Forget-me-not phylogenomics: Improving the resolution and taxonomy of a rapid island and mountain radiation in Aotearoa New Zealand (Myosotis; Boraginaceae).

Island and mountain systems represent natural laboratories for studies of species radiations, but they often present several challenges for phylogenetic inference and species delimitation. The southern hemisphere forget-me-nots (Myosotis, Boraginaceae) comprise a geologically recent radiation centred in Aotearoa New Zealand, a mountainous archipelago, with about 50 species that are morphologically and ecologically divergent but lack genetic variation sufficient to resolve phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries using standard DNA Sanger sequencing markers, AFLPs, or microsatellites. Many of these Myosotis species are geographically restricted in alpine areas, uncommon or threatened, have polyploid and dysploid genomes, and are of high taxonomic and conservation priority.

A roadmap of phylogenomic methods for studying polyploid plant genera.

Phylogenetic inference of polyploid species is the first step towards understanding their patterns of diversification. In this paper, we review the challenges and limitations of inferring species relationships of polyploid plants using traditional phylogenetic sequencing approaches, as well as the mischaracterization of the species tree from single or multiple gene trees. We provide a roadmap to infer interspecific relationships among polyploid lineages by comparing and evaluating the application of current phylogenetic, phylogenomic, transcriptomic, and whole-genome approaches using different sequencing platforms.

Origin and diversity of the wild cottons (Gossypium hirsutum) of Mound Key, Florida.

Elucidating genetic diversity within wild forms of modern crops is essential for understanding domestication and the possibilities of wild germplasm utilization. Gossypium hirsutum is a predominant source of natural plant fibers and the most widely cultivated cotton species. Wild forms of G.

Environmental response in gene expression and DNA methylation reveals factors influencing the adaptive potential of .

Understanding what factors influence plastic and genetic variation is valuable for predicting how organisms respond to changes in the selective environment. Here, using gene expression and DNA methylation as molecular phenotypes, we study environmentally induced variation among plants grown at lowland and alpine field sites. Our results show that gene expression is highly plastic, as many more genes are differentially expressed between the field sites than between populations.

New targets acquired: Improving locus recovery from the Angiosperms353 probe set.

Premise: Universal target enrichment kits maximize utility across wide evolutionary breadth while minimizing the number of baits required to create a cost-efficient kit. The Angiosperms353 kit has been successfully used to capture loci throughout the angiosperms, but the default target reference file includes sequence information from only 6-18 taxa per locus. Consequently, reads sequenced from on-target DNA molecules may fail to map to references, resulting in fewer on-target reads for assembly, and reducing locus recovery.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) Suppresses the Trafficking of Lymphocytes to Epidermal Melanocytes via Inhibition of JAK2: Its Implication for Vitiligo Treatment.

Vitiligo is an inflammatory skin disorder in which activated T cells play an important role in its onset and progression. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major chemical constituent of green tea, exhibits remarkable anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. EGCG administration has been confirmed to decrease the risk of vitiligo; however, the underlying mechanism is undetermined.

Cytosolic dsDNA triggers apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in normal human melanocytes.

Considerable evidence implicates that viral infection might be a participant factor in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. However, it is still unclear how viral infection leads to the melanocyte destruction. To elucidate the effects of viral dsDNA on the viability and cytokine synthesis of normal human melanocytes and to explore the underlying mechanisms, primary cultured normal human melanocytes were transfected with poly(dA:dT).

Altered expression of interleukin-18 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Objective: This study has investigated the expression of interleukin (IL)-18 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and the role of IL-18 on the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Methods: Endometriotic tissue specimens and endometrium specimens were obtained from patients with endometriosis. IL-18 protein was determined by immunohistochemical analysis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expedite formation of endometriosis in the early stage ICR mouse model.

Objective: To establish a mouse model for endometriosis and to evaluate roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the formation of disease.

Design: Experimental laboratory study.

Setting: A women's hospital in China.