Roles of Dicer-Like Proteins 2 and 4 in Intra- and Intercellular Antiviral Silencing

RNA silencing is an innate antiviral mechanism conserved in organisms across kingdoms. Such cellular defense involves DICER or DICER-LIKEs (DCLs) that process viral RNAs into small interfering (vsi)RNAs. Plants encode four DCLs which play diverse roles in cell-autonomous virus-induced RNA silencing (known as VIGS) against viral invasion. However, intracellular VIGS can spread between cells, and the genetic basis and involvement of vsiRNAs in non-cell autonomous VIGS remains poorly understood. Here using GFP as a reporter gene together with a suite of DCL RNAi transgenic lines, we show that in addition to well-established activities of DCLs in intracellular VIGS and vsiRNA biogenesis, DCL4 inhibits intercellular VIGS whilst DCL2 is required, likely along with DCL2-processed/dependent vsiRNAs and their precursor RNAs, for efficient VIGS trafficking from epidermal to adjacent cells. DCL4 imposed an epistatic effect on DCL2 to impede cell-to-cell spread of VIGS. Our results demonstrate previously unknown functions for DCL2 and DCL4 which may form a dual defensive frontier for intra- and intercellular silencing to double-protect cells from virus infection in Nicotiana benthamiana

ショクジ セッシュ キジュン 2010ネンバン ニ ヨル カンリ エイヨウシ ヨウセイ カテイ ノ ジョシ ガクセイ ノ エイヨウ シンタイ カツドウ ヒョウカ

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of women university students in the third-grade of a registered dietitian training course, based on the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese(2010). We initially selected 46 students, and obtained valid responses from 41 students(89.1%). We performed body measurements, blood tests, a dietary weighing method for 3 days, and the measurement of physical activity by the accelerometer. In regard to the physique and blood test of the subjects, 24.4% were underweight, 4.9% were obese and 20.0% were anemic. The dietary weighing method showed that the rate of women who took vitamin C below the estimated average requirement was 90.0%, that of folic acid, iron and calcium were 41.0%, 83.0%, and 68.0% respectively. While the rate of salt intake greater than the dietary goal (7.5g/day)was 36.5%, the rate of fat energy ratio greater than the dietary goal(30%)was 31.7%. The average number of steps per day was 8,907 ± 2,293. These results showed that there was an overall insufficient intake of total energy, vitamins, and minerals, indicating that further nutritional management for the women students is required

片手で保持して操作する道具の重量と作業強度(人間環境学)

実験室において測量用のポールを立木に見立て, 床から40cm, 120cm, 200cmのところにそれぞれ枝があるものと想定し, 被験者に, 鉈および鋸を用いて枝打ち模擬動作を行わせ, その際の呼気を分析し, 心拍数を測定した。片手で扱う道具として, 重い鉈を用いる方が軽い鋸の場合より, 酸素摂取量が有意に大きく, したがって作業強度の高いことが明らかとなった。また, 吸気量, 呼気二酸化炭素濃度, ならびに二酸化炭素呼出量においても有意差が存したが, 心拍数には有意差がなかった。また, 測定した11項目を変量とする, 鉈と鋸による作業を判別するための線形判別関数を求め, これを用いてもとの鉈, 鋸を用いる作業に関する各12,計24個のデータについて, 判別得点を求めた。正しく判別されたデータの割合は, 鉈, 鋸いずれについても83.3%で, おおむね正しく判別がなされた。この判別に比較的大きく寄与すると考えられる変量は, RQ, 酸素摂取量, 二酸化炭素呼出量, 吸気量で, これらはいずれも作業強度の差異を反映する測定項目であった。To investigate the difference of work intensity with a hatchet from a saw, 4 male subjects performed sham pruning in the laboratory. A surveying pole was supposed to be a tree with branches at the height of 40,120,and 200cm. At each work, expired gas was analyzed and heart rate was measured. The oxygen uptake of the work with a hatchet was significantly higher than that of the work with a saw. Moreover, between the works with 2 kinds of tools, significant differences were observed on the inspired gas volume, the fraction of expired CO_2,and the volume of expired CO_2. To discriminate the data with hatchet and saw, linear discriminant function with 11 variables was obtained which were correspond to measured 11 items on sham pruning. The variables which contributed largely to discrimination were RQ, O_2 uptake, expired CO_2 volume, and inspired gas volume; these were the items which reflected work intensity

PointCloudExplore 2: Visual exploration of 3D gene expression

To better understand how developmental regulatory networks are defined inthe genome sequence, the Berkeley Drosophila Transcription Network Project (BDNTP)has developed a suite of methods to describe 3D gene expression data, i.e.,the output of the network at cellular resolution for multiple time points. To allow researchersto explore these novel data sets we have developed PointCloudXplore (PCX).In PCX we have linked physical and information visualization views via the concept ofbrushing (cell selection). For each view dedicated operations for performing selectionof cells are available. In PCX, all cell selections are stored in a central managementsystem. Cells selected in one view can in this way be highlighted in any view allowingfurther cell subset properties to be determined. Complex cell queries can be definedby combining different cell selections using logical operations such as AND, OR, andNOT. Here we are going to provide an overview of PointCloudXplore 2 (PCX2), thelatest publicly available version of PCX. PCX2 has shown to be an effective tool forvisual exploration of 3D gene expression data. We discuss (i) all views available inPCX2, (ii) different strategies to perform cell selection, (iii) the basic architecture ofPCX2., and (iv) illustrate the usefulness of PCX2 using selected examples

Ancient genome-wide analyses infer kinship structure in an Early Medieval Alemannic graveyard

From historical and archeological records, it is posited that the European medieval household was a combination of close relatives and recruits. However, this kinship structure has not yet been directly tested at a genomic level on medieval burials. The early 7th century CE burial at Niederstotzingen, discovered in 1962, is the most complete and richest example of Alemannic funerary practice in Germany. Excavations found 13 individuals who were buried with an array of inscribed bridle gear, jewelry, armor, and swords. These artifacts support the view that the individuals had contact with France, northern Italy, and Byzantium. This study analyzed genome-wide sequences recovered from the remains, in tandem with analysis of the archeological context, to reconstruct kinship and the extent of outside contact. Eleven individuals had sufficient DNA preservation to genetically sex them as male and identify nine unique mitochondrial haplotypes and two distinct Y chromosome lineages. Genome-wide analyses were performed on eight individuals to estimate genetic affiliation to modern west Eurasians and genetic kinship at the burial. Five individuals were direct relatives. Three other individuals were not detectably related; two of these showed genomic affinity to southern Europeans. The genetic makeup of the individuals shares no observable pattern with their orientation in the burial or the cultural association of their grave goods, with the five related individuals buried with grave goods associated with three diverse cultural origins. These findings support the idea that not only were kinship and fellowship held in equal regard: Diverse cultural appropriation was practiced among closely related individuals as well.© 2018 The Author

Coupled Genomic Evolutionary Histories as Signatures of Organismal Innovations in Cephalopods

How genomic innovation translates into organismal organization remains largely unanswered. Possessing the largest invertebrate nervous system, in conjunction with many species‐specific organs, coleoid cephalopods (octopuses, squids, cuttlefishes) provide exciting model systems to investigate how organismal novelties evolve. However, dissecting these processes requires novel approaches that enable deeper interrogation of genome evolution. Here, the existence of specific sets of genomic co‐evolutionary signatures between expanded gene families, genome reorganization, and novel genes is posited. It is reasoned that their co‐evolution has contributed to the complex organization of cephalopod nervous systems and the emergence of ecologically unique organs. In the course of reviewing this field, how the first cephalopod genomic studies have begun to shed light on the molecular underpinnings of morphological novelty is illustrated and their impact on directing future research is described. It is argued that the application and evolutionary profiling of evolutionary signatures from these studies will help identify and dissect the organismal principles of cephalopod innovations. By providing specific examples, the implications of this approach both within and beyond cephalopod biology are discussed.© 2019 The Author

CCDC 1965756: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Ayako Fujimoto, Noriko Fujinaga, Ryo Nishimura, Eri Hatano, Luna Kono, Akira Nagai, Akiko Sekine, Yohei Hattori, Yuko Kojima, Nobuhiro Yasuda, Masakazu Morimoto, Satoshi Yokojima, Shinichiro Nakamura, Ben L. Feringa, Kingo Uchida|2020|Chemical Science|11|12307|doi:10.1039/D0SC05388