Hypocretin modulation of behavioral coping strategies for social stress.

Best known for promoting wakefulness and arousal, the neuropeptide hypocretin (Hcrt) also plays an important role in mediating stress responses, including social stress. However, central and systemic manipulation of the Hcrt system has produced diverse behavioral outcomes in animal models. In this review, we first focus on studies where similar manipulations of the Hcrt system led to divergent coping behaviors.

De novo whole-genome assembly and annotation of Coffea arabica var. Geisha, a high-quality coffee variety from the primary origin of coffee.

Geisha coffee is recognized for its unique aromas and flavors and, accordingly, has achieved the highest prices in the specialty coffee markets. We report the development of a chromosome-level, well-annotated, genome assembly of Coffea arabica var. Geisha.

Allopolyploidy expanded gene content but not pangenomic variation in the hexaploid oilseed Camelina sativa.

Ancient whole-genome duplications are believed to facilitate novelty and adaptation by providing the raw fuel for new genes. However, it is unclear how recent whole-genome duplications may contribute to evolvability within recent polyploids. Hybridization accompanying some whole-genome duplications may combine divergent gene content among diploid species.

A triplicated wheat-rye chromosome segment including several 12-OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE III genes influences magnesium partitioning and impacts wheat performance at low magnesium supply.

We previously reported a structural rearrangement between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale) chromosomes 1BS/1RS that increased the dosage of 12-OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE III (OPRIII) genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis (henceforth, 1RW line), and that drastically reduced primary root growth relative to a control line with the intact 1RS chromosome (henceforth, 1RS). In this study, we show that the increased gene-dosage of this region is associated with increases in the shoot-root partitioning of magnesium (Mg). Moreover, both a CRISPR-edited 1RW line with reduced OPRIII dosage and the 1RW line treated with the jasmonate biosynthesis inhibitor ibuprofen showed reduced differences in shoot-root Mg partitioning than 1RW.

Exploring genetic diversity, population structure, and subgenome differences in the allopolyploid : implications for future breeding and research studies.

Camelina (), an allohexaploid species, is an emerging aviation biofuel crop that has been the focus of resurgent interest in recent decades. To guide future breeding and crop improvement efforts, the community requires a deeper comprehension of subgenome dominance, often noted in allopolyploid species, "alongside an understanding of the genetic diversity" and population structure of material present within breeding programs. We conducted population genetic analyses of a diversity panel, leveraging a new genome, to estimate nucleotide diversity and population structure, and analyzed for patterns of subgenome expression dominance among different organs.

The Rate of Decline of Sugarbeet Cyst Nematode in Central California Under Nonhost Crops May Impact Biofuel Production.

Crop rotation has been a commercial practice for managing the sugarbeet cyst nematode (, SBCN) since the 1950s. Research conducted in southern California established that SBCN populations decline at the rate of 49% to 80% per year, leading to estimates that three- to four-year rotations to nonhost crops would be sufficient to reduce SBCN densities to nondamaging levels. Following grower reports that much longer rotations were needed in central California, trials were conducted to establish the rate of decline of SBCN in the San Joaquin Valley.

Cas9/guide RNA-based gene-drive dynamics following introduction and introgression into diverse anopheline mosquito genetic backgrounds.

Background: Novel technologies are needed to combat anopheline vectors of malaria parasites as the reductions in worldwide disease incidence has stalled in recent years. Gene drive-based approaches utilizing Cas9/guide RNA (gRNA) systems are being developed to suppress anopheline populations or modify them by increasing their refractoriness to the parasites. These systems rely on the successful cleavage of a chromosomal DNA target site followed by homology-directed repair (HDR) in germline cells to bias inheritance of the drive system.

Calcium signaling from damaged lysosomes induces cytoprotective stress granules.

Lysosomal damage induces stress granule (SG) formation. However, the importance of SGs in determining cell fate and the precise mechanisms that mediate SG formation in response to lysosomal damage remain unclear. Here, we describe a novel calcium-dependent pathway controlling SG formation, which promotes cell survival during lysosomal damage.

The histone deacetylase RhHDA15 represses petal senescence by epigenetically regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis in rose.

Epigenetic modifications play vital roles in many biological processes. Flower senescence involves epigenetic factors that influence the chromatin state and gene expression. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the role of histone deacetylation in regulating flower senescence has not been elucidated.

The dynamics of fungal genome organization and its impact on host adaptation and antifungal resistance.

Fungi are a diverse kingdom characterized by remarkable genomic plasticity that facilitates pathogenicity and adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. In this review, we delve into the dynamic organization of fungal genomes and its implications for host adaptation and antifungal resistance. We examine key features and the heterogeneity of genomes across different fungal species, including but not limited to their chromosome content, DNA composition, distribution and arrangement of their content across chromosomes, and other major traits.

Thermal stability and coalescence dynamics of exsolved metal nanoparticles at charged perovskite surfaces.

Exsolution reactions enable the synthesis of oxide-supported metal nanoparticles, which are desirable as catalysts in green energy conversion technologies. It is crucial to precisely tailor the nanoparticle characteristics to optimize the catalysts' functionality, and to maintain the catalytic performance under operation conditions. We use chemical (co)-doping to modify the defect chemistry of exsolution-active perovskite oxides and examine its influence on the mass transfer kinetics of Ni dopants towards the oxide surface and on the subsequent coalescence behavior of the exsolved nanoparticles during a continuous thermal reduction treatment.

Refining penalized ridge regression: a novel method for optimizing the regularization parameter in genomic prediction.

The popularity of genomic selection as an efficient and cost-effective approach to estimate breeding values continues to increase, due in part to the significant saving in phenotyping. Ridge regression is one of the most popular methods used for genomic prediction; however, its efficiency (in terms of prediction performance) depends on the appropriate tunning of the penalization parameter. In this paper we propose a novel, more efficient method to select the optimal penalization parameter for Ridge regression.

A Unique Case of Adoption in Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys.

Adoption among nonhuman primates (hereafter primates) has been widely reported, particularly in chimpanzees, renowned for their higher intelligence and well-developed cognition. In contrast to adoption in other Old World monkeys, this case of adoption in golden snub-nosed monkeys () involves two infants associated with three units characterized by distinct social structures and reproductive functions. Consequently, this case extends beyond traditional hypotheses on allomaternal care and adoption-such as enhancing the fitness of adoptive mothers, fostering maternal behaviors, and improving fitness through social and individual interactions-to necessitate an association with the complex social structure characterized by hierarchical, multilevel composition, akin to human society, and intense sexual selection that frequently results in infanticide.

Chromosome-scale assembly of apple mint (Mentha suaveolens).

Objectives: Mint oil is used in various commercial applications world-wide. Mint oil is typically harvested from commercial clones of peppermint or spearmints. Spearmints are the product of a cross between two diploid species: Mentha longifolia (horse mint) and Mentha suaveolens (apple mint).

Multi-platform biomarkers of response to an immune checkpoint inhibitor in the neoadjuvant I-SPY 2 trial for early-stage breast cancer.

Only a subset of patients with breast cancer responds to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we analyze pretreatment biopsies from patients in the I-SPY 2 trial who receive neoadjuvant ICB using multiple platforms to profile the tumor microenvironment. A variety of immune cell populations and markers of immune/cytokine signaling associate with pathologic complete response (pCR).

Identification of cambium stem cell factors and their positioning mechanism.

Wood constitutes the largest reservoir of terrestrial biomass. Composed of xylem, it arises from one side of the vascular cambium, a bifacial stem cell niche that also produces phloem on the opposing side. It is currently unknown which molecular factors endow cambium stem cell identity.

Interleukin-18 interacts with NKCC1 to mediate brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Interleukin 18 (IL-18), a proinflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular disease and psychiatric disorders. In a previous study, IL-18 was observed to activate microglia and enhance the inflammatory response following intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Mapping of drought-induced changes in tissue characteristics across the leaf profile of Populus balsamifera.

Leaf architecture impacts gas diffusion, biochemical processes, and photosynthesis. For balsam poplar, a widespread North American species, the influence of water availability on leaf anatomy and subsequent photosynthetic performance remains unknown. To address this shortcoming, we characterized the anatomical changes across the leaf profile in three-dimensional space for saplings subjected to soil drying and rewatering using X-ray microcomputed tomography.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the mountain lion, Puma concolor.

Mountain lions, Puma concolor, are widespread and adaptable carnivores. However, due to their large home ranges and long distance dispersals, they are strongly impacted by habitat fragmentation, which results in small and isolated populations. Genomic analyses play an important role in understanding and predicting the impacts of increased isolation of populations, such as decreased genetic diversity and increased levels of inbreeding.