The habitat-modifying red alga Ramicrusta on Pacific reefs: A new generic record for the Tropical Northwestern Pacific and the description of four new species from Guam

The genus Ramicrusta (order Peyssonneliales) is a new record for Micronesia, with range expansions of Ramicrusta fujiiana and R. lateralis to Guam. In addition, four species (Ramicrusta adjoulanensis, R. asanitensis, R. labtasiensis, and R. taogamensis) are newly described from Guam using molecular and anatomical characters. Ramicrusta lateralis specimens from Guam share most anatomical features with the holotype description from Vanuatu, but the plants from Guam are more tightly adherent, rigid, and robust than those of Vanuatu. Ramicrusta adjoulanensis possesses a well-developed epithallus with frequent cell fusions, secondary pit connections, and lacking hair bases or trichocytes, similar to Ramicrusta bonairensis. Ramicrusta adjoulanensis differs from other Ramicrusta species in having occasionally free margins and being attached by frequently produced, relatively long rhizoids (75–100 μm long). Ramicrusta asanitensis shares features with many other species, but the thickness of the crust (upwards of 2 mm thick), heavy calcification in the epithallus, and the extent of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary growth, differentiate it from other Ramicrusta species. Ramicrusta labtasiensis shares features with its close relative Ramicrusta lateralis but possesses frequent, robust, and relatively long rhizoids (75–95 μm long) throughout its entire undersurface. Ramicrusta taogamensis resembles its close relative Ramicrusta appressa but is primarily distinguished by its generally well-developed epithallus with occasional secondary pit connections and cell fusions. The six species reported here make Guam equal to Vanuatu in currently having the highest known species richness of Ramicrusta in the world.

Biodiversity of Hawaiian Peyssonneliales (Peyssonneliaceae, Rhodophyta): new species in the genera Incendia and Seiria

Two new species, one in the genus Incendia, and one in Seiria, are illustrated and described here from mesophotic peyssonnelioid specimens collected in the Hawaiian Islands based on molecular and morphological analyses. Both genera are reported from Hawai‘i for the first time. Incendia lisianskiensis sp. nov. differs from the other nine described members of the genus by its lack of hair cells, by the perithallial filaments arising at a more or less 90º angle from the hypothallus, while Seiria mesophotica sp. nov. is distinguished from the only other described species, S. magnifusa, by its lack of obvious and well-developed perithallial cell fusions. With the description of these two species the total number of recognized Hawaiian members of the Peyssonneliales rises to nine. Previously recorded species included Peyssonnelia conchicola, P. inamoena, P. japonica, P. rubra, Ramicrusta hawaiiensis, R. lehuensis, and Sonderophycus copusii.

Organelle genome assembly uncovers the dynamic genome reorganization and cytoplasmic male sterility associated genes in tomato

To identify cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)-associated genes in tomato, we determined the genome sequences of mitochondria and chloroplasts in three CMS tomato lines derived from independent asymmetric cell fusions, their nuclear and cytoplasmic donors, and male fertile weedy cultivated tomato and wild relatives. The structures of the CMS mitochondrial genomes were highly divergent from those of the nuclear and cytoplasmic donors, and genes of the donors were mixed up in these genomes. On the other hand, the structures of CMS chloroplast genomes were moderately conserved across the donors, but CMS chloroplast genes were unexpectedly likely derived from the nuclear donors. Comparative analysis of the structures and contents of organelle genes and transcriptome analysis identified three genes that were uniquely present in the CMS lines, but not in the donor or fertile lines. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that these three genes transcriptionally expressed in anther, two of which were also expressed in pollen. They could be potential candidates for CMS-associated genes. This study suggests that organelle reorganization mechanisms after cell fusion events differ between mitochondria and chloroplasts, and provides insight into the development of new F1 hybrid breeding programs employing the CMS system in tomato.

Potential Compounds for the Inhibition of TMPRSS2

<p>The ongoing search to contain and control the spread of COVID-19 disease focuses on discovering drugs or vaccines that can play an essential role in treating this contagious disease. This paper focuses on natural compounds that can play a vital role in the treatment of Covid-19. The study spans over the chemicals that have the potential to bind with the key residues of type II Transmembrane Protease Serine (TMPRSS2). TMPRSS2 can be termed as the catalyst that cleaves the spike glycoproteins of Sars-Cov-2, which causes the replication and spread of virus inside the human body by facilitating virus-cell fusions. Drugs like Camostat Mesylate, Aprotinin, and Rimantadine have been proposed as potential inhibitors of TMPRSS2. After screening large sets of phytochemicals and flavonoids extracted from plants, potential compounds have been tested, and a set of most effective and suitable compounds are chosen for further studies. These selected compounds are further analyzed in terms of binding with key residues as well as high binding affinity with TMPRSS2. The in silico analysis of possible chemical compounds is carried out by using docking, screening analysis, Molecular Dynamics, and Electrostatic Potential Simulations. Chemicals extracted from different plants are comparatively analyzed with drugs like Aprotinin, Camostat Mesylate, and Rimantadine.</p>