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C 4 photosynthesis is a key innovation in land plant evolution, but its immediate effects on population demography are unclear. We explore the early impact of the C 4 trait on the trajectories of C 4 and non-C 4 populations of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. We combine niche models projected into paleoclimate layers for the last 5 million years with demographic models based on genomic data. The initial split between C 4 and non-C 4 populations was followed by a larger expansion of the ancestral C 4 population, and further diversification led to the unparalleled expansion of descendant C 4 populations. Overall, C 4 populations spread over three continents and achieved the highest population growth, in agreement with a broader climatic niche that rendered a large potential range over time. The C 4 populations that remained in the region of origin, however, experienced lower population growth, rather consistent with local geographic constraints. Moreover, the posterior transfer of some C 4 -related characters to non-C 4 counterparts might have facilitated the recent expansion of non-C 4 populations in the region of origin. Altogether, our findings support that C 4 photosynthesis provided an immediate demographic advantage to A. semialata populations, but its effect might be masked by geographic contingencies., (© 2024 The Authors New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is the movement of DNA between organisms without sexual reproduction. The acquired genes represent genetic novelties that have independently evolved in the donor's genome. Phylogenetic methods have shown that LGT is widespread across the entire grass family, although we know little about the underlying dynamics. We identify laterally acquired genes in five de novo reference genomes from the same grass genus (four Alloteropsis semialata and one Alloteropsis angusta). Using additional resequencing data for a further 40 Alloteropsis individuals, we place the acquisition of each gene onto a phylogeny using stochastic character mapping, and then infer rates of gains and losses. We detect 168 laterally acquired genes in the five reference genomes (32-100 per genome). Exponential decay models indicate that the rate of LGT acquisitions (6-28 per Ma) and subsequent losses (11-24% per Ma) varied significantly among lineages. Laterally acquired genes were lost at a higher rate than vertically inherited loci (0.02-0.8% per Ma). This high turnover creates intraspecific gene content variation, with a preponderance of them occurring as accessory genes in the Alloteropsis pangenome. This rapid turnover generates standing variation that can ultimately fuel local adaptation., (© 2023 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2023 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Background: Numerous groups of plants have adapted to CO2 limitations by independently evolving C4 photosynthesis. This trait relies on concerted changes in anatomy and biochemistry to concentrate CO2 within the leaf and thereby boost productivity in tropical conditions. The ecological and economic importance of C4 photosynthesis has motivated intense research, often relying on comparisons between distantly related C4 and non-C4 plants. The photosynthetic type is fixed in most species, with the notable exception of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. This species includes populations exhibiting the ancestral C3 state in southern Africa, intermediate populations in the Zambezian region and C4 populations spread around the palaeotropics., Scope: We compile here the knowledge on the distribution and evolutionary history of the Alloteropsis genus as a whole and discuss how this has furthered our understanding of C4 evolution. We then present a chromosome-level reference genome for a C3 individual and compare the genomic architecture with that of a C4 accession of A. semialata., Conclusions: Alloteropsis semialata is one of the best systems in which to investigate the evolution of C4 photosynthesis because the genetic and phenotypic variation provides a fertile ground for comparative and population-level studies. Preliminary comparative genomic investigations show that the C3 and C4 genomes are highly syntenic and have undergone a modest amount of gene duplication and translocation since the different photosynthetic groups diverged. The background knowledge and publicly available genomic resources make A. semialata a great model for further comparative analyses of photosynthetic diversification., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

C 4 photosynthesis results from anatomical and biochemical characteristics that together concentrate CO 2 around ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), increasing productivity in warm conditions. This complex trait evolved through the gradual accumulation of components, and particular species possess only some of these, resulting in weak C 4 activity. The consequences of adding C 4 components have been modelled and investigated through comparative approaches, but the intraspecific dynamics responsible for strengthening the C 4 pathway remain largely unexplored. Here, we evaluate the link between anatomical variation and C 4 activity, focusing on populations of the photosynthetically diverse grass Alloteropsis semialata that fix various proportions of carbon via the C 4 cycle. The carbon isotope ratios in these populations range from values typical of C 3 to those typical of C 4 plants. This variation is statistically explained by a combination of leaf anatomical traits linked to the preponderance of bundle sheath tissue. We hypothesize that increased investment in bundle sheath boosts the strength of the intercellular C 4 pump and shifts the balance of carbon acquisition towards the C 4 cycle. Carbon isotope ratios indicating a stronger C 4 pathway are associated with warmer, drier environments, suggesting that incremental anatomical alterations can lead to the emergence of C 4 physiology during local adaptation within metapopulations., (© 2023 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

C 4 photosynthesis is thought to have evolved via intermediate stages, with changes towards the C 4 phenotype gradually enhancing photosynthetic performance. This hypothesis is widely supported by modelling studies, but experimental tests are missing. Mixing of C 4 components to generate artificial intermediates can be achieved via crossing, and the grass Alloteropsis semialata represents an outstanding study system since it includes C 4 and non-C 4 populations. Here, we analyse F1 hybrids between C 3 and C 4 , and C 3 +C 4 and C 4 genotypes to determine whether the acquisition of C 4 characteristics increases photosynthetic performance. The hybrids have leaf anatomical characters and C 4 gene expression profiles that are largely intermediate between those of their parents. Carbon isotope ratios are similarly intermediate, which suggests that a partial C 4 cycle coexists with C 3 carbon fixation in the hybrids. This partial C 4 phenotype is associated with C 4 -like photosynthetic efficiency in C 3 +C 4  × C 4 , but not in C 3  × C 4 hybrids, which are overall less efficient than both parents. Our results support the hypothesis that the photosynthetic gains from the upregulation of C 4 characteristics depend on coordinated changes in anatomy and biochemistry. The order of acquisition of C 4 components is thus constrained, with C 3 +C 4 species providing an essential step for C 4 evolution., (© 2022 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) occurs in a broad range of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, occasionally promoting adaptation. LGT of functional nuclear genes has been reported among some plants, but systematic studies are needed to assess the frequency and facilitators of LGT. We scanned the genomes of a diverse set of 17 grass species that span more than 50 Ma of divergence and include major crops to identify grass-to-grass protein-coding LGT. We identified LGTs in 13 species, with significant variation in the amount each received. Rhizomatous species acquired statistically more genes, probably because this growth habit boosts opportunities for transfer into the germline. In addition, the amount of LGT increases with phylogenetic relatedness, which might reflect genomic compatibility among close relatives facilitating successful transfers. However, genetic exchanges among highly divergent species indicates that transfers can occur across almost the entire family. Overall, we showed that LGT is a widespread phenomenon in grasses that has moved functional genes across the grass family into domesticated and wild species alike. Successful LGTs appear to increase with both opportunity and compatibility., (© 2021 The Authors New Phytologist © 2021 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Geographical isolation facilitates the emergence of distinct phenotypes within a single species, but reproductive barriers or selection are needed to maintain the polymorphism after secondary contact. Here, we explore the processes that maintain intraspecific variation of C 4 photosynthesis, a complex trait that results from the combined action of multiple genes. The grass Alloteropsis semialata includes C 4 and non-C 4 populations, which have coexisted as a polyploid series for more than 1 million years in the miombo woodlands of Africa. Using population genomics, we show that there is genome-wide divergence for the photosynthetic types, but the current geographical distribution does not reflect a simple habitat displacement scenario as the genetic clusters overlap, being occasionally mixed within a given habitat. Despite evidence of recurrent introgression between non-C 4 and C 4 groups, in both diploids and polyploids, the distinct genetic lineages retain their identity, potentially because of selection against hybrids. Coupled with strong isolation by distance within each genetic group, this selection created a geographical mosaic of photosynthetic types. Diploid C 4 and non-C 4 types never grew together, and the C 4 type from mixed populations constantly belonged to the hexaploid lineage. By limiting reproductive interactions between photosynthetic types, the ploidy difference probably allows their co-occurrence, reinforcing the functional diversity within this species. Together, these factors enabled the persistence of divergent physiological traits of ecological importance within a single species despite gene flow and habitat overlap., (© 2021 The Authors. Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

C 4 photosynthesis evolved multiple times independently in angiosperms, but most origins are relatively old so that the early events linked to photosynthetic diversification are blurred. The grass Alloteropsis semialata is an exception, as this species encompasses C 4 and non-C 4 populations. Using phylogenomics and population genomics, we infer the history of dispersal and secondary gene flow before, during and after photosynthetic divergence in A. semialata . We further analyse the genome composition of individuals with varied ploidy levels to establish the origins of polyploids in this species. Detailed organelle phylogenies indicate limited seed dispersal within the mountainous region of origin and the emergence of a C 4 lineage after dispersal to warmer areas of lower elevation. Nuclear genome analyses highlight repeated secondary gene flow. In particular, the nuclear genome associated with the C 4 phenotype was swept into a distantly related maternal lineage probably via unidirectional pollen flow. Multiple intraspecific allopolyploidy events mediated additional secondary genetic exchanges between photosynthetic types. Overall, our results show that limited dispersal and isolation allowed lineage divergence, with photosynthetic innovation happening after migration to new environments, and pollen-mediated gene flow led to the rapid spread of the derived C 4 physiology away from its region of origin.

The adaptation of proteins for novel functions often requires changes in their kinetics via amino acid replacement. This process can require multiple mutations, and therefore extended periods of selection. The transfer of genes among distinct species might speed up the process, by providing proteins already adapted for the novel function. However, this hypothesis remains untested in multicellular eukaryotes. The grass Alloteropsis is an ideal system to test this hypothesis due to its diversity of genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes one of the key reactions in the C4 pathway. Different accessions of Alloteropsis either use native isoforms relatively recently co-opted from other functions or isoforms that were laterally acquired from distantly related species that evolved the C4 trait much earlier. By comparing the enzyme kinetics, we show that native isoforms with few amino acid replacements have substrate KM values similar to the non-C4 ancestral form, but exhibit marked increases in catalytic efficiency. The co-option of native isoforms was therefore followed by rapid catalytic improvements, which appear to rely on standing genetic variation observed within one species. Native C4 isoforms with more amino acid replacements exhibit additional changes in affinities, suggesting that the initial catalytic improvements are followed by gradual modifications. Finally, laterally acquired genes show both strong increases in catalytic efficiency and important changes in substrate handling. We conclude that the transfer of genes among distant species sharing the same physiological novelty creates an evolutionary shortcut toward more efficient enzymes, effectively accelerating evolution., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

Evidence of eukaryote-to-eukaryote lateral gene transfer (LGT) has accumulated in recent years [1-14], but the selective pressures governing the evolutionary fate of these genes within recipient species remain largely unexplored [15, 16]. Among non-parasitic plants, successful LGT has been reported between different grass species [5, 8, 11, 16-19]. Here, we use the grass Alloteropsis semialata, a species that possesses multigene LGT fragments that were acquired recently from distantly related grass species [5, 11, 16], to test the hypothesis that the successful LGT conferred an advantage and were thus rapidly swept into the recipient species. Combining whole-genome and population-level RAD sequencing, we show that the multigene LGT fragments were rapidly integrated in the recipient genome, likely due to positive selection for genes encoding proteins that added novel functions. These fragments also contained physically linked hitchhiking protein-coding genes, and subsequent genomic erosion has generated gene presence-absence polymorphisms that persist in multiple geographic locations, becoming part of the standing genetic variation. Importantly, one of the hitchhiking genes underwent a secondary rapid spread in some populations. This shows that eukaryotic LGT can have a delayed impact, contributing to local adaptation and intraspecific ecological diversification. Therefore, while short-term LGT integration is mediated by positive selection on some of the transferred genes, physically linked hitchhikers can remain functional and augment the standing genetic variation with delayed adaptive consequences., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

C4 photosynthesis is a complex trait that boosts productivity in tropical conditions. Compared with C3 species, the C4 state seems to require numerous novelties, but species comparisons can be confounded by long divergence times. Here, we exploit the photosynthetic diversity that exists within a single species, the grass Alloteropsis semialata, to detect changes in gene expression associated with different photosynthetic phenotypes. Phylogenetically informed comparative transcriptomics show that intermediates with a weak C4 cycle are separated from the C3 phenotype by increases in the expression of 58 genes (0.22% of genes expressed in the leaves), including those encoding just three core C4 enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The subsequent transition to full C4 physiology was accompanied by increases in another 15 genes (0.06%), including only the core C4 enzyme pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase. These changes probably created a rudimentary C4 physiology, and isolated populations subsequently improved this emerging C4 physiology, resulting in a patchwork of expression for some C4 accessory genes. Our work shows how C4 assembly in A. semialata happened in incremental steps, each requiring few alterations over the previous step. These create short bridges across adaptive landscapes that probably facilitated the recurrent origins of C4 photosynthesis through a gradual process of evolution., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

A fundamental tenet of multicellular eukaryotic evolution is that vertical inheritance is paramount, with natural selection acting on genetic variants transferred from parents to offspring. This lineal process means that an organism's adaptive potential can be restricted by its evolutionary history, the amount of standing genetic variation, and its mutation rate. Lateral gene transfer (LGT) theoretically provides a mechanism to bypass many of these limitations, but the evolutionary importance and frequency of this process in multicellular eukaryotes, such as plants, remains debated. We address this issue by assembling a chromosome-level genome for the grass Alloteropsis semialata , a species surmised to exhibit two LGTs, and screen it for other grass-to-grass LGTs using genomic data from 146 other grass species. Through stringent phylogenomic analyses, we discovered 57 additional LGTs in the A. semialata nuclear genome, involving at least nine different donor species. The LGTs are clustered in 23 laterally acquired genomic fragments that are up to 170 kb long and have accumulated during the diversification of Alloteropsis. The majority of the 59 LGTs in A. semialata are expressed, and we show that they have added functions to the recipient genome. Functional LGTs were further detected in the genomes of five other grass species, demonstrating that this process is likely widespread in this globally important group of plants. LGT therefore appears to represent a potent evolutionary force capable of spreading functional genes among distantly related grass species., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.)

The importance of gene duplication for evolutionary diversification has been mainly discussed in terms of genetic redundancy allowing neofunctionalization. In the case of C4 photosynthesis, which evolved via the co-option of multiple enzymes to boost carbon fixation in tropical conditions, the importance of genetic redundancy has not been consistently supported by genomic studies. Here, we test for a different role for gene duplication in the early evolution of C4 photosynthesis, via dosage effects creating rapid step changes in expression levels. Using genome-wide data for accessions of the grass genus Alloteropsis that recently diversified into different photosynthetic types, we estimate gene copy numbers and demonstrate that recurrent duplications in two important families of C4 genes coincided with increases in transcript abundance along the phylogeny, in some cases via a pure dosage effect. While increased gene copy number during the initial emergence of C4 photosynthesis probably offered a rapid route to enhanced expression, we also find losses of duplicates following the acquisition of genes encoding better-suited isoforms. The dosage effect of gene duplication might therefore act as a transient process during the evolution of a C4 biochemistry, rendered obsolete by the fixation of regulatory mutations increasing expression levels.

Novel adaptations are generally assembled by co-opting pre-existing genetic components, but the factors dictating the suitability of genes for new functions remain poorly known. In this work, we used comparative transcriptomics to determine the attributes that increased the likelihood of some genes being co-opted for C4 photosynthesis, a convergent complex trait that boosts productivity in tropical conditions. We show that independent lineages of grasses repeatedly co-opted the gene lineages that were the most highly expressed in non-C4 ancestors to produce their C4 pathway. Although ancestral abundance in leaves explains which genes were used for the emergence of a C4 pathway, the tissue specificity has surprisingly no effect. Our results suggest that levels of key genes were elevated during the early diversification of grasses and subsequently repeatedly used to trigger a weak C4 cycle via relatively few mutations. The abundance of C4-suitable transcripts therefore facilitated physiological innovation, but the transition to a strong C4 pathway still involved consequent changes in expression levels, leaf specificity, and coding sequences. The direction and amount of changes required for the strong C4 pathway depended on the identity of the genes co-opted, so that ancestral gene expression both facilitates adaptive transitions and constrains subsequent evolutionary trajectories., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

The origins of novel traits are often studied using species trees and modeling phenotypes as different states of the same character, an approach that cannot always distinguish multiple origins from fewer origins followed by reversals. We address this issue by studying the origins of C 4 photosynthesis, an adaptation to warm and dry conditions, in the grass Alloteropsis. We dissect the C 4 trait into its components, and show two independent origins of the C 4 phenotype via different anatomical modifications, and the use of distinct sets of genes. Further, inference of enzyme adaptation suggests that one of the two groups encompasses two transitions to a full C 4 state from a common ancestor with an intermediate phenotype that had some C 4 anatomical and biochemical components. Molecular dating of C 4 genes confirms the introgression of two key C 4 components between species, while the inheritance of all others matches the species tree. The number of origins consequently varies among C 4 components, a scenario that could not have been inferred from analyses of the species tree alone. Our results highlight the power of studying individual components of complex traits to reconstruct trajectories toward novel adaptations., (© 2017 The Author(s). Evolution published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Society for the Study of Evolution.)

Physiological novelties are often studied at macro-evolutionary scales such that their micro-evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Here, we test the hypothesis that key components of a complex trait can evolve in isolation and later be combined by gene flow. We use C 4 photosynthesis as a study system, a derived physiology that increases plant productivity in warm, dry conditions. The grass Alloteropsis semialata includes C 4 and non-C 4 genotypes, with some populations using laterally acquired C 4 -adaptive loci, providing an outstanding system to track the spread of novel adaptive mutations. Using genome data from C 4 and non-C 4 A. semialata individuals spanning the species' range, we infer and date past migrations of different parts of the genome. Our results show that photosynthetic types initially diverged in isolated populations, where key C 4 components were acquired. However, rare but recurrent subsequent gene flow allowed the spread of adaptive loci across genetic pools. Indeed, laterally acquired genes for key C 4 functions were rapidly passed between populations with otherwise distinct genomic backgrounds. Thus, our intraspecific study of C 4 -related genomic variation indicates that components of adaptive traits can evolve separately and later be combined through secondary gene flow, leading to the assembly and optimization of evolutionary innovations., (© 2016 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Summary: C4 photosynthesis is a complex trait requiring multiple developmental and metabolic alterations. Despite this complexity, it has independently evolved over 60 times. However, our understanding of the transition to C4 is complicated by the fact that variation in photosynthetic type is usually segregated between species that diverged a long time ago.Here, we perform a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) using the grass Alloteropsis semialata, the only known species to have C3, intermediate, and C4 accessions that recently diverged. We aimed to identify genomic regions associated with the strength of the C4 cycle (measured using δ13C), and the development of C4 leaf anatomy.Genomic regions correlated with δ13C include regulators of C4 decarboxylation enzymes (RIPK), nonphotochemical quenching (SOQ1), and the development of Kranz anatomy (SCARECROW‐LIKE). Regions associated with the development of C4 leaf anatomy in the intermediate individuals contain additional leaf anatomy regulators, including those responsible for vein patterning (GSL8) and meristem determinacy (GIF1).The parallel recruitment of paralogous leaf anatomy regulators between A. semialata and other C4 lineages implies the co‐option of these genes is context‐dependent, which likely has implications for the engineering of the C4 trait into C3 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Numerous groups of plants have adapted to CO2 limitations by independently evolving C4 photosynthesis. This trait relies on concerted changes in anatomy and biochemistry to concentrate CO2 within the leaf and thereby boost productivity in tropical conditions. The ecological and economic importance of C4 photosynthesis has motivated intense research, often relying on comparisons between distantly related C4 and non-C4 plants. The photosynthetic type is fixed in most species, with the notable exception of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. This species includes populations exhibiting the ancestral C3 state in southern Africa, intermediate populations in the Zambezian region and C4 populations spread around the palaeotropics. Scope We compile here the knowledge on the distribution and evolutionary history of the Alloteropsis genus as a whole and discuss how this has furthered our understanding of C4 evolution. We then present a chromosome-level reference genome for a C3 individual and compare the genomic architecture with that of a C4 accession of A. semialata. Conclusions Alloteropsis semialata is one of the best systems in which to investigate the evolution of C4 photosynthesis because the genetic and phenotypic variation provides a fertile ground for comparative and population-level studies. Preliminary comparative genomic investigations show that the C3 and C4 genomes are highly syntenic and have undergone a modest amount of gene duplication and translocation since the different photosynthetic groups diverged. The background knowledge and publicly available genomic resources make A. semialata a great model for further comparative analyses of photosynthetic diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C4 photosynthesis is thought to have evolved via intermediate stages, with changes towards the C4 phenotype gradually enhancing photosynthetic performance. This hypothesis is widely supported by modelling studies, but experimental tests are missing. Mixing of C4 components to generate artificial intermediates can be achieved via crossing, and the grass Alloteropsis semialata represents an outstanding study system since it includes C4 and non‐C4 populations. Here, we analyse F1 hybrids between C3 and C4, and C3+C4 and C4 genotypes to determine whether the acquisition of C4 characteristics increases photosynthetic performance. The hybrids have leaf anatomical characters and C4 gene expression profiles that are largely intermediate between those of their parents. Carbon isotope ratios are similarly intermediate, which suggests that a partial C4 cycle coexists with C3 carbon fixation in the hybrids. This partial C4 phenotype is associated with C4‐like photosynthetic efficiency in C3+C4 × C4, but not in C3 × C4 hybrids, which are overall less efficient than both parents. Our results support the hypothesis that the photosynthetic gains from the upregulation of C4 characteristics depend on coordinated changes in anatomy and biochemistry. The order of acquisition of C4 components is thus constrained, with C3+C4 species providing an essential step for C4 evolution. Summary statement: We analyse hybrids between C3 and C4, and C3+C4 and C4 accessions of the grass Alloteropsis semialata. While hybrids have upregulated C4 features, these do not consistently increase photosynthetic efficiency, highlighting the importance of the order of acquisition of components during C4 evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptation of proteins for novel functions often requires changes in their kinetics via amino acid replacement. This process can require multiple mutations, and therefore extended periods of selection. The transfer of genes among distinct species might speed up the process, by providing proteins already adapted for the novel function. However, this hypothesis remains untested in multicellular eukaryotes. The grass Alloteropsis is an ideal system to test this hypothesis due to its diversity of genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes one of the key reactions in the C4 pathway. Different accessions of Alloteropsis either use native isoforms relatively recently co-opted from other functions or isoforms that were laterally acquired from distantly related species that evolved the C4 trait much earlier. By comparing the enzyme kinetics, we show that native isoforms with few amino acid replacements have substrate K M values similar to the non-C4 ancestral form, but exhibit marked increases in catalytic efficiency. The co-option of native isoforms was therefore followed by rapid catalytic improvements, which appear to rely on standing genetic variation observed within one species. Native C4 isoforms with more amino acid replacements exhibit additional changes in affinities, suggesting that the initial catalytic improvements are followed by gradual modifications. Finally, laterally acquired genes show both strong increases in catalytic efficiency and important changes in substrate handling. We conclude that the transfer of genes among distant species sharing the same physiological novelty creates an evolutionary shortcut toward more efficient enzymes, effectively accelerating evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]