TY  - THES
A1  - Wagh, Dhananjay Anil
T1  - "Bruchpilot" -molecular and functional characterization of a novel active zone protein at the Drosophila synapse
T1  - "Bruchpilot" - Molekulare und funktionelle Charakterisierung eines neuen Proteins der aktiven Zone der Drosophila-Synapse
N2  - Chemical neurotransmission is a complex process of central importance for nervous system function. It is thought to be mediated by the orchestration of hundreds of proteins for its successful execution. Several synaptic proteins have been shown to be relevant for neurotransmission and many of them are highly conserved during evolution- suggesting a universal mechanism for neurotransmission. This process has checkpoints at various places like, neurotransmitter uptake into the vesicles, relocation of the vesicles to the vicinity of calcium channels in order to facilitate Ca2+ induced release thereby modulating the fusion probability, formation of a fusion pore to release the neurotransmitter and finally reuptake of the vesicles by endocytosis. Each of these checkpoints has now become a special area of study and maintains its own importance for the understanding of the overall process. Ca2+ induced release occurs at specialized membrane structures at the synapse known as the active zones. These are highly ordered electron dense grids and are composed of several proteins which assist the synaptic vesicles in relocating in the vicinity of Ca2+ channels thereby increasing their fusion probability and then bringing about the vesicular fusion itself. All the protein modules needed for these processes are thought to be held in tight arrays at the active zones, and the functions of a few have been characterized so far at the vertebrate active zones. Our group is primarily interested in characterizing the molecular architecture of the Drosophila synapse. Due to its powerful genetics and well-established behavioural assays Drosophila is an excellent system to investigate neuronal functioning. Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) from a hybridoma library against Drosophila brain are routinely used to detect novel proteins in the brain in a reverse genetic approach. Upon identification of the protein its encoding genetic locus is characterized and a detailed investigation of its function is initiated. This approach has been particularly useful to detect synaptic proteins, which may go undetected in a forward genetic approach due to lack of an observable phenotype. Proteins like CSP, Synapsin and Sap47 have been identified and characterized using this approach so far. MAB nc82 has been one of the shortlisted antibodies from the same library and is widely used as a general neuropil marker due to the relative transparency of immunohistochemical whole mount staining obtained with this antibody. A careful observation of double stainings at the larval neuromuscular junctions with MAB nc82 and other pre and post-synaptic markers strongly suggested an active zone localization of the nc82 antigen. Synaptic architecture is well characterized in Drosophila at the ultrastructural level. However, molecular details for many synaptic components and especially for the active zone are almost entirely unknown. A possible localization at the active zone for the nc82 antigen served as the motivation to initiate its biochemical characterization and the identification of the encoding gene. In the present thesis it is shown by 2-D gel analysis and mass spectrometry that the nc82 antigen is a novel active zone protein encoded by a complex genetic locus on chromosome 2R. By RT-PCR exons from three open reading frames previously annotated as separate genes are demonstrated to give rise to a transcript of at least 5.5 kb. Northern blots produce a prominent signal of 11 kb and a weak signal of 2 kb. The protein encoded by the 5.5 kb transcript is highly conserved amongst insects and has at its N-terminus significant homology to the previously described vertebrate active zone protein ELKS/ERC/CAST. Bioinformatic analysis predicts coiled-coil domains spread all over the sequence and strongly suggest a function involved in organizing or maintaining the structure of the active zone. The large C-terminal region is highly conserved amongst the insects but has no clear homologues in veretebrates. For a functional analysis of this protein transgenic flies expressing RNAi constructs under the control of the Gal4 regulated enhancer UAS were kindly provided by the collaborating group of S.Sigrist (Gِttingen). A strong pan-neuronal knockdown of the nc82 antigen by transgenic RNAi expression leads to embryonic lethality. A relatively weaker RNAi expression results in behavioural deficits in adult flies including unstable flight and impaired walking behavior. Due to this peculiar phenotype as observed in the first knockdown studies the gene was named “bruchpilot” (brp) encoding the protein “Bruchpilot (BRP)” (German for crash pilot). A pan-neuronal as well as retina specific downregulation of this protein results in loss of ON and OFF transients in ERG recordings indicating dysfunctional synapses. Retina specific downregulation also shows severely impaired optomotor behaviour. Finally, at an ultrastructural level BRP downregulation seems to impair the formation of the characteristic T-shaped synaptic ribbons at the active zones without significantly altering the overall synaptic architecture (in collaboration with E.Asan). Vertebrate active zone protein Bassoon is known to be involved in attaching the synaptic ribbons to the active zones as an adapter between active zone proteins RIBEYE and ERC/CAST. A mutation in Bassoon results in a floating synaptic ribbon phenotype. No protein homologous to Bassoon has been observed in Drosophila. BRP downregulation also results in absence of attached synaptic ribbons at the active zones. This invites the speculation of an adapter like function for BRP in Drosophila. However, while Bassoon mutant mice are viable, BRP deficit in addition to the structural phenotype also results in severe behavioural and physiological anomalies and even stronger downregulation causes embryonic lethality. This therefore suggests an additional and even more important role for BRP in development and normal functioning of synapses in Drosophila and also in other insects. However, how BRP regulates synaptic transmission and which other proteins are involved in this BRP dependant pathway remains to be investigated. Such studies certainly will attract prominent attention in the future.
N2  - Die chemische Signalübertragung an Synapsen ist ein komplexer Prozess mit zentraler Bedeutung für die Funktion von Nervensystemen. Man nimmt an, dass er auf einem Zusammenspiel hunderter verschiedener Proteine beruht. Diverse Synopsenproteine haben sich für die Neurotransmission als relevant erwiesen und viele davon sind in der Evolution hoch konserviert, was einen universalen Mechanismus der Neurotransmission wahrscheinlich macht. Dieser Prozess ist in zahlreiche aufeinander folgende Schritte unterteilt, wie die Neurotransmitteraufnahme in Vesikel, den Transport von Vesikeln in die Nنhe von Calciumkanنlen, die Ausbildung einer Fusionspore zur Transmitterausschüttung und schlieكlich die Wiederaufnahme von Vesikeln durch Endozytose. Jeder dieser Teilschritte wird momentan gezielt erforscht und spielt für sich genommen eine zentrale Rolle für das Verstنndnis des gesamten Prozesses. Die Calcium-induzierte Transmitterausschüttung findet an spezialisierten Membranstrukturen der Synapsen statt, den aktiven Zonen. Diese sind hoch organisierte, elektronendichte Gitterstrukturen und bestehen aus verschiedenen Proteinen, die den synaptischen Vesikeln bei der Verlagerung in die Nنhe von Calciumkanنlen behilflich sind. Alle Proteinmodule, die für diese Prozesse nِtig sind, scheinen eng aneinandergereiht an den aktiven Zonen vorzuliegen. Nur von wenigen konnte bisher bei Vertebraten die Funktion an der aktiven Zone charakterisiert werden. Ein Fokus der Arbeitsgruppe, an der diese Doktorarbeit durchgeführt wurde, besteht in der Charakterisierung des molekularen Aufbaus der Synapse von Drosophila. Die Taufliege ist aufgrund eines reichen Angebots hِchsteffektiver genetischer Methoden und vielfنltiger Verhaltensparadigmen ein exzellentes Modellsystem, um die neuronale Signalübertragung zu untersuchen. Monoklonale Antikِrper (MAKs) aus einer Hybridomabank gegen das Drosophila Gehirn werden standardmنكig verwendet, um neue Gehirnproteine mittels der „reverse genetics“- Methode zu identifizieren. Dazu wird der entsprechende genetische Lokus charakterisiert und eine detaillierte Untersuchung der Proteinfunktion initiiert. Diese Vorgehensweise war besonders hilfreich bei der Identifizierung von Synapsenproteinen, die bei der „forward genetics“-Methode aufgrund des Fehlens eines beobachtbaren Phنnotyps übersehen würden. Proteine wie CSP, Synapsin und Sap47 wurden so gefunden und charakterisiert. I MAK nc82 stammt aus dieser Hybridomabank und wird in vielen Labors als allgemeiner Neuropilmarker aufgrund seiner hervorragenden Fنrbungseigenschaften in Gehirnprنparaten verwendet. Doppelfنrbungen der larvalen neuromuskulنren Synapse mit dem Antikِrper nc82 in Kombination mit anderen prن- und postsynaptischen Markern deuteten stark auf eine Lokalisierung des Antigens an der aktiven Zone hin. Die Synapsenarchitektur von Drosophila ist auf der ultrastrukturellen Ebene gut verstanden. Jedoch sind die molekularen Details vieler Synapsenkomponenten, besonders die der aktiven Zone, nicht bekannt. Die vermutete Lokalisierung des nc82 Antigens an der aktiven Zone war daher der Ansatzpunkt, eine biochemische Charakterisierung zu initiieren und das entsprechende Gen zu identifizieren. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird durch 2-D Gelelektrophorese und Massenspektrometrie gezeigt, das das nc82 Antigen ein neues Protein der aktiven Zone ist, welches von einem komplexen Genlokus auf Chromosom 2R kodiert wird. Durch RT-PCR wurde gezeigt, dass die Exons von drei offenen Leserastern, die bisher als getrennte Gene annotiert wurden, ein Transkript von mindestens 5,5 kb Lنnge kodieren. Northern Blots ergaben ein deutliches Signal bei 11 kb und ein schwنcheres bei 2 kb. Das von dem 5,5 kb Transkript resultierende Protein ist hoch konserviert in der Gruppe der Insekten und weist an seiner N-terminalen Domنne eine signifikante Homologie zu den bisher beschriebenen Vertebratenproteinen der aktiven Zone ELKS/ERC/CAST auf. Bioinformatische Analysen sagen „coiled-coil“ Domنnen vorher, die über die gesamte Sequenz verteilt sind. Dies deutet stark auf eine Funktion bei der Organisation oder der Aufrechterhaltung der prنsynaptischen Struktur hin. Die groكe C-terminale Region ist zwar bei Insekten hoch konserviert, zeigt aber keine eindeutige Homologie zu Proteinen von Vertebraten. Für die Funktionsanalyse dieses Proteins wurden transgene Fliegen, die UAS-RNAi Konstrukte in ihrem Genom tragen und durch entsprechende GAL4-Linien getrieben werden kِnnen, freundlicherweise von der kollaborierenden Arbeitsgruppe von S. Sigrist (Gِttingen) zur Verfügung gestellt. Der pan-neuronale „knock-down“ des nc82 Antigens durch transgene RNAi-Expression führt zu embryonaler Letalitنt. Eine schwنchere RNAi-Expression führt bei adulten Fliegen zu Verhaltensdefekten, wie instabilem Flug und beeintrنchtigtem Laufverhalten. Aufgrund dieser Phنnotypen, die in den ersten „knock-down“ Studien beobachtet wurden, wurde das Gen „bruchpilot“ (brp) und das zugehِrige Protein „Bruchpilot“ (BRP) genannt. Die pan-neuronale, sowie die retinaspezifische Reduktion des Proteins führt zu einem Verlust der ON und OFF Transienten des Elektroretinogramms, was auf nichtfunktionelle Synapsen hindeutet. Die retinaspezifische Reduktion des Proteins hat eine Beeintrنchtigung der optomotorischen Reaktion zur Folge. Auكerdem scheint auf der ultrastrukturellen Ebene die Bildung der charakteristischen T-fِrmigen „ribbons“ der aktiven Zonen beeintrنchtigt zu sein, jedoch ohne signifikante Verنnderungen der Gesamtarchitektur der Synapse (in Kollaboration mit E. Asan). Von Basson, einem Protein der aktiven Zone bei Vertebraten, ist bekannt, dass es an der Anheftung der synaptischen „ribbons“ an den aktiven Zonen beteiligt ist. Es fungiert als Adapter zwischen RIBEYE und ELKS/ERC/CAST, zwei weiteren Proteinen der aktiven Zone. Die Mutation von Bassoon hat zur Folge, dass die synaptischen „ribbons“ frei im Zytoplasma treiben. Für Bassoon ist kein homologes Drosophila-Protein bekannt. Die Reduktion von BRP bedingt ebenfalls ein Fehlen befestigter „ribbons“ an der aktiven Zone. Dies kِnnte auf eine Art Adapterfunktion von BRP hindeuten. Jedoch hat das Fehlen von BRP zusنtzlich zum strukturellen Phنnotyp auch deutliche Verhaltensabnormalitنten und starke physiologische Beeintrنchtigungen zur Folge. Eine noch stنrkere Reduktion bedingt auكerdem embryonale Lethalitنt, wohingegen Mausmutanten ohne Bassoon lebensfنhig sind. Daraus ergibt sich, dass BRP eine weitere, wichtige Rolle wنhrend der Entwicklung und für die Funktion von Synapsen bei Drosophila und mِglicherweise auch bei anderen Insekten einnimmt. Es muss aber noch geklنrt werden, auf welche Weise BRP die synaptische Signalübertragung reguliert und welche anderen Proteine in diesem BRP-abhنngigen Pfad involviert sind. Derartige Studien werden mit Sicherheit in der Zukunft eine bedeutende Rolle spielen.
KW  - Taufliege
KW  - Synapse
KW  - Proteine
KW  - Molekulargenetik
KW  - Bruchpilot
KW  - Drosophila-Synapse
KW  - Bruchpilot
KW  - Drosophila synapse
Y1  - 2005
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-14989
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Plieger, Tanja
A1  - Wolf, Matthias
T1  - 18S and ITS2 rDNA sequence-structure phylogeny of Prototheca (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae)
JF  - Biologia
N2  - Protothecosis is an infectious disease caused by organisms currently classified within the green algal genus Prototheca. The disease can manifest as cutaneous lesions, olecranon bursitis or disseminated or systemic infections in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. Concerning diagnostics, taxonomic validity is important. Prototheca, closely related to the Chlorella species complex, is known to be polyphyletic, branching with Auxenochlorella and Helicosporidium. The phylogeny of Prototheca was discussed and revisited several times in the last decade; new species have been described. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and partial mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequence data. In this work we use Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) as well as 18S rDNA data. However, for the first time, we reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of Prototheca using primary sequence and RNA secondary structure information simultaneously, a concept shown to increase robustness and accuracy of phylogenetic tree estimation. Using encoded sequence-structure data, Neighbor-Joining, Maximum-Parsimony and Maximum-Likelihood methods yielded well-supported trees in agreement with other trees calculated on rDNA; but differ in several aspects from trees using cytb as a phylogenetic marker. ITS2 secondary structures of Prototheca sequences are in agreement with the well-known common core structure of eukaryotes but show unusual differences in their helix lengths. An elongation of the fourth helix of some species seems to have occurred independently in the course of evolution.
KW  - secondary structure
KW  - 18S
KW  - ITS2
KW  - phylogeny
KW  - prototheca
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-269897
SN  - 1336-9563
VL  - 77
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rackevei, Antonia S.
A1  - Karnkowska, Anna
A1  - Wolf, Matthias
T1  - 18S rDNA sequence–structure phylogeny of the Euglenophyceae (Euglenozoa, Euglenida)
JF  - Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
N2  - The phylogeny of Euglenophyceae (Euglenozoa, Euglenida) has been discussed for decades with new genera being described in the last few years. In this study, we reconstruct a phylogeny using 18S rDNA sequence and structural data simultaneously. Using homology modeling, individual secondary structures were predicted. Sequence–structure data are encoded and automatically aligned. Here, we present a sequence–structure neighbor‐joining tree of more than 300 taxa classified as Euglenophyceae. Profile neighbor‐joining was used to resolve the basal branching pattern. Neighbor‐joining, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood analyses were performed using sequence–structure information for manually chosen subsets. All analyses supported the monophyly of Eutreptiella, Discoplastis, Lepocinclis, Strombomonas, Cryptoglena, Monomorphina, Euglenaria, and Colacium. Well‐supported topologies were generally consistent with previous studies using a combined dataset of genetic markers. Our study supports the simultaneous use of sequence and structural data to reconstruct more accurate and robust trees. The average bootstrap value is significantly higher than the average bootstrap value obtained from sequence‐only analyses, which is promising for resolving relationships between more closely related taxa.
KW  - euglena
KW  - euglenids
KW  - phylogenetics
KW  - secondary structure
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311896
VL  - 70
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gilmore, Michael S.
A1  - Cruz-Rodz, Armando L.
A1  - Leimeister-Wächter, Michaela
A1  - Kreft, Jürgen
A1  - Goebel, Werner
T1  - A Bacillus cereus cytolytic determinant, cereolysin AB, which comprises the phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase genes: nucleotide sequence and genetic linkage
N2  - A cloned cytolytic determinant from the genome of Bacillus cereus GP-4 has been characterized at the molecular Ievel. Nucleotide sequence determination revealed the presence of two open reading frames. 8oth open reading frames were found by deletion and complementation analysis to be necessary for expression of the hemolytic phenotype by Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli hosts. The 5' open reading frame was found to be nearly identical to a recently reported phospholipase C gene derived from a mutant B. cereus strain which overexpresses the respective protein, and it conferred a lecithinase-positive phenotype to the B. subtilis host. The 3' open reading frame encoded a sphingomyelinase. The two tandemly encoded activities, phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase, constitute a biologically functional cytolytic determinant of B. cereus termed cereolysin AB.
KW  - Biologie
Y1  - 1989
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60588
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dütting, Sebastian
A1  - Gaits-Iacovoni, Frederique
A1  - Stegner, David
A1  - Popp, Michael
A1  - Antkowiak, Adrien
A1  - van Eeuwijk, Judith M.M.
A1  - Nurden, Paquita
A1  - Stritt, Simon
A1  - Heib, Tobias
A1  - Aurbach, Katja
A1  - Angay, Oguzhan
A1  - Cherpokova, Deya
A1  - Heinz, Niels
A1  - Baig, Ayesha A.
A1  - Gorelashvili, Maximilian G.
A1  - Gerner, Frank
A1  - Heinze, Katrin G.
A1  - Ware, Jerry
A1  - Krohne, Georg
A1  - Ruggeri, Zaverio M.
A1  - Nurden, Alan T.
A1  - Schulze, Harald
A1  - Modlich, Ute
A1  - Pleines, Irina
A1  - Brakebusch, Cord
A1  - Nieswandt, Bernhard
T1  - A Cdc42/RhoA regulatory circuit downstream of glycoprotein Ib guides transendothelial platelet biogenesis
JF  - Nature Communications
N2  - Blood platelets are produced by large bone marrow (BM) precursor cells, megakaryocytes (MKs), which extend cytoplasmic protrusions (proplatelets) into BM sinusoids. The molecular cues that control MK polarization towards sinusoids and limit transendothelial crossing to proplatelets remain unknown. Here, we show that the small GTPases Cdc42 and RhoA act as a regulatory circuit downstream of the MK-specific mechanoreceptor GPIb to coordinate polarized transendothelial platelet biogenesis. Functional deficiency of either GPIb or Cdc42 impairs transendothelial proplatelet formation. In the absence of RhoA, increased Cdc42 activity and MK hyperpolarization triggers GPIb-dependent transmigration of entire MKs into BM sinusoids. These findings position Cdc42 (go-signal) and RhoA (stop-signal) at the centre of a molecular checkpoint downstream of GPIb that controls transendothelial platelet biogenesis. Our results may open new avenues for the treatment of platelet production disorders and help to explain the thrombocytopenia in patients with Bernard–Soulier syndrome, a bleeding disorder caused by defects in GPIb-IX-V.
KW  - megakaryocytes
KW  - blood platelets
KW  - regulatory circuit downstream
KW  - glycoprotein Ib
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-170797
VL  - 8
IS  - 15838
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Drescher, Nora
A1  - Klein, Alexandra-Maria
A1  - Schmitt, Thomas
A1  - Leonhardt, Sara Diana
T1  - A clue on bee glue: New insight into the sources and factors driving resin intake in honeybees (Apis mellifera)
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are threatened by numerous pathogens and parasites. To prevent infections they apply cooperative behavioral defenses, such as allo-grooming and hygiene, or they use antimicrobial plant resin. Resin is a chemically complex and highly variable mixture of many bioactive compounds. Bees collect the sticky material from different plant species and use it for nest construction and protection. Despite its importance for colony health, comparatively little is known about the precise origins and variability in resin spectra collected by honeybees. To identify the botanical resin sources of A. mellifera in Western Europe we chemically compared resin loads of individual foragers and tree resins. We further examined the resin intake of 25 colonies from five different apiaries to assess the effect of location on variation in the spectra of collected resin. Across all colonies and apiaries, seven distinct resin types were categorized according to their color and chemical composition. Matches between bee-collected resin and tree resin indicated that bees used poplar (Populus balsamifera, P. x canadensis), birch (Betula alba), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and coniferous trees (either Picea abies or Pinus sylvestris) as resin sources. Our data reveal that honeybees collect a comparatively broad and variable spectrum of resin sources, thus assuring protection against a variety of antagonists sensitive to different resins and/or compounds. We further unravel distinct preferences for specific resins and resin chemotypes, indicating that honeybees selectively search for bioactive resin compounds.
KW  - Honey bees
KW  - Poplars
KW  - Trees
KW  - Forests
KW  - Chemical composition
KW  - Bees
KW  - Conifers
KW  - Phenols
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200935
VL  - 14
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schuhmann, Antonia
A1  - Scheiner, Ricarda
T1  - A combination of the frequent fungicides boscalid and dimoxystrobin with the neonicotinoid acetamiprid in field-realistic concentrations does not affect sucrose responsiveness and learning behavior of honeybees
JF  - Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
N2  - The increasing loss of pollinators over the last decades has become more and more evident. Intensive use of plant protection products is one key factor contributing to this decline. Especially the mixture of different plant protection products can pose an increased risk for pollinators as synergistic effects may occur. In this study we investigated the effect of the fungicide Cantus® Gold (boscalid/dimoxystrobin), the neonicotinoid insecticide Mospilan® (acetamiprid) and their mixture on honeybees. Since both plant protection products are frequently applied sequentially to the same plants (e.g. oilseed rape), their combination is a realistic scenario for honeybees. We investigated the mortality, the sucrose responsiveness and the differential olfactory learning performance of honeybees under controlled conditions in the laboratory to reduce environmental noise. Intact sucrose responsiveness and learning performance are of pivotal importance for the survival of individual honeybees as well as for the functioning of the entire colony. Treatment with two sublethal and field relevant concentrations of each plant protection product did not lead to any significant effects on these behaviors but affected the mortality rate. However, our study cannot exclude possible negative sublethal effects of these substances in higher concentrations. In addition, the honeybee seems to be quite robust when it comes to effects of plant protection products, while wild bees might be more sensitive.

Highlights
• Mix of SBI fungicides and neonicotinoids can lead to synergistic effects for bees.
• Combination of non-SBI fungicide and neonicotinoid in field-realistic doses tested.
• Synergistic effect on mortality of honeybees.
• No effects on sucrose responsiveness and learning performance of honeybees.
• Synergistic effects by other pesticide mixtures or on wild bees cannot be excluded.
KW  - Apis mellifera
KW  - non-SBI fungicide
KW  - insecticide
KW  - pesticide mixture
KW  - synergistic effect
KW  - sublethal effect
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-350047
VL  - 256
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Niewalda, Thomas
A1  - Völler, Thomas
A1  - Eschbach, Claire
A1  - Ehmer, Julia
A1  - Wen-Chuang, Chou
A1  - Timme, Marc
A1  - Fiala, André
A1  - Gerber, Bertram
T1  - A Combined Perceptual, Physico-Chemical, and Imaging Approach to 'Odour-Distances' Suggests a Categorizing Function of the Drosophila Antennal Lobe
JF  - PLoS One
N2  - How do physico-chemical stimulus features, perception, and physiology relate? Given the multi-layered and parallel architecture of brains, the question specifically is where physiological activity patterns correspond to stimulus features and/or perception. Perceived distances between six odour pairs are defined behaviourally from four independent odour recognition tasks. We find that, in register with the physico-chemical distances of these odours, perceived distances for 3octanol and n-amylacetate are consistently smallest in all four tasks, while the other five odour pairs are about equally distinct. Optical imaging in the antennal lobe, using a calcium sensor transgenically expressed in only first-order sensory or only second-order olfactory projection neurons, reveals that 3-octanol and n-amylacetate are distinctly represented in sensory neurons, but appear merged in projection neurons. These results may suggest that within-antennal lobe processing funnels sensory signals into behaviourally meaningful categories, in register with the physico-chemical relatedness of the odours.
KW  - organization
KW  - cameleon
KW  - honeybee
KW  - map
KW  - neurons
KW  - reveals
KW  - melanogaster
KW  - mushroom body
KW  - spatial representation
KW  - olfactory information
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133510
VL  - 6
IS  - 9
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Niewalda, Thomas
A1  - Völler, Thomas
A1  - Eschbach, Claire
A1  - Ehmer, Julia
A1  - Chou, Wen-Chuang
A1  - Timme, Marc
A1  - Fiala, André
A1  - Gerber, Bertram
T1  - A Combined Perceptual, Physico-Chemical, and ImagingApproach to ‘Odour-Distances’ Suggests a CategorizingFunction of the Drosophila Antennal Lobe
N2  - How do physico-chemical stimulus features, perception, and physiology relate? Given the multi-layered and parallel architecture of brains, the question specifically is where physiological activity patterns correspond to stimulus features and/ or perception. Perceived distances between six odour pairs are defined behaviourally from four independent odour recognition tasks. We find that, in register with the physico-chemical distances of these odours, perceived distances for 3-octanol and n-amylacetate are consistently smallest in all four tasks, while the other five odour pairs are about equally distinct. Optical imaging in the antennal lobe, using a calcium sensor transgenically expressed in only first-order sensory or only second-order olfactory projection neurons, reveals that 3-octanol and n-amylacetate are distinctly represented in sensory neurons, but appear merged in projection neurons. These results may suggest that within-antennal lobe processing funnels sensory signals into behaviourally meaningful categories, in register with the physico-chemical relatedness of the odours.
KW  - Drosophila Antennal Lobe
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-74769
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Biscotti, Maria Assunta
A1  - Adolfi, Mateus Contar
A1  - Barucca, Marco
A1  - Forconi, Mariko
A1  - Pallavicini, Alberto
A1  - Gerdol, Marco
A1  - Canapa, Adriana
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - A comparative view on sex differentiation and gametogenesis genes in lungfish and coelacanths
JF  - Genome Biology and Evolution
N2  - Gonadal sex differentiation and reproduction are the keys to the perpetuation of favorable gene combinations and positively selected traits. In vertebrates, several gonad development features that differentiate tetrapods and fishes are likely to be, at least in part, related to the water-to-land transition. The collection of information from basal sarcopterygians, coelacanths, and lungfishes, is crucial to improve our understanding of the molecular evolution of pathways involved in reproductive functions, since these organisms are generally regarded as “living fossils” and as the direct ancestors of tetrapods. Here, we report for the first time the characterization of >50 genes related to sex differentiation and gametogenesis in Latimeria menadoensis and Protopterus annectens. Although the expression profiles of most genes is consistent with the intermediate position of basal sarcopterygians between actinopterygian fish and tetrapods, their phylogenetic placement and presence/absence patterns often reveal a closer affinity to the tetrapod orthologs. On the other hand, particular genes, for example, the male gonad factor gsdf (Gonadal Soma-Derived Factor), provide examples of ancestral traits shared with actinopterygians, which disappeared in the tetrapod lineage.
KW  - sex differentiation
KW  - Latimeria menadoensis
KW  - Protopterus annectens
KW  - evolution
KW  - testis
KW  - gametogenesis
KW  - ovary
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-176774
VL  - 10
IS  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Duschl, Albert
A1  - Jahn, Ute
A1  - Bertling, Claudia
A1  - Sebald, Walter
T1  - A comparison of assays for the response of primary human T-cells upon stimulation with interleukin-2, interleukin-4 and interleukin-7
N2  - The most commonly used assay to quantitate the response of peripheral T~cells upon stimulation with growth factors is determination of incorporated (JH]TdR. We compared thls test to three other methods: 1. direct countlog of cells with a Coulter type counter as reference assay, 2. a colorimetric assay using the tetrazolium dye 3-[ 4,S-dimethylthiazol-l-yl]-2,5diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT), which is a cheap and increasingly popular non-radioactive method and 3. incorporation of the thymidine analog 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine detection with a monoclonal antibody on cytospins. Primary human PHA-blasts from >30 healthy individuals were stimulated with IL-2, IL-4 aod IL-7 and assayed with up to four different methods. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the assays used and tbe effects of differences between cell preparations. We observed no significant variations between individuals for the dose dependence, but the relative emctency of IL4 compared to IL-2 and IL-7 was variable. This was probably due to the slower response observed upon stimulation with this factor.
KW  - T-Lymphozyt
KW  - Interleukin 2
KW  - Interleukin 4
KW  - Interleukin 7
KW  - T-cells
KW  - proliferation assays
KW  - IL-2
KW  - IL-4
KW  - IL-7
Y1  - 1992
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-86750
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Uhler, Johannes
A1  - Haase, Peter
A1  - Hoffmann, Lara
A1  - Hothorn, Torsten
A1  - Schmidl, Jürgen
A1  - Stoll, Stefan
A1  - Welti, Ellen A. R.
A1  - Buse, Jörn
A1  - Müller, Jörg
T1  - A comparison of different Malaise trap types
JF  - Insect Conservation and Diversity
N2  - Recent reports on insect decline have highlighted the need for long‐term data on insect communities towards identifying their trends and drivers.
With the launch of many new insect monitoring schemes to investigate insect communities over large spatial and temporal scales, Malaise traps have become one of the most important tools due to the broad spectrum of species collected and reduced capture bias through passive sampling of insects day and night. However, Malaise traps can vary in size, shape, and colour, and it is unknown how these differences affect biomass, species richness, and composition of trap catch, making it difficult to compare results between studies.
We compared five Malaise trap types (three variations of the Townes and two variations of the Bartak Malaise trap) to determine their effects on biomass and species richness as identified by metabarcoding.
Insect biomass varied by 20%–55%, not strictly following trap size but varying with trap type. Total species richness was 20%–38% higher in the three Townes trap models compared to the Bartak traps. Bartak traps captured lower richness of highly mobile taxa but increased richness of ground‐dwelling taxa. The white roofed Townes trap captured a higher richness of pollinators.
We find that biomass, total richness, and taxa group specific richness are all sensitive to Malaise trap type. Trap type should be carefully considered and aligned to match monitoring and research questions. Additionally, our estimates of trap type effects can be used to adjust results to facilitate comparisons across studies.
KW  - Bartak
KW  - biodiversity
KW  - insect communities
KW  - insect monitoring
KW  - Malaise trap
KW  - Townes
KW  - trap selectivity
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293694
VL  - 15
IS  - 6
SP  - 666
EP  - 672
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Beer, Katharina
T1  - A Comparison of the circadian clock of highly social bees (\(Apis\) \(mellifera\)) and solitary bees (\(Osmia\) \(spec.\)): Circadian clock development, behavioral rhythms and neuroanatomical characterization of two central clock components (PER and PDF)
T1  - Ein Vergleich der Inneren Uhr von sozialen Bienen (\(Apis\) \(mellifera\)) und solitären Bienen (\(Osmia\) \(spec.\)): Entwicklung der circadianen Uhr, Verhaltensrhythmen und neuroanatomische Beschreibung von zwei zentralen Uhr Komponenten (PER und PDF)
N2  - Summary
Bees, like many other organisms, evolved an endogenous circadian clock, which enables them to foresee daily environmental changes and exactly time foraging flights to periods of floral resource availability. The social lifestyle of a honey bee colony has been shown to influence circadian behavior in nurse bees, which do not exhibit rhythmic behavior when they are nursing. On the other hand, forager bees display strong circadian rhythms. Solitary bees, like the mason bee, do not nurse their offspring and do not live in hive communities, but face the same daily environmental changes as honey bees. Besides their lifestyle mason and honey bees differ in their development and life history, because mason bees overwinter after eclosion as adults in their cocoons until they emerge in spring. Honey bees do not undergo diapause and have a relatively short development of a few weeks until they emerge. In my thesis, I present a comparison of the circadian clock of social honey bees (Apis mellifera) and solitary mason bees (Osmia bicornis and Osmia cornuta) on the neuroanatomical level and behavioral output level.
I firstly characterized in detail the localization of the circadian clock in the bee brain via the expression pattern of two clock components, namely the clock protein PERIOD (PER) and the neuropeptide Pigment Dispersing Factor (PDF), in the brain of honey bee and mason bee. PER is localized in lateral neuron clusters (which we called lateral neurons 1 and 2: LN1 and LN2) and dorsal neuron clusters (we called dorsal lateral neurons and dorsal neurons: DLN, DN), many glia cells and photoreceptor cells. This expression pattern is similar to the one in other insect species and indicates a common ground plan of clock cells among insects. In the LN2 neuron cluster with cell bodies located in the lateral brain, PER is co-expressed with PDF. These cells build a complex arborization network throughout the brain and provide the perfect structure to convey time information to brain centers, where complex behavior, e.g. sun-compass orientation and time memory, is controlled. The PDF arborizations centralize in a dense network (we named it anterio-lobular PDF hub: ALO) which is located in front of the lobula. In other insects, this fiber center is associated with the medulla (accessory medulla: AME). Few PDF cells build the ALO already in very early larval development and the cell number and complexity of the network grows throughout honey bee development. Thereby, dorsal regions are innervated first by PDF fibers and, in late larval development, the fibers grow laterally to the optic lobe and central brain. The overall expression pattern of PER and PDF are similar in adult social and solitary bees, but I found a few differences in the PDF network density in the posterior protocerebrum and the lamina, which may be associated with evolution of sociality in bees.
Secondly, I monitored activity rhythms, for which I developed and established a device to monitor locomotor activity rhythms of individual honey bees with contact to a mini colony in the laboratory. This revealed new aspects of social synchronization and survival of young bees with indirect social contact to the mini colony (no trophalaxis was possible). For mason bees, I established a method to monitor emergence and locomotor activity rhythms and I could show that circadian emergence rhythms are entrainable by daily temperature cycles. Furthermore, I present the first locomotor activity rhythms of solitary bees, which show strong circadian rhythms in their behavior right after emergence. Honey bees needed several days to develop circadian locomotor rhythms in my experiments. I hypothesized that honey bees do not emerge with a fully matured circadian system in the hive, while solitary bees, without the protection of a colony, would need a fully matured circadian clock right away after emergence. Several indices in published work and preliminary studies support my hypothesis and future studies on PDF expression in different developmental stages in solitary bees may provide hard evidence.
N2  - Zusammenfassung
Bienen, sowie viele andere Organismen, evolvierten eine innere circadiane Uhr, die es ihnen ermöglicht, tägliche Umweltveränderungen voraus zu sehen und ihre Foragierflüge zu Tageszeiten durchzuführen, wenn sie möglichst viele Blüten besuchen können. Es zeigte sich, dass der soziale Lebensstil der Honigbiene Einfluss auf das rhythmische Verhalten der Ammenbienen hat, die während der Brutpflege keinen täglichen Rhythmus im Verhalten aufweisen. Sammlerbienen auf der anderen Seite zeigen ein stark rhythmisches Verhalten. Solitäre Bienen, wie die Mauerbiene, betreiben keine Brutpflege und leben nicht in einer Staatengemeinschaft, aber sind den gleichen Umweltveränderungen ausgesetzt. Nicht nur Lebensstil, sondern auch Entwicklung und Lebenszyklus unterscheiden sich zwischen Honig- und Mauerbienen. Mauerbienen überwintern als adulte Insekten in einem Kokon bis sie im Frühjahr schlüpfen. Honigbienen durchleben keine Diapause und schlüpfen nach wenigen Wochen der Entwicklung im Bienenstock. In meiner Dissertation vergleiche ich die circadiane Uhr von sozialen Honigbienen (Apis mellifera) und solitären Mauerbienen (Osmia bicornis und Osmia cornuta) auf Ebene der Neuroanatomie und das durch die innere Uhr verursachte rhythmische Verhalten.
Erstens charakterisierte ich detailliert die Lage der circadianen Uhr im Gehirn von Honig- und Mauerbiene anhand des Expressionsmusters von zwei Uhrkomponenten. Diese sind das Uhrprotein PERIOD (PER) und das Neuropeptid Pigment Dispersing Factor (PDF). PER wird exprimiert in lateralen Neuronen-Gruppen (die wir laterale Neurone 1 und 2 nannten: LN1 und LN2) und dorsalen Neuronen-Gruppen (benannt dorsal laterale Neurone und dorsale Neurone: DLN und DN), sowie in vielen Gliazellen und Fotorezeptorzellen. Dieses Expressionsmuster liegt ähnlich in anderen Insektengruppen vor und deutet auf einen Grundbauplan der Inneren Uhr im Gehirn von Insekten hin. In der LN2 Neuronen-Gruppe, deren Zellkörper im lateralen Gehirn liegen, sind PER und PDF in den gleichen Zellen co-lokalisiert. Diese Zellen bilden ein komplexes Netzwerk aus Verzweigungen durch das gesamte Gehirn und liefern damit die perfekte Infrastruktur, um Zeitinformation an Gehirnregionen weiterzuleiten, die komplexe Verhaltensweisen, wie Sonnenkompass-Orientierung und Zeitgedächtnis, steuern. Alle PDF Neuriten laufen in einer anterior zur Lobula liegenden Region zusammen (sie wurde ALO, anterio-lobular PDF Knotenpunkt, genannt). Dieser Knotenpunkt ist in anderen Insekten mit der Medulla assoziiert und wird akzessorische Medulla (AME) genannt. Wenige PDF Zellen bilden bereits im frühen Larvalstadium diesen ALO und die Zellzahl sowie die Komplexität des Netzwerks wächst die gesamte Entwicklung der Honigbiene hindurch. Dabei werden zuerst die dorsalen Gehirnregionen von PDF Neuronen innerviert und in der späteren Larvalentwicklung wachsen die Neurite lateral in Richtung der optischen Loben und des Zentralgehirns. Das generelle Expressionsmuster von PER und PDF in adulten sozialen und solitären Bienen ähnelt sich stark, aber ich identifizierte kleine Unterschiede in der PDF Netzwerkdichte im posterioren Protocerebrum und in der Lamina. Diese könnten mit der Evolution von sozialen Bienen assoziiert sein.
Zweitens entwickelte und etablierte ich eine Methode, Lokomotionsrhythmen von individuellen Bienen im Labor aufzunehmen, die in Kontakt mit einem Miniaturvolk standen. Diese Methode enthüllte neue Aspekte der sozialen Synchronisation unter Honigbienen und des Überlebens von jungen Bienen, die indirekten sozialen Kontakt zu dem Miniaturvolk hatten (Trophalaxis war nicht möglich). Für Mauerbienen etablierte ich eine Methode Schlupf- und lokomotorische Aktivitätsrhythmik aufzuzeichnen und konnte damit zeigen, dass tägliche Rhythmen im Schlupf durch Synchronisation der circadianen Uhr in Mauerbienen durch Tagestemperatur-Zyklen erzielt werden kann. Des Weiteren präsentiere ich die ersten lokomotorischen Aktivitätsrhythmen von solitären Bienen, die sofort nach ihrem Schlupf einen starken circadianen Rhythmus im Verhalten aufwiesen. Honigbienen brauchten in meinen Experimenten mehrere Tage, um circadiane Rhythmen in Lokomotion zu entwickeln. Ich erstellte die Hypothese, dass Honigbienen zum Zeitpunkt des Schlupfes im Bienenvolk ein noch nicht vollständig ausgereiftes circadianes System besitzen, während solitäre Bienen, die ohne den Schutz eines Volkes sind, direkt nach dem Schlupf eine vollständig ausgereifte Uhr brauchen. Mehrere Hinweise in Publikationen und Vorversuchen unterstützen meine Hypothese. Zukünftige Studien der Entwicklung des PDF Neuronen-Netzwerkes in solitären Bienen unterschiedlicher Entwicklungsstufen könnten dies nachweisen.
KW  - Chronobiologie
KW  - circadian rhythms
KW  - honeybee
KW  - Mauerbiene
KW  - Neuroanatomie
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-159765
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jahed, Razieh Rafiei
A1  - Kavousi, Mohammad Reza
A1  - Farashiani, Mohammad Ebrahim
A1  - Sagheb-Talebi, Khosro
A1  - Babanezhad, Manoochehr
A1  - Courbaud, Benoit
A1  - Wirtz, Roland
A1  - Müller, Jörg
A1  - Larrieu, Laurent
T1  - A comparison of the formation rates and composition of tree-related microhabitats in beech-dominated primeval Carpathian and Hyrcanian forests
JF  - Forests
N2  - Primeval forests in the temperate zone exist only as a few remnants, but theses serve as important reference areas for conservation. As key habitats, tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) are of intense interest to forest ecologists, but little is known about their natural composition and dynamics in different tree species. Beech forms a major part of the temperate forests that extend from Europe, home to European beech Fagus sylvatica L. (Fs), eastward to Iran, where Oriental beech Fagus orientalis Lipsky (Fo) is the dominant species. In this study, we compared TreMs in primeval forests of both species, using data from Fo growing in 25 inventory plots throughout the Hyrcanian forest belt in Iran and from Fs growing in a 9 ha permanent plot in the Uholka Forest of Ukraine. TreMs based on 47 types and 11 subgroups were recorded. Beech trees in the Hyrcanian forest had a higher mean diameter at breast height (dbh) than beech trees in Uholka and contained twice as many TreMs per hectare. Although the mean richness of TreMs per TreM bearing tree was similar in the two species, on the basis of the comparison single trees in two groups (n = 405 vs. 2251), the composition of the TreMs clearly differed, as the proportions of rot holes, root-buttress concavities, and crown deadwood were higher in the Hyrcanian Forest, and those of bark losses, exposed heartwood, and burrs and cankers higher in Uholka Forest. Estimates of TreMs dynamics based on dbh and using Weibull models showed a significantly faster cumulative increase of TreMs in Fo, in which saturation occurred already in trees with a dbh of 70–80 cm. By contrast, the increase in TreMs in Fs was continuous. In both species, the probability density was highest at a dbh of about 30 cm, but was twice as high in Fo. Because of limitations of our study design, the reason behind observed differences of TreM formation and composition between regions remains unclear, as it could be either result of the tree species or the environment, or their interaction. However, the observed differences were more likely the result of differences in the environment than in the two tree species. Nevertheless, our findings demonstrate that the Hyrcanian Forest, recently designated as a natural heritage site in Iran, is unique, not only as a tertiary relict or due to its endemic trees, herbs and arthropods, but also because of its TreMs, which form a distinct and rich habitat for associated taxa, including endemic saproxylic species.
KW  - TreMs
KW  - Fagus orientalis
KW  - Fagus sylvatica
KW  - primeval forest
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200849
SN  - 1999-4907
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pauls, Dennis
A1  - Blechschmidt, Christine
A1  - Frantzmann, Felix
A1  - el Jundi, Basil
A1  - Selcho, Mareike
T1  - A comprehensive anatomical map of the peripheral octopaminergic/tyraminergic system of Drosophila melanogaster
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - The modulation of an animal’s behavior through external sensory stimuli, previous experience and its internal state is crucial to survive in a constantly changing environment. In most insects, octopamine (OA) and its precursor tyramine (TA) modulate a variety of physiological processes and behaviors by shifting the organism from a relaxed or dormant condition to a responsive, excited and alerted state. Even though OA/TA neurons of the central brain are described on single cell level in Drosophila melanogaster, the periphery was largely omitted from anatomical studies. Given that OA/TA is involved in behaviors like feeding, flying and locomotion, which highly depend on a variety of peripheral organs, it is necessary to study the peripheral connections of these neurons to get a complete picture of the OA/TA circuitry. We here describe the anatomy of this aminergic system in relation to peripheral tissues of the entire fly. OA/TA neurons arborize onto skeletal muscles all over the body and innervate reproductive organs, the heart, the corpora allata, and sensory organs in the antennae, legs, wings and halteres underlining their relevance in modulating complex behaviors.
KW  - neural circuits
KW  - peripheral nervous system
KW  - Drosophila melanogaster
Y1  - 2018
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-177412
VL  - 8
IS  - 15314
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sander, Bodo
A1  - Xu, Wenshan
A1  - Eilers, Martin
A1  - Popov, Nikita
A1  - Lorenz, Sonja
T1  - A conformational switch regulates the ubiquitin ligase HUWE1
JF  - eLife
N2  - The human ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 has key roles in tumorigenesis, yet it is unkown how its activity is regulated. We present the crystal structure of a C-terminal part of HUWE1, including the catalytic domain, and reveal an asymmetric auto-inhibited dimer. We show that HUWE1 dimerizes in solution and self-associates in cells, and that both occurs through the crystallographic dimer interface. We demonstrate that HUWE1 is inhibited in cells and that it can be activated by disruption of the dimer interface. We identify a conserved segment in HUWE1 that counteracts dimer formation by associating with the dimerization region intramolecularly. Our studies reveal, intriguingly, that the tumor suppressor p14ARF binds to this segment and may thus shift the conformational equilibrium of HUWE1 toward the inactive state. We propose a model, in which the activity of HUWE1 underlies conformational control in response to physiological cues—a mechanism that may be exploited for cancer therapy.
KW  - Medicine
KW  - Structural Biology
KW  - Molecular Biophysics
KW  - HUWE1
KW  - HECT Ligase
KW  - Ubiquitin
KW  - P14ARF
KW  - X-Ray Chrystallography
KW  - Enzyme Regulation
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-171862
VL  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Staiger, Christine
A1  - Cadot, Sidney
A1  - Kooter, Raul
A1  - Dittrich, Marcus
A1  - Müller, Tobias
A1  - Klau, Gunnar W.
A1  - Wessels, Lodewyk F. A.
T1  - A Critical Evaluation of Network and Pathway-Based Classifiers for Outcome Prediction in Breast Cancer
JF  - PLoS One
N2  - Recently, several classifiers that combine primary tumor data, like gene expression data, and secondary data sources, such as protein-protein interaction networks, have been proposed for predicting outcome in breast cancer. In these approaches, new composite features are typically constructed by aggregating the expression levels of several genes. The secondary data sources are employed to guide this aggregation. Although many studies claim that these approaches improve classification performance over single genes classifiers, the gain in performance is difficult to assess. This stems mainly from the fact that different breast cancer data sets and validation procedures are employed to assess the performance. Here we address these issues by employing a large cohort of six breast cancer data sets as benchmark set and by performing an unbiased evaluation of the classification accuracies of the different approaches. Contrary to previous claims, we find that composite feature classifiers do not outperform simple single genes classifiers. We investigate the effect of (1) the number of selected features; (2) the specific gene set from which features are selected; (3) the size of the training set and (4) the heterogeneity of the data set on the performance of composite feature and single genes classifiers. Strikingly, we find that randomization of secondary data sources, which destroys all biological information in these sources, does not result in a deterioration in performance of composite feature classifiers. Finally, we show that when a proper correction for gene set size is performed, the stability of single genes sets is similar to the stability of composite feature sets. Based on these results there is currently no reason to prefer prognostic classifiers based on composite features over single genes classifiers for predicting outcome in breast cancer.
KW  - modules
KW  - protein-interaction networks
KW  - expression signature
KW  - classification
KW  - set
KW  - metastasis
KW  - stability
KW  - survival
KW  - database
KW  - markers
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-131323
VL  - 7
IS  - 4
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Beer, Katharina
A1  - Joschinski, Jens
A1  - Sastre, Alazne Arrazola
A1  - Krauss, Jochen
A1  - Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte
T1  - A damping circadian clock drives weak oscillations in metabolism and locomotor activity of aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum)
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - Timing seasonal events, like reproduction or diapause, is crucial for the survival of many species. Global change causes phenologies worldwide to shift, which requires a mechanistic explanation of seasonal time measurement. Day length (photoperiod) is a reliable indicator of winter arrival, but it remains unclear how exactly species measure day length. A reference for time of day could be provided by a circadian clock, by an hourglass clock, or, as some newer models suggest, by a damped circadian clock. However, damping of clock outputs has so far been rarely observed. To study putative clock outputs of Acyrthosiphon pisum aphids, we raised individual nymphs on coloured artificial diet, and measured rhythms in metabolic activity in light-dark illumination cycles of 16:08 hours (LD) and constant conditions (DD). In addition, we kept individuals in a novel monitoring setup and measured locomotor activity. We found that A. pisum is day-active in LD, potentially with a bimodal distribution. In constant darkness rhythmicity of locomotor behaviour persisted in some individuals, but patterns were mostly complex with several predominant periods. Metabolic activity, on the other hand, damped quickly. A damped circadian clock, potentially driven by multiple oscillator populations, is the most likely explanation of our results.
KW  - circadian mechanisms
KW  - behavioural ecology
KW  - damped circadian clock
KW  - Acyrthosiphon pisum
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-170020
VL  - 7
IS  - 14906
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wech, Tobias
A1  - Ankenbrand, Markus Johannes
A1  - Bley, Thorsten Alexander
A1  - Heidenreich, Julius Frederik
T1  - A data-driven semantic segmentation model for direct cardiac functional analysis based on undersampled radial MR cine series
JF  - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
N2  - Purpose
Image acquisition and subsequent manual analysis of cardiac cine MRI is time-consuming. The purpose of this study was to train and evaluate a 3D artificial neural network for semantic segmentation of radially undersampled cardiac MRI to accelerate both scan time and postprocessing.

Methods
A database of Cartesian short-axis MR images of the heart (148,500 images, 484 examinations) was assembled from an openly accessible database and radial undersampling was simulated. A 3D U-Net architecture was pretrained for segmentation of undersampled spatiotemporal cine MRI. Transfer learning was then performed using samples from a second database, comprising 108 non-Cartesian radial cine series of the midventricular myocardium to optimize the performance for authentic data. The performance was evaluated for different levels of undersampling by the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) with respect to reference labels, as well as by deriving ventricular volumes and myocardial masses.

Results
Without transfer learning, the pretrained model performed moderately on true radial data [maximum number of projections tested, P = 196; DSC = 0.87 (left ventricle), DSC = 0.76 (myocardium), and DSC =0.64 (right ventricle)]. After transfer learning with authentic data, the predictions achieved human level even for high undersampling rates (P = 33, DSC = 0.95, 0.87, and 0.93) without significant difference compared with segmentations derived from fully sampled data.

Conclusion
A 3D U-Net architecture can be used for semantic segmentation of radially undersampled cine acquisitions, achieving a performance comparable with human experts in fully sampled data. This approach can jointly accelerate time-consuming cine image acquisition and cumbersome manual image analysis.
KW  - undersampling
KW  - cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)
KW  - deep learning
KW  - radial
KW  - semantic segmentation
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257616
VL  - 87
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gessler, Manfred
A1  - Thomas, G. H.
A1  - Couillin, P.
A1  - Junien, C.
A1  - McGillivray, B. C.
A1  - Hayden, M.
A1  - Jaschek, G.
A1  - Bruns, G. A.
T1  - A deletion map of the WAGR region on chromosome II
N2  - The WAGR (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation) region has been assigned to chromosome 11p13 on the basis of overlapping constitutional deletions found in affected individuals. We have utilized 31 DNA probes which map to the WAGR deletion region, together with six reference loci and 13 WAGR-related deletions, to subdivide this area into 16 intervals. Specific intervals have been correlated with phenotypic features, leading to the identification of individual subregions for the aniridia and Wilms tumor loci. Delineation, by specific probes, of multiple intervals above and below the critical region and of five intervals within the overlap area provides a framework map for molecular characterization of WAGR gene loci and of deletion boundary regions.
KW  - Biochemie
Y1  - 1989
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-59255
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Eisenhuth, Nicole
A1  - Vellmer, Tim
A1  - Rauh, Elisa T.
A1  - Butter, Falk
A1  - Janzen, Christian J.
T1  - A DOT1B/Ribonuclease H2 Protein Complex Is Involved in R-Loop Processing, Genomic Integrity, and Antigenic Variation in Trypanosoma brucei
JF  - mbio
N2  - The parasite Trypanosoma brucei periodically changes the expression of protective variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) to evade its host's immune sys-tem in a process known as antigenic variation. One route to change VSG expres-sion is the transcriptional activation of a previously silent VSG expression site (ES), a subtelomeric region containing the VSG genes. Homologous recombination of a different VSG from a large reservoir into the active ES represents another route. The conserved histone methyltransferase DOT1B is involved in transcriptional silencing of inactive ES and influences ES switching kinetics. The molecular machin-ery that enables DOT1B to execute these regulatory functions remains elusive, however. To better understand DOT1B-mediated regulatory processes, we purified DOT1B-associated proteins using complementary biochemical approaches. We iden-tified several novel DOT1B interactors. One of these was the RNase H2 complex, previously shown to resolve RNA-DNA hybrids, maintain genome integrity, and play a role in antigenic variation. Our study revealed that DOT1B depletion results in an increase in RNA-DNA hybrids, accumulation of DNA damage, and ES switch-ing events. Surprisingly, a similar pattern of VSG deregulation was observed in RNase H2 mutants. We propose that both proteins act together in resolving R-loops to ensure genome integrity and contribute to the tightly regulated process of anti-genic variation.
KW  - DOT1B
KW  - R-loop
KW  - antigenic variation
KW  - chromatin structure
KW  - genomic integrity
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260698
VL  - 12
IS  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Hackl, Thomas
T1  - A draft genome for the Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula : Evaluation of assembly strategies for a complex Genome – Development of novel approaches and bioinformatics solutions
T1  - Ein Genom für die Venus Fliegenfalle, Dionaea muscipula
N2  - The Venus flytrap, \textit{Dionaea muscipula}, with its carnivorous life-style and its highly
specialized snap-traps has fascinated biologist since the days of Charles Darwin. The
goal of the \textit{D. muscipula} genome project is to gain comprehensive insights into the
genomic landscape of this remarkable plant.

The genome of the diploid Venus flytrap with an estimated size between 2.6 Gbp to
3.0 Gbp is comparatively large and comprises more than 70 % of repetitive regions.
Sequencing and assembly of genomes of this scale are even with state-of-the-art
technology and software challenging. Initial sequencing and assembly of the genome
was performed by the BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute) in 2011 resulting in a 3.7 Gbp
draft assembly. I started my work with thorough assessment of the delivered assembly
and data. My analysis showed that the BGI assembly is highly fragmented and
at the same time artificially inflated due to overassembly of repetitive sequences.
Furthermore, it only comprises about on third of the expected genes in full-length,
rendering it inadequate for downstream analysis.

In the following I sought to optimize the sequencing and assembly strategy to obtain
an assembly of higher completeness and contiguity by improving data quality and
assembly procedure and by developing tailored bioinformatics tools. Issues with
technical biases and high levels of heterogeneity in the original data set were solved
by sequencing additional short read libraries from high quality non-polymorphic DNA
samples. To address contiguity and heterozygosity I examined numerous alternative
assembly software packages and strategies and eventually identified ALLPATHS-LG
as the most suited program for assembling the data at hand. Moreover, by utilizing
digital normalization to reduce repetitive reads, I was able to substantially reduce
computational demands while at the same time significantly increasing contiguity of
the assembly.

To improve repeat resolution and scaffolding, I started to explore the novel PacBio
long read sequencing technology. Raw PacBio reads exhibit high error rates of 15 %
impeding their use for assembly. To overcome this issue, I developed the PacBio
hybrid correction pipeline proovread (Hackl et al., 2014). proovread uses high
coverage Illumina read data in an iterative mapping-based consensus procedure to
identify and remove errors present in raw PacBio reads. In terms of sensitivity and
accuracy, proovread outperforms existing software. In contrast to other correction
programs, which are incapable of handling data sets of the size of D. muscipula
project, proovread’s flexible design allows for the efficient distribution of work load on high-performance computing clusters, thus enabling the correction of the Venus
flytrap PacBio data set.

Next to the assembly process itself, also the assessment of the large de novo draft
assemblies, particularly with respect to coverage by available sequencing data, is
difficult. While typical evaluation procedures rely on computationally extensive
mapping approaches, I developed and implemented a set of tools that utilize k-mer
coverage and derived values to efficiently compute coverage landscapes of large-scale
assemblies and in addition allow for automated visualization of the of the obtained
information in comprehensive plots.

Using the developed tools to analyze preliminary assemblies and by combining my
findings regarding optimizations of the assembly process, I was ultimately able to
generate a high quality draft assembly for D. muscipula. I further refined the assembly
by removal of redundant contigs resulting from separate assembly of heterozygous
regions and additional scaffolding and gapclosing using corrected PacBio data. The
final draft assembly comprises 86 × 10 3 scaffolds and has a total size of 1.45 Gbp.
The difference to the estimated genomes size is well explained by collapsed repeats.
At the same time, the assembly exhibits high fractions full-length gene models,
corroborating the interpretation that the obtained draft assembly provides a complete
and comprehensive reference for further exploration of the fascinating biology of the
Venus flytrap.
N2  - Die Venus Fliegenfalle, D. muscipula fasziniert aufgrund ihres karnivoren Lebensstil
und ihrer hochspezialisierten Fallen Biologen schon seit der Zeit von Charles Darwins.
Das Ziel des D. muscipula Genomprojekts ist es, neue Einblicke in den genomischen
Grundlagen dieser besonderen Pflanze zu gewinnen.
Die diploide Venus Fliegenfalle verfügt mit eine geschätzten Größe von 2.6 bp
bis 3Gbp über ein vergleichsweise großes Genom, das zudem zu über 70% aus
repetitiven Regionen besteht. Sequenzierung und Assembly von Genomen dieser
Größenordnung stellen selbst mit neusten technischen und informatischen Methoden
eine große Herausforderung dar. Zum ersten mal sequenziert und assembliert wurde
das Genom 2011 durch das BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute). Meine Arbeit am
Genom der Fliegenfalle begann mit der Analyse des 3.7Gbp großen Assemblies,
welches wir vom BGI erhalten haben. Mit meinen Untersuchungen könnte ich zeigen,
dass das Assembly stark fragmentiert und gleichzeitig durch überrepräsentierte
repetitive Sequenzen stark aufgebläht ist. Darüberhinaus beinhaltet es gerade ein
mal eine drittel der erwarteten Gene in Volllänge, wodurch es für die weiter Analyse
ungeeignet ist.
In meiner weiteren Arbeit habe ich mich daher darauf konzentriert, unsere Sequenzierungsund
Assemblierungsstrategie zu verfeinern um ein stärker zusammenhängendes und
vollständigeres Assembly zu erhalten. Dafür war es notwendig die Qualität der Sequenzierdaten
so wie den Assemblierungsprozess selbst zu optimieren, und Programme zu
entwickeln, die eine Verbesserung der Daten und eine Analyse der Zwischenergebnisse
ermöglichen. So wurden etwa zur neue Bibliotheken von nicht-polymorphen
DNA-Proben sequenziert um die Heterogenität im Datensatz zu verringern. Um die
Kontinuität der Assemblies zu verbessern und Probleme mit der Heterozygosität der
Daten zu lösen habe ich eine Reihe verschiedener Assemblierungsprogramme getestet.
Dabei zeigte sich, dass das Programm ALLPATHS-LG am besten geeignet ist für die
Assemblierung von D. muscipula Daten. Durch den Einsatz von digitaler Normalisierung
konnte ich den Bedarf an Computerressourcen für einzelne Assemblierungen
deutlich reduzieren und gleichzeitig die Kontinuität der Assemblies deutlich erhöhen.
Zur besseren Auflösung repetitiver Strukturen im Genom, habe ich auf eine neu
entwickelte Sequenziertechnologie von PacBio zurückgegriffen, die deutlich länger
Sequenzen erzeugt. Um die neuen Daten trotz ihrer hohen Fehlerrate von 15%
für Assemblierungen nutzen zu können, entwickelte ich das Korrekturprogramm
proovread (Hackl et al., 2014). proovread nutzt kurze Illumina Sequenzen mit hoher Sequenziertiefe um innerhalb eines iterativen Prozess Fehler in PacBio Daten ausfindig
zu machen und zu korrigieren. Das Programm erreicht dabei eine bessere Genauigkeit
und eine höhere Sensitivität als vergleichbare Software. Darüber hinaus erlaubt sein
flexibles Design auch Datensätze in der Größenordung des Fliegenfallengenoms
effizient auf großen Rechenclustern zu bearbeiten.
Neben dem Assemblierungsprozess an sich, stellt auch die Analyse von Assemblies
großer Genome eine Herausforderung dar. Klassische Methoden basieren oft auf
der rechenintensiven Berechnung von Alignments zwischen Sequenzierdaten und
Assembly. Um vergleichbare Analysen deutlich schneller generieren zu können, habe
ich Programme entwickelt die auf der Auswertung von k-mer Häufigkeiten beruhen,
und die gewonnenen Ergebnisse in übersichtlichen Graphiken darstellen.
Durch Kombination der so gewonnenen Einblicke und der verschiedenen Erkenntnisse
bezüglich der Optimierung es Assemblierungsprozesses, war es mir am Ende
möglich, ein Assembly von hoher Qualität für das Genom der Venus Fliegenfalle
zu rekonstruieren. Dieses habe ich weiter verfeinert, unter anderem durch das Entfernen
heterozygoter Sequenzen und durch das Flicken von Lücken mit Hilfe von
PacBio Daten. Das so erstelle Assembly besteht aus 86 × 103 Sequenzen und hat
eine Gesamtgröße von 1.45Gbp. Der Unterschied zur erwarteten Genomgröße
lässt sich dabei gut durch kollabierte repetitive Regionen erklären. Gleichzeitig untermauert
ein hoher Anteil an Volllängengenen im Assembly die Interpretation, dass das
vorliegende Assembly eine vollständiges und umfassendes Abbild der D. muscipula
Genom zeigt, und dass es sich damit als gute Grundlage für weitere Untersuchungen
zur Biologie dieser faszinierenden Pflanze eignet.
KW  - Venusfliegenfalle
KW  - genome assembly
KW  - repeats
KW  - heterozygosity
KW  - pacbio correction
KW  - Genom
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133149
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Adolfi, Mateus C.
A1  - Du, Kang
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Cabau, Cédric
A1  - Zahm, Margot
A1  - Klopp, Christophe
A1  - Feron, Romain
A1  - Paixão, Rômulo V.
A1  - Varela, Eduardo S.
A1  - de Almeida, Fernanda L.
A1  - de Oliveira, Marcos A.
A1  - Nóbrega, Rafael H.
A1  - Lopez-Roques, Céline
A1  - Iampietro, Carole
A1  - Lluch, Jérôme
A1  - Kloas, Werner
A1  - Wuertz, Sven
A1  - Schaefer, Fabian
A1  - Stöck, Matthias
A1  - Guiguen, Yann
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - A duplicated copy of id2b is an unusual sex-determining candidate gene on the Y chromosome of arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - Arapaima gigas is one of the largest freshwater fish species of high ecological and economic importance. Overfishing and habitat destruction are severe threats to the remaining wild populations. By incorporating a chromosomal Hi-C contact map, we improved the arapaima genome assembly to chromosome-level, revealing an unexpected high degree of chromosome rearrangements during evolution of the bonytongues (Osteoglossiformes). Combining this new assembly with pool-sequencing of male and female genomes, we identified id2bbY, a duplicated copy of the inhibitor of DNA binding 2b (id2b) gene on the Y chromosome as candidate male sex-determining gene. A PCR-test for id2bbY was developed, demonstrating that this gene is a reliable male-specific marker for genotyping. Expression analyses showed that this gene is expressed in juvenile male gonads. Its paralog, id2ba, exhibits a male-biased expression in immature gonads. Transcriptome analyses and protein structure predictions confirm id2bbY as a prime candidate for the master sex-determiner. Acting through the TGF beta signaling pathway, id2bbY from arapaima would provide the first evidence for a link of this family of transcriptional regulators to sex determination. Our study broadens our current understanding about the evolution of sex determination genetic networks and provide a tool for improving arapaima aquaculture for commercial and conservation purposes.
KW  - evolutionary genetics
KW  - genetic markers
KW  - genome
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265672
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Degenkolbe, Elisa
A1  - König, Jana
A1  - Zimmer, Julia
A1  - Walther, Maria
A1  - Reißner, Carsten
A1  - Nickel, Joachim
A1  - Plöger, Frank
A1  - Raspopovic, Jelena
A1  - Sharpe, James
A1  - Dathe, Katharina
A1  - Hecht, Jacqueline T.
A1  - Mundlos, Stefan
A1  - Doelken, Sandra C.
A1  - Seemann, Petra
T1  - A GDF5 Point Mutation Strikes Twice - Causing BDA1 and SYNS2
JF  - PLOS Genetics
N2  - Growth and Differentiation Factor 5 (GDF5) is a secreted growth factor that belongs to the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) family and plays a pivotal role during limb development. GDF5 is a susceptibility gene for osteoarthritis (OA) and mutations in GDF5 are associated with a wide variety of skeletal malformations ranging from complex syndromes such as acromesomelic chondrodysplasias to isolated forms of brachydactylies or multiple synostoses syndrome 2 (SYNS2). Here, we report on a family with an autosomal dominant inherited combination of SYNS2 and additional brachydactyly type A1 (BDA1) caused by a single point mutation in GDF5 (p.W414R). Functional studies, including chondrogenesis assays with primary mesenchymal cells, luciferase reporter gene assays and Surface Plasmon Resonance analysis, of the GDF5 W-414R variant in comparison to other GDF5 mutations associated with isolated BDA1 (p.R399C) or SYNS2 (p.E491K) revealed a dual pathomechanism characterized by a gain-and loss-of-function at the same time. On the one hand insensitivity to the main GDF5 antagonist NOGGIN (NOG) leads to a GDF5 gain of function and subsequent SYNS2 phenotype. Whereas on the other hand, a reduced signaling activity, specifically via the BMP receptor type IA (BMPR1A), is likely responsible for the BDA1 phenotype. These results demonstrate that one mutation in the overlapping interface of antagonist and receptor binding site in GDF5 can lead to a GDF5 variant with pathophysiological relevance for both, BDA1 and SYNS2 development. Consequently, our study assembles another part of the molecular puzzle of how loss and gain of function mutations in GDF5 affect bone development in hands and feet resulting in specific types of brachydactyly and SYNS2. These novel insights into the biology of GDF5 might also provide further clues on the pathophysiology of OA.
KW  - dominant-negative mutatio
KW  - morphogenetic protein receptors
KW  - brachtydacyly type A2
KW  - BMP
KW  - gene encoding noggin
KW  - growth factor beta
KW  - signal tranduction
KW  - molecular mechanism
KW  - crystal-structure
KW  - differentiation
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-127556
SN  - 1553-7404
VL  - 9
IS  - 10
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Brehm, Klaus
A1  - Haas, Albert
A1  - Goebel, Werner
A1  - Kreft, Jürgen
T1  - A gene encoding a superoxide dismutase of the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes
N2  - A gene (Imsod) encoding superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) of the facultative intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, was cloned by functional complementation of an SOD-deficient Escherichia coli mutant. The nucleotide sequence was determined and the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence (202 aa) showed close similarity to manganese-containing SOD's from other organisms. Subunits of the recombinant L. monocytogenes SOD (re-SOD) and of both E. coli SODs formed enzymatically active hybrid enzymes in vivo. DNA/DNA-hybridization experiments showed that this type of recombinant re-sod gene is conserved within the genus Listeria.
KW  - Biologie
Y1  - 1992
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60515
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - El-Masri, Harun
T1  - A genetic analysis of somitogenesis in the Medaka (Oryzias latipes)
T1  - Genetische Analyse der Somitogenese in Medaka (Oryzias latipes)
N2  - Somites are repeated epithelial segments that are generated in a rhythmic manner from the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) in the embryonic tailbud. Later, they differentiate into skeletal muscle, cartilage and dermis. Somitogenesis is regulated by a complex interplay of different pathways. Notch/Delta signaling is one of the pathways well characterized in zebrafish through mutants affected in its different components. Previous work in mouse, chicken and zebrafish has shown that also additional components are required during somitogenesis, most importantly through an FGF and Retinoic acid (RA) gradient, as well as Wnt signaling. However, no zebrafish mutants with defects in these pathways showing specific somite malformations are described. This was explained by functional redundancies among related genes that have resulted from a whole genome duplication which occurred in a teleost fish ancestor 350 million years ago. As distinct duplicates exist in different teleost species, a large scale mutagenesis screen in the medaka (Oryzias latipes) has been performed successfully in Kyoto, Japan. I analyzed nine of the isolated medaka mutants that show variable aspects of somitic phenotypes. This includes a complete or partial loss of somite boundaries (e.g. bms and sne), somites with irregular sizes and shapes (e.g. krz and fsl) or partially fused and enlarged somites (e.g. dpk). Although some of these medaka mutants share characteristics with previously described zebrafish somite mutants, most of the mutants represent unique phenotypes, not obtained in the zebrafish screens. In-situ hybridization analyses with marker genes implicated in the segmentation clock (e.g. her7), establishment of anterior-posterior (A-P) polarity (e.g. mesp) and differentiation of somites (e.g. myf5, lfng) revealed that the medaka mutants can be separated into two classes. Class I shows defects in tailbud formation and PSM prepatterning, and lateron somite boundary formation was impaired in these mutants. A unique member of this class with a novel phenotype is the doppelkorn (dpk) mutant that has single fused or enlarged somites. This phenotype has not been reported till now in zebrafish somite mutants. In-situ analyses on dpk showed that stabilization of the cyclically expressed somitogenesis clock genes must be affected in this mutant. This is accompanied by a disrupted regulation of A-P polarity genes like mesp. This suggests that dpk is a mutant deficient in the wave front, which is necessary for the down-regulation of oscillating genes in the anterior PSM. Furthermore, as the initiation of oscillation of all three cyclic her genes was unaffected in dpk embryos, I could exclude that this mutant in affected in the Notch/Delta pathway. Another mutant that belongs to this class is the samidare (sam) mutant. Morphologically, sam mutants are similar to zebrafish after eight (aei). In both cases, the first 7-9 somites are formed properly, but after this somite formation ceases. Different to the situation in aei, sam mutant embryos presented an additional defect in the mid-hindbrain boundary (MHB) region. Similar MHB defects were described in the zebrafish fgf8 mutant acerebellar (ace). In ace zebrafish mutant, somites were only slightly defective, although FGF signaling has been shown to be important for somite formation in chicken, mouse and zebrafish. This was explained by functional redundancy between fgf8 and fgf24 ligands in the tailbud of zebrafish. Thus, it is interesting to suggest that the sam mutant, based on the parallel defects in somites and MHB, is a potential member of the FGF signaling pathway muatnts. It was shown that FGF plays a crucial role during MHB formation in medaka. In addition, I showed that fgf8 acts non-redundantly during tailbud formation and somitogenesis in medaka. Furthermore, I showed that FGF signaling regulates somite size also in medaka and that fgfr1 is the only FGF receptor expressed in the tailbud and somites. In class II medaka somite mutants, PSM prepatterning appears normal, whereas A-P polarity, boundary formation, epithelialization or the later differentiation of somites appears to be affected. Such mutants have not been isolated so far in zebrafish, mice or chicken. Therefore, medaka class II somite mutants seem to be a novel group of mutants that opens new perspectives to analyze A-P polarity regulation, determination and boundary formation in the presence of a normally functioning clock in the PSM. Identifying the encoding genes for all analyzed medaka somite mutants will contribute to the understanding of the molecular interactions of different signaling pathways involved during somitogenesis, and is expected to result in the identification of new components.
N2  - Die Somitogenese stellt einen entscheidenden Prozess bei der Entwicklung von Wirbeltierembryonen dar. Somiten sind transiente Strukturen, die sich im Verlauf der Embryonalentwicklung zu Skelettmuskulatur, Dermis und Wirbelkörper differenzieren. Somiten entstehen in einem sich regelmäßig wiederholenden Zyklus aus Stammzellen des präsomitischen Mesoderms (PSM), einer Wachstumszone am caudalen Ende des Embryos. Ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Somitogenese ist ein molekularer Oszillator, das so genannte „Segmentierungs-Uhrwerk“. Die periodische Segmentierung des präsomitischen Mesoderms wird reguliert durch eine Reihe komplexer Interaktionen von unterschiedlichen Signale wegen. Der Notch/Delta Signalweg spielt dabei eine zentrale Bedeutung, da hierbei Komponenten entdeckt wurden, die während der Somitogenese zyklisch im PSM exprimiert werden. Außer dem Notch/Delta Signalweg spielen auch ein FGF und Retinolsäure Gradient, sowie Wnt Signale eine wichtige Rolle bei der Somitogenese. Trotz mehrerer Mutagenese Screens im Zebrafisch wurden bislang keine Mutanten im FGF oder Wnt Signalweg entdeckt, die einen spezifischen Somiten Defekt besitzen. Die wurde durch eine funktionelle Redundanz unterschiedlicher Gene erklärt, die durch eine Duplikation im Genom von Teleostieren vor 350 Millionen Jahren enstanden ist. Da unterschiedliche Duplikate in verschiedenen Fischspezies existieren, wurde in den letzten Jahren ein grosser Mutagenese Screen bei Medaka (Oryzias latipes) in Kyoto, Japan durchgeführt. In meiner Arbeit habe ich neue Somitogenese Mutanten aus dieser Screen isoliert und Phänotypisch charakterisiert. Die neun isolierten Mutanten zeigten unterschiedliche Somiten Phänotypen. Einige Mutanten hatten wenige oder gar keine Somitengrenzen (z.B bms oder sne), andere hatten unregelmäßige Somiten Formen (z.B. krz oder fsl) oder unterschiedlich große Somiten (z.B dpk). Manche dieser Medaka wiesen Änlichkeiten Mutanten zu im Zebrafisch beschriebenen Somiten Mutanten auf. Die Mehrzahl der Mutanten zeigten jedoch Phänotypen, die bis jetzt noch nicht in Zebrafisch Screens gefunden worden. In-Situ Analysen mit Hilfe unterschiedlicher, neu isolierter Somitenmarker, wie z.B. her7 einem Bestandteil des molekularen Oszillators, mesp einem anterior-posterioren Gen oder den Somitendifferenzierungsgenen lfng oder myf5 erlaubten, die Medaka Mutanten in zwei unterschiedliche Gruppen zuzuordnen. Gruppe I zeigt Defekte in der Bildung der Schwanzknospe und der Musterbildung im PSM. Ein besonderes Beispiel dieser Gruppe ist die Mutante doppelkorn (dpk), die einen bislang nicht beschriebenen Somitenphänotyp besitzt. In-situ Analysen von dpk zeigten, dass zyklische Gene im anterioren PSM dieser Mutante nicht stabilisiert werden und auch A-P Polaritätsgene fehlerhaft reguliert werden. Das deutet darauf hin, dass in der dpk Mutante ein Faktor der sogenannten „Wavefront“ betroffen sein könnte, der wichtig ist für die Regulation von oszillierenden Genen im anterioren PSM ist. Ich konnte zeigen, daß der wichtige Notch/Delta Signalweg in dieser Mutante nicht betroffen ist, weil alle unterschiedlichen zyklischen Gene, her1, her5 und her7, eine normale dynamische initiation ihrer Expression zeigten. Gruppe II Mutanten zeigen Defekte bei der Bildung der Somitengrenzen und Epithelialisierung der Somiten trotz normales, Musterbildung im PSM. Solche Mutanten wurden bislang weder in Zebrafisch, noch in Maus oder Hühnchen gefunden. Deshalb sollten nach der molekularen Identifiezierung der mutierten Gene neue Faktoren erhalten werden, die vor allem für die Regulation später Somitogenese-phasen wichtig sind.
KW  - Japankärpfling
KW  - Somit
KW  - Genanalyse
KW  - Somiten
KW  - Präsomitisches Mesoderm
KW  - Medaka
KW  - FGF Signalweg
KW  - Notch/Delta Signalweg
KW  - Somites
KW  - Presomitic meoderm
KW  - Medaka
KW  - FGF pathway
KW  - Notch/Delta pathway
Y1  - 2005
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-14515
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Xu, Jiajia
T1  - A high-complexity lentiviral shRNA screen identifies synthetic lethal interactions with deregulated N-Myc in neuroblastoma cells
T1  - Ein hoch-Komplexität Genom-weit RNAi Screen für synthetisch letale Interaktion mit dereguliertem N-Myc in Neuroblastomzellen
N2  - In contrast to c-Myc, a deregulated expression of the MYCN gene is restricted to human neuroendocrine tumours. In most cases, the excessive activity of N-Myc results from a MYCN amplification. In neuroblastoma, amplification of MYCN is a predictor of poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. The inability to target the N-Myc protein directly necessitates the search for alternative targets. This project aimed at identifying genes specifically required for growth and survival of cells that express high levels of N-Myc using high-throughput shRNA screening combined with next generation sequencing. The identification and analysis of these genes will shed light on functional interaction partners of N-Myc.
We screened a shRNA library containing 18,327 shRNAs and identified 148 shRNAs, which were selectively depleted in the presence of active N-Myc. In addition, shRNAs targeting genes that are involved in p53 and ARF turnover and apoptosis were depleted in the cell population during the screen. These processes are known to affect N-Myc-mediated apoptosis. Consequently, these results biologically validated the screen. The 148 shRNAs that showed a significant synthetic lethal interaction with high levels of N-Myc expression were further analysed using the bioinformatics program DAVID. We found an enrichment of shRNAs that target genes involved in specific biological processes. For example, we validated synthetic lethal interactions for genes such as, THOC1, NUP153 and LARP7, which play an important role in the process of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription elongation. We also validated genes that are involved in the neddylation pathway.
In the screen we identified Cullin 3, which is a component of the BTB-CUL3-Rbx1 ubiquitin ligase that is involved in the turnover of Cyclin E. Depletion of cullin 3 and activation of N-Myc was found to synergistically increase Cyclin E expression to supraphysiological levels, inducing S-phase arrest and a strong DNA damage response.
Together with results from a proteomics analysis of N-Myc associated proteins, our results lead us to the following hypothesis: In a neuroblastoma cell, the high levels of N-Myc result in a conflict between RNA polymerase II and the replication machinery during S-phase. The newly identified interaction partners of N- Myc are required to solve this conflict. Consequently, loss of the interaction leads to a massive DNA damage and the induction of apoptosis. In addition, inhibition or depletion of the essential components of the neddylation pathway also results in an unresolvable problem during S-phase.
N2  - 6.2 Zusammenfassung
Im Gegensatz zu c-Myc findet man eine Deregulation von N-Myc nur in einer begrenzten Anzahl maligner Tumore die neuroektodermalen Ursprungs sind. Die übermäßige Aktivität ist dabei fast immer durch eine genomische Amplifikation von N-Myc begründet. Im Neuroblastom korreliert eine MYCN-Amplifikation mit einer schlechten Prognose. Da es auf Grund einer fehlenden katalytischen Domäne nicht möglich ist N-Myc direkt zu inhibieren, ist die Suche nach alternativen Targets notwendig. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war es neue Gene zu identifizieren, die notwendig für das Wachstum und Überleben von MYCN amplifizierten Zellen sind. Dies wurde durch eine Kombination von Hochdurchsatz-RNAi-Screens und Next-Generation-Sequenzierung erreicht.
Durch das Screenen einer shRNA-Bibliothek, die insgesamt 18327 shRNAs beinhaltet, konnten 148 shRNAs identifiziert werden, die selektiv nachteilig für das Überleben N-Myc überexpremierender Zellen sind. Die statistische Auswertung der Ergebnisse des Screens zeigte zusätzlich eine Anreichung von shRNAs gegen Gene, die p53-und ARF-abhängig Apoptose vermitteln. Da es bekannt ist, dass diese Gene in der N-Myc-vermittelten Apoptose involviert sind, konnte dadurch der Screen validiert werden. Die weitere Auswertung mit dem bioinformatischen Programm DAVID ergab, dass unter den 148 als synthetisch letal identifizierten shRNAs solche angereichert waren, die gegen Gene spezifischer biologischer Prozesse gerichtet sind. Zum einen wurden Gene wie THOC1, NUP153 und LARP7 validiert, die eine Rolle im Prozeß der Elongation der RNA Polymerase II spielen. Zum anderen konnten Gene validiert werden die einen Beitrag bei der Neddylierung von Proteinen leisten. 
Durch die Depletion von Cullin 3, ein Bestandteil des BTB-CUL3-Rbx1 Ubiquitin-Ligase-Komplexes, der am Abbau von Cyclin E beteiligt ist, konnte gezeigt werden, dass zusammen mit der Aktivierung von N-Myc eine supraphysiologische Erhöhung von Cyclin E induziert wird. Dies führt zu einem S-Phase Arrest in der Zelle, der die DNA-Schadens-Signalkaskade auslöst.
Zusammen mit den Ergebnissen einer Proteomanalyse, bei der neue N-Myc-assoziierte Proteine identifiziert wurden, konnte folgende Hypothese aufgestellt werden:
In einer Neuroblastomzelle helfen diese neuen Interaktionspartner den durch die N-Myc Überexpression in der S-phase entstehenden Konflikt zwischen RNA-Polymerase II und Replikationsmaschinerie zu lösen. Der Verlust dieser Interaktion führt zu einer massiven Schädigung der DNA, worauf in der Zelle Apoptose ausgelöst wird. Des Weiteren führen auch die Inhibition oder Ausschaltung wesentlicher Komponenten des Neddylierungs-Signalwegs zu unlösbaren Problemen in der S-Phase des Zellzyklus.
KW  - Neuroblastom
KW  - synthetic lethality
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - cul3 ring ligase
KW  - replicative stress
KW  - N-Myc
KW  - Deregulierung
KW  - RNS-Interferenz
KW  - synthetische Letalität
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-103157
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schmid, Benjamin
A1  - Schindelin, Johannes
A1  - Cardona, Albert
A1  - Longair, Martin
A1  - Heisenberg, Martin
T1  - A high-level 3D visualization API for Java and ImageJ
N2  - Background: Current imaging methods such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Confocal microscopy, Electron Microscopy (EM) or Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (SPIM) yield three-dimensional (3D) data sets in need of appropriate computational methods for their analysis. The reconstruction, segmentation and registration are best approached from the 3D representation of the data set. Results: Here we present a platform-independent framework based on Java and Java 3D for accelerated rendering of biological images. Our framework is seamlessly integrated into ImageJ, a free image processing package with a vast collection of community-developed biological image analysis tools. Our framework enriches the ImageJ software libraries with methods that greatly reduce the complexity of developing image analysis tools in an interactive 3D visualization environment. In particular, we provide high-level access to volume rendering, volume editing, surface extraction, and image annotation. The ability to rely on a library that removes the low-level details enables concentrating software development efforts on the algorithm implementation parts. Conclusions: Our framework enables biomedical image software development to be built with 3D visualization capabilities with very little effort. We offer the source code and convenient binary packages along with extensive documentation at http://3dviewer.neurofly.de.
KW  - Visualisierung
KW  - Java 3D
KW  - ImageJ
KW  - framework
Y1  - 2010
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-67851
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Latifi, Hooman
A1  - Holzwarth, Stefanie
A1  - Skidmore, Andrew
A1  - Brůna, Josef
A1  - Červenka, Jaroslav
A1  - Darvishzadeh, Roshanak
A1  - Hais, Martin
A1  - Heiden, Uta
A1  - Homolová, Lucie
A1  - Krzystek, Peter
A1  - Schneider, Thomas
A1  - Starý, Martin
A1  - Wang, Tiejun
A1  - Müller, Jörg
A1  - Heurich, Marco
T1  - A laboratory for conceiving Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs)—The ‘Data pool initiative for the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem’
JF  - Methods in Ecology and Evolution
N2  - Effects of climate change‐induced events on forest ecosystem dynamics of composition, function and structure call for increased long‐term, interdisciplinary and integrated research on biodiversity indicators, in particular within strictly protected areas with extensive non‐intervention zones. The long‐established concept of forest supersites generally relies on long‐term funds from national agencies and goes beyond the logistic and financial capabilities of state‐ or region‐wide protected area administrations, universities and research institutes.
We introduce the concept of data pools as a smaller‐scale, user‐driven and reasonable alternative to co‐develop remote sensing and forest ecosystem science to validated products, biodiversity indicators and management plans. We demonstrate this concept with the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem Data Pool, which has been established as an interdisciplinary, international data pool within the strictly protected Bavarian Forest and Šumava National Parks and currently comprises 10 active partners. We demonstrate how the structure and impact of the data pool differs from comparable cases.
We assessed the international influence and visibility of the data pool with the help of a systematic literature search and a brief analysis of the results. Results primarily suggest an increase in the impact and visibility of published material during the life span of the data pool, with highest visibilities achieved by research conducted on leaf traits, vegetation phenology and 3D‐based forest inventory.
We conclude that the data pool results in an efficient contribution to the concept of global biodiversity observatory by evolving towards a training platform, functioning as a pool of data and algorithms, directly communicating with management for implementation and providing test fields for feasibility studies on earth observation missions.
KW  - bohemian forest ecosystem
KW  - data pool
KW  - forest ecosystem science
KW  - remote sensing
KW  - remote sensing‐enabled essential biodiversity variables
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-262743
VL  - 12
IS  - 11
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Breitenbach, Tim
T1  - A mathematical optimal control based approach to pharmacological modulation with regulatory networks and external stimuli
T1  - Ein auf mathematischer Optimalkontrolle basierender Ansatz für pharmakologische Modulation mit regulatorischen Netzwerken und externen Stimuli
N2  - In this work models for molecular networks consisting of ordinary differential equations are extended by terms that include the interaction of the corresponding molecular network with the environment that the molecular network is embedded in. These terms model the effects of the external stimuli on the molecular network. The usability of this extension is demonstrated with a model of a circadian clock that is extended with certain terms and reproduces  data from several experiments at the same time. 

Once the model including external stimuli is set up, a framework is developed in order to calculate external stimuli that have a predefined desired effect on the molecular network. For this purpose the task of finding appropriate external stimuli is formulated as a mathematical optimal control problem for which in order to solve it a lot of mathematical methods are available. Several methods are discussed and worked out in order to calculate a solution for the corresponding optimal control problem. The application of the framework to find pharmacological intervention points or effective drug combinations is pointed out and discussed. Furthermore the framework is related to existing network analysis tools and their combination for network analysis in order to find dedicated external stimuli is discussed.

The total framework is verified with biological examples by comparing the calculated results with data from literature. For this purpose platelet aggregation is investigated based on a corresponding gene regulatory network and associated receptors are detected. Furthermore a transition from one to another type of T-helper cell is analyzed in a tumor setting where missing agents are calculated to induce the corresponding switch in vitro. Next a gene regulatory network of a myocardiocyte is investigated where it is shown how the presented framework can be used to compare different treatment strategies with respect to their beneficial effects and side effects quantitatively. Moreover a constitutively activated signaling pathway, which thus causes maleficent effects, is modeled and intervention points with corresponding treatment strategies are determined that steer the gene regulatory network from a pathological expression pattern to physiological one again.
N2  - In dieser Arbeit werden Modelle für molekulare Netzwerke bestehend aus gewöhnlichen Differentialgleichungen durch Terme erweitert, die die Wechselwirkung zwischen dem entsprechenden molekularen Netzwerk und der Umgebung berücksichtigen, in die das molekulare Netzwerk eingebettet ist. Diese Terme modellieren die Effekte von externen Stimuli auf das molekulare Netzwerk. Die Nutzbarkeit dieser Erweiterung wird mit einem Modell der circadianen Uhr demonstriert, das mit gewissen Termen erweitert wird und Daten von mehreren verschiedenen Experimenten zugleich reproduziert. 

Sobald das Modell einschließlich der externen Stimuli aufgestellt ist, wird eine Grundstruktur entwickelt um externe Stimuli zu berechnen, die einen gewünschten vordefinierte Effekt auf das molekulare Netzwerk haben. Zu diesem Zweck wird die Aufgabe, geeignete externe Stimuli zu finden, als ein mathematisches optimales Steuerungsproblem formuliert, für welches, um es zu lösen, viele mathematische Methoden zur Verfügung stehen. Verschiedene Methoden werden diskutiert und ausgearbeitet um eine Lösung für das entsprechende optimale Steuerungsproblem zu berechnen. Auf die Anwendung dieser Grundstruktur pharmakologische Interventionspunkte oder effektive Wirkstoffkombinationen zu finden, wird hingewiesen und diese diskutiert. Weiterhin wird diese Grundstruktur in Bezug zu existierenden Netzwerkanalysewerkzeugen gesetzt und ihre Kombination für die Netzwerkanalyse diskutiert um zweckbestimmte externe Stimuli zu finden.

Die gesamte Grundstruktur wird mit biologischen Beispielen verifiziert, indem man die berechneten Ergebnisse mit Daten aus der Literatur vergleicht. Zu diesem Zweck wird die Blutplättchenaggregation untersucht basierend auf einem entsprechenden genregulatorischen Netzwerk und damit assoziierte Rezeptoren werden detektiert. Weiterhin wird ein Wechsel von einem T-Helfer Zelltyp in einen anderen in einer Tumorumgebung analysiert, wobei fehlende Agenzien berechnet werden um den entsprechenden Wechsel in vitro zu induzieren. Als nächstes wird ein genregulatorisches Netzwerk eines Myokardiozyten untersucht, wobei gezeigt wird wie die präsentierte Grundstruktur genutzt werden kann um verschiedene Behandlungsstrategien in Bezug auf ihre nutzbringenden Wirkungen und Nebenwirkungen quantitativ zu vergleichen. Darüber hinaus wird ein konstitutiv aktivierter Signalweg, der deshalb unerwünschte Effekte verursacht, modelliert und Interventionspunkte mit entsprechenden Behandlungsstrategien werden bestimmt, die das genregulatorische Netzwerk wieder von einem pathologischen Expressionsmuster zu einem physiologischen steuern.
KW  - Bioinformatik
KW  - systematic drug targeting
KW  - optimal drug combination
KW  - disease modelling
KW  - external stimuli
KW  - intervention point analyzing
KW  - Molekülsystem
KW  - Reiz
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-174368
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Nazzal, Yousef
A1  - Howari, Fares M.
A1  - Yaslam, Aya
A1  - Iqbal, Jibran
A1  - Maloukh, Lina
A1  - Ambika, Lakshmi Kesari
A1  - Al-Taani, Ahmed A.
A1  - Ali, Ijaz
A1  - Othman, Eman M.
A1  - Jamal, Arshad
A1  - Naseem, Muhammad
T1  - A methodological review of tools that assess dust microbiomes, metatranscriptomes and the particulate chemistry of indoor dust
JF  - Atmosphere
N2  - Indoor house dust is a blend of organic and inorganic materials, upon which diverse microbial communities such as viruses, bacteria and fungi reside. Adequate moisture in the indoor environment helps microbial communities multiply fast. The outdoor air and materials that are brought into the buildings by airflow, sandstorms, animals pets and house occupants endow the indoor dust particles with extra features that impact human health. Assessment of the health effects of indoor dust particles, the type of indoor microbial inoculants and the secreted enzymes by indoor insects as allergens merit detailed investigation. Here, we discuss the applications of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology which is used to assess microbial diversity and abundance of the indoor dust environments. Likewise, the applications of NGS are discussed to monitor the gene expression profiles of indoor human occupants or their surrogate cellular models when exposed to aqueous solution of collected indoor dust samples. We also highlight the detection methods of dust allergens and analytical procedures that quantify the chemical nature of indoor particulate matter with a potential impact on human health. Our review is thus unique in advocating the applications of interdisciplinary approaches that comprehensively assess the health effects due to bad air quality in built environments.
KW  - indoor dust
KW  - allergens
KW  - metagenomics
KW  - particulate matter
KW  - microbiomes
KW  - transcriptomes
KW  - health effects
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-285957
SN  - 2073-4433
VL  - 13
IS  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rother, Lisa
A1  - Kraft, Nadine
A1  - Smith, Dylan B.
A1  - El Jundi, Basil
A1  - Gill, Richard J.
A1  - Pfeiffer, Keram
T1  - A micro-CT-based standard brain atlas of the bumblebee
JF  - Cell and Tissue Research
N2  - In recent years, bumblebees have become a prominent insect model organism for a variety of biological disciplines, particularly to investigate learning behaviors as well as visual performance. Understanding these behaviors and their underlying neurobiological principles requires a clear understanding of brain anatomy. Furthermore, to be able to compare neuronal branching patterns across individuals, a common framework is required, which has led to the development of 3D standard brain atlases in most of the neurobiological insect model species. Yet, no bumblebee 3D standard brain atlas has been generated. Here we present a brain atlas for the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans as a source for the raw data sets, rather than traditional confocal microscopy, to produce the first ever micro-CT-based insect brain atlas. We illustrate the advantages of the micro-CT technique, namely, identical native resolution in the three cardinal planes and 3D structure being better preserved. Our Bombus terrestris brain atlas consists of 30 neuropils reconstructed from ten individual worker bees, with micro-CT allowing us to segment neuropils completely intact, including the lamina, which is a tissue structure often damaged when dissecting for immunolabeling. Our brain atlas can serve as a platform to facilitate future neuroscience studies in bumblebees and illustrates the advantages of micro-CT for specific applications in insect neuroanatomy.
KW  - neuropils
KW  - Bombus terrestris
KW  - insect standard brain atlas
KW  - iterative shape averaging
KW  - reconstruction
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-267783
SN  - 1432-0878
VL  - 386
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - INPR
A1  - Dandekar, Thomas
T1  - A modified inflation cosmology relying on qubit-crystallization: rare qubit interactions trigger qubit ensemble growth and crystallization into “real” bit-ensembles and emergent time
N2  - In a modified inflation scenario we replace the “big bang” by a condensation event in an eternal all-compassing big ocean of free qubits in our modified cosmology. Interactions of qubits in the qubit ocean are rare. If they happen, they provide a nucleus for a new universe as the qubits become decoherent and freeze-out into defined bit ensembles. Second, we replace inflation by a crystallization event triggered by the nucleus of interacting qubits to which rapidly more and more qubits attach (like in everyday crystal growth) – the crystal unit cell guarantees same symmetries everywhere. Hence, the textbook inflation scenario to explain the same laws of nature in our domain is replaced by the crystal unit cell of the crystal formed. We give here only the perspective or outline of this modified inflation theory, as the detailed mathematical physics behind this has still to be formulated and described.
Interacting qubits solidify, quantum entropy decreases (but increases in the ocean around). The interacting qubits form a rapidly growing domain where the n**m states become separated ensemble states, rising long-range forces stop ultimately further growth. After that very early events, standard cosmology with the hot fireball model takes over. Our theory agrees well with lack of inflation traces in cosmic background measurements, but more importantly can explain well by such a type of cosmological crystallization instead of inflation the early creation of large-scale structure of voids and filaments, supercluster formation, galaxy formation, and the dominance of matter: no annihilation of antimatter necessary, rather the unit cell of our crystal universe has a matter handedness avoiding anti-matter.
We prove a triggering of qubit interactions can only be 1,2,4 or 8-dimensional (agrees with E8 symmetry of our universe). Repulsive forces at ultrashort distances result from quantization, long-range forces limit crystal growth. Crystals come and go in the qubit ocean. This selects for the ability to lay seeds for new crystals, for self-organization and life-friendliness. 
The phase space of the crystal agrees with the standard model of the basic four forces for n quanta. It includes all possible ensemble combinations of their quantum states m, a total of n**m states. Neighbor states reach according to transition possibilities (S-matrix) with emergent time from entropic ensemble gradients. However, this means that in our four dimensions there is only one bit overlap to neighbor states left (almost solid, only below h dash liquidity left). However, the E8 symmetry of heterotic string theory has six rolled-up, small dimensions which help to keep the qubit crystal together and will never expand.
Finally, we give first energy estimates for free qubits vs bound qubits, misplacements in the qubit crystal and entropy increase during qubit decoherence / crystal formation. Scalar fields for color interaction and gravity derive from the permeating qubit-interaction field in the crystal. Hence, vacuum energy gets low inside the qubit crystal. Condensed mathematics may advantageously help to model free (many states denote the same qubit) and bound qubits in phase space.
KW  - qubit
KW  - cosmology
KW  - decoherence
KW  - crystallization
KW  - emergent time
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-321777
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ye, Mingyu
A1  - Wilhelm, Martina
A1  - Gentschev, Ivaylo
A1  - Szalay, Aladár
T1  - A modified limiting dilution method for monoclonal stable cell line selection using a real-time fluorescence imaging system: A practical workflow and advanced applications
JF  - Methods and Protocols
N2  - Stable cell lines are widely used in laboratory research and pharmaceutical industry. They are mainly applied in recombinant protein and antibody productions, gene function studies, drug screens, toxicity assessments, and for cancer therapy investigation. There are two types of cell lines, polyclonal and monoclonal origin, that differ regarding their homogeneity and heterogeneity. Generating a high-quality stable cell line, which can grow continuously and carry a stable genetic modification without alteration is very important for most studies, because polyclonal cell lines of multicellular origin can be highly variable and unstable and lead to inconclusive experimental results. The most commonly used technologies of single cell originate monoclonal stable cell isolation in laboratory are fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) sorting and limiting dilution cloning. Here, we describe a modified limiting dilution method of monoclonal stable cell line selection using the real-time fluorescence imaging system IncuCyte\(^®\)S3.
KW  - monoclonal stable cell
KW  - limiting dilution cloning
KW  - ncuCyte\(^®\)S3
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228896
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tomaszkiewicz, Marta
A1  - Chalopin, Domitille
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
A1  - Galiana, Delphine
A1  - Volff, Jean-Nicolas
T1  - A multicopy Y-chromosomal SGNH hydrolase gene expressed in the testis of the platyfish has been captured and mobilized by a Helitron transposon
JF  - BMC Genetics
N2  - Background: Teleost fish present a high diversity of sex determination systems, with possible frequent evolutionary turnover of sex chromosomes and sex-determining genes. In order to identify genes involved in male sex determination and differentiation in the platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus, bacterial artificial chromosome contigs from the sex-determining region differentiating the Y from the X chromosome have been assembled and analyzed. 
Results: A novel three-copy gene called teximY (for testis-expressed in Xiphophorus maculatus on the Y) was identified on the Y but not on the X chromosome. A highly related sequence called texim1, probably at the origin of the Y-linked genes, as well as three more divergent texim genes were detected in (pseudo) autosomal regions of the platyfish genome. Texim genes, for which no functional data are available so far in any organism, encode predicted esterases/lipases with a SGNH hydrolase domain. Texim proteins are related to proteins from very different origins, including proteins encoded by animal CR1 retrotransposons, animal platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases (PAFah) and bacterial hydrolases. Texim gene distribution is patchy in animals. Texim sequences were detected in several fish species including killifish, medaka, pufferfish, sea bass, cod and gar, but not in zebrafish. Texim-like genes are also present in Oikopleura (urochordate), Amphioxus (cephalochordate) and sea urchin (echinoderm) but absent from mammals and other tetrapods. Interestingly, texim genes are associated with a Helitron transposon in different fish species but not in urochordates, cephalochordates and echinoderms, suggesting capture and mobilization of an ancestral texim gene in the bony fish lineage. RT-qPCR analyses showed that Y-linked teximY genes are preferentially expressed in testis, with expression at late stages of spermatogenesis (late spermatids and spermatozeugmata). 
Conclusions: These observations suggest either that TeximY proteins play a role in Helitron transposition in the male germ line in fish, or that texim genes are spermatogenesis genes mobilized and spread by transposable elements in fish genomes.
KW  - sex determination
KW  - testis
KW  - Y chromosome
KW  - rolling-circle transposons
KW  - factor acetylhydrolase activity
KW  - platelet activation factor
KW  - xiphophorus maculatus
KW  - oryzias-latipes
KW  - sequence alignment
KW  - DM-domain gene
KW  - sex-determining region
KW  - evolution
KW  - fish
KW  - SGNH hydrolase
KW  - helitron
KW  - transposition
KW  - platyfish
KW  - sex chromosomes
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-116746
VL  - 15
IS  - 44
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Baur, Stefanie
A1  - Rautenberg, Maren
A1  - Faulstich, Manuela
A1  - Grau, Timo
A1  - Severin, Yannik
A1  - Unger, Clemens
A1  - Hoffmann, Wolfgang H.
A1  - Rudel, Thomas
A1  - Autenrieth, Ingo B.
A1  - Weidenmaier, Christopher
T1  - A Nasal Epithelial Receptor for Staphylococcus aureus WTA Governs Adhesion to Epithelial Cells and Modulates Nasal Colonization
JF  - PLOS PATHOGENS
N2  - Nasal colonization is a major risk factor for S. aureus infections. The mechanisms responsible for colonization are still not well understood and involve several factors on the host and the bacterial side. One key factor is the cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) of S. aureus, which governs direct interactions with nasal epithelial surfaces. We report here the first receptor for the cell wall glycopolymer WTA on nasal epithelial cells. In several assay systems this type F-scavenger receptor, termed SREC-I, bound WTA in a charge dependent manner and mediated adhesion to nasal epithelial cells in vitro. The impact of WTA and SREC-I interaction on epithelial adhesion was especially pronounced under shear stress, which resembles the conditions found in the nasal cavity. Most importantly, we demonstrate here a key role of the WTA-receptor interaction in a cotton rat model of nasal colonization. When we inhibited WTA mediated adhesion with a SREC-I antibody, nasal colonization in the animal model was strongly reduced at the early onset of colonization. More importantly, colonization stayed low over an extended period of 6 days. Therefore we propose targeting of this glycopolymer-receptor interaction as a novel strategy to prevent or control S. aureus nasal colonization.
KW  - SREC-I
KW  - clumping factor-B
KW  - scavender receptor
KW  - teichoic acids
KW  - surface proteins
KW  - cotton rats
KW  - carriage
KW  - determinant
KW  - infections
KW  - expression
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-116280
SN  - 1553-7374
VL  - 10
IS  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Maschwitz, Ulrich
A1  - Fiala, Brigitte
A1  - Linsenmair, K. Eduard
T1  - A new ant-tree from SE Asia: Zanthoxylum myriacanthum (Rutaceae), the Thorny Ivy-Rue
N2  - Zanthoxylum myriacanthum, a small Rutaceous tree growing mainly in secondary hill forests in SE Asia, is a true myrmecophyte. It possesses stem domatia in the form of hollow branches with slitlike openings. Branch hollows and entrance slits are produced by the plant itself through pith degene~.tion ?u.d growth proceSses. If the entrance is not kept open by ants it closes again by growth ol the surrounding tissue after some time. The domatia are colonized opportunistic ally by different arboreous ants, e.g. Crematogaster and Campono tus. Additionally many small extrafloral nectaries are found on the leaflets of Zanthoxylum myriacanthum. Judging from herbarium studies and literature records at least four more true ant trees are found in the genus Zanthoxylum namely Z. rhetsa in SE Asia, Z. conspersipunctatum, Z. pluviatile and Z. vinkii in New Guinea. We could not confirm ant inhabitation in Drypetes pendula (Euphorbiaceae) on the Malay Peninsula, which has also been recorded to be an anttree.
Y1  - 1992
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-42967
SN  - 0025-1291
ER  - 
TY  - RPRT
A1  - Dandekar, Thomas
T1  - A new cosmology of a crystallization process (decoherence) from the surrounding quantum soup provides heuristics to unify general relativity and quantum physics by solid state physics
T1  - Eine neue Kosmologie eines Kristallisationsprozesses  (Dekohärenz) vom umgebenden Quantenschaum bietet Heuristiken, um allgemeine Relativitätstheorie und Quantenphysik durch Festkörperphysik zu vereinen
N2  - We explore a cosmology where the Big Bang singularity is replaced by a condensation event of interacting strings. We study the transition from an uncontrolled, chaotic soup (“before”) to a clearly interacting “real world”. Cosmological inflation scenarios do not fit current observations and are avoided. Instead, long-range interactions inside this crystallization event limit growth and crystal symmetries ensure the same laws of nature and basic symmetries over our domain. Tiny mis-arrangements present nuclei of superclusters and galaxies and crystal structure leads to the arrangement of dark (halo regions) and normal matter (galaxy nuclei) so convenient for galaxy formation.  Crystals come and go, allowing an evolutionary cosmology where entropic forces from the quantum soup “outside” of the crystal try to dissolve it. These would correspond to dark energy and leads to a big rip scenario in 70 Gy. Preference of crystals with optimal growth and most condensation nuclei for the next generation of crystals may select for multiple self-organizing processes within the crystal,  explaining “fine-tuning” of the local “laws of nature” (the symmetry relations formed within the crystal, its “unit cell”) to be particular favorable for self-organizing processes including life or even conscious observers in our universe. 
Independent of cosmology, a crystallization event may explain quantum-decoherence in general: The fact, that in our macroscopic everyday world we only see one reality. This contrasts strongly with the quantum world where you have coherence, a superposition of all quantum states. We suggest that a “real world” (so our everyday macroscopic world) happens only in our domain, i.e. inside a crystal. “Outside” of our domain and our observable universe there is the quantum soup of boiling quantum foam and superposition of all possibilities. In our crystallized world the vacuum no longer boils but is cooled down by the crystallization event and hence is 10**20 smaller, exactly as observed in our everyday world. As we live in a “solid” state, within a crystal, the different quanta which build our world have all their different states nicely separated. This theory postulates there are only n quanta and m states available for them (there is no Everett-like ever splitting multiverse after each decision). In the solid state we live in, there is decoherence, the states are nicely separated. The arrow of entropy for each edge of the crystal forms one fate, one worldline or clear development of a world, while the layers of the crystal are different system states. 
Some mathematical leads from loop quantum gravity point to required interactions and potentials. A complete mathematical treatment of this unified theory is far too demanding currently. Interaction potentials for strings or membranes of any dimension allow a solid state of quanta, so allowing decoherence in our observed world are challenging to calculate. However, if we introduce here the heuristic that any type of physical interaction of strings corresponds just to a type of calculation, there is already since 1898 the Hurwitz theorem showing that then only 1D, 2D, 4D and 8D (octonions) allow complex or hypercomplex number calculations. No other hypercomplex numbers and hence dimensions or symmetries are possible to allow calculations without yielding divisions by zero. However, the richest solution allowed by the Hurwitz theorem, octonions, is actually the observed symmetry of our universe, E8.   
KW  - Kosmologie
KW  - cosmology
KW  - Hurwitz-Theorem
KW  - Quantenschleifen-Gravitation
KW  - Verschränkung
KW  - Qubits
KW  - Hurwitz-Theorem
KW  - loop quantum gravity
KW  - entanglement
KW  - Qubits
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230769
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Beer, Katharina
A1  - Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf
A1  - Härtel, Stephan
A1  - Helfrich-Förster, Charlotte
T1  - A new device for monitoring individual activity rhythms of honey bees reveals critical effects of the social environment on behavior
JF  - Journal of Comparative Physiology A
N2  - Chronobiological studies of individual activity rhythms in social insects can be constrained by the artificial isolation of individuals from their social context. We present a new experimental set-up that simultaneously measures the temperature rhythm in a queen-less but brood raising mini colony and the walking activity rhythms of singly kept honey bees that have indirect social contact with it. Our approach enables monitoring of individual bees in the social context of a mini colony under controlled laboratory conditions. In a pilot experiment, we show that social contact with the mini colony improves the survival of monitored young individuals and affects locomotor activity patterns of young and old bees. When exposed to conflicting Zeitgebers consisting of a light-dark (LD) cycle that is phase-delayed with respect to the mini colony rhythm, rhythms of young and old bees are socially synchronized with the mini colony rhythm, whereas isolated bees synchronize to the LD cycle. We conclude that the social environment is a stronger Zeitgeber than the LD cycle and that our new experimental set-up is well suited for studying the mechanisms of social entrainment in honey bees.
KW  - Social entrainment
KW  - Foragers
KW  - Nurses
KW  - Locomotor activity
KW  - Temperature rhythms
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-188030
VL  - 202
IS  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Walter, Thomas
A1  - Degen, Jacqueline
A1  - Pfeiffer, Keram
A1  - Stöckl, Anna
A1  - Montenegro, Sergio
A1  - Degen, Tobias
T1  - A new innovative real-time tracking method for flying insects applicable under natural conditions
JF  - BMC Zoology
N2  - Background
Sixty percent of all species are insects, yet despite global efforts to monitor animal movement patterns, insects are continuously underrepresented. This striking difference between species richness and the number of species monitored is not due to a lack of interest but rather to the lack of technical solutions. Often the accuracy and speed of established tracking methods is not high enough to record behavior and react to it experimentally in real-time, which applies in particular to small flying animals.

Results
Our new method of real-time tracking relates to frequencies of solar radiation which are almost completely absorbed by traveling through the atmosphere. For tracking, photoluminescent tags with a peak emission (1400 nm), which lays in such a region of strong absorption through the atmosphere, were attached to the animals. The photoluminescent properties of passivated lead sulphide quantum dots were responsible for the emission of light by the tags and provide a superb signal-to noise ratio. We developed prototype markers with a weight of 12.5 mg and a diameter of 5 mm. Furthermore, we developed a short wave infrared detection system which can record and determine the position of an animal in a heterogeneous environment with a delay smaller than 10 ms. With this method we were able to track tagged bumblebees as well as hawk moths in a flight arena that was placed outside on a natural meadow.

Conclusion
Our new method eliminates the necessity of a constant or predictable environment for many experimental setups. Furthermore, we postulate that the developed matrix-detector mounted to a multicopter will enable tracking of small flying insects, over medium range distances (>1000m) in the near future because: a) the matrix-detector equipped with an 70 mm interchangeable lens weighs less than 380 g, b) it evaluates the position of an animal in real-time and c) it can directly control and communicate with electronic devices.
KW  - natural environment
KW  - insect tracking
KW  - real-time
KW  - movement ecology
KW  - heterogeneous background
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265716
VL  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
A1  - Schröder, Johannes Horst
T1  - A new species of the genus Xiphophorus Heckel 1848, endemic to northern Coahuila, Mexico (Pisces: Poeciliidae)
N2  - Xiphophorus meyeri n. sp. is described as an endemic to Muzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico. It appears to be the northernmost species of the genus. The new species is related to X. couchianus and X. gordoni, but differs morphologically from those by dorsal fin ray number, by the expression of some gonopodial features and most markedly by the appearance of macromelanophores or tr-melanophores.
KW  - Schwertkräpfling
KW  - Coahuila
Y1  - 1987
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-87117
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dandekar, Thomas
A1  - Argos, Patrick
T1  - A novel heterodimeric cysteine protease is required for interleukin 1ß processing in monocytes
N2  - No abstract available
Y1  - 1992
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-29986
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schramm, Sabine
A1  - Fraune, Johanna
A1  - Naumann, Ronald
A1  - Hernandez-Hernandez, Abrahan
A1  - Höög, Christer
A1  - Cooke, Howard J.
A1  - Alsheimer, Manfred
A1  - Benavente, Ricardo
T1  - A Novel Mouse Synaptonemal Complex Protein Is Essential for Loading of Central Element Proteins, Recombination, and Fertility
N2  - The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a proteinaceous, meiosis-specific structure that is highly conserved in evolution. During meiosis, the SC mediates synapsis of homologous chromosomes. It is essential for proper recombination and segregation of homologous chromosomes, and therefore for genome haploidization. Mutations in human SC genes can cause infertility. In order to gain a better understanding of the process of SC assembly in a model system that would be relevant for humans, we are investigating meiosis in mice. Here, we report on a newly identified component of the murine SC, which we named SYCE3. SYCE3 is strongly conserved among mammals and localizes to the central element (CE) of the SC. By generating a Syce3 knockout mouse, we found that SYCE3 is required for fertility in both sexes. Loss of SYCE3 blocks synapsis initiation and results in meiotic arrest. In the absence of SYCE3, initiation of meiotic recombination appears to be normal, but its progression is severely impaired resulting in complete absence of MLH1 foci, which are presumed markers of crossovers in wild-type meiocytes. In the process of SC assembly, SYCE3 is required downstream of transverse filament protein SYCP1, but upstream of the other previously described CE–specific proteins. We conclude that SYCE3 enables chromosome loading of the other CE–specific proteins, which in turn would promote synapsis between homologous chromosomes.
KW  - Maus
KW  - Genetik
KW  - Cytologie
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68895
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Vellmer, Tim
A1  - Hartleb, Laura
A1  - Fradera Sola, Albert
A1  - Kramer, Susanne
A1  - Meyer-Natus, Elisabeth
A1  - Butter, Falk
A1  - Janzen, Christian J.
T1  - A novel SNF2 ATPase complex in Trypanosoma brucei with a role in H2A.Z-mediated chromatin remodelling
JF  - PLoS Pathogens
N2  - A cascade of histone acetylation events with subsequent incorporation of a histone H2A variant plays an essential part in transcription regulation in various model organisms. A key player in this cascade is the chromatin remodelling complex SWR1, which replaces the canonical histone H2A with its variant H2A.Z. Transcriptional regulation of polycistronic transcription units in the unicellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei has been shown to be highly dependent on acetylation of H2A.Z, which is mediated by the histone-acetyltransferase HAT2. The chromatin remodelling complex which mediates H2A.Z incorporation is not known and an SWR1 orthologue in trypanosomes has not yet been reported. In this study, we identified and characterised an SWR1-like remodeller complex in T. brucei that is responsible for Pol II-dependent transcriptional regulation. Bioinformatic analysis of potential SNF2 DEAD/Box helicases, the key component of SWR1 complexes, identified a 1211 amino acids-long protein that exhibits key structural characteristics of the SWR1 subfamily. Systematic protein-protein interaction analysis revealed the existence of a novel complex exhibiting key features of an SWR1-like chromatin remodeller. RNAi-mediated depletion of the ATPase subunit of this complex resulted in a significant reduction of H2A.Z incorporation at transcription start sites and a subsequent decrease of steady-state mRNA levels. Furthermore, depletion of SWR1 and RNA-polymerase II (Pol II) caused massive chromatin condensation. The potential function of several proteins associated with the SWR1-like complex and with HAT2, the key factor of H2A.Z incorporation, is discussed.
KW  - Trypanosoma
KW  - chromatin
KW  - histones
KW  - RNA interference
KW  - Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
KW  - luciferase
KW  - transcriptional control
KW  - nucleosomes
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-301372
VL  - 18
IS  - 6
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scheer, Ulrich
T1  - A novel type of chromatin organization in lampbrush chromosomes of Pleurodeles waltlii: visualization of clusters of tandemly repeated, very short transcriptional units
N2  - A novel chromatin configuration is described in lampbrush chromosomes of Pleurodeles waltlii oocytes which is different from transcriptionally inactive chromatin as weil as from the various forms of transcribed chromatin hitherto described. This novel type of chromatin is not arranged in Christmas tree-Iike configurations of densely packed lateral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) fibriIs but is characterized by a periodic alternating pattern of thick and thin regions which occur in clusters 01 some 10,000 repeats. Each thickened unit with an average length of 45 nm contains two c10sely spaced particles, the putative RNA polymerases, and each thickened unit is separated from the next one by a beaded chromatin spacer with a length of about 80 nm. This chromatin spacer contains on average two particles of approximately 14 nm in diameter, assumed to be nucleosomes. The thickened regions are interpreted to represent short transcriptional units containing approximately 130 base pairs of DNA which are separated from each other by nontranscribed spacers of 240-400 base pairs of DNA. The possibility is discussed that these transcriptional units represent 5S rRNA or tRNA genes.
KW  - Lampbrush chromosomes
KW  - Amphibian oocytes
KW  - Transcription units
KW  - Electron microscopy
Y1  - 1982
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-41087
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scharmann, Mathias
A1  - Thornham, Daniel G.
A1  - Grafe, T. Ulmar
A1  - Federle, Walter
T1  - A Novel Type of Nutritional Ant-Plant Interaction: Ant Partners of Carnivorous Pitcher Plants Prevent Nutrient Export by Dipteran Pitcher Infauna
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Many plants combat herbivore and pathogen attack indirectly by attracting predators of their herbivores. Here we describe a novel type of insect-plant interaction where a carnivorous plant uses such an indirect defence to prevent nutrient loss to kleptoparasites. The ant Camponotus schmitzi is an obligate inhabitant of the carnivorous pitcher plant Nepenthes bicalcarata in Borneo. It has recently been suggested that this ant-plant interaction is a nutritional mutualism, but the detailed mechanisms and the origin of the ant-derived nutrient supply have remained unexplained. We confirm that N. bicalcarata host plant leaves naturally have an elevated \(^{15}N/^{14}N\) stable isotope abundance ratio (\(\delta ^{15}N\)) when colonised by C. schmitzi. This indicates that a higher proportion of the plants' nitrogen is insect-derived when C. schmitzi ants are present (ca. 100%, vs. 77% in uncolonised plants) and that more nitrogen is available to them. We demonstrated direct flux of nutrients from the ants to the host plant in a \(^{15}N\) pulse-chase experiment. As C. schmitzi ants only feed on nectar and pitcher contents of their host, the elevated foliar \(\delta ^{15}N\) cannot be explained by classic ant-feeding (myrmecotrophy) but must originate from a higher efficiency of the pitcher traps. We discovered that C. schmitzi ants not only increase the pitchers' capture efficiency by keeping the pitchers' trapping surfaces clean, but they also reduce nutrient loss from the pitchers by predating dipteran pitcher inhabitants (infauna). Consequently, nutrients the pitchers would have otherwise lost via emerging flies become available as ant colony waste. The plants' prey is therefore conserved by the ants. The interaction between C. schmitzi, N. bicalcarata and dipteran pitcher infauna represents a new type of mutualism where animals mitigate the damage by nutrient thieves to a plant.
KW  - community
KW  - alternative trapping strategies
KW  - leaf-litter utilization
KW  - nepenthes bicalcarata
KW  - camponotus schmitzi
KW  - food web
KW  - epiphytic fern
KW  - nitrogen
KW  - prey
KW  - rafflesiana
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130952
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Franke, Werner W.
A1  - Kleinschmidt, Jürgen A.
A1  - Spring, Herbert
A1  - Krohne, Georg
A1  - Grund, Christine
A1  - Trendelenburg, Michael F.
A1  - Stöhr, Michael
A1  - Scheer, Ulrich
T1  - A nucleolar skeleton of protein filaments demonstrated in amplified nucleoli of Xenopus laevis
N2  - The amplified, extrachromosomal nucleoli of Xenopus oocytes contain a meshwork of -4-nm-thick filaments, which are densely coiled into higher-order fibrils of diameter 30-40 nm and are resistant to treatment with high- and low-salt concentrations, nucleases (DNase I, pancreatic RNase, micrococcal nuclease), sulfhydryl agents, and various nonionic detergents. This filamentous "skeleton" has been prepared from manually isolated nuclear contents and nucleoli as weil as from nucleoli isolated by fluorescence-activated particle sorting. The nucleolar skeletons are observed in light and electron microscopy and are characterized by ravels of filaments that are especially densely packed in the nucleolar cortex. DNA as weil as RNA are not constituents of this structure, and precursors to ribosomal RNAs are completely removed from the extraction-resistant filaments by treatment with high-salt buffer or RN ase. Fractions of isolated nucleolar skeletons show specific enrichment of an acidic major protein of 145,000 mol wt and an apparent pi value of -6.15, accompanied in some preparations by various amounts of minor proteins. The demonstration of this skeletal structure in "free" extrachromosomal nucleoli excludes the problem of contaminations by nonnucleolar material such as perinucleolar heterochromatin normally encountered in studies of nucleoli from somatic cells. It is suggested that this insoluble protein filament complex forms a skeleton specific to the nucleolus proper that is different from other extraction-resistant components of the nucleus such as matrix and lamina and is involved in the spatial organization of the nucleolar chromatin and its transcriptional products. In studies of the organization of the interphase nucleus, considerable progress has been made in the elucidation of the arrangement of chromatin components and transcriptional products. However, relatively little is known about the composition and function of another category of nuclear structures, the nonnucleoproteinaceous architectural components that are insoluble in solutions of low and high ionic strength, despite numerous studies dedicated to this problem. Such structures include (a) the nuclear envelope and its pore complexes (I, 15, 18, 23, 37, 41), (b) a peripheral layer of insoluble protein ("lamina"; I, 15, 22, 23, 59), (e) certain skeletal proteins related to the chromosome "scaffold" described by Laemmli and coworkers (see references 2 and 3), and (d) ill-defined tangles of fibrillar structures of the nuclear interior that are collectively described as residual "matrix" (6, 21 ; for reviews, see references THE JOURNAL OF CEll BrOlOGY . VOlUME 90 AUGUST 1981 289-299 © The RockefeIler University Press · 0021 -9525/ 81 / 08/ 0289/ 11 $1 .00 4 and 12). The latter, preparatively
Y1  - 1981
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-33130
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gessler, Manfred
A1  - Bruns, G. A. P.
T1  - A physical map around the WAGR complex on the short arm of chromosome 11
N2  - A long-range restriction map of part of the short arm of ehromosome 11 including the WAGR region has been constructed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and a number of infrequently cutting restriction enzymes. A total of 15.4 Mbp has been mapped in detall, extending from proximal 11p14 to the distal part of 11p12. The map localizes 35 different DNA probes and reveals at least nine areas with features eharaeteristle of BTF islands, some of which may be candidates for the different loci underlying the phenotype of the WAGR syndrome. This map will furthermore allow screening of DNA from individuals with WAGR-related phenotypes and from Wilms tumors for associated chromosomal rearrangements.
KW  - Biochemie
Y1  - 1989
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-59246
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Däullary, Thomas
A1  - Imdahl, Fabian
A1  - Dietrich, Oliver
A1  - Hepp, Laura
A1  - Krammer, Tobias
A1  - Fey, Christina
A1  - Neuhaus, Winfried
A1  - Metzger, Marco
A1  - Vogel, Jörg
A1  - Westermann, Alexander J.
A1  - Saliba, Antoine-Emmanuel
A1  - Zdzieblo, Daniela
T1  - A primary cell-based in vitro model of the human small intestine reveals host olfactomedin 4 induction in response to Salmonella Typhimurium infection
JF  - Gut Microbes
N2  - Infection research largely relies on classical cell culture or mouse models. Despite having delivered invaluable insights into host-pathogen interactions, both have limitations in translating mechanistic principles to human pathologies. Alternatives can be derived from modern Tissue Engineering approaches, allowing the reconstruction of functional tissue models in vitro. Here, we combined a biological extracellular matrix with primary tissue-derived enteroids to establish an in vitro model of the human small intestinal epithelium exhibiting in vivo-like characteristics. Using the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, we demonstrated the applicability of our model to enteric infection research in the human context. Infection assays coupled to spatio-temporal readouts recapitulated the established key steps of epithelial infection by this pathogen in our model. Besides, we detected the upregulation of olfactomedin 4 in infected cells, a hitherto unrecognized aspect of the host response to Salmonella infection. Together, this primary human small intestinal tissue model fills the gap between simplistic cell culture and animal models of infection, and shall prove valuable in uncovering human-specific features of host-pathogen interplay.
KW  - intestinal enteroids
KW  - biological scaffold
KW  - Salmonella Typhimurium
KW  - OLFM4
KW  - NOTCH
KW  - filamentous Salmonella Typhimurium
KW  - bacterial migration
KW  - bacterial virulence
KW  - 3D tissue model
KW  - olfactomedin 4
KW  - infection
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-350451
VL  - 15
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Weiße, Sebastian
A1  - Heddergott, Niko
A1  - Heydt, Matthias
A1  - Pflästerer, Daniel
A1  - Maier, Timo
A1  - Haraszti, Tamas
A1  - Grunze, Michael
A1  - Engstler, Markus
A1  - Rosenhahn, Axel
T1  - A Quantitative 3D Motility Analysis of Trypanosoma brucei by Use of Digital In-line Holographic Microscopy
JF  - PLoS One
N2  - We present a quantitative 3D analysis of the motility of the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Digital in-line holographic microscopy has been used to track single cells with high temporal and spatial accuracy to obtain quantitative data on their behavior. Comparing bloodstream form and insect form trypanosomes as well as mutant and wildtype cells under varying external conditions we were able to derive a general two-state-run-and-tumble-model for trypanosome motility. Differences in the motility of distinct strains indicate that adaption of the trypanosomes to their natural environments involves a change in their mode of swimming.
KW  - african trypanosomes
KW  - actin cortex
KW  - flagellum
KW  - tracking
KW  - surface
KW  - models
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130666
VL  - 7
IS  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zimmermann, Henriette
A1  - Subota, Ines
A1  - Batram, Christopher
A1  - Kramer, Susanne
A1  - Janzen, Christian J.
A1  - Jones, Nicola G.
A1  - Engstler, Markus
T1  - A quorum sensing-independent path to stumpy development in Trypanosoma brucei
JF  - PLoS Pathogens
N2  - For persistent infections of the mammalian host, African trypanosomes limit their population size by quorum sensing of the parasite-excreted stumpy induction factor (SIF), which induces development to the tsetse-infective stumpy stage. We found that besides this cell density-dependent mechanism, there exists a second path to the stumpy stage that is linked to antigenic variation, the main instrument of parasite virulence. The expression of a second variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) leads to transcriptional attenuation of the VSG expression site (ES) and immediate development to tsetse fly infective stumpy parasites. This path is independent of SIF and solely controlled by the transcriptional status of the ES. In pleomorphic trypanosomes varying degrees of ES-attenuation result in phenotypic plasticity. While full ES-attenuation causes irreversible stumpy development, milder attenuation may open a time window for rescuing an unsuccessful antigenic switch, a scenario that so far has not been considered as important for parasite survival.
KW  - Trypanosoma
KW  - hyperexpression techniques
KW  - parasitic cell cycles
KW  - cloning
KW  - cell cycle and cell division
KW  - cell differentiation
KW  - tetracyclines
KW  - parasitic diseases
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-158230
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Solger, Franziska
A1  - Kunz, Tobias C.
A1  - Fink, Julian
A1  - Paprotka, Kerstin
A1  - Pfister, Pauline
A1  - Hagen, Franziska
A1  - Schumacher, Fabian
A1  - Kleuser, Burkhard
A1  - Seibel, Jürgen
A1  - Rudel, Thomas
T1  - A Role of Sphingosine in the Intracellular Survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
JF  - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
N2  - 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.
KW  - sphingosine
KW  - sphingolipids
KW  - sphingosine kinases
KW  - invasion
KW  - survival
KW  - click chemistry
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204111
SN  - 2235-2988
VL  - 10
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - A sex chromosomal restriction-fragment-length marker linked to melanoma-determining Tu loci in Xiphophorus
N2  - No abstract available
KW  - Physiologische Chemie
Y1  - 1988
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61842
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Katja, Schulze
A1  - López, Diana A.
A1  - Tillich, Ulrich M.
A1  - Frohme, Marcus
T1  - A simple viability analysis for unicellular cyanobacteria using a new autofluorescence assay, automated microscopy, and ImageJ
JF  - BMC Biotechnology
N2  - Background
Currently established methods to identify viable and non-viable cells of cyanobacteria are either time-consuming (eg. plating) or preparation-intensive (eg. fluorescent staining). In this paper we present a new and fast viability assay for unicellular cyanobacteria, which uses red chlorophyll fluorescence and an unspecific green autofluorescence for the differentiation of viable and non-viable cells without the need of sample preparation.

Results
The viability assay for unicellular cyanobacteria using red and green autofluorescence was established and validated for the model organism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Both autofluorescence signals could be observed simultaneously allowing a direct classification of viable and non-viable cells. The results were confirmed by plating/colony count, absorption spectra and chlorophyll measurements. The use of an automated fluorescence microscope and a novel ImageJ based image analysis plugin allow a semi-automated analysis.

Conclusions
The new method simplifies the process of viability analysis and allows a quick and accurate analysis. Furthermore results indicate that a combination of the new assay with absorption spectra or chlorophyll concentration measurements allows the estimation of the vitality of cells.
KW  - variability analysis
KW  - unicellular cyanobacteria
KW  - autofluorescence
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-137735
VL  - 11
IS  - 118
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Xu, Li
A1  - He, Jianzheng
A1  - Kaiser, Andrea
A1  - Gräber, Nikolas
A1  - Schläger, Laura
A1  - Ritze, Yvonne
A1  - Scholz, Henrike
T1  - A Single Pair of Serotonergic Neurons Counteracts Serotonergic Inhibition of Ethanol Attraction in Drosophila
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Attraction to ethanol is common in both flies and humans, but the neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying this innate attraction are not well understood. Here, we dissect the function of the key regulator of serotonin signaling—the serotonin transporter–in innate olfactory attraction to ethanol in Drosophila melanogaster. We generated a mutated version of the serotonin transporter that prolongs serotonin signaling in the synaptic cleft and is targeted via the Gal4 system to different sets of serotonergic neurons. We identified four serotonergic neurons that inhibit the olfactory attraction to ethanol and two additional neurons that counteract this inhibition by strengthening olfactory information. Our results reveal that compensation can occur on the circuit level and that serotonin has a bidirectional function in modulating the innate attraction to ethanol. Given the evolutionarily conserved nature of the serotonin transporter and serotonin, the bidirectional serotonergic mechanisms delineate a basic principle for how random behavior is switched into targeted approach behavior.
KW  - attraction
KW  - ethanol
KW  - Drosophila melanogaster
KW  - serotonin transporter
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-166762
VL  - 11
IS  - 12
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Eckhardt, Manon
A1  - Anders, Maria
A1  - Muranyi, Walter
A1  - Heilemann, Mike
A1  - Krijnse-Locker, Jacomine
A1  - Müller, Barbara
T1  - A SNAP-Tagged Derivative of HIV-1-A Versatile Tool to Study Virus-Cell Interactions
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Fluorescently labeled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) derivatives, combined with the use of advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, allow the direct visualization of dynamic events and individual steps in the viral life cycle. HIV proteins tagged with fluorescent proteins (FPs) have been successfully used for live-cell imaging analyses of HIV-cell interactions. However, FPs display limitations with respect to their physicochemical properties, and their maturation kinetics. Furthermore, several independent FP-tagged constructs have to be cloned and characterized in order to obtain spectral variations suitable for multi-color imaging setups. In contrast, the so-called SNAP-tag represents a genetically encoded non-fluorescent tag which mediates specific covalent coupling to fluorescent substrate molecules in a self-labeling reaction. Fusion of the SNAP-tag to the protein of interest allows specific labeling of the fusion protein with a variety of synthetic dyes, thereby offering enhanced flexibility for fluorescence imaging approaches. Here we describe the construction and characterization of the HIV derivative HIV(SNAP), which carries the SNAP-tag as an additional domain within the viral structural polyprotein Gag. Introduction of the tag close to the C-terminus of the matrix domain of Gag did not interfere with particle assembly, release or proteolytic virus maturation. The modified virions were infectious and could be propagated in tissue culture, albeit with reduced replication capacity. Insertion of the SNAP domain within Gag allowed specific staining of the viral polyprotein in the context of virus producing cells using a SNAP reactive dye as well as the visualization of individual virions and viral budding sites by stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy. Thus, HIV(SNAP) represents a versatile tool which expands the possibilities for the analysis of HIV-cell interactions using live cell imaging and sub-diffraction fluorescence microscopy.
KW  - Human-immunodeficiency-virus
KW  - Fusion proteins
KW  - Live cells
KW  - Fluorescence microscopy
KW  - Stimulated-emission
KW  - Plasma-membrane
KW  - Living cells
KW  - Real-time
KW  - TYPE-1
KW  - GAG
Y1  - 2011
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133534
VL  - 6
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Vortkamp, A.
A1  - Thias, U.
A1  - Gessler, Manfred
A1  - Rosenkranz, W.
A1  - Kroisel, P. M.
A1  - Tommerup, N.
A1  - Kruger, G.
A1  - Gotz, J.
A1  - Pelz, L.
A1  - Grzeschik, Karl-Heinz
T1  - A somatic cell hybrid panel and DNA probes for physical mapping of human chromosome 7p
N2  - No abstract available
KW  - Biochemie
Y1  - 1991
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-59217
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ioakeimidis, Fotis
A1  - Ott, Christine
A1  - Kozjak-Pavlovic, Vera
A1  - Violitzi, Foteini
A1  - Rinotas, Vagelis
A1  - Makrinou, Eleni
A1  - Eliopoulos, Elias
A1  - Fasseas, Costas
A1  - Kollias, George
A1  - Douni, Eleni
T1  - A Splicing Mutation in the Novel Mitochondrial Protein DNAJC11 Causes Motor Neuron Pathology Associated with Cristae Disorganization, and Lymphoid Abnormalities in Mice
JF  - PLOS ONE
N2  - Mitochondrial structure and function is emerging as a major contributor to neuromuscular disease, highlighting the need for the complete elucidation of the underlying molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms. Following a forward genetics approach with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-mediated random mutagenesis, we identified a novel mouse model of autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease caused by a splice-site hypomorphic mutation in a novel gene of unknown function, DnaJC11. Recent findings have demonstrated that DNAJC11 protein co-immunoprecipitates with proteins of the mitochondrial contact site (MICOS) complex involved in the formation of mitochondrial cristae and cristae junctions. Homozygous mutant mice developed locomotion defects, muscle weakness, spasticity, limb tremor, leucopenia, thymic and splenic hypoplasia, general wasting and early lethality. Neuropathological analysis showed severe vacuolation of the motor neurons in the spinal cord, originating from dilatations of the endoplasmic reticulum and notably from mitochondria that had lost their proper inner membrane organization. The causal role of the identified mutation in DnaJC11 was verified in rescue experiments by overexpressing the human ortholog. The full length 63 kDa isoform of human DNAJC11 was shown to localize in the periphery of the mitochondrial outer membrane whereas putative additional isoforms displayed differential submitochondrial localization. Moreover, we showed that DNAJC11 is assembled in a high molecular weight complex, similarly to mitofilin and that downregulation of mitofilin or SAM50 affected the levels of DNAJC11 in HeLa cells. Our findings provide the first mouse mutant for a putative MICOS protein and establish a link between DNAJC11 and neuromuscular diseases.
KW  - dominant optic atrophy
KW  - amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis
KW  - nervous system
KW  - membrane organization
KW  - mitofilin
KW  - data-bank
KW  - model
KW  - biogenesis
KW  - morphology
KW  - reveals
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-115581
VL  - 9
IS  - 8
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lasway, Julius V.
A1  - Kinabo, Neema R.
A1  - Mremi, Rudolf F.
A1  - Martin, Emanuel H.
A1  - Nyakunga, Oliver C.
A1  - Sanya, John J.
A1  - Rwegasira, Gration M.
A1  - Lesio, Nicephor
A1  - Gideon, Hulda
A1  - Pauly, Alain
A1  - Eardley, Connal
A1  - Peters, Marcell K.
A1  - Peterson, Andrew T.
A1  - Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf
A1  - Njovu, Henry K.
T1  - A synopsis of the Bee occurrence data of northern Tanzania
JF  - Biodiversity Data Journal
N2  - Background
Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) are the most important group of pollinators with about 20,507 known species worldwide. Despite the critical role of bees in providing pollination services, studies aiming at understanding which species are present across disturbance gradients are scarce. Limited taxononomic information for the existing and unidentified bee species in Tanzania make their conservation haphazard. Here, we present a dataset of bee species records obtained from a survey in nothern Tanzania i.e. Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara regions. Our findings serve as baseline data necessary for understanding the diversity and distribution of bees in the northern parts of the country, which is a critical step in devising robust conservation and monitoring strategies for their populations.

New information
In this paper, we present information on 45 bee species belonging to 20 genera and four families sampled using a combination of sweep-netting and pan trap methods. Most species (27, ~ 60%) belong to the family Halictidae followed by 16 species (35.5%) from the family Apidae. Megachilidae and Andrenidae were the least represented, each with only one species (2.2%). Additional species of Apidae and Megachilidae sampled during this survey are not yet published on Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), once they will be available on GBIF, they will be published in a subsequent paper. From a total of 953 occurrences, highest numbers were recorded in Kilimanjaro Region (n = 511), followed by Arusha (n = 410) and Manyara (n = 32), but this pattern reflects the sampling efforts of the research project rather than real bias in the distributions of bee species in northern Tanzania.
KW  - agriculture
KW  - bee pollinator
KW  - distribution
KW  - disturbance gradient
KW  - grazing
KW  - species diversity
KW  - Tanzania
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265018
VL  - 9
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Vey, Johannes
A1  - Kapsner, Lorenz A.
A1  - Fuchs, Maximilian
A1  - Unberath, Philipp
A1  - Veronesi, Giulia
A1  - Kunz, Meik
T1  - A toolbox for functional analysis and the systematic identification of diagnostic and prognostic gene expression signatures combining meta-analysis and machine learning
JF  - Cancers
N2  - The identification of biomarker signatures is important for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, the detection of clinical reliable signatures is influenced by limited data availability, which may restrict statistical power. Moreover, methods for integration of large sample cohorts and signature identification are limited. We present a step-by-step computational protocol for functional gene expression analysis and the identification of diagnostic and prognostic signatures by combining meta-analysis with machine learning and survival analysis. The novelty of the toolbox lies in its all-in-one functionality, generic design, and modularity. It is exemplified for lung cancer, including a comprehensive evaluation using different validation strategies. However, the protocol is not restricted to specific disease types and can therefore be used by a broad community. The accompanying R package vignette runs in ~1 h and describes the workflow in detail for use by researchers with limited bioinformatics training.
KW  - bioinformatics tool
KW  - R package
KW  - machine learning
KW  - meta-analysis
KW  - biomarker signature
KW  - gene expression analysis
KW  - survival analysis
KW  - functional analysis
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193240
SN  - 2072-6694
VL  - 11
IS  - 10
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lamatsch, Dunja K.
A1  - Adolfsson, Sofia
A1  - Senior, Alistair M.
A1  - Christiansen, Guntram
A1  - Pichler, Maria
A1  - Ozaki, Yuichi
A1  - Smeds, Linnea
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
A1  - Nakagawa, Shinichi
T1  - A transcriptome derived female-specific marker from the invasive Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Sex-specific markers are a prerequisite for understanding reproductive biology, genetic factors involved in sex differences, mechanisms of sex determination, and ultimately the evolution of sex chromosomes. The Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, may be considered a model species for sex-chromosome evolution, as it displays female heterogamety (ZW/ZZ), and is also ecologically interesting as a worldwide invasive species. Here, de novo RNA-sequencing on the gonads of sexually mature G. affinis was used to identify contigs that were highly transcribed in females but not in males (i.e., transcripts with ovary-specific expression). Subsequently, 129 primer pairs spanning 79 contigs were tested by PCR to identify sex-specific transcripts. Of those primer pairs, one female-specific DNA marker was identified, Sanger sequenced and subsequently validated in 115 fish. Sequence analyses revealed a high similarity between the identified sex-specific marker and the 3' UTR of the aminomethyl transferase (amt) gene of the closely related platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). This is the first time that RNA-seq has been used to successfully characterize a sex-specific marker in a fish species in the absence of a genome map. Additionally, the identified sex-specific marker represents one of only a handful of such markers in fishes.
KW  - sex chromosome evolution
KW  - linkage map
KW  - determination locus
KW  - poeciliid fishes
KW  - heterogamety
KW  - Cynoglossus semilaevis
KW  - determining genes
KW  - Y chromosome
KW  - sequence alignment
Y1  - 2015
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-144004
VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Riehl, R.
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - A Transmission Electron Microscopical and Freeze-Etch Study of Malignant-Melanoma in Fish
N2  - No abstract available
KW  - Physiologische Chemie
Y1  - 1984
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-61916
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jahn, Daniel
A1  - Schramm, Sabine
A1  - Schnölzer, Martina
A1  - Heilmann, Clemens J.
A1  - de Koster, Chris G.
A1  - Schütz, Wolfgang
A1  - Benavente, Ricardo
A1  - Alsheimer, Manfred
T1  - A truncated lamin A in the Lmna\(^{−/−}\) mouse line: Implications for the understanding of laminopathies
JF  - Nucleus
N2  - During recent years a number of severe clinical syndromes, collectively termed laminopathies, turned out to be caused by various, distinct mutations in the human LMNA gene. Arising from this, remarkable progress has been made to unravel the molecular pathophysiology underlying these disorders. A great benefit in this context was the generation of an A-type lamin deficient mouse line (Lmna\(^{−/−}\)) by Sullivan and others,1 which has become one of the most frequently used models in the field and provided profound insights to many different aspects of A-type lamin function. Here, we report the unexpected finding that these mice express a truncated Lmna gene product on both transcriptional and protein level. Combining different approaches including mass spectrometry, we precisely define this product as a C-terminally truncated lamin A mutant that lacks domains important for protein interactions and post-translational processing. Based on our findings we discuss implications for the interpretation of previous studies using Lmna\(^{−/−}\) mice and the concept of human laminopathies.
KW  - nuclear organization
KW  - A-type lamins
KW  - LMNA mutations
KW  - laminopathies
KW  - nuclear envelope
KW  - nuclear lamina
Y1  - 2012
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-127281
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schwartz, Faina
A1  - Neve, Rachel
A1  - Eisenman, Robert
A1  - Gessler, Manfred
A1  - Bruns, Gail
T1  - A WAGR region gene between PAX-6 and FSHB expressed in fetal brain
N2  - Developmental delay or mental retardation is a frequent component of multi-system anomaly syndromes associated with chromosomal deletions. Isolation of genes involved in the mental dysfunction in these disorders should define loci important in brain formation or function. We have identified a highly conserved locus in the distal part of 11 p 13 that is prominently expressed in fetal brain. Minimal expression is observed in a number of other fetal tissues. The gene maps distal to PAX-6 but proximal to the loci for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the beta subunit of follicle stimulating hormone (FSHB), within a region previously implicated in the mental retardation component of some WAGR syndrome patients. Within fetal brain, the corresponding transcript is prominent in frontal, motor and primary visual cortex as weil as in the caudate-putamen. The characteristics of this gene, including the striking evolutionary conservation at the locus, suggest that the encoded protein may function in brain development.
KW  - Biochemie
Y1  - 1994
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-59125
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wu, Yu
A1  - Pons, Valérie
A1  - Goudet, Amélie
A1  - Panigai, Laetitia
A1  - Fischer, Annette
A1  - Herweg, Jo-Ana
A1  - Kali, Sabrina
A1  - Davey, Robert A.
A1  - Laporte, Jérôme
A1  - Bouclier, Céline
A1  - Yousfi, Rahima
A1  - Aubenque, Céline
A1  - Merer, Goulven
A1  - Gobbo, Emilie
A1  - Lopez, Roman
A1  - Gillet, Cynthia
A1  - Cojean, Sandrine
A1  - Popoff, Michel R.
A1  - Clayette, Pascal
A1  - Le Grand, Roger
A1  - Boulogne, Claire
A1  - Tordo, Noël
A1  - Lemichez, Emmanuel
A1  - Loiseau, Philippe M.
A1  - Rudel, Thomas
A1  - Sauvaire, Didier
A1  - Cintrat, Jean-Christophe
A1  - Gillet, Daniel
A1  - Barbier, Julien
T1  - ABMA, a small molecule that inhibits intracellular toxins and pathogens by interfering with late endosomal compartments
JF  - Scientific Reports
N2  - Intracellular pathogenic microorganisms and toxins exploit host cell mechanisms to enter, exert their deleterious effects as well as hijack host nutrition for their development. A potential approach to treat multiple pathogen infections and that should not induce drug resistance is the use of small molecules that target host components. We identifed the compound 1-adamantyl (5-bromo-2-methoxybenzyl) amine (ABMA) from a cell-based high throughput screening for its capacity to protect human cells and mice against ricin toxin without toxicity. This compound efciently protects cells against various toxins and pathogens including viruses, intracellular bacteria and parasite. ABMA provokes Rab7-positive late endosomal compartment accumulation in mammalian cells without affecting other organelles (early endosomes, lysosomes, the Golgi apparatus, the endoplasmic reticulum or the nucleus). As the mechanism of action of ABMA is restricted to host-endosomal compartments, it reduces cell infection by pathogens that depend on this pathway to invade cells. ABMA may represent a novel class of broad-spectrum compounds with therapeutic potential against diverse severe infectious diseases.
KW  - biology
KW  - antimicrobials
KW  - high-throughput screening
KW  - infectious diseases
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-173170
VL  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rackevei, Antonia S.
A1  - Borges, Alyssa
A1  - Engstler, Markus
A1  - Dandekar, Thomas
A1  - Wolf, Matthias
T1  - About the analysis of 18S rDNA sequence data from trypanosomes in barcoding and phylogenetics: tracing a continuation error occurring in the literature
JF  - Biology
N2  - The variable regions (V1–V9) of the 18S rDNA are routinely used in barcoding and phylogenetics. In handling these data for trypanosomes, we have noticed a misunderstanding that has apparently taken a life of its own in the literature over the years. In particular, in recent years, when studying the phylogenetic relationship of trypanosomes, the use of V7/V8 was systematically established. However, considering the current numbering system for all other organisms (including other Euglenozoa), V7/V8 was never used. In Maia da Silva et al. [Parasitology 2004, 129, 549–561], V7/V8 was promoted for the first time for trypanosome phylogenetics, and since then, more than 70 publications have replicated this nomenclature and even discussed the benefits of the use of this region in comparison to V4. However, the primers used to amplify the variable region of trypanosomes have actually amplified V4 (concerning the current 18S rDNA numbering system).
KW  - RNA secondary structure
KW  - variable regions
KW  - V1–V9
KW  - V4
KW  - V7/V8
KW  - Trypanosoma
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297562
SN  - 2079-7737
VL  - 11
IS  - 11
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Franke, Werner W.
A1  - Scheer, Ulrich
A1  - Trendelenburg, Michael F.
A1  - Spring, Herbert
A1  - Zentgraf, Hanswalter
T1  - Absence of nucleosomes in transcriptionally active chromatin
N2  - The ultrastructure of twO kinds of transcription ally active chromatin, the lampbrush chromosome loops and the nucleoli from amphibian oocytes and primary nuclei of the green alga Acetabularia, has been examined after manual isolation and dispersion in low salt media of slightly alkaline pH using various electron microscopic staining techniques (positive staining, metal shadowing, negative staining, preparation on positively charged films, etc.) and compared with the appearance of chromatin from various somatic cells (hen erythrocytes, rat hepatocytes, ClIltured murine sarcoma cells) prepared in parallel. While typical nucleosomes were revealed with all the techniques for chromatin from the latter three cell system, no nucleosomes were identified in either the lampbrush chromosome structures or the nucleolar chromatin. Nucleosomal arrays were absent not only in maximally fibril-covered matrix units but also in fibril-free regions between transcriptional complexes, including the apparent spacer intercepts between different transcriptional units. Moreover, comparisons of the length of the repeating units of rDNA in the transcribed state with those determined in the isolated rDNA and with the lengths of the first stable product of rDNA transcription, the pre-rRNA, demonstrated that the transcribed rDNA was not significantly shortened and/or condensed but rather extended in the transcriptional units. Distinct granules of about nucleosomal size which were sometimes found in apparent spacer regions as well as within matrix units of reduced fibril density were shown not to represent nucleosomes since their number per spacer unit was not inversely correlated with the length of the specific unit and also on the basis of their resistance to treatment with the detergent Sarkosyl NL-30. It is possible to structurally distinguish between transcriptionally active chromatin in which the DNA is extended in a non-nucleosomal form of chromatin and condensed, inactive chromatin within the typical nucleosomal package. The characteristic extended structure of transcriptionally active chromatin is found not only in the transcribed genes but also in non-transcribed regions within or between ("spacer") transcriptional units as well as in transcriptional units that are untranscribed amidst transcribed ones and/or have been inactivated for relatively short time. It is hypothesized that activation of transcription involves a transition from a nucleosomal to an extended chromatin organisation and that this structural transition is not specific for single "activated" genes but may involve larger chromatin regions, including adjacent untranscribed intercepts.
KW  - Cytologie
KW  - Chromatin structure
KW  - nucleosomes
KW  - transcription
KW  - electron microscopy
Y1  - 1976
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-40646
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hock, Robert
A1  - Moormann, Antoon
A1  - Fischer, Dagmar
A1  - Scheer, Ulrich
T1  - Absence of somatic histone H1 in oocytes and preblastula embryos of Xenopus laevis
N2  - Available data on the occurrence and expression of somatic histone HI during oogenesis and early embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis are contradictory. In particular the reported presence of a large storage pool of histone HIA in oocytes is difficult to reconcile with the high transcriptional activity of all gene classes in this specific cell type. In the present study we have used polyclonal antibodies raised against somatic Xenopus histone HI (HIA and HIA/B) for combined immunoblotting experiments to quantitate HI pools and immunolocalization studies to visualize chromosome- bound HI. Both approaches failed to detect soluble or chromosomal histone HI in vitellogenic oocytes, eggs, and cleavage-stage embryos up to early blastula. In addition, chromatin assembled in Xenopus egg extract was also negative for histone HI as revealed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Lampbrush chromosomes not only lacked histone HI but also the previously identified histone HI-like B4 protein (Smith et al., 1988, Genes Dev. 2,1284-1295). In contrast, chromosomes of eggs and early embryos fluoresced brightly with anti-B4 antibodies. Our results lend further support to the view that histone HI expression is developmentally regulated during Xenopus oogenesis and embryogenesis similar to what is known from other species.
Y1  - 1993
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-41350
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Vogel, Sebastian
A1  - Prinzing, Andreas
A1  - Bußler, Heinz
A1  - Müller, Jörg
A1  - Schmidt, Stefan
A1  - Thorn, Simon
T1  - Abundance, not diversity, of host beetle communities determines abundance and diversity of parasitoids in deadwood
JF  - Ecology and Evolution
N2  - Most parasites and parasitoids are adapted to overcome defense mechanisms of their specific hosts and hence colonize a narrow range of host species. Accordingly, an increase in host functional or phylogenetic dissimilarity is expected to increase the species diversity of parasitoids. However, the local diversity of parasitoids may be driven by the accessibility and detectability of hosts, both increasing with increasing host abundance. Yet, the relative importance of these two mechanisms remains unclear. We parallelly reared communities of saproxylic beetle as potential hosts and associated parasitoid Hymenoptera from experimentally felled trees. The dissimilarity of beetle communities was inferred from distances in seven functional traits and from their evolutionary ancestry. We tested the effect of host abundance, species richness, functional, and phylogenetic dissimilarities on the abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity of parasitoids. Our results showed an increase of abundance, species richness, and Shannon diversity of parasitoids with increasing beetle abundance. Additionally, abundance of parasitoids increased with increasing species richness of beetles. However, functional and phylogenetic dissimilarity showed no effect on the diversity of parasitoids. Our results suggest that the local diversity of parasitoids, of ephemeral and hidden resources like saproxylic beetles, is highest when resources are abundant and thereby detectable and accessible. Hence, in some cases, resources do not need to be diverse to promote parasitoid diversity.
KW  - barcoding
KW  - deadwood
KW  - experiment
KW  - host–parasitoid interaction
KW  - natural enemy
KW  - specialization
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-238892
VL  - 11
IS  - 11
SP  - 6881
EP  - 6888
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Goebel, Werner
A1  - Kreft, Jürgen
T1  - Accumulation of replicative intermediates and catenated forms of the colicinogenic factor E\(_1\) in E. coli during the replication at elevated temperatures
N2  - No abstract available
KW  - Biologie
Y1  - 1972
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-60625
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Riedel, Alice
A1  - Mofolo, Boitumelo
A1  - Avota, Elita
A1  - Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle
A1  - Meintjes, Ayton
A1  - Mulder, Nicola
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
T1  - Accumulation of Splice Variants and Transcripts in Response to PI3K Inhibition in T Cells
JF  - PLoS ONE
N2  - Background
Measles virus (MV) causes T cell suppression by interference with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) activation. We previously found that this interference affected the activity of splice regulatory proteins and a T cell inhibitory protein isoform was produced from an alternatively spliced pre-mRNA.

Hypothesis
Differentially regulated and alternatively splice variant transcripts accumulating in response to PI3K abrogation in T cells potentially encode proteins involved in T cell silencing.

Methods
To test this hypothesis at the cellular level, we performed a Human Exon 1.0 ST Array on RNAs isolated from T cells stimulated only or stimulated after PI3K inhibition. We developed a simple algorithm based on a splicing index to detect genes that undergo alternative splicing (AS) or are differentially regulated (RG) upon T cell suppression.

Results
Applying our algorithm to the data, 9% of the genes were assigned as AS, while only 3% were attributed to RG. Though there are overlaps, AS and RG genes differed with regard to functional regulation, and were found to be enriched in different functional groups. AS genes targeted extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, while RG genes were mainly enriched in cytokine-receptor interaction and Jak-STAT. When combined, AS/RG dependent alterations targeted pathways essential for T cell receptor signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell cycle entry.

Conclusions
PI3K abrogation interferes with key T cell activation processes through both differential expression and alternative splicing, which together actively contribute to T cell suppression.
KW  - T cells
KW  - gene regulation
KW  - alternative splicing
KW  - measles virus
KW  - T cell receptors
KW  - reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction
KW  - cell cycle and cell division
KW  - TCR signaling cascade
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130335
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Riedel, Alice
A1  - Mofolo, Boitumelo
A1  - Avota, Elita
A1  - Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle
A1  - Meintjes, Ayton
A1  - Mulder, Nicola
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
T1  - Accumulation of Splice Variants and Transcripts in Response to PI3K Inhibition in T Cells
N2  - Background: Measles virus (MV) causes T cell suppression by interference with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) activation. We previously found that this interference affected the activity of splice regulatory proteins and a T cell inhibitory protein isoform was produced from an alternatively spliced pre-mRNA. Hypothesis: Differentially regulated and alternatively splice variant transcripts accumulating in response to PI3K abrogation in T cells potentially encode proteins involved in T cell silencing. Methods: To test this hypothesis at the cellular level, we performed a Human Exon 1.0 ST Array on RNAs isolated from T cells stimulated only or stimulated after PI3K inhibition. We developed a simple algorithm based on a splicing index to detect genes that undergo alternative splicing (AS) or are differentially regulated (RG) upon T cell suppression. Results: Applying our algorithm to the data, 9% of the genes were assigned as AS, while only 3% were attributed to RG. Though there are overlaps, AS and RG genes differed with regard to functional regulation, and were found to be enriched in different functional groups. AS genes targeted extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and focal adhesion pathways, while RG genes were mainly enriched in cytokine-receptor interaction and Jak-STAT. When combined, AS/RG dependent alterations targeted pathways essential for T cell receptor signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell cycle entry. Conclusions: PI3K abrogation interferes with key T cell activation processes through both differential expression and alternative splicing, which together actively contribute to T cell suppression.
KW  - Biologie
Y1  - 2013
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-77917
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dedukh, Dmitrij
A1  - Da Cruz, Irene
A1  - Kneitz, Susanne
A1  - Marta, Anatolie
A1  - Ormanns, Jenny
A1  - Tichopád, Tomáš
A1  - Lu, Yuan
A1  - Alsheimer, Manfred
A1  - Janko, Karel
A1  - Schartl, Manfred
T1  - Achiasmatic meiosis in the unisexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa
JF  - Chromosome Research
N2  - Unisexual reproduction, which generates clonal offspring, is an alternative strategy to sexual breeding and occurs even in vertebrates. A wide range of non-sexual reproductive modes have been described, and one of the least understood questions is how such pathways emerged and how they mechanistically proceed. The Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa, needs sperm from males of related species to trigger the parthenogenetic development of diploid eggs. However, the mechanism, of how the unreduced female gametes are produced, remains unclear. Cytological analyses revealed that the chromosomes of primary oocytes initiate pachytene but do not proceed to bivalent formation and meiotic crossovers. Comparing ovary transcriptomes of P. formosa and its sexual parental species revealed expression levels of meiosis-specific genes deviating from P. mexicana but not from P. latipinna. Furthermore, several meiosis genes show biased expression towards one of the two alleles from the parental genomes. We infer from our data that in the Amazon molly diploid oocytes are generated by apomixis due to a failure in the synapsis of homologous chromosomes. The fact that this failure is not reflected in the differential expression of known meiosis genes suggests the underlying molecular mechanism may be dysregulation on the protein level or misexpression of a so far unknown meiosis gene, and/or hybrid dysgenesis because of compromised interaction of proteins from diverged genomes.
KW  - meiosis
KW  - parthenogenesis
KW  - synaptonemal complex
KW  - recombination
KW  - crossing-over
KW  - achiasmatic
KW  - transcriptome
KW  - oogenesis
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-325128
VL  - 30
IS  - 4
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Rapp, Ulrike
T1  - Achieving protective immunitity against intracellular bacterial pathogens : a study on the efficiency of Gp96 as a vaccine carrier
T1  - Immunisierung gegen intrazelluläre Bakterien mit Hilfe von HSP-Fusionsproteinen
N2  - Protective vaccination against intracellular pathogens using HSP fusion proteins in the listeria model.
N2  - Impfschutz gegen intrazelluläre Pathogene durch Immunisierung mit HSP-Fusionsproteinen im listerien Modell.
KW  - Listeria monocytogenes
KW  - Immunisierung
KW  - Hitzeschock-Proteine
KW  - Hitzeschockproteine
KW  - Immunsierung
KW  - Intrazelluläre Pathogene
KW  - Heat Shock Proteins
KW  - Immunization
KW  - Intracellular Pathogens
Y1  - 2004
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-9096
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Eckert, W. A.
A1  - Franke, Werner W.
A1  - Scheer, Ulrich
T1  - Actinomycin D and the central granules in the nuclear pore complex: thin sectioning versus negative staining
N2  - Thin section electron microscopy of Actinomycin D treated Tetrahymena cells and amphibian oocytes (Xenopus laevis, Triturus aZpestris) reveal no reduction in the central granules in the nuclear pore complexes. Possible reasons for the diversity between these results and earlier observations using negatively stained isolated nuclear envelopes from the same objects are discussed. The results clearly show that the presence of central granules within the nuclear pores does neither depend on nuclear RNA synthesis nor does indicate nucleocytoplasmic RNA transport. This conclusion leads to a reconsideration of the nature of the central granule. The functioning of the central granule of the nuclear pore complexes is further discussed in connection with recent studies on the ultrastructure of various types of cisternal pores.
KW  - Nuclear pores
KW  - Nucleocytoplasmic exchange
KW  - Actinomycin D
KW  - Tetrahymena
KW  - Amphibian oocytes
Y1  - 1972
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-40636
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Garitano-Trojaola, Andoni
A1  - Sancho, Ana
A1  - Götz, Ralph
A1  - Eiring, Patrick
A1  - Walz, Susanne
A1  - Jetani, Hardikkumar
A1  - Gil-Pulido, Jesus
A1  - Da Via, Matteo Claudio
A1  - Teufel, Eva
A1  - Rhodes, Nadine
A1  - Haertle, Larissa
A1  - Arellano-Viera, Estibaliz
A1  - Tibes, Raoul
A1  - Rosenwald, Andreas
A1  - Rasche, Leo
A1  - Hudecek, Michael
A1  - Sauer, Markus
A1  - Groll, Jürgen
A1  - Einsele, Hermann
A1  - Kraus, Sabrina
A1  - Kortüm, Martin K.
T1  - Actin cytoskeleton deregulation confers midostaurin resistance in FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia
JF  - Communications Biology
N2  - The presence of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is one of the most frequent mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. FLT3 inhibitors, such as midostaurin, are used clinically but fail to entirely eradicate FLT3-ITD+AML. This study introduces a new perspective and highlights the impact of RAC1-dependent actin cytoskeleton remodeling on resistance to midostaurin in AML. RAC1 hyperactivation leads resistance via hyperphosphorylation of the positive regulator of actin polymerization N-WASP and antiapoptotic BCL-2. RAC1/N-WASP, through ARP2/3 complex activation, increases the number of actin filaments, cell stiffness and adhesion forces to mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) being identified as a biomarker of resistance. Midostaurin resistance can be overcome by a combination of midostaruin, the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax and the RAC1 inhibitor Eht1864 in midostaurin-resistant AML cell lines and primary samples, providing the first evidence of a potential new treatment approach to eradicate FLT3-ITD+AML. Garitano-Trojaola et al. used a combination of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary samples to show that RAC1-dependent actin cytoskeleton remodeling through BCL2 family plays a key role in resistance to the FLT3 inhibitor, Midostaurin in AML. They showed that by targeting RAC1 and BCL2, Midostaurin resistance was diminished, which potentially paves the way for an innovate treatment approach for FLT3 mutant AML.
KW  - actin
KW  - acute myeloid leukaemia
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-260709
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rosenbaum, Corinna
A1  - Schick, Martin Alexander
A1  - Wollborn, Jakob
A1  - Heider, Andreas
A1  - Scholz, Claus-Jürgen
A1  - Cecil, Alexander
A1  - Niesler, Beate
A1  - Hirrlinger, Johannes
A1  - Walles, Heike
A1  - Metzger, Marco
T1  - Activation of Myenteric Glia during Acute Inflammation In Vitro and In Vivo
JF  - PLoS One
N2  - Background
Enteric glial cells (EGCs) are the main constituent of the enteric nervous system and share similarities with astrocytes from the central nervous system including their reactivity to an inflammatory microenvironment. Previous studies on EGC pathophysiology have specifically focused on mucosal glia activation and its contribution to mucosal inflammatory processes observed in the gut of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. In contrast knowledge is scarce on intestinal inflammation not locally restricted to the mucosa but systemically affecting the intestine and its effect on the overall EGC network.

Methods and Results
In this study, we analyzed the biological effects of a systemic LPS-induced hyperinflammatory insult on overall EGCs in a rat model in vivo, mimicking the clinical situation of systemic inflammation response syndrome (SIRS). Tissues from small and large intestine were removed 4 hours after systemic LPS-injection and analyzed on transcript and protein level. Laser capture microdissection was performed to study plexus-specific gene expression alterations. Upon systemic LPS-injection in vivo we observed a rapid and dramatic activation of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)-expressing glia on mRNA level, locally restricted to the myenteric plexus. To study the specific role of the GFAP subpopulation, we established flow cytometry-purified primary glial cell cultures from GFAP promotor-driven EGFP reporter mice. After LPS stimulation, we analyzed cytokine secretion and global gene expression profiles, which were finally implemented in a bioinformatic comparative transcriptome analysis. Enriched GFAP+ glial cells cultured as gliospheres secreted increased levels of prominent inflammatory cytokines upon LPS stimulation. Additionally, a shift in myenteric glial gene expression profile was induced that predominantly affected genes associated with immune response.

Conclusion and Significance
Our findings identify the myenteric GFAP-expressing glial subpopulation as particularly susceptible and responsive to acute systemic inflammation of the gut wall and complement knowledge on glial involvement in mucosal inflammation of the intestine.
KW  - gene expression
KW  - gastrointestinal tract
KW  - inflammatory bowel disease
KW  - central nervous system
KW  - systemic inflammatory response syndrome
KW  - inflammation
KW  - astrocytes
KW  - cytokines
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146544
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Barnekow, Angelika
A1  - Gessler, Manfred
T1  - Activation of the pp60\(^{c-src}\) kinase during differentiation of monomyelocytic cells in vitro
N2  - Tbe proto-oncogene c-src, the cellular homolog of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) transforming gene v-src, is expressed in a tissue-specific and age-dependent manner. Its physiological function, although still unknown, appears to be more closely related to differentiation processes than to proliferation processes. To obtain more information about the physiological role of the c-src gene in cells, we have studied differentiation-dependent alterations using the human HL-60 leukaemia cell line as a model system. Induction of monocytic and granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is associated with an activation of the pp60<sup>c-src</sup> tyrosine kinase, but not with increased c-src gene expression. Control experiments exclude an interaction of TPA and DMSO themselves with the pp60<sup>c-src</sup> kinase.
KW  - Biochemie
KW  - c-src
KW  - differentiation
KW  - protein tyrosine kinase
KW  - protooncogene
Y1  - 1986
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-59278
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mrestani, Achmed
A1  - Pauli, Martin
A1  - Kollmannsberger, Philip
A1  - Repp, Felix
A1  - Kittel, Robert J.
A1  - Eilers, Jens
A1  - Doose, Sören
A1  - Sauer, Markus
A1  - Sirén, Anna-Leena
A1  - Heckmann, Manfred
A1  - Paul, Mila M.
T1  - Active zone compaction correlates with presynaptic homeostatic potentiation
JF  - Cell Reports
N2  - Neurotransmitter release is stabilized by homeostatic plasticity. Presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP) operates on timescales ranging from minute- to life-long adaptations and likely involves reorganization of presynaptic active zones (AZs). At Drosophila melanogaster neuromuscular junctions, earlier work ascribed AZ enlargement by incorporating more Bruchpilot (Brp) scaffold protein a role in PHP. We use localization microscopy (direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy [dSTORM]) and hierarchical density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (HDBSCAN) to study AZ plasticity during PHP at the synaptic mesoscale. We find compaction of individual AZs in acute philanthotoxin-induced and chronic genetically induced PHP but unchanged copy numbers of AZ proteins. Compaction even occurs at the level of Brp subclusters, which move toward AZ centers, and in Rab3 interacting molecule (RIM)-binding protein (RBP) subclusters. Furthermore, correlative confocal and dSTORM imaging reveals how AZ compaction in PHP translates into apparent increases in AZ area and Brp protein content, as implied earlier.
KW  - active zone
KW  - Bruchpilot
KW  - RIM-binding protein
KW  - compaction
KW  - homeostasis
KW  - presynaptic plasticity
KW  - super-resolution microscopy
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-265497
VL  - 37
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kessie, David K.
A1  - Lodes, Nina
A1  - Oberwinkler, Heike
A1  - Goldman, William E.
A1  - Walles, Thorsten
A1  - Steinke, Maria
A1  - Gross, Roy
T1  - Activity of Tracheal Cytotoxin of Bordetella pertussis in a Human Tracheobronchial 3D Tissue Model
JF  - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
N2  - Bordetella pertussis is a highly contagious pathogen which causes whooping cough in humans. A major pathophysiology of infection is the extrusion of ciliated cells and subsequent disruption of the respiratory mucosa. Tracheal cytotoxin (TCT) is the only virulence factor produced by B. pertussis that has been able to recapitulate this pathology in animal models. This pathophysiology is well characterized in a hamster tracheal model, but human data are lacking due to scarcity of donor material. We assessed the impact of TCT and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the functional integrity of the human airway mucosa by using in vitro airway mucosa models developed by co-culturing human tracheobronchial epithelial cells and human tracheobronchial fibroblasts on porcine small intestinal submucosa scaffold under airlift conditions. TCT and LPS either alone and in combination induced blebbing and necrosis of the ciliated epithelia. TCT and LPS induced loss of ciliated epithelial cells and hyper-mucus production which interfered with mucociliary clearance. In addition, the toxins had a disruptive effect on the tight junction organization, significantly reduced transepithelial electrical resistance and increased FITC-Dextran permeability after toxin incubation. In summary, the results indicate that TCT collaborates with LPS to induce the disruption of the human airway mucosa as reported for the hamster tracheal model.
KW  - tracheal cytotoxin
KW  - airway epithelia
KW  - tissue model
KW  - ciliostasis
KW  - tight junction
KW  - Bordetella pertussis
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-222736
SN  - 2235-2988
VL  - 10
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schmuck, R.
A1  - Kobelt, F.
A1  - Linsenmair, Karl Eduard
T1  - Adaptations of the reed frog Hyperbolius viridiflavus (Anura, Hyperbolidae) to its arid environment: V. Iridophores and nitrogen metabolism
N2  - Ofall amphibians living in arid habitats, reed frogs (belonging to the super species Hyperolius viridiflavus) are the most peculiar. Froglets are able to tolerate dry periods of up to 35 days or longer immediately after metamorphosis, in climatically exposed positions. They face similar problems to estivating juveniles, i.e. enduranee of long periods of high temperature and low RH with rather limited energy and water reserves. In addition, they must have had to develop meehanisms to prevent poisoning by nitrogenous wastes that rapidly accumulate during dry periods as a metabolie consequenee of maintaining a non-torpid state. During dry periods, plasma osmolarity of H. v. taeniatus froglets strongly increased, mainly through urea accumulation. Urea accumulation was also observed during metamorphic climax. During postmetamorphic growth, chromatophores develop with the density and morphology typical of the adult pigmentary pattern. The dermal iridophore layer, which is still incomplete at this time, is fully developed within 4-8 days after metamorphosis, irrespective of maintenance conditions. These iridophores mainly contain the purines guanine and hypoxanthine. The ability of these purines to reflect light provides an excellent basis for the role of iridophores in temperature regulation. In individuals experiencing dehydration stress, the initial rate of purine synthesis is doubled in eomparison to specimens continuously maintained under wet season conditions. This increase in synthesis rate leads to a rapid increase in the thiekness of the iridophore layer, thereby effectively reducing radiation absorption. Thus, the danger of overheating is diminished during periods of water shortage when evaporative cooling must be avoided. After the development of an iridophore layer of sufficient thickness for effective radiation reflectance, synthesis of iridophore pigments does not cease. Rather, this pathway is further used during the remaining dry season for solving osmotic problems eaused by accumulation of nitrogenous wastes. During prolonged water deprivation, in spite of reduced metabolic rates, purine pigments are produced at the same rate as in wet season conditions. This leads to a higher relative proportion of nitrogen end products being stored in skin pigments under dry season conditions. At the end of an experimental dry season lasting 35 days, up to 38% of the accrued nitrogen is stored in the form of osmotically inactive purines in thc skin. Thus the osmotic problems caused by evaporative water loss and urea production are greatly reduced.
KW  - Biologie
KW  - Zoologie
KW  - Frosch
Y1  - 1988
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-78094
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Linsenmair, Karl Eduard
A1  - Schmuck, R.
T1  - Adaptations of the reed frog Hyperbolius viridiflavus to its arid environment. III. Aspects of nitrogen metabolism and osmuregulation in the reed frog, H. viridiflavus taeniatus, with special reference to the role of iridophores
N2  - Reed frogs of the superspecies Hyperolius viridiflavus occur throughout the seasonally very dry and hot African savannas. Despite their small size (300-700 mg), estivating reed frogs do not avoid stressful conditions above ground by burrowing into the soil, but endure the inhospitable climate relatively unprotected, clinging to mostly dry grass sterns. They must have emcient mechanisms to enable them to survive e.g. very high temperatures, low relative hurnidities, and high solar radiation loads. Mechanisms must also have developed to prevent poisoning by the nitrogenous wastes that inevitably result from protein and nucleotide turnover. In contrast to fossorial amphibians, estivating reed frogs do not become torpid. Reduction in metabolism is therefore rather Iimited so that nitrogenous wastes accumulate faster in these frogs than in fossorial amphibians. This severely aggravates the osmotic problems caused by dehydration. During dry periods total plasma osmolarity greatly increases, mainly due to urea accumulation. Of the total urea accumulated over 42 days of experimental water deprivation, 30% was produced during the first 7 days. In the next 7 days rise in plasma urea content was negligible. This strong initial increase of urea is seen as a byproduct of elevated amino acid catabolism following the onset of dry conditions. Tbe rise in total plasma osmolarity due to urea accumulation, however, is not totally disadvantageous, but enables fast rehydration when water is available for very short periods only. Voiding of urine and feces eeases once evaporative water loss exceeds 10% of body weight. Tberefore, during continuous water deprivation, nitrogenous end products are not excreted. After 42 days of water deprivation, bladder fluid was substantially depleted, and urea coneentration in the remaining urine (up to 447 mM) was never greater than in plasma fluid. Feces voided at the end of the dry period after water uptake contained only small amounts of nitrogenous end products. DSF (dry season frogs) seemed not to be uricotelic. Instead, up to 35% of the total nitrogenous wastes produced over 42 days of water deprivation were deposited in an osmotically inert and nontoxic form in iridophore crystals. The increase in skin purine content averaged 150 µg/mg dry weight. If urea had been the only nitrogenous waste product during an estivation period of 42 days, lethal limits of total osmolarity (about 700 mOsm) would have been reached 10-14 days earlier. Thus iridophores are not only involved in colour change and in reducing heat load by radiation remission, but are also important in osmoregulation during dry periods. The seIective advantages of deposition of guanine rather than uric acid are discussed.
KW  - Biologie
KW  - Zoologie
KW  - Frosch
KW  - Hyperolius viridiflavus
KW  - Estivation
KW  - Osmoregulation
KW  - Nitrogen metabolism
KW  - lridophores
Y1  - 1988
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-78108
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Geise, W.
A1  - Linsenmair, Karl Eduard
T1  - Adaptations of the reed frog Hyperbolius viridiflavus to its arid environment. IV. Ecological significance of water economy with comments on thermoregulation and energy allocation
N2  - No abstract available
Y1  - 1988
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-30570
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Linsenmair, Karl Eduard
T1  - Adaptations of the reed frog Hyperbolius viridiflavus to its arid environment: II. Some aspects of the water economy of H. viridiflavus nitidulus under wet and dry ...
N2  - Adaptations to aridity ofthe reedfrog Hyperolius viridiflavus nitidulus, living in different parts of the seasonally very dry and hot West African savanna, are investigated ...
KW  - Zoologie
Y1  - 1986
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-78395
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kobelt, F.
A1  - Linsenmair, Karl Eduard
T1  - Adaptations of the reed frog Hyperolius viridiflavus (Hyperoliidae) to its arid environment. VI. The iridophores in the skin as radiation reflectors
N2  - No abstract available
Y1  - 1992
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-30563
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kobelt, Frank
A1  - Linsenmair, Karl Eduard
T1  - Adaptations of the reed frog Hyperolius viridiflavus to its arid environment. I. The skin of Hyperolius viridiflavus nitidulus in wet and dry season conditions.
N2  - Hyperolius viridiflavus nitidulus inhabits parts of the seasonally very hot and dry West African savanna. During the long lasting dry season, the small frog is sitting unhidden on mostly dry plants and has to deal with high solar radiation load (SRL), evaporative water loss (EWL) and small energy reserves. It seems to be very badly equipped to survive such harsh climatic conditions (unfavorable surface to volume ratio, very limited capacity to störe energy and water). Therefore, it must have developed extraordinary efficient mechanisms to solve the mentioned Problems. Some of these mechanisms are to be looked for within the skin of the animal (e.g. protection against fast desiccation, deleterious effects of UV radiation and over-heating). The morphology of the wet season skin is, in most aspects, that of a "normal" anuran skin. It differs in the Organization of the processes of the melanophores and in the arrangement of the chromatophores in the Stratum spongiosum, forming no "Dermal Chromatophore Unit". During the adaptation to dry season conditions the number of iridophores in dorsal and ventral skin is increased 4-6 times compared to wet season skin. This increase is accompanied by a very conspicuous change of the wet season color pattern. Now, at air temperatures below 35° C the color becomes brownish white or grey and changes to a brilliant white at air temperatures near and over 40° C. Thus, in dry season State the frog retains its ability for rapid color change. In wet season State the platelets of the iridophores are irregularly distributed. In dry season State many platelets become arranged almost parallel to the surface. These purine crystals probably act as quarter-wave-length interference reflectors, reducing SRL by reflecting a considerable amount of the radiated energy input. EWL is as low as that of much larger xeric reptilians. The impermeability of the skin seems to be the result of several mechanisms (ground substance, iridophores, lipids, mucus) supplementing each other. The light red skin at the pelvic region and inner sides of the limbs is specialized for rapid uptake of water allowing the frog to replenish the unavoidable EWL by using single drops of dew or rain, available for only very short periods.
Y1  - 1986
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-30551
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mitesser, Oliver
A1  - Weissel, Norbert
A1  - Strohm, Erhard
A1  - Poethke, Hans-Joachim
T1  - Adaptive dynamic resource allocation in annual eusocial insects: Environmental variation will not necessarily promote graded control
N2  - Background: According to the classical model of Macevicz and Oster, annual eusocial insects should show a clear dichotomous "bang-bang" strategy of resource allocation; colony fitness is maximised when a period of pure colony growth (exclusive production of workers) is followed by a single reproductive period characterised by the exclusive production of sexuals. However, in several species graded investment strategies with a simultaneous production of workers and sexuals have been observed. Such deviations from the "bang-bang" strategy are usually interpreted as an adaptive (bet-hedging) response to environmental fluctuations such as variation in season length or food availability. To generate predictions about the optimal investment pattern of insect colonies in fluctuating environments, we slightly modified Macevicz and Oster's classical model of annual colony dynamics and used a dynamic programming approach nested into a recurrence procedure for the solution of the stochastic optimal control problem. Results: 1) The optimal switching time between pure colony growth and the exclusive production of sexuals decreases with increasing environmental variance. 2) Yet, for reasonable levels of environmental fluctuations no deviation from the typical bang-bang strategy is predicted. 3) Model calculations for the halictid bee Lasioglossum malachurum reveal that bet-hedging is not likely to be the reason for the graded allocation into sexuals versus workers observed in this species. 4) When environmental variance reaches a critical level our model predicts an abrupt change from dichotomous behaviour to graded allocation strategies, but the transition between colony growth and production of sexuals is not necessarily monotonic. Both, the critical level of environmental variance as well as the characteristic pattern of resource allocation strongly depend on the type of function used to describe environmental fluctuations. Conclusion: Up to now bet-hedging as an evolutionary response to variation in season length has been the main argument to explain field observations of graded resource allocation in annual eusocial insect species. However, our model shows that the effect of moderate fluctuations of environmental conditions does not select for deviation from the classical bang-bang strategy and that the evolution of graded allocation strategies can be triggered only by extreme fluctuations. Detailed quantitative observations on resource allocation in eusocial insects are needed to analyse the relevance of alternative explanations, e.g. logistic colony growth or reproductive conflict between queen and workers, for the evolution of graded allocation strategies.
KW  - Insekten
KW  - Fitness
KW  - Evolution
KW  - Sozialität
KW  - resource allocation
KW  - fitness
KW  - evolution
KW  - eusociality
KW  - insect
Y1  - 2007
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-45412
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Grund-Mueller, Nils
A1  - Ruedenauer, Fabian A.
A1  - Spaethe, Johannes
A1  - Leonhardt, Sara D.
T1  - Adding amino acids to a sucrose diet is not sufficient to support longevity of adult bumble bees
JF  - Insects
N2  - Dietary macro-nutrients (i.e., carbohydrates, protein, and fat) are important for bee larval development and, thus, colony health and fitness. To which extent different diets (varying in macro-nutrient composition) affect adult bees and whether they can thrive on nectar as the sole amino acid source has, however, been little investigated. We investigated how diets varying in protein concentration and overall nutrient composition affected consumption, longevity, and breeding behavior of the buff-tailed bumble bee, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Queenless micro-colonies were fed either natural nutrient sources (pollen), nearly pure protein (i.e., the milk protein casein), or sucrose solutions with low and with high essential amino acid content in concentrations as can be found in nectar. We observed micro-colonies for 110 days. We found that longevity was highest for pure pollen and lowest for pure sucrose solution and sucrose solution supplemented with amino acids in concentrations as found in the nectar of several plant species. Adding higher concentrations of amino acids to sucrose solution did only slightly increase longevity compared to sucrose alone. Consequently, sucrose solution with the applied concentrations and proportions of amino acids or other protein sources (e.g., casein) alone did not meet the nutritional needs of healthy adult bumble bees. In fact, longevity was highest and reproduction only successful in micro-colonies fed pollen. These results indicate that, in addition to carbohydrates and protein, adult bumble bees, like larvae, need further nutrients (e.g., lipids and micro-nutrients) for their well-being. An appropriate nutritional composition seemed to be best provided by floral pollen, suggesting that pollen is an essential dietary component not only for larvae but also for adult bees.
KW  - nutrition
KW  - nutrients
KW  - foraging
KW  - pollen
KW  - resources
KW  - adult bees
Y1  - 2020
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203866
SN  - 2075-4450
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Uttinger, Konstantin L.
A1  - Riedmeier, Maria
A1  - Reibetanz, Joachim
A1  - Meyer, Thomas
A1  - Germer, Christoph Thomas
A1  - Fassnacht, Martin
A1  - Wiegering, Armin
A1  - Wiegering, Verena
T1  - Adrenalectomies in children and adolescents in Germany – a diagnose related groups based analysis from 2009-2017
JF  - Frontiers in Endocrinology
N2  - Background
Adrenalectomies are rare procedures especially in childhood. So far, no large cohort study on this topic has been published with data on to age distribution, operative procedures, hospital volume and operative outcome.


Methods
This is a retrospective analysis of anonymized nationwide hospital billing data (DRG data, 2009-2017). All adrenal surgeries (defined by OPS codes) of patients between the age 0 and 21 years in Germany were included.


Results
A total of 523 patient records were identified. The mean age was 8.6 ± 7.7 years and 262 patients were female (50.1%). The majority of patients were between 0 and 5 years old (52% overall), while 11.1% were between 6 and 11 and 38.8% older than 12 years. The most common diagnoses were malignant neoplasms of the adrenal gland (56%, mostly neuroblastoma) with the majority being younger than 5 years. Benign neoplasms in the adrenal gland (D350) account for 29% of all cases with the majority of affected patients being 12 years or older. 15% were not defined regarding tumor behavior. Overall complication rate was 27% with a clear higher complication rate in resection for malignant neoplasia of the adrenal gland. Bleeding occurrence and transfusions are the main complications, followed by the necessary of relaparotomy. There was an uneven patient distribution between hospital tertiles (low volume, medium and high volume tertile). While 164 patients received surgery in 85 different “low volume” hospitals (0.2 cases per hospital per year), 205 patients received surgery in 8 different “high volume” hospitals (2.8 cases per hospital per year; p<0.001). Patients in high volume centers were significant younger, had more extended resections and more often malignant neoplasia. In multivariable analysis younger age, extended resections and open procedures were independent predictors for occurrence of postoperative complications.


Conclusion
Overall complication rate of adrenalectomies in the pediatric population in Germany is low, demonstrating good therapeutic quality. Our analysis revealed a very uneven distribution of patient volume among hospitals.
KW  - pediatric
KW  - neuroblastoma – diagnosis
KW  - therapy
KW  - adrenocortical adenocarcinoma
KW  - outcome
KW  - volume
KW  - adrenalectomia
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-282280
SN  - 1664-2392
VL  - 13
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Riedmeier, Maria
A1  - Decarolis, Boris
A1  - Haubitz, Imme
A1  - Müller, Sophie
A1  - Uttinger, Konstantin
A1  - Börner, Kevin
A1  - Reibetanz, Joachim
A1  - Wiegering, Armin
A1  - Härtel, Christoph
A1  - Schlegel, Paul-Gerhardt
A1  - Fassnacht, Martin
A1  - Wiegering, Verena
T1  - Adrenocortical carcinoma in childhood: a systematic review
JF  - Cancers
N2  - Adrenocortical tumors are rare in children. This systematic review summarizes the published evidence on pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to provide a basis for a better understanding of the disease, investigate new molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and define which patients may benefit from a more aggressive therapeutic approach. We included 137 studies with 3680 ACC patients (~65% female) in our analysis. We found no randomized controlled trials, so this review mainly reflects retrospective data. Due to a specific mutation in the TP53 gene in ~80% of Brazilian patients, that cohort was analyzed separately from series from other countries. Hormone analysis was described in 2569 of the 2874 patients (89%). Most patients were diagnosed with localized disease, whereas 23% had metastasis at primary diagnosis. Only 72% of the patients achieved complete resection. In 334 children (23%), recurrent disease was reported: 81% — local recurrence, 19% (n = 65) — distant metastases at relapse. Patients < 4 years old had a different distribution of tumor stages and hormone activity and better overall survival (p < 0.001). Although therapeutic approaches are typically multimodal, no consensus is available on effective standard treatments for advanced ACC. Thus, knowledge regarding pediatric ACC is still scarce and international prospective studies are needed to implement standardized clinical stratifications and risk-adapted therapeutic strategies.
KW  - pediatric adrenocortical cancer
KW  - pediatric adrenocortical adenoma
KW  - pediatric adrenocortical tumor
KW  - prognostic factors
KW  - therapy
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-248507
SN  - 2072-6694
VL  - 13
IS  - 21
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Cseh, Richard
T1  - Adsorption of phloretin to lipid layers
T1  - Adsorption von Phloretin an Lipidschichten
N2  - The mode of action of phloretin and its analogs on the permeability of natural membranes for neutral and charged molecules, such as urea, glucose and chloride has been characterized 25 years ago. In contrast to signal molecules with primary effects on transport systems of natural membranes, phloretin also affects model membranes, i.e., artificial membranes, which do not contain proteins. Since the dipole potential reducing effect of phloretin on mono- and bilayers has been found, it became clear that its primary effect must be a biophysical one: phloretin adsorbs to lipid layers and changes biophysical parameters of these layers. The aim of this work was the characterization of the interaction between the surface-active molecule phloretin and artificial lipid layers. We were able to describe structural and functional parameters of the model systems mono- and bilayer as functions of one or few variables. One of these parameters, the dipole potential, measured as a function of the aqueous phloretin concentration, allowed a critical examination of the Langmuir adsorption model that has been postulated for the interaction between phloretin and lipid layers. Surface pressure versus area per lipid molecule isotherms and surface (dipole) potential change versus area per lipid molecule isotherms, measured at lipid monolayers, allowed a structural description of the phloretin-lipid interaction: phloretin integrates into monolayers dependent on the surface pressure and the phase state of the lipid. Calorimetric measurements confirmed the integration of phloretin into membranes because of the strong decrease of the phase transition temperature, but they also showed that the cooperativity of phase transition is hardly affected, even at very high amounts of phloretin in the membrane. Obviously the interaction between phloretin and lipids is restricted to the head groups, an integration into the hydrocarbon layer is unlikely. 2H NMR measurements with spherical unilamellar vesicles of headgroup-deuterated lipid showed changed quadrupolar splittings indicating the interaction between phloretin and headgroups of the lipids.
N2  - Die Wirkung von Phloretin und seinen Analogen auf die Permeabilität von natürlichen Membranen für bestimmte ungeladene und geladene Moleküle wie z.B. Harnstoff, Glukose und Chlorid ist bereits vor 25 Jahren beschrieben worden. Im Gegensatz zu Signalmolekülen mit Primärwirkungen auf Transportsysteme natürlicher Membranen wirkt Phloretin auch auf Modellmembranen, d.h., künstliche, reine Lipidmembranen, die keine Proteine enthalten. Nach der Entdeckung des dipolpotential-reduzierenden Effekts von Phloretin auf Monolayer und Bilayer war klar, daß dessen primäre Wirkung biophysikalischer Natur sein mußte: Phloretin adsorbiert an Lipidschichten und verändert biophysikalische Parameter dieser Schichten. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Wechselwirkungen des oberflächenaktiven Moleküls Phloretin mit künstlichen Lipidschichten näher zu charakterisieren. Strukturelle und funktionelle Parameter der Modellsysteme Mono- und Bilayer konnten in Abhängigkeit einer oder weniger Variablen verfolgt und beschrieben werden. Einer dieser Parameter, das Dipolpotential, gemessen als Funktion der Phloretinkonzentration in der wässrigen Phase, erlaubte eine kritische Betrachtung des in der Literatur postulierten Langmuirschen Adsorptionsverhaltens von Phloretin. Oberflächendruck-molekulare Fläche Isothermen sowie Oberflächenpotential (Dipolpotential)-molekulare Fläche Isothermen, ermittelt an Lipidmonoschichten, erlaubten eine strukturelle Beschreibung der Phloretin-Lipid Wechselwirkung: Phloretin integriert in Monoschichten, wobei dieser Effekt stark abhängig ist vom Filmdruck und vom Phasenzustand des Lipids. Kalorimetrische Messungen bestätigten die Integration von Phloretin in Membranen durch eine starke Abnahme der Phasenübergangstemperatur, sie zeigten aber auch, daß die Kooperativität der Lipidmoleküle nur wenig beeinträchtigt wird, selbst bei sehr großen Mengen von Phloretin in der Membran. Die Wechselwirkung von Phloretin mit Lipiden ist offensichtlich beschränkt auf die Kopfgruppen, eine Integration in die hydrophobe Kohlenwasserstoffphase findet wahrscheinlich nicht statt. 2H NMR Messungen an sphärischen, unilamellaren Vesikeln aus kopfgruppen-deuteriertem Lipid zeigten unter dem Einfluß von Phloretin eine veränderte Quadrupol-Aufspaltung, was die Wechselwirkung von Phloretin mit den Kopfgruppen der Lipide belegt.
KW  - Phloretin
KW  - Lipide
KW  - Grenzflächenpotenzial
KW  - Phloretin
KW  - Oberflächendruck
KW  - Oberflächenpotential
KW  - Dipolpotential
KW  - Dipol-Dipol Wechselwirkung
KW  - Langmuir Adsorptionsisotherme
KW  - Phloretin
KW  - Surface pressure
KW  - Surface potential
KW  - Dipole potential
KW  - Dipole-dipole interaction
KW  - Langmuir adsorption isotherm
Y1  - 1999
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-1069
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Franke, Christian
T1  - Advancing Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy: Quantitative Analyses and Photometric Three-Dimensional Imaging
T1  - Weiterentwicklung von Einzel-Molekül Lokalisations-Mikroskopie: Quantitative Analysen und photometrische drei-dimensionale Bildgebung
N2  - Since its first experimental implementation in 2005, single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) emerged as a versatile and powerful imaging tool for biological structures with nanometer resolution. By now, SMLM has compiled an extensive track-record of novel insights in sub- and inter- cellular organization.\\
Moreover, since all SMLM techniques rely on the analysis of emission patterns from isolated fluorophores, they inherently allocate molecular information $per$ $definitionem$.\\ 
Consequently, SMLM transitioned from its origin as pure high-resolution imaging instrument towards quantitative microscopy, where the key information medium is no longer the highly resolved image itself, but the raw localization data set.\\
The work presented in this thesis is part of the ongoing effort to translate those $per$ $se$ molecular information gained by SMLM imaging to insights into the structural organization of the targeted protein or even beyond. Although largely consistent in their objectives, the general distinction between global or segmentation clustering approaches on one side and particle averaging or meta-analyses techniques on the other is usually made.\\

During the course of my thesis, I designed, implemented and employed numerous quantitative approaches with varying degrees of complexity and fields of application.\\ \\
In my first major project, I analyzed the localization distribution of the integral protein gp210 of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) with an iterative \textit{k}-means algorithm. Relating the distinct localization statistics of separated gp210 domains to isolated fluorescent signals led, among others, to the conclusion that the anchoring ring of the NPC consists of 8 homo-dimers of gp210.\\
This is of particular significance, both because it answered a decades long standing question about the nature of the gp210 ring and it showcased the possibility to gain structural information well beyond the resolution capabilities of SMLM by crafty quantification approaches.\\ \\
The second major project reported comprises an extensive study of the synaptonemal complex (SNC) and linked cohesin complexes. Here, I employed a multi-level meta-analysis of the localization sets of various SNC proteins to facilitate the compilation of a novel model of the molecular organization of the major SNC components with so far unmatched extend and detail with isotropic three-dimensional resolution.\\
In a second venture, the two murine cohesin components SMC3 and STAG3 connected to the SNC were analyzed. Applying an adapted algorithm, considering the disperse nature of cohesins, led to the realization that there is an apparent polarization of those cohesin complexes in the SNC, as well as a possible sub-structure of STAG3 beyond the resolution capabilities of SMLM.\\ \\
Other minor projects connected to localization quantification included the study of plasma membrane glycans regarding their overall localization distribution and particular homogeneity as well as the investigation of two flotillin proteins in the membrane of bacteria, forming clusters of distinct shapes and sizes.\\ \\
Finally, a novel approach to three-dimensional SMLM is presented, employing the precise quantification of single molecule emitter intensities. This method, named TRABI, relies on the principles of aperture photometry which were improved for SMLM.\\
With TRABI it was shown, that widely used Gaussian fitting based localization software underestimates photon counts significantly. This mismatch was utilized as a $z$-dependent parameter, enabling the conversion of 2D SMLM data to a virtual 3D space. Furthermore it was demonstrated, that TRABI can be combined beneficially with a multi-plane detection scheme, resulting in superior performance regarding axial localization precision and resolution.\\ 
Additionally, TRABI has been subsequently employed to photometrically characterize a novel dye for SMLM, revealing superior photo-physical properties at the single-molecule level.\\
Following the conclusion of this thesis, the TRABI method and its applications remains subject of diverse ongoing research.
N2  - Seit ihrer ersten experimentellen Umsetzung in 2005 hat sich die Einzel-Molekül Lokalisations-Mikroskopie (\textit{engl.} single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM)) als vielseitig einsetzbares Verfahren in der biologischen Bildgebung etabliert, vor allem aufgrund ihres hohen Auflösungsvermögens im Nanometer Bereich. Bis heute wurde eine Reihe neuer Erkenntnisse bezüglich der sub- und inter- zellulären Organisation durch den Einsatz der SMLM erlangt.\\
Aufgrund der Tatsache, dass alle SMLM Techniken auf dem Prinzip basieren, isolierte Fluorophore zu detektieren und zu analysieren, beinhalten SMLM Daten $per$ $definitionem$ molekulare Informationen.\\
Folgerichtig entwickelte sich das Feld der SMLM vom reinen Bildgebungsinstrument mit Nanometer-Auflösung hin zu quantitativer Mikroskopie, bei welcher der Fokus nicht länger vornehmlich auf dem hochaufgelöstem Bild, sondern vielmehr auf den Lokalisationsdaten liegt.\\
Die vorliegende Arbeit ist als Teil der anhaltenden Bestrebungen zu sehen, aus den $per$ $se$ molekularen Informationen der SMLM weiterführende Erkenntnisse über die strukturelle Organisation der markierten Proteine zu gewinnen. Obwohl mit der gleichen prinzipiellen Zielsetzung versehen, unterscheiden sich hierbei globale oder Segmentierungs- Clusteranalysen von Lokalisations-Meta-Analysen oder so genannten \textit{particle averaging} Ansätzen.\\

Während meiner Doktorarbeit habe ich verschiedene Quantifizierungs Ansätze entworfen, implementiert und angewendet, mit unterschiedlichen Graden an Komplexität und Breite des Anwendungsgebietes.\\ \\
In meinem ersten wesentlichem Projekt analysierte ich mit einem iterativen \textit{k}-means Algorithmus die Lokalisationsverteilung des integralen Proteins gp210, welches Teil des Kernporenkomplexes ist (\textit{engl.} nuclear pore complex (NPC)). Durch den Vergleich der charakteristischen Lokalisations-Statistik von separierten gp210 Domänen mit isolierten Fluoreszenzmarkern konnte unter anderem festgestellt werden, dass der Verankerungsring des NPC aus acht gp210 Homodimeren bestehen muss.\\
Diese Erkenntnis beantwortet zum einen eine jahrzehntealte Frage nach der Zusammensetzung des gp210 Rings und zum anderen liefert sie ein Beispiel dafür, dass durch eine geschickte Analyse der Lokalisationsstatistik strukturelle Informationen erlangt werden können, die jenseits des räumlichen Auflösungsvermögens von SMLM liegen.\\ \\
Das zweite hier vorgestellte wesentliche Projekt beinhaltet eine umfassende Studie des Synaptonemalen Komplexes (\textit{engl.} synaptonemal complex (SNC)) und damit verbundenen Cohesin Komplexen. Um die molekulare Organisation des SNC zu untersuchen, implementierte ich eine multi-level Meta-Analyse der Lokalisationsdaten mehrerer SNC Komponenten. Aus dessen Ergebnissen konnte ein neues drei dimensionales molekulares Modell des SNC erstellt werden.\\
Nachfolgend wurden die beiden murinen Cohesine SMC3 und STAG3 mit adaptierter Methodik untersucht. Hierbei musste die starke intrinsische Dispersion der Cohesin-Signale berücksichtigt werden. Die Analyse ergab deutliche Hinweise auf eine Polarisation der Cohesine innerhalb des SNC. Zudem zeigte sich eine mögliche Substruktur in der Organisation von STAG3, die unterhalb der Auflösungsgrenze von SMLM liegt.\\ \\
Weitere Nebenprojekte im Zusammenhang mit quantitativer Lokalisationsanalyse umfassten die Untersuchung der Lokalisationsverteilung von Plasma-Membran Glykanen, sowie zweier Flotillin Proteine in den Membranen von Bakterien, welche Cluster unterschiedlicher Form und Größe aufzeigten.\\ \\
Schließlich wird ein neuartiger Ansatz für dreidimensionale SMLM vorge-stellt, die auf der genauen Bestimmung von Einzel-Molekül Intensitäten basiert. Diese Methode, genannt TRABI, stützt sich auf die Prinzipien der Apertur Photometrie, welche für die SMLM angepasst und verbessert wurden.\\ 
Mit TRABI konnte gezeigt werden, dass weit verbreitete Lokalisations-Software, die auf $Gaussian-Fitting$ basiert, die Photonenzahl von Emittern oftmals stark unterschätzt. Diese Diskrepanz kann als $z$-abhängiger Parameter verwendet werden um z.B. einen 2D SMLM Datenatz in einen virtuellen 3D Raum zu überführen. Außerdem wird gezeigt, dass TRABI vorteilhaft mit einem multi-plane Detektionsschema kombiniert werden kann und dabei höhere axiale Lokalisationsgenauigkeiten und Auflösungen er-reicht.\\
Zudem wurde TRABI eingesetzt, um einen neuen Fluoreszenzfarbstoff für SMLM zu charakterisieren und dessen verbesserte photo-physikalische Eigenschaften auf Einzel-Molekül Basis zu demonstrieren.\\
Auch nach Abschluss dieser Arbeit ist die TRABI Methode und deren Anwendung weiterhin Gegenstand diverser Forschungen.
KW  - Einzelmolekülmikroskopie
KW  - Quantitative Mikroskopie
KW  - dSTORM
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-156355
ER  - 
TY  - RPRT
A1  - Groß, Lennart
T1  - Advices derived from troubleshooting a sensor-based adaptive optics direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscope
T1  - Hinweise aus der Fehleranalyse eines Mikroskops mit direkter stochastischer optischer Rekonstruktion und sensorgestützter adaptiver Optik
N2  - One rarely finds practical guidelines for the implementation of complex optical setups. Here, we aim to provide technical details on the decision making of building and revising a custom sensor-based adaptive optics (AO) direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscope (dSTORM) to provide practical assistance in setting up or troubleshooting similar devices.
The foundation of this report is an instrument constructed as part of a master's thesis in 2021, which was built for deep tissue imaging. The setup is presented in the following way: (1) An optical and mechanical overview of the system at the beginning of this internship is given. (2) The optical components are described in detail in the order at which the light passes through, highlighting their working principle and implementation in the system. The optical component include (2A) a focus on even sample illumination, (2B) restoring telecentricity when working with commercial microscope bodies, (2C) the AO elements, namely the deformable mirror (DM) and the wavefront sensor, and their integration, and (2D) the separation of wavefront and image capture using fluorescent beads and a dichroic mirror. After addressing the limitations of the existing setup, modification options are derived. The modifications include the implementation of adjustment only light paths to improve system stability and revise the degrees of freedom of the components and changes in lens choices to meet the specifications of the AO components. Last, the capabilities of the modified setup are presented and discussed: (1) First, we enable epifluorescence imaging of bead samples through 180 µm unstained murine hippocampal tissue with wavefront error correction of ~ 90  %. Point spread function, wavefront shape and Zernike decomposition of bead samples are presented. (2) Second, we move from epifluorescent to dSTORM imaging of tubulin stained primary mouse hippocampal cells, which are imaged through up to 180 µm of unstained murine hippocampal tissue. We show that full width at half maximum (FWHM) of prominent features can be reduced in size by nearly a magnitude from uncorrected epiflourescence images to dSTORM images corrected by the adaptive optics. We present dSTORM localization count and FWHM of prominent features as as a function of imaging depth.
N2  - Praktische Leitlinien für die Implementierung komplexer optischer Systeme sind selten zu finden. Hier wollen wir technische Details zur Entscheidungsfindung beim Bau und der Überarbeitung eines maßgefertigten Mikroskops mit sensorgestützter adaptiver Optik (AO) und direkter stochastischer optischer Rekonstruktion (dSTORM) bereitstellen, um praktische Hilfestellung bei der Einrichtung oder Fehlerbehebung ähnlicher Geräte zu geben. Grundlage dieses Berichts ist ein Instrument, das im Rahmen einer Masterarbeit im Jahr 2021 für die Abbildung von tiefem Gewebe gebaut wurde. Der Aufbau wird wie folgt dargestellt: (1) Es wird ein optischer und mechanischer Überblick über das System zu Beginn dieses Praktikums gegeben. (2) Die optischen Komponenten werden in der Reihenfolge, in der das Licht sie durchläuft, detailliert beschrieben und ihre Funktionsweise und Umsetzung im System hervorgehoben. Zu den optischen Komponenten gehören (2A) ein Fokus auf gleichmäßige Probenausleuchtung, (2B) die Wiederherstellung der Telezentrizität bei der Arbeit mit handelsüblichen Mikroskopkörpern, (2C) die AO-Elemente, nämlich der deformierbare Spiegel (DM) und der Wellenfrontsensor, und deren Integration, sowie (2D) die Trennung von Wellenfront- und Bilderfassung mittels fluoreszierender Beads und einem dichroitischen Spiegel. Nachdem die Einschränkungen des bestehenden Aufbaus angesprochen wurden, werden Modifikationsmöglichkeiten abgeleitet. Die Modifikationen umfassen die Implementierung von Justage-Lichtpfaden, um die Systemstabilität zu verbessern und die Freiheitsgrade der Komponenten zu überarbeiten, sowie Änderungen bei der Auswahl der Linsen, um die Spezifikationen der AO-Komponenten zu erfüllen. Abschließend werden die Ergebnisse des modifizierten Aufbaus vorgestellt und diskutiert: (1) Zunächst ermöglichen wir die Epifluoreszenz-Abbildung von Bead-Proben durch 180 µm ungefärbtes Hippocampus-Gewebe der Maus mit einer Wellenfront-Fehlerkorrektur von ~ 90 %. Es werden Punktspreizungsfunktion, Wellenfrontform und Zernike-Zerlegung von Bead-Proben vorgestellt. (2) Zweitens gehen wir von der Epifluoreszenz zur dSTORM-Bildgebung von Tubulin-gefärbten primären Hippocampuszellen der Maus über, die durch bis zu 180 µm ungefärbtes Hippocampusgewebe der Maus abgebildet werden. Wir zeigen, dass die Halbwertsbreite (Full Width at Half Maximum, FWHM) auffälliger Merkmale von unkorrigierten Epifloureszenz-Bildern zu dSTORM-Bildern, die durch die adaptive Optik korrigiert wurden, um fast eine Größenordnung reduziert werden kann. Wir präsentieren die Anzahl der dSTORM-Lokalisierungen und die FWHM auffälliger Merkmale als Funktion der Abbildungstiefe.
KW  - Einzelmolekülmikroskopie
KW  - Adaptive Optik
KW  - Adaptive Optics
KW  - Single Molecule Localization Microscopy
KW  - dSTORM
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-289951
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dandekar, Thomas
A1  - Gramsch, Christian
A1  - Houghton, Richard A.
A1  - Schultz, Rüdiger
T1  - Affinity purification of \(\beta\)-endorphin-like material from NG108CC15 cells by means of the monoclonal \(\beta\)-endorphin antibody 3-E7
N2  - No abstract available
Y1  - 1985
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-29896
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Schardt, Simon
T1  - Agent-based modeling of cell differentiation in mouse ICM organoids
T1  - Agentenbasierte Modellierung von Maus ICM Organoiden
N2  - Mammalian embryonic development is subject to complex biological relationships that need to be understood. However, before the whole structure of development can be put together, the individual building blocks must first be understood in more detail. One of these building blocks is the second cell fate decision and describes the differentiation of cells of the inner cell mass of the embryo into epiblast and primitive endoderm cells. These cells then spatially segregate and form the subsequent bases for the embryo and yolk sac, respectively. In organoids of the inner cell mass, these two types of progenitor cells are also observed to form, and to some extent to spatially separate. This work has been devoted to these phenomena over the past three years. Plenty of studies already provide some insights into the basic mechanics of this cell differentiation, such that the first signs of epiblast and primitive endoderm differentiation, are the expression levels of transcription factors NANOG and GATA6. Here, cells with low expression of GATA6 and high expression of NANOG adopt the epiblast fate. If the expressions are reversed, a primitive endoderm cell is formed. Regarding the spatial segregation of the two cell types, it is not yet clear what mechanism leads to this. A common hypothesis suggests the differential adhesion of cell as the cause for the spatial rearrangement of cells. In this thesis however, the possibility of a global cell-cell communication is investigated. The approach chosen to study these phenomena follows the motto "mathematics is biology's next microscope". Mathematical modeling is used to transform the central gene regulatory network at the heart of this work into a system of equations that allows us to describe the temporal evolution of NANOG and GATA6 under the influence of an external signal. Special attention is paid to the derivation of new models using methods of statistical mechanics, as well as the comparison with existing models. After a detailed stability analysis the advantages of the derived model become clear by the fact that an exact relationship of the model parameters and the formation of heterogeneous mixtures of two cell types was found. Thus, the model can be easily controlled and the proportions of the resulting cell types can be estimated in advance. This mathematical model is also combined with a mechanism for global cell-cell communication, as well as a model for the growth of an organoid. It is shown that the global cell-cell communication is able to unify the formation of checkerboard patterns as well as engulfing patterns based on differently propagating signals. In addition, the influence of cell division and thus organoid growth on pattern formation is studied in detail. It is shown that this is able to contribute to the formation of clusters and, as a consequence, to breathe some randomness into otherwise perfectly sorted patterns.
N2  - Die embryonale Entwicklung von Säugetieren unterliegt komplexen biologischen Zusammenhängen, die es zu verstehen gilt. Bevor jedoch das gesamte Gebilde der Entwicklung zusammengesetzt werden kann, müssen zunächst die einzelnen Bausteine genauer verstanden werden. Einer dieser Bausteine ist die zweite Zellschicksalsentscheidung und beschreibt die Differenzierung von Zellen der inneren Zellmasse des Embryos hin zu Epiblast- und primitiven Endodermzellen. Diese Zellen teilen sich daraufhin räumlich auf und bilden die anschließend die Grundlagen für den Embryo und den Dottersack. In Organoiden der inneren Zellmasse wird ebenfalls beobachtet, wie sich diese zwei Typen von Vorläuferzellen bilden, und sich in gewissem Maße räumlich voneinander trennen. Diesem Phänomenen widmete sich diese Arbeit im Verlaufe der letzten drei Jahre. Über diese Zelldifferenzierung ist bereits bekannt, dass die ersten Anzeichen für Epiblast- und primitive Endodermdifferenzierung jeweils die Expressionslevel der Transkriptionsfaktoren NANOG und GATA6 sind. Dabei nehmen Zellen mit niedriger Expression an GATA6 und hoher Expression an NANOG das Epiblastschicksal an. Sind die Expressionen umgekehrt, so entsteht eine primitive Endodermzelle. Bei der räumlichen Aufteilung der beiden Zelltypen ist noch nicht eindeutig geklärt, welcher Mechanismus dazu führt. Eine gängige Hypothese besagt, dass die Ursache für die räumliche Umlagerung der Zellen in der unterschiedlichen Adhäsion der Zellen liegt. In dieser Arbeit wird jedoch die Möglichkeit einer globalen Zell-Zell-Kommunikation untersucht. Die gewählte Vorgehensweise bei der Untersuchung dieser Phänomene folgt dem Motto "Die Mathematik ist das nächste Mikroskop der Biologie". Mit Hilfe mathematischer Modellierung wird das zentrale genregulierende Netzwerk im Mittelpunkt dieser Arbeit in ein Gleichungssystem umgewandelt, welches es ermöglicht, die zeitliche Entwicklung von NANOG und GATA6 unter Einfluss eines externen Signals zu beschreiben. Ein besonderes Augenmerk liegt dabei auf der Herleitung neuer Modelle mit Hilfe von Methoden der statistischen Mechanik, sowie dem Vergleich mit bestehenden Modellen. Nach einer ausführlichen Stabilitätsanalyse werden die Vorteile des hergeleiteten Modells dadurch deutlich, dass ein exakter Zusammenhang der Modellparameter und der Formierung von heterogenen Mischungen zweier Zelltypen gefunden wurde. Dadurch lässt sich das Modell einfach kontrollieren und die Proportionen der resultierenden Zelltypen bereits im Voraus abschätzen. Dieses mathematische Modell wird außerdem kombiniert mit einem Mechanismus zur globalen Zell-Zell Kommunikation, sowie einem Modell zum Wachstum eines Organoiden. Dabei wird gezeigt dass die globale Zell-Zell Kommunikation dazu in der Lage ist die Bildung von Schachbrettmustern, sowie auch umrandenden Muster anhand unterschiedlich ausbreitender Signale zu vereinen. Zusätzlich wird der Einfluss der Zellteilung und somit des Organoidwachstums auf die Musterbildung genauestens untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass dies zur Bildung von Clustern beiträgt und infolgedessen eine gewisse Zufälligkeit in ansonsten perfekt sortierte Muster einbringt.
KW  - Mathematische Modellierung
KW  - Embryonalentwicklung
KW  - Organoid
KW  - Differentialgleichung
KW  - Agentenbasierte Modellierung
KW  - Transkriptionelle Regulierung
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-301940
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Becker, Nils
A1  - Kucharski, Robert
A1  - Rössler, Wolfgang
A1  - Maleszka, Ryszard
T1  - Age‐dependent transcriptional and epigenomic responses to light exposure in the honey bee brain
JF  - FEBS Open Bio
N2  - Light is a powerful environmental stimulus of special importance in social honey bees that undergo a behavioral transition from in-hive to outdoor foraging duties. Our previous work has shown that light exposure induces structural neuronal plasticity in the mushroom bodies (MBs), a brain center implicated in processing inputs from sensory modalities. Here, we extended these analyses to the molecular level to unravel light-induced transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in the honey bee brain. We have compared gene expression in brain compartments of 1- and 7-day-old light-exposed honey bees with age-matched dark-kept individuals. We have found a number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), both novel and conserved, including several genes with reported roles in neuronal plasticity. Most of the DEGs show age-related changes in the amplitude of light-induced expression and are likely to be both developmentally and environmentally regulated. Some of the DEGs are either known to be methylated or are implicated in epigenetic processes suggesting that responses to light exposure are at least partly regulated at the epigenome level. Consistent with this idea light alters the DNA methylation pattern of bgm, one of the DEGs affected by light exposure, and the expression of microRNA miR-932. This confirms the usefulness of our approach to identify candidate genes for neuronal plasticity and provides evidence for the role of epigenetic processes in driving the molecular responses to visual stimulation.
KW  - DNA methylation
KW  - insect brain
KW  - light-induced gene expression
KW  - microRNA
KW  - neuronal plasticity
Y1  - 2016
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-147080
VL  - 6
IS  - 7
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Krimmer, Elena
T1  - Agri-environment schemes and ecosystem services: The influence of different sown flower field characteristics on pollination, natural pest control and crop yield
T1  - Agrarumweltmaßnahmen und Ökosystemdienstleistungen: der Einfluss unterschiedlicher Blühflächen Merkmale auf Bestäubung, natürliche Schädlingskontrolle und Erträge
N2  - Insects are responsible for the major part of the ecosystem services pollination and natural pest control. If insects decline, these ecosystem services can not longer be reliably delivered. Agricultural intensification and the subsequent loss and fragmentation of habitats has among others been identified to cause insect decline. Ecological intensification aims to promote alternative and sustainable management practices in agricultural farming, for example to decrease the use of external inputs such as pesticides. Agri-environment schemes make amends for farmers if they integrate ecologically beneficial measures into their farming regime and can therefore promote ecological intensification. There is a wide variety of agri-environment schemes, but the implementation of sown flower fields on crop fields is often included. Flower fields offer foraging resources as well as nesting sites for many different insect species and should be able to support insect populations as well as to increase ecosystem services to adjacent fields. However, the potential of flower fields to exhibit these effects is depending on many factors. Among others, the age and size of the flower field can influence if and how different insects profit from the measure. Additionally, the complexity of the surrounding landscape and therefore the existing biodiversity is influencing the potential of flower fields to increase ecosystem services locally. The goal of this study is to disentangle to which degree these factors influence the ecosystem services pollination and natural pest control and if these factors interact with each other. Furthermore, it will be examined if and how flower fields and ecosystem services influence crop yield. Additional factors examined in this study are distance decay and pesticide use. The abundance of beneficial insects can decrease strongly with increasing distance to suitable habitats. Pesticide use in turn could abrogate positive effects of flower fields on beneficial insects. 
	To examine these different aspects and to be able to make recommendations for flower field implementation, field experiments were conducted on differently composed sown flower fields and adjacent oilseed rape fields. Flower fields differed in their age and continuity as well as in their size. Additionally, flower and oilseed rape fields were chosen in landscapes with different amounts of semi-natural habitat. Oilseed rape fields adjacent to calcareous grasslands and conventional crop fields served as controls. Pollinator observations and pollen beetle and parasitism surveys were conducted in the oilseed rape fields. Additionally, different yield parameters of the oilseed rape plants were recorded. Observations were conducted and samples taken in increasing distance to the flower fields to examine distance decay functions. Spray windows were established to inspect the influence of pesticides on ecosystem services and crop yields. Linear mixed models were used for statistical analysis. 
	The results show, that newly established flower fields with high amounts of flower cover are very attractive for pollinators. If the flower fields reached a certain size (> 1.5ha), the pollinators tended to stay in these fields and did not distribute into the surroundings. High amounts of semi-natural habitat in the surrounding landscape increased the value of small flower fields as starting points for pollinators and their subsequent spillover into crop fields. Additionally, high amounts of semi-natural habitat decreased the decay of pollinators with increasing distance to the flower fields. Based on these results, it can be recommended to establish many small flower fields in landscapes with high amounts of semi-natural habitat and large flower fields in landscapes with low amounts of semi-natural habitat. However, it is mentionable that flower fields are no substitute for perennial semi-natural habitats. These still must be actively conserved to increase pollination to crop fields. 
	Furthermore, the lowest amount of pollen beetle infestation was found on oilseed rape fields adjacent to continuous flower fields aged older than 6 years. Flower fields and calcareous grasslands in general increased pollen beetle parasitism in adjacent oilseed rape fields compared to conventional crop fields. The threshold for effective natural pest control could only be reached in the pesticide free areas in the oilseed rape fields adjacent to continuous flower fields and calcareous grasslands. Parasitism and superparasitism declined with increasing distance to the adjacent fields in pesticide treated areas of the oilseed rape fields. However, they remained on a similar level in spray windows without pesticides. Large flower fields increased parasitism and superparasitism more than small flower fields. Flower fields generally have the potential to increase pollen beetle parasitism rates, but pesticides can abrogate these positive effects of flower fields on natural pest control. 
	Last but not least, effects of flower fields and ecosystem services on oilseed rape yield were examined. No positive effects of pollination on oilseed rape yield could be found. Old and continuous flower fields increased natural pest control in oilseed rape fields, which in turn increased seed set and total seed weight of oilseed rape plants. The pesticide treatment had negative effects on natural pest control, but positive effects on crop yield. Pollination and natural pest control decreased with increasing distance to the field edge, but fruit set slightly increased. The quality of the field in terms of soil and climatic conditions did not influence the yield parameters examined in this study. Yield formation in oilseed rape plants is a complex process with many factors involved, and it is difficult to disentangle indirect effects of flower fields on yield. However, perennial flower fields can promote ecological intensification by increasing crop yield via natural pest control. This study contributes to a better understanding of the effects of differently composed flower fields on pollination, natural pest control and oilseed rape yield.
N2  - Insekten sind für einen Großteil der Ökosystemdienstleistungen Bestäubung und natürliche Schädlingskontrolle zuständig. Schwinden die Insekten, so können diese Dienstleistungen nicht mehr zuverlässig gewährleistet werden. Als Ursachen für den Rückgang an Insekten wurde unter anderem die Intensivierung der Landwirtschaft und damit einhergehend der Verlust und die Fragmentierung von Lebensraum identifiziert. Ökologische Intensivierung hat das Ziel, alternative und nachhaltige Bewirtschaftungsmethoden in der Landwirtschaft zu fördern und beispielsweise den Einsatz von Spritzmitteln zu verringern. Agrarumweltmaßnahmen entschädigen Landwirte, wenn sie ökologisch wertvolle Maßnahmen in ihren Betrieb integrieren und können dadurch ökologische Intensivierung unterstützen. Die Bandbreite an Agrarumweltmaßnahmen ist groß, beinhaltet aber häufig das Anlegen von Blühflächen auf Ackerflächen. Blühflächen liefern Nahrungsressourcen und Lebensraum für eine Vielzahl von Insekten und sollten daher in der Lage sein Insektenpopulationen zu unterstützen und Ökosystemdienstleistungen auf angrenzenden Feldern zu verstärken. Jedoch ist das ökologische Potential von Blühflächen von einer Vielzahl von Faktoren abhängig. Unter anderem können das Alter und die Größe der Blühfläche entscheidend beeinflussen, inwiefern unterschiedliche Insektengruppen profitieren. Zusätzlich hat die Landschaftskomplexität der direkten Umgebung, und damit die potentiell vorhandene Biodiversität, großen Einfluss auf die Fähigkeit von Blühflächen Ökosystemdienstleistungen lokal zu erhöhen. In dieser Studie geht es darum zu entschlüsseln, wie sich diese verschiedenen Faktoren sich auf die beiden Ökosystemdienstleistungen Bestäubung und natürliche Schädlingskontrolle auswirken und ob sie sich gegenseitig beeinflussen. Zusätzlich soll untersucht werden, inwiefern Blühflächen und Ökosystemdienstleistungen Erträge beeinflussen können. Weitere in dieser Studie untersuchte Einflussfaktoren sind die Distanz zur Blühfläche und der Einsatz von Pestiziden. Die Abundanz von Nützlingen kann mit der Distanz zu geeigneten Habitaten stark abnehmen. Der Einsatz von Spritzmitteln wiederum könnte die positiven Einflüsse der Blühflächen auf Nützlinge aufheben. 
Um diese verschiedenen Aspekte zu untersuchen und letztendlich Empfehlung für die Etablierung von Blühflächen geben zu können, wurden Feldversuche auf Blühflächen mit unterschiedlicher Beschaffenheit und auf angrenzenden Rapsflächen durchgeführt. Die Blühflächen unterschieden sich hierbei in ihrem Alter und ihrer Kontinuität. Zusätzlich wurden Blühflächen mit unterschiedlicher Größe getestet. Außerdem wurden die Blühflächen und ihre benachbarten Rapsfelder so ausgewählt, dass sie sich in Landschaften mit unterschiedlichem Anteil an halbnatürlichen Habitaten befinden. Rapsflächen neben Kalkmagerrasen und Äckern mit konventionellen Feldfrüchten dienten als Kontrollflächen. Auf den Rapsflächen wurden Bestäuberbeobachtungen sowie Aufnahmen von Rapsglanzkäferbefall und deren Parasitierung durchgeführt. Zusätzlich wurden verschiedene Ertragsparameter von Raps aufgenommen. Die Untersuchungen fanden jeweils in unterschiedlichen Distanzen zur Blühfläche innerhalb des Rapsfeldes statt, um Distanz-Abnahme Funktionen zu untersuchen. Spritzfenster wurden etabliert, um den Einfluss von Pestiziden auf Ökosystemdienstleistungen und Erträge zu untersuchen. Für die statistische Auswertung wurden lineare gemischte Modelle verwendet.
Die Ergebnisse haben zum einen gezeigt, dass frisch angelegte Blühflächen mit hoher Blütendeckung sehr attraktiv für Bestäuber sind. Jedoch blieben die Bestäuber in den Blühflächen, wenn diese eine gewisse Größe hatten (> 1.5ha) und verteilten sich nicht auf die umgebenden Flächen. Ein hoher Anteil an halbnatürlichen Habitaten in der umgebenden Landschaft erhöhte den Wert von kleinen Blühflächen als Ausgangspunkt für Bestäuber und ihren anschließenden Übergang auf Ackerflächen. Hohe Mengen an halbnatürlichen Habitaten verringerten außerdem den Rückgang der Bestäuber mit steigender Entfernung zur Blühfläche. Auf Grundlage dieser Ergenisse wäre es zu empfehlen, kleine Blühflächen in Landschaften mit viel halbnatürlichem Habitat und große Blühflächen in Landschaften mit wenig halbnatürlichem Habitat anzulegen. Außerdem ist anzumerken, dass Blühflächen keinen adequaten Ersatz für dauerhafte halbantürliche Habitate darstellen. Diese müssen weiterhin aktiv geschützt und erhalten werden, um Bestäubung auf Ackerflächen zu fördern. Des Weiteren wurde auf Rapsflächen neben kontinuierlichen Blühflächen mit einem Alter über 6 Jahre der niedrigste Befall mit Rapsglanzkäferlarven festgestellt. Blühflächen und Kalkmagerrasen erhöhten die Parasitierung von Rapsglanzkäfern in benachbarten Rapsflächen im Vergleich zu Rapsflächen die neben Ackerflächen liegen. Der Schwellenwert für eine effektive natürliche Schädlingskontrolle wurde nur in den pestizidfreien Bereichen in Rapsflächen neben kontinuierlichen Blühflächen und Kalkmagerasen erreicht. In mit Pestiziden behandelten Bereichen nahmen Parasitismus und Superparasitismus mit zunehmender Entfernung zum benachbarten Feld ab. In den Spritzfenstern ohne Pestizide blieben sie jedoch auf dem gleichen Niveau. Große Blühflächen erhöhten Parasitismus und Superparasitismus mehr als kleine. Insgesamt können Blühflächen die Parasitierungsraten von Rapsglanzkäfern auf Rapsflächen erhöhen, jedoch können Pestizide diese positiven Effekte aufheben. 
Zuletzt wurden die Effekte von Blühflächen und Ökosystemdienstleistungen auf den Rapsertrag untersucht. Hier stellte sich heraus, dass Bestäubung keine positiven Effekte auf den Rapsertrag hatte. Alte und kontinuierliche Blühflächen erhöhten die natürliche Schädlingskontrolle in den Rapsfeldern, welche wiederrum den Samenansatz und das absolute Samengewicht erhöhten. Die Behandlung mit Pestiziden hatte negative Asuwirkungen auf natürliche Schädlingskontrolle, aber positive Auswirkungen auf den Ertrag. Bestäubung und natürliche Schädlingskontrolle nahmen mit der zunehmenden Entfernung zum Feldrand ab, aber der Fruchtansatz nahm leicht zu. Die Feldqualität hatte keine Auswirkungen auf die im Modell untersuchten Rapsertrag Messwerte. Ertragsbildung bei Rapspflanzen ist ein komplexer Vorgang an dem viele Faktoren beteiligt sind. Mehrjährige Blühflächen können ökologische Intensivierung fördern indem sie den Ertrag durch natürliche Schädlingskontrolle erhöhen. Diese Studie leistet einen wertvollen Beitrag zum besseren Verständnis der Auswirkungen von unterschiedlich beschaffenen Blühflächen auf Bestäubung, natürliche Schädlingskontrolle und Rapsertrag.
KW  - Ökologie
KW  - Agrarumweltmaßnahmen
KW  - Ökosystemdienstleistung
Y1  - 2021
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-206577
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lasway, Julius V.
A1  - Peters, Marcell K.
A1  - Njovu, Henry K.
A1  - Eardley, Connal
A1  - Pauly, Alain
A1  - Steffan‐Dewenter, Ingolf
T1  - Agricultural intensification with seasonal fallow land promotes high bee diversity in Afrotropical drylands
JF  - Journal of Applied Ecology
N2  - The exponential increase in the human population in tandem with increased food demand has caused agriculture to be the global‐dominant form of land use. Afrotropical drylands are currently facing the loss of natural savannah habitats and agricultural intensification with largely unknown consequences for bees. Here we investigate the effects of agricultural intensification on bee assemblages in the Afrotropical drylands of northern Tanzania. We disentangled the direct effects of agricultural intensification and temperature on bee richness from indirect effects mediated by changes in floral resources.

We collected data from 24 study sites representing three levels of management intensity (natural savannah, moderate intensive and highly intensive agriculture) spanning an extensive gradient of mean annual temperature (MAT) in northern Tanzania. We used ordinary linear models and path analysis to test the effects of agricultural intensity and MAT on bee species richness, bee species composition and body‐size variation of bee communities.

We found that bee species richness increased with agricultural intensity and with increasing temperature. The effects of agricultural intensity and temperature on bee species richness were mediated by the positive effects of agriculture and temperature on the richness of floral resources used by bees. During the off‐growing season, agricultural land was characterized by an extensive period of fallow land holding a very high density of flowering plants with unique bee species composition. The increase in bee diversity in agricultural habitats paralleled an increasing variation of bee body sizes with agricultural intensification that, however, diminished in environments with higher temperatures.

Synthesis and applications. Our study reveals that bee assemblages in Afrotropical drylands benefit from agricultural intensification in the way it is currently practiced. However, further land‐use intensification, including year‐round irrigated crop monocultures and excessive use of agrochemicals, is likely to exert a negative impact on bee diversity and pollination services, as reported in temperate regions. Moreover, several bee species were restricted to natural savannah habitats. To conserve bee communities and guarantee pollination services in the region, a mixture of savannah and agriculture, with long periods of fallow land should be maintained.
KW  - bee abundance
KW  - bee body size
KW  - bee species richness
KW  - forage resources
KW  - inter‐tegular distance
KW  - mean annual temperature
KW  - northern Tanzania
KW  - species community composition
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-311877
VL  - 59
IS  - 12
SP  - 3014
EP  - 3026
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Breeze, Tom D.
A1  - Vaissiere, Bernhard E.
A1  - Bommarco, Riccardo
A1  - Petanidou, Theodora
A1  - Seraphides, Nicos
A1  - Kozak, Lajos
A1  - Scheper, Jeroen
A1  - Biesmeijer, Jacobus C.
A1  - Kleijn, David
A1  - Gyldenkærne, Steen
A1  - Moretti, Marco
A1  - Holzschuh, Andrea
A1  - Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf
A1  - Stout, Jane C.
A1  - Pärtel, Meelis
A1  - Zobel, Martin
A1  - Potts, Simon G.
T1  - Agricultural Policies Exacerbate Honeybee Pollination Service Supply-Demand Mismatches Across Europe
JF  - PLOS ONE
N2  - Declines in insect pollinators across Europe have raised concerns about the supply of pollination services to agriculture. Simultaneously, EU agricultural and biofuel policies have encouraged substantial growth in the cultivated area of insect pollinated crops across the continent. Using data from 41 European countries, this study demonstrates that the recommended number of honeybees required to provide crop pollination across Europe has risen 4.9 times as fast as honeybee stocks between 2005 and 2010. Consequently, honeybee stocks were insufficient to supply >90% of demands in 22 countries studied. These findings raise concerns about the capacity of many countries to cope with major losses of wild pollinators and highlight numerous critical gaps in current understanding of pollination service supplies and demands, pointing to a pressing need for further research into this issue.
KW  - economy services
KW  - fruit set
KW  - sequential introduction
KW  - enhance
KW  - biodiversity
KW  - abundance
KW  - declines
KW  - crops
KW  - colonies
KW  - density
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-117692
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  - 
TY  - THES
A1  - Schäfer, Rolf
T1  - Aktivierung von Caspasen in AKR-2B Mausfibroblasten
T1  - Activation of caspases in AKR-2B mouse fibroblasts
N2  - In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte die essentielle Beteiligung von Caspasen im Zelltodmodell der AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten nachgewiesen und ihre Aktivitäten charakterisiert werden. AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten stellen eine subklonierte und gut charakterisierte Zellinie dar, in der durch Entzug des Serums der Zelltod induziert wird. Während des Zelltods sterben innerhalb von 6h etwa 50 Prozent einer dichtearretierten Kultur. Die überlebenden Zellen bleiben von diesem Mangelzustand für mindestens weitere 48h unbeeinflußt, benötigen aber zum Überleben eine Proteinneusynthese. Der Zelltod zeigt für eine Apoptose typische morphologische Veränderungen der Zelle, obwohl apoptotische Charakteristika, wie die oligonukleosomale Fragmentierung der DNA oder die Aufnahme der zerfallenen Zelle durch benachbarte Zellen, ausbleiben. Mittels unterschiedlicher Methoden konnte die Expression von mRNA aller für den apoptotischen Prozeß bekannten relevanten Caspasen in den AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten nachgewiesen werden. Die Caspasen-1, -2, -3, -6 und -9 liegen in ihrer zymogenen Form konstitutiv in den Zellen vor. Mit Ausnahme der Caspase-9 konnte die durch Serumentzug induzierte Spaltung dieser Caspasen in Untereinheiten und somit ihre Aktivierung nicht detektiert werden. Die wesentliche Beteiligung dieser Cystein-Proteasen wurde jedoch durch den protektiven Effekt spezifischer Inhibitoren und den Nachweis ihrer spezifischen Aktivität bestimmt. Die Charakterisierung dieser enzymatischen Aktivitäten lieferte Hinweise zur Identität der aktivierten Caspasen. Neben einer konstitutiven VEIDase- und IETDase-Aktivität wird 3h nach Entzug des Serums eine DEVDase maximal aktiviert. Das Gemisch an Caspase-Aktivitäten wird durch eine DEVDase dominiert. Diese Aktivität wird zum größten Teil durch nur ein Enzym gestellt, wie durch eine Affinitätsmarkierung und 2D-Gelelektrophorese gezeigt wurde. KM- und Ki-Wert-Bestimmungen der DEVDase deuten darauf hin, daß dieses Enzym typische Effektoreigenschaften, wie die der Caspase-3, besitzt. Daneben werden Lamine während des Zelltods in AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten abgebaut, was auf eine aktivierte Caspase-6 hinweist. Die enzymatischen Charakteristika dieser Protease weichen aber von den in AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten festgestellten Werten deutlich ab, so daß man ihr nur eine untergeordnete Rolle im Caspasen-Gemisch zuordnen kann. Eine mehrfach chromatographische Reinigung der Aktivität bietet die beste Grundlage für eine anschließende Sequenzierung der Caspase mit dem Ziel ihrer Identifizierung. Durch die Expression des viralen Caspase-Inhibitors CrmA konnte eine tragende Rolle der Caspase-8 und damit des Rezeptor-vermittelten Weges in der Initiierung des apoptotischen Programms in AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten ausgeschlossen werden. Gleiches gilt für den mitochondrial-vermittelten Weg, für dessen Beteiligung, bis auf die Spaltung der Caspase-9, keine Hinweise vorliegen. Der Weg, der zur Aktivierung der DEVDase führt, ist Ziel gegenwärtiger Untersuchungen. Substanzen, die Signalwege aktivieren PDGF-BB, TPA, Forskolin und 8Br-cAMP) oder auch Substanzen, deren Verbindung zu Signalwegen noch weitgehend offen ist, schützen die Zellen vor dem Zelltod. Der protektive Effekt dieser Signalwege konzentriert sich in einem Konvergenzpunkt, der auf noch unbekannte Weise die Aktivierung der Effektor-Caspasen blockiert. Die Identität dieses Konvergenzpunktes und von ihm ausgehenden protektiven Weges ist Ziel weiterer Untersuchungen. So ist es möglicherweise dieser Weg, der zum Überleben von 50 Prozent der AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten während des Serumentzugs wesentlich beiträgt.
N2  - In the work presented here, the essential involvement of caspases in the cell death of AKR 2B-fibroblasts could be proved as well as their activities could be characterized. Confluent AKR 2B-fibroblasts, a good characterized and subcloned cell line, rapidly disintegrate after serum deprivation. Dying of the cells ceases after 6 hours with a survival of 50 per cent. These surviving cells remain uneffected for additional 48 hours which is dependent on neo-protein biosynthesis. During cell death AKR 2B-fibroblasts show morphological changes characteristically for apoptosis, even though typical features like oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation is absent. Using different approaches the expression of mRNA of all known caspases, which are believed to be involved in apoptosis essentially, was successfully detected in AKR 2B-fibroblasts. Caspases-1, -2, -3, -6 and -9 were constitutively expressed as zymogens. With the exception of Caspase-9, the processing into their active subunits induced by serum removal could not be detected. At least their considerable importance during cell death of AKR cells could be proved by using specific caspase inhibitors and by determination of their specific activity. The characterization of that activity gave some hints for the identity of activated caspases. Beside constutive VEIDase and IETDase activities, a DEVDase reaches its maximum 3 hours after the onset of apoptosis. The present mixture of caspase activity is dominated by this DEVDase, which seems to be represented by just one enzyme, as shown by affinity labeling and 2D-SDS-PAGE. Determinations of KM- and Ki-values lead to the conclusion, that this enzyms has typical effector caspase characteristics, like caspase-3. Cleavage of lamins during cell death of the fibroblasts indicate that a caspase-6 became active. However, the known characteristics of caspase-6 are different of that found in AKR 2B cells, so that it may play just a minor role in the caspase mixture. Established repeated purification steps by chromatography, offers best conditions for protein sequencing and identification of the active caspase. The involvement of the receptor mediated pathway could be excluded by an overexpression of CrmA , a cowpox virus derived Caspase inhibitor; also there are no hints for an involvement of the mitochondria mediated pathway, except of caspase-9 cleavage. Pathways which lead to DEVDase activation are of major interests in present and future. Stimulation of signal pathways by PDGF-BB, TPA, Forskolin and 8Br-cAMP and others agents protect the fibroblasts from death. The stimulated pathways converge in one point up stream of effector-caspase activation. The identification of this point and its regulatory properties is a future goal, which will maybe lead to an understanding of processes responsible for surviving of 50 per cent of AKR 2B-Mausfibroblasten during serum removal.
KW  - Maus
KW  - Fibroblast
KW  - Apoptosis
KW  - Proteasen
KW  - AKR-2B Fibroblasten
KW  - Apoptose
KW  - Anisomycin
KW  - Caspase
KW  - Serumentzug
KW  - DEVDase
KW  - AKR-2B fibroblasts
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - anisomycin
KW  - caspase
KW  - serum deprivation
KW  - DEVDase
Y1  - 2000
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-1950
ER  -