DNA methylation meta-analysis confirms the division of the genome into two functional groups

Based on a meta-analysis of human genome methylation data, we tested a theoretical model in which aging is explained by the redistribution of limited resources in cells between two main tasks of the organism: its self-sustenance based on the function of the housekeeping gene group (HG) and functional differentiation, provided by the (IntG) integrative gene group. A meta-analysis of methylation of 100 genes, 50 in the HG group and 50 in IntG, showed significant differences ( p<0.0001) between our groups in the level of absolute methylation values of genes bodies and its promoters. We showed a reliable decrease of absolute methylation values in IntG with rising age in contrast to HG, where this level remained constant. The one-sided decrease in methylation in the IntG group is indirectly confirmed by the dispersion data analysis, which also decreased in the genes of this group. The imbalance between HG and IntG in methylation levels suggests that this IntG-shift is a side effect of the ontogenesis grownup program and the main cause of aging. The theoretical model of functional genome division also suggests the leading role of slow dividing and post mitotic cells in triggering and implementing the aging process.

Chenopodium quinoa to Modulate Innate Myeloid Cells in the Induction of Obesity

Complex interactions between innate and adaptive immune effectors are an important component in the induction of obesity. Particularly, different subsets of myeloid cells play key roles in metabolic liver diseases and, therefore, are promising targets for intervention strategies. Chenopodium quinoa seeds constitute a good source of immunonutritional compounds, which help prevent high-fat, diet-enhanced innate immune signaling via TLR4/MyD88 that boosts inflammation. Herein, two metabolic mouse models—wild type (WT) and tributyltin treated (TBT)—were used to examine the effects associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and administered with wheat or C. quinoa bread. Variations in myeloid cells were obtained from a hemogram analysis, and rt-qPCR (mRNA) served to evaluate macrophage markers (i.e., CD68/CD206 ratio) as well as liver inflammation (i.e., Lyve-1) to gain insights into their selective functional differentiation into metabolically injured livers. Only administration of C. quinoa bread prevented alterations in the liver/body weight ratio either in WT animals or those treated with TBT. These effects were associated with significantly increased variations in the peripheral myeloid cell population. Hepatic mRNA markers revealed that C. quinoa enables a selective functional differentiation and function of intrahepatic monocyte-derived macrophages preserving tissue integrity and function.

De Novo ACTG1 Variant Expands the Phenotype and Genotype of Partial Deafness and Baraitser–Winter Syndrome

Actin molecules are fundamental for embryonic structural and functional differentiation; γ-actin is specifically required for the maintenance and function of cytoskeletal structures in the ear, resulting in hearing. Baraitser–Winter Syndrome (B-WS, OMIM #243310, #614583) is a rare, multiple-anomaly genetic disorder caused by mutations in either cytoplasmically expressed actin gene, ACTB (β-actin) or ACTG1 (γ-actin). The resulting actinopathies cause characteristic cerebrofrontofacial and developmental traits, including progressive sensorineural deafness. Both ACTG1-related non-syndromic A20/A26 deafness and B-WS diagnoses are characterized by hypervariable penetrance in phenotype. Here, we identify a 28th patient worldwide carrying a mutated γ-actin ACTG1 allele, with mildly manifested cerebrofrontofacial B-WS traits, hypervariable penetrance of developmental traits and sensorineural hearing loss. This patient also displays brachycephaly and a complete absence of speech faculty, previously unreported for ACTG1-related B-WS or DFNA20/26 deafness, representing phenotypic expansion. The patient’s exome sequence analyses (ES) confirms a de novo ACTG1 variant previously unlinked to the pathology. Additional microarray analysis uncover no further mutational basis for dual molecular diagnosis in our patient. We conclude that γ-actin c.542C > T, p.Ala181Val is a dominant pathogenic variant, associated with mildly manifested facial and cerebral traits typical of B-WS, hypervariable penetrance of developmental traits and sensorineural deafness. We further posit and present argument and evidence suggesting ACTG1-related non-syndromic DFNA20/A26 deafness is a manifestation of undiagnosed ACTG1-related B-WS.

Genomic Insights Into Chemosynthetic Symbiosis in a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Mussel

Background Symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria has allowed many invertebrates to flourish in ‘extreme’ deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems, such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. Bathymodioline mussels are considered as models of deep-sea animal-bacteria symbiosis, but the diversity of molecular mechanisms governing host-symbiont interactions remains understudied owing to the lack of hologenomes. In this study, we adopted a total hologenome approach in sequencing the hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus marisindicus and the endosymbiont genomes combined with a transcriptomic and proteomic approach that explore the mechanisms of symbiosis. Results Here, we provide the first coupled mussel-endosymbiont genome assembly. Comparative genome analysis revealed that both Bathymodiolus marisindicus and its endosymbiont reshape their genomes through the expansion of gene families, likely due to chemosymbiotic adaptation. Functional differentiation of host immune-related genes and attributes of symbiont self-protection that likely facilitate the establishment of endosymbiosis. Hologenomic analyses offer new evidence that metabolic complementarity between the host and endosymbionts enables the host to compensate for its inability to synthesize some essential nutrients, and two pathways (digestion of symbionts and molecular leakage of symbionts) that can supply the host with symbiontderived nutrients. Results also showed that bacteriocin and abundant toxins of symbiont may contribute to the defense of the B. marisindicus holobiont. Moreover, an exceptionally large number of anti-virus systems were identified in the B. marisindicus symbiont, which likely work synergistically to efficiently protect their hosts from phage infection, indicating virus-bacteria interactions in intracellular environments of a deepsea vent mussel. Conclusions Our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of symbiosis enabling deep-sea mussels to successfully colonize the special hydrothermal vent habitats.

Characterization of Squamosa-Promoter Binding Protein-Box Family Genes Reveals the Critical Role of MsSPL20 in Alfalfa Flowering Time Regulation

SQUAMOSA Promoter-binding protein-Like (SPL) genes affect a broad range of plant biological processes and show potential application in crop improvement by genetic modification. As the most widely planted forage crop in the world, biomass and abiotic stresses tolerance are important breeding targets for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Nevertheless, the systematic analysis of SPL genes in alfalfa genome remains lacking. In the present study, we characterized 22 putative non-redundant SPL genes in alfalfa genome and uncovered the abundant structural variation among MsSPL genes. The phylogenetic analysis of plant SPL proteins separated them into 10 clades and clade J was an alfalfa-specific clade, suggesting SPL genes in alfalfa might have experienced gene duplication and functional differentiation within the genome. Meanwhile, 11 MsSPL genes with perfect matches to miRNA response elements (MREs) could be degraded by miR156, and the cleavage sites were gene specific. In addition, we investigated the temporal and spatial expression patterns of MsSPL genes and their expression patterns in response to multiple treatments, characterizing candidate SPL genes in alfalfa development and abiotic stress tolerant regulation. More importantly, overexpression of the alfalfa-specific SPL gene (MsSPL20) showed stable delayed flowering time, as well as increased biomass. Further studies indicated that MsSPL20 delayed flowering time by regulating the expression of genes involved in floret development, including HD3A, FTIP1, TEM1, and HST1. Together, our findings provide valuable information for future research and utilization of SPL genes in alfalfa and elucidate a possibly alfalfa-specific flowering time regulation, thereby supplying candidate genes for alfalfa molecular-assisted breeding.

Functional differentiation of integral operators of special form and some questions of the inverse interpolation

This article is devoted to the problem of operator interpolation and functional differentiation. Some information about the variational derivatives and explicit formulas for the exact solutions of the simplest equations containing the first variational derivatives of the required functional are given. For functionals defined on sets of functions and square matrices, various interpolating polynomials of the Hermitе type with nodes of the second multiplicity, which contain the first variational derivatives of the interpolated operator, are constructed. The presented solutions of the Hermitе interpolation problems are based on the algebraic Chebyshev system of functions. For analytic functions with an argument from a set of square matrices, explicit formulas for antiderivatives of functionals are obtained. The solution of some differential equations with integral operators of a special form and the first variational derivatives is found. The problem of the inverse interpolation of functions and operators is considered. Explicit schemes for constructing inverse functions and functionals, including the case of functions of a matrix variable, obtained using certain well-known results of interpolation theory, are demonstrated. Data representation is illustrated by a number of examples.

Functions of Precedent Phenomena in the Political Discourse of the Elections in Belarus in 2020

The authors of the article investigate the texts of the opposition Telegram channel “Belarus of the Brain” in order to identify the precedent phenomena (hereinafter PF) functioning in them. Political discourse is at the core of contemporary discourse research with the problem of strategies and tactics for manipulating public opinion occupying an important place among other aspects of its studies. PFs provide the basis for these strategies, which determines the relevance of the research being conducted. The article presents an analysis of the functional characteristics of PFs of two groups: 1) PFs representing the Belarusian national culture and society; 2) PFs exhibiting foreign cultural space. Based on the theory of precedence developed by V.P. Moskvin, V.I. Karasik and G.G. Slyshkin, the authors resort to the contextological and structural methods, elements of discourse analysis, in order to outline obvious accents in the functional differentiation of these PF groups. While national PFs have a positive connotation and participate in the creation of the national identity of Belarus and the Belarusians, PFs of foreign cultural spaces are marked by negative connotations and are used to discredit the existing political regime. The authors highlight common functions of the PFs of both groups such as creating vivid images and communicating credibility and authority to the information provided. PFs actualizing foreign cultural space show a tendency to participate in the didactic function of teaching the average reader the peaceful mechanisms of a democratic society. The study of structural features allows us to come to the conclusion about the word combination as the major form of PFs’ realization. The structural complexity and predominance of proper names in the morphology of PF signal their multidimensional semantic nature as well as their social essence. The authors also point out the formation of the PF corpus within political discourse with such dominant source spheres as history and culture. The research proves that PFs of our days are used as actively as PFs referring to the past. By and large PFs act as a means of analyzing, interpreting and categorizing the phenomena of public life in the political discourse.

Internet of Things Supervision System and Supply Chain Financial Supervision Methods Based on Blockchain Technology

With the continuous progress of blockchain technology, how to use it for commodity traceability has become a concern. This study mainly discusses the Internet of Things supervision system and supply chain financial supervision method based on blockchain technology. The whole blockchain network is a decentralized system, which consists of six layers: data layer, network layer, and consensus layer. These three layers are the foundation layer; the other three layers are incentive layer, contract layer, and application layer. The interface of the platform needs to be conceived in combination with the business of building materials. According to the functional differentiation, the required interfaces mainly include information generation interface, information verification, information retrieval, and other information interfaces. Smart contracts can process data, operate asset transactions, manage smart assets, and expand the ability of blockchain to use data. In this way, the blockchain technology can trace the source of the data, so as to ensure the authenticity and security of the data. Blockchain technology can be used in data tracking. Specifically, in the building materials industry, with the help of blockchain technology, building material mixing enterprises can see the raw materials such as sand and gravel purchased under the order, the region where they are produced, the time point of transportation, the carrier, etc. In the process of supply chain financial supervision experiment, when the pledge rate of building materials is within the range of [0.4206,1], the bank income under the block chain mode is higher. The system designed in this study realizes the certification and traceability of building materials and has good use value.

Phylogenetic Analysis with Prediction of Cofactor or Ligand Binding for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAS and Cache Domains

To adjust to a variety of life conditions, bacteria typically use multidomain proteins, where the modular structure allows functional differentiation. Proteins responding to environmental cues and regulating physiological responses are found in chemotaxis pathways that respond to a wide range of stimuli to effect movement.

Extracellular Enzyme Activities and Carbon/Nitrogen Utilization in Mycorrhizal Fungi Isolated From Epiphytic and Terrestrial Orchids

Fungi employ extracellular enzymes to initiate the degradation of organic macromolecules into smaller units and to acquire the nutrients for their growth. As such, these enzymes represent important functional components in terrestrial ecosystems. While it is well-known that the regulation and efficiency of extracellular enzymes to degrade organic macromolecules and nutrient-acquisition patterns strongly differ between major fungal groups, less is known about variation in enzymatic activity and carbon/nitrogen preference in mycorrhizal fungi. In this research, we investigated variation in extracellular enzyme activities and carbon/nitrogen preferences in orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF). Previous research has shown that the mycorrhizal fungi associating with terrestrial orchids often differ from those associating with epiphytic orchids, but whether extracellular enzyme activities and carbon/nitrogen preference differ between growth forms remains largely unknown. To fill this gap, we compared the activities of five extracellular enzymes [cellulase, xylanase, lignin peroxidase, laccase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] between fungi isolated from epiphytic and terrestrial orchids. In total, 24 fungal strains belonging to Tulasnellaceae were investigated. Cellulase and xylanase activities were significantly higher in fungi isolated from terrestrial orchids (0.050 ± 0.006 U/ml and 0.531 ± 0.071 U/ml, respectively) than those from epiphytic orchids (0.043 ± 0.003 U/ml and 0.295 ± 0.067 U/ml, respectively), while SOD activity was significantly higher in OMF from epiphytic orchids (5.663 ± 0.164 U/ml) than those from terrestrial orchids (3.780 ± 0.180 U/ml). Carboxymethyl cellulose was more efficiently used by fungi from terrestrial orchids, while starch and arginine were more suitable for fungi from epiphytic orchids. Overall, the results of this study show that extracellular enzyme activities and to a lesser extent carbon/nitrogen preferences differ between fungi isolated from terrestrial and epiphytic orchids and may indicate functional differentiation and ecological adaptation of OMF to local growth conditions.