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Communications Biology May 2021Transmembrane conductance of small uncharged solutes such as glycerol typically occurs through aquaglyceroporins (Glps), which are commonly encoded by multiple genes in...
Transmembrane conductance of small uncharged solutes such as glycerol typically occurs through aquaglyceroporins (Glps), which are commonly encoded by multiple genes in metazoan organisms. To date, however, little is known concerning the evolution of Glps in Crustacea or what forces might underly such apparent gene redundancy. Here, we show that Glp evolution in Crustacea is highly divergent, ranging from single copy genes in species of pedunculate barnacles, tadpole shrimps, isopods, amphipods and decapods to up to 10 copies in diplostracan water fleas although with monophyletic origins in each lineage. By contrast the evolution of Glps in Copepoda appears to be polyphyletic, with surprisingly high rates of gene duplication occurring in a genera- and species-specific manner. Based upon functional experiments on the Glps from a parasitic copepod (Lepeophtheirus salmonis), we show that such lineage-level gene duplication and splice variation is coupled with a high rate of neofunctionalization. In the case of L. salmonis, splice variation of a given gene resulted in tissue- or sex-specific expression of the channels, with each variant evolving unique sites for protein kinase C (PKC)- or protein kinase A (PKA)-regulation of intracellular membrane trafficking. The combined data sets thus reveal that mutations favouring a high fidelity control of intracellular trafficking regulation can be a selection force for the evolution and retention of multiple Glps in copepods.
Topics: Animals; Aquaglyceroporins; Biological Evolution; Copepoda; Crustacea; Evolution, Molecular; Genetic Variation; Multigene Family; Phylogeny; Protein Isoforms
PubMed: 34059783
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01921-9 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022While investigating the bacterial populations of environmental samples taken from a mix of healthy and Acute Oak Decline afflicted (pedunculate or English oak)...
While investigating the bacterial populations of environmental samples taken from a mix of healthy and Acute Oak Decline afflicted (pedunculate or English oak) rhizosphere soil samples and swabs of bleeding lesions on spp. (lime) and (red oak) trees, several strains belonging to the order were isolated using selective media and enrichment broth. Seven strains from the rhizosphere, three strains from spp. and one from were investigated, with their taxonomic status determined a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Initially stains were identified as potential members of the recently described genus , based on the partial sequencing of three housekeeping genes. Further analysis of phenotypic traits, including fatty acid profiles, coupled with 16S rRNA gene and phylogenomic analysis of whole genome sequences were applied to a subset of the strains. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis repeatedly placed the isolates in a monophyletic clade within , with four distinct clusters observed, one of which corresponded to , the type species of the genus. The remaining three clusters could be phenotypically and genotypically differentiated from each other and As such, we describe three novel species of the genus, for which we propose the names sp. nov. (type strain H11S7 = LMG 32612 = CCUG 76179), sp. nov. (type strain H17S15 = LMG 32613 = CCUG 76183) and sp. nov. (type strain TWS1a = LMG 32614 = CCUG 76188). Additionally, the descriptions of the genus and the type species, , are emended.
PubMed: 36304948
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1011653 -
Metabolites Aug 2022Pedunculate oak ( L.) is an economically important forest-forming species in Poland that produces seeds that are sensitive to desiccation; therefore, short-lived seeds...
Deterioration in the Quality of Recalcitrant Seeds during Six Months of Storage at Subzero Temperatures: Ineffective Activation of Prosurvival Mechanisms and Evidence of Freezing Stress from an Untargeted Metabolomic Study.
Pedunculate oak ( L.) is an economically important forest-forming species in Poland that produces seeds that are sensitive to desiccation; therefore, short-lived seeds are classified as recalcitrant. Such seeds display active metabolism throughout storage. Acorns stored under controlled conditions (moisture content of 40%, temperature -3 °C) maintain viability for up to 1.5-2 years. Meanwhile, oaks only produce large numbers of seeds every few years during so-called mast years. This results in a scarcity of good-quality seeds for continuous nursery production and restoration. The recalcitrant storage behavior and the requirements of foresters make it necessary to develop a new protocol for longer acorn storage at lower temperatures. Two storage temperatures were tested: -3 °C (currently used in forest practice) and -7 °C. Our results showed that acorns stored for six months exhibited deterioration and reduced germination capacity, as well as reduced seedling performance, particularly when acorns were stored at -7 °C. To elucidate the decrease in quality during storage, an untargeted metabolomics study was performed for the first time and supported with the analysis of carbohydrates and percentages of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Embryonic axes were characterized by a lower C:N ratio and higher hydration. A total of 1985 metabolites were detected, and 303 were successfully identified and quantified, revealing 44 known metabolites that displayed significantly up- or downregulated abundance. We demonstrated for the first time that the significant deterioration of seed germination potential, particularly in seeds stored at -7 °C, was accompanied by an increased abundance of phenolic compounds and carbohydrates but also amino acids and phosphorylated monosaccharides, particularly in the embryonic axes. The increased abundance of defense-related metabolites (1,2,4-Benzenetriol; BTO), products of ascorbic acid degradation (threonic and isothreonic acid), as well as antifreezing compounds (sugar alcohols, predominantly threitol), was reported in seed stored at -7 °C. We hypothesize that seed deterioration was caused by freezing stress experienced during six months of storage at -7 °C, a decline in antioxidative potential and the unsuccessful rerouting of the energy-production pathways. Additionally, our data are a good example of the application of high-throughput metabolomic tools in forest management.
PubMed: 36005628
DOI: 10.3390/metabo12080756 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2015
Topics: Adult; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Humans; Leiomyoma; Male; Scrotum
PubMed: 26309479
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2015.20.447.6817 -
Ecology and Evolution Apr 2017Bioclimate envelope models have been widely used to illustrate the discrepancy between current species distributions and their potential habitat under climate change....
Bioclimate envelope models have been widely used to illustrate the discrepancy between current species distributions and their potential habitat under climate change. However, the realism and correct interpretation of such projections has been the subject of considerable discussion. Here, we investigate whether climate suitability predictions correlate to tree growth, measured in permanent inventory plots and inferred from tree-ring records. We use the ensemble classifier RandomForest and species occurrence data from ~200,000 inventory plots to build species distribution models for four important European forestry species: Norway spruce, Scots pine, European beech, and pedunculate oak. We then correlate climate-based habitat suitability with volume measurements from ~50-year-old stands, available from ~11,000 inventory plots. Secondly, habitat projections based on annual historical climate are compared with ring width from ~300 tree-ring chronologies. Our working hypothesis is that habitat suitability projections from species distribution models should to some degree be associated with temporal or spatial variation in these growth records. We find that the habitat projections are uncorrelated with spatial growth records (inventory plot data), but they do predict interannual variation in tree-ring width, with an average correlation of .22. Correlation coefficients for individual chronologies range from values as high as .82 or as low as -.31. We conclude that tree responses to projected climate change are highly site-specific and that local suitability of a species for reforestation is difficult to predict. That said, projected increase or decrease in climatic suitability may be interpreted as an average expectation of increased or reduced growth over larger geographic scales.
PubMed: 28428849
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2696 -
Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics &... Jan 2020To evaluate differences in hysteroscopic findings between benign endometrial polyps and endometrial cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate differences in hysteroscopic findings between benign endometrial polyps and endometrial cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 2012 to December 2016, we extracted 179 cases with endometrial polyps from 3066 women who underwent hysteroscopy followed by dilatation and curettage or transcervical resection, with 154 and 25 cases of benign and malignant endometrial polyps, respectively. Clinical characteristics, histopathological and hysteroscopic findings of the women were evaluated retrospectively.
RESULTS
The hysteroscopic findings of malignant polyps were hyper-vascular (72%, 18/25), ulcerative (64%, 16/25) and polyps with irregular surfaces (24%, 6/25). In contrast, pedunculate small growths with smooth surfaces were usually seen in the benign endometrial polyps (38.3%, 59/154). Hyper-vascular (OR: 142.6, 95% CI: 25.98-783.4) and polyps with irregular surfaces (OR: 12.02, 95% CI: 1.765-81.83) in hysteroscopic findings were significant strong predictors of endometrial polyps with endometrial cancer. Hysteroscopic findings of ulcerative changes were most strongly associated with a diagnosis of malignant polyps, with sensitivity, specificity, negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values of 64.0%, 100%, 94.5%, and 100%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Women with hysteroscopic findings of endometrial polyps with hyper-vascular, ulcerative, and polyps with irregular surfaces had a high likelihood of endometrial cancer. A target biopsy of the polyps with these specific appearances should be performed to exclude malignant lesions.
Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Dilatation and Curettage; Endometrial Neoplasms; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Hysteroscopy; Middle Aged; Polyps; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Uterine Diseases
PubMed: 32039807
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2019.11.013 -
Adapting a allometric equation to quantify carbon sequestration rates on the Middle Elbe floodplain.MethodsX 2022Destructively sampling old Pedunculate oak () trees on the active floodplain of the Middle Elbe to create an allometric equation to estimate carbon stocks (CS) and...
Destructively sampling old Pedunculate oak () trees on the active floodplain of the Middle Elbe to create an allometric equation to estimate carbon stocks (CS) and carbon sequestration rates (CSR) would defeat the purpose of protecting increasingly vulnerable and threatened primeval floodplain forests. To nondestructively estimate CS and CSR, we have adapted a two-parameter allometric equation which uses tree height (H) and diameter at breast height (DBH) (Dik 1984, Zianis et al. 2005) into a 1-parameter equation that requires only DBH to quantify stocks and annual changes in carbon stock (carbon sequestration rates) for individual trees. The equations have also been adapted to estimate below- and above-ground carbon stocks of individual trees. The new method has:•Adapted a 2-parameter allometric equation which estimates tree volume to a 1-parameter equation which estimates above and below-ground carbon stock•Removed the requirement of tree height to reconstruct the carbon stock of trees at an annual timestep•An almost perfect linear relationship (Pearson R= 0.998) between carbon sequestration rate and basal area increment (BAI).
PubMed: 35958097
DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2022.101800 -
Physiology and Molecular Biology of... Nov 2019The use of pedunculate oak ( L.), along with other tree species, for the afforestation of heavy metal contaminated lands is an attractive prospect. Little, however, is...
The use of pedunculate oak ( L.), along with other tree species, for the afforestation of heavy metal contaminated lands is an attractive prospect. Little, however, is known of tolerance and its antioxidative system response to heavy metal exposure. The main objective of the study was to determine the cadmium-induced changes in antioxidative system of pedunculate oak in an attempt to identify molecular mechanisms underlying Cd tolerance. This may be of great importance in respect of using for phytoremediation purposes. As the response of the antioxidative system to heavy metal contamination can vary within species, the research was conducted on oak seedlings from two different regions of origin. Differences in antioxidative system response of seedlings derived from tested regions of origin were noticed both at the transcript and enzyme activity levels. The obtained results indicate that ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) play a first barrier role in oak seedlings response to the oxidative stress caused by Cd exposure. Catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) is involved in reducing the negative effects of prolonged Cd treatment.
PubMed: 31736541
DOI: 10.1007/s12298-019-00712-1 -
Oecologia Sep 2019Sunlight can accelerate the decomposition process through an ensemble of direct and indirect processes known as photodegradation. Although photodegradation is widely...
Sunlight can accelerate the decomposition process through an ensemble of direct and indirect processes known as photodegradation. Although photodegradation is widely studied in arid environments, there have been few studies in temperate regions. This experiment investigated how exposure to solar radiation, and specifically UV-B, UV-A, and blue light, affects leaf litter decomposition under a temperate forest canopy in France. For this purpose, we employed custom-made litterbags built using filters that attenuated different regions of the solar spectrum. Litter mass loss and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio of three species: European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), differing in their leaf traits and decomposition rate, were analysed over a period of 7-10 months. Over the entire period, the effect of treatments attenuating blue light and solar UV radiation on leaf litter decomposition was similar to that of our dark treatment, where litter lost 20-30% less mass and had a lower C:N ratio than under the full-spectrum treatment. Moreover, decomposition was affected more by the filter treatment than mesh size, which controlled access by mesofauna. The effect of filter treatment differed among the three species and appeared to depend on litter quality (and especially C:N), producing the greatest effect in recalcitrant litter (F. sylvatica). Even under the reduced irradiance found in the understorey of a temperate forest, UV radiation and blue light remain important in accelerating surface litter decomposition.
Topics: Forests; France; Plant Leaves; Trees; Ultraviolet Rays
PubMed: 31363838
DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04478-x -
PloS One 2015To investigate image quality and radiation dose of CT colonography (CTC) with adaptive iterative dose reduction three-dimensional (AIDR3D).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate image quality and radiation dose of CT colonography (CTC) with adaptive iterative dose reduction three-dimensional (AIDR3D).
METHODS
Ten segments of porcine colon phantom were collected, and 30 pedunculate polyps with diameters ranging from 1 to 15 mm were simulated on each segment. Image data were acquired with tube voltage of 120 kVp, and current doses of 10 mAs, 20 mAs, 30 mAs, 40 mAs, 50 mAs, respectively. CTC images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and AIDR3D. Two radiologists blindly evaluated image quality. Quantitative evaluation of image quality included image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Qualitative image quality was evaluated with a five-score scale. Radiation dose was calculated based on dose-length product. Ten volunteers were examined supine 50 mAs with FBP and prone 20 mAs with AIDR3D, and image qualities were assessed. Paired t test was performed for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
For 20 mAs with AIDR3D and 50 mAs with FBP, image noise, SNRs and CNRs were (16.4 ± 1.6) HU vs. (16.8 ± 2.6) HU, 1.9 ± 0.2 vs. 1.9 ± 0.4, and 62.3 ± 6.8 vs. 62.0 ± 6.2, respectively; qualitative image quality scores were 4.1 and 4.3, respectively; their differences were all not statistically significant. Compared with 50 mAs with FBP, radiation dose (1.62 mSv) of 20 mAs with AIDR3D was decreased by 60.0%. There was no statistically significant difference in image noise, SNRs, CNRs and qualitative image quality scores between prone 20 mAs with AIDR3D and supine 50 mAs with FBP in 10 volunteers, the former reduced radiation dose by 61.1%.
CONCLUSION
Image quality of CTC using 20 mAs with AIDR3D could be comparable to standard 50 mAs with FBP, radiation dose of the former reduced by about 60.0% and was only 1.62 mSv.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Algorithms; Animals; Colon; Colonography, Computed Tomographic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Radiation Dosage; Radiographic Image Enhancement; Sus scrofa; Young Adult
PubMed: 25635839
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117116