@article{GrubbsSurupBiedermannetal.2020, author = {Grubbs, Kirk J. and Surup, Frank and Biedermann, Peter H. W. and McDonald, Bradon R. and Klassen, Jonathan L. and Carlson, Caitlin M. and Clardy, Jon and Currie, Cameron R.}, title = {Cycloheximide-Producing Streptomyces Associated With Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xyleborus affinis Fungus-Farming Ambrosia Beetles}, series = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2020.562140}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-212449}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbes help a myriad of insects acquire nutrients. Recent work suggests that insects also frequently associate with actinobacterial symbionts that produce molecules to help defend against parasites and predators. Here we explore a potential association between Actinobacteria and two species of fungus-farming ambrosia beetles, Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xyleborus affinis. We isolated and identified actinobacterial and fungal symbionts from laboratory reared nests, and characterized small molecules produced by the putative actinobacterial symbionts. One 16S rRNA phylotype of Streptomyces (XylebKG-1) was abundantly and consistently isolated from the galleries and adults of X. saxesenii and X. affinis nests. In addition to Raffaelea sulphurea, the symbiont that X. saxesenii cultivates, we also repeatedly isolated a strain of Nectria sp. that is an antagonist of this mutualism. Inhibition bioassays between Streptomyces griseus XylebKG-1 and the fungal symbionts from X. saxesenii revealed strong inhibitory activity of the actinobacterium toward the fungal antagonist Nectria sp. but not the fungal mutualist R. sulphurea. Bioassay guided HPLC fractionation of S. griseus XylebKG-1 culture extracts, followed by NMR and mass spectrometry, identified cycloheximide as the compound responsible for the observed growth inhibition. A biosynthetic gene cluster putatively encoding cycloheximide was also identified in S. griseus XylebKG-1. The consistent isolation of a single 16S phylotype of Streptomyces from two species of ambrosia beetles, and our finding that a representative isolate of this phylotype produces cycloheximide, which inhibits a parasite of the system but not the cultivated fungus, suggests that these actinobacteria may play defensive roles within these systems.}, language = {en} } @article{FathyOkabeOthmanetal.2020, author = {Fathy, Moustafa and Okabe, Motonori and Othman, Eman M. and Saad Eldien, Heba M. and Yoshida, Toshiko}, title = {Preconditioning of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem-like cells with eugenol potentiates their migration and proliferation in vitro and therapeutic abilities in rat hepatic fibrosis}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {25}, journal = {Molecules}, number = {9}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules25092020}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203662}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have considerable therapeutic abilities in various disorders, including hepatic fibrosis. They may be affected with different culture conditions. This study investigated, on molecular basics, the effect of pretreatment with eugenol on the characteristics of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (ASCs) in vitro and the implication of eugenol preconditioning on the in vivo therapeutic abilities of ASCs against CCl\(_4\)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. The effect of eugenol on ASCs was assessed using viability, scratch migration and sphere formation assays. Expressions of genes and proteins were estimated by immunofluorescence or qRT-PCR. For the in vivo investigations, rats were divided into four groups: the normal control group, fibrotic (CCl\(_4\)) group, CCl\(_4\)+ASCs group and CCl\(_4\) + eugenol-preconditioned ASCs (CCl\(_4\)+E-ASCs) group. Eugenol affected the viability of ASCs in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Eugenol improved their self-renewal, proliferation and migration abilities and significantly increased their expression of c-Met, reduced expression 1 (Rex1), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) and nanog genes. Furthermore, E-ASCs showed more of a homing ability than ASCs and improved the serum levels of ALT, AST, albumin, total bilirubin and hyaluronic acid more efficient than ASCs in treating CCl\(_4\)-induced hepatic fibrosis, which was confirmed with histopathology. More interestingly, compared to the CCl\(_4\)+ASCs group, CCl\(_4\)+E-ASCs group showed a lower expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) genes and higher expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-13 genes. This study, for the first time, revealed that eugenol significantly improved the self-renewal, migration and proliferation characteristics of ASCs, in vitro. In addition, we demonstrated that eugenol-preconditioning significantly enhanced the therapeutic abilities of the injected ASCs against CCl\(_4\)-induced hepatic fibrosis.}, language = {en} } @article{BiltuevaProkopovRomanenkoetal.2020, author = {Biltueva, Larisa S. and Prokopov, Dmitry Yu. and Romanenko, Svetlana A. and Interesova, Elena A. and Schartl, Manfred and Trifonov, Vladimir A.}, title = {Chromosome distribution of highly conserved tandemly arranged repetitive DNAs in the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)}, series = {Genes}, volume = {11}, journal = {Genes}, number = {11}, issn = {2073-4425}, doi = {10.3390/genes11111375}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-219371}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Polyploid genomes present a challenge for cytogenetic and genomic studies, due to the high number of similar size chromosomes and the simultaneous presence of hardly distinguishable paralogous elements. The karyotype of the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) contains around 250 chromosomes and is remarkable for the presence of paralogs from two rounds of whole-genome duplications (WGD). In this study, we applied the sterlet-derived acipenserid satDNA-based whole chromosome-specific probes to analyze the Siberian sturgeon karyotype. We demonstrate that the last genome duplication event in the Siberian sturgeon was accompanied by the simultaneous expansion of several repetitive DNA families. Some of the repetitive probes serve as good cytogenetic markers distinguishing paralogous chromosomes and detecting ancestral syntenic regions, which underwent fusions and fissions. The tendency of minisatellite specificity for chromosome size groups previously observed in the sterlet genome is also visible in the Siberian sturgeon. We provide an initial physical chromosome map of the Siberian sturgeon genome supported by molecular markers. The application of these data will facilitate genomic studies in other recent polyploid sturgeon species.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Thelen2020, author = {Thelen, David}, title = {Erstellung eines genregulatorischen Netzwerkes zur Simulation der Entstehung von Zahnhartsubstanz}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20406}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204068}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In this dissertation, the author describes the creation of a basic bioinformatic model of human enamel maturation. Supported by the interactions found in the KEGG Pathway database, we were able to establish a gene regulatory network (GRN) that focuses primarily on the signal transduction pathways apoptosis, cell cycle, hedgehog signaling pathway, MAP kinase pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway. We extended this through further verified interactions and implicated the tooth-specific genes AMELX, AMELY, AMBN, ENAM and DSPP. In the subsequent simulation of the network by the simulation tool Jimena, six stable states could be identified. These are examined in more detail and juxtaposed with results of a GEO dataset. The long-term goal is to draw conclusions about the odontogenesis of humans through consistent optimization of the bioinformatics network.}, subject = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg. Lehrstuhl f{\"u}r Bioinformatik}, language = {de} } @article{KochHoernerMuenchetal.2020, author = {Koch, Rebecca-Diana and H{\"o}rner, Eva-Maria and M{\"u}nch, Nadine and Maier, Elke and Kozjak-Pavlovic, Vera}, title = {Modulation of Host Cell Death and Lysis Are Required for the Release of Simkania negevensis}, series = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, issn = {2235-2988}, doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2020.594932}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-215158}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Simkania negevensis is a Chlamydia-like bacterium and emerging pathogen of the respiratory tract. It is an obligate intracellular bacterium with a biphasic developmental cycle, which replicates in a wide range of host cells. The life cycle of S. negevensis has been shown to proceed for more than 12 days, but little is known about the mechanisms that mediate the cellular release of these bacteria. This study focuses on the investigation of host cell exit by S. negevensis and its connection to host cell death modulation. We show that Simkania-infected epithelial HeLa as well as macrophage-like THP-1 cells reduce in number during the course of infection. At the same time, the infectivity of the cell culture supernatant increases, starting at the day 3 for HeLa and day 4 for THP-1 cells and reaching maximum at day 5 post infection. This correlates with the ability of S. negevensis to block TNFα-, but not staurosporin-induced cell death up to 3 days post infection, after which cell death is boosted by the presence of bacteria. Mitochondrial permeabilization through Bax and Bak is not essential for host cell lysis and release of S. negevensis. The inhibition of caspases by Z-VAD-FMK, caspase 1 by Ac-YVAD-CMK, and proteases significantly reduces the number of released infectious particles. In addition, the inhibition of myosin II by blebbistatin also strongly affects Simkania release, pointing to a possible double mechanism of exit through host cell lysis and potentially extrusion.}, language = {en} } @article{HardulakMoriniereHausmannetal.2020, author = {Hardulak, Laura A. and Morini{\`e}re, J{\´e}r{\^o}me and Hausmann, Axel and Hendrich, Lars and Schmidt, Stefan and Doczkal, Dieter and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Hebert, Paul D. N. and Haszprunar, Gerhard}, title = {DNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring in a national park: Screening for invasive and pest species}, series = {Molecular Ecology Resources}, volume = {20}, journal = {Molecular Ecology Resources}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.13212}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-217812}, pages = {1542 -- 1557}, year = {2020}, abstract = {DNA metabarcoding was utilized for a large-scale, multiyear assessment of biodiversity in Malaise trap collections from the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany, Bavaria). Principal component analysis of read count-based biodiversities revealed clustering in concordance with whether collection sites were located inside or outside of the National Park. Jaccard distance matrices of the presences of barcode index numbers (BINs) at collection sites in the two survey years (2016 and 2018) were significantly correlated. Overall similar patterns in the presence of total arthropod BINs, as well as BINs belonging to four major arthropod orders across the study area, were observed in both survey years, and are also comparable with results of a previous study based on DNA barcoding of Sanger-sequenced specimens. A custom reference sequence library was assembled from publicly available data to screen for pest or invasive arthropods among the specimens or from the preservative ethanol. A single 98.6\% match to the invasive bark beetle Ips duplicatus was detected in an ethanol sample. This species has not previously been detected in the National Park.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Beliu2020, author = {Beliu, Gerti}, title = {Bioorthogonale Tetrazin-Farbstoffe f{\"u}r die Lebendzell-Markierung und hochaufgel{\"o}ste Fluoreszenzmikroskopie}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-18962}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-189628}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Der genetische Code beschreibt die Ver- und Entschl{\"u}sselung der Erb-information f{\"u}r das universelle Prinzip der Proteinbiosynthese aus einzelnen Aminos{\"a}uren. Durch Erweiterung des genetischen Codes lassen sich unna-t{\"u}rliche Aminos{\"a}uren (uAA) mit einzigartigen biophysikalischen Eigenschaf-ten ortsspezifisch in Proteine einf{\"u}hren und erm{\"o}glichen die spezifische Ma-nipulation von Proteinen. Die Click-Reaktion zwischen der unnat{\"u}rlichen Aminos{\"a}ure TCO*-Lysin und Tetrazin besitzt eine außergew{\"o}hnliche Reaktionskinetik (≥800 M-1s-1) und erm{\"o}glicht eine spezifische und bioorthogonale Markierung von Bio- ¬molek{\"u}len unter physiologischen Bedingungen. Im Fokus dieser Arbeit stand zun{\"a}chst die Markierung von Membran- ¬rezeptoren durch Click-Chemie in lebenden Zellen sowie die Untersuchung der Wechselwirkung 22 bekannter und neuartiger Tetrazin-Farbstoff- Konjugate. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus wurde die Anwendbarkeit von bioorthogonalen Click-Reaktionen f{\"u}r die hochaufl{\"o}sende Fluoreszenzmikroskopie untersucht. Durch Erweiterung des genetischen Codes in Proteine aus der Klasse der ionotropen Glutamatrezeptoren (iGluR), TNF-Rezeptoren oder Mikrotubu-li-assoziierten Proteinen (MAP) wurde ortspezifisch die unnat{\"u}rliche Amino-s{\"a}ure TCO*-Lysin eingef{\"u}hrt und dadurch die Fluoreszenzmarkierung durch Tetrazin-Farbstoffe erm{\"o}glicht. Die direkte chemische Kopplung von TCO an Liganden wie Phalloidin und Docetaxel, welche spezifisch das Aktin-Zytoskelett bzw. Mikrotubuli-Filamente binden k{\"o}nnen, erm{\"o}glichte zudem die Click-F{\"a}rbungen von fixierten und lebenden Zellen ohne genetische Ver-{\"a}nderungen der Zielproteine. Des Weiteren wurden die spektroskopischen Eigenschaften von 22 Tetrazin-Farbstoffen, verteilt {\"u}ber den gesamten sichtbaren Wellenl{\"a}ngenbereich, untersucht. Ein charakteristisches Kennzeichen der Click-Reaktion mit Tet-razin-Farbstoffen ist dabei ihre Fluorogenit{\"a}t. Das Tetrazin fungiert nicht nur als reaktive Gruppe w{\"a}hrend der Click-Reaktion mit Alkenen, sondern f{\"u}hrt in vielen Tetrazin-Farbstoff-Konjugaten zur Fluoreszenzl{\"o}schung. W{\"a}hrend bei gr{\"u}n-absorbierenden Farbstoffe vor allem FRET-basierte L{\"o}schprozesse dominieren, konnte photoinduzierter Elektronentransfer (PET) vom angeregten Farbstoff zum Tetrazin als Hauptl{\"o}schmechanismus bei rot-absorbierenden Oxazin- und Rhodamin-Derivaten identifiziert werden. Die effiziente und spezifische Markierung aller untersuchten Tetrazin- Farbstoffe erm{\"o}glichte die Visualisierung von Aktin-Filamenten, Mikrotubuli und Membranrezeptoren sowohl durch konventionelle Fluoreszenzmikrosko-pie als auch durch hochaufl{\"o}sende Verfahren, wie z.B. dSTORM, auf Ein-zelmolek{\"u}lebene. Die unterschiedliche Zellpermeabilit{\"a}t von Tetrazin-Farbstoffen kann dabei vorteilhaft f{\"u}r die spezifische intra- und extrazellul{\"a}re Markierung von Proteinen in fixierten und lebenden Zellen genutzt werden.}, subject = {Hochaufgel{\"o}ste Fluoreszenzmikroskopie}, language = {de} } @article{Biedermann2020, author = {Biedermann, Peter H. W.}, title = {Cooperative Breeding in the Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborus affinis and Management of Its Fungal Symbionts}, series = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, issn = {2296-701X}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2020.518954}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-215662}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Fungus-farming is known from attine ants, macrotermites, and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae, Platypodinae). Farming ant and termite societies are superorganismal and grow fungal cultivars in monocultures. Social organization of ambrosia beetle groups and their farming systems are poorly studied, because of their enigmatic life within tunnel systems inside of wood. Ambrosia beetle-fungus symbioses evolved many times independently in both the beetles and their fungal cultivars. Observations suggest that there is evolutionary convergence between these lineages, but also a high variation in the degree of sociality and the modes of fungiculture. Using a laboratory observation technique, I here tried to give insights into the social system and fungus symbiosis of the sugar-cane borer, Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff (Scolytinae: Curculionidae), a currently poorly studied ambrosia beetle. The study revealed a cooperatively breeding system characterized by delayed dispersal of adult daughters, alloparental brood care by larvae and adults, and about half of the totipotent adult daughters laying eggs within the natal nest. Most interesting, there was a tendency of egg-laying females to engage more commonly in mutually beneficial behaviors than non-egg-layers. Fungus gardens covering gallery walls composed of five different filamentous fungi. A Raffaelea isolate was predominant and together with an unidentified fungus likely served as the main food for adults and larvae. Three isolates, a Mucor, a Fusarium and a Phaeoacremonium isolate were most abundant in the oldest gallery part close to the entrance; Mucor, Fusarium and the Raffaelea isolate in diseased individuals. Additionally, there was correlative evidence for some fungal isoaltes influencing beetle feeding and hygienic behaviors. Overall, X. affinis is now the second ambrosia beetle that can be classified as a cooperative breeder with division of labor among and between adults and larvae.}, language = {en} } @article{SolgerKunzFinketal.2020, author = {Solger, Franziska and Kunz, Tobias C. and Fink, Julian and Paprotka, Kerstin and Pfister, Pauline and Hagen, Franziska and Schumacher, Fabian and Kleuser, Burkhard and Seibel, J{\"u}rgen and Rudel, Thomas}, title = {A Role of Sphingosine in the Intracellular Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae}, series = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology}, issn = {2235-2988}, doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2020.00215}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204111}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Obligate human pathogenic Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the second most frequent bacterial cause of sexually transmitted diseases. These bacteria invade different mucosal tissues and occasionally disseminate into the bloodstream. Invasion into epithelial cells requires the activation of host cell receptors by the formation of ceramide-rich platforms. Here, we investigated the role of sphingosine in the invasion and intracellular survival of gonococci. Sphingosine exhibited an anti-gonococcal activity in vitro. We used specific sphingosine analogs and click chemistry to visualize sphingosine in infected cells. Sphingosine localized to the membrane of intracellular gonococci. Inhibitor studies and the application of a sphingosine derivative indicated that increased sphingosine levels reduced the intracellular survival of gonococci. We demonstrate here, that sphingosine can target intracellular bacteria and may therefore exert a direct bactericidal effect inside cells.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Stelzner2020, author = {Stelzner, Kathrin}, title = {Identification of factors involved in Staphylococcus aureus- induced host cell death}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-18899}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-188991}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive commensal bacterium, that asymptomatically colonizes human skin and mucosal surfaces. Upon opportune conditions, such as immunodeficiency or breached barriers of the host, it can cause a plethora of infections ranging from local, superficial infections to life-threatening diseases. Despite being regarded as an extracellular pathogen, S. aureus can invade and survive within non-phagocytic and phagocytic cells. Eventually, the pathogen escapes from the host cell resulting in killing of the host cell, which is associated with tissue destruction and spread of infection. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying S. aureus-induced host cell death remain to be elucidated. In the present work, a genome-wide haploid genetic screen was performed to identify host cell genes crucial for S. aureus intracellular cytotoxicity. A mutant library of the haploid cell line HAP1 was infected with the pathogen and cells surviving the infection were selected. Twelve genes were identified, which were significantly enriched when compared to an infection with a non-cytotoxic S. aureus strain. Additionally, characteristics of regulated cell death pathways and the role of Ca2+ signaling in S. aureus-infected cells were investigated. Live cell imaging of Ca2+ reporter cell lines was used to analyze single cells. S. aureus-induced host cell death exhibited morphological features of apoptosis and activation of caspases was detected. Cellular H2O2 levels were elevated during S. aureus intracellular infection. Further, intracellular S. aureus provoked cytosolic Ca2+ overload in epithelial cells. This resulted from Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ influx via the plasma membrane and led to mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. The final step of S. aureus-induced cell death was plasma membrane permeabilization, a typical feature of necrotic cell death. In order to identify bacterial virulence factors implicated in S. aureus-induced host cell killing, the cytotoxicity of selected mutants was investigated. Intracellular S. aureus employs the bacterial cysteine protease staphopain A to activate an apoptosis-like cell death characterized by cell contraction and membrane bleb formation. Phagosomal escape represents a prerequisite staphopain A-induced cell death, whereas bacterial intracellular replication is dispensable. Moreover, staphopain A contributed to efficient colonization of the lung in a murine pneumonia model. In conclusion, this work identified at least two independent cell death pathways activated by intracellular S. aureus. While initially staphopain A mediates S. aureus-induced host cell killing, cytosolic Ca2+-overload follows later and leads to the final demise of the host cell.}, subject = {Staphylococcus aureus}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Hartlieb2020, author = {Hartlieb, Heiko}, title = {Functional analysis of Mushroom body miniature's RGG-box and its role in neuroblast proliferation in Drosophila melanogaster}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-19967}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-199674}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Development of the central nervous system in Drosophila melanogaster relies on neural stem cells called neuroblasts. Neuroblasts divide asymmetrically to give rise to a new neuroblast as well as a small daughter cell which eventually generates neurons or glia cells. Between each division, neuroblasts have to re-grow to be able to divide again. In previous studies, it was shown that neuroblast proliferation, cell size and the number of progeny cells is negatively affected in larvae carrying a P-element induced disruption of the gene mushroom body miniature (mbm). This mbm null mutation called mbmSH1819 is homozygously lethal during pupation. It was furthermore shown that the nucleolar protein Mbm plays a role in the processing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) as well as the translocation of ribosomal protein S6 (RpS6) in neuroblasts and that it is a transcriptional target of Myc. Therefore, it was suggested that Mbm might regulate neuroblast proliferation through a role in ribosome biogenesis. In the present study, it was attempted to further elucidate these proposed roles of Mbm and to identify the protein domains that are important for those functions. Mbm contains an arginine/glycine rich region in which a di-RG as well as a di-RGG motif could be found. Together, these two motifs were defined as Mbm's RGG-box. RGG-boxes can be found in many proteins of different families and they can either promote or inhibit protein-RNA as well as protein-protein interactions. Therefore, Mbm's RGG-box is a likely candidate for a domain involved in rRNA binding and RpS6 translocation. It could be shown by deletion of the RGG-box, that MbmdRGG is unable to fully rescue survivability and neuroblast cell size defects of the null mutation mbmSH1819. Furthermore, Mbm does indeed rely on its RGG-box for the binding of rRNA in vitro and in mbmdRGG as well as mbmSH1819 mutants RpS6 is partially delocalized. Mbm itself also seems to depend on the RGG-box for correct localization since MbmdRGG is partially delocalized to the nucleus. Interestingly, protein synthesis rates are increased in mbmdRGG mutants, possibly induced by an increase in TOR expression. Therefore, Mbm might possess a promoting function in TOR signaling in certain conditions, which is regulated by its RGG-box. Moreover, RGG-boxes often rely on methylation by protein arginine methyltransferases (in Drosophila: Darts - Drosophila arginine methyltransferases) to fulfill their functions. Mbm might be symmetrically dimethylated within its RGG-box, but the results are very equivocal. In any case, Dart1 and Dart5 do not seem to be capable of Mbm methylation. Additionally, Mbm contains two C2HC type zinc-finger motifs, which could be involved in rRNA binding. In an earlier study, it was shown that the mutation of the zinc-fingers, mbmZnF, does not lead to changes in neuroblast cell size, but that MbmZnF is delocalized to the cytoplasm. In the present study, mbmZnF mutants were included in most experiments. The results, however, are puzzling since mbmZnF mutant larvae exhibit an even lower viability than the mbm null mutants and MbmZnF shows stronger binding to rRNA than wild-type Mbm. This suggests an unspecific interaction of MbmZnF with either another protein, DNA or RNA, possibly leading to a dominant negative effect by disturbing other interaction partners. Therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the zinc-fingers' functions. In summary, this study provides further evidence that Mbm is involved in neuroblast proliferation as well as the regulation of ribosome biogenesis and that Mbm relies on its RGG-box to fulfill its functions.}, subject = {Taufliege}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lehmann2020, author = {Lehmann, Julian}, title = {Hochaufl{\"o}sende Fluoreszenzmikroskopie beleuchtet den Oligomerisierungsstatus pflanzlicher Membranproteine}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21176}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-211762}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {SLAC/SLAH Anionenkan{\"a}le, die zur Familie der langsamen Anionenkan{\"a}le geh{\"o}ren, repr{\"a}sentieren Schl{\"u}sselproteine in der pflanzlichen Stressantwort. Neben ihrer Aufgabe in Stresssituationen, ist eine Untergruppe der Kan{\"a}le f{\"u}r die Beladung der Leitgef{\"a}ße mit Nitrat und Chlorid in der Stele der Pflanzenwurzeln verantwortlich. Biophysikalische und pflanzenphysiologische Studien stellten heraus, dass vor Allem der Anionenkanal SLAH3 f{\"u}r die Beladung der Xylem Leitgef{\"a}ße mit Nitrat und Chlorid verantwortlich ist. Ihm zur Seite gestellt werden noch die elektrisch inaktiven Homologe SLAH1 und SLAH4 in der Wurzel exprimiert. Sie steuern die Aktivit{\"a}t von SLAH3 durch die Assemblierung zu SLAH1/SLAH3 oder SLAH3/SLAH4 Heteromeren. Neben der Kontrolle durch Heteromerisierungsereignisse, werden SLAH3 Homomere sehr spezifisch und schnell durch zytosolische Ans{\"a}uerung aktiviert. Obwohl bereits die Kristallstruktur des bakteriellen Homologs HiTehA zu pflanzlichen SLAC/SLAH Anionenkan{\"a}len bekannt ist, welche HiTehA als Trimer charakterisiert, sind die St{\"o}chiometrie und der Polymerisierungsgrad der pflanzlichen SLAC/SLAHs bisher noch unbekannt. Die Fluoreszenzmikroskopie umfasst viele etablierte Anwendungsmethoden, wie die konfokale Laserrastermikroskopie (CLSM), Techniken mit verbesserter Aufl{\"o}sung, wie die Mikroskopie mit strukturierter Beleuchtung (SIM) und hochaufl{\"o}sende Methoden, welche durch die Lokalisationsmikroskopie (z.B. dSTORM und PALM) oder die Expansionsmikroskopie (ExM) vertreten werden. Diese unterschiedlichen Mikroskopie-methoden erm{\"o}glichen neue Einblicke in die Organisation von Proteinen in biologischen Systemen, die bis auf die molekulare Ebene hinunterreichen. Insbesondere im Bereich der hochaufl{\"o}senden Fluoreszenzmikroskopie sind im Gegensatz zu tierischen Frage-stellungen bisher jedoch nur wenige Untersuchungen in pflanzlichen Geweben durchgef{\"u}hrt worden. Die Lokalisationsmikroskopie erm{\"o}glicht die Quantifizierung einzelner Molek{\"u}le in nativen Systemen und l{\"a}sst {\"u}berdies R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf den Polymerisierungsgrad von Proteinen zu. Da Poly- und Heteromerisierung von Proteinen oftmals mit der Funktionalit{\"a}t eines entsprechenden Proteins einhergeht, wie es bei den SLAC/SLAH Anionenkan{\"a}len der Fall ist, wurden in dieser Arbeit PALM Messungen zur Untersuchung des Polymerisierungsgrades und Interaktionsmuster der Anionenkan{\"a}le angewendet. Ferner wurden Expressionsmuster der SLAC/SLAHs untersucht und zudem Mikroskopieanwendungen im Pflanzengewebe etabliert und verbessert. In Bezug auf die Mikroskopieanwendungen konnten wir in Arabidopsis thaliana (At) Wurzeln die polare Verteilung von PIN Proteinen mittels SIM best{\"a}tigen und die gruppierte Verteilung in der Plasmamembran am Zellpol aufl{\"o}sen. In Wurzel-querschnitten war es m{\"o}glich, Zellw{\"a}nde zu vermessen, den Aufbau der Pflanzenwurzel mit den verschiedenen Zelltypen zu rekonstruieren und diesen in Zusammenhang mit Zellwanddicken zu bringen. Anhand dieser Aufnahmen ließ sich die Aufl{\"o}sungsgrenze eines SIM-Mikroskops bestimmen, weshalb diese Probe als Modellstruktur f{\"u}r Aufl{\"o}sungsanalysen, zur Kontrolle f{\"u}r die korrekte Bildverarbeitung bei hochaufl{\"o}sender Bildgebung und andere Fragestellungen empfohlen werden kann. F{\"u}r die Expansionsmikroskopie in pflanzlichen Proben konnten ein enzym- und ein denaturierungsbasiertes Pr{\"a}parationsprotokoll etabliert werden. Dabei wurden ganze At Setzlinge, Wurzelabschnitte und Blattst{\"u}cke gef{\"a}rbt, expandiert und mit zwei bis drei Mal verbesserter Aufl{\"o}sung bildlich dargestellt. In diesem Zusammenhang waren Aufnahmen ganzer Wurzel- und Blattproben mit beeindruckender Eindringtiefe und extrem geringem Hintergrundsignal m{\"o}glich. Zudem wurden die Daten kritisch betrachtet, Probleme aufgezeigt, gewebespezifische Ver{\"a}nderungen dargestellt und limitierende Faktoren f{\"u}r die ExM in Pflanzenproben thematisiert. Im Fokus dieser Arbeit stand die Untersuchung der SLAC/SLAH Proteine. SLAH2 wird in den Wurzeln vornehmlich in Endodermis- und Perizykelzellen exprimiert, was anhand verschiedener At SLAH2 YFP Mutanten untersucht werden konnte. Dies unterst{\"u}tzt die Annahme, dass SLAH2 bei der Beladung der Leitgef{\"a}ße mit Nitrat maßgeblich beteiligt ist. Es ist denkbar, dass SLAH2 ebenfalls eine wachstumsbeeinflussende Funktion {\"u}ber die Regulation von Nitratkonzentrationen zugeschrieben werden kann. Darauf deuten vor allem die verst{\"a}rkte Expression von SLAH2 im Bereich der Seitenwurzeln und die heterogene Expression in der Elongations-, Differenzierungs- und meristematischen Zone hin. Die Membranst{\"a}ndigkeit von SLAH4 konnte nachgewiesen werden und FRET FLIM Untersuchungen zeigten eine hohe Affinit{\"a}t von SLAH4 zu SLAH3, was die beiden Homologe als Interaktionspartner identifiziert. F{\"u}r die Bestimmung des Oligomerisierungsgrades mittels PALM wurden die pflanzlichen Anionenkan{\"a}le in tierischen COS7-Zellen exprimiert. Die elektrophysiologische Funktionalit{\"a}t der mEOS2-SLAC/SLAH-Konstrukte wurde mit Hilfe von Patch-Clamp-Versuchen in COS7-Zellen {\"u}berpr{\"u}ft. Um Expressionslevel, Membranst{\"a}ndigkeit und die Verteilung {\"u}ber die Membran der SLAC/SLAHs zu verifizieren, wurden dSTORM-Aufnahmen herangezogen Schließlich erm{\"o}glichten PALM-Aufnahmen die Bestimmung des Polymerisierungs-grades der SLAC/SLAH Anionenkan{\"a}le, die st{\"o}chiometrischen Ver{\"a}nderungen bei Heteromerisierung von SLAH3 mit SLAH1 oder SLAH4 und auch der Einfluss einer zytosolischer Ans{\"a}uerung auf den Polymerisierungsgrad von SLAH3 Homomeren. Zudem weisen die Oligomerisierungsanalysen von SLAH3 Mutanten darauf hin, dass die Aminos{\"a}uren Histidin His330 und His454 entscheidend an der pH sensitiven Regulierung von SLAH3 beteiligt sind. Durch die erhobenen Daten konnten also entscheidende, neue Erkenntnisse {\"u}ber die Regulationsmechanismen von pflanzlichen Anionenkan{\"a}len auf molekularer Ebene gewonnen werden: Unter Standardbedingungen liegen SLAC1, SLAH2 und SLAH3 haupts{\"a}chlich als Dimer vor. Auf eine zytosolische Ans{\"a}uerung reagiert ausschließlich SLAH3 mit einer signifikanten st{\"o}chiometrischen Ver{\"a}nderung und liegt im aktiven Zustand vor Allem als Monomer vor. Der Oligomerisierungsgrad von SLAC1 und SLAH2 bleibt hingegen bei einer zytosolischen Ans{\"a}uerung unver{\"a}ndert. Ferner kommt es bei der Interaktion von SLAH3 mit SLAH1 oder SLAH4 zur Formierung eines Heterodimers, welches unbeeinflusst durch den zytosolischen pH bleibt. Im Gegensatz dazu bleiben die elektrisch inaktiven Untereinheiten SLAH1 und SLAH4 monomerisch und assemblieren ganz spezifisch nur mit SLAH3. Die hochaufl{\"o}sende Fluoreszenz-mikroskopie, insbesondere PALM erlaubt es also Heteromerisierungsereignisse und {\"A}nderungen im Poylmerisierungsgrad von Membranproteinen wie den SLAC/SLAHs auf molekularer Ebene zu untersuchen und l{\"a}sst so R{\"u}ckschl{\"u}sse auf physiologische Ereignisse zu.}, subject = {Fluoreszenzmikroskopie}, language = {de} } @article{LichthardtWagnerLoebetal.2020, author = {Lichthardt, Sven and Wagner, Johanna and L{\"o}b, Stefan and Matthes, Niels and Kastner, Caroline and Anger, Friedrich and Germer, Christoph-Thomas and Wiegering, Armin}, title = {Pathological complete response due to a prolonged time interval between preoperative chemoradiation and surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer: analysis from the German StuDoQ|Rectalcarcinoma registry}, series = {BMC Cancer}, volume = {20}, journal = {BMC Cancer}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1186/s12885-020-6538-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229334}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is the recommended standard of care for patients with local advanced rectal cancer. However, it remains unclear, whether a prolonged time interval to surgery results in an increased perioperative morbidity, reduced TME quality or better pathological response. Aim of this study was to determine the time interval for best pathological response and perioperative outcome compared to current recommended interval of 6 to 8 weeks. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of the German StuDoQ|Rectalcarcinoma registry. Patients were grouped for the time intervals of "less than 6 weeks", "6 to 8 weeks", "8 to 10 weeks" and "more than 10 weeks". Primary endpoint was pathological response, secondary endpoint TME quality and complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Results Due to our inclusion criteria (preoperative chemoradiation, surgery in curative intention, M0), 1.809 of 9.560 patients were suitable for analysis. We observed a trend for increased rates of pathological complete response (pCR: ypT0ypN0) and pathological good response (pGR: ypT0-1ypN0) for groups with a prolonged time interval which was not significant. Ultimately, it led to a steady state of pCR (16.5\%) and pGR (22.6\%) in "8 to 10" and "more than 10" weeks. We were not able to observe any differences between the subgroups in perioperative morbidity, proportion of rectal extirpation (for cancer of the lower third) or difference in TME quality. Conclusion A prolonged time interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiation can be performed, as the rate of pCR seems to be increased without influencing perioperative morbidity.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Seibold2020, author = {Seibold, Marcel}, title = {Funktionelle Charakterisierung des Ras family small GTP binding protein RAL im Multiplen Myelom}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20800}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-208003}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Die monoklonale Proliferation maligner Plasmazellen im Knochenmark ist charakteristisch f{\"u}r das multiple Myelom (MM) und kann bei Erkrankten zu St{\"o}rungen in der H{\"a}matopoese sowie zu Knochenl{\"a}sionen und Niereninsuffizienz f{\"u}hren. Die Weiterentwicklung und der Einsatz neuer Therapieoptionen konnten das {\"U}berleben von MM-Patienten zwar erheblich verbessern, jedoch gilt diese Krankheit weiterhin als unheilbar. Onkogene Mutationen und das Knochenmarkmikromilieu f{\"u}hren in MM-Zellen zur Entstehung eines onkogenen Signalnetzwerks, das das Wachstum und {\"U}berleben der Zellen aufrechterh{\"a}lt. Mutationen der GTPase RAS treten bei bis zu 50 \% der MM-Patienten auf und tragen zum {\"U}berleben von MM-Zellen bei. Trotz der H{\"a}ufigkeit und Bedeutsamkeit von onkogenem RAS, auch in anderen Tumorentit{\"a}ten, ist die GTPase nach wie vor therapeutisch nicht angreifbar. Die GTPase RAL aus der Familie der RAS-GTPasen wird als Downstream-Effektor von RAS angesehen, der damit ebenfalls zur Aufrechterhaltung des Tumorzell{\"u}berlebens beitragen k{\"o}nnte. In einigen Tumorentit{\"a}ten konnte bisher gezeigt werden, dass eine {\"U}berexpression von RAL in den Tumorzellen vorliegt und die Proliferation und Apoptose von Tumorzellen durch RAL beeinflusst wird. Daher stellte sich die Frage, ob RAL im MM ebenfalls das {\"U}berleben von Tumorzellen beeinflusst und ob eine direkte Verbindung zwischen onkogenem RAS und RAL besteht. In dieser Arbeit wurde die funktionelle Rolle von RAL sowie dessen Zusammenhang mit onkogenem RAS im MM untersucht. Hierbei konnte eine {\"U}berexpression von RAL in MM-Zellen im Vergleich zu MGUS oder normalen Plasmazellen beobachtet werden. In Knockdown-Analysen wurde gezeigt, dass RAL {\"u}berlebensnotwendig f{\"u}r MM-Zellen ist. Dabei wurde in Western Blot-Analysen festgestellt, dass diese {\"U}berlebenseffekte unabh{\"a}ngig von MAPK/ERK-Signaling vermittelt werden. Es konnte teilweise jedoch eine Abh{\"a}ngigkeit von der AKT-Aktivit{\"a}t beobachtet werden. Da RAL-Knockdown Einfluss auf das {\"U}berleben von MM-Zellen hat, wurde eine pharmakologische Inhibition von RAL durch den Inhibitor RBC8 untersucht. RBC8 zeigte in h{\"o}heren Dosen nur bei einem Teil der MM-Zelllinien eine Wirkung auf das Zell{\"u}berleben sowie auf die RAL-Aktivierung. Die Weiterentwicklung potenter RAL-Inhibitoren ist daher f{\"u}r eine klinische Translation einer RAL-Inhibition von großer Bedeutung. Zur Untersuchung des Zusammenhangs zwischen onkogenem RAS und der RAL-Aktivierung wurden RAL-Pulldown-Analysen nach Knockdown von onkogenem RAS durchgef{\"u}hrt. In diesen Experimenten wurde keine Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der RAL-Aktivierung von onkogenem RAS festgestellt. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus zeigten Genexpressionsanalysen nach RAS- bzw. RAL-Knockdown unterschiedliche Genexpressionsprofile. In Massenspektrometrie-Analysen wurden m{\"o}gliche Effektoren, die mit RAL an der Beeinflussung des Zell{\"u}berlebens beteiligt sein k{\"o}nnten, untersucht. Hierbei wurden die Komponenten des Exozyst-Komplexes EXO84 und SEC5 als Interaktionspartner von RAL identifiziert. Nachdem gezeigt wurde, dass RAL ausschlaggebend f{\"u}r das {\"U}berleben von MM-Zellen ist, wurde eine Kombination von RAL-Knockdown mit klinisch relevanten Wirkstoffen analysiert. Diese zeigte bei der Kombination mit PI3K oder AKT-Inhibitoren verst{\"a}rkte Effekte auf das Zell{\"u}berleben der MM-Zellen. Zusammenfassend wurde die Bedeutung von RAL f{\"u}r das {\"U}berleben von Tumorzellen im MM gezeigt und RAL als potentielles therapeutisches Target im MM beschrieben, welches unabh{\"a}ngig von onkogenem RAS reguliert wird.}, subject = {Kleine GTP-bindende Proteine}, language = {de} } @phdthesis{Spindler2020, author = {Spindler, Marie-Christin}, title = {Molecular architecture of meiotic multiprotein complexes}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21210}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-212105}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Sexually reproducing organisms depend on meiosis for the generation of haploid, genetically diverse gametes to maintain genome stability and the potential to adapt to changing environments. Haploidization is achieved through two successive rounds of cell division after a single initial pre-meiotic DNA replication. Meiosis I segregates the homologous chromosomes, followed by the segregation of the sister chromatids in meiosis II. Genetic diversity is achieved through the process of recombination that de-scribes the exchange of genetic material between the maternal and paternal homolog. Recombination and the initial steps of haploidization are executed already early on in prophase I. Both essential processes depend on a variety of multiprotein complexes, such as the linker of nucleo- and cytoplasm (LINC) complex and the synaptonemal complex (SC). The structure of multiprotein complexes is adjusted according to their function, environment, and the forces they are subjected to. Coiled-coil domains typical in load-bearing proteins characterize the meiotic mechanotransducing LINC complexes. SCs resemble ladder-like structures that are highly conserved amongst eukaryotes, while the primary sequence of the proteins that form the complex display very little if any sequence homology. Despite the apparent significance of the structure to their function, little quantitative and topological data existed on the LINC complexes and the SC within their morphological context prior to the present work. Here, the molecular architecture of the meiotic telomere attachment site where LINC complexes reside and the SC have been analyzed in depth, mainly on the basis of electron microscope tomography derived 3D models complemented by super-resolution light microscopic acquisitions of the respective protein components.}, subject = {Meiose}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Lu2020, author = {Lu, Yunzhi}, title = {Kinetics of mouse and human muscle type nicotinic receptor channels}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-19268}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-192688}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Acetylcholine (ACh) mediates transmission at vertebrate neuromuscular junctions and many other synapses. The postsynaptic ACh receptors at neuromuscular junctions are of the nicotinic subtype (nAChRs). They are among the best studied receptor channels and often serve as models or receptor prototypes. Despite a wealth of information on muscle type nAChRs so far little is known about species specific functional differences. In this work, mouse and human adult muscle type nAChRs are investigated. Cell attached recordings in the HEK293T heterologous expression system provided evidence that the ACh affinity of recombinant mouse and human adult muscle type nAChRs are different. To clarify this, I compared these receptors in outside-out patches employing a system for fast agonist application. Thus, the individual membrane patches with receptors can be exposed to various ligand concentrations. In response to 10 and 30 µM ACh normalized peak currents ({\^i}) were significantly larger and current rise-time (tr) shorter in human than in mouse receptors. Analyzing dose-response curves of {\^i} and tr and fitting them with a two-step equivalent binding-site kinetic mechanism revealed a two-fold higher ACh association rate constant in human compared to mouse receptors. Furthermore, human nAChRs were blocked faster in outside-out patches by superfusion of 300 nM α-Bungarotoxin (α-Bgtx) than mouse nAChRs. Finally, human nAChRs in outside-out patches showed higher affinity at 3 µM ACh than chimeric receptors consisting of mouse α- and human β-, γ- and ε-subunits. The higher affinity of human than mouse receptors for ACh and α-Bgtx is thus at least in part due to sequence difference in their α-subunits.}, subject = {Nicotinischer Acetylcholinrezeptor}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Becker2020, author = {Becker, Mira Caroline}, title = {Principles of olfactory-visual integration to form a common percept in honeybees}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-19919}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-199190}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The honeybee is a well studied and important organism in neuroethology. The possibility to train them with a classical conditioning paradigm and their miniature brain provide a perfect requisite to investigate the neuronal principles of learning and memory. Honeybees use visual and olfactory cues to detect flowers during their foraging trips. Hence, the reward association of a nectar source is a multi-modal construct, which has at least two major components - olfactory and visual cues. It is still an open question, how both sensory components are converged in the mushroom body, which represent the multi-modal integration centre of the honeybee brain. The main goal of this study, is to investigate the processing of multiple modalities and how a reward association is formed. This includes, how and wether both sensory modalities interfere during learning. Thus, in this study stimulation with UV, blue and green light was used to evoke distinct photoreceptor activities in the compound eye. Furthermore, three different odours (Geraniol, Citronellol and Farnesol) were used. These stimuli were tested in three different experimental series. The first experiment involved classical differential conditioning of the single modalities - odour and colour. Honeybees showed high learning performances in differentiating olfactory stimuli and also reliable responses for visual conditioning. Furthermore, a temporal discrepancy in the stimulus length for best learning in the olfatcoty and visual cues was found. In the second series, it was tested how multi-modal compounds are perceived. This includes, unique cues (configural processing) or the sum of the single components of a compound (elemen- tal processing). This was tested by combining single odour components with monochromatic light in a positive (PP) and negative patterning (NP) experiment. During PP, the olfactory- visual compound was rewarded, whereas the single components were unrewarded. In contrast, during NP the single components were reinforced, but the compound was not. In addition, the ability to distinguish between two different light stimuli presented as a part of an olfactory-visual compound with the same odour component during acquisition was tested. In a memory test, the light stimuli were presented again as a compound and in addition as the single components. The results revealed that bees used elemental processing with compounds containing green and blue light. In contrast, when UV light was presented the bees used configural processing. Finally, a third experiment was conducted at the neuronal level. Multi-unit recordings were established to provide a suitable method to analyse extrinsic neurons at the mushroom body output region, the so called ventral lobe of the pedunculus. Here, three different odours (Geran- iol, Farnesol and Citronellol), two colours (green and blue) and two combined stimuli (colour + odour) were chosen as stimuli, to search for possible variations in processing stimuli with different modalities. Two units could be detected that responded mainly to visual stimuli.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{HornneeBunz2020, author = {Horn [n{\´e}e Bunz], Melanie}, title = {The impact of Drosophila melanogaster`s endogenous clock on fitness: Influence of day length, humidity and food composition}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21141}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-211415}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We are living in a system that underlies permanent environmental changes due to the rotation of our planet. These changes are rhythmic with the most prominent one having a period of about 24 hours, but also shorter and longer rhythms characterize our environment. To cope with the ever-changing environmental conditions, it is thought to be beneficial if an organism can track and anticipate these changes. The so called endogenous clocks enable this and might provide a fitness advantage. To investigate and unravel the mechanism of endogenous clocks Chronobiologists have used different model organisms. In this thesis Drosophila melanogaster was used as model organism with its about 150 clock neurons representing the main endogenous clock of the fly in the central brain. The molecular mechanisms and the interlocked feedback loops with the main circadian key players like period, timeless, clock or cycle are under investigation since the 1970s and are characterized quite well so far. But the impact of a functional endogenous clock in combination with diverse factors and the resulting fitness advantages were analysed in only a few studies and remains for the most part unknown. Therefore the aim of this thesis was to unravel the impact of Drosophila melanogaster`s endogenous clock on the fitness of the fly. To achieve this goal different factors - like day length, humidity and food composition - were analyzed in wild type CS and three different period mutants, namely perL, perS and per01, that carry a point mutation altering or abolishing the free-running period of the fruit fly as well as a second arrhythmic strain, clkAR. In competition assay experiments wild type and clock mutant flies competed for up to 63 generations under a normal 24 hour rhythm with 12 hours light/day and 12 hours darkness/night (LD12:12) or T-cycles with 19 or 29 hours, according to the mutants free-running period, or constant light (LL) in case of the arrhythmic mutant as well as under natural-like outdoor conditions in two consecutive years. Overall the wild type CS strain was outcompeting the clock mutant strains independent of the environmental conditions. As the perL fly strain elongated their free-running period, the competition experiments were repeated with naturally cantonized new fly strains. With these experiments it could be shown that the genetic background of the fly strains - which are kept for decades in the lab, with backcrosses every few years - is very important and influences the fitness of flies. But also the day length impacts the fitness of the flies, enabling them to persist in higher percentage in a population under competition. Further factors that might influence the survival in a competing population were investigated, like e.g. mating preferences and locomotor activity of homo- and heterozygous females or sperm number of males transferred per mating. But these factors can still not explain the results in total and play no or only minor roles and show the complexity of the whole system with still unknown characteristics. Furthermore populations of flies were recorded to see if the flies exhibit a common locomotor activity pattern or not and indeed a population activity pattern could be recorded for the first time and social contact as a Zeitgeber could be verified for Drosophila melanogaster. In addition humidity and its impact on the flies´ fitness as well as a potential Zeitgeber was examined in this thesis. The flies experienced different relative humidities for eclosion and wing expansion and humidity cycle phase shifting experiments were performed to address these two different questions of fitness impact and potential Zeitgeber. The fruit fly usually ecloses in the morning hours when the relative humidity is quite high and the general assumption was that they do so to prevent desiccation. The results of this thesis were quite clear and demonstrate that the relative humidity has no great effect on the fitness of the flies according to successful eclosion or wing expansion and that temperature might be the more important factor. In the humidity cycle phase shifting experiments it could be revealed that relative humidity cannot act as a Zeitgeber for Drosophila melanogaster, but it influences and therefore masks the activity of flies by allowing or surpressing activity at specific relative humidity values. As final experiments the lifespan of wild type and clock mutant flies was investigated under different day length and with different food qualities to unravel the impact of these factors on the fitness and therefore survival of the flies on the long run. As expected the flies with nutrient-poor minimum medium died earlier than on the nutrient-rich maximum medium, but a small effect of day length could also be seen with flies living slightly longer when they experience environmental day length conditions resembling their free-running period. The experiments also showed a fitness advantage of the wild type fly strain against the clock mutant strains for long term, but not short term (about the first 2-3 weeks). As a conclusion it can be said that genetic variation is important to be able to adapt to changing environmental conditions and to optimize fitness and therefore survival. Having a functional endogenous clock with a free-running period of about 24 hours provides fitness advantages for the fruit fly, at least under competition. The whole system is very complex and many factors - known and unknown ones - play a role in this system by interacting on different levels, e.g. physiology, metabolism and/or behavior.}, subject = {Taufliege}, language = {en} } @article{GoetzPanzerTrinksetal.2020, author = {G{\"o}tz, Ralph and Panzer, Sabine and Trinks, Nora and Eilts, Janna and Wagener, Johannes and Turr{\`a}, David and Di Pietro, Antonio and Sauer, Markus and Terpitz, Ulrich}, title = {Expansion Microscopy for Cell Biology Analysis in Fungi}, series = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, volume = {11}, journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology}, issn = {1664-302X}, doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2020.00574}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-202569}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Super-resolution microscopy has evolved as a powerful method for subdiffraction-resolution fluorescence imaging of cells and cellular organelles, but requires sophisticated and expensive installations. Expansion microscopy (ExM), which is based on the physical expansion of the cellular structure of interest, provides a cheap alternative to bypass the diffraction limit and enable super-resolution imaging on a conventional fluorescence microscope. While ExM has shown impressive results for the magnified visualization of proteins and RNAs in cells and tissues, it has not yet been applied in fungi, mainly due to their complex cell wall. Here we developed a method that enables reliable isotropic expansion of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes upon treatment with cell wall degrading enzymes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) images of 4.5-fold expanded sporidia of Ustilago maydis expressing fluorescent fungal rhodopsins and hyphae of Fusarium oxysporum or Aspergillus fumigatus expressing either histone H1-mCherry together with Lifeact-sGFP or mRFP targeted to mitochondria, revealed details of subcellular structures with an estimated spatial resolution of around 30 nm. ExM is thus well suited for cell biology studies in fungi on conventional fluorescence microscopes.}, language = {en} } @article{VikukFuchsKrischkeetal.2020, author = {Vikuk, Veronika and Fuchs, Benjamin and Krischke, Markus and Mueller, Martin J. and Rueb, Selina and Krauss, Jochen}, title = {Alkaloid Concentrations of Lolium perenne Infected with Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii with Different Detection Methods—A Re-Evaluation of Intoxication Risk in Germany?}, series = {Journal of Fungi}, volume = {6}, journal = {Journal of Fungi}, number = {3}, issn = {2309-608X}, doi = {10.3390/jof6030177}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-213171}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Mycotoxins in agriculturally used plants can cause intoxication in animals and can lead to severe financial losses for farmers. The endophytic fungus Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii living symbiotically within the cool season grass species Lolium perenne can produce vertebrate and invertebrate toxic alkaloids. Hence, an exact quantitation of alkaloid concentrations is essential to determine intoxication risk for animals. Many studies use different methods to detect alkaloid concentrations, which complicates the comparability. In this study, we showed that alkaloid concentrations of individual plants exceeded toxicity thresholds on real world grasslands in Germany, but not on the population level. Alkaloid concentrations on five German grasslands with high alkaloid levels peaked in summer but were also below toxicity thresholds on population level. Furthermore, we showed that alkaloid concentrations follow the same seasonal trend, regardless of whether plant fresh or dry weight was used, in the field and in a common garden study. However, alkaloid concentrations were around three times higher when detected with dry weight. Finally, we showed that alkaloid concentrations can additionally be biased to different alkaloid detection methods. We highlight that toxicity risks should be analyzed using plant dry weight, but concentration trends of fresh weight are reliable.}, language = {en} } @article{OsmanStigloherMuelleretal.2020, author = {Osman, Mohamed and Stigloher, Christian and Mueller, Martin J. and Waller, Frank}, title = {An improved growth medium for enhanced inoculum production of the plant growth-promoting fungus Serendipita indica}, series = {Plant Methods}, volume = {16}, journal = {Plant Methods}, doi = {10.1186/s13007-020-00584-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229186}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background The plant endophytic fungus Serendipita indica colonizes roots of a wide range of plant species and can enhance growth and stress resistance of these plants. Due to its ease of axenic cultivation and its broad host plant range including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and numerous crop plants, it is widely used as a model fungus to study beneficial fungus-root interactions. In addition, it was suggested to be utilized for commercial applications, e.g. to enhance yield in barley and other species. To produce inoculum, S. indica is mostly cultivated in a complex Hill-Kafer medium (CM medium), however, growth in this medium is slow, and yield of chlamydospores, which are often used for plant root inoculation, is relatively low. Results We tested and optimized a simple vegetable juice-based medium for an enhanced yield of fungal inoculum. The described vegetable juice (VJ) medium is based on commercially available vegetable juice and is easy to prepare. VJ medium was superior to the currently used CM medium with respect to biomass production in liquid medium and hyphal growth on agar plates. Using solid VJ medium supplemented with sucrose (VJS), a high amount of chlamydospores developed already after 8 days of cultivation, producing significantly more spores than on CM medium. Use of VJ medium is not restricted to S. indica, as it also supported growth of two pathogenic fungi often used in plant pathology experiments: the ascomycete Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight disease on wheat and barley, and Verticillium longisporum, the causal agent of verticillium wilt. Conclusions The described VJ medium is recommended for streamlined and efficient production of inoculum for the plant endophytic fungus Serendipita indica and might prove superior for the propagation of other fungi for research purposes.}, language = {en} } @article{ShityakovBencurovaFoersteretal.2020, author = {Shityakov, Sergey and Bencurova, Elena and F{\"o}rster, Carola and Dandekar, Thomas}, title = {Modeling of shotgun sequencing of DNA plasmids using experimental and theoretical approaches}, series = {BMC Bioinformatics}, volume = {2020}, journal = {BMC Bioinformatics}, doi = {10.1186/s12859-020-3461-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229169}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Processing and analysis of DNA sequences obtained from next-generation sequencing (NGS) face some difficulties in terms of the correct prediction of DNA sequencing outcomes without the implementation of bioinformatics approaches. However, algorithms based on NGS perform inefficiently due to the generation of long DNA fragments, the difficulty of assembling them and the complexity of the used genomes. On the other hand, the Sanger DNA sequencing method is still considered to be the most reliable; it is a reliable choice for virtual modeling to build all possible consensus sequences from smaller DNA fragments. Results In silico and in vitro experiments were conducted: (1) to implement and test our novel sequencing algorithm, using the standard cloning vectors of different length and (2) to validate experimentally virtual shotgun sequencing using the PCR technique with the number of cycles from 1 to 9 for each reaction. Conclusions We applied a novel algorithm based on Sanger methodology to correctly predict and emphasize the performance of DNA sequencing techniques as well as in de novo DNA sequencing and its further application in synthetic biology. We demonstrate the statistical significance of our results.}, language = {en} } @article{SeitzvanEngelsdorpLeonhardt2020, author = {Seitz, Nicola and vanEngelsdorp, Dennis and Leonhardt, Sara D.}, title = {Are native and non-native pollinator friendly plants equally valuable for native wild bee communities?}, series = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {10}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, number = {23}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.6826}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218439}, pages = {12838-12850}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Bees rely on floral pollen and nectar for food. Therefore, pollinator friendly plantings are often used to enrich habitats in bee conservation efforts. As part of these plantings, non-native plants may provide valuable floral resources, but their effects on native bee communities have not been assessed in direct comparison with native pollinator friendly plantings. In this study, we performed a common garden experiment by seeding mixes of 20 native and 20 non-native pollinator friendly plant species at separate neighboring plots at three sites in Maryland, USA, and recorded flower visitors for 2 years. A total of 3,744 bees (120 species) were collected. Bee abundance and species richness were either similar across plant types (midseason and for abundance also late season) or lower at native than at non-native plots (early season and for richness also late season). The overall bee community composition differed significantly between native and non-native plots, with 11 and 23 bee species being found exclusively at one plot type or the other, respectively. Additionally, some species were more abundant at native plant plots, while others were more abundant at non-natives. Native plants hosted more specialized plant-bee visitation networks than non-native plants. Three species out of the five most abundant bee species were more specialized when foraging on native plants than on non-native plants. Overall, visitation networks were more specialized in the early season than in late seasons. Our findings suggest that non-native plants can benefit native pollinators, but may alter foraging patterns, bee community assemblage, and bee-plant network structures.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Vikuk2020, author = {Vikuk, Veronika}, title = {Epichlo{\"e} endophyte-grass symbioses in Germany - Infection rates, alkaloid concentrations and possible intoxication risks}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21389}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-213895}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Endophytes live in partial symbiosis inside a plant and have been detected in all tested plants. They belong to the group of fungi or bacteria and their ecological function is mostly unknown. The fungal endophytes of the genus Epichlo{\"e} belong to a special group of endophytes. Epichlo{\"e} endophytes live symbiotically inside cool season grass species and some of them are able to produce alkaloids toxic to vertebrates and insects. Their symbiosis is seen as mutualistic for the following reasons: the fungus provides the plant herbivore resistance by producing alkaloids, and it increases the plant's drought tolerance as well as its biomass production. In return, the grass provides the fungus shelter, nutrients and dispersal. Epichlo{\"e} endophytes are host specific and the ability to produce alkaloids differs between species. In order to estimate intoxication risks in grasslands, it is necessary to detect infection rates of different grass species with Epichlo{\"e} endophytes, and to determine the genotypes and chemotypes of the Epichlo{\"e} species as well as the produced alkaloid concentrations. Factors like land-use intensity or season may have an influence on infection rates and alkaloid concentrations. Also, different methodological approaches may lead to different results. In this doctoral thesis my general aim was to evaluate intoxication risks in German grasslands caused by Epichlo{\"e} endophytes. For that I investigated infection rates of different grass species and the genotypes and chemotypes of their Epichlo{\"e} endophytes in German grasslands (Chapter II). Furthermore, I compared alkaloid concentrations detected with dry and fresh plant weight and different analytical methods. I also detected possible changes on the influence of season or land-use intensity (Chapter III). Additionally, I examined infections with Epichlo{\"e} endophytes and alkaloid concentrations in commercially available grass seed mixtures and determined how that influences the intoxication risk of grazing animals in Europe (Chapter IV). It is of agricultural interest to estimate intoxication risks for grazing livestock on German grasslands due to Epichlo{\"e} infected grass species. Therefore, it is important to investigate which grasses are infected with the Epichlo{\"e} endophyte, if the endophytes have the ability to produce vertebrate and invertebrate toxic alkaloids and if the alkaloids are indeed produced. I showed that Epichlo{\"e} festucae var. lolii infecting agriculturally important Lolium perenne lacked the starting gene for ergovaline biosynthesis. Hence, vertebrate toxic ergovaline was not detected in the majority of the collected L. perenne plants. The detection of alkaloid concentrations is an important tool to estimate intoxication risk for vertebrates, but also invertebrates. My studies showed that the usage of dry plant material is crucial to quantify the correct alkaloid concentrations, and that alkaloid concentrations can vary depending on the detection method. Hence, the usage of validated, similar detection methods is important to be able to compare alkaloid concentrations from different studies. Nevertheless, the trends of seasonal changes and the influence of land-use intensity stayed the same, regardless if dry or fresh plant weight was used. Also, alkaloid concentrations were below toxicity thresholds on population level, regardless of the method used. Two commercially available forage grass and two commercially available turf grass seed mixtures were infected with Epichlo{\"e} endopyhtes and alkaloids were detected. This might contribute to the spreading of Epichlo{\"e} endopyhtes in Germany, therefore seed mixtures should be tested for Epichlo{\"e} infections. My results indicate that the intoxication risk is generally low in Germany at the moment, although that might change due to climate change, an increase of monocultural land-use, or the seeding of Epichlo{\"e} infected grass seeds.}, subject = {Endophytische Pilze}, language = {en} } @article{BowlerBjorkmanDornelasetal.2020, author = {Bowler, Diana E. and Bjorkman, Anne D. and Dornelas, Maria and Myers-Smith, Isla H. and Navarro, Laetitia M. and Niamir, Aidin and Supp, Sarah R. and Waldock, Conor and Winter, Marten and Vellend, Mark and Blowes, Shane A. and B{\"o}hning-Gaese, Katrin and Bruelheide, Helge and Elahi, Robin and Ant{\~a}o, Laura H. and Hines, Jes and Isbell, Forest and Jones, Holly P. and Magurran, Anne E. and Cabral, Juliano Sarmento and Bates, Amanda E.}, title = {Mapping human pressures on biodiversity across the planet uncovers anthropogenic threat complexes}, series = {People and Nature}, volume = {2}, journal = {People and Nature}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1002/pan3.10071}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-213634}, pages = {380 -- 394}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Climate change and other anthropogenic drivers of biodiversity change are unequally distributed across the world. Overlap in the distributions of different drivers have important implications for biodiversity change attribution and the potential for interactive effects. However, the spatial relationships among different drivers and whether they differ between the terrestrial and marine realm has yet to be examined. We compiled global gridded datasets on climate change, land-use, resource exploitation, pollution, alien species potential and human population density. We used multivariate statistics to examine the spatial relationships among the drivers and to characterize the typical combinations of drivers experienced by different regions of the world. We found stronger positive correlations among drivers in the terrestrial than in the marine realm, leading to areas with high intensities of multiple drivers on land. Climate change tended to be negatively correlated with other drivers in the terrestrial realm (e.g. in the tundra and boreal forest with high climate change but low human use and pollution), whereas the opposite was true in the marine realm (e.g. in the Indo-Pacific with high climate change and high fishing). We show that different regions of the world can be defined by Anthropogenic Threat Complexes (ATCs), distinguished by different sets of drivers with varying intensities. We identify 11 ATCs that can be used to test hypotheses about patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem change, especially about the joint effects of multiple drivers. Our global analysis highlights the broad conservation priorities needed to mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic change, with different priorities emerging on land and in the ocean, and in different parts of the world.}, language = {en} } @article{GuptaSrivastavaOsmanogluetal.2020, author = {Gupta, Shishir K. and Srivastava, Mugdha and Osmanoglu, Oezge and Dandekar, Thomas}, title = {Genome-wide inference of the Camponotus floridanus protein-protein interaction network using homologous mapping and interacting domain profile pairs}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {10}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-020-59344-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229406}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Apart from some model organisms, the interactome of most organisms is largely unidentified. High-throughput experimental techniques to determine protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are resource intensive and highly susceptible to noise. Computational methods of PPI determination can accelerate biological discovery by identifying the most promising interacting pairs of proteins and by assessing the reliability of identified PPIs. Here we present a first in-depth study describing a global view of the ant Camponotus floridanus interactome. Although several ant genomes have been sequenced in the last eight years, studies exploring and investigating PPIs in ants are lacking. Our study attempts to fill this gap and the presented interactome will also serve as a template for determining PPIs in other ants in future. Our C. floridanus interactome covers 51,866 non-redundant PPIs among 6,274 proteins, including 20,544 interactions supported by domain-domain interactions (DDIs), 13,640 interactions supported by DDIs and subcellular localization, and 10,834 high confidence interactions mediated by 3,289 proteins. These interactions involve and cover 30.6\% of the entire C. floridanus proteome.}, language = {en} } @article{DeLiraRamanSchulzeetal.2020, author = {De Lira, Maria Nathalia and Raman, Sudha Janaki and Schulze, Almut and Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle and Avota, Elita}, title = {Neutral Sphingomyelinase-2 (NSM 2) Controls T Cell Metabolic Homeostasis and Reprogramming During Activation}, series = {Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences}, volume = {7}, journal = {Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences}, issn = {2296-889X}, doi = {10.3389/fmolb.2020.00217}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-211311}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (NSM2) is a member of a superfamily of enzymes responsible for conversion of sphingomyelin into phosphocholine and ceramide at the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane. Upon specific ablation of NSM2, T cells proved to be hyper-responsive to CD3/CD28 co-stimulation, indicating that the enzyme acts to dampen early overshooting activation of these cells. It remained unclear whether hyper-reactivity of NSM2-deficient T cells is supported by a deregulated metabolic activity in these cells. Here, we demonstrate that ablation of NSM2 activity affects metabolism of the quiescent CD4\(^+\) T cells which accumulate ATP in mitochondria and increase basal glycolytic activity. This supports enhanced production of total ATP and metabolic switch early after TCR/CD28 stimulation. Most interestingly, increased metabolic activity in resting NSM2-deficient T cells does not support sustained response upon stimulation. While elevated under steady-state conditions in NSM2-deficient CD4\(^+\) T cells, the mTORC1 pathway regulating mitochondria size, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP production is impaired after 24 h of stimulation. Taken together, the absence of NSM2 promotes a hyperactive metabolic state in unstimulated CD4\(^+\) T cells yet fails to support sustained T cell responses upon antigenic stimulation.}, language = {en} } @article{VogelGossnerMergneretal.2020, author = {Vogel, Sebastian and Gossner, Martin M. and Mergner, Ulrich and M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Thorn, Simon}, title = {Optimizing enrichment of deadwood for biodiversity by varying sun exposure and tree species: An experimental approach}, series = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, volume = {57}, journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology}, number = {10}, doi = {10.1111/1365-2664.13648}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214614}, pages = {2075 -- 2085}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The enrichment of deadwood is essential for the conservation of saproxylic biodiversity in managed forests. However, existing strategies focus on a cost-intensive increase of deadwood amount, while largely neglecting increasing deadwood diversity. Deadwood objects, that is logs and branches, from six tree species were experimentally sun exposed, canopy shaded and artificially shaded for 4 years, after which the alpha-, beta- and gamma-diversity of saproxylic beetles, wood-inhabiting fungi and spiders were analysed. Analyses of beta-diversity included the spatial distance between exposed deadwood objects. A random-drawing procedure was used to identify the combination of tree species and sun exposure that yielded the highest gamma-diversity at a minimum of exposed deadwood amount. In sun-exposed plots, species numbers in logs were higher than in shaded plots for all taxa, while in branches we observed the opposite for saproxylic beetles. Tree species affected the species numbers only of saproxylic beetles and wood-inhabiting fungi. The beta-diversity of saproxylic beetles and wood-inhabiting fungi among logs was influenced by sun exposure and tree species, but beta-diversity of spiders by sun exposure only. For all saproxylic taxa recorded in logs, differences between communities increased with increasing spatial distance. A combination of canopy-shaded Carpinus logs and sun-exposed Populus logs resulted in the highest species numbers of all investigated saproxylic taxa among all possible combinations of tree species and sun-exposure treatments. Synthesis and applications. We recommend incorporating the enrichment of different tree species and particularly the variation in sun exposure into existing strategies of deadwood enrichment. Based on the results of our study, we suggest to combine the logs of softwood broadleaf tree species (e.g. Carpinus, Populus), hardwood broadleaf tree species (e.g. Quercus) and coniferous tree species (e.g. Pinus) under different conditions of sun exposure and distribute them spatially in a landscape to maximize the beneficial effects on overall diversity.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerUlyshenSeiboldetal.2020, author = {M{\"u}ller, J{\"o}rg and Ulyshen, Mike and Seibold, Sebastian and Cadotte, Marc and Chao, Anne and B{\"a}ssler, Claus and Vogel, Sebastian and Hagge, Jonas and Weiß, Ingmar and Baldrian, Petr and Tl{\´a}skal, Vojtěch and Thorn, Simon}, title = {Primary determinants of communities in deadwood vary among taxa but are regionally consistent}, series = {Oikos}, volume = {129}, journal = {Oikos}, number = {10}, doi = {10.1111/oik.07335}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228201}, pages = {1579 -- 1588}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The evolutionary split between gymnosperms and angiosperms has far-reaching implications for the current communities colonizing trees. The inherent characteristics of dead wood include its role as a spatially scattered habitat of plant tissue, transient in time. Thus, local assemblages in deadwood forming a food web in a necrobiome should be affected not only by dispersal ability but also by host tree identity, the decay stage and local abiotic conditions. However, experiments simultaneously manipulating these potential community drivers in deadwood are lacking. To disentangle the importance of spatial distance and microclimate, as well as host identity and decay stage as drivers of local assemblages, we conducted two consecutive experiments, a 2-tree species and 6-tree species experiment with 80 and 72 tree logs, respectively, located in canopy openings and under closed canopies of a montane and a lowland forest. We sampled saproxylic beetles, spiders, fungi and bacterial assemblages from logs. Variation partitioning for community metrics based on a unified framework of Hill numbers showed consistent results for both studies: host identity was most important for sporocarp-detected fungal assemblages, decay stage and host tree for DNA-detected fungal assemblages, microclimate and decay stage for beetles and spiders and decay stage for bacteria. Spatial distance was of minor importance for most taxa but showed the strongest effects for arthropods. The contrasting patterns among the taxa highlight the need for multi-taxon analyses in identifying the importance of abiotic and biotic drivers of community composition. Moreover, the consistent finding of microclimate as the primary driver for saproxylic beetles compared to host identity shows, for the first time that existing evolutionary host adaptions can be outcompeted by local climate conditions in deadwood.}, language = {en} } @article{SchaeblerAmatobiHornetal.2020, author = {Sch{\"a}bler, Stefan and Amatobi, Kelechi M. and Horn, Melanie and Rieger, Dirk and Helfrich‑F{\"o}rster, Charlotte and Mueller, Martin J. and Wegener, Christian and Fekete, Agnes}, title = {Loss of function in the Drosophila clock gene period results in altered intermediary lipid metabolism and increased susceptibility to starvation}, series = {Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences}, volume = {77}, journal = {Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences}, issn = {1420-682X}, doi = {10.1007/s00018-019-03441-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232432}, pages = {4939-4956}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The fruit fly Drosophila is a prime model in circadian research, but still little is known about its circadian regulation of metabolism. Daily rhythmicity in levels of several metabolites has been found, but knowledge about hydrophobic metabolites is limited. We here compared metabolite levels including lipids between period\(^{01}\) (per\(^{01}\)) clock mutants and Canton-S wildtype (WT\(_{CS}\)) flies in an isogenic and non-isogenic background using LC-MS. In the non-isogenic background, metabo-lites with differing levels comprised essential amino acids, kynurenines, pterinates, glycero(phospho)lipids, and fatty acid esters. Notably, detectable diacylglycerols (DAG) and acylcarnitines (AC), involved in lipid metabolism, showed lower levels in per\(^{01}\) mutants. Most of these differences disappeared in the isogenic background, yet the level differences for AC as well as DAG were consistent for fly bodies. AC levels were dependent on the time of day in WTCS in phase with food consumption under LD conditions, while DAGs showed weak daily oscillations. Two short-chain ACs continued to cycle even in constant darkness. per\(^{01}\) mutants in LD showed no or very weak diel AC oscillations out of phase with feeding activity. The low levels of DAGs and ACs in per\(^{01}\) did not correlate with lower total food consumption, body mass or weight. Clock mutant flies showed higher sensitivity to starvation independent of their background-dependent activity level. Our results suggest that neither feeding, energy storage nor mobilisation is significantly affected in per\(^{01}\) mutants, but point towards impaired mitochondrial activity, supported by upregulation of the mitochondrial stress marker 4EBP in the clock mutants}, language = {en} } @article{TrinklKaluzaWallaceetal.2020, author = {Trinkl, Moritz and Kaluza, Benjamin F. and Wallace, Helen and Heard, Tim A. and Keller, Alexander and Leonhardt, Sara D.}, title = {Floral Species Richness Correlates with Changes in the Nutritional Quality of Larval Diets in a Stingless Bee}, series = {Insects}, volume = {11}, journal = {Insects}, number = {2}, issn = {2075-4450}, doi = {10.3390/insects11020125}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200605}, pages = {125}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Bees need food of appropriate nutritional quality to maintain their metabolic functions. They largely obtain all required nutrients from floral resources, i.e., pollen and nectar. However, the diversity, composition and nutritional quality of floral resources varies with the surrounding environment and can be strongly altered in human-impacted habitats. We investigated whether differences in plant species richness as found in the surrounding environment correlated with variation in the floral diversity and nutritional quality of larval provisions (i.e., mixtures of pollen, nectar and salivary secretions) composed by the mass-provisioning stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae: Meliponini). We found that the floral diversity of larval provisions increased with increasing plant species richness. The sucrose and fat (total fatty acid) content and the proportion and concentration of the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid decreased, whereas the proportion of the omega-3 fatty acid linolenic acid increased with increasing plant species richness. Protein (total amino acid) content and amino acid composition did not change. The protein to fat (P:F) ratio, known to affect bee foraging, increased on average by more than 40\% from plantations to forests and gardens, while the omega-6:3 ratio, known to negatively affect cognitive performance, decreased with increasing plant species richness. Our results suggest that plant species richness may support T. carbonaria colonies by providing not only a continuous resource supply (as shown in a previous study), but also floral resources of high nutritional quality.}, language = {en} }