Three in One--Multiple Faunal Elements within an Endangered European Butterfly Species.

Ice ages within Europe forced many species to retreat to refugia, of which three major biogeographic basic types can be distinguished: "Mediterranean", "Continental" and "Alpine / Arctic" species. However, this classification often fails to explain the complex phylogeography of European species with a wide range of latitudinal and altitudinal distribution. Hence, we tested for the possibility that all three mentioned faunal elements are represented within one species.

Molecular and functional characterization of a cDNA encoding 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase from Dunaliella salina.

In green algae, the final step of the plastidial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway is catalyzed by 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR; EC: 1.17.1.

Nutrient limitation is the main regulatory factor for carotenoid accumulation and for Psy and Pds steady state transcript levels in Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta) exposed to high light and salt stress.

Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teodoresco (1905) is a green unicellular alga able to withstand severe salt, light, and nutrient stress, adaptations necessary to grow in harsh environments such as salt ponds. In response to such growth conditions, this microalga accumulates high amounts of beta-carotene in its single chloroplast. In this study, we show that carotenoid accumulation is consistently inhibited in cells grown in nutrient-supplemented media and exposed either to high-light or medium-low-light conditions.