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Heavy metal stress in native plant species: investigating phytoremediation potential through physiological and ISSR/SCoT molecular assessments.

In emerging countries, increased industrial activity has a significant impact on economic growth and urban development. However, the acceleration of industrial processes is accompanied by the release of contaminants such as heavy metals. According to the World Health Organization, one-fourth of all human diseases are caused by environmental contaminants, including heavy metals, which can impair numerous organs such as the neurological system, liver, and reproductive systems. This increased efforts to find effective and sustainable methods to remove heavy metals. Phytoremediation is an environmentally benign method of removing heavy metals using specific plants. Thus, from industrially contaminated locations, common native plant species of Lactuca serriola, Sisymbrium irio, Chenopodium murale, and Cynanchum acutum were selected for this study to assess the mechanisms of their molecular and physiological tolerance. Soil and plants were tested for heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Cu), and contaminated locations were classified as low and highly polluted. Measurements were made of soluble sugar, protein, secondary metabolites, malondialdehyde, and H2O2. Additionally, inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR), start codon targeted (SCoT), and genomic template stability GTS were used. In heavily polluted areas, all plant species exhibit elevated amounts of sugar, proteins, H2O2, MDA, and secondary metabolites, while total phenolics showed a unique significant interaction (plant-location), where Cynanchum exhibited a hyper-stress phenolic accumulation to cope with toxicity, whereas Chenopodium maintained genomic stability with balanced phenolic level. Based on these findings, both Cynanchum acutum and Chenopodium murale demonstrate superior potential for phytoremediation and warrant further investigation for ecological restoration.

Heavy metal

Comparative Responses of Invasive and Native Plant Species to Combined Cd and Microplastic Pollution.

The co-occurrence of heavy metal contamination and biodegradable microplastic (polylactic acid, PLA) pollution poses increasing risks to terrestrial plant communities and soil functioning, yet species-specific responses to combined stress remain poorly understood. Cd and microplastics frequently co-occur in agricultural soils, where microplastics can alter cadmium mobility, bioavailability, and transport pathways, potentially modifying metal toxicity and plant stress responses compared with single-pollutant exposure. We investigated the responses of the invasive Bidens pilosa and the native Solanum nigrum grown in monoculture and mixed culture under combined cadmium (Cd) and biodegradable microplastic (PLA) stress by integrating plant growth, photosynthetic performance, oxidative physiology, and rhizosphere biochemical processes. Combined Cd-MP exposure markedly reduced plant growth, chlorophyll content (SPAD), photosystem II efficiency (Fv/Fm), nitrogen accumulation, biomass production, and rhizosphere enzyme activities associated with carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling. However, B. pilosa maintained greater physiological stability under stress, characterized by higher antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POD), lower reactive oxygen species (H2O2, O2˙-) accumulation, and reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), whereas S. nigrum exhibited stronger oxidative damage and functional impairment. Multivariate analyses further revealed that root antioxidant capacity was closely associated with rhizosphere microbial enzyme activity, suggesting a root-centered regulatory mechanism linking plant stress tolerance to soil functioning. Overall, the invasive species showed greater tolerance to combined contamination and maintained relatively higher rhizosphere functional activity than the native species, indicating that multi-pollutant stress may alter competitive interactions between invasive and native plants in contaminated environments.

Cadmium

The Complete Genome of Three At-Risk Florida Butterflies: Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri, Eumaeus atala and Heraclides ponceana.

We present short-read genome assemblies of three butterfly species native to the state of Florida: the Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala), the Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri), and the Schaus' swallowtail (Heraclides ponceana). All species are of conservation concern with the latter two listed as federally endangered. Genome assemblies recovered 77-92% of single-copy orthologous insect genes, providing a valuable resource for advancing lepidopteran genomic research.

Journal Article

Mitochondrial genome-derived microsatellites reveal genetic diversity and population structure in Callery pear populations.

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana Decne.; PC) possesses many desirable characteristics valued in managed landscapes. This has driven the release of numerous cultivars, including both hybrids and selections derived from native populations. The extensive planting of PC cultivars in managed areas has contributed to the widespread occurrence of invasive individuals across a broad range of habitats in the eastern United States (US). Self-incompatibility, tolerance to various environmental conditions, pathogen and pest resistance, intraspecific hybridization among the cultivars, possible interspecific hybridization with other Pyrus species, and seed dispersal by various vertebrates have contributed to the spread and persistence of PC across diverse environments. Because effective and environmentally appropriate management options remain limited, improved understanding of PC genetics may help inform management strategies. Previous studies have characterized PC diversity using nuclear genomic short sequence repeats (gSSRs), however, neither a mitochondrial genome resource nor mitochondrial short sequence repeats (mtSSRs) have been developed for this purpose. Here, we assembled a mitochondrial genome of 485,892 bp and used five mtSSRs to characterize mitochondrial diversity and population structure among accessions from the species' native range in Asia (n = 72), southeastern US escapees (SNesc; n = 90), Tennessee escapees (TNesc; n = 90), and US-released commercial cultivars (UScult; n = 69 representing 14 unique cultivars). We found a high genetic diversity (He = 0.728) and evidence of genetic structure in PC. In distance-based and multivariate analyses, UScult occupied an intermediate position between the Asian populations and the US escapees. The observed mitochondrial diversity among samples assigned to PC cultivars is consistent with a complex genetic landscape and may reflect distinct maternal lineages, cultivar-labeling or record-keeping discrepancies, and/or technical variation. This study underscores the need for broader genomic investigations using authenticated cultivar reference material and high-resolution nuclear markers to resolve cultivar ancestry, validate true-to-name identity, and inform species management.

Genetic Variation

Chromosome-level assembly and annotation of the Jaguar (Panthera onca) genome.

OBJECTIVES: The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large cat species native to the Americas. Despite being successful predators, jaguar populations have declined due to habitat loss. Genome resources can help in conservation efforts as well as in understanding the interesting biology of these Felids. Beside contiguity, a well annotated reference genome provides contextual information for variants that will benefit the design of appropriate conservation programs. DATA DESCRIPTION: We sequenced material from two individuals using a combination of ONT reads and Illumina PE. The resulting nuclear genome assembly has a larger contig N50 (48.04 Mb) compared with the existing annotated chromosome-level assembly published by the DNA Zoo project. Using public Hi-C data, we obtained an improved chromosome-level assembly of the Jaguar genome (mPanOnc3.5) with larger contigs, 99.85% of the sequence assigned to chromosomes and 25,267 protein coding genes annotated. Overall, this improved assembly provides a better reference to study this threatened species.

Animals

Chromosome-level assembly and annotation of the yellow-shelled fish (Barbodes Wynaadensis).

Barbodes wynaadensis, a unique cyprinid species native to Yunnan Province in China, stands out as an allotetraploid (AABB) fish with a complex evolutionary history. Leveraging a multi-platform sequencing strategy combining MGI short-read, PacBio long-read, and Hi-C scaffolding technologies, we assembled the first chromosome-level genome for B. wynaadensis. The final assembled genome spans 1.76 Gb in length with a contig N50 of 33.53 Mb, demonstrating high assembly continuity. Hi-C scaffolding enabled the reconstruction of 50 pseudochromosomes, representing 99.94% of the total genome assembly. Genome annotation identified 46,121 protein-coding genes, with a functional annotation rate of 99.76%. Repetitive elements constituted 48.26% of the genomic sequences, including lineage-specific expansions of DNA transposons (29.26%) and LTRs (6.36%). This high-quality assembly resolves challenges in polyploid genome reconstruction and provides a critical resource for investigating Cyprinidae evolution, particularly subgenome divergence and adaptation. The dataset also enables practical applications, such as molecular marker development for population monitoring, supporting conservation efforts for this threatened endemic species amid habitat degradation in the Nujiang River basin.

Animals

Dynamics of soil fungal communities restored with biochar from a quarry site.

Quarrying activities have intensified due to population expansion, leading to landscape degradation and ecological destruction. Quarry restoration is usually mandatory in Hong Kong, China. Although biochar is used for sustainable soil amendment, its effectiveness in restoring quarry soil with poor properties has rarely been investigated. A 24-month field study was conducted to evaluate the ecological feasibility of restoring a quarry site by using native species (that is, Castanopsis fissa and Cyclobalanopsis edithiae) and biochar amendment. The results revealed that after 24 months, the application of biochar increased the organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium of the vegetated soil by at least 120 %, 31 % and 12 %, respectively, due to higher cation exchange capacity and better plant growth. The relative abundance of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota increased by 24 % and 47 % with biochar application when C. fissa was planted, which was likely associated with the improved nutrient cycling and soil fertility. Even though adding biochar to bare soil was found to increase the complexity of fungal co-occurrence networks, biochar application only increased fungal diversity in vegetated quarry soil but usually reduced its fungal richness. Moreover, fungal co-occurrence networks in vegetated soil became less complex, suggesting that biochar potentially helped plants to assemble specific, beneficial fungal communities. This effect is most pronounced in the soil planted with C. edithiae, where the structure of fungal communities after 24 months was significantly different from that at other restoration times. This study identifies key fungal phyla enhanced by biochar in quarry soil and provides an effective strategy for facilitating the restoration and management of degraded lands, especially quarry sites.

Charcoal

Properties of phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid with modified 3'-terminal end in protein biosynthesis using a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system: effect of the replacement of cytidine residues from the CpCpA end of tRNA by 5-iodocytidine or 2-thiocytidine.

Phe-tRNA Phe from yeast containing 2-thiocytidine or 5-iodocytidine in position 75 of the polynucleotide chain or Phe-tRNA Phe in which both positions 74 and 75 were substituted by 5-iodocytidine were investigated in the poly U-dependent polyphenylalanine synthesis on ribosomes from rabbit reticulocytes. Phe-tRNA Phe-Cps2CpA was nearly as active as the native Phe-tRNA Phe-CpCpA in the overall process. Phe-tRNA Phe-Cpi 5CpA as well as Phe-tRNA Phe-i5Cpi 5CpA were considerably less active than the native species. Investigation of individual steps of protein biosynthesis with these modified substrates revealed that the donor activity of peptidyl-tRNAs which contain 5-iodocytidine in their 3'-terminus is strongly imparied suggesting exacting structural requirements for the interaction of the CpCpA end of tRNA with the ribosomal P-site.

Animals

Genetic differentiation of the supralittoral gastropod Tectarius striatus (North Atlantic Archipelagos) and development of new microsatellite resources.

Microsatellite markers are invaluable tools for assessing genetic diversity and elucidating population structure across any species. This study reports the development and application of ten novel polymorphic microsatellite loci for Tectarius striatus, a littorinid species native to the shores of Macaronesia, a geographical region that includes the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands, and Cabo Verde. These markers together with a portion of the COI gene were used to genotype 65 individuals, using Illumina amplicon -sequencing across five geographically distinct populations. Our analysis shows moderate to high levels of allelic diversity across all populations. Furthermore, microsatellite markers supported genetic structure between a distant population of Cabo Verde Archipelago and the northern Macaronesian archipelagos. Conversely variation of the COI showed high levels of homogeneity across the sampled populations. While the presence of null alleles and moderate levels of missing data at several loci represent challenges to this study, the overall consistency of our results with earlier research underscores the reliability of microsatellite markers for population genetic inference in this marine gastropod. Nevertheless, our findings highlight the need for cautious interpretation of diversity estimates and population structure metrics, particularly when null alleles are frequent, and underscore the value of expanding the panel of available microsatellite markers for Tectarius striatus and related taxa to improve resolution and accuracy for future studies.

Animals

Genome-Wide Identification and Colchicine-Responsive Expression Profiling of the Tubulins (TUA and TUB) Gene Family in Phoebe bournei.

Phoebe bournei is an economically and ecologically important woody species native to China. As a core component of colchicine-triggered polyploid breeding, the tubulin genes (TUA and TUB) have been identified and functionally analyzed in many plants, but not yet in P. bournei. Here, tubulin family members in P. bournei were identified through sequence alignment and subsequently characterized using comprehensive bioinformatic analyses. In particular, a total of six PbTUA and ten PbTUB members were identified and grouped into two and five subfamilies, respectively, according to phylogenetic relationships. Most tubulin proteins were small (414-522 aa) with predicted stability. Furthermore, 36 collinear gene pairs were identified, suggesting a possible contribution to the evolutionary expansion of this family. For different tissues, the expression levels of most tubulin genes were generally lower in leaves but higher in roots. Besides, treatment with 1.0% colchicine inhibited the expression of all 15 tubulin genes except PbTUB6. These results provide preliminary insights into tubulin genes associated with polyploid induction and supply candidate genes for future functional studies toward polyploid germplasm creation of P. bournei.

Phoebe bournei

Cytochrome c1 of bakers' yeast. I. Isolation and properties.

Cytochrome c1 has been purified from mitochondria of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The procedure involves solubilization withcholate, ammonium sulfate fractionation, disruption of the dytochrome b-c1 complex with mercaptoethanol and detergents, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The final product is psectrally pure, contains up to 62 nmol of covalently bound heme per mg of protein and does not react with oxygen or carbon monoxide. Sodium dodecyl sulfate disaggregates the purified cytochrome into a single 31,000 dalton subunit carrying the covalently attached heme group. Many cytochrome c1 preparations contain in addition an 18,500 dalton polypeptide which is devoid of covalently bound heme. Since this polypeptide can be removed from the heme-carrying polypeptide by relatively mild procedures, it is probably not an essential subunit of cytochrome c1. Cytochrome c1 is extremely sensitive to proteolysis. If it si purified in the absence of protease inhibitors, a family of heme polypeptides with molecular weights of 29,000, 27,000, and 25,000 daltons is obtained. In the presence of the protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride the purification yields predominantly a 31,000 dalton heme protein with only little contamination by a 29,000 dalton degradation product. In order to show that only the 31,000 dalton heme-polypeptide is the native species, yeast cells were labeled with the heme-precursor delta-amino[3H]levulinic acid, converted to protoplasts and directly lysed with dodecyl sulfate in the presence of protease inhibitors. Subsequent electrophoresis of the lysate in the presence of dodecyl sulfate reveals the covalently bound heme of cytochrome c1 as a single symmetrical peak at 31,000 daltons.

Amino Acids

The impact of non-native trees on galling and herbivory in New York City across space and time.

Cities and suburbs frequently plant native and non-native trees as foundation species, with non-natives cultivated in these areas for centuries while remaining non-invasive. Although previous research has found that native trees often host more arthropods, studies have not simultaneously looked across space and time to determine the consistency of tree origin on urban arthropods. We combined varied methods across spatial and temporal scales in New York City to test if native tree leaves consistently have more insect and mite interactions than long-established non-native trees, predicting stronger effect sizes for specialists (galling arthropods) than generalists (herbivory). We examined (1) congeneric species pairs, controlled for growing conditions and stoichiometry in an arboretum, (2) diverse oaks at a botanical garden, (3) community science records across Brooklyn, and (4) herbarium specimens from 1883 through present across the city. Across spatiotemporal scales, we found consistent results. Specialist interactions were striking: contemporary native trees supported numerous galling species, while only one congeneric non-native species hosted any galls. For generalists, contemporary native trees had equivalent to slightly greater herbivory. Over the last century, herbarium records showed that herbivory increased on non-native trees to nearly the level of natives, whereas native trees increased in gall abundance while non-native trees remained rarely galled. Our results demonstrate the impact of tree origin on tree-arthropod interactions in a real-world urban setting, with far fewer galls even when non-native tree species have been cultivated locally for centuries. Our findings will help city planners and property owners confidently choose native trees to promote arthropod biodiversity.

Trees

Chromosome scale genomes of two invasive Adelges species enable virtual screening for selective adelgicides.

Two invasive hemipteran adelgids are associated with widespread damage to several North American conifer species. Adelges tsugae, hemlock woolly adelgid, was introduced from Japan and reproduces parthenogenetically in North America, where it has rapidly decimated Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana (the eastern and Carolina hemlocks, respectively). Adelges abietis, eastern spruce gall adelgid, introduced from Europe, forms distinctive pineapple-shaped galls on several native spruce species. While not considered a major forest pest, it weakens trees and increases susceptibility to additional stressors. Broad-spectrum insecticides that are often used to control adelgid populations can have off-target impacts on beneficial insects. Whole genome sequencing was performed on both species to aid in development of targeted solutions that may minimize ecological impact. Adelges abietis was sequenced using Illumina Linked-Read technology from 30 pooled individuals, with Hi-C scaffolding performed using data from a single individual collected from the same host plant. Adelges tsugae used Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing from pooled nymphs. The assembled A. tsugae and A. abietis genomes, pooled from several parthenogenetic females, are 220.75 Mbp and 253.16 Mbp, respectively. Each consists of eight autosomal chromosomes, as well as two sex chromosomes (X1/X2), supporting the XX-XO sex determination system. The genomes are over 96% complete based on BUSCO assessment. Genome annotation identified 11,424 and 12,060 protein-coding genes in A. tsugae and A. abietis, respectively. Comparative analysis of proteins across 29 hemipteran species and 14 arthropod outgroups identified 31,666 putative gene families. Gene family evolution analysis with CAFE revealed lineage-specific expansions in immune-related aminopeptidases (ERAP1) and juvenile hormone binding proteins (JHBP), contractions in juvenile hormone acid methyltransferases (JHAMT), and conservation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). These genes were explored as candidate families towards a long-term objective of developing adelgid-selective insecticides. Structural comparisons of proteins across seven focal species (Adelges tsugae, Adelges abietis, Adelges cooleyi, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Apis mellifera, Danaus plexippus, and Drosophila melanogaster) revealed high conservation of nAChR and ERAP1, while JHAMT exhibited species-specific structural divergence. The potential of JHAMT as a lineage-specific target for pest control was explored through virtual drug and pesticide screening.

adelgids

Heterogeneity of delta-crystallins of the embryonic mallard lens. Correlation between subunit compositions and isoelectric points.

delta-Crystallins from the lenses of embryonic mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were analyzed with respect to native and subunit molecular weight, subunit composition, and isoelectric point. NaDodSO4-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that unfractionated mallard delta-crystallins are composed of approximately equal amounts of subunits with molecular weights near 47 000 and 48 000. Agarose gel chromatography showed that the embryonic mallard delta-crystallins have native molecular weights slightly less than 200 000. Thus, embryonic mallard delta-crystallins appear to be tetramers. Five major and nine minor delta-crystallins were resolved by isoelectric focusing. The five predominant delta-crystallins each cross-reacted with antichick delta-crystallin antiserum, and each had a different proportion of the larger and smaller subunits, indicating a direct relationship between the isoelectric point and the subunit composition. The presence of numerous, minor species of native delta-crystallins with different isoelectric points suggested that the subunits possess charge heteogeneity as well as size heterogeneity.

Animals

A CRISPR-Based Rapid Detection Assay for Crayfish Plague (Aphanomyces astaci) From Environmental Samples.

Crayfish plague, caused by Aphanomyces astaci (Aa), is an infectious disease invasive in Europe, where its rapid spread has resulted in sharp declines of native crayfish species. Monitoring currently relies on a highly sensitive, but costly and time-consuming qPCR approach. Here, we designed a simplified, rapid and cost-efficient molecular assay for on-site detection of Aa. The novel rapid assay employs a combination of isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification and CRISPR-Cas12a-based detection that can be coupled with fluorescence or lateral flow visualisation. We demonstrate that the novel assay can detect A. astaci from tissue and environmental DNA with higher sensitivity than the available qPCR assay and readily distinguishes Aa from its non-pathogenic sister taxon A. fennicus. We tested two genomic marker sites for Aa that discriminate closely related oomycetes and incorporate field-deployable lateral flow and fluorescence readouts. Our work will make crayfish plague monitoring broadly accessible to practitioners and non-academic stakeholders as a tool to curb further Aa-driven loss of Europe's imperilled freshwater crustaceans and strengthen preparedness against future incursions of the pathogen in other regions.

Cas12a

Basis of microheterogeneity of myelin basic protein.

The basic protein of bovine central nervous system myelin contains a single polypeptide chain of 170 amino acids. Multiple components of basic protein have been observed on disc gel electrophoresis and ion exchange chromatography at alkaline pH, but the basis of the microheterogeneity has not been established. In the present study myelin basic protein from bovine spinal cord was chromatographed on carboxymethylcellulose at pH 10.4 in glycine buffer/2 M urea. Three major peaks were obtained, identified as components 4, 5, and 6 in the oder of their elution from the column by a linear salt gradient. The amino acid compositions of tryptic peptides from components 4 and 6 were identical and the COOH-terminal sequence, Ala-Arg-Arg, was intact for all three components. Component 4 was found to differ from component 6 by partial phosphorylation of threonine 98 and serine 165. This modification was estimated to account for 50% of component 4. Component 5 differed from component 6 by partial deamidation of glutamine residues 103 and 147, which accounted for 80% of this component. These modified glutamine residues were also present in component 4 and constituted another 15% of this component. It was considered that component 6 was the native, unmodified species of basic protein and that component 4 differed by a net negative charge of 2, and component 5 by a net negative charge of.1 as a result of these modifications. The nonrandom nature of the modifications suggested the involvement of specific enzymes.

Amino Acids

Stability in the face of global decline: a 20-year study of arthropods in an oceanic archipelago.

Insect declines are of global concern, yet no long-term ecological studies (LTER) have confirmed this trend on islands. This study utilises the first available LTER data on island arthropods, targeting epigeal and canopy species from the Azores Archipelago (Portugal), and covering over 20 years in three distinct sampling events from 30 standard sites. We investigate changes in abundance, biomass, and species richness within native forest arthropod communities, focusing on the proportions of endemic and introduced species, and temporal patterns among single-island endemics and forest-dependent endemics. Results reveal significant temporal variability, but overall abundance, biomass, and species richness remain stable across endemic and native non-endemic taxa. Among the species studied, 28% declined, 17% increased, and 55% showed no significant differences. Exotic invasions and related extinctions appear minimal. Forest-dependent endemic species declined below anticipated levels, suggesting that the extinction debt for these species may be less severe than initially expected. Nonetheless, some forest specialists have declined significantly, and seven species, not seen over 20 years, are considered to be extinct. The three-decade-long conservation of Azorean native forests may have contributed to the stability of some populations, thus these findings underscore the need for continued and enhanced conservation efforts of insular forest-associated diversity.

Animals

Essential arginine residues in tryptophanase from Escherichia coli.

Tryptophanase from Escherichia coli B/1t7-A is inactivated by the arginine-specific reagent, phenylglyoxal, in potassium phosphate buffer at pH 7.8 AND 25 degrees. Apo- and holoenzyme are inactivated at the same rate, and inactivation of both is correlated with modification of 2 arginine residues/tryptophanase monomer. Substrate analogs having a carboxyl group protect the holoenzyme against both inactivation and arginine modification but have no effect on the inactivation or modification of the apoenzyme. Phenylglyoxal-modified apotryptophanase retains the capacity to bind the coenzyme, pyridoxal-P, but the spectrum of this reconstituted species differs from that of native holotryptophanase. Neither this reconstituted species nor the phenyglyoxal-modified holoenzyme shows the 500 nm absorption characteristic of the native enzyme when substrates are added. These results demonstrate a requirement for specific arginine residues for substrate binding and are discussed in the context of the known conformational and spectal forms of tryptophanase with regard to a possible role for arginine residues in formation of a catalytically effective enzyme-pyridoxal-P complex.

Arginine