Evolution of Strigamia centipedes (Chilopoda): a first molecular assessment of phylogeny and divergence times

We present a first phylogenetic and temporal framework, with biogeographical insights, for the centipedes of the genus Strigamia, which are widespread predators in the forest soils of the Northern Hemisphere and comprise the evo-devo model species Strigamia maritima. The phylogeny was estimated by different methods of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference from sequences of two mitochondrial (16S, COI) and two nuclear (18S, 28S) genes, obtained from 16 species from all major areas of the global range of the genus and encompassing most of the overall morphological and ecological diversity. Divergence times were estimated after calibration upon the fossil record of centipedes. We found that major lineages of extant species of Strigamia separated most probably around 60 million years (Ma) ago. The two most diverse lineages diversified during the last 30 Ma and are today segregated geographically, one in Europe and another in Eastern Asia. This latter region hosts a hitherto underestimated richness and anatomical diversity of species, including three still unknown, yet morphologically well distinct species, which are here described as new: Strigamia inthanoni sp. n. from Thailand, Strigamia korsosi sp. n. from the Ryukyu Islands and Strigamia nana sp. n. from Taiwan. The northern European model species S. maritima is more strictly related to the Eastern Asian lineage, from which it most probably separated around 35 Ma ago before the major diversification of the latter

The "cold revolution". Present and future applications of cold-active enzymes and ice-binding proteins.

Psychrophilic organisms adapted to cold environments produce molecules of relevance for biotechnological application, in particular enzymes active at low temperatures and ice-binding proteins that control the growth of ice crystals. The use of cold-active enzymes supports low temperature processes that preserve heat labile compounds and can result, in some circumstances, in energy saving. Among the several possible applications in biotransformations, this paper focuses on reactions of relevance for the food industry and in molecular biology, representative of different market segments. Ice-binding proteins reduce tissues damage provoked by ice crystals and are therefore of relevance for frozen foods and for the cryopreservation of organs and tissues in the biomedical sector