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Bargmann, T., Jansson, U., Silvennoinen, H., Rusch, G.M., Jokerud, M., White, L.T., Nordén, J., Johannesson, C.F., Teien, K.T., Singsaas, F.T., Bredin, Y. & Junker, E. 2023. Økt kunnskap om karbon i jord i Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim og Oslo. NINA Rapport 2297. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. Kunnskapsgrunnlaget for å vurdere effekten som arealbruksendringer har på karbonlagrene i jord er ikke tilstrekkelig. For å kunne imøtekomme nasjonale forventninger, og oppfylle klimastrategier eller satsninger, har dette prosjektet sammenstilt kunnskap om karbon i jord, og belyst hvordan de deltakende kommunene (Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim og Oslo) kan øke denne kunnskapen der den er mangelfull. Rapportens overordnete mål er å oppdatere datagrunnlaget om verdien av karbonlagrene i de fire kommunene, og identifisere kunnskapsmangel og grad av usikkerhet rundt eksisterende estimater. Vi har 1) laget en oversikt over det mest oppdaterte og tilgjengelige kartgrunnlaget om hovedøkosystemenes utbredelse, 2) oppdatert kunnskapsgrunnlaget om karbonlagrene i disse hovedøkosystemene gjennom en litteraturgjennomgang, 3) identifisert viktige datamangler for å kunne oppfylle rapporteringskravene under utvikling for karbonregnskap ifølge naturregnskapsprinsipper, 4) vurdert om det finnes hjemmelsgrunnlag for å stille krav om undersøkelser eller utredninger av karbon i jord i bestemmelser. Det er stor variasjon i både dekningsgraden av kart, og hvor detaljerte kartdata som finnes tilgjengelig for hver hovedtype. Nøyaktigheten på heldekkende kartlag er heller ikke tilstrekkelig for å fange opp viktige naturtyper med små arealer og grønnstrukturer i bebygde områder. Derfor trengs det et bedre kartgrunnlag for økosystemene, slik at økologiske data og karbonlager kan knyttes til arealtypene. En mulighet for å få en bedre oversikt over konkrete arealer er å kombinere flere av kartkildene som er beskrevet i denne rapporten. De mest verdifulle skogstypene for karbonlagrene under bakken og på økosystemnivå er gamle, naturskogslignende skoger, særlig av boreal løvskog. Karbonlageret i myr er betydelig større enn i skog, og myr er det mest karbonrike økosystemet med 5-10 ganger høyere karbonlager sammenlignet med skog på mineraljord. Litteraturen fra urbane økosystemer viste at gamle, tredominerte naturtyper generelt har et høyere karboninnhold i jord enn gressdominerte urbane økosystemer. Jorddybde, jordtype og vannmetning kan også ha mye å si for karboninnholdet. Litteraturen om karbonlagrene i åpne- og urbane landskap er spesielt mangelfull, men generelt er det lite skrevet om karbonlagring i jordsmonn i norske økosystemer. Tallene for jordkarbonlagre som kommer fra litteraturen er trolig tilstrekkelig for bruk i overordnet arealplanlegging. Hvis konsekvensutredningene skal inkludere karbonlagre, trengs det mer detaljerte undersøkelser for å kunne estimere karbonlageret som er sårbart før endringene settes i gang. Torvdybde er en god indikator for karbonlager i myr, mens det trengs beregninger av overjordisk biomasse, dybde og variasjon i organiske jordlag i skog og andre økosystemer uten torv. Det er behov for nasjonale retningslinjer for hvilket kunnskapsgrunnlag som bør innhentes om karbon i jord og hvilken metodikk som skal anvendes, samt at det må utvikles et system for innrapportering og videre bruk. Dette bør utformes med henvisning til veiledning om metoder og med konkretisering av når kommunen faktisk kan pålegge denne type kunnskapsinnhenting. Videre bør det utvikles en felles metode for beregninger av kommunens samlete karbonlagre og hvordan ulike tiltak kan påvirke utslipp fra, og fremtidig opptak av, karbon i ulike typer area-ler/jordtyper. Dette vil kunne inngå i arbeidet med klima- og energiplaner, samtidig som felles metode og system vil kunne gi sammenlignbare data som kan bidra til bedre helhetlige vurderinger av samlet belastning. Kommunene har behov for kunnskap om karbon i jord i ulike planprosesser og vedtak. Generelle utredningskrav i offentlige vedtak er omtalt, deretter hvordan det kan gis planbestemmelser om karbon i jord. Vi har oppsummert ulike scenarier og muligheter for å stille krav til innhenting av kunnskap om karbonrike arealer med hjemler i plan- og bygningsloven og konsekvensutredningsregelverket.

Disagreements on how fens and bogs are defined warrants an evaluation of how researchers classify these habitats. Ongoing work with a new typology for ecosystems creates an urgency to understand the classification in the field. The aim of this meta-study was to assess authors' naming of fen and bogs habitats, with regards to pH and indicator species and their correspondence to existing classification systems across geographic and research divisions. Even if the terms fen and bog were widely used and understood, application in practice was lacking. Despite tests yielding significant differences and a stratification in the groups bog, poor fen and rich fen according to their pH values, we still note discrepancies and overlaps in definitions of these habitats that steered from our reference values. Different pH-reference intervals can give varying classifications. Moreover, the use of indicator species, beyond some separation between a few North American studies and the rest, showed how the same species were often used for different habitats. The agreement of research practice with our reference definitions should be looked at deeper with the remaining studies of the database. For now, the findings should emphasize the need for a more consistent use of peatland terms in the field.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell dysfunction is a significant event in the progression of atherosclerosis. Even Myricetin (Myr) has been exhibited strong antioxidant potency, the effect on atherosclerosis is still elusive. HUVECs were subjected to ox-LDL, before which cells were preconditioned with Myr. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were carried out to assess the impacts of ox-LDL and Myr on HUVECs. The expression of EndMT markers was determined by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. In addition, the relationship of GAS5 and miR-29a-3p was evaluated by RNA Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Myr preconditioning prevented ox-LDL-induced apoptosis, inflammatory response, and EndMT. GAS5 was upregulated in response to ox-LDL while it was down-regulated by Myr preconditioning. GAS5 over-expression attenuates Myr protective effects against ox-LDL–mediated HUVEC injury. Besides, miR-29a-3p is a target of GAS5 and down-regulated miR-29a-3p could further reduce the effects of GAS5 in ox-LDL–mediated HUVEC. Furthermore, Myr inactivated the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway in ox-LDL-treated HUVEC by down-regulating GAS5 or upregulating miR-26a-5p. Myr possessed an anti-inflammatory and anti-EndMT function against ox-LDL-induced HUVEC injury by regulating the GAS5/miR-29a-3p, indicating that Myr may have an important therapeutic function for atherosclerosis.

Myricetin (MYR) and dihydromyricetin (DHM) are classified as natural flavonoids. Both substances are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, an in vitro model of inflammation was demonstrated on monolayers of scratched fibroblasts or keratinocytes exposed to LPS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa for six hours. MYR and DHM were subsequently applied to the cells for 24 hours at sub toxic concentrations (5-15 µM). Inflammatory parameters were analysed in collected cell medium and lysate after the incubation period using the Enzyme-Linked ImmuneSorbent Assay (ELISA) and Western blot. Both flavonoids inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) in LPS-stimulated skin cells as well as the decreased level of MMP-1 in fibroblasts. However, the application of MYR and DHM dose dependently increased the level of MMP-1 in keratinocytes. In our experiments, we focused on the anti-glycation activity of MYR and DHM, where the higher concentration of MYR seems to be more effective.

The consumption of glucosinolate (GL)-rich foods, including Brassica vegetables, such as mustard, broccoli, and maca, is associated with decreased risk of developing cancer. The GL content in maca, which is recognized as a "superfood", is approximately 100-times higher than that in other brassicas. Although maca is a potential dietary source of GLs, limited studies have examined the bioactivity of maca GLs using the combination of chemical characterization and bioassays. In this study, the fractions (Lm-II and Lm-III) rich in intact GLs (glucotropaeolin and glucolimnanthin) were isolated and characterized from maca ethanolic extracts using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Additionally, the growth-inhibitory effects of Lm-II and Lm-II fractions against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2/C3A) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT29) cell lines were examined in the absence or presence of myrosinase (MYR). Fractions lacking low molecular weight sugars dose-dependently exerted cytotoxic effects in the presence of MYR. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of Lm-II and Lm-III against HepG2/C3A were 118.8 and 69.9 µg/mL, respectively, while those against HT29 were 102.6 and 71.5 µg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that the anticancer properties of maca can be attributed to GLs and corroborate the categorization of maca as a "superfood."Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1952444.

Complete chloroplast genomes of ten wild Fragaria species native to China were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis clustered Fragaria species into two clades: The south clade (F. iinumae, F. chinensis, F. pentaphylla, F. nilgerrensis, F. daltoniana, F. corymbosa, F. moupinensis, F. tibetica, F. nipponica, F. gracilis, and F. nubicola and north clade ( F. viridis , F. orientalis, F. moschata, F. mandshurica, F. vesca, F. chiloensis, F. virginiana , and F. × ananassa), while F. iinumae is the oldest extant species . Molecular clock analysis suggested present Fragaria species share a common ancestor 3.57 million years ago (Ma), F. moschata and octoploid species evolve 0.89 and 0.97 Ma, respectively, but F. moschata be not directly involved in current octoploid species formation. Drastic global temperature change since the Palaeocene–Eocene, approx. 55 Ma, especially during uplifting of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and quaternary glaciation may have driven the formation of Fragaria, separation of two groups and polyploidization

—The paper presents the results of magnetic field measurements of 27 chemically peculiar stars in subgroups (c) and (d) of the Orion OB1 association. In total, more than 140 circularly polarized spectra were obtained and measured in the period from 2013 to 2020. An analysis of the results showed that 13 out of 24 CP stars in subgroup (c) have a magnetic field. At the same time, no field of a significant strength was found in any of the three CP stars in subgroup (d). We found that the occurrence of magnetic stars in subgroup (c), whose average age is approximately 5 Myr, lies in the middle between the occurrence of magnetic stars in subgroups (a) with an age of 10 Myr and (b), whose age is about 2 Myr. Our results indicate a sharp decrease in the occurrence of magnetic CP stars and a simultaneous decrease in their magnetic field with age. The data obtained with the example of the Orion OB1 association generally support the theory of the fossil origin of the magnetic field of chemically peculiar stars; however, the process of the field formation itself can have a number of features manifesting observationally.

—The previous paleomagnetic studies of the Upper Vendian Zigan Formation sediments on the western slope of Southern Ural revealed uncommonly numerous magnetic polarity zones (Bazhenov et al., 2016). The dating of magmatic zircons from the tuff interlayer constrained the age of this formation to 547.6 ± 3.8 Ma. The rate of reversals estimated from most general considerations is about 20–30 per Myr which is approximately two to three times higher than the highest reversal frequency in Phanerozoic. In this work, a more accurate estimate of the rate of reversals is obtained from cyclostratigraphic study of the lower red-rock part (74 m) of the Zigan Formation in its continuous section along the Sterlitamak–Magnitogorsk road—the longest one among those previously studied by the paleomagnetic method. The correlation of the detailed cyclostratigraphic studies with the magnetostratigraphic column allowed a more reliable estimation of the reversal rate. The studied section in which we identified 20 reversals was accumulated during 1.6 Myr, i.e., the reversal frequency in this interval was 12–13 per Myr. Our quantitative assessment shows that the previous studies overestimated the geomagnetic reversal frequency by a factor of two. However, even the reversal rate estimated in this study can be regarded anomalously high, and the previous conclusions about the existence of a period with anomalously frequent reversals in terminal Ediacaran 547.6 ± 3.8 Myr ago can be considered validated.

The recently described 890-million-year-old sponge fossil illuminates the early evolutionary path to the emergence of animal sentience. A sentient animal is aware of feelings and sensations due to the activity of a nervous system. Indirect markers suggest that the foundations of sentience originated hundreds of millions of years before the Cambrian. If the first neuron was a sensory cell, the presence of epithelial “neural stem cells” in ancient Porifera may have been the ancestral state of the nerve cell that appeared in Eumetazoa. In addition, sponges have neurotransmitters, such as Glutamate and GABA, and other molecular markers, such as EflMsiA, Piezo ion channel and Notch. If the 890-million-year-old fossil is identified as a sponge, the emergence of the buiding blocks of sentience among animals began much earlier than previously thought.

International audience; The appearance of leaves with flattened laminae about 400 million years (Myr) ago had broad impacts on the Earth's ecosystem. The influential telome theory presents a model for this evolutionary transition, although it lacks plausible molecular evidence. Recently, microtubule-mediated mechanical feedback was proposed as a parsimonious alternative mechanism to explain leaf blade evolution.

A simple, convenient and label-free approach was developed for detection of acetylcholine (ACh) based on competitive enzymatic hydrolysis by use of liquid crystals (LCs) as a sensing medium. Self-assembled monolayers of myristoylcholine (Myr) were obtained at the aqueous/LC interface when the surfactants were in contact with LCs, resulting in a perpendicular orientation of LCs at the interface. Thus, LCs displayed a dark optical image. However, enzymatic hydrolysis of Myr by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) disturbed the Myr monolayers, which led to a horizontal orientation of LCs at the interface, thereby inducing a dark-to-bright shift of the LCs optical appearance. Interestingly, as ACh was also a substrate of AChE, the bright appearance of LCs was prevented when incubating the mixture of AChE and ACh with Myr decorated aqueous/LC interface due to the competitive enzymatic hydrolysis between Myr and ACh by AChE. By using this strategy, ACh could be detected selectively and sensitively, with a broad linear range from 0.01 μmol/L to 1 mmol/L and a low detection limit of 14.5 nmol/L. The results showed that the competitive enzymatic hydrolysis-assisted LC-based sensor had potential applications in ACh detection.

The origination of new genes is important for generating genetic novelties for adaptive evolution and biological diversity. However, their potential roles in embryonic development, evolutionary processes into ancient networks, and contributions to adaptive evolution remain poorly investigated. Here, we identified a novel chimeric gene family, the chiron family, and explored its genetic basis and functional evolution underlying the adaptive evolution of Danioninae fishes. The ancestral chiron gene originated through retroposition of nampt in Danioninae 48-54 million years ago (Mya) and expanded into five duplicates (chiron1-5) in zebrafish 1-4 Mya. The chiron genes (chirons) likely originated in embryonic development and gradually extended their expression in the testis. Functional experiments showed that chirons were essential for zebrafish embryo development. By integrating into the NAD+ synthesis pathway, chirons could directly catalyze the NAD+ rate-limiting reaction and probably impact two energy metabolism genes (nmnat1 and naprt) to be under positive selection in Danioninae fishes. Together, these results mainly demonstrated that the origin of new chimeric chiron genes may be involved in adaptive evolution by integrating and impacting the NAD+ biosynthetic pathway. This coevolution may contribute to the physiological adaptation of Danioninae fishes to widespread and varied biomes in Southeast Asian.

Vitis amurensis (Shanputao) is the most cold tolerant Vitis species and so is of great interest to grape breeders and producers in areas with low winter temperatures. Here, we report its high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly based on a combination of sequence data from Illumina and PacBio platforms, BioNano optical mapping and high-throughput chromosome conformation Capture (Hi-C) mapping. The 604.56-Mb genome contains 32 885 protein-coding genes. Shanputao was found to share a common ancestor with PN40024 (V. vinifera) approximately 2.17-2.91 million years ago, and gene expansion observed in Shanputao might contribute to the enhancement of cold tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed 17 genes involved in cold signal transduction, suggesting that there was a different response mechanism to chilling temperature and freezing conditions. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study uncovered a phosphoglycerate kinase gene that may contribute to the freezing resistance of buds in the winter. The Shanputao genome sequence not only represents a valuable resource for grape breeders, but also is important for clarifying the molecular mechanisms involved in cold tolerance.

Competitive cocrystallization provides a green chemical method for flavonoid separation with fewer steps and lower energy consumption than the traditional organic solvent extraction method., Recently, cocrystallization has been widely employed to tailor physicochemical properties of drugs in the pharmaceutical field. In this study, cocrystallization was applied to separate natural compounds with similar structures. Three flavonoids [baicalein (BAI), quercetin (QUE) and myricetin (MYR)] were used as model compounds. The coformer caffeine (CAF) could form cocrystals with all three flavonoids, namely BAI–CAF (cocrystal 1), QUE–CAF (cocrystal 2) and MYR–CAF (cocrystal 3). After adding CAF to methanol solution containing MYR and QUE (or QUE and BAI), cocrystal 3 (or cocrystal 2) preferentially formed rather than cocrystal 2 (or cocrystal 1), indicating that flavonoid separation could be achieved by competitive cocrystallization. After co-mixing the slurry of two flavonoids with CAF followed by centrifugation, the resolution ratio that could be achieved was 70–80% with purity >90%. Among the three cocrystals, cocrystal 3 showed the lowest formation constant with a negative Gibbs free energy of nucleation and the highest energy gap. Hirshfeld surface analysis and density of states analysis found that cocrystal 3 had the highest strong interaction contribution and the closest electronic density, respectively, followed by cocrystal 2 and cocrystal 1, suggesting CAF could competitively form a cocrystal with MYR much more easily than QUE and BAI. Cocrystallization is a promising approach for green and effective separation of natural products with similar chemical structures.

Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental contaminant, which induces testicular toxicity through oxidative stress. Myricetin (MYR) is a naturally occurring flavonol having powerful antioxidant activity. The current research was planned to examine the ameliorative role of MYR against NP-induced testicular damage. A total of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 equivalent groups: control (0.1% DMSO), NP group (50 mg kg−1), NP + MYR group (50 mg kg−1; 100 mg kg−1), and MYR-treated group (100 mg kg−1). NP administration significantly (p

The phylogenetic signal of transmissibility (competence) and attack severity among hosts of generalist pests is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the phylogenetic effects on hosts differentially affected by an emergent generalist beetle–pathogen complex in California and South Africa. Host types (non‐competent, competent and killed‐competent) are based on nested types of outcomes of interactions between host plants, the beetles and the fungal pathogens. Phylogenetic dispersion analysis of each host type revealed that the phylogenetic preferences of beetle attack and fungal growth were a nonrandom subset of all available tree and shrub species. Competent hosts were phylogenetically narrower by 62 Myr than the set of all potential hosts, and those with devastating impacts were the most constrained by 107 Myr. Our results show a strong phylogenetic signal in the relative effects of a generalist pest–pathogen complex on host species, demonstrating that the strength of multi‐host pest impacts in plants can be predicted by host evolutionary relationships. This study presents a unifying theoretical approach to identifying likely disease outcomes across multiple host‐pest combinations.

The genus Macaca serves as an ideal research model for speciation and introgressive gene flow due to its short period of diversification (about five million years ago) and rapid radiation of constituent species. To understand evolutionary gene flow in macaques, we sequenced four whole genomes (two M. arctoides and two M. thibetana) and combined them with publicly available macaque genome data for genome-wide analyses. We analyzed 14 individuals from nine Macaca species covering all Asian macaque species groups and detected extensive gene flow signals, with the strongest signals between the fascicularis and silenus species groups. Notably, we detected bidirectional gene flow between M. fascicularis and M. nemestrina. The estimated proportion of the genome inherited via gene flow between the two species was 6.19%. However, the introgression signals found among studied island species, such as Sulawesi macaques and M. fuscata, and other species were largely attributed to the genomic similarity of closely related species or ancestral introgression. Furthermore, gene flow signals varied in individuals of the same species (M. arctoides, M. fascicularis, M. mulatta, M. nemestrina and M. thibetana), suggesting very recent gene flow after the populations split. Pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescence (PSMC) analysis showed all macaques experienced a bottleneck five million years ago, after which different species exhibited different fluctuations in demographic history trajectories, implying they have experienced complicated environmental variation and climate change. These results should help improve our understanding of the complicated evolutionary history of macaques, particularly introgressive gene flow.

We performed the slitless spectroscopic survey to identify Classical (CBe) stars in open clusters older than 100 Myr. Observing a sample of 71 open clusters, we identified 13 CBe stars in 11 open clusters, one of, which (TYC 2679-432-1) is a new detection. The 13 CBe stars show both H$\alpha$ in emission and IR excess, which confirm that they possess gaseous circumstellar discs. Two more CBe stars are found to exhibit H$\alpha$ in absorption for the first time, indicating that might be passing through disc-less episode presently. The spectral type estimation is done for all these 15 stars and it is noticed that they belong to B0.5 -- B8 type. Moreover, we found that the distribution of our sample is peaking near late B-types as expected., Comment: 14 pages, 3 tables, 7 figures, appeared in Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy

Spectral analyses of past relative sea-level oscillations as represented by the ages of 57 Phanerozoic (the last 545 Myr) stratigraphic sequence boundaries from the Canadian Arctic show a strong spectral peak at 32 Myr (>99.9% confidence). These findings concur with previous reports of significant cycles with periods of around 30 Myr in various records of fluctuations of sea level, and in potentially related episodes of tectonism, volcanism, climate, and biotic extinctions. Sequence boundaries commonly coincide with stage boundaries based on biostratigraphy, and are correlated with episodes of extinction and times of flood-basalt volcanism. The connection between tectonics and sea-level variations may come from changes in rates of ocean-floor spreading and subduction, intraplate stresses from plate-reorganizations, and pulsations of hotspot volcanism. These coordinated periodic fluctuations in tectonics, sea level and climate may be modulated by cyclical activity in the Earth’s mantle, although some pacing by astronomical cycles is suspected.

The final 10 Myr of the Paleozoic saw two of the biggest biological crises in Earth history: the middlePermian extinction (often termed the Guadalupian–Lopingian extinction [GLE]) that was followed 7–8 Myr later by Earth's most catastrophic loss of diversity, the Permian–Triassic mass extinction (PTME). These crises are not only manifest as sharp decreases in biodiversity and—particularly for the PTME—total ecosystem collapse, but they also drove major changes in biological morphological characteristics such as the Lilliput effect. The evolution of test size among different clades of foraminifera during these two extinction events has been less studied. We analyzed a global database of foraminiferal test size (volume) including 20,226 specimens in 464 genera, 98 families, and 9 suborders from 632 publications. Our analyses reveal significant reductions in foraminiferal mean test size across the Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary (GLB) and the Permian/Triassic boundary (PTB), from 8.89 to 7.60 log10 μm3 (lg μm3) and from 7.25 to 5.82 lg μm3, respectively. The decline in test size across the GLB is a function of preferential extinction of genera exhibiting gigantism such as fusulinoidean fusulinids. Other clades show little change in size across the GLB. In contrast, all Lopingian suborders in our analysis (Fusulinina, Lagenina, Miliolina, and Textulariina) experienced a significant decrease in test size across the PTB, mainly due to size-biased extinction and within-lineage change. The PTME was clearly a major catastrophe that affected many groups simultaneously, and the GLE was more selective, perhaps hinting at a subtler, less extreme driver than the later PTME.

High-producing dairy cows are prone to oxidative stress due to their high secretion and strong metabolism, and excessive oxidative stress may cause the apoptosis of bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMECs). Myricetin (Myr) has been shown to have a wide range of pharmaceutical activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Myr on hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 )-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in bMECs and to clarify the underlying mechanism. bMECs were pretreated with or without Myr and then stimulated with H2 O2 . The results showed that Myr significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase levels and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in a model of oxidative stress induced by H2 O2 in bMECs. Mechanistic studies found that Myr inhibited H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress in bMECs through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (AMPK/NRF2) signaling pathway. Additional research found that Myr could also inhibit H2 O2 -induced apoptosis in bMECs through NRF2. These data suggest that Myr effectively alleviated oxidative stress and apoptosis in H2 O2 -induced bMECs through the activation of the AMPK/NRF2 signaling pathway.

Short tandem repeats (STRs) contribute to structural variation in plant mitochondrial genomes, but the mechanisms underlying their formation and expansion are unclear. In this study, we detected high polymorphism in the nad7-1 region of the Pinus tabuliformis mitogenome caused by the rapid accumulation of STRs and rearrangements over a few million years ago. The STRs in nad7-1 have a 7-bp microhomology (TAG7) flanking the repeat array. We then scanned the mitogenomes of 136 seed plants to understand the role of microhomology in the formation of STR and mitogenome evolution. A total of 13,170 STRs were identified, and almost half of them were associated with microhomologies. A substantial amount (1,197) of microhomologies was long enough to mediate structural variation, and the length of microhomology is positively correlated with the length of tandem repeat unit. These results suggest that microhomology may be involved in the formation of tandem repeat via microhomology-mediated pathway, and the formation of longer duplicates required greater length of microhomology. We examined the abundance of these 1,197 microhomologies, and found 75% of them were enriched in the plant mitogenomes. Further analyses of the 400 prevalent microhomologies revealed that 175 of them showed differential enrichment between angiosperms and gymnosperms and 186 differed between angiosperms and conifers, indicating lineage-specific usage and expansion of microhomologies. Our study sheds light on the sources of structural variation in plant mitochondrial genomes and highlights the importance of microhomology in mitochondrial genome evolution.

After 300 million years of evolution, the first land-living mammals reentered the marine environment some 50 million years ago. The driving forces for this dramatic lifestyle change are still a matter of discussion but the struggle for food resources and the opportunity to escape predators probably contributed. Reentering the oceans requires metabolic adaption putting evolutionary pressure on a number of genes. To explore whether eicosanoid signaling has been part of this adaptive response, we first explored whether the genomes of marine mammals involve functional genes encoding for key enzymes of eicosanoid biosynthesis. Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (ALOX) genes are present in the genome of all marine mammals tested. Interestingly, ALOX12B, which has been implicated in skin development of land-living mammals, is lacking in whales and dolphins and genes encoding for its sister enzyme (ALOXE3) involve premature stop codons and/or frameshifting point mutations, which interrupt the open reading frames. ALOX15 orthologs have been detected in all marine mammals, and the recombinant enzymes exhibit similar catalytic properties as those of land-living species. All marine mammals express arachidonic acid 12-lipoxygenating ALOX15 orthologs, and these data are consistent with the Evolutionary Hypothesis of ALOX15 specificity. These enzymes exhibit membrane oxygenase activity and introduction of big amino acids at the triad positions altered the reaction specificity in favor of arachidonic acid 15-lipoxygenation. Thus, the ALOX15 orthologs of marine mammals follow the Triad concept explaining their catalytic specificity.

International audience; N-myristoylation (MYR) is a crucial fatty acylation catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferases (NMTs) that is likely to have appeared over 2 billion years ago. Proteome-wide approaches have now delivered an exhaustive list of substrates undergoing MYR across approximately 2% of any proteome, with constituents, several unexpected, associated with different membrane compartments. A set of \textless10 proteins conserved in eukaryotes probably represents the original set of N-myristoylated targets, marking major changes occurring throughout eukaryogenesis. Recent findings have revealed unexpected mechanisms and reactivity, suggesting competition with other acylations that are likely to influence cellular homeostasis and the steady state of the modification landscape. Here, we review recent advances in NMT catalysis, substrate specificity, and MYR proteomics, and discuss concepts regarding MYR during evolution.

Lycophytes and seed plants constitute the typical vascular plants. Lycophytes have been thought to have no paleo-polyploidization although the event is known to be critical for the fast expansion of seed plants. Here, genomic analyses including the homologous gene dot plot analysis detected multiple paleo-polyploidization events, with one occurring approximately 13-15 million years ago (MYA) and another about 125-142 MYA, during the evolution of the genome of Selaginella moellendorffii, a model lycophyte. In addition, comparative analysis of reconstructed ancestral genomes of lycophytes and angiosperms suggested that lycophytes were affected by more paleo-polyploidization events than seed plants. Results from the present genomic analyses indicate that paleo-polyploidization has contributed to the successful establishment of both lineages-lycophytes and seed plants-of vascular plants.

Objectives To calculate the total revenue under a hypothetical 1 Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) prescription cost sharing model in government healthcare facilities in Pahang, Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at outpatient pharmacy in all government healthcare facilities in Pahang from year 2013 to 2017. Each dispensed medication was calculated as 1 MYR and contributed to the total revenue. Results A total of 11 hospitals and 81 health clinics were recruited into the study. A hospital could generate 0.311 million MYR per year, and a district health department could generate 0.623 million MYR per year, giving a total of 10.268 million MYR revenue every year in Pahang, Malaysia. Under the prescription medicines cost sharing scheme, it was shown that an average of 9.4% of the total pharmaceutical spending could be recovered. The recovery percentage was approximately fourfold higher in health clinics (16.5%-21.7%) when compared with that in hospitals (4.3%-5.2%). Conclusion An estimated 10 million MYR or 10% from the total Ministry of Health pharmaceutical spending could be collected under the proposed 1 MYR prescription cost sharing model.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) play important roles to decode the genetic information contained in mRNA in the process of translation. The tRNA molecules possess conserved nucleotides at specific position to regulate the unique function. However, several nucleotides at different position of the tRNA undergo modification to maintain proper stability and function. The major modifications include the presence of pseudouridine (Ψ) residue instead of uridine and the presence of m5-methylation sites. We found that, Ψ13 is conserved in D-stem, whereas Ψ38 & Ψ39 were conserved in the anti-codon loop (AL) and anti-codon arm (ACA), respectively. Furthermore, Ψ55 found to be conserved in the Ψ loop. Although, fourteen possible methylation sites can be found in the tRNA, cyanobacterial tRNAs were found to possess conserved G9, m3C32, C36, A37, m5C38 and U54 methylation sites. The presence of multiple conserved methylation sites might be responsible for providing necessary stability to the tRNA. The evolutionary study revealed, tRNAMet and tRNAIle were evolved earlier than other tRNA isotypes and their evolution is date back to at least 4000 million years ago. The presence of novel pseudouridination and m5-methylation sites in the cyanobacterial tRNAs are of particular interest for basic biology. Further experimental study can delineate their functional significance in protein translation. Keywords: tRNA, Cyanobacteria, Pseudouridine, Methylation, Inosine, Aminoacyl-tRNA, Evolution

Using diatoms, pollen, and geochemistry, we explore human habitation around Lina myr, Gotland, in relation to shore displacement. Archeological evidence has shown that Lina myr was an important area for its prehistoric human inhabitants. We investigate if and when Lina myr was connected to the sea and could therefore have been part of an inland water system useful for transport. A chronology was based on14C AMS dating of terrestrial macrofossils and bulk sediments with dates ranging between 9100 and 2360 cal. yr BP. The initiation of the Littorina transgression was dated to 8500 cal. yr BP. A twofold pattern for the maximum sub-phase of the Littorina Sea is suggested from 8100 to 7500 cal. yr BP and from 6500 to 6000 cal. yr BP. The onset of cultivation and grazing was indicated by the presence of Hordeum and Plantago lanceolata in the pollen record during the Late Neolithic, at about 4580 cal. yr BP. During this time sea level was relatively higher than today and the Lina myr basin was connected with the Littorina Sea, which it continued to be until isostatic uplift caused it to become isolated at about 3820 cal. yr BP. After about 3000 cal. yr BP, human-made landscape changes intensified, grasslands increased, and shrublands decreased.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a clinical disease which seriously affects the quality of life of sufferers. Although the pathogenesis of OA has not been fully unraveled, it is may be due to increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activation of inflammation-related signaling pathways, and degradation of extracellular matrix. Osteoarthritis is characterized by chronic joint pain, swelling, stiffness, limited movement or joint deformity, all of which seriously affect the quality of life and health of the affected individuals. Myroside (Myr) is a polyphenolic hydroxyflavone glycoside extracted from the fruits, bark and leaves of myroside and other natural plants. It has many pharmacological properties, especially anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, primary chondrocytes of IL-1β rats were used to simulate pathological environment of chondrocytes in OA, and to explore the effect of Myr on chondrocytes. It was found that Myr improved the viability and proliferation of chondrocytes, and also inhibited apoptosis in these cells. Moreover, Myr reduced the expressions of inflammatory factors, and inhibited inflammatory reactions in chondrocytes. These findings provide good experimental basis for the clinical application of Myr in the prevention and treatment of progressive degeneration of cartilage in OA.

Western North America preserves iconic dinosaur faunas from the Upper Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous, but this record is interrupted by an approximately 20 Myr gap with essentially no terrestrial vertebrate fossil localities. This poorly sampled interval is nonetheless important because it is thought to include a possible mass extinction, the origin of orogenic controls on dinosaur spatial distribution, and the origin of important Upper Cretaceous dinosaur taxa. Therefore, dinosaur-bearing rocks from this interval are of particular interest to vertebrate palaeontologists. In this study, we report on one such locality from Highwood Pass, Alberta. This locality has yielded a multitaxic assemblage, with the most diagnostic material identified so far including ankylosaurian osteoderms and a turtle plastron element. The fossil horizon lies within the upper part of the Pocaterra Creek Member of the Cadomin Formation (Blairmore Group). The fossils are assigned as Berriasian (earliest Cretaceous) in age, based on previous palynomorph analyses of the Pocaterra Creek Member and underlying and overlying strata. The fossils lie within numerous cross-bedded sandstone beds separated by pebble lenses. These sediments are indicative of a relatively high-energy depositional environment, and the distribution of these fossils over multiple beds indicates that they accumulated over multiple events, possibly flash floods. The fossils exhibit a range of surface weathering, having intact to heavily weathered cortices. The presence of definitive dinosaur material from near the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary of Alberta establishes the oldest record of dinosaur body fossils in western Canada and provides a unique opportunity to study the Early Cretaceous dinosaur faunas of western North America.

Background Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality among malignant gynecological tumors. Surgical resection and chemotherapy with intravenous platinum/taxanes drugs are the treatments of choice, with little effectiveness in later stages and severe toxicological effects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antineoplastic activity of gallic acid (GA) and myricetin (Myr) administrated peritumorally in Nu/Nu mice xenotransplanted with SKOV-3 cells. Methods Biological activity of GA and MYR was evaluated in SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells (ovarian adenocarcinomas) by confocal/transmission electron microscopy, PI-flow cytometry, H2-DCF-DA stain, MTT, and Annexin V/PI assays. Molecular targets of compounds were determined with ACD/I-Labs and SEA. Antineoplastic activity was performed in SKOV-3 cells subcutaneously xenotransplanted into female Nu/Nu mice treated peritumorally with 50 mg/kg of each compound (2 alternate days/week) for 28 days. Controls used were paclitaxel (5 mg/kg) and 20 μL of vehicle (0.5% DMSO in 1X PBS). Tumor lesions, organs and sera were evaluated with NMR, USG, histopathological, and paraclinical studies. Results In vitro studies showed a decrease of cell viability with GA and Myr in SKOV-3 (50 and 166 μg/mL) and OVCAR-3 (43 and 94 μg/mL) cells respectively, as well as morphological changes, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis induction due to ROS generation (p ≤ 0.05, ANOVA). In silico studies suggest that GA and MYR could interact with carbonic anhydrase IX and PI3K, respectively. In vivo studies revealed inhibitory effects on tumor lesions development with GA and MYR up to 50% (p ≤ 0.05, ANOVA), with decreased vascularity, necrotic/fibrotic areas, neoplastic stroma retraction and apoptosis. However, toxicological effects were observed with GA treatment, such as leukocyte infiltrate and hepatic parenchyma loss, hypertransaminasemia (ALT: 150.7 ± 25.60 U/L), and hypoazotemia (urea: 33.4 ± 7.4 mg/dL), due to the development of chronic hepatitis (p ≤ 0.05, ANOVA). Conclusion GA and Myr (50 mg/kg) administered by peritumoral route, inhibit ovarian tumor lesions development in rodents with some toxicological effects. Additional studies will be necessary to find the appropriate therapeutic dose for GA. Therefore, GA and Myr could be considered as a starting point for the development of novel anticancer agents.

Sensitive (noise $\sim 16\,\mu$\Jyb), high-resolution ($\sim 10''$) MeerKAT observations of Fornax A show that its giant lobes have a double-shell morphology, where dense filaments are embedded in a diffuse and extended cocoon, while the central radio jets are confined within the host galaxy. The spectral radio properties of the lobes and jets of Fornax A reveal that its nuclear activity is rapidly flickering. Multiple episodes of nuclear activity must have formed the radio lobes, for which the last stopped $12$ Myr ago. More recently ($\sim 3$ Myr ago), a less powerful and short ($\lesssim 1$ Myr) phase of nuclear activity generated the central jets. The distribution and kinematics of the neutral and molecular gas in the centre give insights on the interaction between the recurrent nuclear activity and the surrounding interstellar medium., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; proceedings of IAU Symposium No. 359, 2020 -- Galaxy Evolution and Feedback Across Different Environments

The present investigation aims to evaluate the prophylactic effects and mechanisms of Myr on experimental colitis model induced by acetic acid (AA) in mice. The obtained results showed that Myr treatment prior to induction of colitis significantly modulated the colonic oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant enzymatic activities of catalse, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, as well as by lowering the levels of lipid peroxidation. The treatment also significantly decreased the colonic tissue levels of inflammatory markers, including myeloperoxidase activity, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 and interleukin-17. Besides, Myr significantly inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) levels in AA-induced ulcerative colitis tissues. In the histological evaluation, the tissue damage scores in the mice colon were significantly suppressed with the administration of Myr + AA. Taken together, our findings suggested that Myr exerts marked protective effect against colonic inflammation through regulating antioxidative responses, NF-κB and subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokines production.

Naturen er et gigantisk karbonlager, og myr er en av de mest karbonrike naturtypene i verden. Typiske høymyrer er en sterk truet naturtype i Norge, der utbygging er dens største trussel. Utbygging fører til at karbonet som er lagret i myra frigjøres. Derfor er det spesielt viktig å bevare disse naturlige karbonlagrene, nå som vi står ovenfor klimakrisen. Kunnskapen om karboninnholdet i myr har hatt en kraftig økning det siste tiåret, som også har gitt nye lovkrav i henhold til bærekraftig planlegging. I Norge mangler det et arealregnskap i kommunal planlegging, og dermed vet man ikke hvor mye karbon som frigjøres ved inngrep i ulike typer natur. Det kan gå flere år mellom vedtak om utbygging, til selve inngrepet starter. Det har skapt utfordringer i arealplanleggingen fordi planprosessen havner i strid med nyopprettede lovkrav underveis. Et eksempel på dette er Bjørkemåsan i Nannestad kommune, der det i 2007 ble vedtatt utbygging av 1200 boliger på myr, men selve utbyggingen startet i 2020. Planprosessen til Bjørkemåsan har særs lite utredninger om hvor mye karbon som går tapt i utbyggingen. Målet for denne oppgaven var derfor å beregne Bjørkemåsans karbonlager, og undersøke hvordan kommunen utredet utslipp fra myra. Ved hjelp av georadarundersøkelse, og laboratorieanalyser av torv, beregnet jeg at omtrent 123 978 CO2-ekvivalenter har blitt frigjort fra utbyggingen av Bjørkemåsan. Trolig er utslippet større i virkeligheten, fordi Bjørkemåsan bærer preg av store inngrep siden 1915-tallet. Dokumentstudier viste en omfattende og langvarig planprosess, ettersom utbyggingen kom i kjølvannet av det oppdaterte lovverket om planlegging, og bruk- og vern av naturen. Det er gjort saksbehandlingsfeil, og det finnes vedtak som er i strid med plan- og bygningsloven, og naturmangfoldloven. Bjørkemåsan ble bygget ut del-for-del, og dermed ble også konsekvensene vurdert del-for-del. Den samlede konsekvensen av utbyggingene ble ikke sett i helhet, som gjorde at det totale karbonlageret ikke ble gjort rede for. Nannestad kommune som er ansvarlig for dette enorme utslippet, fikk ingen konsekvenser. Det er derimot klimaet vårt som får konsekvensene. GE4-304

I 2016-2020 gjennomførte Landsskogtakseringen detaljerte registreringer av grøftede arealer på alle prøveflater i skog og på all myrlendt snaumark, inkludert myrlendt snaumark over skoggrensa, med et samlet representativt areal på 140 215 km2. Der hvor grøfter forekom ble det registrert grøftetype, grøftens tilstand, grøftelengde og gjennomsnittlig grøftebredde. Til sammen er det registrert et grøftet areal på 6064 km2, hvorav 1554 km2 på organisk jord (torvjord med minst 40 cm torvdybde) og 4510 km2 på mineraljord. Grøftenes funksjon kan grovt deles i to hovedgrupper: 1) for økt skogtilvekst og 2) andre formål, slik som drenering langs veier, dyrka mark, bebygde områder, etc. Organisk jord er primært grøftet for økt skogtilvekst (1062 km2). Mineraljord er primært grøftet for andre formål, og i mindre grad for økt skogtilvekst (1748 km2). Kapittel 3 gir detaljer oversikt over hvor stor andel av forskjellige arealer som er grøftet. Her gis slike statistikker for ulike skog- og myrtyper, skoglig produktivitet (bonitet), dominerende treslag og vegetasjonstyper på myr og i skog. I de fleste tilfeller er statistikkene videre oppdelt på geografiske regioner. Kapittel 4 omhandler grøftetyper og grøftenes tilstand. På arealer som er grøftet for økt skogtilvekst kan grøftetilstanden mange steder være utilfredsstillende sett fra et skogproduksjons-perspektiv. Dette gjelder særlig sidegrøfter hvor omtrent 65 % av grøftene har svak eller dårlig tilstand. For avløpsgrøfter er tilstanden svak eller dårlig på 47-54 % av grøftene (mest utilfredsstillende på mineraljord). Kapittel 5 fokuserer på skogarealer som er drenert for skogbruksformål og som kan være aktuelle for grøfterensk. Her viser vi hvordan det grøftede arealet fordeler seg i forhold til hogstklasse, bonitet og driftsveilengde, samt hvor mange kilometer grøft som forekommer på disse arealene. Videre viser vi hvordan disse arealene fordeler seg i forhold til geografiske regioner og antall kilometer grøft som er i ulike grøftetilstander, samt hvor mye av dette som er i ung skog (hogstklasse 1-3) og eldre skog (hogstklasse 4-5). Landsskogtakseringen har også registrert endringer i vegetasjonsdekket på de drenerte arealene. Kapittel 6 fokuserer på organisk jord, og viser påvirkning på vegetasjon for ulike typer grøfter og antall meter med grøft.

Two novel drug–drug (1:1) cocrystals of berberine chloride (BER) with myricetin (MYR) and dihydromyricetin (DMY), BER-MYR(1), and BER-DMY(2) have been prepared and investigated systematically. The ...

Anuran genomes have a large number and diversity of transposable elements, but are little explored, mainly in relation to their molecular structure and evolutionary dynamics. Here, we investigated the retrotransposons containing tyrosine recombinase (YR) (order DIRS) in the genome of Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus laevis. These anurans show 2n = 20 and the 2n = 36 karyotypes, respectively. They diverged about 48 million years ago (mya) and X. laevis had an allotetraploid origin (around 17-18 mya). Our investigation is based on the analysis of the molecular structure and the phylogenetic relationships of 95 DIRS families of Xenopus belonging to DIRS-like and Ngaro-like superfamilies. We were able to identify molecular signatures in the 5’ and 3’ non-coding terminal regions, preserved open reading frames (ORFs) and conserved domains that are specific to distinguish each superfamily. We recognize two ancient amplification waves of DIRS-like elements that occurred in the ancestor of both species and a higher density of the old/degenerate copies detected in the X. laevis. X. tropicalis showed more recent amplification waves estimated around 16 mya and 3.2 mya and corroborate with high diversity-level of families in this species and with transcriptional activity evidence. Ngaro-like elements presented less diversity and quantity in the genomes, although potentially active copies were also found. Our findings highlight a differential diversity-level and evolutionary dynamics of the YR retrotransposons in the diploid X. tropicalis and X. laevis species expanding our comprehension of the behavior of these elements in both genomes during the diversification process.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved in the mechanisms of cardiac toxicity induced by aluminum phosphide (AlP). AlP-induced cardiotoxicity leads to cardiomyocyte death, cardiomyopathy, cardiac dysfunction, and eventually severe heart failure and death. Importantly, protecting cardiomyocytes from death resulting from AlP is vital for improving survival. It has been reported that flavonoids such as myricetin (Myr) act as modifiers of mitochondrial function and prevent mitochondrial damage resulting from many insults and subsequent cell dysfunction. In this study, the ameliorative effect of Myr, as an important antioxidant and mitochondrial protective agent, was investigated in cardiomyocytes and mitochondria isolated from rat heart against AlP-induced toxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment of AlP (20 μg/ml) significantly increased cytotoxicity; reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, ATP depletion, caspase-3 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) collapse, and lysosomal dysfunction; and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in intact cardiomyocytes. Also, treatment of AlP (20 μg/ml) significantly increased mitochondrial dysfunction and swelling in isolated mitochondria. Myr (80 µM) appeared to ameliorate AlP-induced cytotoxicity in isolated cardiomyocytes; significantly lessened the AlP-stimulated intracellular ROS and MDA production and depletion of GSH; and increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px. Furthermore, Myr (40 and 80 µM) lowered AlP-induced lysosomal/mitochondrial dysfunction, ATP depletion, and caspase-3 activation. In the light of these findings, we concluded that Myr through antioxidant potential and inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore exerted an ameliorative role in AlP-induced toxicity in isolated cardiomyocytes and mitochondria, and it would be valuable to examine its in vivo effects.

The role of uric acid during primate evolution has remained elusive ever since it was discovered over 100 years ago that humans have unusually high levels of the small molecule in our serum. It has been difficult to generate a neutral or adaptive explanation in part because the uricase enzyme evolved to become a pseudogene in apes thus masking typical signals of sequence evolution. Adding to the difficulty is a lack of clarity on the functional role of uric acid in apes. One popular hypothesis proposes that uric acid is a potent antioxidant that increased in concentration to compensate for the lack of vitamin C synthesis in primate species ∼65 Ma. Here, we have expanded on our previous work with resurrected ancient uricase proteins to better resolve the reshaping of uricase enzymatic activity prior to ape evolution. Our results suggest that the pivotal death-knell to uricase activity occurred between 20 and 30 Ma despite small sequential modifications to its catalytic efficiency for the tens of millions of years since primates lost their ability to synthesize vitamin C, and thus the two appear uncorrelated. We also use this opportunity to demonstrate how molecular evolution can contribute to biomedicine by presenting ancient uricases to human immune cells that assay for innate reactivity against foreign antigens. A highly stable and highly catalytic ancient uricase is shown to elicit a lower immune response in more human haplotypes than other uricases currently in therapeutic development.

The STORR gene fusion event is considered a key step in the evolution of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) metabolism in opium poppy as the resulting bi-modular protein performs the isomerization of (S)- to (R)-reticuline which is required for morphinan biosynthesis. Our previous analysis of the opium poppy genome suggested the STORR gene fusion event occurred before a whole genome duplication event 7.2 million years ago. Here we use a combination of phylogenetic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, biochemical and genomic analysis to investigate the origin of the STORR gene fusion across the Papaveraceae family. The pro-morphinan/morphinan subclass of BIAs was present in a subset of 10 Papaver species including P. somniferum (opium poppy) and this correlated with the presence of the STORR gene fusion with one important exception. P. californicum does not produce morphinans but it does contain a STORR gene fusion that epimerizes (S)- to (R)-reticuline when heterologously expressed in yeast. The high similarity of the amino acid sequence linking the two modules of STORR along with phylogenetic gene tree analysis strongly suggests the gene fusion occurred only once and between 17-25 million years ago before the separation of P. californicum from the other Papaver species. We discovered that the most abundant BIA in P. californicum is (R)-glaucine, a member of the aporphine subclass of BIAs. Only the (S) isomer of this compound has previously been reported from nature. These results lead us to conclude that the function of the STORR gene fusion is not exclusive to morphinan production in the Papaveraceae.

Whole genome duplication (polyploidization) is among the most dramatic mutational processes in nature, so understanding how natural selection differs in polyploids relative to diploids is an important goal. Population genetics theory predicts that recessive deleterious mutations accumulate faster in allopolyploids than diploids due to the masking effect of redundant gene copies, but this prediction is hitherto unconfirmed. Here, we use the cotton genus (Gossypium), which contains seven allopolyploids derived from a single polyploidization event 1-2 million years ago, to investigate deleterious mutation accumulation. We use two methods of identifying deleterious mutations at the nucleotide and amino acid level, along with whole-genome resequencing of 43 individuals spanning six allopolyploid species and their two diploid progenitors, to demonstrate that deleterious mutations accumulate faster in allopolyploids than in their diploid progenitors. We find that, unlike what would be expected under models of demographic changes alone, strongly deleterious mutations show the biggest difference between ploidy levels, and this effect diminishes for moderately and mildly deleterious mutations. We further show that the proportion of nonsynonymous mutations that are deleterious differs between the two co-resident subgenomes in the allopolyploids, suggesting that homoeologous masking acts unequally between subgenomes. Our results provide a genome-wide perspective on classic notions of the significance of gene duplication that likely are broadly applicable to allopolyploids, with implications for our understanding of the evolutionary fate of deleterious mutations. Finally, we note that some measures of selection (e.g. dN/dS, πN/πS) may be biased when species of different ploidy levels are compared.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) thermochronometry is a tool for constraining cooling histories in low-temperature domains (several tens of degree Celsius) during the past 104–10

Jasmonates are fatty acid-derived hormones that regulate multiple aspects of plant development, growth and stress responses. Bioactive jasmonates, defined as the ligands of the conserved COI1 receptor, differ between vascular plants and bryophytes (jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine (JA-Ile) and dinor-12-oxo-10,15(Z)-phytodienoic acid (dn-OPDA), respectively). The biosynthetic pathways of JA-Ile in the model vascular plant Arabidopsis thaliana have been elucidated. However, the details of dn-OPDA biosynthesis in bryophytes are still unclear. Here, we identify an orthologue of Arabidopsis fatty-acid-desaturase 5 (AtFAD5) in the model liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and show that FAD5 function is ancient and conserved between species separated by more than 450 million years (Myr) of independent evolution. Similar to AtFAD5, MpFAD5 is required for the synthesis of 7Z-hexadecenoic acid. Consequently, in Mpfad5 mutants, the hexadecanoid pathway is blocked, dn-OPDA concentrations are almost completely depleted and normal chloroplast development is impaired. Our results demonstrate that the main source of wounding-induced dn-OPDA in Marchantia is the hexadecanoid pathway and the contribution of the octadecanoid pathway (i.e. from OPDA) is minimal. Remarkably, despite extremely low concentrations of dn-OPDA, MpCOI1-mediated responses to wounding and insect feeding can still be activated in Mpfad5, suggesting that dn-OPDA may not be the only bioactive jasmonate and COI1 ligand in Marchantia.

The bluntnose knifefish Brachyhypopomus occidentalis is a primary freshwater fish from north-western South America and Lower Central America. Like other Gymnotiformes, it has an electric organ that generates electric discharges used for both communication and electrolocation. We assembled a high-quality reference genome sequence of B. occidentalis by combining Oxford Nanopore and 10X Genomics linked-reads technologies. We also describe its demographic history in the context of the rise of the Isthmus of Panama. The size of the assembled genome is 540.3 Mb with an N50 scaffold length of 5.4 Mb, which includes 93.8% complete, 0.7% fragmented, and 5.5% of missing vertebrate/Actinoterigie Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. Repetitive elements account for 11.04% of the genome, and 34,347 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 23,935 have been functionally annotated. Demographic analysis suggests a rapid effective population expansion between 3 and 5 Myr, corresponding to the final closure of the Isthmus of Panama (2.8–3.5 Myr). This event was followed by a sudden and constant population decline during the last 1 Myr, likely associated with strong shifts in both precipitation and sea level during the Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. The de novo genome assembly of B. occidentalis will provide novel insights into the molecular basis of both electric signal productions and detection and will be fundamental for understanding the processes that have shaped the diversity of Neotropical freshwater environments.