Defensive strategies of Norway spruce and Kurile larch heartwood elucidated on the micron-level

AbstractTo decarbonize the building sector, the use of durable wood materials must be increased. Inspiration for environmentally benign wood protection systems is sought in durable tree species depositing phenolic extractives in their heartwood. Based on the hypothesis that the micro-distribution of extractives influences durability, we compared the natural impregnation patterns of non-durable, but readily available Norway spruce to more durable Kurile larch by mapping the distribution of heartwood extractives with Confocal Raman Imaging and multivariate data decomposition. Phenolics of both species were associated with hydrophobic oleoresin, likely facilitating diffusion through the tissue. They accumulated preferentially in lignin-rich sub-compartments of the cell wall. Yet, the distribution of extractives was found not to be the same. The middle lamellae contained flavonoids in larch and aromatic waxes in spruce, which was also found in rays and epithelial cells. Spruce-lignans were tentatively identified in all cell types, while larch-flavonoids were not present in resin channels, hinting at a different origin of synthesis. Larch-oleoresin without flavonoids was only found in lumina, indicating that the presence of phenolics in the mixture influences the final destination. Together our findings suggest, that spruce heartwood-defense focuses on water regulation, while the more efficient larch strategy is based on antioxidants.

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A Study of the Gut Bacterial Community of Reticulitermes virginicus Exposed to Chitosan Treatment

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11100681 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 681

Author(s):

Telmah Telmadarrehei ◽

Juliet D. Tang ◽

Olanrewaju Raji ◽

Amir Rezazadeh ◽

Lakshmi Narayanan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acetic Acid ◽

Bacterial Community ◽

Ribosomal Rna ◽

Environmentally Benign ◽

Library Preparation ◽

Fourth Group ◽

Wood Protection ◽

Reticulitermes Virginicus ◽

Protection Systems ◽

Termite Gut

A thorough understanding of microbial communities in the gut of lower termites is needed to develop target-specific and environmentally benign wood protection systems. In this study, the bacterial community from Reticulitermes virginicus was examined by Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) spanning the V3 and V4 regions. Prior to library preparation, the termites were subjected to five treatments over an 18-day period: three groups were fed on wood treated with 0.5% chitosan, 25% acetic acid, or water, the fourth group was taken directly from the original collection log, and the fifth group was starved. Metagenomic sequences were analyzed using QIIME 2 to understand the treatments’ effects on the dynamics of the gut bacteria. Four dominant phyla were detected: Bacteroidetes (34.4% of reads), Firmicutes (20.6%), Elusimicrobia (15.7%), and Proteobacteria (12.9%). A significant effect of chitosan treatment was observed in two phyla; Firmicutes abundance was significantly lower with chitosan treatment when compared to other groups, while Actinobacteria was lower in unexposed and starved termites. The results suggest that chitosan treatment not only affects the structure of the microbial community in the gut, but other treatments such as starving also cause shifts in termite gut communities.

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Spatial and temporal distribution of vinculin and talin in migrating avian neural crest cells and their derivatives

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.108.3.421 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 108 (3) ◽

pp. 421-433

Author(s):

J.L. Duband ◽

J.P. Thiery

Keyword(s):

Neural Crest ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Neural Crest Cells ◽

Cell Types ◽

Avian Embryo ◽

Sensory Ganglia ◽

Adhesive Properties ◽

Final Destination ◽

Derivatives Of

Neural crest cells express different adhesion modes at each phase of their development starting with their separation from the neural tube, followed by migration along definite pathways throughout the embryo, and finally to settlement and differentiation in elected embryonic regions. In order to determine possible changes in the cytoskeleton organization and function during these processes, we have studied the in situ distribution of two major cytoskeleton-associated elements involved in the membrane anchorage of actin microfilaments, i.e. vinculin and talin, during the ontogeny of the neural crest and its derivatives in the avian embryo. Prior to emigration, neural crest cells exhibited both vinculin and talin at levels similar to the neighbouring neural epithelial cells, and this expression apparently did not change as cells became endowed with migratory properties. However, vinculin became selectively enhanced in neural crest cells as they further migrated towards their final destination. This increase in vinculin amount was particularly striking in vagal and truncal neural crest cells entering cellular environments, such as the sclerotome and the gut mesenchyme. Talin was also expressed by neural crest cells but, in contrast to vinculin, staining was not conspicuous compared to neighbouring mesenchymal cells. High levels of vinculin persisted throughout embryogenesis in almost all neural derivatives of the neural crest, including the autonomous and sensory ganglia and Schwann cells along the peripheral nerves. In contrast, the non-neural derivatives of the neural crest rapidly lost their prominent vinculin staining after migration. The pattern of talin in the progeny of the neural crest was complex and varied with the cell types: for example, some cranial sensory ganglia expressed high amounts of the molecule whereas autonomic ganglia were nearly devoid of it. Our results suggest that (i) vinculin and talin may follow independent regulatory patterns within the same cell population, (ii) the level of expression of vinculin and talin in neural crest cells may be consistent with the rapid, constant modulations of their adhesive properties, and (iii) the expression patterns of the two molecules may also be correlated with the genesis of the peripheral nervous system.

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Trichloroacetic acid of different origin in Norway spruce needles and chloroplasts

Biologia Plantarum ◽

10.1007/s10535-008-0039-y ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 177-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. T. Forczek ◽

P. Schroder ◽

L. Weissflog ◽

G. Kruger ◽

J. Rohlenova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Trichloroacetic Acid ◽

Spruce Needles ◽

Different Origin

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Wood Protection Properties of Quaternary Ammonium Arylspiroborate Esters Derived from Naphthalene 2,3-Diol, 2,2'-Biphenol and 3-Hydroxy-2-naphthoic Acid

Australian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1071/ch10132 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 63 (10) ◽

pp. 1423 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jenny M. Carr ◽

Peter J. Duggan ◽

David G. Humphrey ◽

James A. Platts ◽

Edward M. Tyndall

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Quaternary Ammonium ◽

Hydrolytic Stability ◽

Wood Preservative ◽

Environmentally Benign ◽

High Performing ◽

Wood Protection ◽

Naphthoic Acid ◽

Optimum Balance

In continuation of a program aimed at developing a boron-based, high performing and environmentally benign wood preservative suitable for outdoor use, three lipophilic tetra-n-butylammonium spiroborates, tetra-n-butylammonium bis[naphthalene-2,3-diolato(2-)-O,O′]borate 4, tetra-n-butylammonium bis[2,2′-biphenolato(2-)-O,O′]borate 5 and tetra-n-butylammonium bis[3-hydroxy-2-naphthoato(2-)-O,O′]borate 6 were prepared and tested. The higher molecular weight and lipophilicity of these borates compared with related borates previously examined correlates, in the case of 5 and 6, with significantly enhanced leach resistance while termiticidal activity has been maintained. The racemic spiroborate derived from 2,2′-biphenol 5, in particular, appears to be close to an optimum balance between ease of synthesis, solubility, hydrolytic stability and termiticidal activity.

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ER-to-Golgi Trafficking and Its Implication in Neurological Diseases

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9020408 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 408 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Bo Wang ◽

Katherine R. Stanford ◽

Mondira Kundu

Keyword(s):

Protein Localization ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cellular Function ◽

Secretory Protein ◽

Secretory Proteins ◽

Complex Cell ◽

Final Destination ◽

And Function ◽

Spatiotemporal Control

Membrane and secretory proteins are essential for almost every aspect of cellular function. These proteins are incorporated into ER-derived carriers and transported to the Golgi before being sorted for delivery to their final destination. Although ER-to-Golgi trafficking is highly conserved among eukaryotes, several layers of complexity have been added to meet the increased demands of complex cell types in metazoans. The specialized morphology of neurons and the necessity for precise spatiotemporal control over membrane and secretory protein localization and function make them particularly vulnerable to defects in trafficking. This review summarizes the general mechanisms involved in ER-to-Golgi trafficking and highlights mutations in genes affecting this process, which are associated with neurological diseases in humans.

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A highly stable, non-digestible lectin from Pomacea diffusa unveils clade-related protection systems in apple snail eggs

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.231878 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 223 (19) ◽

pp. jeb231878

Author(s):

Tabata R. Brola ◽

Marcos S. Dreon ◽

Jian-Wen Qiu ◽

Horacio Heras

Keyword(s):

Structural Stability ◽

Nutritional Value ◽

Apple Snail ◽

Glycosylation Pattern ◽

Defensive Strategies ◽

Species Survival ◽

Protection Systems ◽

Egg Protection ◽

High Structural Stability

ABSTRACTThe acquisition of egg protection is vital for species survival. Poisonous eggs from Pomacea apple snails have defensive macromolecules for protection. Here we isolated and characterized a novel lectin called PdPV1 that is massively accumulated in the eggs of Pomacea diffusa and seems part of its protective cocktail. The native protein, an oligomer of ca 256 kDa, has high structural stability, withstanding 15 min boiling and denaturing by SDS. It resists in vitro proteinase digestion and displays structural stability between pH 2.0 and pH 12.0, and up to 85°C. These properties, as well as its subunit sequences, glycosylation pattern, presence of carotenoids, size and global shape resemble those of its orthologs from other Pomacea. Furthermore, like members of the canaliculata clade, PdPV1 is recovered unchanged in feces of mice ingesting it, supporting an anti-nutritive defensive function. PdPV1 also displays a strong hemagglutinating activity, specifically recognizing selected ganglioside motifs with high affinity. This activity is only shared with PsSC, a perivitelline from the same clade (bridgesii clade). As a whole, these results indicate that species in the genus Pomacea have diversified their egg defenses: those from the bridgesii clade are protected mostly by non-digestible lectins that lower the nutritional value of eggs, in contrast with protection by neurotoxins of other Pomacea clades, indicating that apple snail egg defensive strategies are clade specific. The harsh gastrointestinal environment of predators would have favored their appearance, extending by convergent evolution the presence of plant-like highly stable lectins, a strategy not reported in other animals.

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New Environmentally-Benign Concepts in Wood Protection: The Combination of Organic Biocides and Non-Biocidal Additives

ACS Symposium Series - Wood Deterioration and Preservation ◽

10.1021/bk-2003-0845.ch023 ◽

2003 ◽

pp. 378-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Frederick Green ◽

Tor P. Schultz

Keyword(s):

Environmentally Benign ◽

Wood Protection

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Durability and protection of timber structures in marine environments in Europe: An overview

BioResources ◽

10.15376/biores.14.4.10161-10184 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 10161-10184 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Relevant Literature ◽

Marine Environments ◽

Timber Structures ◽

Mechanical Loads ◽

Wood Modification ◽

Wood Protection ◽

Protection Systems ◽

Marine Applications

Timber structures in marine applications are often exposed to severe degradation conditions caused by mechanical loads and wood-degrading organisms. This paper presents the use of timber in marine environments in Europe from a wood protection perspective. It discusses the use of wood in coastline protection and archeological marine wood, reviews the marine borer taxa in European waters, and gives an overview of potential solutions for protection of timber in marine environments. Information was compiled from the most relevant literature sources with an emphasis on new wood protection methods; the need for research and potential solutions are discussed. Traditionally, timber has been extensively utilized in a variety of marine applications. Although there is a strong need for developing new protection systems for timber in marine applications, the research in this field has been scarce for many years. New attempts to protect timber used in marine environments in Europe have mainly focused on wood modification and the use of mechanical barriers to prevent colonization of marine wood borers. The importance of understanding the mechanisms of settlement, migration, boring, and digestion of the degrading organisms is key for developing effective systems for protecting timber in marine environments.

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Comparative Aboveground Performance of Pressure-Treated Copper Azole with Alternative Wood Protection Systems under Subtropical Conditions

Forest Products Journal ◽

10.13073/fpj-d-20-00023 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 335-339

Author(s):

Matthew J. Konkler ◽

Gerald Presley ◽

Jeffrey J. Morrell

Keyword(s):

Surface Treatments ◽

Pressure Treatment ◽

Fungal Decay ◽

Wood Protection ◽

Rigorous Testing ◽

Protection Systems ◽

Termite Attack ◽

Silica Treatment ◽

Copper Azole ◽

Insect Attack

Abstract The performance of several wood surface treatments as well as a silica treatment claiming to provide protection against fungal decay and termite attack in aboveground applications were examined in termite, ground proximity, and sandwich tests at a subtropical site near Hilo, Hawaii. In general, the surface treatments performed similarly to untreated controls and provided little or no protection against fungal or insect attack. The silicate treatment provided some termite and decay protection, but fungal decay resulted in rapid declines in condition after 50 to 54 months of exposure. Copper azole–treated lumber provided the best performance against both termites and fungal attack, illustrating the benefits of pressure treatment over surface treatments in high-decay-hazard environments. These results also illustrate the importance of rigorous testing and standardization protocols for any product that makes durability claims before it enters the market to ensure that it will perform as expected.

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