Single-cell in situ transcriptomic map of astrocyte cortical layer diversity

During organogenesis, patterns and gradients of gene expression underlie organization and diversified cell specification to generate complex tissue architecture. While the cerebral cortex is organized into six excitatory neuronal layers, it is unclear whether glial cells are diversified to mimic neuronal laminae or show distinct layering. To determine the molecular architecture of the mammalian cortex, we developed a high content pipeline that can quantify single-cell gene expression in situ. The Large-area Spatial Transcriptomic (LaST) map confirmed expected cortical neuron layer organization and also revealed a novel neuronal identity signature. Screening 46 candidate genes for astrocyte diversity across the cortex, we identified grey matter superficial, mid and deep astrocyte identities in gradient layer patterns that were distinct from neurons. Astrocyte layers formed in early postnatal cortex and mostly persisted in adult mouse and human cortex. Mutations that shifted neuronal post-mitotic identity or organization were sufficient to alter glial layering, indicating an instructive role for neuronal cues. In normal mouse cortex, astrocyte layer patterns showed area diversity between functionally distinct cortical regions. These findings indicate that excitatory neurons and astrocytes cells are organized into distinct lineage-associated laminae, which give rise to higher order neuroglial complexity of cortical architecture.

Fresnel scatter revisited – comparison of 50 MHz radar and radiosondes in the Arctic, the Tropics and Antarctica

High-resolution radiosondes and calibrated radars operating close to 50 MHz, are used to examine the relationship between the strength of radar scatter and refractive index gradient. Three radars are used, in Kiruna in Arctic Sweden, at Gadanki in southern India and at the Swedish/Finnish base Wasa/Aboa in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Calibration is accomplished using the daily variation of galactic noise measured at each site. Proportionality between radar scatter strength and the square of the mean gradient of potential refractive index, M2, is found in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere at all three sites, confirming previously reported results from many VHF radars. If the radar scatter is interpreted as Fresnel scatter, the constant of proportionality between radar scatter and M2 is found to be the same, within the calibration uncertainties, for all three radars. The radiosondes show evidence of distinct layering with sharp gradients, extending over 10s of kilometers horizontally, but the scatter is found to be two orders of magnitude weaker than would be expected from true Fresnel scatter from such layers. Using radar reflectivities resolved to a few 100 ms, we show that this is due to strong temporal variability in the scattering conditions, possibly due to undulations of the scattering layers. The constancy of the radar scatter – M2 relationship between the different sites suggests an unexpected uniformity in these perturbations between very different regions of the globe.

The cell walls of Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus campestris fruiting body hyphae

The hyphal walls of Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus campestris fruiting bodies were isolated and purified. Quantitative analyses revealed that these walls consisted mainly of carbohydrates (78.3–79.2%), lipids (9.9–10.1%), and proteins (8.7–10.2%). The major components of carbohydrate polymers were glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, and glucosamine. In addition, small quantities of galactose and mannose have been found.N-Acetylglucosamine and glucosamine were identified chemically and enzymatically, and also by infrared spectrum and X-ray diffraction analyses, as chitin and chitosan. Neutral polysaccharides include an alkali-soluble glucan with α(1–3) linkages and a β(1–3)- and β(1–6)-linked glucan.The lipid fractions in both hyphal walls contained precursors of melanin, this pigment being largely represented in Agaricus spore walls. Amino acids analyses indicate that structural wall proteins were very similar in both organisms.In electron micrographs of ultrathin sections of hyphae no distinct layering was apparent in contrast with spore walls of the same organism, which show two wide well-defined layers.