Disrupting the ciliary gradient of active Arl3 affects rod photoreceptor nuclear migration

The small GTPase Arl3 is important for the enrichment of lipidated proteins to primary cilia, including the outer segment of photoreceptors. Human mutations in the small GTPase Arl3 cause both autosomal recessive and dominant inherited retinal dystrophies. We discovered that dominant mutations result in increased active G-protein-Arl3-D67V has constitutive activity and Arl3-Y90C is fast cycling-and their expression in mouse rods resulted in a displaced nuclear phenotype due to an aberrant Arl3-GTP gradient. Using multiple strategies, we go on to show that removing or restoring the Arl3-GTP gradient within the cilium is sufficient to rescue the nuclear migration defect. Together, our results reveal that an Arl3 ciliary gradient is involved in proper positioning of photoreceptor nuclei during retinal development

Difference in soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes from bioenergy crops SRC willow and SRF Scots pine compared with adjacent arable and fallow in a temperate climate

Soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) were measured over a two year period from several land-use systems on adjacent sites under the same soil and climatic conditions to assess the influence of the transition from arable agricultural (barley) and fallow to perennial bioenergy crops short rotation coppice (SRC) willow (Salix spp.) and short rotation forest (SRF) Scots pine (Pinus silvestris). There were no significant differences between CH4 and N2O fluxes measured from the SRC, SRF and fallow but the arable agricultural site showed an order of magnitude larger N2O emissions compared with the others. Fertiliser application to the arable crop was the major factor influencing N2O emissions and both air and soil temperature showed no significant effects on fluxes between the different land-use systems. Soil moisture was significantly different from the arable crop, showing a greater range than from SRF and SRC. Hence these bioenergy crops might be viable options for water stressed areas