Diatom phytochromes integrate the underwater light spectrum to sense depth.

Aquatic life is strongly structured by the distribution of light, which, besides attenuation in intensity, exhibits a continuous change in the spectrum with depth. The extent to which these light changes are perceived by phytoplankton through photoreceptors is still inadequately known. We addressed this issue by integrating functional studies of diatom phytochrome (DPH) photoreceptors in model species with environmental surveys of their distribution and activity.

Doping Control Analysis of Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO) in Equine Plasma by Headspace Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-GC/MS).

The use of alkalinising agents prior to racing for manipulating performance in the horse has been identified since the 1990s. To mitigate the risk, an international threshold for available carbon dioxide in equine plasma based on analyses using the Beckman Synchron EL-ISE analyser was adopted in 1994 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and revised from 37 to 36 mM in 2004. In 2009, the technical support for the above instrument was discontinued by its manufacturer.

Dicer-dependent heterochromatic small RNAs in the model diatom species Phaeodactylum tricornutum.

Diatoms are eukaryotic microalgae responsible for nearly half of the marine productivity. RNA interference (RNAi) is a mechanism of regulation of gene expression mediated by small RNAs (sRNAs) processed by the endoribonuclease Dicer (DCR). To date, the mechanism and physiological role of RNAi in diatoms are unknown.

Phaeodactylum tricornutum: An established model species for diatom molecular research and an emerging chassis for algal synthetic biology.

Diatoms are prominent and highly diverse microalgae in aquatic environments. Compared with other diatom species, Phaeodactylum tricornutum is an "atypical diatom" displaying three different morphotypes and lacking the usual silica shell. Despite being of limited ecological relevance, its ease of growth in the laboratory and well-known physiology, alongside the steady increase in genome-enabled information coupled with effective tools for manipulating gene expression, have meant it has gained increased recognition as a powerful experimental model for molecular research on diatoms.