Refine
Has Fulltext
- no (170)
Year of publication
- 2015 (170) (remove)
Document Type
- Article (170) (remove)
Is part of the Bibliography
- yes (170)
Keywords
- Climate change (4)
- ancient DNA (4)
- biodiversity (4)
- climate change (4)
- AIP1 (2)
- Actin (2)
- Arabidopsis (2)
- Arabidopsis thaliana (2)
- Biodiversity (2)
- Brassica napus (2)
- Individual-based model (2)
- Land-use intensity (2)
- Patterning (2)
- Planar polarity (2)
- competition (2)
- electron transfer (2)
- enzyme catalysis (2)
- land use (2)
- polyunsaturated fatty acids (2)
- salamanders (2)
- 3D imaging (1)
- 454 pyrosequencing (1)
- 454-pyrosequencing (1)
- ACSL (1)
- ARL3 (1)
- AUX1 (1)
- Abandonment (1)
- Acer (1)
- Acer platanoides (1)
- Acer pseudoplatanus (1)
- Adaptation options (1)
- Adenylyl cyclase (1)
- Aggregation (1)
- Alkaline phosphatase (1)
- Amphibia (1)
- Amphibian (1)
- Ancient DNA (1)
- Andrena (1)
- Arabidopsis thaliana embryogenesis (1)
- Aridity (1)
- Arrival dates (1)
- Assembly pattern (1)
- Auxin transport (1)
- Azobenzene containing cationic surfactants (1)
- Bacterial growth efficiency (1)
- Baltic Sea (1)
- Barcoding (1)
- Basal body (1)
- Bgl2p (1)
- Bilirubin oxidase (1)
- Biodiversity indicators (1)
- Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (1)
- Biofuel cell (1)
- Biogeography (1)
- Biomarker (1)
- Biomaterials (1)
- Biome shifts (1)
- Biscutella didyma (1)
- Botulinum toxin (1)
- Breeding success (1)
- Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape (1)
- Bush encroachment (1)
- C:P ratio (1)
- CDK5RAP2 (1)
- COI (1)
- Caecilians (1)
- Cambodia (1)
- Campylomormyrus (1)
- Candida (1)
- Canid morphotype (1)
- Carbon decomposition (1)
- Cave (1)
- CdS quantum dots (1)
- Central nervous system (1)
- Centriole (1)
- Centrosome (1)
- Cheirogaleidae (1)
- Chiroptera (1)
- Chloroplast (1)
- Clearing formation (1)
- Clutch size (1)
- Coarse woody debris (1)
- Cobalt (1)
- Coexistence (1)
- Coexistence mechanisms (1)
- Community assembly (1)
- Community composition (1)
- Community-based Modelling (1)
- Competition (1)
- Complex heterogeneous systems (1)
- Continuous cultures (1)
- Cospeciation (1)
- DATM (1)
- DELWAQ (1)
- DNA (1)
- DNA methylation (1)
- DNA preservation (1)
- DUFLOW (1)
- Database Approach To Modelling (1)
- Density (1)
- Developmental Biology (1)
- Diagnostics (1)
- Differential Equations (1)
- Direct electron transfer (1)
- Dispersal limitation (1)
- Divergent evolution (1)
- Diversity (1)
- Dog (1)
- Domestication (1)
- Dynamic energy budget theory (1)
- EPA (1)
- EPR spectroscopy (1)
- Ecohydrological modeling (1)
- Ecological interactions (1)
- Electric organ discharge (1)
- Electric organ ontogeny (1)
- Electrocyte geometry (1)
- Elephas maximus sumatranus (1)
- Ellenberg indicator values (1)
- Endogenous retrovirus (1)
- Enzymatic fuel cell (1)
- Enzyme catalysis (1)
- Equus (1)
- Eucera (1)
- European lobster (1)
- External stimuli (1)
- FAME (1)
- Fecundity (1)
- Female moratorium (1)
- Festuca brevipila (1)
- Fire (1)
- Flagellate grazing (1)
- Flow cytometry (1)
- Food quality (1)
- Formica pratensis (1)
- Functional aging (1)
- G-protein-coupled receptor (1)
- GABA(B) receptor (1)
- GRIND (1)
- Genomic evolution (1)
- Genotypic differences (1)
- Germination (1)
- Global environmental change (1)
- Grass flush (1)
- Grassland (1)
- Grassland diversity (1)
- Grazing (1)
- Grime strategy (1)
- Grip strength (1)
- HTHP (1)
- Horse (1)
- Host shift (1)
- IB (1)
- IB4 (1)
- Immobilization (1)
- Individual based model (1)
- Individual size (1)
- Indochina (1)
- Integrative taxonomy (1)
- Interactive effects (1)
- Interference (1)
- Intraspecific genetic variation (1)
- Intraspecific variation (1)
- Issue 95 (1)
- LEM-domain (1)
- LIKE-AUX1 (LAX) (1)
- LINC complex (1)
- Lamin (1)
- Land use (1)
- Land use intensity (1)
- Laos (1)
- Lateralization (1)
- Latitudinal gradient (1)
- Leaf litter (1)
- Leaf senescence (1)
- Lemna minor (1)
- Lemnaceae (1)
- Lesion formation (1)
- Life history (1)
- Local plant-abundance (1)
- MADS-domain transcription factor (1)
- MCPH (1)
- MONOPTEROS (ARF5) (1)
- Management (1)
- Marine ecology (1)
- Markov cluster algorithm (1)
- Maternal effects (1)
- Metalloenzymes (1)
- Microbial carbon transfer (1)
- Microcebus berthae (1)
- Microcebus murinus (1)
- Microscale electrode (1)
- Microspore (1)
- Milium effusum (1)
- Minimum landing size (1)
- Model Analysis (1)
- Model Implementation (1)
- Modelling Framework (1)
- Molecular marker (1)
- Monte-Carlo simulations (1)
- Mormyridae (1)
- Mortality causes (1)
- Multi-locus phylogeny (1)
- Multiwalled carbon nanotube (1)
- Murine leukemia virus (1)
- Myodes glareolus (1)
- N efficiency (1)
- NAFLD (1)
- NF-B (1)
- Nanohybrid (1)
- Natural population (1)
- Nature conservation management (1)
- Neoromicia (1)
- Nest protection (1)
- Niche partitioning (1)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (1)
- Nuclear envelope (1)
- Nuclear lamina (1)
- Null model (1)
- Number of taste organs (1)
- Nutritional ecology (1)
- ODE model (1)
- OSIRIS (1)
- Oomycetes (1)
- Ophrys (1)
- Optimal foraging (1)
- Opto-mechanically induced scission of (1)
- Osmium (1)
- Osteoblast (1)
- PCDitch (1)
- PCLake (1)
- PDE6D (1)
- PHS2 (1)
- PIN (1)
- PUFA (1)
- Palaeolithic (1)
- Peptides (1)
- Periplaneta americana (1)
- Peronospora farinosa (1)
- Phenotypic plasticity (1)
- Photolysis (1)
- Photosensitive polymer brushes (1)
- Phylogeny (1)
- Phytotoxicity (1)
- Pipistrellus (1)
- Plant community ecology (1)
- Plant soil feedbacks (1)
- Plant-soil feedback (1)
- Pleistocene (1)
- Polymer degradation (1)
- Positive selection (1)
- Poylaniline (1)
- Precipitation (1)
- Primates (1)
- Protein aggregation (1)
- R (1)
- RNA (1)
- RP2 (1)
- RT-qPCR (1)
- Regeneration (1)
- Resistance (1)
- Resource provisioning (1)
- SLC13A5 (1)
- SSD (1)
- Salamanders (1)
- Salamandra (1)
- Salivary gland (1)
- Sarcopenia (1)
- Savanna rangeland dynamics (1)
- Scotophilus (1)
- Sea ice (1)
- Seasonality (1)
- Seed immigration (1)
- Seed provenance (1)
- Self-powered biosensor (1)
- Sensory zone (1)
- Sex difference (1)
- Sexual dimorphism (1)
- Shannon diversity (1)
- Skeletochronology (1)
- Solanum tuberosum (1)
- Solvation (1)
- Sorex araneus (1)
- Southern Ocean (1)
- Species tree (1)
- Sprouting (1)
- Stachys sylvatica (1)
- Starch accumulation (1)
- Starch metabolizing enzymes (1)
- Stay-green (1)
- Sulphite oxidase (1)
- Sun1 (1)
- Switzerland (1)
- System ecology (1)
- Taste buds (1)
- Temperature (1)
- Thailand (1)
- Time resolved FRET (1)
- Traffic (1)
- Transcript levels (1)
- Tree recruitment (1)
- Triturus (1)
- Trunk trail (1)
- Urodela (1)
- V2 (1)
- Variance partitioning (1)
- Vietnam (1)
- Voltammetry (1)
- Vulnerability (1)
- WEREWOLF (1)
- Weather impact (1)
- Wolf (1)
- XLRP (1)
- XMRV (1)
- Xanthomonas (1)
- XopJ (1)
- Xpr1 (1)
- Yield per recruit (YPR) (1)
- ZooMS (1)
- Zooplankton (1)
- abiotic stress (1)
- abundance estimation (1)
- acetylcholinesterase (1)
- age structure (1)
- agent-based models (1)
- aldehyde oxidase (1)
- algae (1)
- alien vascular plants (1)
- amino alcohols (1)
- annual plants (1)
- arylalkylamine N-transferase (1)
- atmospheric nitrogen deposition (1)
- avirulence (1)
- bacterial production (1)
- bank vole (1)
- biocatalysis (1)
- bioelectrocatalysis (1)
- bioinvasion (1)
- biomaterials (1)
- biomimetic sensors (1)
- cancer cachexia (1)
- capture-recapture modeling (1)
- cascade reactions (1)
- cell-based assay (1)
- cellobiose dehydrogenase (1)
- chlorophyll content (1)
- chromatin remodeling (1)
- chronotopy (1)
- circadian clock (1)
- cis-regulatory evolution (1)
- click chemistry (1)
- climate warming (1)
- clock genes (1)
- coat colour (1)
- coexistence (1)
- cofactors (1)
- community (1)
- community biomass (1)
- community structure (1)
- complexity (1)
- comprehensive analysis (1)
- congeneric species (1)
- conservation (1)
- conservation responsibility (1)
- correlation (1)
- cryptogams (1)
- cultures (1)
- cyt b (1)
- cytokines/chemokines (1)
- cytoplasmic polyadenylation (1)
- dark respiration (1)
- data synthesis (1)
- deadwood (1)
- deep-sea bacterial community (1)
- degradable polymers (1)
- demography (1)
- differential expression analysis (1)
- diffusion (1)
- direct electrochemistry (1)
- directed evolution (1)
- dissection (1)
- diversification (1)
- diversification rates (1)
- domestication (1)
- drought (1)
- drug delivery (1)
- dryland ecosystems (1)
- drylands (1)
- dye (1)
- dynamic equilibrium (1)
- echolocation (1)
- ecological niches (1)
- ecological restoration (1)
- ecology (1)
- ecosystem functioning (1)
- ecosystem services (1)
- eicosapentaenoic acid (1)
- electrochemistry (1)
- electrospinning (1)
- elemental composition (1)
- embryo (1)
- enzymes (1)
- error avoidance (1)
- evenness (1)
- evolution (1)
- extinction (1)
- extreme temperature events (1)
- fecundity (1)
- fertilization (1)
- fitness-maximization (1)
- flower development (1)
- fluorescent reporter (1)
- food quality (1)
- forest management (1)
- forestREplot (1)
- fovea (1)
- freshwater sharks (1)
- functional traits (1)
- game browsing (1)
- gene duplication (1)
- gene-expression (1)
- genome evolution (1)
- global change (1)
- global spread (1)
- global warming (1)
- grassland management (1)
- grasslands (1)
- grazing (1)
- growth regulation (1)
- habitat type (1)
- heart (1)
- heme proteins (1)
- human sulfite oxidase (1)
- hybridisation capture (1)
- hydrostatic pressure (1)
- hyponasty (1)
- imperialist dogma (1)
- individual-based (1)
- inflammation (1)
- insect-like AANAT (1)
- interactions (1)
- island biogeography (1)
- lactams (1)
- land-use change (1)
- land-use intensity (1)
- last glacial maximum (1)
- leaf development (1)
- life form (1)
- light acclimation (1)
- light-field camera (1)
- low light stress conditions (1)
- lysine dendron (1)
- macrophage subsets (1)
- mammalian-cells (1)
- marine mammal (1)
- maternal environmental effects (1)
- maximum temperature (1)
- membrane fatty acids (1)
- mental retardation (1)
- mesic grasslands (1)
- messenger-rna polyadenylation (1)
- metagenomics (1)
- miRNA (1)
- microbial communities (1)
- microbial diversity (1)
- migration (1)
- minerals (1)
- model (1)
- model development (1)
- modeling (1)
- modest approach (1)
- molecular modeling (1)
- molecularly imprinted electropolymers (1)
- monolayers (1)
- morphological divergence (1)
- morphometrics (1)
- mouse lethality assay (1)
- mowing (1)
- mtDNA (1)
- multi-locus data (1)
- multidiversity (1)
- multifunctional polymers (1)
- multifunctionality (1)
- multitrophic interactions (1)
- muscle development (1)
- museum specimens (1)
- network of plant invasion (1)
- neural differentiation (1)
- next generation sequencing (1)
- next generation sequencing (NGS) (1)
- nociceptors (1)
- optogenetics (1)
- outbreak (1)
- oxygen evolution (1)
- p-Aminophenol (1)
- pH responsive hydrogel (1)
- pain (1)
- palaeogenetics (1)
- palaeogenomics (1)
- parchment (1)
- particle-associated and free-living bacteria (1)
- peptide mimotopes (1)
- performance prediction (1)
- peripheral anionic site (1)
- pgm (1)
- phenology (1)
- phosphorus (1)
- phosphorylase (1)
- photocurrent (1)
- photosynthesis (1)
- phylogenetic diversity (1)
- phylogenomics (1)
- phylogeny (1)
- phytoplankton (1)
- piezophilic bacteria (1)
- plant development (1)
- plant growth (1)
- plant population and community dynamics (1)
- plant-plant interactions (1)
- pollen (1)
- pollination syndrome (1)
- pollinator shift (1)
- poly(a)-binding protein (1)
- polymer chains (1)
- population (1)
- population dynamics (1)
- population genomics (1)
- populations (1)
- positive selection (1)
- prediction (1)
- pressure chamber (1)
- primary microcephaly (1)
- propidium (1)
- protein structures (1)
- qPCR (1)
- red list (1)
- regression tree (1)
- regular exercise training (1)
- relatedness (1)
- release mechanism (1)
- reproduction (1)
- resource use efficiency (1)
- rock-paper-scissors game (1)
- rod-cone dystrophy (1)
- salicylic acid (1)
- salinity gradient (1)
- salt-and-pepper (1)
- seasonality (1)
- seasons (1)
- seed (1)
- senescence (1)
- sensory neurons (1)
- sex ratio (1)
- sexual deception (SD) (1)
- sexual selection (1)
- sheep (1)
- silicone (1)
- skeletochronology (1)
- solid-phase peptide synthesis (1)
- soluble heteroglycans (1)
- spatiotemporal resurvey data (1)
- species interaction network (1)
- species radiation (1)
- species richness (1)
- specificity factor (1)
- spectroelectrochemistry (1)
- stability (1)
- stable carbon (1)
- stable isotopes (1)
- stable nitrogen (1)
- stem cell (1)
- stent coatings (1)
- surface plasmon resonance (1)
- surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopy (1)
- tail-length (1)
- target environment (1)
- target range (1)
- technical advance (1)
- temperature (1)
- time series (1)
- tolerance index (1)
- transcriptome (1)
- transgenerational plasticity (1)
- translational control (1)
- type-III effector (1)
- variability (1)
- versican (1)
- water stress (1)
- white adipose tissue (1)
- wood harvest (1)
- young genes (1)
- zebrafish (1)
Institute
- Institut für Biochemie und Biologie (170) (remove)
Changing temperature and precipitation can strongly influence plant reproduction. However, also biotic interactions might indirectly affect the reproduction and recruitment success of plants in the context of climate change. Information about the interactive effects of changes in abiotic and biotic factors is essential, but still largely lacking, to better understand the potential effects of a changing climate on plant populations. Here we analyze the regeneration from seeds of Acer platanoides and Acer pseudoplatanus, two currently secondary forest tree species from seven regions along a 2200 km-wide latitudinal gradient in Europe. We assessed the germination, seedling survival and growth during two years in a common garden experiment where temperature, precipitation and competition with the understory vegetation were manipulated. A. platanoides was more sensitive to changes in biotic conditions while A. pseudoplatanus was affected by both abiotic and biotic changes. In general, competition reduced (in A. platanoides) and warming enhanced (in A. pseudoplatanus) germination and survival, respectively. Reduced competition strongly increased the growth of A. platanoides seedlings. Seedling responses were independent of the conditions experienced by the mother tree during seed production and maturation. Our results indicate that, due to the negative effects of competition on the regeneration of A. platanoides, it is likely that under stronger competition (projected under future climatic conditions) this species will be negatively affected in terms of germination, survival and seedling biomass. Climate-change experiments including both abiotic and biotic factors constitute a key step forward to better understand the response of tree species' regeneration to climate change. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A direct electron transfer (DET) based sulphite/oxygen biofuel cell is reported that utilises human sulphite oxidase (hSOx) and Myrothecium verrucaria bilirubin oxidase (MvBOx) and nanostructured gold electrodes. For bioanode construction, the nanostructured gold microelectrodes were further modified with 3,3'-dithiodipropionic acid di(N-hydroxysuccinimide ester) to which polyethylene imine was covalently attached. hSOx was adsorbed onto this chemically modified nanostructured electrode with high surface loading of electroactive enzyme and in presence of sulphite high anodic bioelectrocatalytic currents were generated with an onset potential of 0.05 V vs. NHE. The biocathode contained MyBOx directly adsorbed to the deposited gold nanoparticles for cathodic oxygen reduction starting at 0.71 V vs. NHE. Both enzyme electrodes were integrated to a DET-type biofuel cell. Power densities of 8 and 1 mu W cm(-2) were achieved at 0.15 V and 0.45 V of cell voltages, respectively, with the membrane based biodevices under aerobic conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzymes are attractive catalysts for potential carbon dioxide conversion applications. The FDH from Rhodobacter capsulatus (RcFDH) binds a bis-molybdopterin-guanine-dinucleotide (bis-MGD) cofactor, facilitating reversible formate (HCOO-) to CO2 oxidation. We characterized the molecular structure of the active site of wildtype RcFDH and protein variants using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Mo K-edge. This approach has revealed concomitant binding of a sulfido ligand (Mo=S) and a conserved cysteine residue (S(Cys386)) to Mo(VI) in the active oxidized molybdenum cofactor (Moco), retention of such a coordination motif at Mo(V) in a chemically reduced enzyme, and replacement of only the S(Cys386) ligand by an oxygen of formate upon Mo(IV) formation. The lack of a Mo=S bond in RcFDH expressed in the absence of FdsC implies specific metal sulfuration by this bis-MGD binding chaperone. This process still functioned in the Cys386Ser variant, showing no Mo-S(Cys386) ligand, but retaining a Mo=S bond. The C386S variant and the protein expressed without FdsC were inactive in formate oxidation, supporting that both Moligands are essential for catalysis. Low-pH inhibition of RcFDH was attributed to protonation at the conserved His387, supported by the enhanced activity of the His387Met variant at low pH, whereas inactive cofactor species showed sulfido-to-oxo group exchange at the Mo ion. Our results support that the sulfido and S(Cys386) ligands at Mo and a hydrogen-bonded network including His387 are crucial for positioning, deprotonation, and oxidation of formate during the reaction cycle of RcFDH.
A flexible approach to assess fluorescence decay functions in complex energy transfer systems
(2015)
Background: Time-correlated Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes molecular distances with greater accuracy than intensity-based calculation of FRET efficiency and provides a powerful tool to study biomolecular structure and dynamics. Moreover, time-correlated photon count measurements bear additional information on the variety of donor surroundings allowing more detailed differentiation between distinct structural geometries which are typically inaccessible to general fitting solutions.
Results: Here we develop a new approach based on Monte Carlo simulations of time-correlated FRET events to estimate the time-correlated single photon counts (TCSPC) histograms in complex systems. This simulation solution assesses the full statistics of time-correlated photon counts and distance distributions of fluorescently labeled biomolecules. The simulations are consistent with the theoretical predictions of the dye behavior in FRET systems with defined dye distances and measurements of randomly distributed dye solutions. We validate the simulation results using a highly heterogeneous aggregation system and explore the conditions to use this tool in complex systems.
Conclusion: This approach is powerful in distinguishing distance distributions in a wide variety of experimental setups, thus providing a versatile tool to accurately distinguish between different structural assemblies in highly complex systems.
The allocation of large numbers of workers facilitates the swift intake of locally available resources which is essential for ant colony survival. To organise the traffic between nest and food source, the black-meadow ant Formica pratensis establishes permanent trunk trails, which are maintained by the ants. To unravel the ant organisation and potential traffic rules on these trails, we analysed velocity and lane segregation under various densities by experimentally changing feeding regimes. Even under the highest ant densities achieved, we never observed any traffic jams. On the contrary, velocity increased after supplementary feeding despite an enhanced density. Furthermore, inbound ants returning to the nest had a higher velocity than those leaving the colony. Whilst at low and medium density the ants used the centre of the trail, they used the full width of the trail at high density. Outbound ants also showed some degree of lane segregation which contributes to traffic organisation.
The control of bioelectrocatalytic processes by external stimuli for the indirect detection of non-redox active species was achieved using an esterase and a redox enzyme both integrated within a redox hydrogel. The poly( vinyl) imidazole Os(bpy)(2)Cl hydrogel displays pH-responsive properties. The esterase catalysed reaction leads to a local pH decrease causing protonation of imidazole moieties thus increasing hydrogel solvation and mobility of the tethered Os-complexes. This is the key step to enable improved electron transfer between an aldehyde oxidoreductase and the polymer-bound Os-complexes. The off-on switch is further integrated in a biofuel cell system for self-powered signal generation.
Amphibians are characterised by potentially indefinite growth. Their body size reflects a trade-off between growth and reproduction. Consequently, growth decreases or even ceases after maturation. Furthermore, the sexes often mature at different ages (sexual bimaturity). We examined fecundity patterns of the terrestrial salamander Salamandra algira (Salamandridae) and tested if age, body size and the fecundity of both sexes are connected and how these reproductive traits interact. We revealed positive correlations for female size, age and fecundity traits, i.e., egg number and volume. The male number of testes lobes was also positively correlated with age. Our study provides basic data on a rarely studied terrestrial salamandrid. Further collection-based research is needed to obtain additional data aiding the understanding of life history evolution of the Salamandridae.
Cellobiose dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidation of various carbohydrates and is considered as a possible anode catalyst in biofuel cells. It has been shown that the catalytic performance of this enzyme immobilized on electrodes can be increased by presence of calcium ions. To get insight into the Ca2+-induced changes in the immobilized enzyme we employ surface-enhanced vibrational (SERR and SEIRA) spectroscopy together with electrochemistry. Upon addition of Ca2+ ions electrochemical measurements show a shift of the catalytic turnover signal to more negative potentials while SERR measurements reveal an offset between the potential of heme reduction and catalytic current. Comparing SERR and SEIRA data we propose that binding of Ca2+ to the heme induces protein reorientation in a way that the electron transfer pathway of the catalytic FAD center to the electrode can bypass the heme cofactor, resulting in catalytic activity at more negative potentials.
The invention and development of next or second generation sequencing methods has resulted in a dramatic transformation of ancient DNA research and allowed shotgun sequencing of entire genomes from fossil specimens. However, although there are exceptions, most fossil specimens contain only low (similar to 1% or less) percentages of endogenous DNA. The only skeletal element for which a systematically higher endogenous DNA content compared to other skeletal elements has been shown is the petrous part of the temporal bone. In this study we investigate whether (a) different parts of the petrous bone of archaeological human specimens give different percentages of endogenous DNA yields, (b) there are significant differences in average DNA read lengths, damage patterns and total DNA concentration, and (c) it is possible to obtain endogenous ancient DNA from petrous bones from hot environments. We carried out intra-petrous comparisons for ten petrous bones from specimens from Holocene archaeological contexts across Eurasia dated between 10,0001,800 calibrated years before present (cal. BP). We obtained shotgun DNA sequences from three distinct areas within the petrous: a spongy part of trabecular bone (part A), the dense part of cortical bone encircling the osseous inner ear, or otic capsule (part B), and the dense part within the otic capsule (part C). Our results confirm that dense bone parts of the petrous bone can provide high endogenous aDNA yields and indicate that endogenous DNA fractions for part C can exceed those obtained for part B by up to 65-fold and those from part A by up to 177-fold, while total endogenous DNA concentrations are up to 126-fold and 109-fold higher for these comparisons. Our results also show that while endogenous yields from part C were lower than 1% for samples from hot (both arid and humid) parts, the DNA damage patterns indicate that at least some of the reads originate from ancient DNA molecules, potentially enabling ancient DNA analyses of samples from hot regions that are otherwise not amenable to ancient DNA analyses.
A subpopulation of nociceptors, the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-dependent, non-peptidergic C-fibers, expresses a cell-surface glycoconjugate that can be selectively labeled with isolectin B4 (IB4), a homotetrameric plant lectin from Griffonia simplicifolia. We show that versican is an IB4-binding molecule in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), insitu hybridization and immunofluorescence experiments on rat lumbar dorsal root ganglion, we provide the first demonstration that versican is produced by neurons. In addition, by probing Western blots with splice variant-specific antibodies we show that the IB4-binding versican contains only the glycosaminoglycan alpha domain. Our data support V2 as the versican isoform that renders this subpopulation of nociceptors IB4-positive (+).
A subset of nociceptors, the GDNF-dependent non-peptidergic C-fibers can be characterized by its reactivity for isolectin B4 (IB4), a plant lectin from Griffonia simplicifolia. We have previously demonstrated that versican V2 binds IB4 in a Ca2+-dependent manner. However, given that versican is thought to be the product of glial cells, it was questionable whether versican V2 can be accountable for the IB4-reactivity of this subset of nociceptors. The results presented here prove - for the first time - a neuronal origin of versican and suggest that versican V2 is the molecule that renders GDNF-dependent non-peptidergic C-fibers IB4-positive.
Numerous studies have explored the relationship between environmental factors and White Stork Ciconia ciconia reproduction, mainly expressing breeding success as the number of fledglings. Nonetheless, one of the most critical life-history stages in birds falls between egg-laying and fledging, and identifying the factors causing offspring mortality during this period provides valuable knowledge. We quantified the number of laid White Stork eggs and the proportion of eggs that turned into fledglings in an agriculture-dominated region in Eastern Germany. Moreover, we identified the factors among land cover, weather and arrival dates, which influenced these two reproductive measures the most, and analysed the monitored mortality causes. On average, four eggs were laid per nest, and 57.8 % of the eggs turned into fledglings. The number of eggs laid was best explained by the negative effect of the arrival date of the second stork, while the percentage of eggs that turned into fledglings was more dependent on weather: most important parameters were mean temperature in the fifth and seventh weeks after the assumed breeding start (i.e. around the assumed hatching date), and the number of consecutive days with precipitation when nestlings are assumed to be approximately 3 weeks old. In an agricultural environment, weather effects that potentially disturb food availability might be more important than effects directly affecting the survival of White Stork offspring. The most frequent observed mortality cause, nest fights, furthermore revealed the relevance of intraspecific competition in the study population.
Episodes of rapid speciation provide unique insights into evolutionary processes underlying species radiations and patterns of biodiversity. Here we investigated the radiation of sexually deceptive bee orchids (Ophrys). Based on a time-calibrated phylogeny and by means of ancestral character reconstruction and divergence time estimation, we estimated the tempo and mode of this radiation within a state-dependent evolutionary framework. It appears that, in the Pleistocene, the evolution of Ophrys was marked by episodes of rapid diversification coinciding with shifts to different pollinator types: from wasps to Eucera bees to Andrena and other bees. An abrupt increase in net diversification rate was detected in three clades. Among these, two phylogenetically distant lineages switched from Eucera to Andrena and other bees in a parallel fashion and at about the same time in their evolutionary history. Lack of early radiation associated with the evolution of the key innovation of sexual deception suggests that Ophrys diversification was mainly driven by subsequent ecological opportunities provided by the exploitation of novel pollinator groups, encompassing many bee species slightly differing in their sex pheromone communication systems, and by spatiotemporal fluctuations in the pollinator mosaic.
The networks of predator-prey interactions in ecological systems are remarkably complex, but nevertheless surprisingly stable in terms of long term persistence of the system as a whole. In order to understand the mechanism driving the complexity and stability of such food webs, we developed an eco-evolutionary model in which new species emerge as modifications of existing ones and dynamic ecological interactions determine which species are viable. The food-web structure thereby emerges from the dynamical interplay between speciation and trophic interactions. The proposed model is less abstract than earlier evolutionary food web models in the sense that all three evolving traits have a clear biological meaning, namely the average body mass of the individuals, the preferred prey body mass, and the width of their potential prey body mass spectrum. We observed networks with a wide range of sizes and structures and high similarity to natural food webs. The model networks exhibit a continuous species turnover, but massive extinction waves that affect more than 50% of the network are not observed.
The Electrically Wired Molybdenum Domain of Human Sulfite Oxidase is Bioelectrocatalytically Active
(2015)
We report electron transfer between the catalytic molybdenum cofactor (Moco) domain of human sulfite oxidase (hSO) and electrodes through a poly(vinylpyridine)-bound [osmium(N,N'-methyl-2,2'-biimidazole)(3)](2+/3+) complex as the electron-transfer mediator. The biocatalyst was immobilized in this low-potential redox polymer on a carbon electrode. Upon the addition of sulfite to the immobilized separate Moco domain, the generation of a significant catalytic current demonstrated that the catalytic center is effectively wired and active. The bioelectrocatalytic current of the wired separate catalytic domain reached 25% of the signal of the wired full molybdoheme enzyme hSO, in which the heme b(5) is involved in the electron-transfer pathway. This is the first report on a catalytically active wired molybdenum cofactor domain. The formal potential of this electrochemical mediator is between the potentials of the two cofactors of hSO, and as hSO can occupy several conformations in the polymer matrix, it is imaginable that electron transfer from the catalytic site to the electrode through the osmium center occurs for the hSO molecules in which the Moco domain is sufficiently accessible. The observation of catalytic oxidation currents at low potentials is favorable for applications in bioelectronic devices.
Amphibians have developed a large set of life-history strategies and demonstrate an impressive diversity of reproductive patterns compared to other vertebrates. Various selection pressures impact on males and females and see them produce different degrees of sexual dimorphism in order to maximise their reproductive success. In an extended morphometric analysis that included 27 body-and head-related characters, we studied the pattern of sexual dimorphism of a French population of the marbled newt, Triturus marmoratus. We analysed the characters by employing GLM methods (ANCOVA) and found 16 of them to be dimorphic between the sexes. In general, females differ in head-body size, such as snout-vent length, but males rather in shape or body proportions (e.g., limb proportions). The various expressions of sexual size dimorphism among large-bodied marbled newts and allies demonstrate that more than one evolutionary model works simultaneously on different traits.
Aging is a highly controlled biological process characterized by a progressive deterioration of various cellular activities. One of several hallmarks of aging describes a link to transcriptional alteration, suggesting that it may impact the steady-state mRNA levels. We analyzed the mRNA steady-state levels of polyCAG-encoding transgenes and endogenous genes under the control of well-characterized promoters for intestinal (vha-6), muscular (unc-54, unc-15) and pan-neuronal (rgef-1, unc-119) expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that there is not a uniform change in transcriptional profile in aging, but rather a tissue-specific difference in the mRNA levels of these genes. While levels of mRNA in the intestine (vha-6) and muscular (unc-54, unc-15) cells decline with age, pan-neuronal tissue shows more stable mRNA expression (rgef-1, unc-119) which even slightly increases with the age of the animals. Our data on the variations in the mRNA abundance from exemplary cases of endogenous and transgenic gene expression contribute to the emerging evidence for tissue-specific variations in the aging process.
Our current understanding regarding the functioning of the savanna ecosystem describes savannas as either competition- or disturbance-dependent. Within this generalized view, the role and importance of facilitation have been mostly neglected. This study presents a mathematical model of savannas with coupled soil moisture-vegetation dynamics, which includes interspecific competition and environmental disturbance. We find that there exist environmental and climatic conditions where grass facilitation toward trees plays an important role in supporting tree cover and by extension preserving the savanna biome. We, therefore, argue that our theoretical results in combination with the first empirical studies on the subject should stimulate further research into the role of facilitation in the savanna ecosystem, particularly when analyzing the impact of past and projected climatic changes on it. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Climate forecasts project further increases in extremely high-temperature events. These present threats to biodiversity, as they promote population declines and local species extinctions. This implies that ecological communities will need to rely more strongly on recovery processes, such as recolonization from a meta-community context. It is poorly understood how differences in extreme event intensity change the outcome of subsequent community reassembly and if such extremes modify the biotic environment in ways that would prevent the successful re-establishment of lost species. We studied replicated aquatic communities consisting of algae and herbivorous rotifers in a design that involved a control and two different heat wave intensity treatments (29 degrees C and 39 degrees C). Animal species that suffered heat-induced extinction were subsequently re-introduced at the same time and density, in each of the two treatments. The 39 degrees C treatment led to community closure in all replicates, meaning that a previously successful herbivore species could not re-establish itself in the postheat wave community. In contrast, such closure never occurred after a 29 degrees C event. Heat wave intensity determined the number of herbivore extinctions and strongly affected algal relative abundances. Re-introduced herbivore species were thus confronted with significantly different food environments. This ecological legacy generated by heat wave intensity led to differences in the failure or success of herbivore species re-introductions. Reassembly was significantly more variable, and hence less predictable, after an extreme heat wave, and was more canalized after a moderate one. Our results pertain to relatively simple communities, but they suggest that ecological legacies introduced by extremely high-temperature events may change subsequent ecological recovery and even prevent the successful re-establishment of lost species. Knowing the processes promoting and preventing ecological recovery is crucial to the success of species re-introduction programs and to our ability to restore ecosystems damaged by environmental extremes.
Land-use intensification is a key driver of biodiversity change. However, little is known about how it alters relationships between the diversities of different taxonomic groups, which are often correlated due to shared environmental drivers and trophic interactions. Using data from 150 grassland sites, we examined how land-use intensification (increased fertilization, higher livestock densities, and increased mowing frequency) altered correlations between the species richness of 15 plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate taxa. We found that 54% of pairwise correlations between taxonomic groups were significant and positive among all grasslands, while only one was negative. Higher land-use intensity substantially weakened these correlations(35% decrease in rand 43% fewer significant pairwise correlations at high intensity), a pattern which may emerge as a result of biodiversity declines and the breakdown of specialized relationships in these conditions. Nevertheless, some groups (Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera) were consistently correlated with multidiversity, an aggregate measure of total biodiversity comprised of the standardized diversities of multiple taxa, at both high and lowland-use intensity. The form of intensification was also important; increased fertilization and mowing frequency typically weakened plant-plant and plant-primary consumer correlations, whereas grazing intensification did not. This may reflect decreased habitat heterogeneity under mowing and fertilization and increased habitat heterogeneity under grazing. While these results urge caution in using certain taxonomic groups to monitor impacts of agricultural management on biodiversity, they also suggest that the diversities of some groups are reasonably robust indicators of total biodiversity across a range of conditions.
An electrochemical assay for the indication of the activity of the cell bound differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is proposed using voltammetry on an in-vitro cell culture. The basis of the assay is cultivation of cells on gold microelectrodes in wells of a microplate, catalytic hydrolysis of p-aminophenyl phosphate by ALP and indication of p-aminophenol oxidation by square wave voltammetry (SWV) with the sensors onto which the cells attached. The morphology of the bone marrow stromal cell line (MBA-15) on the electrode surface was investigated and it exhibited in vitro osteogenic characteristics. Since ALP is expressed on the cell surface in early differentiation stage of osteoblastic cells, its activity was followed after different culture times over a period of 144 h by recording repetitive voltammograms at different time points upon addition of the substrate p-aminophenyl phosphate. The ALP activity was estimated from the signal increase related to formation rate of p-aminophenol and the number of cells. The highest value was measured at 120 h, when the cells reached confluence. The results of the electrochemical activity assay are consistent with the colorimetric acquired value from p-nitrophenol formation rate.