microPublication biology最新文献

C. elegans SISS-1 is an Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) family ligand that signals from damaged cells to sleep-promoting neurons during s tress- i nduced s leep (SIS). Damage to a range of tissues can trigger SIS, and we reasoned that siss-1 should be widely expressed. Here we investigate siss-1 expression using both endogenous and transgenic fluorescent reporters. Our endogenous reporter reveals siss-1 expression in the pharynx, gut, rectal gland, vulval muscles, and a subset of neurons. Our transgenic reporters reveal expression in additional cell types including the distal tip cell of the migrating gonad and vulF cells of the developing vulva. This expression is specific relative to our expectation and suggests that not all tissues are capable of signaling to sleep neurons.

Ds elements are non-autonomous DNA transposons requiring Ac transposase for mobility. From the 39 Ds2 elements reported in B73, we identified 38 Ds2 homologous elements in the W22, 30 of which retained intact terminal inverted repeats and target site duplications. PCR-based excision assays on 19 loci in embryos and leaves revealed the majority are immobile; only Ds2-23 showed suggestive somatic transposition. Targeted bisulfite sequencing revealed that while Ac reduces methylation, absolute levels remain stable and do not correspond to the varied transposition activities. This suggests structural integrity or DNA methylation alone does not predict Ds2 transposition variation in W22.

Tocopherols (vitamin E) are lipid-soluble antioxidants, with α-tocopherol having the highest vitamin E activity. Soybean seed is a major source of tocopherols. Therefore, improving seed tocopherol content is a key breeding objective. Thirty-eight accessions from the soybean world mini-core collection were evaluated in 2019 and 2022 growing seasons. Four accessions carried a high α-tocopherol associated allele at S09_44341929 but they did not reach the high α-tocopherol levels of cultivar KAS, likely due to cooler seed-filling conditions. Moshido Gong 502 and 503 showed low total tocopherol content in both seasons, making them promising resources for investigating genetic regulation of tocopherol biosynthesis.

Learning and memory require tight regulation of communication between pre- and postsynaptic responses. SYD-2, the C. elegans ortholog of vertebrate liprin-α, is known for its presynaptic role in active zone maintenance but its role in learning and memory has not been previously investigated. Here, we present findings from 30-minute short-term aversive olfactory memory assay with C. elegans lacking SYD-2 ( ok217 mutants). Wild-type (N2) worms exhibited robust learning and short-term memory for aversion to diacetyl. Despite its role in presynaptic maintenance, we found that the loss of SYD-2 had no effect on aversive learning but decreased short-term associative memory.

Migrasomes are organelles that form along retraction fibers of migrating cells and mediate intercellular communication. We performed localization studies on the calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, copine E (CpnE), in Dictyostelium discoideum . We observed GFP-CpnE labeled retraction fibers and migrasomes in multiple contexts: chemotaxis toward folate, random migration, and early development. Migrasome membranes were stained with WGA and some migrasomes were stained with SYTO RNASelect, indicating the presence of RNA. Our findings suggest that CpnE may have a role in migrasome formation and indicate that migrasomes may play important roles in Dictyostelium development, cell communication, and/or homeostasis in a variety of environments.

In marine environment, actinobacteria are widely distributed in water and sediments, and form symbiotic relationships with higher organisms. In this study, we isolated 49 actinobacterial strains from three temperate stony corals , Pocillopora damicornis , Acropora hyacinthus and Acropora muricata . More than 60% of obtained actinobacterial isolates belonged to mycolic acid-containing genera, particularly members of the family Mycobacteriaceae . Our results combined with the previous studies demonstrated that these actinobacteria are frequently associated with coral hosts worldwide.

In the winner effect, animals that have previously won an aggressive encounter gain an increased probability of winning subsequent aggressive interactions. This effect has been studied in males of various species, from crickets to humans. However, the effects are under-studied in Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Gromphadorhina portentosa. Here, we aimed to determine the influence of the winner effect in unfavorable conflicts. To test this, smaller winner-affected male G. portentosa were placed in combat trials against substantially larger males. We tested the limits of the winner effect, and identified behaviors that were predictive to winning a match regardless of treatment group.

Self-excising-cassette (SEC)-based CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in is widely used for generating endogenous fluorescent protein tags in C. elegans . Here, we report a lack of success targeting the X chromosome using this method. CRISPR/Cas9 works as intended, but subsequent floxing of the SEC is blocked. Given that the X chromosome is epigenetically silenced in primordial germ cells (PGCs), this is a logical result. To circumvent this barrier, we suppressed polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) with RNAi to transiently and reversibly reduce silencing in the PGCs, creating a brief window where the X chromosome is amenable to floxing without compromising germ line development. Overall, our results reveal a previously unrecognized limitation of SEC-based CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in and identify a reliable workaround for tagging proteins encoded on the X chromosome.

Motor Exit Point (MEP) glia are spinal cord-derived glial cells that myelinate peripheral motor axons, bridging the central and peripheral nervous systems. They have a hybrid profile, sharing features with oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. Yet, significant gaps remain in our understanding of complex MEP glial lineage and identity. MEP glia express neural tube and canonical oligodendrocyte lineage markers olig2 and nkx2.2a , as well as the neural crest marker foxd3 . Here, we show that the oligodendrocyte markers olig1 and plp1b are not expressed in MEP glia. These findings refine the molecular signature of MEP glia, enhancing their peripheral identity.

Authentication of strains is important for preventing genetic contamination before any experiment, which can compromise reproducibility and lead to misleading results. Here, we developed an approach that combines computational single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification with molecular validation using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). This workflow enables rapid and precise confirmation of strains in an inexpensive, reproducible, and easily adaptable way for long-term stock maintenance across laboratories. We apply this protocol to Drosophila melanogaster from the Drosophila Genome Resource Panel (DGRP), which are commonly used in fruit fly research, providing a reliable context for ensuring the integrity of Drosophila genetic resources.