Full-length mRNA sequencing uncovers a widespread coupling between transcription initiation and mRNA processing.

Background: The multifaceted control of gene expression requires tight coordination of regulatory mechanisms at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Here, we studied the interdependence of transcription initiation, splicing and polyadenylation events on single mRNA molecules by full-length mRNA sequencing.

Results: In MCF-7 breast cancer cells, we find 2700 genes with interdependent alternative transcription initiation, splicing and polyadenylation events, both in proximal and distant parts of mRNA molecules, including examples of coupling between transcription start sites and polyadenylation sites.

SPINGO: a rapid species-classifier for microbial amplicon sequences.

Background: Taxonomic classification is a corner stone for the characterisation and comparison of microbial communities. Currently, most existing methods are either slow, restricted to specific communities, highly sensitive to taxonomic inconsistencies, or limited to genus level classification. As crucial microbiota information is hinging on high-level resolution it is imperative to increase taxonomic resolution to species level wherever possible.

The rise of the rhizosolenid diatoms.

The 18S ribosomal DNA molecular phylogeny and lipid composition of over 120 marine diatoms showed that the capability to biosynthesize highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkenes is restricted to two specific phylogenetic clusters, which independently evolved in centric and pennate diatoms. The molecular record of C25 HBI chemical fossils in a large suite of well-dated marine sediments and petroleum revealed that the older cluster, composed of rhizosolenid diatoms, evolved 91.5 +/- 1.

Effects of auxosporulation on distributions of C(25) and C(30) isoprenoid alkenes in Rhizosolenia setigera.

The effect of life cycle on the distributions of C(25) and C(30) highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) alkene lipids has been investigated for the marine diatom Rhizosolenia setigera. The concentrations of the C(30) compounds are largely independent of the cell volume, though the ratios of the individual isomers possessing five and six double bonds show a dependence on the position of the cell during its life cycle, especially during auxosporulation. In contrast to the C(30) pseudo-homologues, the C(25) isomers are not always detected in cultures of R.