A Role for Adenosine Deaminase in Drosophila Larval Development

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme present in all organisms that catalyzes the irreversible deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine to inosine and deoxyinosine. Both adenosine and deoxyadenosine are biologically active purines that can have a deep impact on cellular physiology; notably, ADA deficiency in humans causes severe combined immunodeficiency. We have established a Drosophila model to study the effects of altered adenosine levels in vivo by genetic elimination of adenosine deaminase-related growth factor-A (ADGF-A), which has ADA activity and is expressed in the gut and hematopoietic organ. Here we show that the hemocytes (blood cells) are the main regulator of adenosine in the Drosophila larva, as was speculated previously for mammals. The elevated level of adenosine in the hemolymph due to lack of ADGF-A leads to apparently inconsistent phenotypic effects: precocious metamorphic changes including differentiation of macrophage-like cells and fat body disintegration on one hand, and delay of development with block of pupariation on the other. The block of pupariation appears to involve signaling through the adenosine receptor (AdoR), but fat body disintegration, which is promoted by action of the hemocytes, seems to be independent of the AdoR. The existence of such an independent mechanism has also been suggested in mammals

A Role for Adenosine Deaminase in Drosophila Larval Development

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme present in all organisms that catalyzes the irreversible deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine to inosine and deoxyinosine. Both adenosine and deoxyadenosine are biologically active purines that can have a deep impact on cellular physiology; notably, ADA deficiency in humans causes severe combined immunodeficiency. We have established a Drosophila model to study the effects of altered adenosine levels in vivo by genetic elimination of adenosine deaminase-related growth factor-A (ADGF-A), which has ADA activity and is expressed in the gut and hematopoietic organ. Here we show that the hemocytes (blood cells) are the main regulator of adenosine in the Drosophila larva, as was speculated previously for mammals. The elevated level of adenosine in the hemolymph due to lack of ADGF-A leads to apparently inconsistent phenotypic effects: precocious metamorphic changes including differentiation of macrophage-like cells and fat body disintegration on one hand, and delay of development with block of pupariation on the other. The block of pupariation appears to involve signaling through the adenosine receptor (AdoR), but fat body disintegration, which is promoted by action of the hemocytes, seems to be independent of the AdoR. The existence of such an independent mechanism has also been suggested in mammals

The Effect of Sericin from Various Extraction Methods on Cell Viability and Collagen Production

Silk sericin (SS) can accelerate cell proliferation and attachment; however, SS can be extracted by various methods, which result in SS exhibiting different physical and biological properties. We found that SS produced from various extraction methods has different molecular weights, zeta potential, particle size and amino acid content. The MTT assay indicated that SS from all extraction methods had no toxicity to mouse fibroblast cells at concentrations up to 40 μg/mL after 24 h incubation, but SS obtained from some extraction methods can be toxic at higher concentrations. Heat-degraded SS was the least toxic to cells and activated the highest collagen production, while urea-extracted SS showed the lowest cell viability and collagen production. SS from urea extraction was severely harmful to cells at concentrations higher than 100 μg/mL. SS from all extraction methods could still promote collagen production in a concentration-dependent manner, even at high concentrations that are toxic to cells

Genome sequence and silkomics of the spindle ermine moth, Yponomeuta cagnagella, representing the early diverging lineage of the ditrysian Lepidoptera

Many lepidopteran species produce silk, cocoons, feeding tubes, or nests for protection from predators and parasites for caterpillars and pupae. Yet, the number of lepidopteran species whose silk composition has been studied in detail is very small, because the genes encoding the major structural silk proteins tend to be large and repetitive, making their assembly and sequence analysis difficult. Here we have analyzed the silk of Yponomeuta cagnagella, which represents one of the early diverging lineages of the ditrysian Lepidoptera thus improving the coverage of the order. To obtain a comprehensive list of the Y. cagnagella silk genes, we sequenced and assembled a draft genome using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina technologies. We used a silk-gland transcriptome and a silk proteome to identify major silk components and verified the tissue specificity of expression of individual genes. A detailed annotation of the major genes and their putative products, including their complete sequences and exon-intron structures is provided. The morphology of silk glands and fibers are also shown. This study fills an important gap in our growing understanding of the structure, evolution, and function of silk genes and provides genomic resources for future studies of the chemical ecology of Yponomeuta species

Expression of Drosophila Adenosine Deaminase in Immune Cells during Inflammatory Response

Extra-cellular adenosine is an important regulator of inflammatory responses. It is generated from released ATP by a cascade of ectoenzymes and degraded by adenosine deaminase (ADA). There are two types of enzymes with ADA activity: ADA1 and ADGF/ADA2. ADA2 activity originates from macrophages and dendritic cells and is associated with inflammatory responses in humans and rats. Drosophila possesses a family of six ADGF proteins with ADGF-A being the main regulator of extra-cellular adenosine during larval stages. Herein we present the generation of a GFP reporter for ADGF-A expression by a precise replacement of the ADGF-A coding sequence with GFP using homologous recombination. We show that the reporter is specifically expressed in aggregating hemocytes (Drosophila immune cells) forming melanotic capsules; a characteristic of inflammatory response. Our vital reporter thus confirms ADA expression in sites of inflammation in vivo and demonstrates that the requirement for ADA activity during inflammatory response is evolutionary conserved from insects to vertebrates. Our results also suggest that ADA activity is achieved specifically within sites of inflammation by an uncharacterized post-transcriptional regulation based mechanism. Utilizing various mutants that induce melanotic capsule formation and also a real immune challenge provided by parasitic wasps, we show that the acute expression of the ADGF-A protein is not driven by one specific signaling cascade but is rather associated with the behavior of immune cells during the general inflammatory response. Connecting the exclusive expression of ADGF-A within sites of inflammation, as presented here, with the release of energy stores when the ADGF-A activity is absent, suggests that extra-cellular adenosine may function as a signal for energy allocation during immune response and that ADGF-A/ADA2 expression in such sites of inflammation may regulate this role

Omics‐based molecular analyses of adhesion by aquatic invertebrates

Many aquatic invertebrates are associated with surfaces, using adhesives to attach to the substratum for locomotion, prey capture, reproduction, building or defence. Their intriguing and sophisticated biological glues have been the focus of study for decades. In all but a couple of specific taxa, however, the precise mechanisms by which the bioadhesives stick to surfaces underwater and (in many cases) harden have proved to be elusive. Since the bulk components are known to be based on proteins in most organisms, the opportunities provided by advancing ‘omics technologies have revolutionised bioadhesion research. Time‐consuming isolation and analysis of single molecules has been either replaced or augmented by the generation of massive data sets that describe the organism's translated genes and proteins. While these new approaches have provided resources and opportunities that have enabled physiological insights and taxonomic comparisons that were not previously possible, they do not provide the complete picture and continued multi‐disciplinarity is essential. This review covers the various ways in which ‘omics have contributed to our understanding of adhesion by aquatic invertebrates, with new data to illustrate key points. The associated challenges are highlighted and priorities are suggested for future research

Agricultural Sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Climate Change — Challenges and Opportunities

Half of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BH) population lives in rural areas. Agricultural production is a backbone of the rural economy and generates significant economic value for the country. BH is highly vulnerable to climate change, which poses a significant development challenge given the climate-sensitivity of the agricultural sector, the share of agriculture in the total economy, the number of people employed in the sector, and the closely related socio-economic issues of food security. BH has experienced serious incidences of extreme weather events over the past two decades, causing severe economic losses. Based on available data and currently available climate projections, exposure to threats from climate change will continue to increase. The review paper presents the current state of the BH agricultural sector and the impact of potential climate change on agricultural systems. It proposes policy options to optimize opportunities and mitigate consequences of possible climate change in the agricultural sector. Development of policy and research capacity should include harmonisation and centralisation of domestic agricultural policies, carrying out a vulnerability assessment and strengthening the public and private extension systems. Further technological development should include improvements in weather and climate information systems, crop development, irrigation and water management

Specifics of new public management and application in the Republic of Croatia

Prema mišljenju mnogih autora, novi javni menadžment je pristup upravljanju organizacijama koje pružaju javne usluge, odnosno koji se koristi u javnim službama (ministarstvima, državnim agencijama, regionalnim i lokalnim samoupravama) u svijetu i Hrvatskoj. Primjena koncepata i modela novog javnog menadžmenta omogućuje organizacijama u javnoj upravi bolje organiziranje poslovanja, generalno racionalnije poslovanje odnosno upravljanje svim oblicima oskudnih resursa, povećanje kvalitete izvršenja usluga prema krajnjim korisnicima i provedbunužnih reformi javne uprave. Jezgra ideologije koja se može smatrati utjecajnom u razvoju programa reforme javnog sektora u 1980-ima i 1990-ima imala je glavnu premisu kako je javni sektor bio neučinkovit i često neefikasan. Upravljanje istog nije vodilo smanjenju troškova niti poboljšanju kvalitete pa se tražio način kako bi se to promijenilo. Slični problemi danas postoje i u Hrvatskoj. Reformu upravnog sustava Hrvatske treba prvenstveno promatrati kroz iskustva zapadnoeuropskih zemalja temeljenima na dugotrajnoj tradiciji njihove javne uprave i prilagoditi je po načelima modela usklađenih s hrvatskim uvjetima. Hrvatska se sastoji od dvadeset županija uz Grad Zagreb, te čak 555 jedinica lokalne samouprave. U javnom prostoru, uvelike je prisutna rasprava o smanjenju broja jedinica lokalne samouprave te smanjenju regionalne kako bi se poboljšala efikasnost same države i državne uprave. Javne usluge svakako trebaju i drugačiji model, poput javno privatnog partnerstva, a razina kompetencija, s obzirom na brzinu mijenjanja potreba društva, ali i tehnološke i IT inovacije, svakako trebaju ići na više i bolje. Glede svega navedenoga, metode novog javnog menadžmenta, trebale bi omogućiti poslovniju javnu administraciju, bolju organizaciju te reformski pomak prema naprijed u Hrvatskoj na više razina upravljanjaAccording to many authors, the New Public Management is an approach to the management of organizations that provide public services, i.e. used in public services (ministries, state agencies, regional and local governments) in the world and in Croatia. The application of concepts and models of new public management enables public administration organizations to better organize their business, generally being more rational in their business or in management of all forms of scarce resources, increase the quality of service delivery to end users and implement necessary public administration reforms. The core of the ideology that can be considered influential in the development of public sector reform programs in the 1980s and 1990s had the main premise that the public sector was inefficient. Managing it did not lead to cost reduction or quality improvement, so a way was sought to change that. Similar problems exist in Croatia today. The reform of the Croatian administrative system should primarily be viewed through the experiences of countries from Western European based on the long tradition of their public administration and adjusted according to the principles of models harmonized with Croatian conditions. Croatia consists of twenty counties with the City of Zagreb, and as many as 555 local self-government units. In the public space, there is a great deal of discussion about reducing the number of local self-government units and reducing the regional ones in order to improve the efficiency of the state and state administration itself. Public services certainly need a different model, such as public-private partnership, and the level of competencies, given the speed of changing needs of society, but also technological and IT innovations, should certainly go higher and better. In view of all the above, the methods of the New Public Management should enable more business-like public administration, better organization and a reform move forward in Croatia to higher levels of government

Specifics of new public management and application in the Republic of Croatia

Prema mišljenju mnogih autora, novi javni menadžment je pristup upravljanju organizacijama koje pružaju javne usluge, odnosno koji se koristi u javnim službama (ministarstvima, državnim agencijama, regionalnim i lokalnim samoupravama) u svijetu i Hrvatskoj. Primjena koncepata i modela novog javnog menadžmenta omogućuje organizacijama u javnoj upravi bolje organiziranje poslovanja, generalno racionalnije poslovanje odnosno upravljanje svim oblicima oskudnih resursa, povećanje kvalitete izvršenja usluga prema krajnjim korisnicima i provedbunužnih reformi javne uprave. Jezgra ideologije koja se može smatrati utjecajnom u razvoju programa reforme javnog sektora u 1980-ima i 1990-ima imala je glavnu premisu kako je javni sektor bio neučinkovit i često neefikasan. Upravljanje istog nije vodilo smanjenju troškova niti poboljšanju kvalitete pa se tražio način kako bi se to promijenilo. Slični problemi danas postoje i u Hrvatskoj. Reformu upravnog sustava Hrvatske treba prvenstveno promatrati kroz iskustva zapadnoeuropskih zemalja temeljenima na dugotrajnoj tradiciji njihove javne uprave i prilagoditi je po načelima modela usklađenih s hrvatskim uvjetima. Hrvatska se sastoji od dvadeset županija uz Grad Zagreb, te čak 555 jedinica lokalne samouprave. U javnom prostoru, uvelike je prisutna rasprava o smanjenju broja jedinica lokalne samouprave te smanjenju regionalne kako bi se poboljšala efikasnost same države i državne uprave. Javne usluge svakako trebaju i drugačiji model, poput javno privatnog partnerstva, a razina kompetencija, s obzirom na brzinu mijenjanja potreba društva, ali i tehnološke i IT inovacije, svakako trebaju ići na više i bolje. Glede svega navedenoga, metode novog javnog menadžmenta, trebale bi omogućiti poslovniju javnu administraciju, bolju organizaciju te reformski pomak prema naprijed u Hrvatskoj na više razina upravljanjaAccording to many authors, the New Public Management is an approach to the management of organizations that provide public services, i.e. used in public services (ministries, state agencies, regional and local governments) in the world and in Croatia. The application of concepts and models of new public management enables public administration organizations to better organize their business, generally being more rational in their business or in management of all forms of scarce resources, increase the quality of service delivery to end users and implement necessary public administration reforms. The core of the ideology that can be considered influential in the development of public sector reform programs in the 1980s and 1990s had the main premise that the public sector was inefficient. Managing it did not lead to cost reduction or quality improvement, so a way was sought to change that. Similar problems exist in Croatia today. The reform of the Croatian administrative system should primarily be viewed through the experiences of countries from Western European based on the long tradition of their public administration and adjusted according to the principles of models harmonized with Croatian conditions. Croatia consists of twenty counties with the City of Zagreb, and as many as 555 local self-government units. In the public space, there is a great deal of discussion about reducing the number of local self-government units and reducing the regional ones in order to improve the efficiency of the state and state administration itself. Public services certainly need a different model, such as public-private partnership, and the level of competencies, given the speed of changing needs of society, but also technological and IT innovations, should certainly go higher and better. In view of all the above, the methods of the New Public Management should enable more business-like public administration, better organization and a reform move forward in Croatia to higher levels of government