bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Medium spiny neurons activity reveals the discrete segregation of mouse dorsal striatum
Authors: Alegre-Cortés J. , Sáez M. , Montanari R. , Reig R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBehavioural studies differentiate the rodent dorsal striatum (DS) into lateral and medial regions; however, anatomical evidence suggests that it is a unified structure. To understand striatal dynamics and basal ganglia functions, it is essential to clarify the circuitry that supports this behavioural-based segregation. Here, we show that the mouse DS is made of two non-overlapping functional circuits divided by a boundary. Combiningin vivooptopatch-clamp and extracellular recordings of spontaneous and evoked sensory activity, we demonstrate different coupling of lateral and medial striatum to the cortex together with an independent integration of the spontaneous activity, due to particular corticostriatal connectivity and local attributes of each region. Additionally, we show differences in slow and fast oscillations and in the electrophysiological properties between striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons. In summary, these results demonstrate that the rodent DS is segregated in two neuronal circuits, in homology with the caudate and putamen nuclei of primates.
Genetic factors outside the metabolic cluster for plastid-derived sesquiterpenes are required to pursue arthropod-resistant tomatoes
Authors: Therezan Rodrigo , Kortbeek Ruy , Vendemiatti Eloisa , Legarrea Saioa , de Alencar Severino M. , Schuurink Robert , Bleeker Petra , Peres Lázaro E. P. 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTTo deal with arthropod pests the tomato wild relatives produce a variety of defense compounds in their glandular trichomes. InSolanum habrochaitesLA1777, a functional cluster of genes on chromosome 8 controls plastid-derived sesquiterpene synthesis not found in cultivated tomatoes. The main genes at the cluster areZ-prenyltransferase (zFPS)that producesZ-Z-farnesyl diphosphate (Z,Z-FPP), andSantalene and Bergamotene Synthase(SBS) that usesZ,Z-FPP to produce α-santalene, β-bergamotene, and α-bergamotene in type-VI glandular trichomes. Both LA1777 and cultivated tomatoes have type-VI trichomes, but the gland in cultivated tomato is much smaller containing low levels of monoterpenes and cytosolic-derived sesquiterpenes, which do not provide tomato with the same pest resistance as in LA1777. We successfully transferred the plastid-derived sesquiterpene pathway from LA1777 to type-VI trichomes of a cultivated tomato (cv. Micro-Tom, MT) by a back-crossing approach. The trichomes of the introgressed line named MT-Sesquiterpene synthase 2(MT-Sst2) produced even higher levels of α-santalene, β-bergamotene, and α-bergamotene than the type-VI glandular trichomes of LA1777. We also noticed that the type-VI trichome internal storage-cavity size increases in MT-Sst2, probably as an “inflated balloon” effect of the increased amount of sesquiterpenes. Surprisingly, the presence of high amounts of plastid-derived sesquiterpenes was not sufficient to confer resistance to various tomato pests in MT-Sst2. Since MT-Sst2made the same sesquiterpenes as LA1777, this points to additional factors, outside the genomic region thought to be the metabolic cluster, necessary to obtain arthropod-resistant tomatoes. Our results also provide a better understanding of the morphology ofS. habrochaitestype-VI trichomes.One-sentence summaryCultivated tomatoes harboring the plastid-derived sesquiterpenes fromS. habrochaitesneed additional genetic components necessary to convert them into effective insecticides.
Leading-edge VASP clusters assemble at sites containing lamellipodin and exhibit size-dependent instability
Authors: Cheng Karen W. , Mullins R. Dyche 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe shape of many eukaryotic cells depends on the actin cytoskeleton; and localized changes in actin assembly dynamics underlie many changes in cell shape. Polymerases of the Ena/VASP family modulate cell shape by locally accelerating actin filament assembly and slowing filament capping. When concentrated into discrete foci at the leading edge, VASP promotes formation of filopodia, but the mechanisms that drive VASP clustering are poorly understood. Here we show that, in migrating B16F1 cells, VASP molecules assemble on pre-existing foci of the adaptor protein, lamellipodin, and that dimerization of lamellipodin is essential for cluster formation. VASP/lamellipodin clusters grow by accumulating monomers and by fusing, but their growth is limited by a previously undescribed, size-dependent instability. Our results demonstrate that assembly and disassembly dynamics of filopodia tip complexes are determined, in part, by a network of multivalent interactions between VASP, lamellipodin, and actin.
Perturbation of GABA Biosynthesis Links Cell Cycle to ControlArabidopsis thalianaLeaf Development
Authors: Gong Yaxin , Yue Han , Xiang Yu , Yu Guanghui 
Published: February 2020

AbstractTo investigate the molecular mechanism underlying increasing leaf area in γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthetic mutants, the first pair of true leaves of GABA biosynthetic mutants was measured. The results showed that the leaf blade area in GABA biosynthetic mutants was larger than that of the wild type to different extents, and the area of the leaf epidermal cells in mutants was larger than that of the wild type. DNA polyploid analysis showed that polyploid cells in GABA biosynthetic mutants were appearing earlier and more abundant than in the wild type. To check the correlation between cell size and endoreplication, the expression of factors involving endocycles, including D-type cyclin gene (CYCD3;1, CYCD3;2, CYCD3;3, andCYCD4;1) and kinaseCKDA;1, were analysed by qRT-PCR. The results showed thatCKDA;1in GABA biosynthetic mutants was downregulated, and four types ofCYCDsshowed different expression patterns in different GABA biosynthetic mutants. Inconsistent with this result, forCCS52A(CELL CYCLE SWITCH 52A) (controlling the endocycle entry) ingad2andgad1/gad2mutants, the expression ofCCS52A2was significantly higher than that in the wild type. The expression ofSIM(SIAMESE) andSMR(SIAMESE-RELATED), which inhibit kinase activity, were also upregulated compared with the control. To further study the possible potential relationship between GABA metabolism and endoreplication, we analysed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in guard cells using ROS fluorescent probes. ROS levels were significantly higher in GABA biosynthetic mutants than the control. All results indicated that cyclin, the cyclin-dependent kinase, and its inhibitory protein were coordinated to participate in endoreplication control at the transcription level in the leaves of GABA biosynthetic mutantArabidopsis.Contribution to the field statementγ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolic pathway plays a dual role in plant development. This research investigated the perturbation of GABA biosynthesis onArabidopsisleave endoreplication for the first time. In the GABA biosynthetic mutants, many genes, participating in cell division regulation, are coordinately transcriptionally expressed to trigger the onset and maintenance of endoreplication, and this led to the cell expansion and the increase leaf blade area. However, this initiation of endoreplication links with the decrease of endogenous GABA level and the increase Reactive oxygen species (ROS). This may be a compensation mechanism to adapt to abnormal GABA level in plant leaf development. Present evidence provided hypothesized that the normal GABA level in plant leaf development plays a brake to inhibit the immature cell expansion and differentiation, and this negative regulation functions a guarantee mechanism to watchdog the normal leaf development. In all, this contribution provides an updated perspective on the role of GABA in plant development.
Integrated decoding hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis at single-cell resolution and its clinical implication
Authors: Qin Pengfei , Pang Yakun , Hou Wenhong , Fu Ruiqing , Zhang Yingchi , Wang Xuefei , Meng Guofeng , Liu Qifa , Zhu Xiaofan , Hong Ni , Cheng Tao , Jin Wenfei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIntegrated analyses of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis could provide new biological and clinical insights1,2. Here we constructed a comprehensive cell atlas using ∼100,000 single cell transcriptomes of bone marrow mononuclear cells and its subsets from 5 healthy samples and 13 leukemia samples. Trajectory analysis showed hematopoietic stem cells continuously differentiated through tree-like structure into 7 lineages. Although our single cell analyses showed the major cellular heterogeneity were inter-patients, there were distinct leukemia cell subpopulations within patient. We developed counterpart composite index (CCI) for projecting leukemia cell subpopulation into reference hematopoietic cells, to identify their healthy counterparts that could predict leukemia subtype and clinical outcome. Interestingly, we found the trajectories of leukemogenesis were similar to that of their healthy counterparts, indicating lineage relationship of leukemia cell subpopulations. Single cell analyses of leukemia patient at diagnosis, refractory, remission and relapse vividly presented dynamics of cell population and the underlying genes. Single cell transcriptomic variants analyses showed the relapsed leukemia cells, whose healthy counterparts were closer to the root of hematopoietic tree, were derived from an early minor leukemia cell population. This study not only increased our understanding of hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis, but also provided an approach for leukemia classification and clinical outcome prediction.
Evolutionarily conserved regulation of embryonic fast-twitch skeletal muscle differentiation by Pbx factors
Authors: Farr Gist H. , Li Bingsi , Risolino Maurizio , Johnson Nathan M. , Yao Zizhen , Kao Robert M. , Majesky Mark W. , Tapscott Stephen J. , Selleri Licia , Maves Lisa 
Published: February 2020

SummaryVertebrate skeletal muscles are composed of both slow-twitch and fast-twitch fiber types. How the differentiation of distinct fiber types is activated during embryogenesis is not well characterized. Skeletal muscle differentiation is initiated by the activity of the myogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors Myf5, Myod1, Myf6, and Myog. Myod1 functions as a muscle master regulatory factor and directly activates muscle differentiation genes, including those specific to both slow and fast muscle fibers. Our previous studies showed that Pbx TALE-class homeodomain proteins bind with Myod1 on the promoter of the zebrafish fast muscle genemylpfaand are required for proper activation ofmylpfaexpression and the fast-twitch muscle-specific differentiation program in zebrafish embryos. Pbx proteins have also been shown to bind regulatory regions of muscle differentiation genes in mammalian muscle cells in culture. Here, we use new zebrafish mutant strains to confirm the essential roles of zebrafish Pbx factors in embryonic fast muscle differentiation. Furthermore, we examine the requirements forPbxgenes in mouse embryonic skeletal muscle differentiation, an area that has not been investigated in the mammalian embryo. RemovingPbx1function from skeletal muscle inMyf5Cre/+;Pbx1fl/flmouse embryos has minor effects on embryonic muscle development. However, concomitantly deletingPbx2function inMyf5Cre/+;Pbx1fl/fl;Pbx2-/-mouse embryos causes delayed activation and reduced expression of fast muscle differentiation genes. In the mouse,Pbx1/Pbx2-dependent fast muscle genes closely match those that have been previously shown to be dependent on murineSix1andSix4. This work establishes evolutionarily conserved requirements for Pbx factors in embryonic fast muscle differentiation. Our studies are revealing how Pbx homeodomain proteins help direct specific cellular differentiation pathways.
Molecular Survey for Selected Viral Pathogens in Wild Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in Taiwan with an Emphasis on the Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Carnivore Protoparvovirus 1
Authors: Chen Chen-Chih , Chang Ai-Mei , Chen Wan-Jhen , Chang Po-Jen , Lai Yu-Ching , Lee Hsu-Hsun 
Published: February 2020

ABSTRACTThe leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) has been listed as an endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation Act in Taiwan since 2009. In this study, we targeted viral pathogens, included carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), coronavirus (CoV), and canine morbillivirus (CMV), using molecular screening. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the target pathogens were evaluated. Through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, we aimed to clarify the phylogenetic relationship of isolated viral pathogens between leopard cats and domestic carnivores. Samples from 23 and 29 leopard cats that were live-trapped and found dead, respectively, were collected from Miaoli County from 2015 to 2019 in northwestern Taiwan. CPPV-1 and coronavirus were detected in leopard cats. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of CPPV-1, and CoV was 63.5% (50.4%–76.6%) and 8.8% (0%–18.4%), respectively. The majority of sequences of each CPPV-1 strain amplified from Taiwanese leopard cats and domestic carnivores were identical. All the amplified CoV sequences from leopard cats were identified as feline coronavirus. The spatial and temporal aggregation of CPPV-1 infection in leopard cats was not determined in the sampling area, which indicated a wide distribution of CPPV-1 in the leopard cat habitat. We consider sympatric domestic carnivores to be the probable primary reservoir for the pathogens identified. We strongly recommend establishing efforts to manage CPPV-1 and FCoV in the leopard cat habitat, with an emphasis on vaccination programs and population control measures for free-roaming dogs and cats.IMPORTANCEThe leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is an endangered species in Taiwan. The effects of infectious diseases on the wildlife population have increasingly been recognized. In this study, we targeted highly pathogenic viral pathogens in wild cat species, included carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), coronavirus (CoV), and canine morbillivirus (CMV), using molecular screening. Furthermore, we collected the epidemiological and phylogenetic data to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of the target pathogens in the wild leopard cat population and identified the possible origin of target pathogens. Based on our study, we consider sympatric domestic carnivores to be the probable primary reservoir for the pathogens identified. Our study provides a deeper understanding related to the distribution of target viral pathogens in the wild leopard cats. The information is essential for leopard cat conservation and pathogen management.
SMRT sequencing generates the chromosome-scale reference genome of tropical fruit mango,Mangifera indica
Authors: Li Wei , Zhu Xun-Ge , Zhang Qun-Jie , Li Kui , Zhang Dan , Shi Cong , Gao Li-Zhi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMango (Mangifera indica), a member of the family Anacardiaceae, is one of the world’s most popular tropical fruits. Here we sequenced the variety, “Hong Xiang Ya”, and generated a 371.6-Mb mango genome assembly with 34,529 predicted protein-coding genes. Aided with the published genetic map, for the first time, we assembled theM. indicagenome to the chromosomes, and finally about 98.77% of the genome assembly was anchored to 20 pseudo-chromosomes. The availability of the chromosome-length genome assembly ofM. indicawill provide novel insights into genome evolution, understand the genetic basis of specialized phytochemical composites relevant to fruit quality, and enhance allele mining in genomics-assisted breeding for mango genetic improvement.
Environmental and geographic data optimizeex situcollections and the preservation of adaptive evolutionary potential
Authors: Di Santo Lionel N. , Hamilton Jill A. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMaintenance of biodiversity, through seed banks and botanical gardens where the wealth of species’ genetic variation may be preservedex situ, is a major goal of conservation. However, challenges can persist in optimizingex situcollections where trade-offs exist between expense, effort, and conserving species evolutionary potential, particularly when genetic data is not available. Within this context, we evaluate the genetic consequences of guiding population preservation using geographic (isolation-by-distance, IBD) and environmental (isolation-by-environment, IBE) data forex situcollections where provenance data is available. We use 19 genetic and genomic datasets from 15 plant species to (i) assess the proportion of population genetic differentiation explained by geographic and environmental factors, and (ii) simulateex situcollections prioritizing source populations based on pairwise geographic or environmental distances. Specifically, we test the impact prioritizing sampling based on environmental and geographic distances may have on capturing neutral, functional or putatively adaptive genetic diversity and differentiation. We find that collectively IBD and IBE explain a substantial proportion of genetic differences among functional (median 45%) and adaptive (median 71%) loci, but not for neutral loci (median 21.5%). Simulatedex situcollections reveal that inclusion of IBD and IBE increases both allelic diversity and genetic differentiation captured among populations, particularly for loci that may be important for adaptation. Thus, prioritizing population collections using environmental and geographic distance data can impact genetic variation capturedex situ. This provides value for the vast majority of plant species for which we have no genetic data, informing conservation of genetic variation needed to maintain evolutionary potential within collections.
Biochar effect - mediated ammonium transporter genes and GDH may be the core of improvement nitrogen assimilation in cotton seedling
Authors: Feng Lei , Tang Guangmu , Xu Wanli , Gu Meiying , Geng Zengchao 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBiochar enhancement of nitrogen efficiency in crops is highly essential not only to reduce costs of agricultural production but also to conserve resources, lower energy consumption for products of these fertilizers, strengthen soil health, and eventually helps in slowing climate change; however nitrogen efficiency physiology by biochar effects is not clear. Here, we reported on the morphological, nitrogen metabolism and cytokinin, at seedling stage, under different layers of biochar and limited urea conditions grown in soil culture. Expression profile of miRNAs and AOB was further studied in fine and medium roots. It showed active root absorption area, fresh weight, and nitrogen agronomic efficiency responded significantly under biochar and reduction by 20% urea condition in the surface soil layer. Also, NR and GPT activity in fine roots remarkably increased with cytokinin, but decreased significantly in medium roots, meanwhile both NR and GDH activity did so. GOGAT activity was to be dependent with biochar and urea locations. In addition, AMT1;1, gdh3 and gdh2 in fine roots showed their up-regulation with reduction 20% urea and biochar. It revealed that co-expression of gdh3 and gdh2 in fine roots significantly affected nitrogen assimilation under reduction 20% urea with biochar on surface soil at seedling stage.HighlightsThe co-expression of ammonium transporter gene and GDH induced by biochar effect improves nitrogen efficiency and seedling growth.These data emphasizes the importance of effects of cytokinin on nitrate reductase activity closely related to the position under biochar condition, which is a key element of enhancement nitrogen assimilation efficiency in cotton seedling.Biochar addition applied into 0 to 10cm soil had a more positive effect on seedling growth than that into 10 to 20cm soil layers.
Endosidin20 is a broad-spectrum cellulose synthesis inhibitor with an herbicidal function
Authors: Huang Lei , Zhang Chunhua 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCellulose is an important component of plant cell wall that controls anisotropic cell growth. Disruption of cellulose biosynthesis often leads to inhibited cell growth. Endosidin20 (ES20) was recently identified as a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor (CBI) that targets the catalytic domain of Arabidopsis cellulose synthase 6 (CESA6) to inhibit plant growth. Here, we characterized the effects of ES20 on the growth of some other plant species and found that ES20 is a broad-spectrum plant growth inhibitor. We compared the inhibitory effects of ES20 and other CBIs on the growth ofcesa6plants that have reduced sensitivity to ES20. We found that most of thecesa6with reduced sensitivity to ES20 show normal inhibited growth by other CBIs. ES20 also shows synergistic inhibitory effect on plant growth when applied together with other CBIs. We show ES20 has a different mode of action than tested CBIs isoxaben, indaziflam and C17. ES20 not only inhibits Arabidopsis growth under tissue culture condition, it inhibits plant growth under soil condition after direct spraying. We demonstrate that plants carrying two missense mutations can tolerate dual inhibition by ES20 and isoxaben.One sentence summaryCellulose biosynthesis inhibitor Endosidin20 has synergistic effect with other cellulose synthesis inhibitors and has the potential to be used as a spray herbicide.
Using changes in host demographic rates to reveal the effects of infection with hidden variable models
Authors: Ferguson Jake M. , González-González Andrea , Kaiser Johnathan A. , Winzer Sara M. , Anast Justin M. , Ridenhour Ben , Miura Tanya A. , Parent Christine E. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe impacts of disease on host vital rates can be clearly demonstrated using longitudinal studies, but these studies can be expensive and logistically challenging. We examined the utility of hidden variable models to infer the individual effects of disease, caused by infection, from population-level measurements of survival and fecundity when longitudinal studies are not possible. Our approach seeks to explain temporal changes in population-level vital rates by coupling observed changes in the infection status of individuals to an epidemiological model. We tested the approach using both single and coinfection viral challenge experiments on populations of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster).Specifically, we determined whether our approach yielded reliable estimates of disease prevalence and of the effects of disease on survival and fecundity rates for treatments of single infections and coinfection. We found two conditions are necessary for reliable estimation. First, diseases must drive detectable changes in vital rates, and second, there must be substantial variation in the degree of prevalence over time. This approach could prove useful for detecting epidemics from public health data in regions where standard surveillance techniques are not available, and in the study of epidemics in wildlife populations, where longitudinal studies can be especially difficult to implement.
A genetically encoded GRAB sensor for measuring serotonin dynamicsin vivo
Authors: Wan Jinxia , Peng Wanling , Li Xuelin , Qian Tongrui , Song Kun , Zeng Jianzhi , Deng Fei , Hao Suyu , Feng Jiesi , Zhang Peng , Zhang Yajun , Zou Jing , Pan Sunlei , Zhu J. Julius , Jing Miao , Xu Min , Li Yulong 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSerotonin (5-HT) is a phylogenetically conserved monoamine neurotransmitter modulating a variety of processes in the brain. To directly visualize the dynamics of 5-HT, we developed a genetically encodedGPCR-Activation-Based 5-HT (GRAB5-HT) sensor with high sensitivity, selectivity, and spatiotemporal resolution. GRAB5-HT, detected 5-HT release in multiple physiological and pathological conditions in both flies and mice, and thus provides new insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of 5-HT signaling.