We use Caenorhabditis elegans to test proposed general rules for microRNA (miRNA)-target interactions. We show that G·U base pairing is tolerated in the 'seed' region of the lsy-6 miRNA interaction ...with its in vivo target cog-1, and that 6- to 8-base-pair perfect seed pairing is not a generally reliable predictor for an interaction of lsy-6 with a 3′ untranslated region (UTR). Rather, lsy-6 can functionally interact with its target site only in specific 3′ UTR contexts. Our findings illustrate the difficulty of establishing generalizable rules of miRNA-target interactions.
DNA methylation (DNAm) has been considered a promising indicator of biological age in mammals and could be useful to increase the accuracy of phenotypic prediction in livestock. The objectives of ...this study were to estimate the heritability and age effects of site-specific DNAm (DNAm level) and cumulative DNAm across all sites (DNAm load) in beef cattle. Blood samples were collected from cows ranging from 217 to 3,192 days (0.6 to 8.7 years) of age (n = 136). All animals were genotyped, and DNAm was obtained using the Infinium array HorvathMammalMethylChip40. Genetic parameters for DNAm were obtained from an animal model based on the genomic relationship matrix, including the fixed effects of age and breed composition. Heritability estimates of DNAm levels ranged from 0.18 to 0.72, with a similar average across all regions and chromosomes. Heritability estimate of DNAm load was 0.45. The average age effect on DNAm level varied among genomic regions. The DNAm level across the genome increased with age in the promoter and 5' UTR and decreased in the exonic, intronic, 3' UTR, and intergenic regions. In addition, DNAm level increased with age in regions enriched in CpG and decreased in regions deficient in CpG. Results suggest DNAm profiles are influenced by both genetics and the environmental effect of age in beef cattle.
•The study firstly focuses on mapping the lagging-behind European regions.•Co-patenting is used to define networking capacity of local organisations.•Panel modelling is implemented based on RegPat ...and Eurostat databases.•Results suggest wider interregional networks perform better than local networks.•Collaborations with knowledge-intensive regions are specifically relevant.
In rapidly changing regional economies, less innovative European regions (henceforth referred to as lagging-behind regions) must actively work to reduce the gap between them and knowledge-intensive regions. Recent literature has stressed that the lack of efficient institutional settings reduces the opportunities of local knowledge spillover and increases the need for local organisations to exploit collaborative networks to better support their innovation performance. In this light, since increasing attention has recently been directed at the role of inter-regional collaborations, we have measured the capacity of local innovative organisations embedded in lagging-behind European regions to develop internal and external regional inventors’ networks by exploring their collaborative patenting processes. Then, a seven-year panel dataset (2002–2008) was organised using patents data at a regional level to validate the research hypothesis that collaborations, and specifically with highly innovative (knowledge-intensive) regions, positively affect the innovation performances of lagging-behind regions. Finally, the implications of EU policies for supporting lagging-behind regions are discussed.
Increasing soil salinisation represents a serious threat to food security, and therefore the exploitation of high-yielding halophytes, such as Salicornia and Sarcocornia, needs to be considered not ...merely in arid regions but worldwide. In this study, Salicornia ramosissima and Sarcocornia perennis alpini were evaluated for nutrients, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and contaminants. Both were shown to be nutritionally relevant, exhibiting notable levels of crude fibre and ash, i.e., 11.26-15.34 and 39.46-40.41% dry weight (dw), respectively, and the major minerals were Na, K, and Mg. Total phenolics thereof were 67.05 and 38.20 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g extract dw, respectively, mainly p-coumaric acid and quercetin. Both species displayed antioxidant capacity, but S. ramossima was prominent in both the DPPH and ß-carotene bleaching assays. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in S. ramosissima, at 5.21 µg/Kg dw, which may pose a health threat. The Cd and Pb levels in both were low, but the 0.01 mg/Kg Hg in S. perennis alpini met the maximum legal limit established for marine species including algae. Both species exhibit high potential for use in the agro-food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, but specific regulations and careful cultivation strategies need to be implemented, in order to minimise contamination risks by mycotoxins and heavy metals.
Abstract The formation mechanism of light bridges (LBs) is strongly related to the dynamic evolution of solar active regions (ARs). To study the relationship between LB formation and AR evolution ...phases, we employ 109 LB samples from 69 ARs in 2014 using observational data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. LBs are well matched with the weak field lanes (WFLs), except those aligned on the polarity inversion line of δ sunspots. For penumbral intrusion (type-A) and umbral-dot emergence (type-C) LBs, the WFLs represent the splitting of magnetic flux systems. The sunspots tend to decay and split into several parts after type-A and type-C LBs are formed. For sunspot/umbra-merging (type-B) LBs, the declining WFLs are caused by collisions of flux systems. The sunspots merged and remained stable after type-B LBs formed. We conclude that type-B LBs are formed by collisions of flux systems, while type-A and type-C LBs are generated by splits. The time differences ( δ T ) between LBs appearing and ARs peaking have an average value of 1.06, −1.60, and 1.82 days for type-A, B, and C LBs, with the standard deviations of 3.27, 2.17, and 1.89, respectively. A positive value of δ T means that the LB appears after the AR peaks, whereas a negative δ T means it appears before the peak. Type-A LBs tend to form in the decaying phase or around the peak time. Type-B LBs are more likely to be formed in the developing phase. Type-C LBs mostly take shape in the decaying phase of ARs.
The greatest impacts of climate change on ecosystems, wildlife and humans often arise from extreme events rather than changes in climatic means. Northern high latitudes, including the Arctic, ...experience a variety of climate-related extreme events, yet there has been little attempt to synthesize information on extreme events in this region. This review surveys work on various types of extreme events in northern high latitudes, addressing (1) the evidence for variations and changes based on analyses of recent historical data and (2) projected changes based primarily on studies utilizing global climate models. The survey of extreme weather and climate events includes temperature, precipitation, snow, freezing rain, atmospheric blocking, cyclones, and wind. The survey also includes cryospheric and biophysical impacts: sea ice rapid loss events, Greenland Ice Sheet melt, floods, drought, wildfire, coastal erosion, terrestrial ecosystems, and marine ecosystems. Temperature and sea ice rank at the high end of the spectra of evidence for change and confidence in future change, while drought, flooding and cyclones rank at the lower end. Research priorities identified on the basis of this review include greater use of high-resolution models and observing system enhancements that target extreme events. There is also a need for further work on attribution, impacts on ecosystems and humans, and thresholds or tipping points that may be triggered by extreme events in high latitudes.
G-quadruplexes are increasingly recognized as regulatory elements in human, animal, bacterial and plant genomes. The presence and function of G-quadruplexes are not well studied among herpesviruses; ...in particular, there are no systematic genome-wide analysis of these important secondary structures in herpesvirus genomes.
We performed genome-wide analysis of putative quadruplex sequences (PQS) in human herpesviruses. We found unusually high PQS densities among human herpesviruses. PQS are enriched in the repeat regions and regulatory regions of human herpesviruses. Interestingly, PQS densities are higher in regulatory regions of immediate early genes compared to early and late genes in most herpesviruses. In addition, the majority of genes functionally conserved across human herpesviruses contain one or more PQS within the regulatory regions. We also describe the existence of unique intramolecular PQS repeats or repetitive G-quadruplex motifs in herpesviruses. Functional studies confirm a role for G-quadruplexes in regulating the gene expression of human herpesviruses.
The pervasiveness of PQS, their enrichment and conservation at specific genomic locations suggest that these structural entities may represent a novel class of functional elements in herpesviruses. Our findings provide the necessary framework for studies on the biological role of G-quadruplexes in herpesviruses.
Significance The clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats associated endonuclease, Cas9, has quickly become a revolutionary tool in genome engineering. Utilizing small guiding ...RNAs, Cas9 can be targeted to specific DNA sequences of interest, where it catalyzes DNA cleavage. We now demonstrate that Cas9 from the Gram-negative bacterium Francisella novicida (FnCas9) can be reprogrammed to target a specific RNA substrate, the genome of the +ssRNA virus, hepatitis C virus, in eukaryotic cells. Further, this targeting results in inhibition of viral protein production. Overall, programmable Cas9-mediated viral RNA targeting likely represents one of myriad potential applications of FnCas9 in RNA targeting in eukaryotic cells.
Clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats–CRISPR associated (CRISPR-Cas) systems are prokaryotic RNA-directed endonuclease machineries that act as an adaptive immune system against foreign genetic elements. Using small CRISPR RNAs that provide specificity, Cas proteins recognize and degrade nucleic acids. Our previous work demonstrated that the Cas9 endonuclease from Francisella novicida (FnCas9) is capable of targeting endogenous bacterial RNA. Here, we show that FnCas9 can be directed by an engineered RNA-targeting guide RNA to target and inhibit a human +ssRNA virus, hepatitis C virus, within eukaryotic cells. This work reveals a versatile and portable RNA-targeting system that can effectively function in eukaryotic cells and be programmed as an antiviral defense.
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