scholarly journals The role of hummingbirds in the evolution and diversification of Bromeliaceae: unsupported claims and untested hypotheses

2019 ◽  
Vol 192 (4) ◽  
pp. 592-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kessler ◽  
Stefan Abrahamczyk ◽  
Thorsten Krömer
Keyword(s):  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Population Fragmentation ◽  
Diversification Rates ◽  
Pollen Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Hummingbird Pollination ◽  
Speciation Rates ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
C 32

Abstract At least half of the 3600 species of Bromeliaceae are pollinated by hummingbirds. There is little doubt that the four to 12 evolutionary shifts towards and c. 32 shifts away from hummingbird pollination opened new evolutionary spaces for bromeliad diversification, and that hummingbird pollination has led to increased bromeliad diversification rates. However, the mechanisms leading to these increased rates remain unclear. We here propose that there are four main types of mechanisms that may increase diversification rates of hummingbird-pollinated bromeliad clades: (1) bromeliad speciation through adaptation to different hummingbird species; (2) increased allopatric speciation in hummingbird-pollinated clades due to lower pollen transfer efficiency compared with other pollinators; (3) differential speciation rates in hummingbird-pollinated clades dependent on of flowering phenology and hummingbird behaviour; and (4) higher speciation rates of bromeliads in montane environments (where hummingbird pollination predominates) due to topographic population fragmentation. To date, none of these hypotheses has been appropriately tested, partly due to a lack of data, but also because research so far has focused on documenting the pattern of increased diversification in hummingbird-pollinated clades, implicitly assuming that this pattern supports an underlying mechanism while ignoring the fact that several competing mechanisms may be considered. The aim of the present review is to increase awareness of these mechanisms and to trigger research aimed at specifically testing them. We conclude that much additional research on the roles of hummingbird behaviour and gene flow between bromeliad species is needed to elucidate their contribution to the evolution of diversity in bromeliads and other plant families.

scholarly journals Ecological causes of uneven speciation and species richness in mammals

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan S. Upham ◽  
Jacob A. Esselstyn ◽  
Walter Jetz
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Rate Variation ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Ecological Opportunity ◽  
Diversification Rates ◽  
Speciation Rate ◽  
Diversity Gradient ◽  
Speciation Rates

ABSTRACTBiodiversity is distributed unevenly from the poles to the equator, and among branches of the tree of life, yet how those enigmatic patterns are related is unclear. We investigated global speciation-rate variation across crown Mammalia using a novel time-scaled phylogeny (N=5,911 species, ~70% with DNA), finding that trait- and latitude-associated speciation has caused uneven species richness among groups. We identify 24 branch-specific shifts in net diversification rates linked to ecological traits. Using time-slices to define clades, we show that speciation rates are a stronger predictor of clade richness than age. Speciation is slower in tropical than extra-tropical lineages, but only at the level of clades not species tips, consistent with fossil evidence that the latitudinal diversity gradient may be a relatively young phenomenon in mammals. In contrast, species tip rates are fastest in mammals that are low dispersal or diurnal, consistent with models of ephemeral speciation and ecological opportunity, respectively. These findings juxtapose nested levels of diversification, suggesting a central role of species turnover gradients in generating uneven patterns of modern biodiversity.

scholarly journals Kindlin-2 mediates mechanotransduction in bone by regulating expression of Sclerostin in osteocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Qin ◽  
Xuekun Fu ◽  
Jing Ma ◽  
Manxia Lin ◽  
Peijun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Loss ◽  
Mechanical Stimulation ◽  
Fluid Shear Stress ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Long Bones ◽  
Cell Orientation ◽  
Cytoskeleton Organization

AbstractOsteocytes act as mechanosensors in bone; however, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we report that deleting Kindlin-2 in osteocytes causes severe osteopenia and mechanical property defects in weight-bearing long bones, but not in non-weight-bearing calvariae. Kindlin-2 loss in osteocytes impairs skeletal responses to mechanical stimulation in long bones. Control and cKO mice display similar bone loss induced by unloading. However, unlike control mice, cKO mice fail to restore lost bone after reloading. Osteocyte Kindlin-2 deletion impairs focal adhesion (FA) formation, cytoskeleton organization and cell orientation in vitro and in bone. Fluid shear stress dose-dependently increases Kindlin-2 expression and decreases that of Sclerostin by downregulating Smad2/3 in osteocytes; this latter response is abolished by Kindlin-2 ablation. Kindlin-2-deficient osteocytes express abundant Sclerostin, contributing to bone loss in cKO mice. Collectively, we demonstrate an indispensable novel role of Kindlin-2 in maintaining skeletal responses to mechanical stimulation by inhibiting Sclerostin expression during osteocyte mechanotransduction.

scholarly journals Rspo3 regulates the abnormal differentiation of small intestinal epithelial cells in diabetic state

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ti-Dong Shan ◽  
Han Yue ◽  
Xue-Guo Sun ◽  
Yue-Ping Jiang ◽  
Li Chen
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Epithelial Stem Cells ◽  
Diabetic State ◽  
Definitive Evidence

Abstract Background The complications caused by diabetes mellitus (DM) are the focus of clinical treatment. However, little is known about diabetic enteropathy (DE) and its potential underlying mechanism. Methods Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intestinal epithelial stem cells (IESCs) were harvested from BKS.Cg-Dock7m+/+Leprdb/JNju (DM) mice, and the expression of R-Spondin 3 (Rspo3) was detected by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. The role of Rspo3 in the abnormal differentiation of IECs during DM was confirmed by knockdown experiments. Through miRNA expression profiling, bioinformatics analysis, and RT-qPCR, we further analyzed the differentiation-related miRNAs in the IECs from mice with DM. Results Abnormal differentiation of IECs was observed in the mice with DM. The expression of Rspo3 was upregulated in the IECs from the mice with DM. This phenomenon was associated with Rspo3 overexpression. Additionally, Rspo3 is a major determinant of Lgr5+ stem cell identity in the diabetic state. Microarray analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and luciferase reporter assays revealed that microRNA (miR)-380-5p directly targeted Rspo3. Moreover, miR-380-5p upregulation was observed to attenuate the abnormal differentiation of IECs by regulating Rspo3 expression. Conclusions Together, our results provide definitive evidence of the essential role of Rspo3 in the differentiation of IECs in DM.

scholarly journals Reduction of 3-Deoxyglucosone by Epigallocatechin Gallate Results Partially from an Addition Reaction: The Possible Mechanism of Decreased 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Epigallocatechin Gallate-Treated Black Garlic

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (16) ◽  
pp. 4746
Author(s):  
An-Ting Tu ◽  
Jer-An Lin ◽  
Chieh-Hsiu Lee ◽  
Yi-An Chen ◽  
Jung-Tsung Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Product ◽  
Aging Process ◽  
Addition Reaction ◽  
Reaction System ◽  
Epigallocatechin Gallate ◽  
Structural Identification ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Harmful Substance ◽  
Relevant Research

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is a harmful substance generated during the processing of black garlic. Our previous research demonstrated that impregnation of black garlic with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) could reduce the formation of 5-HMF. However, there is still a lack of relevant research on the mechanism and structural identification of EGCG inhibiting the production of 5-HMF. In this study, an intermediate product of 5-HMF, 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), was found to be decreased in black garlic during the aging process, and impregnation with EGCG for 24 h further reduced the formation of 3-DG by approximately 60% in black garlic compared with that in the untreated control. The aging-mimicking reaction system of 3-DG + EGCG was employed to determine whether the reduction of 3-DG was the underlying mechanism of decreased 5-HMF formation in EGCG-treated black garlic. The results showed that EGCG accelerated the decrease of 3-DG and further attenuated 5-HMF formation, which may be caused by an additional reaction with 3-DG, as evidenced by LC-MS/MS analysis. In conclusion, this study provides new insights regarding the role of EGCG in blocking 5-HMF formation.

scholarly journals Roles of the C-Terminal Amino Acids of Non-Hexameric Helicases: Insights from Escherichia coli UvrD

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1018
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Yokota
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
E Coli ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Terminal Amino

Helicases are nucleic acid-unwinding enzymes that are involved in the maintenance of genome integrity. Several parts of the amino acid sequences of helicases are very similar, and these quite well-conserved amino acid sequences are termed “helicase motifs”. Previous studies by X-ray crystallography and single-molecule measurements have suggested a common underlying mechanism for their function. These studies indicate the role of the helicase motifs in unwinding nucleic acids. In contrast, the sequence and length of the C-terminal amino acids of helicases are highly variable. In this paper, I review past and recent studies that proposed helicase mechanisms and studies that investigated the roles of the C-terminal amino acids on helicase and dimerization activities, primarily on the non-hexermeric Escherichia coli (E. coli) UvrD helicase. Then, I center on my recent study of single-molecule direct visualization of a UvrD mutant lacking the C-terminal 40 amino acids (UvrDΔ40C) used in studies proposing the monomer helicase model. The study demonstrated that multiple UvrDΔ40C molecules jointly participated in DNA unwinding, presumably by forming an oligomer. Thus, the single-molecule observation addressed how the C-terminal amino acids affect the number of helicases bound to DNA, oligomerization, and unwinding activity, which can be applied to other helicases.

Consumers Complain More Fiercely Through Small-Screen Devices: The Role of Spatial Crowding Perception

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-367
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Zhou ◽  
Bin Tian ◽  
Tingting Mo ◽  
Zhuoying Fei
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Data ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Screen Size ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Perception Theory ◽  
Fourth Experiment ◽  
Complaint Behavior ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Small Screen

Previous research has mainly focused on the determinants of consumers’ complaint channel choices. Little attention has been paid to the behavioral consequences of different complaint channels, particularly different complaint devices. Drawing on spatial crowding perception theory, this study finds that in an online complaint context, consumers’ complaint intensity is shaped by complaint devices that differ in screen size. Crowding perception produced by visually restrictive tension mediates the relationship between the screen size of the complaint device and the complaint intensity. The results of secondary data confirm that consumers’ complaint intensity is higher while complaining through a small-screen device (as opposed to a large-screen one). Three scenario-based experiments are conducted to examine the role of perceived spatial crowding in producing a more intense complaint behavior when complaints are submitted through smaller screen devices (as opposed to larger screen devices). The fourth experiment reveals that crowding perception can be lessened by adjusting certain design elements of the interface, ultimately mitigating the intensity of the complaint submitted through a small-screen device. Our research identifies the specific causality and underlying mechanism of the influence of device type on consumers’ postconsumption behavior, thus contributing to clarify some ambiguities in the literature.

scholarly journals Big hitting collectors make massive and disproportionate contribution to the discovery of plant species

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1736) ◽  
pp. 2269-2274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Bebber ◽  
Mark A. Carine ◽  
Gerrit Davidse ◽  
David J. Harris ◽  
Elspeth M. Haston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Fundamental Goal ◽  
The World ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
The Right ◽  
Geographical Locations

Discovering biological diversity is a fundamental goal—made urgent by the alarmingly high rate of extinction. We have compiled information from more than 100 000 type specimens to quantify the role of collectors in the discovery of plant diversity. Our results show that more than half of all type specimens were collected by less than 2 per cent of collectors. This highly skewed pattern has persisted through time. We demonstrate that a number of attributes are associated with prolific plant collectors: a long career with increasing productivity and experience in several countries and plant families. These results imply that funding a small number of expert plant collectors in the right geographical locations should be an important element in any effective strategy to find undiscovered plant species and complete the inventory of the world flora.

scholarly journals A novel role for bone marrow-derived cells to recover damaged keratinocytes from radiation-induced injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junko Okano ◽  
Yuki Nakae ◽  
Takahiko Nakagawa ◽  
Miwako Katagi ◽  
Tomoya Terashima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Basal Cells ◽  
Barrier Dysfunction ◽  
Skin Injury ◽  
Accelerated Proliferation ◽  
Radiation Induced ◽  
Bone Marrow Derived Cells ◽  
Injury Recovery

AbstractExposure to moderate doses of ionizing radiation (IR), which is sufficient for causing skin injury, can occur during radiation therapy as well as in radiation accidents. Radiation-induced skin injury occasionally recovers, although its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Moderate-dose IR is frequently utilized for bone marrow transplantation in mice; therefore, this mouse model can help understand the mechanism. We had previously reported that bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) migrate to the epidermis-dermis junction in response to IR, although their role remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of BMDCs in radiation-induced skin injury in BMT mice and observed that BMDCs contributed to skin recovery after IR-induced barrier dysfunction. One of the important mechanisms involved the action of CCL17 secreted by BMDCs on irradiated basal cells, leading to accelerated proliferation and recovery of apoptosis caused by IR. Our findings suggest that BMDCs are key players in IR-induced skin injury recovery.

MiR-22-3p Suppresses Vascular Remodeling and Oxidative Stress by Targeting CHD9 during the Development of Hypertension

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Hanqing Chen ◽  
Xiru Xu ◽  
Zhengqing Liu ◽  
Yong Wu
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Spontaneously Hypertensive ◽  
Aortic Smooth Muscle ◽  
Phenotype Switch ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Hypertension is considered a risk factor for a series of systematic diseases. Known factors including genetic predisposition, age, and diet habits are strongly associated with the initiation of hypertension. The current study aimed to investigate the role of miR-22-3p in hypertension. In this study, we discovered that the miR-22-3p level was significantly decreased in the thoracic aortic vascular tissues and aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Functionally, the overexpression of miR-22-3p facilitated the switch of ASMCs from the synthetic to contractile phenotype. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we predicted 11 potential target mRNAs for miR-22-3p. After screening, chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 9 (CHD9) was validated to bind with miR-22-3p. Rescue assays showed that the co-overexpression of miR-22-3p and CHD9 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-22-3p mimics on cell proliferation, migration, and oxidative stress in ASMCs. Finally, miR-22-3p suppressed vascular remodeling and oxidative stress in vivo. Overall, miR-22-3p regulated ASMC phenotype switch by targeting CHD9. This new discovery provides a potential insight into hypertension treatment.

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