Aesthetic value of biodiversity

Estetické prožívání přírody je nedílnou součástí lidského života. Protože estetické zážitky motivují lidi k ochraně přírody, je na místě zhodnotit, nakolik s estetikou souvisí biodiverzita a zda je tento vztah použitelný v ochraně přírody. Tato práce nejprve rozebírá hodnocení významu přírody pro člověka, dotýká se biodiverzity a následně rozebírá studie řešící souvislost estetické hodnoty a biodiverzity prostředí. Příroda lidem poskytuje řadu zdravotních výhod (např. úleva od stresu, lepší rekonvalescence po operacích), které korelují s biodiverzitou, nezdá se však, že mají pozitivní vliv na estetickou hodnotu. V krajinném měřítku je pro estetickou hodnotu důležitá hlavně heterogenita prostředí a přítomnost vodních ploch. V rostlinných společenstvech reálná biodiverzita pozitivně ovlivňuje estetickou hodnotu, o něco silnější vliv však má biodiverzita vnímaná. Na preferenci má též vliv uspořádání výsadby. Esteticky motivovaná ochrana přírody má potenciál podpořit biodiverzitu, což dokazuje oblast Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, a měla by tak být brána v potaz jako žádoucí přístup k ochraně přírody. Klíčová slova: biodiversita, estetika, druhová bohatost, funkční diverzita, hodnota společenstva/ekosystému, ochrana přírodyThe aesthetic experience of nature is a crucial part of human life. Because aesthetic experiences motivate people to engage in nature conservation, it makes sense to consider how biodiversity influences aesthetics and whether this influence can be used to promote conservation. First, this review touches on the measurement of nature's value to people and biodiversity, then discusses studies dealing with the connection of biodiversity and aesthetics. Nature offers a range of health benefits to people (e.g. stress relief, better recovery after surgery) that increase with biodiversity, but these benefits don't seem to increase the aesthetic value. At the landscape scale, heterogeneity of the environment is of particular importance, as is the presence of water bodies. For plant communities, biodiversity has a positive correlation with aesthetic value, and perceived biodiversity has a stronger effect in that regard. Preference is also influenced by the arrangement of planting. Aesthetically motivated nature conservation can potentially bolster biodiversity, as proven by the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway area, and should be considered a valuable conservation approach. Key words: biodiversity, aesthetics, species richness, functional diversity, value of the community/ecosystem, nature conservationDepartment of EcologyKatedra ekologiePřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc

Aesthetic value of biodiversity

The aesthetic experience of nature is a crucial part of human life. Because aesthetic experiences motivate people to engage in nature conservation, it makes sense to consider how biodiversity influences aesthetics and whether this influence can be used to promote conservation. First, this review touches on the measurement of nature's value to people and biodiversity, then discusses studies dealing with the connection of biodiversity and aesthetics. Nature offers a range of health benefits to people (e.g. stress relief, better recovery after surgery) that increase with biodiversity, but these benefits don't seem to increase the aesthetic value. At the landscape scale, heterogeneity of the environment is of particular importance, as is the presence of water bodies. For plant communities, biodiversity has a positive correlation with aesthetic value, and perceived biodiversity has a stronger effect in that regard. Preference is also influenced by the arrangement of planting. Aesthetically motivated nature conservation can potentially bolster biodiversity, as proven by the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway area, and should be considered a valuable conservation approach. Key words: biodiversity, aesthetics, species richness, functional diversity, value of the community/ecosystem, nature conservatio

Structural basis of catalytic activation in human splicing.

Pre-mRNA splicing follows a pathway driven by ATP-dependent RNA helicases. A crucial event of the splicing pathway is the catalytic activation, which takes place at the transition between the activated Bact and the branching-competent B* spliceosomes. Catalytic activation occurs through an ATP-dependent remodelling mediated by the helicase PRP2 (also known as DHX16)1-3. However, because PRP2 is observed only at the periphery of spliceosomes3-5, its function has remained elusive. Here we show that catalytic activation occurs in two ATP-dependent stages driven by two helicases: PRP2 and Aquarius. The role of Aquarius in splicing has been enigmatic6,7. Here the inactivation of Aquarius leads to the stalling of a spliceosome intermediate-the BAQR complex-found halfway through the catalytic activation process. The cryogenic electron microscopy structure of BAQR reveals how PRP2 and Aquarius remodel Bact and BAQR, respectively. Notably, PRP2 translocates along the intron while it strips away the RES complex, opens the SF3B1 clamp and unfastens the branch helix. Translocation terminates six nucleotides downstream of the branch site through an assembly of PPIL4, SKIP and the amino-terminal domain of PRP2. Finally, Aquarius enables the dissociation of PRP2, plus the SF3A and SF3B complexes, which promotes the relocation of the branch duplex for catalysis. This work elucidates catalytic activation in human splicing, reveals how a DEAH helicase operates and provides a paradigm for how helicases can coordinate their activities

A simple, non-radioactive DNA fingerprinting method for identifying patrilines in honeybee colonies

Primers were derived flanking a microsatellite motif of the cloned Z-locus. The PCR product of the Z-locus was variable in size and up to four alleles were found in a sample of 11 workers within one colony. Using the combination of three loci, the Z, the Q (both linked to the sex locus) and a royal jelly protein gene (RJP57-1) we were able to discriminate five patrilines in the 11 worker sample. Using the well established microsatellite technology, however, seven and six patrilines could be identified. The technique may enable laboratories which lack an isotope facility and equipped with only a PCR thermocycler and agarose gel apparatus to study the polyandrous mating system of the honeybee in a variety of different contexts. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Pari

Mechanism of molnupiravir-induced SARS-CoV-2 mutagenesis

Molnupiravir is an orally available antiviral drug candidate currently in phase III trials for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Molnupiravir increases the frequency of viral RNA mutations and impairs SARS-CoV-2 replication in animal models and in humans. Here, we establish the molecular mechanisms underlying molnupiravir-induced RNA mutagenesis by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Biochemical assays show that the RdRp uses the active form of molnupiravir, β-d-$N^4$-hydroxycytidine (NHC) triphosphate, as a substrate instead of cytidine triphosphate or uridine triphosphate. When the RdRp uses the resulting RNA as a template, NHC directs incorporation of either G or A, leading to mutated RNA products. Structural analysis of RdRp–RNA complexes that contain mutagenesis products shows that NHC can form stable base pairs with either G or A in the RdRp active center, explaining how the polymerase escapes proofreading and synthesizes mutated RNA. This two-step mutagenesis mechanism probably applies to various viral polymerases and can explain the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of molnupiravir