Reprogramming microbial populations using a programmed lysis system to improve chemical production

Microbial populations are a promising model for achieving microbial cooperation to produce valuable chemicals. However, regulating the phenotypic structure of microbial populations remains challenging. In this study, a programmed lysis system (PLS) is developed to reprogram microbial cooperation to enhance chemical production. First, a colicin M -based lysis unit is constructed to lyse Escherichia coli. Then, a programmed switch, based on proteases, is designed to regulate the effective lysis unit time. Next, a PLS is constructed for chemical production by combining the lysis unit with a programmed switch. As a result, poly (lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) production is switched from PLH synthesis to PLH release, and the content of free PLH is increased by 283%. Furthermore, butyrate production with E. coli consortia is switched from E. coli BUT003 to E. coli BUT004, thereby increasing butyrate production to 41.61 g/L. These results indicate the applicability of engineered microbial populations for improving the metabolic division of labor to increase the efficiency of microbial cell factories.

Gene recruitments and dismissals in argonaut octopus genome provide insights to pelagic lifestyle adaptation and shell-like eggcase reacquisition

The paper nautilus, Argonauta argo, also known as the greater argonaut, is a species of octopods distinctly characterized by its pelagic lifestyle and by the presence of a spiral-shaped shell-like eggcase in females. The eggcase functions by protecting the eggs laid inside it, and by building and keeping air intakes for buoyancy. To reveal the genomic background of the species′ adaptation to pelagic lifestyle and the acquisition of its shell-like eggcase, we sequenced the draft genome sequence of the species. The genome size was 1.1 Gb, which is the smallest among the cephalopods known to date, with the top 215 scaffolds (average length 5,064,479 bp) covering 81% (1.09 Gb) of the total assembly. A total of 26,433 protein-coding genes were predicted from 16,802 assembled scaffolds. From these, we identified nearly intact HOX, Parahox, Wnt clusters and some gene clusters probably related to the pelagic lifestyle, such as reflectin, tyrosinase, and opsin. For example, opsin might have undergone an extensive duplication in order to adapt to the pelagic lifestyle, as opposed to other octopuses, which are mostly the benthic. Our gene models also discovered several genes homologous to those related to calcified shell formation in Conchiferan Mollusks, such as Pif-like, SOD, and TRX. Interestingly, comparative genomics analysis revealed that the homologous genes for such genes were also found in the genome of the octopus, which does not have a shell, as well as the basal cephalopods Nautilus. Therefore, the draft genome sequence of A. argo we presented here had not only helped us to gain further insights into the genetic background of the dynamic recruitment and dismissal of genes for the formation of an important, converging extended phenotypic structure such as the shell and the shell-like eggcase, but also the evolution of lifestyles in Cephalopods and the octopods, from benthic to pelagic.

DIVERSITY AND PHENOTYPIC STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS OF EUROPEAN SPRUCE (PICEA ABIES) IN THE EAST OF THE RANGE

European spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is widespread in Europe. It is of interest to study its biological characteristics in the eastern part of the range, where it transforms into an intermediate form with Siberian spruce. Phenotypic traits of spruce in this area have so far been studied mainly by visual and descriptive techniques. The aim of the study is to study the variability of the main systematic characters, diversity and phenotypic structure of European spruce in the east of the range using mathematical and statistical techniques. This approach made it possible to objectively assess the parameters of its systematic characters, their relationship, and also to identify three significantly different groups of populations. It is shown that in this area the average length of spruce cones is in the range from 80-85 to 100-114 mm. The coefficient of narrowing of the upper part of the seed scales ( C ) is 25-35%, the coefficient of projection ( C ) is 60-80%, their difference ( C- C ) is -25… -55%. The value of the individual variation in the length of cones and the C index is 12-15%, C index is about 20%, and C-C is 30-35%. The intrapopulation coefficient of negative correlation of C and C indices has an average level (-0.3…-0.6). Their correlation between populations is much higher (-0.9). In the geographic variability of indicators of the shape of seed scales and the length of the cones, there is a correlation of the average level. The frequency of individuals of European spruce phenotypes in the populations of the groups P. ab, P. ab×ab×m., P. ab×m., Distinguished by the metric parameters of seed scales, is 98-100, 85-95, 57-70%, respectively. The research results can be useful for forestry and in substantiating the identified intraspecific taxa.

Comparative Study of the Phenotypic Structure and Photoperiodic Responses of Female Asian Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) from Moscow, Belgorod, and Sochi

Insect invasions are often accompanied by changes in the phenotypic structure of the populations and in the photoperiodic responses that regulate seasonal cycles. The Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis has been recently discovered in Krasnodar Territory, from whence it is now gradually colonizing Central Russia. Our comparative study of individuals collected in 2020 in Sochi, Belgorod Province, and Moscow Province shows that interpopulation differences in their phenotypic structure are nonsignificant. The proportion of the light morph succinea is 77–83%; the proportion of the most common dark morph, spectabilis, is 13–20%. Laboratory experiments show that females from all the studied populations exhibit only a weak photoperiodic response. Comparative analysis reveals that females from the more northerly Moscow and Belgorod populations have a somewhat greater tendency to diapause and slightly delay reproductive maturation.

Phenotypic Evolution of The Wild Progenitor of Cultivated Barley (Hordeum Vulgare Subsp. Spontaneum (C. Koch) Thell.) Across Bioclimatic Regions In Jordan

Climate change affects the evolutionary potential and the survival of wild plant populations by acting on fitness traits. Resurrection approach was applied to investigate the phenotypic changes during the evolution of the wild progenitor of cultivated barley, Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch in Jordan. We compared 40 Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch populations collected in Jordan in 1991 with 40 Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch populations collected from the same sites in 2014. In the comparison we included seven Hordeum vulgare checks (one local landrace and six improved varieties). The analysis of the phenotypic data showed that the populations were aggregated according to their ecological geographical pattern in two groups with a significant (p < 0.0001) correlation between groups. Four heritable traits, namely plant height, biological yield, number of tillers, and awn length, determined the phenotypic structure of the populations. The two populations collected at 23 years distance, diverged in two distinctive phenotypic structure categories; a conserved structure and an evolved structure with a reduction in the phenotypic trait diversity in the population collected in 2014. These results reveal the value of combining phenotypic and environmental data to understand the evolution and adaptation of the population to climate change over a long period and the consequences on the wild progenitor of cultivated barley collection to avoid loss of genetic materials.

PHENOTYPIC STRUCTURE OF SPRUCE POPULATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN NORTH OF RUSSIA

Spruce populations in the north of the European part of Russia have formed with traits, the population-geographic variability of which has not been sufficiently studied. The research purpose is to study on the basis of biometric parameters the phenotypic structure and geographic differentiation of spruce populations located north of the 60th parallel, as well as their relative position to European and Siberian spruces. Spruce is characterized here by a significant population-geographical diversity. The average length of cones in populations is within 44–85 mm, the coefficient of narrowing of the upper part of seed scales (Cn) is 36‒68, elongation coefficient (Cp) is 40‒60 %, and their difference (Cn‒Cp) is from ‒23 to +28 %. The coefficients of geographical variation are 15, 18, 12, and 61 %, respectively. By the value of the Cn‒Cp index, 6 groups of populations out of 9 (I‒IX) existing throughout the east of Europe and Siberia are distinguished, excluding the first three groups. There are intermediate phenotypes of individuals (f.emm., f.m., f.mms.) in groups IV, V and VI with the highest frequency (61, 72, 55 %), in groups VII, VIII and IX the highest frequency (71, 86, 98 %) is among Siberian spruce phenotypes (f.ms., f.mss., f.s.). The length of the cones varies significantly in the population groups: 70–80 mm on average in the first; 50–60 mm on average in the second. Population groups IV, V and VI represent an intermediate form of European and Siberian spruces and are distributed southwest of the conditional line between the rivers Pinega and Mezen to Syktyvkar. Groups VII, VIII and IX represent Siberian spruce and occupy the territory northeast of the specified line: the Arkhangelsk region, the territory of the Komi Republic, the Murmansk region and the northernmost part of Karelia. There are no populations representing European spruce in the region according to the studied characteristics. The results obtained can be used in the development of differentiated methods of forestry in the European North of Russia.

Intrapopulation and inter-population variability of color polymorphism of synanthropic blue rock pigeon

The paper deals with intrapopulation and inter-population variability of color polymorphism of synanthropic blue rock pigeons (Columba livia Gm., 1789) living in industrial centers of the Middle Urals. The authors have identified seasonal and inter-annual differences of color morphotypes of synanthropic blue rock pigeons, which are primarily determined by the total number of birds in clusters (flocks). With an increase of birds concentration in a flock, which occurs in winter, the relative proportion of the blue and the aberrant morphotypes increases while the relative proportion of the black-chequer individuals decreases. Density-dependent mechanisms of phenotypic structure formation of synanthropic blue pigeons populations work in conditions of significant increase of bird population in accumulations when different behavioral strategies, especially food, ensuring survival, are vividly manifested. The inter-population variability of color morphs from the geographically close localities of the Middle Ural may be determined by the degree of urbanization of the habitat, the diversity and abundance of forage resources and the technogenic load. The obtained materials may be of interest in general for the study of sustainable color polymorphism of blue rock pigeons synanthropic populations as well as for identifying and justifying inter-population differences of blue rock pigeons populations from geographically remote localities of the Urals.

Individual heterogeneity and its importance for metapopulation dynamics

Habitat fragmentation reduces the area of habitat patches and their connectedness in the landscape. The level of connectedness impacts connectivity and metapopulation dynamics, and is therefore a central tenet in conservation biology. Connectedness equally generates sorting of phenotypes within the spatial network and therefore impacts local and regional eco-evolutionary dynamics. Paradoxically, recommendations for species conservation rely on principles derived from theory that neglects any individual phenotypic heterogenety and spatial organization.By creating experimental metapopulations using the model species Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite) with three levels of landscape connectedness and by regularly removing phenotypic structure in a subset of these populations, we tested the degree to which regional and local population dynamics are determined both by network connectedness and the phenotypic spatial organization.Our results show that some aspects of metapopulation dynamics can be attributed to the evolution of dispersal. More importantly, we find self-organization of phenotypic spatial structure to equalize the effects of reduced connectedness on metapopulation dynamics. These changes were all in the direction of improved metapopulation persistence. Contrary to expectations, the most connected local patches showed an overall reduced local population size, possibly originating from a faster depletion of resources from immigrants or transiting individuals.This experiment shows how metapopulation dynamics can significantly deviate from theoretical expectations if individual heterogeneity is considered, and more importantly that disruption of this phenotypic self-structuring may drive metapopulation dynamics towards higher risks of extinction.