Biology

14 pages, 4896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomass and Astaxanthin Productivities of Haematococcus pluvialis in an Angled Twin-Layer Porous Substrate Photobioreactor: Effect of Inoculum Density and Storage Time

by Thanh-Tri Do, Binh-Nguyen Ong, Minh-Ly Nguyen Tran, Doan Nguyen, Michael Melkonian and Hoang-Dung Tran

Biology 2019, 8(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030068 - 18 Sep 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6558

Abstract

The microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is mainly cultivated in suspended systems for astaxanthin production. Immobilized cultivation on a Twin-Layer porous substrate photobioreactor (TL-PSBR) has recently shown promise as an alternative approach. In Vietnam, a TL-PSBR was constructed as a low-angle (15 °) horizontal system [...] Read more.

The microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is mainly cultivated in suspended systems for astaxanthin production. Immobilized cultivation on a Twin-Layer porous substrate photobioreactor (TL-PSBR) has recently shown promise as an alternative approach. In Vietnam, a TL-PSBR was constructed as a low-angle (15 °) horizontal system to study the cultivation of H. pluvialis for astaxanthin production. In this study, the biomass and astaxanthin productivities and astaxanthin content in the dry biomass were determined using different initial biomass (inoculum) densities (from 2.5 to 10 g dry weight m⁻²), different storage times of the initial biomass at 4 °C (24, 72, 120 and 168 h) and different light intensities (300–1000 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹). The optimal initial biomass density at light intensities between 400–600 µmol photons⁻² s⁻¹ was 5–7.5 g m⁻². Algae stored for 24 h after harvest from suspension for immobilization on the TL-PSBR yielded the highest biomass and astaxanthin productivities, 8.7 g m⁻² d⁻¹ and 170 mg m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively; longer storage periods decreased productivity. Biomass and astaxanthin productivities were largely independent of light intensity between 300–1000 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ but the efficiency of light use per mole photons was highest between 300–500 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. The astaxanthin content in the dry biomass varied between 2–3% (w/w). Efficient supply of CO₂ to the culture medium remains a task for future improvements of angled TL-PSBRs. Full article

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18 pages, 5280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Interacting Head Motif Structure Does Not Explain the X-Ray Diffraction Patterns in Relaxed Vertebrate (Bony Fish) Skeletal Muscle and Insect (Lethocerus) Flight Muscle

by Carlo Knupp, Edward Morris and John M. Squire

Biology 2019, 8(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030067 - 14 Sep 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3701

Abstract

Unlike electron microscopy, which can achieve very high resolution but to date can only be used to study static structures, time-resolved X-ray diffraction from contracting muscles can, in principle, be used to follow the molecular movements involved in force generation on a millisecond [...] Read more.

Unlike electron microscopy, which can achieve very high resolution but to date can only be used to study static structures, time-resolved X-ray diffraction from contracting muscles can, in principle, be used to follow the molecular movements involved in force generation on a millisecond timescale, albeit at moderate resolution. However, previous X-ray diffraction studies of resting muscles have come up with structures for the head arrangements in resting myosin filaments that are different from the apparently ubiquitous interacting head motif (IHM) structures found by single particle analysis of electron micrographs of isolated myosin filaments from a variety of muscle types. This head organization is supposed to represent the super-relaxed state of the myosin filaments where adenosine triphosphate (ATP) usage is minimized. Here we have tested whether the interacting head motif structures will satisfactorily explain the observed low-angle X-ray diffraction patterns from resting vertebrate (bony fish) and invertebrate (insect flight) muscles. We find that the interacting head motif does not, in fact, explain what is observed. Previous X-ray models fit the observations much better. We conclude that the X-ray diffraction evidence has been well interpreted in the past and that there is more than one ordered myosin head state in resting muscle. There is, therefore, no reason to question some of the previous X-ray diffraction results on myosin filaments; time-resolved X-ray diffraction should be a reliable way to follow crossbridge action in active muscle and may be one of the few ways to visualise the molecular changes in myosin heads on a millisecond timescale as force is actually produced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers 2019)

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9 pages, 941 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Parasitism of the Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), by the Native Parasitoid, Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae)

by Neelendra K. Joshi, Timothy W. Leslie and David J. Biddinger

Biology 2019, 8(3), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030066 - 14 Sep 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4852

Abstract

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has been an important agricultural pest in the Mid-Atlantic United States since its introduction in 1996. Biological control by native species may play an important role in suppressing H. halys populations and reduce [...] Read more.

The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has been an important agricultural pest in the Mid-Atlantic United States since its introduction in 1996. Biological control by native species may play an important role in suppressing H. halys populations and reduce reliance on chemical control. We collected H. halys adults in agricultural areas of five Pennsylvania counties over two years to examine the extent and characteristics of adult stink bug parasitism by Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae), a native parasitoid of hemipterans. The overall parasitism rate (in terms of T. pennipes egg deposition) was 2.38 percent. Rates differed among counties and seasons, but not between years. Instances of supernumerary oviposition were evident, and eggs were more commonly found on the ventral side of the thorax, although no differences in egg deposition were found between males and female hosts. T. pennipes has begun to target H. halys adults in Pennsylvania and has the potential to play a role in regulating this pest. Adult parasitism of H. halys by T. pennipes should continue to be monitored, and landscape management and ecological pest management practices that conserve T. pennipes populations should be supported in agricultural areas where H. halys is found. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ecology)

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15 pages, 3219 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Rational Design of an Orthogonal Pair of Bimolecular RNase P Ribozymes through Heterologous Assembly of Their Modular Domains

by Yuri Nozawa, Megumi Hagihara, Md Sohanur Rahman, Shigeyoshi Matsumura and Yoshiya Ikawa

Biology 2019, 8(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030065 - 31 Aug 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3365

Abstract

The modular structural domains of multidomain RNA enzymes can often be dissected into separate domain RNAs and their noncovalent assembly can often reconstitute active enzymes. These properties are important to understand their basic characteristics and are useful for their application to RNA-based nanostructures. [...] Read more.

The modular structural domains of multidomain RNA enzymes can often be dissected into separate domain RNAs and their noncovalent assembly can often reconstitute active enzymes. These properties are important to understand their basic characteristics and are useful for their application to RNA-based nanostructures. Bimolecular forms of bacterial RNase P ribozymes consisting of S-domain and C-domain RNAs are attractive as platforms for catalytic RNA nanostructures, but their S-domain/C-domain assembly was not optimized for this purpose. Through analysis and engineering of bimolecular forms of the two bacterial RNase P ribozymes, we constructed a chimeric ribozyme with improved catalytic ability and S-domain/C-domain assembly and developed a pair of bimolecular RNase P ribozymes the assembly of which was considerably orthogonal to each other. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

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10 pages, 3397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Melatonin Attenuates Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury through Dual Suppression of Apoptosis and Necroptosis

by Jong Woo Kim, Jungmin Jo, Jung-Yeon Kim, Misun Choe, Jaechan Leem and Jae-Hyung Park

Biology 2019, 8(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030064 - 30 Aug 2019

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 4513

Abstract

Melatonin is well known to modulate the sleep–wake cycle. Accumulating evidence suggests that melatonin also has favorable effects such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in numerous disease models. It has been reported that melatonin has therapeutic effects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). [...] Read more.

Melatonin is well known to modulate the sleep–wake cycle. Accumulating evidence suggests that melatonin also has favorable effects such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in numerous disease models. It has been reported that melatonin has therapeutic effects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). However, mechanisms underlying the therapeutic action of melatonin on the renal side-effects of cisplatin therapy remain poorly understood. In this study, we showed that melatonin treatment significantly ameliorates cisplatin-induced acute renal failure and histopathological alterations. Increased expression of tubular injury markers was largely reduced by melatonin. Melatonin treatment inhibited caspase-3 activation and apoptotic cell death. Moreover, protein levels of key components of the molecular machinery for necroptosis were decreased by melatonin. Melatonin also attenuated nuclear factor-κB activation and suppressed expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Consistent with in vivo findings, melatonin dose-dependently decreased apoptosis and necroptosis in cisplatin-treated mouse renal tubular epithelial cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that melatonin ameliorates cisplatin-induced acute renal failure and structural damages through dual suppression of apoptosis and necroptosis. These results reveal a novel mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of melatonin against cisplatin-induced AKI and strengthen the idea that melatonin might be a promising therapeutic agent for the renal side-effects of cisplatin therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

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18 pages, 3573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis and Metabolic Profiling of Lycoris Radiata

by Chang Ha Park, Hyeon Ji Yeo, Ye Eun Park, Seung-A Baek, Jae Kwang Kim and Sang Un Park

Biology 2019, 8(3), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030063 - 29 Aug 2019

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6007

Abstract

Lycoris radiata belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is a bulbous plant native to South Korea, China, and Japan. Galantamine, a representative alkaloid of Amaryllidaceae plants, including L. radiata, exhibits selective and dominant acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In spite of the economic and [...] Read more.

Lycoris radiata belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is a bulbous plant native to South Korea, China, and Japan. Galantamine, a representative alkaloid of Amaryllidaceae plants, including L. radiata, exhibits selective and dominant acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In spite of the economic and officinal importance of L. radiata, the molecular biological and biochemical information on L. radiata is relatively deficient. Therefore, this study provides functional information of L. radiata, describe galantamine biosynthesis in the various organs, and provide transcriptomic and metabolic datasets to support elucidation of galantamine biosynthesis pathway in future studies. The results of studies conducted in duplicate revealed the presence of a total of 325,609 and 404,019 unigenes, acquired from 9,913,869,968 and 10,162,653,038 raw reads, respectively, after trimming the raw reads using CutAdapt, assembly using Trinity package, and clustering using CD-Hit-EST. All of the assembled unigenes were aligned to the public databases, including National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) non-redundant protein (NR) and nucleotide (Nt) database, SWISS-PROT (UniProt) protein sequence data bank, The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR), the Swiss-Prot protein database, Gene Ontology (GO), and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) database to predict potential genes and provide their functional information. Based on our transcriptome data and published literatures, eight full-length cDNA clones encoding LrPAL2, LrPAL3, LrC4H2, LrC3H, LrTYDC2, LrNNR, LrN4OMT, and LrCYP96T genes, involved in galantamine biosynthesis, were identified in L. radiata. In order to investigate galantamine biosynthesis in different plant parts of L. radiata grown in a growth chamber, gene expression levels were measured through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis using these identified genes and galantamine levels were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The qRT-PCR data revealed high expression levels of LrNNR, LrN4OMT, and LrCYP96T in the bulbs, and, as expected, we observed higher amounts of galantamine in the bulbs than in the root and leaves. Additionally, a total of 40 hydrophilic metabolites were detected in the different organs using gas-chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In particular, a strong positive correlation between galantamine and sucrose, which provides energy for the secondary metabolite biosynthesis, was observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Science)

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26 pages, 5142 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Uncovering Olive Biodiversity through Analysis of Floral and Fruiting Biology and Assessment of Genetic Diversity of 120 Italian Cultivars with Minor or Marginal Diffusion

by Luca Lombardo, Gianni Fila, Nicola Lombardo, Chiara Epifani, Donald H. Duffy III, Gianluca Godino, Amelia Salimonti and Samanta Zelasco

Biology 2019, 8(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030062 - 28 Aug 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4329

Abstract

The primary impetus behind this research was to provide a boost to the characterization of the Italian olive biodiversity by acquiring reliable and homogeneous data over the course of an eight-year trial on the floral and fruiting biology of 120 molecularly analyzed cultivars, [...] Read more.

The primary impetus behind this research was to provide a boost to the characterization of the Italian olive biodiversity by acquiring reliable and homogeneous data over the course of an eight-year trial on the floral and fruiting biology of 120 molecularly analyzed cultivars, most of which have either low or very low diffusion. The obtained data highlighted a considerable variability to almost all of the analyzed parameters, which given the uniformity of environment and crop management was indicative of a large genetic variability in the accessions under observation, as confirmed through the molecular analysis. Several cases of synonymy were reported for the first time, even among plants cultivated in different regions, whilst all of the varieties examined, with only one exception, showed very low percentages of self-fruit-set, indicating a need for the employment of suitable pollinator plants. Eventually, a fitted model allowed us to evaluate the clear effects of the thermal values on blossoming, particularly in the months of March and April, whereas the climatic conditions during the flowering time had only a modest effect on its duration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Conservation Biology and Biodiversity)

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12 pages, 3937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microsyntenic Clusters Reveal Conservation of lncRNAs in Chordates Despite Absence of Sequence Conservation

by Carlos Herrera-Úbeda, Marta Marín-Barba, Enrique Navas-Pérez, Jan Gravemeyer, Beatriz Albuixech-Crespo, Grant N. Wheeler and Jordi Garcia-Fernàndez

Biology 2019, 8(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030061 - 24 Aug 2019

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5435

Abstract

Homologous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are elusive to identify by sequence similarity due to their fast-evolutionary rate. Here we develop LincOFinder, a pipeline that finds conserved intergenic lncRNAs (lincRNAs) between distant related species by means of microsynteny analyses. Using this tool, we have [...] Read more.

Homologous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are elusive to identify by sequence similarity due to their fast-evolutionary rate. Here we develop LincOFinder, a pipeline that finds conserved intergenic lncRNAs (lincRNAs) between distant related species by means of microsynteny analyses. Using this tool, we have identified 16 bona fide homologous lincRNAs between the amphioxus and human genomes. We characterized and compared in amphioxus and Xenopus the expression domain of one of them, Hotairm1, located in the anterior part of the Hox cluster. In addition, we analyzed the function of this lincRNA in Xenopus, showing that its disruption produces a severe headless phenotype, most probably by interfering with the regulation of the Hox cluster. Our results strongly suggest that this lincRNA has probably been regulating the Hox cluster since the early origin of chordates. Our work pioneers the use of syntenic searches to identify non-coding genes over long evolutionary distances and helps to further understand lncRNA evolution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Evolutionary Biology)

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19 pages, 1548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dynamics of the Cell Wall Proteome of Developing Alfalfa Stems

by Kjell Sergeant, Bruno Printz, Gea Guerriero, Jenny Renaut, Stanley Lutts and Jean-Francois Hausman

Biology 2019, 8(3), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030060 - 19 Aug 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4925

Abstract

In this study, the cell-wall-enriched subproteomes at three different heights of alfalfa stems were compared. Since these three heights correspond to different states in stem development, a view on the dynamics of the cell wall proteome during cell maturation is obtained. This study [...] Read more.

In this study, the cell-wall-enriched subproteomes at three different heights of alfalfa stems were compared. Since these three heights correspond to different states in stem development, a view on the dynamics of the cell wall proteome during cell maturation is obtained. This study of cell wall protein-enriched fractions forms the basis for a description of the development process of the cell wall and the linking cell wall localized proteins with the evolution of cell wall composition and structure. The sequential extraction of cell wall proteins with CaCl₂, EGTA, and LiCl-complemented buffers was combined with a gel-based proteome approach and multivariate analysis. Although the highest similarities were observed between the apical and intermediate stem regions, the proteome patterns are characteristic for each region. Proteins that bind carbohydrates and have proteolytic activity, as well as enzymes involved in glycan remobilization, accumulate in the basal stem region. Beta-amylase and ferritin likewise accumulate more in the basal stem segment. Therefore, remobilization of nutrients appears to be an important process in the oldest stem segment. The intermediate and apical regions are sites of cell wall polymer remodeling, as suggested by the high abundance of proteins involved in the remodeling of the cell wall, such as xyloglucan endoglucosylase, beta-galactosidase, or the BURP-domain containing polygalacturonase non-catalytic subunit. However, the most striking change between the different stem parts is the strong accumulation of a DUF642-conserved domain containing protein in the apical region of the stem, which suggests a particular role of this protein during the early development of stem tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Science)

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20 pages, 2640 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Characterization of Twenty-Five Marine Cyanobacteria Isolated from Coastal Regions of Ireland

by Katie Shiels, Norma Browne, Fiona Donovan, Patrick Murray and Sushanta Kumar Saha

Biology 2019, 8(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030059 - 7 Aug 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6497

Abstract

Twenty-five marine cyanobacteria isolated from Irish coasts were characterized based on their morphological characters and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isoenzyme banding patterns were used to differentiate two morphologically ambiguous isolates. In this study, [...] Read more.

Twenty-five marine cyanobacteria isolated from Irish coasts were characterized based on their morphological characters and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isoenzyme banding patterns were used to differentiate two morphologically ambiguous isolates. In this study, six new cyanobacteria-specific primers were designed, and a 16S rRNA gene of twenty-five morphologically diverse cyanobacteria was successfully PCR amplified (1198–1396 bps). Assembled 16S rRNA sequences were used both for a basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analysis for genus-level identification and to generate a phylogenetic tree, which yielded two major clusters: One with morphologically homogenous cyanobacteria and the other with morphologically very diverse cyanobacteria. Kamptonema okenii and Tychonema decoloratum were isolated from a single field sample of Ballybunion and were originally identified as the same ‘Oscillatoria sp.’ based on preliminary morphological observations. However, an alignment of 16S rRNA gene sequences and SOD and MDH isoenzyme banding pattern analyses helped in differentiating the morphologically-indistinguishable ‘Oscillatoria sp.’. Finally, after a re-evaluation of their morphological characters using modern taxonomic publications, the originally identified ‘Oscillatoria sp.’ were re-identified as Kamptonema okenii and Tychonema decoloratum, thus supporting the polyphasic approach of cyanobacteria characterization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Conservation Biology and Biodiversity)

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12 pages, 1596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dispersal and Repulsion of Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Prenol

by Kassandra Kin, Tiffany Baiocchi and Adler R. Dillman

Biology 2019, 8(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030058 - 2 Aug 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4561

Abstract

Chemosensory cues are crucial for entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs)—a guild of insect-killing parasitic nematodes that are used as biological control agents against a variety of agricultural pests. Dispersal is an essential element of the EPN life cycle in which newly developed infective juveniles (IJs) [...] Read more.

Chemosensory cues are crucial for entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs)—a guild of insect-killing parasitic nematodes that are used as biological control agents against a variety of agricultural pests. Dispersal is an essential element of the EPN life cycle in which newly developed infective juveniles (IJs) emerge and migrate away from a resource-depleted insect cadaver in order to search for new hosts. Emergence and dispersal are complex processes that involve biotic and abiotic factors, however, the elements that result in EPN dispersal behaviors have not been well-studied. Prenol is a simple isoprenoid and a natural alcohol found in association with EPN-infected, resource-depleted insect cadavers, and this odorant has been speculated to play a role in dispersal behavior in EPNs. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the behavioral responses of five different species of EPNs to prenol both as a distal-chemotactic cue and as a dispersal cue. The results indicate that prenol acted as a repulsive agent for all five species tested, while only two species responded to prenol as a dispersal cue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Behavioural Biology)

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16 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessReview

Beige Fat, Adaptive Thermogenesis, and Its Regulation by Exercise and Thyroid Hormone

by Kevin J. Phillips

Biology 2019, 8(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030057 - 31 Jul 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5819

Abstract

While it is now understood that the proper expansion of adipose tissue is critically important for metabolic homeostasis, it is also appreciated that adipose tissues perform far more functions than simply maintaining energy balance. Adipose tissue performs endocrine functions, secreting hormones or adipokines [...] Read more.

While it is now understood that the proper expansion of adipose tissue is critically important for metabolic homeostasis, it is also appreciated that adipose tissues perform far more functions than simply maintaining energy balance. Adipose tissue performs endocrine functions, secreting hormones or adipokines that affect the regulation of extra-adipose tissues, and, under certain conditions, can also be major contributors to energy expenditure and the systemic metabolic rate via the activation of thermogenesis. Adipose thermogenesis takes place in brown and beige adipocytes. While brown adipocytes have been relatively well studied, the study of beige adipocytes has only recently become an area of considerable exploration. Numerous suggestions have been made that beige adipocytes can elicit beneficial metabolic effects on body weight, insulin sensitivity, and lipid levels. However, the potential impact of beige adipocyte thermogenesis on systemic metabolism is not yet clear and an understanding of beige adipocyte development and regulation is also limited. This review will highlight our current understanding of beige adipocytes and select factors that have been reported to elicit the development and activation of thermogenesis in beige cells, with a focus on factors that may represent a link between exercise and ‘beiging’, as well as the role that thyroid hormone signaling plays in beige adipocyte regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Players in Adipocyte Biology)

19 pages, 2740 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Combined Effects of Acute Temperature Change and Elevated pCO₂ on the Metabolic Rates and Hypoxia Tolerances of Clearnose Skate (Rostaraja eglanteria), Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata)

by Gail D. Schwieterman, Daniel P. Crear, Brooke N. Anderson, Danielle R. Lavoie, James A. Sulikowski, Peter G. Bushnell and Richard W. Brill

Biology 2019, 8(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030056 - 26 Jul 2019

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7414

Abstract

Understanding how rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and hypoxia affect the performance of coastal fishes is essential to predicting species-specific responses to climate change. Although a population’s habitat influences physiological performance, little work has explicitly examined the multi-stressor responses of species from habitats differing [...] Read more.

Understanding how rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and hypoxia affect the performance of coastal fishes is essential to predicting species-specific responses to climate change. Although a population’s habitat influences physiological performance, little work has explicitly examined the multi-stressor responses of species from habitats differing in natural variability. Here, clearnose skate (Rostaraja eglanteria) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) from mid-Atlantic estuaries, and thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) from the Gulf of Maine, were acutely exposed to current and projected temperatures (20, 24, or 28 °C; 22 or 30 °C; and 9, 13, or 15 °C, respectively) and acidification conditions (pH 7.8 or 7.4). We tested metabolic rates and hypoxia tolerance using intermittent-flow respirometry. All three species exhibited increases in standard metabolic rate under an 8 °C temperature increase (Q₁₀ of 1.71, 1.07, and 2.56, respectively), although this was most pronounced in the thorny skate. At the lowest test temperature and under the low pH treatment, all three species exhibited significant increases in standard metabolic rate (44–105%; p < 0.05) and decreases in hypoxia tolerance (60–84% increases in critical oxygen pressure; p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the interactive effects of increasing temperature and changing ocean carbonate chemistry are species-specific, the implications of which should be considered within the context of habitat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Metabolic Physiology in Response to Stress)

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24 pages, 1143 KiB

Open AccessReview

Classical and Emerging Regulatory Mechanisms of Cytokinesis in Animal Cells

by Vikash Verma, Alex Mogilner and Thomas J. Maresca

Biology 2019, 8(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030055 - 26 Jul 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 11330

Abstract

The primary goal of cytokinesis is to produce two daughter cells, each having a full set of chromosomes. To achieve this, cells assemble a dynamic structure between segregated sister chromatids called the contractile ring, which is made up of filamentous actin, myosin-II, and [...] Read more.

The primary goal of cytokinesis is to produce two daughter cells, each having a full set of chromosomes. To achieve this, cells assemble a dynamic structure between segregated sister chromatids called the contractile ring, which is made up of filamentous actin, myosin-II, and other regulatory proteins. Constriction of the actomyosin ring generates a cleavage furrow that divides the cytoplasm to produce two daughter cells. Decades of research have identified key regulators and underlying molecular mechanisms; however, many fundamental questions remain unanswered and are still being actively investigated. This review summarizes the key findings, computational modeling, and recent advances in understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control the formation of the cleavage furrow and cytokinesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cell Biology)

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19 pages, 1041 KiB

Open AccessReview

Chronotype and Social Jetlag: A (Self-) Critical Review

by Till Roenneberg, Luísa K. Pilz, Giulia Zerbini and Eva C. Winnebeck

Biology 2019, 8(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030054 - 12 Jul 2019

Cited by 409 | Viewed by 31062

Abstract

The Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) has now been available for more than 15 years and its original publication has been cited 1240 times (Google Scholar, May 2019). Additionally, its online version, which was available until July 2017, produced almost 300,000 entries from all [...] Read more.

The Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) has now been available for more than 15 years and its original publication has been cited 1240 times (Google Scholar, May 2019). Additionally, its online version, which was available until July 2017, produced almost 300,000 entries from all over the world (MCTQ database). The MCTQ has gone through several versions, has been translated into 13 languages, and has been validated against other more objective measures of daily timing in several independent studies. Besides being used as a method to correlate circadian features of human biology with other factors—ranging from health issues to geographical factors—the MCTQ gave rise to the quantification of old wisdoms, like “teenagers are late”, and has produced new concepts, like social jetlag. Some like the MCTQ’s simplicity and some view it critically. Therefore, it is time to present a self-critical view on the MCTQ, to address some misunderstandings, and give some definitions of the MCTQ-derived chronotype and the concept of social jetlag. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Clocks)

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22 pages, 7094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ApoA-I-Mediated Lipoprotein Remodeling Monitored with a Fluorescent Phospholipid

by Edward B. Neufeld, Masaki Sato, Scott M. Gordon, Vinay Durbhakula, Nicolas Francone, Angel Aponte, Gizem Yilmaz, Denis Sviridov, Maureen Sampson, Jingrong Tang, Milton Pryor and Alan T. Remaley

Biology 2019, 8(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030053 - 12 Jul 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5594

Abstract

We describe simple, sensitive and robust methods to monitor lipoprotein remodeling and cholesterol and apolipoprotein exchange, using fluorescent Lissamine Rhodamine B head-group tagged phosphatidylethanolamine (*PE) as a lipoprotein reference marker. Fluorescent Bodipy cholesterol (*Chol) and *PE directly incorporated into whole plasma lipoproteins in [...] Read more.

We describe simple, sensitive and robust methods to monitor lipoprotein remodeling and cholesterol and apolipoprotein exchange, using fluorescent Lissamine Rhodamine B head-group tagged phosphatidylethanolamine (*PE) as a lipoprotein reference marker. Fluorescent Bodipy cholesterol (*Chol) and *PE directly incorporated into whole plasma lipoproteins in proportion to lipoprotein cholesterol and phospholipid mass, respectively. *Chol, but not *PE, passively exchanged between isolated plasma lipoproteins. Fluorescent apoA-I (*apoA-I) specifically bound to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and remodeled *PE- and *Chol-labeled synthetic lipoprotein-X multilamellar vesicles (MLV) into a pre-β HDL-like particle containing *PE, *Chol, and *apoA-I. Fluorescent MLV-derived *PE specifically incorporated into plasma HDL, whereas MLV-derived *Chol incorporation into plasma lipoproteins was similar to direct *Chol incorporation, consistent with apoA-I-mediated remodeling of fluorescent MLV to HDL with concomitant exchange of *Chol between lipoproteins. Based on these findings, we developed a model system to study lipid transfer by depositing fluorescent *PE and *Chol-labeled on calcium silicate hydrate crystals, forming dense lipid-coated donor particles that are readily separated from acceptor lipoprotein particles by low-speed centrifugation. Transfer of *PE from donor particles to mouse plasma lipoproteins was shown to be HDL-specific and apoA-I-dependent. Transfer of donor particle *PE and *Chol to HDL in whole human plasma was highly correlated. Taken together, these studies suggest that cell-free *PE efflux monitors apoA-I functionality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

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15 pages, 4979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Myelinating Cultures as a Screen of Glycomolecules for CNS Repair

by George A. McCanney, Susan L. Lindsay, Michael A. McGrath, Hugh J. Willison, Claire Moss, Charles Bavington and Susan C. Barnett

Biology 2019, 8(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030052 - 28 Jun 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4704

Abstract

In vitro cell-based assays have been fundamental in modern drug discovery and have led to the identification of novel therapeutics. We have developed complex mixed central nervous system (CNS) cultures, which recapitulate the normal process of myelination over time and allow the study [...] Read more.

In vitro cell-based assays have been fundamental in modern drug discovery and have led to the identification of novel therapeutics. We have developed complex mixed central nervous system (CNS) cultures, which recapitulate the normal process of myelination over time and allow the study of several parameters associated with CNS damage, both during development and after injury or disease. In particular, they have been used as a reliable screen to identify drug candidates that may promote (re)myelination and/or neurite outgrowth. Previously, using these cultures, we demonstrated that a panel of low sulphated heparin mimetics, with structures similar to heparan sulphates (HSs), can reduce astrogliosis, and promote myelination and neurite outgrowth. HSs reside in either the extracellular matrix or on the surface of cells and are thought to modulate cell signaling by both sequestering ligands, and acting as co-factors in the formation of ligand-receptor complexes. In this study, we have used these cultures as a screen to address the repair potential of numerous other commercially available sulphated glycomolecules, namely heparosans, ulvans, and fucoidans. These compounds are all known to have certain characteristics that mimic cellular glycosaminoglycans, similar to heparin mimetics. We show that the N-sulphated heparosans promoted myelination. However, O-sulphated heparosans did not affect myelination but promoted neurite outgrowth, indicating the importance of structure in HS function. Moreover, neither highly sulphated ulvans nor fucoidans had any effect on remyelination but CX-01, a low sulphated porcine intestinal heparin, promoted remyelination in vitro. These data illustrate the use of myelinating cultures as a screen and demonstrate the potential of heparin mimetics as CNS therapeutics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Models of CNS Regeneration: Mind the Gap!)

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Open AccessArticle

Curcumin Regulates Anti-Inflammatory Responses by JAK/STAT/SOCS Signaling Pathway in BV-2 Microglial Cells

by Chiara Porro, Antonia Cianciulli, Teresa Trotta, Dario Domenico Lofrumento and Maria Antonietta Panaro

Biology 2019, 8(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8030051 - 27 Jun 2019

Cited by 93 | Viewed by 7699

Abstract

Microglia play important physiological roles in central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory brain diseases. Inflammation stimulates microglia to secrete cytokines and chemokines that guide immune cells to sites of injury/inflammation. Neuroinflammation is also strongly implicated in the pathogenesis [...] Read more.

Microglia play important physiological roles in central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory brain diseases. Inflammation stimulates microglia to secrete cytokines and chemokines that guide immune cells to sites of injury/inflammation. Neuroinflammation is also strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, for which nutritional intervention could represent a benefit due to a lack of clinically efficacious drugs. To this end, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of several phytochemicals, including curcumin, have been extensively studied. The present experiments show that the administration of curcumin is able to increase the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, in murine BV-2 microglial cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Consistent with these data, curcumin stimulation upregulates the expression of Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1, whereas phosphorylation of the JAK2 and STAT3 was reduced. Taken together, these results provide evidence that curcumin is able to regulate neuroinflammatory reactions by eliciting anti-inflammatory responses in microglia through JAK/STAT/SOCS signaling pathway modulation. Full article

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Biology, Volume 8, Issue 3 (September 2019) – 18 articles

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