The Enhancer of split and Achaete-Scute complexes of Drosophilids derived from simple ur-complexes preserved in mosquito and honeybee

BACKGROUND: In Drosophila melanogaster the Enhancer of split-Complex [E(spl)-C] consists of seven highly related genes encoding basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) repressors and intermingled, four genes that belong to the Bearded (Brd) family. Both gene classes are targets of the Notch signalling pathway. The Achaete-Scute-Complex [AS-C] comprises four genes encoding bHLH activators. The question arose how these complexes evolved with regard to gene number in the evolution of insects concentrating on Diptera and the Hymenoptera Apis mellifera. RESULTS: In Drosophilids both gene complexes are highly conserved, spanning roughly 40 million years of evolution. However, in species more diverged like Anopheles or Apis we find dramatic differences. Here, the E(spl)-C consists of one bHLH (mβ) and one Brd family member (mα) in a head to head arrangement. Interestingly in Apis but not in Anopheles, there are two more E(spl) bHLH like genes within 250 kb, which may reflect duplication events in the honeybee that occurred independently of that in Diptera. The AS-C may have arisen from a single sc/l'sc like gene which is well conserved in Apis and Anopheles and a second ase like gene that is highly diverged, however, located within 50 kb. CONCLUSION: E(spl)-C and AS-C presumably evolved by gene duplication to the nowadays complex composition in Drosophilids in order to govern the accurate expression patterns typical for these highly evolved insects. The ancestral ur-complexes, however, consisted most likely of just two genes: E(spl)-C contains one bHLH member of mβ type and one Brd family member of mα type and AS-C contains one sc/l'sc and a highly diverged ase like gene

The tiny Hairless protein from Apis mellifera: a potent antagonist of Notch signaling in Drosophila melanogaster

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Notch signaling pathway is fundamental to the regulation of many cell fate decisions in eumetazoans. Not surprisingly, members of this pathway are highly conserved even between vertebrates and invertebrates. There is one notable exception, Hairless, which acts as a general Notch antagonist in <it>Drosophila</it>. Hairless silences Notch target genes by assembling a repressor complex together with Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)] and the co-repressors Groucho (Gro) and C-terminal binding protein (CtBP). Now with the availability of genomic databases, presumptive Hairless homologues are predicted, however only in insect species. To further our understanding of Hairless structure and function, we have cloned the <it>Hairless </it>gene from <it>Apis mellifera </it>(<it>A.m.H</it>) and characterized its functional conservation in <it>Drosophila</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>Apis </it>Hairless protein is only one third of the size of the <it>Drosophila </it>orthologue. Interestingly, the defined Suppressor of Hairless binding domain is interrupted by a nonconserved spacer sequence and the N-terminal motif is sufficient for binding. In contrast to <it>Apis </it>Hairless, the <it>Drosophila </it>orthologue contains a large acidic domain and we provide experimental evidence that this acidic domain is necessary to silence Hairless activity in vivo. Despite the dramatic size differences, <it>Apis </it>Hairless binds to the <it>Drosophila </it>Hairless interactors Su(H), Gro, CtBP and Pros26.4. Hence, <it>Apis </it>Hairless assembles a repressor complex with <it>Drosophila </it>components that may have a different topology. Nevertheless, <it>Apis </it>Hairless is sufficient to repress the Notch target gene <it>vestigial </it>in <it>Drosophila</it>. Moreover, it is able to rescue <it>Hairless </it>mutant phenotypes, providing in vivo evidence for its function as a bona fide Notch antagonist.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first interspecies-complementation analysis of the Hairless gene. Guided by evolutionary comparisons, we hope to eventually identify all the relevant structural domains and cofactors of Hairless, thereby opening an avenue for further insights into the repressor-complexes that down-regulate Notch signaling also in other, higher eukaryotes.</p

Received signal strength indication for movement detection

© 2015 IPSJ. Wireless networks are spreading continuously, filling our homes and the world around us. By using a ZigBee network we will show that a person can be detected by analyzing the fluctuations of signal strength inside the network. The simplicity of our approach means that it could be extended to all wireless networks. This work shows both implications on privacy as well as promising advances in fields like home automation and smart devices by localizing people as they go about their daily lives

SPARC Collaboration: New Strategy for Storage Ring Physics at FAIR

SPARC collaboration at FAIR pursues the worldwide unique research program by utilizing storage ring and trapping facilities for highly-charged heavy ions. The main focus is laid on the exploration of the physics at strong, ultra-short electromagnetic fields including the fundamental interactions between electrons and heavy nuclei as well as on the experiments at the border between nuclear and atomic physics. Very recently SPARC worked out a realization scheme for experiments with highly-charged heavy-ions at relativistic energies in the High-Energy Storage Ring HESR and at very low-energies at the CRYRING coupled to the present ESR. Both facilities provide unprecedented physics opportunities already at the very early stage of FAIR operation. The installation of CRYRING, dedicated Low-energy Storage Ring (LSR) for FLAIR, may even enable a much earlier realisation of the physics program of FLAIR with slow anti-protons.Comment: IX International Workshop on "APPLICATION OF LASERS AND STORAGE DEVICES IN ATOMIC NUCLEI RESEARCH", Recent Achievements and Future Prospects, May 13 - 16, 2013, Pozna\'n, Polan