Search Results (11,389)

BAR domains are a superfamily of widely conserved membrane binding motifs. In fungi, Pil1 family proteins are BAR domain containing proteins involved in organizing the plasma membrane. S. pombe encodes a sporulation-specific Pil1 family protein, Meu14, which has a specialized role in shaping the forespore membrane during sporulation. The functional analog of Meu14 in S. cerevisiae is Ssp1. While Ssp1 has no primary sequence homology to Pil1 or Meu14, AlphaFold predicts that it contains a Pil1-related BAR domain. Consistent with this structural prediction, mutation of residues in the putative lipid binding face of Ssp1 or in a residue implicated in multimerization disrupt sporulation. Characterization of the mutant proteins indicates that the BAR domain is necessary for recruitment of Ssp1 to the highly curved leading edge of the prospore membrane and multimerization of Ssp1 at that location is required for assembly of the leading edge complex. The distribution of Pil1 family proteins across an evolutionary tree of Ascomycetes reveals that Meu14 and Ssp1 arose independently in the lineages leading to S. pombe and S. cerevisiae, respectively. Full article

The organelle genomes of N. jatamansi were sequenced and examined to explore their structure, evolution, and possible functional implications. The chloroplast genome was constructed as a singular circular entity of 155,225 bp, whereas the mitochondrial genome exhibited considerable complexity, divided into 14 contigs totaling 1,229,747 bp, along with several sub-circular formations. Comparative analysis within the Caprifoliaceae family revealed that four genes (rps19, rpl22, rpl20, and matK) exhibited high sequence variability, suggesting their potential as molecular markers for the identification of species. In addition, three genes (clpP, ycf1, and ycf2) exhibited ka/ks ratios greater than one, which implies positive selection. Intracellular (between chloroplast and mitochondria) gene transfer analysis revealed the integration of six chloroplast-derived genes, and repeat analysis identified 47,980 repeat pairs in the mitochondrial genome, which spans 2.64 Mb. It is likely that these traits add to the structural complexity of the mitochondrial genome. Predictions based on climate show that N. jatamansi may be able to find more ideal habitat over the next 60 years. These results give us a useful genetic resource for studying evolution and set the stage for future research into how the species can be used in medicinal applications. Full article

The Pottiaceae family represents one of the most diverse and ecologically adaptable bryophytes; however, its chloroplast genome diversity remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate plastome variation and identify evolutionary informative loci within the moss genus Tortula. We performed a comprehensive comparative plastome analysis of nine species within the genus Tortula, using Syntrichia princeps as an outgroup within the family Pottiaceae. High-quality chloroplast genomes were assembled and annotated based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) data. All plastomes exhibited conserved quadripartite structures with genome size ranging from 121,889 to 122,697 bp. Adenine–thymine (AT)-rich dinucleotide repeats were the most abundant simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and several genes contained unique higher-order SSRs, suggesting potential utility as population-level markers. Codon usage analysis revealed species-specific biases, particularly in leucine, serine, and threonine codons, with Tortula acaulon exhibiting the most pronounced deviation. Phyloplastomic analysis based on maximum likelihood identified two major clades, indicating that Tortula section Tortula is not monophyletic. Several highly informative loci were found to replicate the full plastome phylogenetic signal. Additionally, a subset of genes, including atpE and matK, exhibited nonsynonymous-to-synonymous substitution (dN/dS) ratios that suggest possible positive selection. These findings provide new insights into chloroplast genome evolution within Tortula, while identifying candidate loci for future phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. This study contributes to a more robust understanding of plastome-based studies in Pottiaceae and highlights efficient molecular markers for broader bryophyte phylogenomics. Full article

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are pivotal in maintaining gene silencing through epigenetic mechanisms, particularly by catalyzing Histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) via the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) complex. These modifications are crucial for regulating developmental pathways and environmental stress responses in plants. Despite their importance, the PcG gene family has not been systematically explored in rice (Oryza sativa). In this study, 15 OsPcG genes were identified in the Nipponbare genome, spanning 12 chromosomes and classified into distinct phylogenetic groups. Structural and conserved motif analyses revealed high sequence conservation, while collinearity and Ka/Ks analyses indicated gene family expansion through segmental duplication under purifying selection. Promoter element prediction suggested that many OsPcG genes are responsive to plant hormones and abiotic stress cues. Transcriptome analysis under salt treatment highlighted OsPcG5 as a key salt-responsive gene, with qRT-PCR confirming its dynamic expression. Subcellular localization showed OsPcG5 residing in both the nucleus and plasma membrane, suggesting multifunctional roles. Additionally, overexpression of OsFIE2—a PRC2 component—resulted in elevated H3K27me3 levels and abnormal plant height, linking it to chromatin modification and development. These findings contribute to our understanding of PcG gene functions in rice and offer potential genetic resources for enhancing salt tolerance through epigenetic approaches. Full article

Background/Objectives: Little is known about experiences of sleep disturbance in dementia amongst South Asian families, the UK’s biggest minority ethnic group. We aimed to explore their experiences of these alongside translation and preliminary cultural adaptation of an existing effective multicomponent intervention, DREAMS-START. Methods: We interviewed family carers of people living with dementia who had participated in the DREAMS-START (n = 7) trial or other dementia studies (n = 4), conducting reflective thematic analysis. We translated DREAMS-START into Hindi and consulted with Hindi speakers with experience in dementia care, revising iteratively. Results: We identified two overarching themes: (i) the experience of dementia-related sleep disturbance in South Asian families, including the impact of multigenerational living, cultural expectations and practices, and existing relationships; and (ii) considerations for culturally adapting DREAMS-START, including language barriers, linguistic and other changes to peripheral elements to increase engagement and relevance, and culturally competent facilitation of the intervention. Conclusions: Consideration of multigenerational family structures, within-member dynamics, culturally appropriate activities and lack of access to support are important during consultation and intervention. It was thought that cultural adaptation of the intervention in language and facilitator cultural competence, including consideration of the schedule of prayer, would increase relevance and thus community access. We will use this preliminary work to inform future cultural adaptation and testing of the intervention with the intention to widen access for UK-based South Asian families. Full article

Background: Stunting remains a major public health issue globally and in Indonesia, often linked to inadequate complementary feeding, cultural practices, and limited family empowerment. Objective: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a family empowerment model based on transcultural care theory to improve quality and prevent stunting among children aged 6–24 months. Methods: A cross-sectional explanatory survey was conducted among 324 mother–child pairs from 11 primary healthcare centers in Kediri, East Java. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire covering demographic, educational, technological, economic, and cultural factors, as well as family empowerment and quality. Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was applied for hypothesis testing and model development. Results: The model showed moderate explanatory power (R² = 0.223 for family empowerment; R² = 0.115 for complementary feeding quality). Demographic, educational, technological, economic, and cultural factors significantly influenced family empowerment (p < 0.05), which in turn had a strong positive effect on quality (β = 0.340, p < 0.001). Family empowerment mediated the relationship between these factors and quality. Key contributors included knowledge, technology access, income level, and cultural practices. Conclusions: The proposed transcultural care-based family empowerment model effectively improves quality. Strengthening health education, supporting community health volunteers, and integrating culturally sensitive practices, such as encouraging paternal involvement and shared meals, should be prioritized in stunting prevention programs. The model may be adapted for use in similar community settings to enhance program effectiveness. Full article

The beetle family Cerophytidae is reported from China for the first time, based on the discovery of Cerophytum lii Qiu & Ruan, sp. nov. and Cerophytum sp., both from Daweishan Mountain in Southeast Yunnan Province. Detailed descriptions and diagnostic illustrations of Cerophytum liisp. nov. are provided, along with an identification key to extant Cerophytum species worldwide. A representative specimen of the new species (a male paratype) underwent micro-computed tomography scanning, enabling three-dimensional reconstruction and virtual dissection of its thoracic morphology. Internal muscular architecture and exoskeletal structures of its thorax are illustrated and described. Comparative morphological analyses revealed convergent evolution in the clicking structures of Cerophytum lii sp. nov. and Campsosternus auratus (Drury), with the latter exhibiting more specialized structural modifications that enhance its jumping performance to a greater degree. In contrast, Cerophytum liisp. nov. exhibits morphological adaptations primarily suited for rapid walking and flight. Full article

The Jialing River is a representative and typical canalized tributary in the upper Yangtze River basin. In the context of the 10-year fishing ban, it is imperative to elucidate the dynamics and assembly of fish communities in the Jialing River. In this study, field surveys were conducted during the flood and dry seasons from 2021 to 2025 at the Cangxi section of the Jialing River. Fifty fish species belonging to three orders and six families were collected in the study area, with Chanodichthys oxycephaloides, Hemibarbus labeo, Xenocypris davidi, and Siniperca chuatsi identified as dominant species. In addition, fish communities in this region exhibited significant temporal variations, clustering into flood season and dry season groups (p < 0.05). The result suggested that diversity indices were consistently higher in the flood season than the dry season and an increasing trend was observed during the sampling periods. Community assembly analysis revealed that the fish communities were mainly characterized by phylogenetic clustered structure, indicating environmental filtering as the deterministic process in the study area. Despite the steady recovery of fish biodiversity and resource following the fishing ban in the study area, further attention must be directed to other anthropogenic disturbances, especially habitat fragmentation. This study provides a scientific reference for fisheries management after the fishing ban in the Jialing River. Full article

Chitosanases are glycoside hydrolases (GHs) that catalyze the endo- or exo-type cleavage of β-1,4-glycosidic linkages in chitosan, enabling the selective production of chitooligosaccharides (COSs) with well-defined structures and diverse bioactivities. Owing to their substrate specificity and environmentally friendly catalytic action, chitosanases have garnered increasing attention as sustainable biocatalysts for COS production, with broad application potential in agriculture, food, medicine, and cosmetics. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in chitosanase research, focusing on the catalytic mechanisms and structure–function relationships that govern substrate selectivity and functional divergence across different GH families. Microbial diversity and heterologous expression systems for chitosanase production are discussed in parallel with biochemical characterization to support the rational selection of enzymes for specific biotechnological applications. Advances in protein engineering and computational approaches are highlighted as strategies to improve catalytic efficiency, substrate range, and stability. In addition, bioprocess optimization is addressed, with emphasis on fermentation using low-cost substrates and the application of immobilized enzymes and nano-biocatalyst systems for green and efficient COS production. Summarizing and discussing previous findings are essential to support future research and facilitate the development of next-generation chitosanases for sustainable industrial use. Full article

Colletotrichum graminicola, the causative agent of maize anthracnose leaf blight and stalk rot, severely jeopardizes the healthy development of the maize industry. Auxiliary activity enzymes (AAs), a vital subclass of carbohydrate-active enzymes, act as beneficial accessory proteins for fungi in degrading lignocellulose. This study identified 127 AA genes from the genome of C. graminicola strain TZ-3 and further analyzed the subcellular localization, conserved motifs, and domains of the proteins encoded by these genes. The CgAA genes exhibited significant variations in gene structure, and the structural motifs within their encoded proteins also differed. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that most CgAA proteins were localized in the extracellular space. Moreover, the CgAA gene family contained abundant conserved domains, suggesting diverse functionalities and potential roles in various fungal biological processes. Multiple cis-acting regulatory elements related to stress responses and plant hormones were detected in the promoter regions of these genes. This study analyzed the expression patterns of CgAA genes during pathogen–host interactions and found that most CgAA genes were differentially expressed in the interaction between C. graminicola and maize. Coupled with GO functional analysis, it was discovered that CgAAs are deeply involved in the interaction between C. graminicola and maize, closely associated with the pathogenic mechanisms of the pathogen, and may play crucial roles in the initiation and expansion of fungal infections. These results provide valuable resources for elucidating the functions of AA genes and lay the groundwork for sustainable agricultural development through the utilization of AA genes in disease control and the breeding of stress-resistant, high-yield crop varieties. Full article

Background: Family health history (FHH) is essential for genomic medicine and risk assessment, but its completeness in Japanese prenatal settings is poorly understood. Prior studies show that details such as cause of death (COD) and age at onset are often missing. To address this gap, we conducted a pilot observational exploratory study evaluating FHH completeness in a Japanese prenatal genetic counseling setting. Methods: We analyzed data from 24 participants (12 couples) who underwent prenatal genetic counseling at a university hospital, most of whom were of advanced maternal age and had undergone non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). FHH was collected using a structured form at the first visit and revised at the second visit. Completeness was assessed for four items: medical history, age at death, COD, and age at disease onset. Associations with participant characteristics were also explored. Results: Disease history was most complete, while COD and age at onset were frequently missing. Age at death was more complete than COD, indicating that information on deceased relatives or timelines was harder to obtain. Participants with personal or family medical conditions tended to provide more complete FHH. The structured form and opportunity for revision likely enhanced completeness. Conclusions: This pilot study shows that COD and age at onset are the least complete components of FHH in Japanese prenatal counseling. The small sample size and single-hospital setting limit the generalizability of the findings, but they suggest that structured prompts and preparation before visits may improve FHH completeness and enhance risk assessment in clinical practice. Full article

A new family of monothiooxalamide derived from 2-aminobenzothiazole was synthesized with the purpose of investigating its anticancer activity. The design of the compounds was focused on targeting the HDAC6 enzyme, a target for antineoplastic drugs. The in silico affinity of compounds to HDAC6 was performed and confirmed by docking simulation. The structures of monothiooxalamide–benzothiazole hybrids were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as through mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy. In addition, the antiproliferative activity of compounds was assessed in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB231) and non-malignant cells (MCF-10A and NIH/3T3). The most active compound was N-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-((4-methoxybenzyl)amino)-2-thioxoacetamide (1c), which inhibited breast cancer cell growth and invasiveness in vitro and induced late apoptosis in the MCF-7 cell line. The molecular structure of 1c was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The supramolecular arrangement of benzothiazole and 4-methoxy-benzylamine moieties, present in the crystal structure of 1c, was consistent with the interactions on the docked DD2-HDAC6 catalytic site. Full article

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (Lbs. rhamnosus) is renowned for its tolerance to gastric acid and adaptability to bile and alkaline conditions, and is crucial for intestinal health and immune regulation. In this study, integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were employed to elucidate the response mechanisms of Lbs. rhamnosus under osmotic stress, induced by exposure to 0.6 M sodium lactate, which elevates environmental osmotic pressure. It was shown that 792 differentially expressed genes and 138 differentially expressed proteins were detected in Lbs. rhamnosus ATCC 53103 treated with osmotic stress. The differential regulation of these genes/proteins mainly includes the inhibition of fatty acid metabolism with membrane structural remodeling (downregulation of the acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase family and fatty acid binding protein family expression), dynamic homeostasis of amino acid metabolism (restriction of the synthesis of histidine, cysteine, leucine, etc., and enhancement of the catabolism of lysine, tryptophan, etc.), and survival-oriented reconfiguration of carbohydrate metabolism (gene expression related to the glycolytic pathway increases, while gene expression related to the pentose phosphate pathway decreases). These synergistic alterations in metabolic regulation may facilitate the adaptive response of Lbs. rhamnosus ATCC 53103 to osmotic stress. Overall, our findings deepen the current understanding of the stress response mechanisms in lactic acid bacteria and offer novel insights into the survival strategies employed by Lbs. rhamnosus ATCC 53103 under hyperosmotic conditions. Full article

Economic challenges place lower-income, economically marginalized families at heightened risk for experiencing financial stress, which is associated with a host of adverse family outcomes. Among lower-income families raising young children, existing economic challenges are often exacerbated by the added needs of children, including child-specific expenses (e.g., childcare) and decreased parental earning capacity. In these families, financial stress may strain the coparenting alliance; however, scant research has explored the association, particularly in families with young infants. Informed by family systems theory and the family stress model, the present study utilized an actor–partner interdependence model to explore the relationship between financial stress and the quality of the coparenting alliance within a sample of 214 lower-income opposite-sex couples with or expecting a new baby. This study further examined potential differences between (a) mothers and fathers, (b) cohabiting and married parents, and (c) those in different parenting contexts (i.e., new vs. established parents, recent vs. anticipated births). Results indicated that mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of financial stress were negatively associated with their own report of coparenting alliance but not their partner’s coparenting alliance. This association was consistent across couple relationship structures and parenting contexts. Implications for policy and practices are provided. Full article

This study aimed to identify and analyse the main difficulties faced by family farmers in producing and supplying vegetables through short food supply chains. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven family farmers in a large city in southern Brazil. We sought to include at least one farmer supplying each of the main identified outlets: schools, restaurants, supermarkets, street markets, and consumer groups. Contacts were obtained through rural producer organisations. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Three groups of difficulties emerged: (i) production—including seasonality, pest, and disease management, climate-related losses, and limited technical support; (ii) sales—such as price competition, logistical challenges, and inconsistent demand; and (iii) consumption—particularly low consumer habits regarding vegetable purchase and preparation, and preference for non-seasonal products. The study concludes that the main challenges to strengthening short food supply chains are the limited engagement of young people in farming, lack of specialised technical assistance, climate-related risks, bureaucratic barriers, and the high costs of organic certification. Farmers also reported logistic difficulties and constraints in supplying restaurants due to demand for a narrow range of products disregarding seasonality. At the consumer level, habits shaped by conventional food systems emerged as obstacles. Strategies such as alternative markets, farmer organisations, supportive public policies, and initiatives to promote cooking skills and consumer awareness are key to enhancing resilience and expanding the supply of healthy foods. Full article