chaperone for the insertion of the bis-MGD cofactor. Formate dehydrogenases (FDH) together with their molecular chaperone partner seem to display an exception to this specificity rule, since the chaperone FdhD has been proven to be involved in the maturation of all three FDH enzymes present in Escherichia colt. Multiple roles have been suggested for FdhD-like chaperones in the past, including the involvement in a sulfur transfer reaction from the L-cysteine desulfurase IscS to bis-MGD by the action of two cysteine residues present in a conserved CXXC motif of the chaperones. However, in this study we show by phylogenetic analyses that the CXXC motif is not conserved among FdhD-like chaperones. We compared in detail the FdhD-like homologues from Rhodobacter capsulatus and E. colt and show that their roles in the maturation of FDH enzymes from different subgroups can be exchanged. We reveal that bis-MGDbinding is a common characteristic of FdhD-like proteins and that the cofactor is bound with a sulfido-ligand at the molybdenum atom to the chaperone. Generally, we reveal that the cysteine residues in the motif CXXC of the chaperone are not essential for the production of active FDH enzymes.}, language = {en} } @article{ReilBinderFreiseetal.2018, author = {Reil, Daniela and Binder, Florian and Freise, Jona and Imholt, Christian and Beyrers, Konrad and Jacob, Jens and Kr{\"u}ger, Detlev H. and Hofmann, J{\"o}rg and Dreesman, Johannes and Ulrich, Rainer G{\"u}nter}, title = {Hantaviren in Deutschland}, series = {Berliner und M{\"u}nchener tier{\"a}rztliche Wochenschrift}, volume = {131}, journal = {Berliner und M{\"u}nchener tier{\"a}rztliche Wochenschrift}, number = {11-12}, publisher = {Schl{\"u}tersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH \& Co. KG.}, address = {Hannover}, issn = {0005-9366}, doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-18003}, pages = {453 -- 464}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Hantaviruses are small mammal-associated pathogens that are found in rodents but also in shrews, moles and bats. Aim of this manuscript is to give a current overview of the epidemiology and ecology of hantaviruses in Germany and to discuss respective models for the prediction of virus outbreaks. In Germany the majority of human disease cases are caused by the Puumala virus (PUUV), transmitted by the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). PUUV is associated with the Western evolutionary lineage of the bank vole and is not present in the eastern and northern parts of Germany. A second human pathogenic hantavirus is the Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV), genotype Kurkino; its reservoir host, the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), is mostly occurring in the eastern part of Germany. A PUUV-related hantavirus is the rarely pathogenic Tula virus (TULV), that is associated with the common vole (Microtus arvalis). In addition, Seewis virus, Asikkala virus, and Bruges virus are shrew- and mole-associated hantaviruses with still unknown pathogenicity in humans. Human disease cases are associated with the different hantaviruses according to their regional distribution. The viruses can cause mild to severe but also subclinical courses of the respective disease. The number of human PUUV disease cases in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017 correlates with the occurrence of high levels of seed production of beech trees ("beech mast") in the preceding year. Models based on weather parameters for the prediction of PUUV disease clusters as developed in recent years need further validation and optimisation. in addition to the abundance of infected reservoir rodents, the exposure behaviour of humans affects the risk of human infection. The application of robust forecast models can assist the public health service to develop and communicate spatially and temporally targeted information. Thus, further recommendations to mitigate infection risk for the public may be provided.}, language = {de} } @article{SperberWelkePetazzietal.2019, author = {Sperber, Hannah Sabeth and Welke, Robert-William and Petazzi, Roberto Arturo and Bergmann, Ronny and Schade, Matthias and Shai, Yechiel and Chiantia, Salvatore and Herrmann, Andreas and Schwarzer, Roland}, title = {Self-association and subcellular localization of Puumala hantavirus envelope proteins}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-36879-y}, pages = {15}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{DiekmannAndresBeckeretal.2019, author = {Diekmann, Martin and Andres, Christian and Becker, Thomas and Bennie, Jonathan and Blueml, Volker and Bullock, James M. and Culmsee, Heike and Fanigliulo, Miriam and Hahn, Annett and Heinken, Thilo and Leuschner, Christoph and Luka, Stefanie and Meissner, Justus and M{\"u}ller, Josef and Newton, Adrian and Peppler-Lisbach, Cord and Rosenthal, Gert and van den Berg, Leon J. L. and Vergeer, Philippine and Wesche, Karsten}, title = {Patterns of long-term vegetation change vary between different types of semi-natural grasslands in Western and Central Europe}, series = {Journal of vegetation science}, volume = {30}, journal = {Journal of vegetation science}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1100-9233}, doi = {10.1111/jvs.12727}, pages = {187 -- 202}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{TanabeLeimkuehlerDahl2019, author = {Tanabe, Tomohisa Sebastian and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Dahl, Christiane}, title = {The functional diversity of the prokaryotic sulfur carrier protein TusA}, series = {Advances in microbial physiology}, volume = {75}, journal = {Advances in microbial physiology}, editor = {Poole, RK}, publisher = {Elsevier Acad. Press}, address = {Amsterdam}, isbn = {978-0-12-817715-0}, issn = {0065-2911}, doi = {10.1016/bs.ampbs.2019.07.004}, pages = {233 -- 277}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{RosenbaumRaatzWeithoffetal.2019, author = {Rosenbaum, Benjamin and Raatz, Michael and Weithoff, Guntram and Fussmann, Gregor F. and Gaedke, Ursula}, title = {Estimating parameters from multiple time series of population dynamics using bayesian inference}, series = {Frontiers in ecology and evolution}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in ecology and evolution}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2296-701X}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2018.00234}, pages = {14}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{BrechunArndtWoolley2018, author = {Brechun, Katherine Emily and Arndt, Katja Maren and Woolley, G. Andrew}, title = {Selection of protein-protein interactions of desired affinities with a bandpass circuit}, series = {Journal of molecular biology : JMB}, volume = {431}, journal = {Journal of molecular biology : JMB}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {London}, issn = {0022-2836}, doi = {10.1016/j.jmb.2018.11.011}, pages = {391 -- 400}, year = {2018}, abstract = {We have developed a genetic circuit in Escherichia coli that can be used to select for protein-protein interactions of different strengths by changing antibiotic concentrations in the media. The genetic circuit links protein-protein interaction strength to beta-lactamase activity while simultaneously imposing tuneable positive and negative selection pressure for beta-lactamase activity. Cells only survive if they express interacting proteins with affinities that fall within set high- and low-pass thresholds; i.e. the circuit therefore acts as a bandpass filter for protein-protein interactions. We show that the circuit can be used to recover protein-protein interactions of desired affinity from a mixed population with a range of affinities. The circuit can also be used to select for inhibitors of protein-protein interactions of defined strength. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @misc{ManzoniCapekPoradaetal.2018, author = {Manzoni, Stefano and Capek, Petr and Porada, Philipp and Thurner, Martin and Winterdahl, Mattias and Beer, Christian and Bruchert, Volker and Frouz, Jan and Herrmann, Anke M. and Lindahl, Bjorn D. and Lyon, Steve W. and Šantrůčkov{\´a}, Hana and Vico, Giulia and Way, Danielle}, title = {Reviews and syntheses}, series = {Biogeosciences}, volume = {15}, journal = {Biogeosciences}, number = {19}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1726-4170}, doi = {10.5194/bg-15-5929-2018}, pages = {5929 -- 5949}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The cycling of carbon (C) between the Earth surface and the atmosphere is controlled by biological and abiotic processes that regulate C storage in biogeochemical compartments and release to the atmosphere. This partitioning is quantified using various forms of C-use efficiency (CUE) - the ratio of C remaining in a system to C entering that system. Biological CUE is the fraction of C taken up allocated to biosynthesis. In soils and sediments, C storage depends also on abiotic processes, so the term C-storage efficiency (CSE) can be used. Here we first review and reconcile CUE and CSE definitions proposed for autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms and communities, food webs, whole ecosystems and watersheds, and soils and sediments using a common mathematical framework. Second, we identify general CUE patterns; for example, the actual CUE increases with improving growth conditions, and apparent CUE decreases with increasing turnover. We then synthesize > 5000CUE estimates showing that CUE decreases with increasing biological and ecological organization - from uni-cellular to multicellular organisms and from individuals to ecosystems. We conclude that CUE is an emergent property of coupled biological-abiotic systems, and it should be regarded as a flexible and scale-dependent index of the capacity of a given system to effectively retain C.}, language = {en} } @article{vanGrunsvenJaehnichenGrubisicetal.2018, author = {van Grunsven, Roy Hendrikus Antonius and Jaehnichen, David and Grubisic, Maja and H{\"o}lker, Franz}, title = {Slugs (Arionidae) benefit from nocturnal artificial illumination}, series = {Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology}, volume = {329}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology}, number = {8-9}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {2471-5646}, doi = {10.1002/jez.2170}, pages = {429 -- 433}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Artificial illumination increases around the globe and this has been found to affect many groups of organisms and ecosystems. By manipulating nocturnal illumination using one large experimental field site with 24 streetlights and one dark control, we assessed the impact of artificial illumination on slugs over a period of 4 years. The number of slugs, primarily Arionidae, increased strongly in the illuminated site but not on the dark site. There are several nonexclusive explanations for this effect, including reduced predation and increased food quality in the form of carcasses of insects attracted by the light. As slugs play an important role in ecosystems and are also important pest species, the increase of slugs under artificial illumination cannot only affect ecosystem functioning but also have important economic consequences.}, language = {en} } @misc{MesserschmidtMachensHochreinetal.2018, author = {Messerschmidt, Katrin and Machens, Fabian and Hochrein, Lena and Naseri, Gita}, title = {Orthogonal, light-inducible protein expression platform in yeast Sacchararomyces cerevisiae}, series = {New biotechnology}, volume = {44}, journal = {New biotechnology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1871-6784}, doi = {10.1016/j.nbt.2018.05.153}, pages = {S19 -- S19}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @article{NeumannGoetzWrzoleketal.2018, author = {Neumann, Bettina and G{\"o}tz, Robert and Wrzolek, Pierre and Scheller, Frieder W. and Weidinger, Inez M. and Schwalbe, Matthias and Wollenberger, Ulla}, title = {Enhancement of the Electrocatalytic Activity of Thienyl-Substituted Iron Porphyrin Electropolymers by a Hangman Effect}, series = {ChemCatChem : heterogeneous \& homogeneous \& bio- \& nano-catalysis ; a journal of ChemPubSoc Europe}, volume = {10}, journal = {ChemCatChem : heterogeneous \& homogeneous \& bio- \& nano-catalysis ; a journal of ChemPubSoc Europe}, number = {19}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1867-3880}, doi = {10.1002/cctc.201800934}, pages = {4353 -- 4361}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The thiophene-modified iron porphyrin FeT3ThP and the respective iron Hangman porphyrin FeH3ThP, incorporating a carboxylic acid hanging group in the second coordination sphere of the iron center, were electropolymerized on glassy carbon electrodes using 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as co-monomer. Scanning electron microscopy images and Resonance Raman spectra demonstrated incorporation of the porphyrin monomers into a fibrous polymer network. Porphyrin/polyEDOT films catalyzed the reduction of molecular oxygen in a four-electron reaction to water with onset potentials as high as +0.14V vs. Ag/AgCl in an aqueous solution of pH7. Further, FeT3ThP/polyEDOT films showed electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of hydrogen peroxide at highly positive potentials, which was significantly enhanced by introduction of the carboxylic acid hanging group in FeH3ThP. The second coordination sphere residue promotes formation of a highly oxidizing reaction intermediate, presumably via advantageous proton supply, as observed for peroxidases and catalases making FeH3ThP/polyEDOT films efficient mimics of heme enzymes.}, language = {en} } @article{KurzeHeinkenFartmann2018, author = {Kurze, Susanne and Heinken, Thilo and Fartmann, Thomas}, title = {Nitrogen enrichment in host plants increases the mortality of common Lepidoptera species}, series = {Oecologia}, volume = {188}, journal = {Oecologia}, number = {4}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0029-8549}, doi = {10.1007/s00442-018-4266-4}, pages = {1227 -- 1237}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The recent decline of Lepidoptera species strongly correlates with the increasing intensification of agriculture in Western and Central Europe. However, the effects of changed host-plant quality through agricultural fertilization on this insect group remain largely unexplored. For this reason, we tested the response of six common butterfly and moth species to host-plant fertilization using fertilizer quantities usually applied in agriculture. The larvae of the study species Coenonympha pamphilus, Lycaena phlaeas, Lycaena tityrus, Pararge aegeria, Rivula sericealis and Timandra comae were distributed according to a split-brood design to three host-plant treatments comprising one control treatment without fertilization and two fertilization treatments with an input of 150 and 300kgNha(-1)year(-1), respectively. In L.tityrus, we used two additional fertilization treatments with an input of 30 and 90kgNha(-1)year(-1), respectively. Fertilization increased the nitrogen concentration of both host-plant species, Rumex acetosella and Poa pratensis, and decreased the survival of larvae in all six Lepidoptera species by at least one-third, without clear differences between sorrel- and grass-feeding species. The declining survival rate in all species contradicts the well-accepted nitrogen-limitation hypothesis, which predicts a positive response in species performance to dietary nitrogen content. In contrast, this study presents the first evidence that current fertilization quantities in agriculture exceed the physiological tolerance of common Lepidoptera species. Our results suggest that (1) the negative effect of plant fertilization on Lepidoptera has previously been underestimated and (2) that it contributes to the range-wide decline of Lepidoptera.}, language = {en} } @misc{QuiterioMartinsOnofreetal.2018, author = {Quiterio, Ana and Martins, Joao and Onofre, Marcos and Costa, Joao and Rodrigues, Joao Mota and Gerlach, Erin and Scheur, Claude and Herrmann, Christian}, title = {MOBAK 1 assessment in primary physical education}, series = {Perceptual \& motor skills}, volume = {125}, journal = {Perceptual \& motor skills}, number = {6}, publisher = {Sage Publ.}, address = {Thousand Oaks}, issn = {0031-5125}, doi = {10.1177/0031512518804358}, pages = {1055 -- 1069}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Children's motor competence is known to have a determinant role in learning and engaging later in complex motor skills and, thus, in physical activity. The development of adequate motor competence is a central aim of physical education, and assuring that pupils are learning and developing motor competence depends on accurate assessment protocols. The MOBAK 1 test battery is a recent instrument developed to assess motor competence in primary physical education. This study used the MOBAK 1 to explore motor competence levels and gender differences among 249 (Mage = 6.3, SD = 0.5 years; 127 girls and 122 boys) Grade 1 primary school Portuguese children. On independent sample t tests, boys presented higher object movement motor competence than girls (boys: M = 5.8, SD = 1.7; girls: M = 4.0, SD = 1.7; p < .001), while girls were more proficient among self-movement skills (girls: M = 5.1, SD = 1.8; boys: M = 4.3, SD = 1.7; p < .01). On "total motor competence," boys (M = 10.3, SD = 2.6) averaged one point ahead of girls (M = 9.1, SD = 2.9). The percentage of girls in the first quartile of object movement was 18.9\%, while, for "self movement," the percentage of boys in the first quartile was almost double that of girls (30.3\% and 17.3\%, respectively). The confirmatory model to test for construct validity confirmed the assumed theoretical two-factor structure of MOBAK 1 test items in this Portuguese sample. These results support the MOBAK 1 instrument for assessing motor competence and highlighted gender differences, of relevance to intervention efforts.}, language = {en} } @article{ParfentevaGrothScheffleretal.2019, author = {Parfenteva, Olga and Groth, Detlef and Scheffler, Christiane and Zaharova, Maria F.}, title = {Influence of the A/T polymorphism of the FTO gene and sport specializations on the body composition of young Russian athletes}, series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie}, volume = {76}, journal = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie}, number = {5}, publisher = {Schweizerbart}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0003-5548}, doi = {10.1127/anthranz/2019/0943}, pages = {401 -- 408}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Moratti2020, author = {Moratti, Fabio Giulio}, title = {Structural analysis of DYW proteins and identification of the mitochondrial DNA-binding proteome of Arabidopsis thaliana}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {164}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{WerchmeisterTangXiaoetal.2019, author = {Werchmeister, Rebecka Maria Larsen and Tang, Jing and Xiao, Xinxin and Wollenberger, Ulla and Hjuler, Hans Aage and Ulstrup, Jens and Zhang, Jingdong}, title = {Three-Dimensional Bioelectrodes Utilizing Graphene Based Bioink}, series = {Journal of The Electrochemical Society}, volume = {166}, journal = {Journal of The Electrochemical Society}, number = {16}, publisher = {The Electrochemical Society}, address = {Pennington}, issn = {0013-4651}, doi = {10.1149/2.0261916jes}, pages = {G170 -- G177}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Enzyme immobilization using nanomaterials offers new approaches to enhanced bioelectrochemical performance and is essential for the preparation of bioelectrodes with high reproducibility and low cost. In this report, we describe the development of new three-dimensional (3D) bioelectrodes by immobilizing a "bioink" of glucose oxidase (GOD) in a matrix of reduced graphene oxides (RGOs), polyethylenimine (PEI), and ferrocene carboxylic acid (FcCOOH) on carbon paper (CP). CP with 3D interwoven carbon fibers serves as a solid porous and electronically conducting skeleton, providing large surface areas and space for loading the bioink and diffusion of substrate molecules, respectively. RGO enhances contact between the GOD-matrix and CP, maintaining high conductivity. The composition of the bioink has been systematically optimized. The GOD bioelectrodes show linearly increasing electrocatalytic oxidation current toward glucose concentration up to 48 mM. A hybrid enzymatic biofuel cell equipped with the GOD bioelectrode as a bioanode and a platinum cathode furthermore registers a maximum power density of 5.1 mu W cm(-2) and an open circuit voltage of 0.40 V at 25 degrees C. The new method reported of preparing a bioelectrode by drop-casting the bioink onto the substrate electrode is facile and versatile, with the potential of application also for other enzymatic bioelectrodes.}, language = {en} } @article{MoustakasGuentherWiegandetal.2006, author = {Moustakas, Aristides and G{\"u}nther, Matthias and Wiegand, Kerstin and M{\"u}ller, Karl-Heinz and Ward, David and Meyer, Katrin M. and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Long-term mortality patterns of the deep-rooted Acacia erioloba}, series = {Journal of vegetation science}, volume = {17}, journal = {Journal of vegetation science}, publisher = {Blackwell}, address = {Malden}, issn = {1100-9233}, doi = {10.1111/j.1654-1103.2006.tb02468.x}, pages = {473 -- 480}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Question: Is there a relationship between size and death in the Iona-lived, deep-rooted tree, Acacia erioloba, in a semi-arid savanna? What is the size-class distribution of A. erioloba mortality? Does the mortality distribution differ from total tree size distribution? Does A. erioloba mortality distribution match the mortality distributions recorded thus far in other environments? Location: Dronfield Ranch, near Kimberley, Kalahari, South Africa. Methods: A combination of aerial photographs and a satellite image covering 61 year was used to provide long-term spatial data on mortality. We used aerial photographs of the study area from 1940, 1964, 1984, 1993 and a satellite image from 2001 to follow three plots covering 510 ha. We were able to identify and individually follow ca. 3000 individual trees from 1940 till 2001. Results: The total number of trees increased over time. No relationship between total number of trees and mean tree size was detected. There were no trends over time in total number of deaths per plot or in size distributions of dead trees. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests showed no differences in size class distributions for living trees through time. The size distribution of dead trees was significantly different from the size distribution of all trees present on the plots. Overall, the number of dead trees was low in small size classes, reached a peak value when canopy area was 20 - 30 m(2), and declined in lamer size-classes. Mortality as a ratio of dead vs. total trees peaked at intermediate canopy sizes too. Conclusion: A. erioloba mortality was size-dependent, peaking at intermediate sizes. The mortality distribution differs from all other tree mortality distributions recorded thus far. We suggest that a possible mechanism for this unusual mortality distribution is intraspecific competition for water in this semi-arid environment.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Wenk2020, author = {Wenk, Sebastian}, title = {Engineering formatotrophic growth in Escherichia coli}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {V, 107}, year = {2020}, abstract = {To meet the demands of a growing world population while reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, it is necessary to capture CO2 and convert it into value-added compounds. In recent years, metabolic engineering of microbes has gained strong momentum as a strategy for the production of valuable chemicals. As common microbial feedstocks like glucose directly compete with human consumption, the one carbon (C1) compound formate was suggested as an alternative feedstock. Formate can be easily produced by various means including electrochemical reduction of CO2 and could serve as a feedstock for microbial production, hence presenting a novel entry point for CO2 to the biosphere and a storage option for excess electricity. Compared to the gaseous molecule CO2, formate is a highly soluble compound that can be easily handled and stored. It can serve as a carbon and energy source for natural formatotrophs, but these microbes are difficult to cultivate and engineer. In this work, I present the results of several projects that aim to establish efficient formatotrophic growth of E. coli - which cannot naturally grow on formate - via synthetic formate assimilation pathways. In the first study, I establish a workflow for growth-coupled metabolic engineering of E. coli. I demonstrate this approach by presenting an engineering scheme for the PFL-threonine cycle, a synthetic pathway for anaerobic formate assimilation in E. coli. The described methods are intended to create a standardized toolbox for engineers that aim to establish novel metabolic routes in E. coli and related organisms. The second chapter presents a study on the catalytic efficiency of C1-oxidizing enzymes in vivo. As formatotrophic growth requires generation of both energy and biomass from formate, the engineered E. coli strains need to be equipped with a highly efficient formate dehydrogenase, which provides reduction equivalents and ATP for formate assimilation. I engineered a strain that cannot generate reducing power and energy for cellular growth, when fed on acetate. Under this condition, the strain depends on the introduction of an enzymatic system for NADH regeneration, which could further produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. I show that the strain presents a valuable testing platform for C1-oxidizing enzymes by testing different NAD-dependent formate and methanol dehydrogenases in the energy auxotroph strain. Using this platform, several candidate enzymes with high in vivo activity, were identified and characterized as potential energy-generating systems for synthetic formatotrophic or methylotrophic growth in E. coli.   In the third chapter, I present the establishment of the serine threonine cycle (STC) - a synthetic formate assimilation pathway - in E. coli. In this pathway, formate is assimilated via formate tetrahydrofolate ligase (FtfL) from Methylobacterium extorquens (M. extorquens). The carbon from formate is attached to glycine to produce serine, which is converted into pyruvate entering central metabolism. Via the natural threonine synthesis and cleavage route, glycine is regenerated and acetyl-CoA is produced as the pathway product. I engineered several selection strains that depend on different STC modules for growth and determined key enzymes that enable high flux through threonine synthesis and cleavage. I could show that expression of an auxiliary formate dehydrogenase was required to achieve growth via threonine synthesis and cleavage on pyruvate. By overexpressing most of the pathway enzymes from the genome, and applying adaptive laboratory evolution, growth on glycine and formate was achieved, indicating the activity of the complete cycle. The fourth chapter shows the establishment of the reductive glycine pathway (rGP) - a short, linear formate assimilation route - in E. coli. As in the STC, formate is assimilated via M. extorquens FtfL. The C1 from formate is condensed with CO2 via the reverse reaction of the glycine cleavage system to produce glycine. Another carbon from formate is attached to glycine to form serine, which is assimilated into central metabolism via pyruvate. The engineered E. coli strain, expressing most of the pathway genes from the genome, can grow via the rGP with formate or methanol as a sole carbon and energy source.}, language = {en} } @article{ThomasCarvalhoHaileetal.2019, author = {Thomas, Jessica E. and Carvalho, Gary R. and Haile, James and Rawlence, Nicolas J. and Martin, Michael D. and Ho, Simon Y. W. and Sigfusson, Arnor P. and Josefsson, Vigfus A. and Frederiksen, Morten and Linnebjerg, Jannie F. and Castruita, Jose A. Samaniego and Niemann, Jonas and Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S. and Sandoval-Velasco, Marcela and Soares, Andre E. R. and Lacy, Robert and Barilaro, Christina and Best, Juila and Brandis, Dirk and Cavallo, Chiara and Elorza, Mikelo and Garrett, Kimball L. and Groot, Maaike and Johansson, Friederike and Lifjeld, Jan T. and Nilson, Goran and Serjeanston, Dale and Sweet, Paul and Fuller, Errol and Hufthammer, Anne Karin and Meldgaard, Morten and Fjeldsa, Jon and Shapiro, Beth and Hofreiter, Michael and Stewart, John R. and Gilbert, M. Thomas P. and Knapp, Michael}, title = {Demographic reconstruction from ancient DNA supports rapid extinction of the great auk}, series = {eLife}, volume = {8}, journal = {eLife}, publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {2050-084X}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.47509}, pages = {35}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The great auk was once abundant and distributed across the North Atlantic. It is now extinct, having been heavily exploited for its eggs, meat, and feathers. We investigated the impact of human hunting on its demise by integrating genetic data, GPS-based ocean current data, and analyses of population viability. We sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes of 41 individuals from across the species' geographic range and reconstructed population structure and population dynamics throughout the Holocene. Taken together, our data do not provide any evidence that great auks were at risk of extinction prior to the onset of intensive human hunting in the early 16th century. In addition, our population viability analyses reveal that even if the great auk had not been under threat by environmental change, human hunting alone could have been sufficient to cause its extinction. Our results emphasise the vulnerability of even abundant and widespread species to intense and localised exploitation.}, language = {en} } @article{BroekerSinelnikovGustavusetal.2019, author = {Br{\"o}ker, Katharine and Sinelnikov, Evgeny and Gustavus, Dirk and Schumacher, Udo and P{\"o}rtner, Ralf and Hoffmeister, Hans and L{\"u}th, Stefan and Dammermann, Werner}, title = {Mass Production of Highly Active NK Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy in a GMP Conform Perfusion Bioreactor}, series = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology}, volume = {7}, journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2296-4185}, doi = {10.3389/fbioe.2019.00194}, pages = {17}, year = {2019}, abstract = {NK cells have emerged as promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy, especially due to their ability to fight circulating tumor cells thereby preventing metastases formation. Hence several studies have been performed to generate and expand highly cytotoxic NK cells ex vivo, e.g., by using specific cytokines to upregulate both their proliferation and surface expression of distinct activating receptors. Apart from an enhanced activity, application of NK cells as immunotherapeutic agent further requires sufficient cell numbers and a high purity. All these parameters depend on a variety of different factors including the starting material, additives like cytokines as well as the culture system. Here we analyzed PBMC-derived NK cells of five anonymized healthy donors expanded under specific conditions in an innovative perfusion bioreactor system with respect to their phenotype, IFN gamma production, and cytotoxicity in vitro. Important features of the meander type bioreactors used here are a directed laminar flow of medium and control of relevant process parameters. Cells are cultivated under "steady state" conditions in perfusion mode. Our data demonstrate that expansion of CD3(+) T cell depleted PBMCs in our standardized system generates massive amounts of highly pure (>85\%) and potent anticancer active NK cells. These cells express a variety of important receptors driving NK cell recruitment, adhesion as well as activation. More specifically, they express the chemokine receptors CXCR3, CXCR4, and CCR7, the adhesion molecules L-selectin, LFA-1, and VLA-4, the activating receptors NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, NKG2D, DNAM1, and CD16 as well as the death ligands TRAIL and Fas-L. Moreover, the generated NK cells show a strong IFN gamma expression upon cultivation with K562 tumor cells and demonstrate a high cytotoxicity toward leukemic as well as solid tumor cell lines in vitro. Altogether, these characteristics promise a high clinical potency of thus produced NK cells awaiting further evaluation.}, language = {en} } @article{MieleGuillRamosJilibertoetal.2019, author = {Miele, Vincent and Guill, Christian and Ramos-Jiliberto, Rodrigo and K{\´e}fi, Sonia}, title = {Non-trophic interactions strengthen the diversity-functioning relationship in an ecological bioenergetic network model}, series = {PLoS Computational Biology : a new community journal}, volume = {15}, journal = {PLoS Computational Biology : a new community journal}, number = {8}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1553-7358}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007269}, pages = {20}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Ecological communities are undeniably diverse, both in terms of the species that compose them as well as the type of interactions that link species to each other. Despite this long recognition of the coexistence of multiple interaction types in nature, little is known about the consequences of this diversity for community functioning. In the ongoing context of global change and increasing species extinction rates, it seems crucial to improve our understanding of the drivers of the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem functioning. Here, using a multispecies dynamical model of ecological communities including various interaction types (e.g. competition for space, predator interference, recruitment facilitation in addition to feeding), we studied the role of the presence and the intensity of these interactions for species diversity, community functioning (biomass and production) and the relationship between diversity and functioning. Taken jointly, the diverse interactions have significant effects on species diversity, whose amplitude and sign depend on the type of interactions involved and their relative abundance. They however consistently increase the slope of the relationship between diversity and functioning, suggesting that species losses might have stronger effects on community functioning than expected when ignoring the diversity of interaction types and focusing on feeding interactions only.}, language = {en} } @article{Koetz2020, author = {Koetz, Joachim}, title = {The Effect of Surface Modification of Gold Nanotriangles for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Performance}, series = {Nanomaterials}, volume = {10}, journal = {Nanomaterials}, number = {11}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2079-4991}, doi = {10.3390/nano10112187}, pages = {13}, year = {2020}, abstract = {A surface modification of ultraflat gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) with different shaped nanoparticles is of special relevance for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the photo-catalytic activity of plasmonic substrates. Therefore, different approaches are used to verify the flat platelet morphology of the AuNTs by oriented overgrowth with metal nanoparticles. The most important part for the morphological transformation of the AuNTs is the coating layer, containing surfactants or polymers. By using well established AuNTs stabilized by a dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) bilayer, different strategies of surface modification with noble metal nanoparticles are possible. On the one hand undulated superstructures were synthesized by in situ growth of hemispherical gold nanoparticles in the polyethyleneimine (PEI)-coated AOT bilayer of the AuNTs. On the other hand spiked AuNTs were obtained by a direct reduction of Au³⁺ ions in the AOT double layer in presence of silver ions and ascorbic acid as reducing agent. Additionally, crumble topping of the smooth AuNTs can be realized after an exchange of the AOT bilayer by hyaluronic acid, followed by a silver-ion mediated reduction with ascorbic acid. Furthermore, a decoration with silver nanoparticles after coating the AOT bilayer with the cationic surfactant benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (BDAC) can be realized. In that case the ultraviolet (UV)-absorption of the undulated Au@Ag nanoplatelets can be tuned depending on the degree of decoration with silver nanoparticles. Comparing the Raman scattering data for the plasmon driven dimerization of 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) to 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) one can conclude that the most important effect of surface modification with a 75 times higher enhancement factor in SERS experiments becomes available by decoration with gold spikes.}, language = {en} } @misc{HoeferDiLellaDahmanietal.2019, author = {H{\"o}fer, Chris Tina and Di Lella, Santiago and Dahmani, Ismail and Jungnick, Nadine and Bordag, Natalie and Bobone, Sara and Huan, Q. and Keller, S. and Herrmann, A. and Chiantia, Salvatore}, title = {Corrigendum to: Structural determinants of the interaction between influenza A virus matrix protein M1 and lipid membranes (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes. - 1861, (2019), pg 1123-1134)}, series = {Biochimica et biophysica acta : Biomembranes}, volume = {1861}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta : Biomembranes}, number = {10}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0005-2736}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.07.002}, pages = {1}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{AlkerSchwerdtleSchomburgetal.2019, author = {Alker, Wiebke and Schwerdtle, Tanja and Schomburg, Lutz and Haase, Hajo}, title = {A Zinpyr-1-based Fluorimetric Microassay for Free Zinc in Human Serum}, series = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {20}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, number = {16}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1661-6596}, doi = {10.3390/ijms20164006}, pages = {13}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Zinc is an essential trace element, making it crucial to have a reliable biomarker for evaluating an individual's zinc status. The total serum zinc concentration, which is presently the most commonly used biomarker, is not ideal for this purpose, but a superior alternative is still missing. The free zinc concentration, which describes the fraction of zinc that is only loosely bound and easily exchangeable, has been proposed for this purpose, as it reflects the highly bioavailable part of serum zinc. This report presents a fluorescence-based method for determining the free zinc concentration in human serum samples, using the fluorescent probe Zinpyr-1. The assay has been applied on 154 commercially obtained human serum samples. Measured free zinc concentrations ranged from 0.09 to 0.42 nM with a mean of 0.22 ± 0.05 nM. It did not correlate with age or the total serum concentrations of zinc, manganese, iron or selenium. A negative correlation between the concentration of free zinc and total copper has been seen for sera from females. In addition, the free zinc concentration in sera from females (0.21 ± 0.05 nM) was significantly lower than in males (0.23 ± 0.06 nM). The assay uses a sample volume of less than 10 µL, is rapid and cost-effective and allows us to address questions regarding factors influencing the free serum zinc concentration, its connection with the body's zinc status, and its suitability as a future biomarker for an individual's zinc status.}, language = {en} } @article{ChenLiZhangetal.2019, author = {Chen, Shun-Gang and Li, Ji and Zhang, Fan and Xiao, Bo and Hu, Jia-Ming and Cui, Yin-Qiu and Hofreiter, Michael and Hou, Xin-Dong and Sheng, Gui-Lian and Lai, Xu-Long and Yuan, Jun-Xia}, title = {Different maternal lineages revealed by ancient mitochondrial genome of Camelus bactrianus from China}, series = {Mitochondrial DNA Part A}, volume = {30}, journal = {Mitochondrial DNA Part A}, number = {7}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {2470-1394}, doi = {10.1080/24701394.2019.1659250}, pages = {786 -- 793}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Domestic Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) used to be one of the most important livestock species in Chinese history, as well as the major transport carrier on the ancient Silk Road. However, archeological studies on Chinese C. bactrianus are still limited, and molecular biology research on this species is mainly focused on modern specimens. In this study, we retrieved the complete mitochondrial genome from a C. bactrianus specimen, which was excavated from northwestern China and dated at 1290-1180 cal. Phylogenetic analyses using 18 mitochondrial genomes indicated that the C. bactrianus clade was divided into two maternal lineages. The majority of samples originating from Iran to Japan and Mongolia belong to subclade A1, while our sample together with two Mongolian individuals formed the much smaller subclade A2. Furthermore, the divergence time of these two maternal lineages was estimated as 165 Kya (95\% credibility interval 117-222 Kya), this might indicate that several different evolutionary lineages were incorporated into the domestic gene pool during the initial domestication process. Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) analysis a slow increase in female effective population size of C. bactrianus from 5000 years ago, which to the beginning of domestication of C. bactrianus. The present study also revealed that there were extensive exchanges of genetic information among C. bactrianus populations in regions along the Silk Road.}, language = {en} } @article{RieckGeigerMunkertetal.2019, author = {Rieck, Christoph Paul Kurt and Geiger, Daniel and Munkert, Jennifer and Messerschmidt, Katrin and Petersen, Jan and Strasser, Juliane and Meitinger, Nadine and Kreis, Wolfgang}, title = {Biosynthetic approach to combine the first steps of cardenolide formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae}, series = {Microbiologyopen}, volume = {8}, journal = {Microbiologyopen}, number = {12}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {2045-8827}, doi = {10.1002/mbo3.925}, pages = {11}, year = {2019}, abstract = {A yeast expression plasmid was constructed containing a cardenolide biosynthetic module, referred to as CARD II, using the AssemblX toolkit, which enables the assembly of large DNA constructs. The genes cloned into the vector were (a) a Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene from Digitalis lanata, (b) a steroid Δ5-isomerase gene from Comamonas testosteronii, (c) a mutated steroid-5β-reductase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, and (d) a steroid 21-hydroxylase gene from Mus musculus. A second plasmid bearing an ADR/ADX fusion gene from Bos taurus was also constructed. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain bearing these two plasmids was generated. This strain, termed "CARD II yeast", was capable of producing 5β-pregnane-3β,21-diol-20-one, a central intermediate in 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis, starting from pregnenolone which was added to the culture medium. Using this approach, five consecutive steps in cardenolide biosynthesis were realized in baker's yeast.}, language = {en} } @article{EugeniaTietzeJoshiPugnaireetal.2019, author = {Eugenia Tietze, Hedwig Selma and Joshi, Jasmin Radha and Pugnaire, Francisco Ignacio and Dechoum, Michele de Sa}, title = {Seed germination and seedling establishment of an invasive tropical tree species under different climate change scenarios}, series = {Austral ecology}, volume = {44}, journal = {Austral ecology}, number = {8}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1442-9985}, doi = {10.1111/aec.12809}, pages = {1351 -- 1358}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Increasing air temperature and atmospheric CO2 levels may affect the distribution of invasive species. Whereas there is wide knowledge on the effect of global change on temperate species, responses of tropical invasive species to these two global change drivers are largely unknown. We conducted a greenhouse experiment on Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae), an invasive tree species on Brazilian coastal areas, to evaluate the effects of increased air temperature and CO2 concentration on seed germination and seedling growth on the island of Santa Catarina (Florianopolis, Brazil). Seeds of the invasive tree were subjected to two temperature levels (ambient and +1.6 degrees C) and two CO2 levels (ambient and 650 ppmv) with a factorial design. Increased temperature enhanced germination rate and shortened germination time of T. catappa seeds. It also increased plant height, number of leaves and above-ground biomass. By contrast, increased atmospheric CO2 concentration had no significant effects, and the interaction between temperature and CO2 concentration did not affect any of the measured traits. Terminalia catappa adapts to a relatively broad range of environmental conditions, being able to tolerate cooler temperatures in its invasive range. As T. catappa is native to tropical areas, global warming might favour its establishment along the coast of subtropical South America, while increased CO2 levels seem not to have significant effects on seed germination or seedling growth.}, language = {en} } @article{SchoepkeHeinzePaetzigetal.2019, author = {Sch{\"o}pke, Benito and Heinze, Johannes and P{\"a}tzig, Marlene and Heinken, Thilo}, title = {Do dispersal traits of wetland plant species explain tolerance against isolation effects in naturally fragmented habitats?}, series = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, volume = {220}, journal = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, number = {9}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1385-0237}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-019-00955-8}, pages = {801 -- 815}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The effects of habitat fragmentation and isolation on plant species richness have been verified for a wide range of anthropogenically fragmented habitats, but there is currently little information about their effects in naturally small and isolated habitats. We tested whether habitat area, heterogeneity, and isolation affect the richness of wetland vascular plant species in kettle holes, i.e., small glacially created wetlands, in an agricultural landscape of 1 km(2) in NE Germany. We compared fragmentation effects with those of forest fragments in the same landscape window. Since wetland and forest species might differ in their tolerance to isolation, and because isolation effects on plant species may be trait dependent, we asked which key life history traits might foster differences in isolation tolerance between wetland and forest plants. We recorded the flora and vegetation types in 83 isolated sites that contained 81 kettle holes and 25 forest fragments. Overall, the number of wetland species increased with increasing area and heterogeneity, i.e., the number of vegetation types, while area was not a surrogate for heterogeneity in these naturally fragmented systems. Isolation did not influence the number of wetland species but decreased the number of forest species. We also found that seeds of wetland species were on average lighter, more persistent and better adapted to epizoochory, e.g., by waterfowl, than seeds of forest species. Therefore, we suggest that wetland species are more tolerant to isolation than forest species due to their higher dispersal potential in space and time, which may counterbalance the negative effects of isolation.}, language = {en} } @article{ZupokGorkaSiemiatkowskaetal.2019, author = {Zupok, Arkadiusz and G{\´o}rka, Michał Jakub and Siemiatkowska, Beata and Skirycz, Aleksandra and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {Iron-Dependent Regulation of Molybdenum Cofactor Biosynthesis Genes in Escherichia coli}, series = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {201}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, number = {17}, publisher = {American Society for Microbiology}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0021-9193}, doi = {10.1128/JB.00382-19}, pages = {15}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Molybdenum cofactor (Moco) biosynthesis is a complex process that involves the coordinated function of several proteins. In recent years it has become obvious that the availability of iron plays an important role in the biosynthesis of Moco. First, the MoaA protein binds two (4Fe-4S] clusters per monomer. Second, the expression of the moaABCDE and moeAB operons is regulated by FNR, which senses the availability of oxygen via a functional NFe-4S) cluster. Finally, the conversion of cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate to molybdopterin requires the availability of the L-cysteine desulfurase IscS, which is a shared protein with a main role in the assembly of Fe-S clusters. In this report, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of the moaABCDE operon by focusing on its dependence on cellular iron availability. While the abundance of selected molybdoenzymes is largely decreased under iron-limiting conditions, our data show that the regulation of the moaABCDE operon at the level of transcription is only marginally influenced by the availability of iron. Nevertheless, intracellular levels of Moco were decreased under iron-limiting conditions, likely based on an inactive MoaA protein in addition to lower levels of the L-cysteine desulfurase IscS, which simultaneously reduces the sulfur availability for Moco production. IMPORTANCE FNR is a very important transcriptional factor that represents the master switch for the expression of target genes in response to anaerobiosis. Among the FNR-regulated operons in Escherichia coli is the moaABCDE operon, involved in Moco biosynthesis. Molybdoenzymes have essential roles in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. In bacteria, molybdoenzymes are crucial for anaerobic respiration using alternative electron acceptors. This work investigates the connection of iron availability to the biosynthesis of Moco and the production of active molybdoenzymes.}, language = {en} } @article{WergerBergmannWeberetal.2020, author = {Werger, Luise and Bergmann, Joana and Weber, Ewald and Heinze, Johannes}, title = {Wind intensity affects fine root morphological traits with consequences for plant-soil feedback effects}, series = {Annals of Botany Plants}, volume = {12}, journal = {Annals of Botany Plants}, number = {5}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {2041-2851}, doi = {10.1093/aobpla/plaa050}, pages = {12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Wind influences the development, architecture and morphology of plant roots and may modify subsequent interactions between plants and soil (plant-soil feedbacks—PSFs). However, information on wind effects on fine root morphology is scarce and the extent to which wind changes plant-soil interactions remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of two wind intensity levels by manipulating surrounding vegetation height in a grassland PSF field experiment. We grew four common plant species (two grasses and two non-leguminous forbs) with soil biota either previously conditioned by these or other species and tested the effect of wind on root:shoot ratio, fine root morphological traits as well as the outcome for PSFs. Wind intensity did not affect biomass allocation (i.e. root:shoot ratio) in any species. However, fine-root morphology of all species changed under high wind intensity. High wind intensity increased specific root length and surface area and decreased root tissue density, especially in the two grasses. Similarly, the direction of PSFs changed under high wind intensity in all four species, but differences in biomass production on the different soils between high and low wind intensity were marginal and most pronounced when comparing grasses with forbs. Because soils did not differ in plant-available nor total nutrient content, the results suggest that wind-induced changes in root morphology have the potential to influence plant-soil interactions. Linking wind-induced changes in fine-root morphology to effects on PSF improves our understanding of plant-soil interactions under changing environmental conditions.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kožul2020, author = {Kožul, Danijela}, title = {Systematic identification of loci determining chloroplast and nuclear genome incompatibility in the evening primrose (Oenothera)}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {126}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{LissoAltmannMuessig2006, author = {Lisso, Janina and Altmann, Thomas and M{\"u}ssig, Carsten}, title = {Metabolic changes in fruits of the tomato d(x) mutant}, series = {Phytochemistry : an international journal of plant biochemistry}, volume = {67}, journal = {Phytochemistry : an international journal of plant biochemistry}, number = {20}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0031-9422}, doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2006.07.008}, pages = {2232 -- 2238}, year = {2006}, language = {en} } @article{RieschSchluppTobleretal.2006, author = {Riesch, R{\"u}diger and Schlupp, Ingo and Tobler, Michael and Plath, Martin}, title = {Reduction of the association preference for conspecifics in cave-dwelling Atlantic mollies, Poecilia mexicana}, series = {Behavioral ecology and sociobiology}, volume = {60}, journal = {Behavioral ecology and sociobiology}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0340-5443}, doi = {10.1007/s00265-006-0223-z}, pages = {794 -- 802}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Cave animals are widely recognised as model organisms to study regressive evolutionary processes like the reduction of eyes. In this paper, we report on the regressive evolution of species discrimination in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana, which, unlike other cave fishes, still has functional eyes. This allowed us to examine the response to both visual and non-visual cues involved in species discrimination. When surface-dwelling females were given a chance to associate with either a conspecific or a swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) female, they strongly preferred the conspecific female both when multiple cues and when solely visual cues were available to the female. No association preference was observed when only non-visual cues were provided. In contrast, cave-dwelling females showed no preference under all testing conditions, suggesting that species recognition mechanisms have been reduced. We discuss the role of species discrimination in relation to habitat differences.}, language = {en} } @article{EggertRawelNikfardjametal.2006, author = {Eggert, Kai and Rawel, Harshadrai Manilal and Nikfardjam, Martin S. Pour and Kroll, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Interactions between lysozyme and wine components}, series = {Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau : DLR}, volume = {102}, journal = {Deutsche Lebensmittel-Rundschau : DLR}, number = {10}, publisher = {Behr}, address = {Stuttgart}, issn = {0012-0413}, pages = {472 -- 478}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The addition of lysozyme amounting to 1000 mg/l wine does neither effect its total phenol content (Folin-Ciocalteu-Method), nor wine colour (measured by extinction at 512 nm) nor its antioxidative capacity (TEAC-Assay). No covalent binding of wine phenols to the enzyme was observed during lysozyme addition, although non-covalent interactions are possible. Lysozyme activity is not influenced by the presence of malvidin-3-glucoside and resveratrol in model experiments, whereas pH and ethanol content produce a corresponding alteration in lysozyme activity. With regard to red wine, a significant effect was noted in the presence of wine components.}, language = {de} } @article{HeHoeperDodenhoeftetal.2020, author = {He, Hai and H{\"o}per, Rune and Dodenh{\"o}ft, Moritz and Marli{\`e}re, Philippe and Bar-Even, Arren}, title = {An optimized methanol assimilation pathway relying on promiscuous formaldehyde-condensing aldolases in E. coli}, series = {Metabolic Engineering}, volume = {60}, journal = {Metabolic Engineering}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam [u.a.]}, issn = {1096-7176}, doi = {10.1016/j.ymben.2020.03.002}, pages = {1 -- 13}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Engineering biotechnological microorganisms to use methanol as a feedstock for bioproduction is a major goal for the synthetic metabolism community. Here, we aim to redesign the natural serine cycle for implementation in E. coli. We propose the homoserine cycle, relying on two promiscuous formaldehyde aldolase reactions, as a superior pathway design. The homoserine cycle is expected to outperform the serine cycle and its variants with respect to biomass yield, thermodynamic favorability, and integration with host endogenous metabolism. Even as compared to the RuMP cycle, the most efficient naturally occurring methanol assimilation route, the homoserine cycle is expected to support higher yields of a wide array of products. We test the in vivo feasibility of the homoserine cycle by constructing several E. coli gene deletion strains whose growth is coupled to the activity of different pathway segments. Using this approach, we demonstrate that all required promiscuous enzymes are active enough to enable growth of the auxotrophic strains. Our findings thus identify a novel metabolic solution that opens the way to an optimized methylotrophic platform.}, language = {en} } @article{HeNoorRamosParraetal.2020, author = {He, Hai and Noor, Elad and Ramos-Parra, Perla A. and Garc{\´i}a-Valencia, Liliana E. and Patterson, Jenelle A. and D{\´i}az de la Garza, Roc{\´i}o I. and Hanson, Andrew D. and Bar-Even, Arren}, title = {In Vivo Rate of Formaldehyde Condensation with Tetrahydrofolate}, series = {Metabolites}, volume = {10}, journal = {Metabolites}, number = {65}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2218-1989}, doi = {10.3390/metabo10020065}, pages = {15}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Formaldehyde is a highly reactive compound that participates in multiple spontaneous reactions, but these are mostly deleterious and damage cellular components. In contrast, the spontaneous condensation of formaldehyde with tetrahydrofolate (THF) has been proposed to contribute to the assimilation of this intermediate during growth on C1 carbon sources such as methanol. However, the in vivo rate of this condensation reaction is unknown and its possible contribution to growth remains elusive. Here, we used microbial platforms to assess the rate of this condensation in the cellular environment. We constructed Escherichia coli strains lacking the enzymes that naturally produce 5,10-methylene-THF. These strains were able to grow on minimal medium only when equipped with a sarcosine (N-methyl-glycine) oxidation pathway that sustained a high cellular concentration of formaldehyde, which spontaneously reacts with THF to produce 5,10-methylene-THF. We used flux balance analysis to derive the rate of the spontaneous condensation from the observed growth rate. According to this, we calculated that a microorganism obtaining its entire biomass via the spontaneous condensation of formaldehyde with THF would have a doubling time of more than three weeks. Hence, this spontaneous reaction is unlikely to serve as an effective route for formaldehyde assimilation.}, language = {en} } @article{KornherKalkuhl2019, author = {Kornher, Lukas and Kalkuhl, Matthias}, title = {The gains of coordination - When does regional cooperation for food security make sense?}, series = {Global Food Security - AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT}, volume = {22}, journal = {Global Food Security - AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {2211-9124}, doi = {10.1016/j.gfs.2019.09.004}, pages = {37 -- 45}, year = {2019}, abstract = {With the onset of the global food crisis, the discussion about the use and misuse of agricultural market interventions regained academic attention. As a result of economies of scale, centralized policy implementation at the regional level has the potential to reduce the budgetary costs of policies. Borrowing from the literature on international unions and international policy coordination, we develop a conceptual framework to analyze when regional policy implementation makes sense. This is the case whenever spill-overs from centralization are large and policy preferences, driven by country-specific characteristics, are homogeneous. Subsequently, we examine the advantageousness of centralized policy implementation for the West African region regarding the most common food security policies. We show that centralization of trade policies and emergency food reserves is beneficial, while buffer stocks, safety net policies, and producer support policies should be implemented at the national level.}, language = {en} } @article{SchiroColangeliMueller2019, author = {Schiro, Gabriele and Colangeli, Pierluigi and M{\"u}ller, Marina E. H.}, title = {A Metabarcoding Analysis of the Mycobiome of Wheat Ears Across a Topographically Heterogeneous Field}, series = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-302X}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2019.02095}, pages = {12}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{BrustOrzechowskiFettke2020, author = {Brust, Henrike and Orzechowski, Slawomir and Fettke, J{\"o}rg}, title = {Starch and Glycogen Analyses}, series = {Biomolecules}, volume = {10}, journal = {Biomolecules}, number = {7}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2218-273X}, doi = {10.3390/biom10071020}, pages = {24}, year = {2020}, abstract = {For complex carbohydrates, such as glycogen and starch, various analytical methods and techniques exist allowing the detailed characterization of these storage carbohydrates. In this article, we give a brief overview of the most frequently used methods, techniques, and results. Furthermore, we give insights in the isolation, purification, and fragmentation of both starch and glycogen. An overview of the different structural levels of the glucans is given and the corresponding analytical techniques are discussed. Moreover, future perspectives of the analytical needs and the challenges of the currently developing scientific questions are included}, language = {en} } @article{SchwarzerJoshi2019, author = {Schwarzer, Christian and Joshi, Jasmin Radha}, title = {Ecotypic differentiation, hybridization and clonality facilitate the persistence of a cold-adapted sedge in European bogs}, series = {Biological journal of the Linnean Society : a journal of evolution}, volume = {128}, journal = {Biological journal of the Linnean Society : a journal of evolution}, number = {4}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0024-4066}, doi = {10.1093/biolinnean/blz141}, pages = {909 -- 925}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Recent research has shown that many cold-adapted species survived the last glacial maximum (LGM) in northern refugia. Whether this evolutionary history has had consequences for their genetic diversity and adaptive potential remains unknown. We sampled 14 populations of Carex limosa, a sedge specialized to bog ecosystems, along a latitudinal gradient from its Scandinavian core to the southern lowland range-margin in Germany. Using microsatellite and experimental common-garden data, we evaluated the impacts of global climate change along this gradient and assessed the conservation status of the southern marginal populations. Microsatellite data revealed two highly distinct genetic groups and hybrid individuals. In our common-garden experiment, the two groups showed divergent responses to increased nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) availability, suggesting ecotypic differentiation. Each group formed genetically uniform populations at both northern and southern sampling areas. Mixed populations occurred throughout our sampling area, an area that was entirely glaciated during the LGM. The fragmented distribution implies allopatric divergence at geographically separated refugia that putatively differed in N/P availability. Molecular data and an observed low hybrid fecundity indicate the importance of clonal reproduction for hybrid populations. At the southern range-margin, however, all populations showed effects of clonality, lowered fecundity and low competitiveness, suggesting abiotic and biotic constraints to population persistence.}, language = {en} } @article{LemaireHonoreTempeletal.2019, author = {Lemaire, Olivier N. and Honore, Flora A. and Tempel, Sebastien and Fortier, Emma M. and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke and Mejean, Vincent and Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal}, title = {Shewanella decolorationis LDS1 Chromate Resistance}, series = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {85}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, number = {18}, publisher = {American Society for Microbiology}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0099-2240}, doi = {10.1128/AEM.00777-19}, pages = {15}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The genus Shewanella is well known for its genetic diversity, its outstanding respiratory capacity, and its high potential for bioremediation. Here, a novel strain isolated from sediments of the Indian Ocean was characterized. A 16S rRNA analysis indicated that it belongs to the species Shewanella decolorationis. It was named Shewanella decolorationis LDS1. This strain presented an unusual ability to grow efficiently at temperatures from 24 degrees C to 40 degrees C without apparent modifications of its metabolism, as shown by testing respiratory activities or carbon assimilation, and in a wide range of salt concentrations. Moreover, S. decolorationis LDS1 tolerates high chromate concentrations. Indeed, it was able to grow in the presence of 4 mM chromate at 28 degrees C and 3 mM chromate at 40 degrees C. Interestingly, whatever the temperature, when the culture reached the stationary phase, the strain reduced the chromate present in the growth medium. In addition, S. decolorationis LDS1 degrades different toxic dyes, including anthraquinone, triarylmethane, and azo dyes. Thus, compared to Shewanella oneidensis, this strain presented better capacity to cope with various abiotic stresses, particularly at high temperatures. The analysis of genome sequence preliminary data indicated that, in contrast to S. oneidensis and S. decolorationis S12, S. decolorationis LDS1 possesses the phosphorothioate modification machinery that has been described as participating in survival against various abiotic stresses by protecting DNA. We demonstrate that its heterologous production in S. oneidensis allows it to resist higher concentrations of chromate. IMPORTANCE Shewanella species have long been described as interesting microorganisms in regard to their ability to reduce many organic and inorganic compounds, including metals. However, members of the Shewanella genus are often depicted as cold-water microorganisms, although their optimal growth temperature usually ranges from 25 to 28 degrees C under laboratory growth conditions. Shewanella decolorationis LDS1 is highly attractive, since its metabolism allows it to develop efficiently at temperatures from 24 to 40 degrees C, conserving its ability to respire alternative substrates and to reduce toxic compounds such as chromate or toxic dyes. Our results clearly indicate that this novel strain has the potential to be a powerful tool for bioremediation and unveil one of the mechanisms involved in its chromate resistance.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Dammhahn2019, author = {Dammhahn, Melanie}, title = {From individual variation to community structure : paterns, determinants and consequences of within- and between-species variation in behaviour, life-history and ecology}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {431}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{AlbersUestuenWitzeletal.2019, author = {Albers, Philip and {\"U}st{\"u}n, Suayib and Witzel, Katja and Kraner, Max Erdmund and B{\"o}rnke, Frederik}, title = {A Remorin from Nicotiana benthamiana Interacts with the Pseudomonas Type-III Effector Protein HopZ1a and is Phosphorylated by the Immune-Related Kinase PBS1}, series = {Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions}, volume = {32}, journal = {Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions}, number = {9}, publisher = {Amer phytopathological SOC}, address = {ST Paul}, issn = {0894-0282}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-19-0105-R}, pages = {1229 -- 1242}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The plasma membrane (PM) is at the interface of plant-pathogen interactions and, thus, many bacterial type-III effector (T3E) proteins target membrane-associated processes to interfere with immunity. The Pseudomonas syringae T3E HopZ1a is a host cell PM-localized effector protein that has several immunity-associated host targets but also activates effector-triggered immunity in resistant backgrounds. Although HopZ1a has been shown to interfere with early defense signaling at the PM, no dedicated PM-associated HopZ1a target protein has been identified until now. Here, we show that HopZ1a interacts with the PM-associated remorin protein NbREM4 from Nicotiana benthamiana in several independent assays. NbREM4 relocalizes to membrane nanodomains after treatment with the bacterial elicitor flg22 and transient overexpression of NbREM4 in N. benthamiana induces the expression of a subset of defense-related genes. We can further show that NbREM4 interacts with the immune-related receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase avrPphB-susceptible 1 (PBS1) and is phosphorylated by PBS1 on several residues in vitro. Thus, we conclude that NbREM4 is associated with early defense signaling at the PM. The possible relevance of the HopZ1a-NbREM4 interaction for HopZ1a virulence and avirulence functions is discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{OzcelikayKurbanogluZhangetal.2019, author = {Ozcelikay, Goksu and Kurbanoglu, Sevinc and Zhang, Xiaorong and S{\"o}z, {\c{C}}ağla Kosak and Wollenberger, Ulla and Ozkan, Sibel A. and Yarman, Aysu and Scheller, Frieder W.}, title = {Electrochemical MIP Sensor for Butyrylcholinesterase}, series = {Polymers}, volume = {11}, journal = {Polymers}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2073-4360}, doi = {10.3390/polym11121970}, pages = {11}, year = {2019}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{HorreoBreedveldLindtkeetal.2019, author = {Horreo, J. L. and Breedveld, Merel Cathelijne and Lindtke, D. and Heulin, B. and Surget-Groba, Yann and Fitze, Patrick S.}, title = {Genetic introgression among differentiated clades is lower among clades exhibiting different parity modes}, series = {Heredity}, volume = {123}, journal = {Heredity}, number = {2}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {0018-067X}, doi = {10.1038/s41437-019-0201-7}, pages = {264 -- 272}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Mechanisms leading to sympatric speciation are diverse and may build up reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation among differentiated clades may exist due to genetic incompatibilities, sexual selection, differences in parity mode, reduced post-zygotic survival or reproductive success of hybrids. Here, we test whether differences in parity mode lead to reproductive isolation by investigating introgression in Zootoca vivipara, a lizard species exhibiting oviparous and viviparous reproduction. We measured introgression in transects spanning different viviparous clades, different oviparous subclades, transects containing oviparous and viviparous clades, and transects within the same subclade (control transects). Introgression in transects spanning oviparous and viviparous clades was one order of magnitude smaller than transects spanning the same reproductive mode and no statistical differences existed between transects spanning the same reproductive mode and control transects. Among types of transects, no significant differences existed in genetic and geographic distances, nor number of detected alleles. Moreover, hybrids were detected in all types of transects, showing that parity mode alone does not necessarily lead to complete reproductive isolation, which suggests that reinforcement may play an important role. The evolution of different parity modes together with reinforcement may thus promote reproductive isolation and rapid speciation, potentially explaining why only six of the almost 40,000 vertebrates belonging to groups consisting of viviparous and oviparous species exhibit bimodal reproduction.}, language = {en} } @misc{HorreoBreedveldLindtkeetal.2019, author = {Horreo, J. L. and Breedveld, Merel Cathelijne and Lindtke, D. and Heulin, B. and Surget-Groba, Yann and Fitze, Patrick S.}, title = {Correction: Genetic introgression among differentiated clades is lower among clades exhibiting different parity modes. - (Heredity. - 123, (2019) pg 264)}, series = {Heredity}, volume = {123}, journal = {Heredity}, number = {2}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {0018-067X}, doi = {10.1038/s41437-019-0223-1}, pages = {285 -- 285}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Y. Surget-Groba, which was incorrectly given as J. Surget-Groba. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.}, language = {en} } @article{SauerKleineVehn2019, author = {Sauer, Michael and Kleine-Vehn, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {PIN-FORMED and PIN-LIKES auxin transport facilitators}, series = {Development : Company of Biologists}, volume = {146}, journal = {Development : Company of Biologists}, number = {15}, publisher = {Company biologists ltd}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0950-1991}, doi = {10.1242/dev.168088}, pages = {5}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The phytohormone auxin influences virtually all aspects of plant growth and development. Auxin transport across membranes is facilitated by, among other proteins, members of the PIN-FORMED (PIN) and the structurally similar PIN-LIKES (PILS) families, which together govern directional cell-to-cell transport and intracellular accumulation of auxin. Canonical PIN proteins, which exhibit a polar localization in the plasma membrane, determine many patterning and directional growth responses. Conversely, the less-studied noncanonical PINs and PILS proteins, which mostly localize to the endoplasmic reticulum, attenuate cellular auxin responses. Here, and in the accompanying poster, we provide a brief summary of current knowledge of the structure, evolution, function and regulation of these auxin transport facilitators.}, language = {en} } @article{BollAvetisyanBhataraHoehle2020, author = {Boll-Avetisyan, Natalie and Bhatara, Anjali and H{\"o}hle, Barbara}, title = {Processing of rhythm in speech and music in adult dyslexia}, series = {Brain Sciences}, volume = {10}, journal = {Brain Sciences}, number = {5}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2076-3425}, doi = {10.3390/brainsci10050261}, pages = {26}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Recent studies have suggested that musical rhythm perception ability can affect the phonological system. The most prevalent causal account for developmental dyslexia is the phonological deficit hypothesis. As rhythm is a subpart of phonology, we hypothesized that reading deficits in dyslexia are associated with rhythm processing in speech and in music. In a rhythmic grouping task, adults with diagnosed dyslexia and age-matched controls listened to speech streams with syllables alternating in intensity, duration, or neither, and indicated whether they perceived a strong-weak or weak-strong rhythm pattern. Additionally, their reading and musical rhythm abilities were measured. Results showed that adults with dyslexia had lower musical rhythm abilities than adults without dyslexia. Moreover, lower musical rhythm ability was associated with lower reading ability in dyslexia. However, speech grouping by adults with dyslexia was not impaired when musical rhythm perception ability was controlled: like adults without dyslexia, they showed consistent preferences. However, rhythmic grouping was predicted by musical rhythm perception ability, irrespective of dyslexia. The results suggest associations among musical rhythm perception ability, speech rhythm perception, and reading ability. This highlights the importance of considering individual variability to better understand dyslexia and raises the possibility that musical rhythm perception ability is a key to phonological and reading acquisition.}, language = {en} } @article{ApioPlathWronski2006, author = {Apio, Ann and Plath, Martin and Wronski, Torsten}, title = {Patterns of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in the bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus from the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda}, series = {Journal of helminthology}, volume = {80}, journal = {Journal of helminthology}, number = {3}, publisher = {Univ. Press}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0022-149X}, doi = {10.1076/JOH2006343}, pages = {213 -- 218}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Seasonal, host sex and age-related variations in helminth egg and coccidian oocyst counts were investigated in a naturally infected wild bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) population in Queen Elizabeth National Park, western Uganda from April 2000 to February 2002. The prevalence and mean intensity quantified as the number of eggs and oocysts per gram of faeces were taken as a measure of parasite burdens. Host sex and age-related differences in prevalence values were not found but the overall prevalence of Eimeria sp. was significantly higher during the rainy season, and peak counts were recorded either during or soon after a peak rainfall. A similar trend was observed for Moniezia spp., although the results were marginally not significant. There were also no significant differences in mean intensity values, relative to host sex, age or season.}, language = {en} } @article{LissoAltmannMuessig2006, author = {Lisso, Janina and Altmann, Thomas and M{\"u}ssig, Carsten}, title = {The AtNFXL1 gene encodes a NF-X1 type zinc finger protein required for growth under salt stress}, series = {FEBS letters : the journal for rapid publication of short reports in molecular biosciences}, volume = {580}, journal = {FEBS letters : the journal for rapid publication of short reports in molecular biosciences}, number = {22}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0014-5793}, doi = {10.1016/j.febslet.2006.07.079}, pages = {4851 -- 4856}, year = {2006}, abstract = {The human NF-X1 protein and homologous proteins in eukaryotes represent a class of transcription factors which are characterised. by NF-X1 type zinc finger motifs. The Arabidopsis genome encodes two NF-X1 homologs, which we termed AtNFXL1 and AtNFXL2. Growth and survival was impaired in atnfxl1 knock-out mutants and AtNFXL1-antisense plants under salt stress in comparison to wild-type plants. In contrast, 35S: :AtNFXL1 plants showed higher survival rates. The AtNFXL2 protein potentially plays an antagonistic role. The Arabidopsis NF-X1 type zinc finger proteins likely are part of regulatory mechanisms, which protect major processes such as photosynthesis.}, language = {en} } @article{Greil2006, author = {Greil, Holle}, title = {Patterns of sexual dimorphism from birth to senescence}, series = {Collegium antropologicum}, volume = {30}, journal = {Collegium antropologicum}, number = {3}, publisher = {Institute for Anthropological Research}, address = {Zagreb}, issn = {0350-6134}, pages = {637 -- 641}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Sexual dimorphism is expressed as median of the female values in percent of the median of the male values, of 4 length measurements, 3 circumferences, and 5 measurements of corpulence respectively fat. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of more than 41.000 German subjects, aged from birth to age 62. The pattern of sexual dimorphism is similar in the length measurements. Girls are shorter at birth, but they increase in length at higher rates than boys and even temporarily overgrow the boys up to age 12. Thereafter, males show an obvious growth advantage leading to some 6 to 9\% more length in adult males. In contrast, female circumferences are always smaller, from birth to senescence. Though, the differences between the sexes are low in circumferences, up to age 13, sexual dimorphism increases to 17\% in the thoracic circumference at adulthood. Sexual dimorphism in weight and BMI is comparably with that in length measurements while subcutaneous fat and total body fat content are always higher in females. The results highlight that sexual dimorphism develops at different pace in the various components of the body and that it associates with a sex specific growth tempo.}, language = {en} } @article{CoduttiBenteFaivreetal.2019, author = {Codutti, Agnese and Bente, Klaas and Faivre, Damien and Klumpp, Stefan}, title = {Chemotaxis in external fields: Simulations for active magnetic biological matter}, series = {PLoS Computational Biology : a new community journal}, volume = {15}, journal = {PLoS Computational Biology : a new community journal}, number = {12}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1553-734X}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007548}, pages = {26}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The movement of microswimmers is often described by active Brownian particle models. Here we introduce a variant of these models with several internal states of the swimmer to describe stochastic strategies for directional swimming such as run and tumble or run and reverse that are used by microorganisms for chemotaxis. The model includes a mechanism to generate a directional bias for chemotaxis and interactions with external fields (e.g., gravity, magnetic field, fluid flow) that impose forces or torques on the swimmer. We show how this modified model can be applied to various scenarios: First, the run and tumble motion of E. coli is used to establish a paradigm for chemotaxis and investigate how it is affected by external forces. Then, we study magneto-aerotaxis in magnetotactic bacteria, which is biased not only by an oxygen gradient towards a preferred concentration, but also by magnetic fields, which exert a torque on an intracellular chain of magnets. We study the competition of magnetic alignment with active reorientation and show that the magnetic orientation can improve chemotaxis and thereby provide an advantage to the bacteria, even at rather large inclination angles of the magnetic field relative to the oxygen gradient, a case reminiscent of what is expected for the bacteria at or close to the equator. The highest gain in chemotactic velocity is obtained for run and tumble with a magnetic field parallel to the gradient, but in general a mechanism for reverse motion is necessary to swim against the magnetic field and a run and reverse strategy is more advantageous in the presence of a magnetic torque. This finding is consistent with observations that the dominant mode of directional changes in magnetotactic bacteria is reversal rather than tumbles. Moreover, it provides guidance for the design of future magnetic biohybrid swimmers. Author summary In this paper, we propose a modified Active Brownian particle model to describe bacterial swimming behavior under the influence of external forces and torques, in particular of a magnetic torque. This type of interaction is particularly important for magnetic biohybrids (i.e. motile bacteria coupled to a synthetic magnetic component) and for magnetotactic bacteria (i.e. bacteria with a natural intracellular magnetic chain), which perform chemotaxis to swim along chemical gradients, but are also directed by an external magnetic field. The model allows us to investigate the benefits and disadvantages of such coupling between two different directionality mechanisms. In particular we show that the magnetic torque can speed chemotaxis up in some conditions, while it can hinder it in other cases. In addition to an understanding of the swimming strategies of naturally magnetotactic organisms, the results may guide the design of future biomedical devices.}, language = {en} } @article{DunsingIrmscherBarbirzetal.2019, author = {Dunsing, Valentin and Irmscher, Tobias and Barbirz, Stefanie and Chiantia, Salvatore}, title = {Purely Polysaccharide-Based Biofilm Matrix Provides Size-Selective Diffusion Barriers for Nanoparticles and Bacteriophages}, series = {Biomacromolecules : an interdisciplinary journal focused at the interface of polymer science and the biological sciences}, volume = {20}, journal = {Biomacromolecules : an interdisciplinary journal focused at the interface of polymer science and the biological sciences}, number = {10}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1525-7797}, doi = {10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00938}, pages = {3842 -- 3854}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Biofilms are complex mixtures of proteins, DNA, and polysaccharides surrounding bacterial communities as protective barriers that can be biochemically modified during the bacterial life cycle. However, their compositional heterogeneity impedes a precise analysis of the contributions of individual matrix components to the biofilm structural organization. To investigate the structural properties of glycan-based biofilms, we analyzed the diffusion dynamics of nanometer-sized objects in matrices of the megadalton-sized anionic polysaccharide, stewartan, the major biofilm component of the plant pathogen, Pantoea stewartii. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and single-particle tracking of nanobeads and bacteriophages indicated notable subdiffusive dynamics dependent on probe size and stewartan concentration, in contrast to free diffusion of small molecules. Stewartan enzymatic depolymerization by bacteriophage tailspike proteins rapidly restored unhindered diffusion. We, thus, hypothesize that the glycan polymer stewartan determines the major physicochemical properties of the biofilm, which acts as a selective diffusion barrier for nanometer-sized objects and can be controlled by enzymes.}, language = {en} } @misc{ZupokIobbiNivolMejeanetal.2019, author = {Zupok, Arkadiusz and Iobbi-Nivol, Chantal and Mejean, Vincent and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {The regulation of Moco biosynthesis and molybdoenzyme gene expression by molybdenum and iron in bacteria}, series = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, volume = {11}, journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science}, number = {10}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1756-5901}, doi = {10.1039/c9mt00186g}, pages = {1602 -- 1624}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Bacterial molybdoenzymes are key enzymes involved in the global sulphur, nitrogen and carbon cycles. These enzymes require the insertion of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) into their active sites and are able to catalyse a large range of redox-reactions. Escherichia coli harbours nineteen different molybdoenzymes that require a tight regulation of their synthesis according to substrate availability, oxygen availability and the cellular concentration of molybdenum and iron. The synthesis and assembly of active molybdoenzymes are regulated at the level of transcription of the structural genes and of translation in addition to the genes involved in Moco biosynthesis. The action of global transcriptional regulators like FNR, NarXL/QP, Fur and ArcA and their roles on the expression of these genes is described in detail. In this review we focus on what is known about the molybdenum- and iron-dependent regulation of molybdoenzyme and Moco biosynthesis genes in the model organism E. coli. The gene regulation in E. coli is compared to two other well studied model organisms Rhodobacter capsulatus and Shewanella oneidensis.}, language = {en} } @article{HeimPuistoFukuietal.2019, author = {Heim, Olga and Puisto, Anna I. E. and Fukui, Dai and Vesterinen, Eero J.}, title = {Molecular evidence of bird-eating behavior in Nyctalus aviator}, series = {Acta ethologica}, volume = {22}, journal = {Acta ethologica}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Heidelberg}, issn = {0873-9749}, doi = {10.1007/s10211-019-00319-5}, pages = {223 -- 226}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Insectivorous bats consume a large variety of food items. Previous observations of feathers found in feces led to the hypothesis that the birdlike noctule (Nyctalus aviator, Vespertilionidae) could prey on birds. To test the hypothesis, we analyzed fecal samples from six species (Barbastella pacifica, Murina hilgendorfi, Myotis frater, N. aviator, Plecotus sacrimontis, and Vespertilio sinensis) collected from central Hokkaido, Japan, via DNA barcoding. We identified the presence of the Middendorff's grasshopper warbler (Locustella ochotensis) in the diet of a pregnant individual of N. aviator. All the other samples proved negative regarding bird prey DNA. This is the first time that the consumption of a bird by N. aviator is confirmed with molecular evidence. Our findings add invaluable insight into the diet of this bat and its potentially opportunistic foraging behavior.}, language = {en} } @article{RossbergGaedkeKratina2019, author = {Rossberg, Axel G. and Gaedke, Ursula and Kratina, Pavel}, title = {Dome patterns in pelagic size spectra reveal strong trophic cascades}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {10}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-12289-0}, pages = {11}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In ecological communities, especially the pelagic zones of aquatic ecosystems, certain bodysize ranges are often over-represented compared to others. Community size spectra, the distributions of community biomass over the logarithmic body-mass axis, tend to exhibit regularly spaced local maxima, called "domes", separated by steep troughs. Contrasting established theory, we explain these dome patterns as manifestations of top-down trophic cascades along aquatic food chains. Compiling high quality size-spectrum data and comparing these with a size-spectrum model introduced in this study, we test this theory and develop a detailed picture of the mechanisms by which bottom-up and top-down effects interact to generate dome patterns. Results imply that strong top-down trophic cascades are common in freshwater communities, much more than hitherto demonstrated, and may arise in nutrient rich marine systems as well. Transferring insights from the general theory of nonlinear pattern formation to domes patterns, we provide new interpretations of past lake-manipulation experiments.}, language = {en} } @article{StaszekKrasuskaOtulakKozieletal.2019, author = {Staszek, Pawel and Krasuska, Urszula and Otulak-Koziel, Katarzyna and Fettke, J{\"o}rg and Gniazdowska, Agnieszka}, title = {Canavanine-Induced Decrease in Nitric Oxide Synthesis Alters Activity of Antioxidant System but Does Not Impact S-Nitrosoglutathione Catabolism in Tomato Roots}, series = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {1664-462X}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2019.01077}, pages = {18}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Canavanine (CAN) is a nonproteinogenic amino acid synthesized in legumes. In mammalians, as arginine analogue, it is an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of CAN-induced nitric oxide level limitation on the antioxidant system and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) metabolism in roots of tomato seedlings. Treatment with CAN (10 or 50 mu M) for 24-72 h led to restriction in root growth. Arginine-dependent NOS-like activity was almost completely inhibited, demonstrating direct effect of CAN action. CAN increased total antioxidant capacity and the level of sulphydryl groups. Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased in CAN exposed roots. CAN supplementation resulted in the decrease of transcript levels of genes coding CAT (with the exception of CAT1). Genes coding SOD (except MnSOD and CuSOD) were upregulated by CAN short treatment; prolonged exposition to 50-mu M CAN resulted in downregulation of FeSOD, CuSOD, and SODP-2. Activity of glutathione reductase dropped down after short-term (10-mu M CAN) supplementation, while glutathione peroxidase activity was not affected. Transcript levels of glutathione reductase genes declined in response to CAN. Genes coding glutathione peroxidase were upregulated by 50-mu M CAN, while 10-mu M CAN downregulated GSHPx1. Inhibition of NOS-like activity by CAN resulted in lower GSNO accumulation in root tips. Activity of GSNO reductase was decreased by short-term supplementation with CAN. In contrast, GSNO reductase protein abundance was higher, while transcript levels were slightly altered in roots exposed to CAN. This is the first report on identification of differentially nitrated proteins in response to supplementation with nonproteinogenic amino acid. Among nitrated proteins differentially modified by CAN, seed storage proteins (after short-term CAN treatment) and components of the cellular redox system (after prolonged CAN supplementation) were identified. The findings demonstrate that due to inhibition of NOS-like activity, CAN leads to modification in antioxidant system. Limitation in GSNO level is due to lower nitric oxide formation, while GSNO catabolism is less affected. We demonstrated that monodehydroascorbate reductase, activity of which is inhibited in roots of CAN-treated plants, is the protein preferentially modified by tyrosine nitration.}, language = {en} } @article{MattheyDoretvanderKooiJeffriesetal.2019, author = {Matthey-Doret, Cyril and van der Kooi, Casper J. and Jeffries, Daniel L. and Bast, Jens and Dennis, Alice B. and Vorburger, Christoph and Schwander, Tanja}, title = {Mapping of Multiple Complementary Sex Determination Loci in a Parasitoid Wasp}, series = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {11}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, number = {10}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1759-6653}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evz219}, pages = {2954 -- 2962}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Sex determination has evolved in a variety of ways and can depend on environmental and genetic signals. A widespread form of genetic sex determination is haplodiploidy, where unfertilized, haploid eggs develop into males and fertilized diploid eggs into females. One of the molecular mechanisms underlying haplodiploidy in Hymenoptera, the large insect order comprising ants, bees, and wasps, is complementary sex determination (CSD). In species with CSD, heterozygosity at one or several loci induces female development. Here, we identify the genomic regions putatively underlying multilocus CSD in the parasitoid wasp Lysiphlebus fabarum using restriction -site associated DNA sequencing. By analyzing segregation patterns at polymorphic sites among 331 diploid males and females, we identify up to four CSD candidate regions, all on different chromosomes. None of the candidate regions feature evidence for homology with the csd gene from the honey bee, the only species in which CSD has been characterized, suggesting that CSD in L. fabarum is regulated via a novel molecular mechanism. Moreover, no homology is shared between the candidate loci, in contrast to the idea that multilocus CSD should emerge from duplications of an ancestral single -locus system. Taken together, our results suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying CSD in Hymenoptera are not conserved between species, raising the question as to whether CSD may have evolved multiple times independently in the group.}, language = {en} } @article{RuehlPietznerVilcinskasetal.2019, author = {R{\"u}hl, Martin and Pietzner, Verena and Vilcinskas, Andreas and Zorn, Holger}, title = {Insects and molds as bio-resources: food biotechnology}, series = {Chemie in unserer Zeit}, volume = {53}, journal = {Chemie in unserer Zeit}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {0009-2851}, doi = {10.1002/ciuz.201900833}, pages = {342 -- 348}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Microorganisms are used for the production of foodstuffs since thousands of years. By now, these biotechnological processes are not restricted to some of the known microorganisms. The possibility to produce enzymes independently from their host organisms extended their range of application. Since then, exploration of new bioresources leads to novel enzymes and peptides applicable for a diverse set of food production processes: peptidases of grain pest beetles are able to hydrolyse gluten and antimicrobial active peptides of insects maybe of use for preservation of food. Examples of our own work depict strategies to identify novel biocatalysts for food biotechnology.}, language = {en} } @article{FudickarMetzMaiLindeetal.2021, author = {Fudickar, Werner and Metz, Melanie and Mai-Linde, Yasemin and Kr{\"u}ger, Tobias and Kelling, Alexandra and Sperlich, Eric and Linker, Torsten}, title = {Influence of functional groups on the ene reaction of singlet oxygen with 1,4-cyclohexadienes}, series = {Photochemistry and photobiology : the official journal of the American Society for Photobiology}, volume = {97}, journal = {Photochemistry and photobiology : the official journal of the American Society for Photobiology}, number = {6}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Malden, Mass.}, issn = {0031-8655}, doi = {10.1111/php.13422}, pages = {1289 -- 1297}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The photooxygenation of 1,4-cyclohexadienes has been studied with a special focus on regio- and stereoselectivities. In all examples, only the methyl-substituted double bond undergoes an ene reaction with singlet oxygen, to afford hydroperoxides in moderate to good yields. We explain the high regioselectivities by a "large-group effect" of the adjacent quaternary stereocenter. Nitriles decrease the reactivity of singlet oxygen, presumably by quenching, but can stabilize proposed per-epoxide intermediates by polar interactions resulting in different stereoselectivities. Spiro lactams and lactones show an interesting effect on regio- and stereoselectivities of the ene reactions. Thus, singlet oxygen attacks the double bond preferentially anti to the carbonyl group, affording only one regioisomeric hydroperoxide. If the reaction occurs from the opposite face, the other regioisomer is exclusively formed by severe electrostatic repulsion in a perepoxide intermediate. We explain this unusual behavior by the fixed geometry of spiro compounds and call it a "spiro effect" in singlet oxygen ene reactions.}, language = {en} } @article{OgunkolaGuiraudieCaprazFeronetal.2023, author = {Ogunkola, Moses Olalekan and Guiraudie-Capraz, Gaelle and F{\´e}ron, Fran{\c{c}}ois and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {The Human Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase TUM1 Is Involved in Moco Biosynthesis, Cytosolic tRNA Thiolation and Cellular Bioenergetics in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells}, series = {Biomolecules}, volume = {13}, journal = {Biomolecules}, edition = {1}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel, Schweiz}, issn = {2218-273X}, doi = {10.3390/biom13010144}, pages = {1 -- 23}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Sulfur is an important element that is incorporated into many biomolecules in humans. The incorporation and transfer of sulfur into biomolecules is, however, facilitated by a series of different sulfurtransferases. Among these sulfurtransferases is the human mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) also designated as tRNA thiouridine modification protein (TUM1). The role of the human TUM1 protein has been suggested in a wide range of physiological processes in the cell among which are but not limited to involvement in Molybdenum cofactor (Moco) biosynthesis, cytosolic tRNA thiolation and generation of H2S as signaling molecule both in mitochondria and the cytosol. Previous interaction studies showed that TUM1 interacts with the L-cysteine desulfurase NFS1 and the Molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis protein 3 (MOCS3). Here, we show the roles of TUM1 in human cells using CRISPR/Cas9 genetically modified Human Embryonic Kidney cells. Here, we show that TUM1 is involved in the sulfur transfer for Molybdenum cofactor synthesis and tRNA thiomodification by spectrophotometric measurement of the activity of sulfite oxidase and liquid chromatography quantification of the level of sulfur-modified tRNA. Further, we show that TUM1 has a role in hydrogen sulfide production and cellular bioenergetics.}, language = {en} } @article{MarggrafLindeckeVoigtetal.2023, author = {Marggraf, Lara Christin and Lindecke, Oliver and Voigt, Christian C. and Pētersons, Gunārs and Voigt-Heucke, Silke Luise}, title = {Nathusius' bats, Pipistrellus nathusii, bypass mating opportunities of their own species, but respond to foraging heterospecifics on migratory transit flights}, series = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, publisher = {Frontiers}, address = {Lausanne, Schweiz}, issn = {2296-701X}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2022.908560}, pages = {1 -- 10}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In late summer, migratory bats of the temperate zone face the challenge of accomplishing two energy-demanding tasks almost at the same time: migration and mating. Both require information and involve search efforts, such as localizing prey or finding potential mates. In non-migrating bat species, playback studies showed that listening to vocalizations of other bats, both con-and heterospecifics, may help a recipient bat to find foraging patches and mating sites. However, we are still unaware of the degree to which migrating bats depend on con-or heterospecific vocalizations for identifying potential feeding or mating opportunities during nightly transit flights. Here, we investigated the vocal responses of Nathusius' pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus nathusii, to simulated feeding and courtship aggregations at a coastal migration corridor. We presented migrating bats either feeding buzzes or courtship calls of their own or a heterospecific migratory species, the common noctule, Nyctalus noctula. We expected that during migratory transit flights, simulated feeding opportunities would be particularly attractive to bats, as well as simulated mating opportunities which may indicate suitable roosts for a stopover. However, we found that when compared to the natural silence of both pre-and post-playback phases, bats called indifferently during the playback of conspecific feeding sounds, whereas P. nathusii echolocation call activity increased during simulated feeding of N. noctula. In contrast, the call activity of P. nathusii decreased during the playback of conspecific courtship calls, while no response could be detected when heterospecific call types were broadcasted. Our results suggest that while on migratory transits, P. nathusii circumnavigate conspecific mating aggregations, possibly to save time or to reduce the risks associated with social interactions where aggression due to territoriality might be expected. This avoidance behavior could be a result of optimization strategies by P. nathusii when performing long-distance migratory flights, and it could also explain the lack of a response to simulated conspecific feeding. However, the observed increase of activity in response to simulated feeding of N. noctula, suggests that P. nathusii individuals may be eavesdropping on other aerial hawking insectivorous species during migration, especially if these occupy a slightly different foraging niche.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{FuentesTaladriz2015, author = {Fuentes Taladriz, Paulina Andrea}, title = {High-level production of the antimalarial drug precursor artemisinic acid in plastids and in vivo visualization of plastid-to-nucleus gene transfer}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {148}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @article{EndesfelderWeicheltSchilleretal.2018, author = {Endesfelder, Stefanie and Weichelt, Ulrike and Schiller, Cornelia and Winter, Katja and von Haefen, Clarissa and B{\"u}hrer, Christoph}, title = {Caffeine protects against anticonvulsant-induced impaired neurogenesis in the developing rat brain}, series = {Neurotoxicity Research}, volume = {34}, journal = {Neurotoxicity Research}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1029-8428}, doi = {10.1007/s12640-018-9872-8}, pages = {173 -- 187}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In preterm infants, phenobarbital is the first-line antiepileptic drug for neonatal seizures while caffeine is used for the treatment of apnea. Data from experimental animals suggest that phenobarbital and other anticonvulsants are toxic for the developing brain, while neuroprotective effects have been reported for caffeine both in newborn rodents and preterm human infants. To characterize the interaction of phenobarbital and caffeine in the hippocampus of the developing rodent brain, we examined the effects of both drugs given separately or together on postnatal neurogenesis after administration to neonatal rats throughout postnatal day (P) 4 to P6. Phenobarbital treatment (50 mg/kg) resulted in a significant decrease of proliferative capacity in the dentate gyrus. Phenobarbital also reduced expression of neuronal markers (doublecortin (DCX), calretinin, NeuN), neuronal transcription factors (Pax6, Sox2, Tbr1/2, Prox1), and neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT-3) up to 24 h after the last administration. The phenobarbital-mediated impairment of neurogenesis was largely ameliorated by preconditioning with caffeine (10 mg/kg). In contrast, caffeine alone reduced proliferative capacity and expression of the neuronal markers DCX and NeuN at 6 h, but increased expression of neurotrophins and neuronal transcription factors at 6 and 12 h. These results indicate that administration of phenobarbital during the vulnerable phase of brain development negatively interferes with neuronal development, which can be prevented in part by co-administration of caffeine.}, language = {en} } @article{EndesfelderWeicheltStraussetal.2017, author = {Endesfelder, Stefanie and Weichelt, Ulrike and Strauß, Evelyn and Schl{\"o}r, Anja and Sifringer, Marco and Scheuer, Till and B{\"u}hrer, Christoph and Schmitz, Thomas}, title = {Neuroprotection by caffeine in hyperoxia-induced neonatal brain injury}, series = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {18}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, publisher = {Molecular Diversity Preservation International}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms18010187}, pages = {24}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Sequelae of prematurity triggered by oxidative stress and free radical-mediated tissue damage have coined the term "oxygen radical disease of prematurity". Caffeine, a potent free radical scavenger and adenosine receptor antagonist, reduces rates of brain damage in preterm infants. In the present study, we investigated the effects of caffeine on oxidative stress markers, anti-oxidative response, inflammation, redox-sensitive transcription factors, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix following the induction of hyperoxia in neonatal rats. The brain of a rat pups at postnatal Day 6 (P6) corresponds to that of a human fetal brain at 28-32 weeks gestation and the neonatal rat is an ideal model in which to investigate effects of oxidative stress and neuroprotection of caffeine on the developing brain. Six-day-old Wistar rats were pre-treated with caffeine and exposed to 80\% oxygen for 24 and 48 h. Caffeine reduced oxidative stress marker (heme oxygenase-1, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC)), promoted anti-oxidative response (superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin 1, and sulfiredoxin 1), down-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulated redox-sensitive transcription factor expression (Nrf2/Keap1, and NFκB), reduced pro-apoptotic effectors (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), and caspase-3), and diminished extracellular matrix degeneration (matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2, and inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1/2). Our study affirms that caffeine is a pleiotropic neuroprotective drug in the developing brain due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bissinger2003, author = {Bissinger, Vera}, title = {Factors determining growth and vertical distribution of planktonic algae in extremely acidic mining lakes (pH 2.7)}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-0000695}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2003}, abstract = {Die vorliegende Dissertation besch{\"a}ftigt sich mit den Faktoren, die das Wachstum und die Vertikalverteilung von Planktonalgen in extrem sauren Tagebaurestseen (TBS; pH 2-3) beeinflussen. Im exemplarisch untersuchten TBS 111 (pH 2.7; Lausitzer Revier) dominiert die Goldalge Ochromonas sp. in oberen und die Gr{\"u}nalge Chlamydomonas sp. in tieferen Wasserschichten, wobei letztere ein ausgepr{\"a}gtes Tiefenchlorophyll-Maximum (DCM) ausbildet. Es wurde ein deutlicher Einfluss von Limitation durch anorganischen Kohlenstoff (IC) auf das phototrophe Wachstum von Chlamydomonas sp. in oberen Wasserschichten nachgewiesen, die mit zunehmender Tiefe von Lichtlimitation abgel{\"o}st wird. Im Vergleich mit Arbeiten aus neutralen Seen zeigte Chlamydomonas sp. erniedrigte maximale Wachstumsraten, einen gesteigerten Kompensationspunkt und erh{\"o}hte Dunkelrespirationsraten, was auf gesteigerte metabolische Kosten unter den extremen physikalisch-chemischen Bedingungen hinweist. Die Photosyntheseleistungen von Chlamydomonas sp. waren in Starklicht-adaptierten Zellen durch IC-Limitation deutlich verringert. Außerdem ergaben die ermittelten minimalen Zellquoten f{\"u}r Phosphor (P) einen erh{\"o}hten P-Bedarf unter IC-Limitation. Anschließend konnte gezeigt werden, dass Chlamydomonas sp. ein mixotropher Organismus ist, der seine Wachstumsraten {\"u}ber die osmotrophe Aufnahme gel{\"o}sten organischen Kohlenstoffs (DOC) erh{\"o}hen kann. Dadurch ist dieser Organismus f{\"a}hig, in tieferen, Licht-limitierten Wasserschichten zu {\"u}berleben, die einen h{\"o}heren DOC-Gehalt aufweisen. Da die Vertikalverteilung der Algen im TBS 111 jedoch weder durch IC-Limitation, P-Verf{\"u}gbarkeit noch die in situ DOC-Konzentrationen abschließend erkl{\"a}rt werden konnte (bottom-up Kontrolle), wurde eine neue Theorie zur Entstehung der Vertikalverteilung gepr{\"u}ft. Grazing der phagotrophen und phototrophen Alge Ochromonas sp. auf der phototrophen Alge Chlamydomonas sp. erwies sich als herausragender Faktor, der {\"u}ber top-down Kontrolle die Abundanz der Beute in h{\"o}heren Wasserschichten beeinflussen kann. Gemeinsam mit der Tatsache, dass Chlamydomonas sp. DOC zur Wachstumssteigerung verwendet, f{\"u}hrt dies zu einer Akkumulation von Chlamydomonas sp. in der Tiefe, ausgepr{\"a}gt als DCM. Daher erscheint grazing als der Hauptfaktor, der die beobachtete Vertikalschichtung der Algen im TBS 111 hervorruft. Die erzielten Ergebnisse liefern grundlegende Informationen, um die Auswirkungen von Strategien zur Neutralisierung der TBS auf das Nahrungsnetz absch{\"a}tzen zu k{\"o}nnen.}, language = {en} } @article{AbbasVranicHoffmannetal.2018, author = {Abbas, Ioana M. and Vranic, Marija and Hoffmann, Holger and El-Khatib, Ahmed H. and Montes-Bay{\´o}n, Mar{\´i}a and M{\"o}ller, Heiko Michael and Weller, Michael G.}, title = {Investigations of the Copper Peptide Hepcidin-25 by LC-MS/MS and NMR⁺}, series = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, volume = {19}, journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences}, number = {8}, publisher = {Molecular Diversity Preservation International}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms19082271}, pages = {16}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Hepcidin-25 was identified as themain iron regulator in the human body, and it by binds to the sole iron-exporter ferroportin. Studies showed that the N-terminus of hepcidin is responsible for this interaction, the same N-terminus that encompasses a small copper(II) binding site known as the ATCUN (amino-terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-binding) motif. Interestingly, this copper-binding property is largely ignored in most papers dealing with hepcidin-25. In this context, detailed investigations of the complex formed between hepcidin-25 and copper could reveal insight into its biological role. The present work focuses on metal-bound hepcidin-25 that can be considered the biologically active form. The first part is devoted to the reversed-phase chromatographic separation of copper-bound and copper-free hepcidin-25 achieved by applying basic mobile phases containing 0.1\% ammonia. Further, mass spectrometry (tandemmass spectrometry (MS/MS), high-resolutionmass spectrometry (HRMS)) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the copper-peptide. Lastly, a three-dimensional (3D)model of hepcidin-25with bound copper(II) is presented. The identification of metal complexes and potential isoforms and isomers, from which the latter usually are left undetected by mass spectrometry, led to the conclusion that complementary analytical methods are needed to characterize a peptide calibrant or referencematerial comprehensively. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) and chiral amino acid analysis (AAA) should be considered among others.}, language = {en} } @misc{AbbasVranicHoffmannetal.2019, author = {Abbas, Ioana M. and Vranic, Marija and Hoffmann, Holger and El-Khatib, Ahmed H. and Montes-Bay{\´o}n, Mar{\´i}a and M{\"o}ller, Heiko Michael and Weller, Michael G.}, title = {Investigations of the Copper Peptide Hepcidin-25 by LC-MS/MS and NMR⁺}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {701}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-42792}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-427926}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Hepcidin-25 was identified as themain iron regulator in the human body, and it by binds to the sole iron-exporter ferroportin. Studies showed that the N-terminus of hepcidin is responsible for this interaction, the same N-terminus that encompasses a small copper(II) binding site known as the ATCUN (amino-terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-binding) motif. Interestingly, this copper-binding property is largely ignored in most papers dealing with hepcidin-25. In this context, detailed investigations of the complex formed between hepcidin-25 and copper could reveal insight into its biological role. The present work focuses on metal-bound hepcidin-25 that can be considered the biologically active form. The first part is devoted to the reversed-phase chromatographic separation of copper-bound and copper-free hepcidin-25 achieved by applying basic mobile phases containing 0.1\% ammonia. Further, mass spectrometry (tandemmass spectrometry (MS/MS), high-resolutionmass spectrometry (HRMS)) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the copper-peptide. Lastly, a three-dimensional (3D)model of hepcidin-25with bound copper(II) is presented. The identification of metal complexes and potential isoforms and isomers, from which the latter usually are left undetected by mass spectrometry, led to the conclusion that complementary analytical methods are needed to characterize a peptide calibrant or referencematerial comprehensively. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) and chiral amino acid analysis (AAA) should be considered among others.}, language = {en} } @article{ToulouseSchmuckerMeteschetal.2019, author = {Toulouse, Charlotte Marguerite and Schmucker, Sonja and Metesch, Kristina and Pfannstiel, Jens and Michel, Bernd and Starke, Ines and M{\"o}ller, Heiko Michael and Stefanski, Volker and Steuber, Julia}, title = {Mechanism and impact of catecholamine conversion by Vibrio cholerae}, series = {Biochimica et biophysica acta : Bioenergetics}, volume = {1860}, journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta : Bioenergetics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0005-2728}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.04.003}, pages = {478 -- 487}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Bacterial pathogens are influenced by signaling molecules including the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline which are host-derived hormones and neurotransmitters. Adrenaline and noradrenaline modulate growth, motility and virulence of bacteria. We show that adrenaline is converted by the pathogen Vibrio cholerae to adrenochrome in the course of respiration, and demonstrate that superoxide produced by the respiratory, Na+ - translocating NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (NQR) acts as electron acceptor in the oxidative conversion of adrenaline to adrenochrome. Adrenochrome stimulates growth of V. cholerae, and triggers specific responses in V. cholerae and in immune cells. We performed a quantitative proteome analysis of V. cholerae grown in minimal medium with glucose as carbon source without catecholamines, or with adrenaline, noradrenaline or adrenochrome. Significant regulation of proteins participating in iron transport and iron homeostasis, in energy metabolism, and in signaling was observed upon exposure to adrenaline, noradrenaline or adrenochrome. On the host side, adrenochrome inhibited lipopolysaccharide-triggered formation of TNF-alpha by THP-1 monocytes, though to a lesser extent than adrenaline. It is proposed that adrenochrome produced from adrenaline by respiring V. cholerae functions as effector molecule in pathogen-host interaction.}, language = {en} } @article{ReegStriglJeltsch2022, author = {Reeg, Jette and Strigl, Lea and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Agricultural buffer zone thresholds to safeguard functional bee diversity}, series = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {12}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, edition = {3}, publisher = {Wiley Online Library}, address = {Hoboken, New Jersey, USA}, issn = {2045-7758}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.8748}, pages = {1 -- 17}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Wild bee species are important pollinators in agricultural landscapes. However, population decline was reported over the last decades and is still ongoing. While agricultural intensification is a major driver of the rapid loss of pollinating species, transition zones between arable fields and forest or grassland patches, i.e., agricultural buffer zones, are frequently mentioned as suitable mitigation measures to support wild bee populations and other pollinator species. Despite the reported general positive effect, it remains unclear which amount of buffer zones is needed to ensure a sustainable and permanent impact for enhancing bee diversity and abundance. To address this question at a pollinator community level, we implemented a process-based, spatially explicit simulation model of functional bee diversity dynamics in an agricultural landscape. More specifically, we introduced a variable amount of agricultural buffer zones (ABZs) at the transition of arable to grassland, or arable to forest patches to analyze the impact on bee functional diversity and functional richness. We focused our study on solitary bees in a typical agricultural area in the Northeast of Germany. Our results showed positive effects with at least 25\% of virtually implemented agricultural buffer zones. However, higher amounts of ABZs of at least 75\% should be considered to ensure a sufficient increase in Shannon diversity and decrease in quasi-extinction risks. These high amounts of ABZs represent effective conservation measures to safeguard the stability of pollination services provided by solitary bee species. As the model structure can be easily adapted to other mobile species in agricultural landscapes, our community approach offers the chance to compare the effectiveness of conservation measures also for other pollinator communities in future.}, language = {en} } @article{KaunathEccard2022, author = {Kaunath, Vera and Eccard, Jana}, title = {Light Attraction in Carabid Beetles}, series = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, publisher = {Frontiers Media}, address = {Lausanne, Schweiz}, issn = {2296-701X}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2022.751288}, pages = {10}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Artificial light at night (ALAN) is altering the behaviour of nocturnal animals in a manifold of ways. Nocturnal invertebrates are particularly affected, due to their fatal attraction to ALAN. This selective pressure has the potential to reduce the strength of the flight-to-light response in insects, as shown recently in a moth species. Here we investigated light attraction of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae).We compared among animals (three genera) from a highly light polluted (HLP) grassland in the centre of Berlin and animals collected at a low-polluted area in a Dark Sky Reserve (DSR), captured using odour bait. In an arena setting tested at night time, HLP beetles (n = 75 across all genera) showed a reduced attraction towards ALAN. Tested during daytime, HLP beetles were less active in an open field test (measured as latency to start moving), compared to DSR (n = 143). However, we did not observe a reduced attraction towards ALAN within the species most common at both sides, Calathus fuscipes (HLP = 37, DSR = 118 individuals) indicating that not all species may be equally affected by ALAN. Reduced attraction to ALAN in urban beetles may either be a result of phenotypic selection in each generation removing HLP individuals that are attracted to light, or an indication for ongoing evolutionary differentiation among city and rural populations in their light response. Reduced attraction to light sources may directly enhance survival and reproductive success of urban individuals. However, decrease in mobility may negatively influence dispersal, reproduction and foraging success, highlighting the selective pressure that light pollution may have on fitness, by shaping and modifying the behaviour of insects.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Artins2023, author = {Artins, Anthony}, title = {Crosstalk between Target Of Rapamycin (TOR) and sugar signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {125}, year = {2023}, language = {en} } @misc{BestZhengBorgiaetal.2018, author = {Best, Robert B. and Zheng, Wenwei and Borgia, Alessandro and Buholzer, Karin and Borgia, Madeleine B. and Hofmann, Hagen and Soranno, Andrea and Nettels, Daniel and Gast, Klaus and Grishaev, Alexander and Schuler, Benjamin}, title = {Comment on "Innovative scattering analysis shows that hydrophobic disordered proteins are expanded in water"}, series = {Science}, volume = {361}, journal = {Science}, number = {6405}, publisher = {American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0036-8075}, doi = {10.1126/science.aar7101}, pages = {2}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Riback et al. (Reports, 13 October 2017, p. 238) used small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments to infer a degree of compaction for unfolded proteins in water versus chemical denaturant that is highly consistent with the results from Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. There is thus no "contradiction" between the two methods, nor evidence to support their claim that commonly used FRET fluorophores cause protein compaction.}, language = {en} } @misc{KrsticReinischSchuppetal.2018, author = {Krstic, Jelena and Reinisch, Isabel and Schupp, Michael and Schulz, Tim Julius and Prokesch, Andreas}, title = {p53 functions in adipose tissue metabolism and homeostasis}, series = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {19}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, number = {9}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms19092622}, pages = {21}, year = {2018}, abstract = {As a tumor suppressor and the most frequently mutated gene in cancer, p53 is among the best-described molecules in medical research. As cancer is in most cases an age-related disease, it seems paradoxical that p53 is so strongly conserved from early multicellular organisms to humans. A function not directly related to tumor suppression, such as the regulation of metabolism in nontransformed cells, could explain this selective pressure. While this role of p53 in cellular metabolism is gradually emerging, it is imperative to dissect the tissue-and cell-specific actions of p53 and its downstream signaling pathways. In this review, we focus on studies reporting p53's impact on adipocyte development, function, and maintenance, as well as the causes and consequences of altered p53 levels in white and brown adipose tissue (AT) with respect to systemic energy homeostasis. While whole body p53 knockout mice gain less weight and fat mass under a high-fat diet owing to increased energy expenditure, modifying p53 expression specifically in adipocytes yields more refined insights: (1) p53 is a negative regulator of in vitro adipogenesis; (2) p53 levels in white AT are increased in diet-induced and genetic obesity mouse models and in obese humans; (3) functionally, elevated p53 in white AT increases senescence and chronic inflammation, aggravating systemic insulin resistance; (4) p53 is not required for normal development of brown AT; and (5) when p53 is activated in brown AT in mice fed a high-fat diet, it increases brown AT temperature and brown AT marker gene expression, thereby contributing to reduced fat mass accumulation. In addition, p53 is increasingly being recognized as crucial player in nutrient sensing pathways. Hence, despite existence of contradictory findings and a varying density of evidence, several functions of p53 in adipocytes and ATs have been emerging, positioning p53 as an essential regulatory hub in ATs. Future studies need to make use of more sophisticated in vivo model systems and should identify an AT-specific set of p53 target genes and downstream pathways upon different (nutrient) challenges to identify novel therapeutic targets to curb metabolic diseases}, language = {en} } @article{ChenPerssonGrebeetal.2018, author = {Chen, Hsiang-Wen and Persson, Staffan and Grebe, Markus and McFarlane, Heather E.}, title = {Cellulose synthesis during cell plate assembly}, series = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {164}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0031-9317}, doi = {10.1111/ppl.12703}, pages = {17 -- 26}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The plant cell wall surrounds and protects the cells. To divide, plant cells must synthesize a new cell wall to separate the two daughter cells. The cell plate is a transient polysaccharide-based compartment that grows between daughter cells and gives rise to the new cell wall. Cellulose constitutes a key component of the cell wall, and mutants with defects in cellulose synthesis commonly share phenotypes with cytokinesis-defective mutants. However, despite the importance of cellulose in the cell plate and the daughter cell wall, many open questions remain regarding the timing and regulation of cellulose synthesis during cell division. These questions represent a critical gap in our knowledge of cell plate assembly, cell division and growth. Here, we review what is known about cellulose synthesis at the cell plate and in the newly formed cross-wall and pose key questions about the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes. We further provide an outlook discussing outstanding questions and possible future directions for this field of research.}, language = {en} } @article{SchibalskiKoernerMaieretal.2018, author = {Schibalski, Anett and K{\"o}rner, Katrin and Maier, Martin and Jeltsch, Florian and Schr{\"o}der, Boris}, title = {Novel model coupling approach for resilience analysis of coastal plant communities}, series = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {28}, journal = {Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, number = {6}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1051-0761}, doi = {10.1002/eap.1758}, pages = {1640 -- 1654}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Resilience is a major research focus covering a wide range of topics from biodiversity conservation to ecosystem (service) management. Model simulations can assess the resilience of, for example, plant species, measured as the return time to conditions prior to a disturbance. This requires process-based models (PBM) that implement relevant processes such as regeneration and reproduction and thus successfully reproduce transient dynamics after disturbances. Such models are often complex and thus limited to either short-term or small-scale applications, whereas many research questions require species predictions across larger spatial and temporal scales. We suggest a framework to couple a PBM and a statistical species distribution model (SDM), which transfers the results of a resilience analysis by the PBM to SDM predictions. The resulting hybrid model combines the advantages of both approaches: the convenient applicability of SDMs and the relevant process detail of PBMs in abrupt environmental change situations. First, we simulate dynamic responses of species communities to a disturbance event with a PBM. We aggregate the response behavior in two resilience metrics: return time and amplitude of the response peak. These metrics are then used to complement long-term SDM projections with dynamic short-term responses to disturbance. To illustrate our framework, we investigate the effect of abrupt short-term groundwater level and salinity changes on coastal vegetation at the German Baltic Sea. We found two example species to be largely resilient, and, consequently, modifications of SDM predictions consisted mostly of smoothing out peaks in the occurrence probability that were not confirmed by the PBM. Discrepancies between SDM- and PBM-predicted species responses were caused by community dynamics simulated in the PBM and absent from the SDM. Although demonstrated with boosted regression trees (SDM) and an existing individual-based model, IBC-grass (PBM), our flexible framework can easily be applied to other PBM and SDM types, as well as other definitions of short-term disturbances or long-term trends of environmental change. Thus, our framework allows accounting for biological feedbacks in the response to short- and long-term environmental changes as a major advancement in predictive vegetation modeling.}, language = {en} } @article{SchuurmansBrinkmannMakoweretal.2018, author = {Schuurmans, Jasper Merijn and Brinkmann, Bregje W. and Makower, Katharina and Dittmann, Elke and Huisman, Jef and Matthijs, Hans C. P.}, title = {Microcystin interferes with defense against high oxidative stress in harmful cyanobacteria}, series = {Harmful algae}, volume = {78}, journal = {Harmful algae}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1568-9883}, doi = {10.1016/j.hal.2018.07.008}, pages = {47 -- 55}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Harmful cyanobacteria producing toxic microcystins are a major concern in water quality management. In recent years, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been successfully applied to suppress cyanobacterial blooms in lakes. Physiological studies, however, indicate that microcystin protects cyanobacteria against oxidative stress, suggesting that H2O2 addition might provide a selective advantage for microcystin-producing (toxic) strains. This study compares the response of a toxic Microcystis strain, its non-toxic mutant, and a naturally non-toxic Microcystis strain to H2O2 addition representative of lake treatments. All three strains initially ceased growth upon H2O2 addition. Contrary to expectation, the non-toxic strain and non-toxic mutant rapidly degraded the added H2O2 and subsequently recovered, whereas the toxic strain did not degrade H2O2 and did not recover. Experimental catalase addition enabled recovery of the toxic strain, demonstrating that rapid H2O2 degradation is indeed essential for cyanobacterial survival. Interestingly, prior to H2O2 addition, gene expression of a thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin was much lower in the toxic strain than in its non-toxic mutant. Thioredoxin and peroxiredoxin are both involved in H2O2 degradation, and microcystin may potentially suppress their activity. These results show that microcystin-producing strains are less prepared for high levels of oxidative stress, and are therefore hit harder by H2O2 addition than non-toxic strains.}, language = {en} } @article{BiterovaEsmaeeliMoghaddamTabalvandaniAlanenetal.2018, author = {Biterova, Ekaterina and Esmaeeli Moghaddam Tabalvandani, Mariam and Alanen, Heli I. and Saaranen, Mirva and Ruddock, Lloyd W.}, title = {Structures of Angptl3 and Angptl4, modulators of triglyceride levels and coronary artery disease}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {8}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-25237-7}, pages = {12}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death globally and is linked to a number of risk factors including serum low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides and lipoprotein(a). Recently two proteins, angiopoietin-like protein 3 and 4, have emerged from genetic studies as being factors that significantly modulate plasma triglyceride levels and coronary artery disease. The exact function and mechanism of action of both proteins remains to be elucidated, however, mutations in these proteins results in up to 34\% reduction in coronary artery disease and inhibition of function results in reduced plasma triglyceride levels. Here we report the crystal structures of the fibrinogen-like domains of both proteins. These structures offer new insights into the reported loss of function mutations, the mechanisms of action of the proteins and open up the possibility for the rational design of low molecular weight inhibitors for intervention in coronary artery disease.}, language = {en} } @article{WhitcombNguyenBrueckneretal.2018, author = {Whitcomb, Sarah J. and Nguyen, Huu Cuong and Br{\"u}ckner, Franziska and Hesse, Holger and Hoefgen, Rainer}, title = {CYSTATHIONINE GAMMA-SYNTHASE activity in rice is developmentally regulated and strongly correlated with sulfate}, series = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {270}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Clare}, issn = {0168-9452}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.02.016}, pages = {234 -- 244}, year = {2018}, abstract = {An important goal of rice cultivar development is improvement of protein quality, especially with respect to essential amino acids such as methionine. With the goal of increasing seed methionine content, we generated Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cv. Taipei 309 transgenic lines expressing a feedback-desensitized CYSTATHIONINE GAMMA-SYNTHASE from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtD-CGS) under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter. Despite persistently elevated cystathionine gamma-synthase (CGS) activity in the AtD-CGS transgenic lines relative to untransformed Taipei, sulfate was the only sulfur-containing compound found to be elevated throughout vegetative development. Accumulation of methionine and other sulfur-containing metabolites was limited to the leaves of young plants. Sulfate concentration was found to strongly and positively correlate with CGS activity across vegetative development, irrespective of whether the activity was provided by the endogenous rice CGS or by a combination of endogenous and AtD-CGS. Conversely, the concentrations of glutathione, valine, and leucine were clearly negatively correlated with CGS activity in the same tissues. We also observed a strong decrease in CGS activity in both untransformed Taipei and the AtD-CGS transgenic lines as the plants approached heading stage. The mechanism for this downregulation is currently unknown and of potential importance for efforts to increase methionine content in rice.}, language = {en} } @article{StreubelFritzTeltowetal.2018, author = {Streubel, Susanna and Fritz, Michael Andre and Teltow, Melanie and Kappel, Christian and Sicard, Adrien}, title = {Successive duplication-divergence mechanisms at the RCO locus contributed to leaf shape diversity in the Brassicaceae}, series = {Development : Company of Biologists}, volume = {145}, journal = {Development : Company of Biologists}, number = {8}, publisher = {Company of Biologists}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {0950-1991}, doi = {10.1242/dev.164301}, pages = {10}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Gene duplication is a major driver for the increase of biological complexity. The divergence of newly duplicated paralogs may allow novel functions to evolve, while maintaining the ancestral one. Alternatively, partitioning the ancestral function among paralogs may allow parts of that role to follow independent evolutionary trajectories. We studied the REDUCED COMPLEXITY (RCO) locus, which contains three paralogs that have evolved through two independent events of gene duplication, and which underlies repeated events of leaf shape evolution within the Brassicaceae. In particular, we took advantage of the presence of three potentially functional paralogs in Capsella to investigate the extent of functional divergence among them. We demonstrate that the RCO copies control growth in different areas of the leaf. Consequently, the copies that are retained active in the different Brassicaceae lineages contribute to define the leaf dissection pattern. Our results further illustrate how successive gene duplication events and subsequent functional divergence can increase trait evolvability by providing independent evolutionary trajectories to specialized functions that have an additive effect on a given trait.}, language = {en} }