Populations in extreme environments at the margins of a species' range are often the most vulnerable to climate change, but they may also experience novel evolutionary processes, such as secondary contact and hybridization with their relatives. The range overlap resulting from secondary contact with related species that have adapted to different climatic zones may act as corridors for adaptive introgression. To test this hypothesis, we examined the hybrid zones along the altitude of two closely related species, one temperate and the other subtropical species, at their southern and northern limits on Yakushima Island, Japan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMatrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play an important role in pathophysiological processes such as cancer and fibrosis. We previously discovered selective MMP-7 inhibitors by molecular hybridization and structure-based drug design. However, the systemic clearance (CL) of the biologically active lead compound was very high.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJapan has 16 native species of the genus Tratt. (Asparagaceae). A recent study on based on field surveys and molecular phylogenetic analyses resulted in the discovery of six unknown taxa in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku Island, southwestern Japan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMatrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play important roles in pathophysiological processes involved in the development/progression of diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. We discovered selective MMP-7 inhibitors composed of arylsulfonamide, carboxylate, and short peptides by a molecular hybridization approach. These compounds interacted with MMP-7 via multiple hydrogen bonds in the cocrystal structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new species, Ngoc, Binh & Son is described from Son Tra Nature Reserve, Son Tra Peninsula, Central Vietnam. We examined the morphology and constructed a highly resolved phylogeny of and its relatives (including and ) using Multiplex ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq). The morphological analyses and molecular evidence support the distinction between the new species () and its relatives.
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