Assessing the redundancy of MADS-box genes during carpel and ovule development

Carpels are essential for sexual plant reproduction because they house the ovules and subsequently develop into fruits that protect, nourish and ultimately disperse the seeds. The AGAMOUS (AG) gene is necessary for plant sexual reproduction because stamens and carpels are absent from ag mutant flowers. However, the fact that sepals are converted into carpelloid organs in certain mutant backgrounds even in the absence of AG activity indicates that an AG-independent carpel-development pathway exists. AG is a member of a monophyletic clade of MADS-box genes that includes SHATTERPROOF1 (SHP1), SHP2 and SEEDSTICK (STK), indicating that these four genes might share partly redundant activities. Here we show that the SHP genes are responsible for AG-independent carpel development. We also show that the STK gene is required for normal development of the funiculus, an umbilical-cord-like structure that connects the developing seed to the fruit, and for dispersal of the seeds when the fruit matures. We further show that all four members of the AG clade are required for specifying the identity of ovules, the landmark invention during the course of vascular plant evolution that enabled seed plants to become the most successful group of land plants.     

Natural and experimental interspecific hybridization between populations ofDolichopoda cave crickets

Summary Evidence of hybridization between 2 pairs of allopatricDolichopoda species is provided by electrophoretic analysis. Occurrence of hybrids was revealed by laboratory crosses and in nature both by occasional co-existence due to passive dispersal and by transplantation experiments.This research was supported by the National Research Council, Italy, grant No. 78.01441.04, and by funds of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Rome. Acknowledgments are due to Drs G. Carchini, M. Rampini and G. Sammuri for substantial help in collecting in caves and to Professor B. Baccetti for SEL micrographs.     

Anisakis simplex complex (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in zooplankton communities from temperate NE Atlantic waters

The euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii and an unidentified mysid have been found, for the first time, with third-stage larvae (L₃) of the Anisakis simplex complex in the mesozooplanktonic community of the coastal upwelling system in Galicia (NW Spain). Parasite larvae were molecularly identified using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The prevalence of these parasites in the euphausiid population was 0.0019%. The existence of parasites in a variety of mesozooplankton organisms suggests that the transmission routes of A. simplex sensu stricto and A. pegrefii are wider than expected. The results suggest that these two Anisakis species are not specific to their intermediate hosts. Finally, the recruitment of A. simplex complex may be affected by oceanography, differing under upwelling or downwelling conditions.     

A genome-wide association study identifies new psoriasis susceptibility loci and an interaction between HLA-C and ERAP1

To identify new susceptibility loci for psoriasis, we undertook a genome-wide association study of 594,224 SNPs in 2,622 individuals with psoriasis and 5,667 controls. We identified associations at eight previously unreported genomic loci. Seven loci harbored genes with recognized immune functions (IL28RA, REL, IFIH1, ERAP1, TRAF3IP2, NFKBIA and TYK2). These associations were replicated in 9,079 European samples (six loci with a combined P < 5 × 10?? and two loci with a combined P < 5 × 10??). We also report compelling evidence for an interaction between the HLA-C and ERAP1 loci (combined P = 6.95 × 10??). ERAP1 plays an important role in MHC class I peptide processing. ERAP1 variants only influenced psoriasis susceptibility in individuals carrying the HLA-C risk allele. Our findings implicate pathways that integrate epidermal barrier dysfunction with innate and adaptive immune dysregulation in psoriasis pathogenesis.     

Common variants near ATM are associated with glycemic response to metformin in type 2 diabetes

Metformin is the most commonly used pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes. We report a genome-wide association study for glycemic response to metformin in 1,024 Scottish individuals with type 2 diabetes with replication in two cohorts including 1,783 Scottish individuals and 1,113 individuals from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study. In a combined meta-analysis, we identified a SNP, rs11212617, associated with treatment success (n = 3,920, P = 2.9 × 10(-9), odds ratio = 1.35, 95% CI 1.22-1.49) at a locus containing ATM, the ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene. In a rat hepatoma cell line, inhibition of ATM with KU-55933 attenuated the phosphorylation and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in response to metformin. We conclude that ATM, a gene known to be involved in DNA repair and cell cycle control, plays a role in the effect of metformin upstream of AMP-activated protein kinase, and variation in this gene alters glycemic response to metformin.     

Biochemical divergence between cavernicolous and marine Sphaeromidae and the Mediterranean salinity crisis

Summary Allozymic variation in proteins encoded by 14 loci was analyzed in 3 cavernicolousMonolistra and in 2 marineSphaeroma species. Genetic distance data, high levels of heterozygosity and the divergence time calculations support the hypothesis thatMonolistra diverged from its Sphaeroma-like marine ancestor during the Messinian, in connection with the Mediterranean salinity critis.This research was supported by the National Research Council, Italy, grant No. 77.01490.04, and by funds of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Rome.     

Growth of graphene from solid carbon sources

Monolayer graphene was first obtained as a transferable material in 2004 and has stimulated intense activity among physicists, chemists and material scientists. Much research has been focused on developing routes for obtaining large sheets of monolayer or bilayer graphene. This has been recently achieved by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of CH(4) or C(2)H(2) gases on copper or nickel substrates. But CVD is limited to the use of gaseous raw materials, making it difficult to apply the technology to a wider variety of potential feedstocks. Here we demonstrate that large area, high-quality graphene with controllable thickness can be grown from different solid carbon sources-such as polymer films or small molecules-deposited on a metal catalyst substrate at temperatures as low as 800?°C. Both pristine graphene and doped graphene were grown with this one-step process using the same experimental set-up.