Patterns and Processes of Genomic Evolution Inferred From the Ten Smallest Vertebrate Genomes.

Pufferfish exhibit the smallest vertebrate genomes, making them ideal models for investigating evolutionary patterns and processes that affect genome size. While the Takifugu rubripes genome was fully sequenced two decades ago, key evolutionary drivers remain elusive. We sequenced 10 pufferfish genomes and generated 35 transcriptomes and 13 methylomes to understand genomic evolutionary mechanisms.

Graphene/mesoporous carbon/ZIF-derived carbon heterostructures interface-reinforced assembly for capacitive energy storage.

We report the synthesis of three-dimensional (3D) graphene/mesoporous carbon/ZIF-derived microporous carbon (G/MC/ZDC-A) heterostructures through an interface-reinforced assembly. This hierarchical architecture synergistically integrates 2D graphene nanosheets with 0D ZDC nanoparticles a mesoporous carbon "binder", effectively mitigating the agglomeration issue while establishing continuous charge transport pathways. When configurated as symmetric supercapacitors with EMIMBF electrolyte, the obtained G/MC/ZDC-A demonstrates decent capacitive performance: a high specific capacitance (240 F g at 0.

Phosphorus limitation induces membrane lipid remodeling in aquatic phytoplankton.

Phosphorus (P) is a critical limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in aquatic ecosystems. Under P-limitation, phytoplankton adapt by remodeling membrane lipids, replacing phospholipids (PLs) with non-P lipids such as sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) and betaine lipids (BLs). This mechanism is essential for reevaluating the relationship between phosphate (PO) concentrations and primary productivity.

Apoptosis regulates intestinal regeneration via iPLA2 and EGFL7 signaling in .

Apoptosis preserves organismal homeostasis by selectively eliminating unnecessary or damaged cells, with accumulating evidence also suggesting that it activates regenerative pathways and facilitates tissue remodeling. To date, however, the regulatory mechanisms linking this form of programmed cell death to regeneration remain poorly defined, particularly in evolutionarily basal organisms. Using the sea cucumber ( ) as a model for intestinal regeneration, this study identified robust apoptotic activity across key regenerative stages.

Independent evolutionary deterioration of the oxygen-transport system in Asian noodlefishes and Antarctic icefishes.

Determination of evolutionary mechanisms underlying innovative traits is crucial for understanding the vast diversity of species and phenotypes. Given their respiratory physiologies, fishes are compelling subjects for evolutionary analysis of the hemoprotein-based oxygen-transport systems. Asian noodlefishes (Osmeriformes: Salangidae) and Antarctic icefishes (Notothenioidei: Channichthyidae) are examples of fish clades that generally do not express myoglobin or hemoglobin.

The Atlas of the Shell Proteome in Oysters Reveals the Potential Roles of the Cytoskeleton and Extracellular Matrix in Biomineralization.

Shell matrix proteins (SMPs) are fundamental biological macromolecules for mollusk shell formation, yet fewer than 400 SMPs in mollusks have been previously identified, hindering our understanding of how mollusks construct and maintain their shells. Here, we identified 1689 SMPs in the Pacific oyster using three different mass spectrometry techniques, representing a significant methodological advancement in shell proteomics, enabling a 6.52-fold increase in SMP identification compared to previous studies.

Diverse marine species convert methylphosphonate to methane.

Unlabelled: Microbial degradation of methylphosphonate (MPn) is an important pathway contributing to the 'methane paradox' in the oxic ocean. spp. are suggested to participate in this process.

Latitudinal-environmental variations driving the local adaptation of stocks along the Chinese coast.

Unlabelled: The distribution of (Euphrasen, 1788) spans a pronounced latitudinal-environmental gradient from the subtropical to the subpolar zones. The species is reported to have multiple stocks along coastal China, exhibiting different spawning behaviors and habitat preferences. Such ecological variations might imply potential genetic divergence and local adaptation.

Advances in hemocytes regeneration of aquatic invertebrates: Mechanisms and implications.

Hematopoiesis is the process responsible for the generation of blood cells in both the circulation and tissues. It plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and defending against infections in animals. Although hematopoiesis is a common feature among animals with a circulatory system, the specific mechanisms involved in hematopoietic events vary significantly among invertebrates.

Filamentous Microalgae Screening for Carotenoid and Lipid Production: A Promising Candidate with High Ammonium Tolerance for Wastewater Treatment.

High-ammonium wastewater can be simultaneously remediated and valorized through phototrophic cultivation of stress-resilient microalgae. This study evaluated the growth performance of 16 microalgae strains (specific growth rate μ = 0.108-0.

Characterization of a hyaluronic acid utilization locus and identification of hyaluronate lyases in human gut bacterium Enterococcus faecalis F1221.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a linear glycosaminoglycan, serves as a key structural constituent of extracellular matrices, participating in diverse biological processes across both normal physiological and pathological contexts. While the gut microbiota exerts a pivotal influence on HA utilization within the human body, current scientific literature indicates a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction. In this study, a gut bacterium Enterococcus faecalis F1221 has been isolated, which demonstrated the ability to degrade HA.

Evaluation zooplankton community and energy transfer efficiency: A case in the coastal waters of Shandong, China.

Zooplankton are sensitive indicators of environmental changes and crucial components of marine food webs, facilitating energy transfer between primary producers and higher trophic levels. This study used ZooScan image analysis to investigate variations in zooplankton abundance and biovolume in Shandong coastal waters during spring (May 2022), summer (August 2022), and winter (December 2022 and February 2023). Functional indices such as taxonomic diversity, the normalized biomass size spectrum (NBSS), size diversity, and mean body size were calculated to describe the seasonal dynamics of energy transfer efficiency in zooplankton.

pVHL regulates protein stability of the TCF/LEF transcription factor family via ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays key roles in development and adult tissue homeostasis by controlling cell proliferation and cell fate decisions. TCF/LEF transcription factors play a pivotal role in this pathway, acting as repressors by recruiting co-repressors in the absence of Wnt signals, and as activators via β-catenin binding in the presence of Wnt signaling. While progress has been made in our understanding of Wnt signaling regulation, the underlying mechanism that regulates the protein stability of the TCF/LEF family is far less clear.

HSP90's Function Under Low Temperature Stress.

Molecular chaperones, especially heat shock proteins (HSPs) have vital functions in cells' responses to stress. Here, we cloned and sequenced the complete complementary DNA encoding HSP90 () from the shrimp . The cDNA comprised 3162 bp, including a 2172 bp coding region encoding a 724 amino acid-protein (predicted molecular mass = 83.

Climate-driven expansion of Takayama acrotrocha blooms: First outbreak along the north coast of Shandong, China linked to intense precipitation and warming.

In Summer 2024, a dinoflagellate bloom broke out in the Bohai Sea along the north coast of Shandong peninsula. By approaches of morphological observation, pigment analysis and targeted gene sequencing, the bloom causative species was identified as dinoflagellate Takayama acrotrocha. The satellite imagery indicated that the bloom lasted from August 24 to September 8, and distributed mainly in the coastal waters extending from the Yellow River estuary to Yantai and Weihai, marking the northward expansion of this algal species along the coast of China.

Physiological pH Transition-Driven Protein Corona Dynamics Regulate Cellular Uptake and Inflammatory Responses of Silica Nanoparticles.

Protein corona alters the biological identities and interactions of nanoparticles with cells, needing to be thoroughly scrutinized before in vivo applications. Importantly, protein corona is evolving as nanoparticles cross different microenvironments, leading to unpredictable biological behaviors. Unveiling how physiological conditions change, especially pH changes associated with tumor-targeted delivery, affect protein corona composition and subsequent bio-interactions, is thus essential for understanding the bio-fate and therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicines.

Functional stomach loss preceding body inflation evolution in Tetraodontiformes: Evidence of gene loss and rapid evolution.

Tetraodontiformes species exhibit several evolutionary innovations, notably the convergent evolution of two traits in some clades: defensive body inflation and the loss of acid-peptic digestion. It has been widely believed that the evolution of body inflation drove the loss of gastric digestion, as ingesting seawater during inflation would hinder acidification and ultimately lead to the loss of gastric digestion. Leveraging accumulating genome resources, we investigated the presence, synteny, gene expression, and rapid evolution of nine genes associated with acid-peptic digestion across seven species from four Tetraodontiformes families, representing two branches that underwent convergent evolution.

Discovery of 2-(Pyrazol-4-yl)-quinazolin-4(3)-one Derivatives as Subnanomolar BRD4 BD2 Inhibitors with High Selectivity via a Bioisosterism Approach.

BRD4, a bromodomain-containing protein, has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target for various diseases. Selective inhibition of the bromodomain is gaining traction as a promising strategy for targeted drug discovery. Based on bioisosterism-guided optimization of RVX-OH (), a pan-BET inhibitor, we designed and synthesized a series of novel quinazolin-4(3)-one derivatives as potent BRD4 inhibitors.

Repressing epigenetic regulation enhances exogenous gene expression in the macroalga Pyropia yezoensis (Rhodophyta).

Pyropia yezoensis, an economically valuable macroalga, occupies a pivotal position in evolutionary history as a red alga, making it an ideal model organism for investigating the evolution of photosynthesis. However, efficient genetic manipulation in P. yezoensis, particularly the stable expression of exogenous genes, presents substantial challenges.

Taxonomy, geographic distribution and molecular phylogeny of two freshwater Frontonia (Ciliophora, Peniculida), including a new cryptic species Frontonia paraleucas sp. nov.

The ciliate genus Frontonia, one of the most species-rich groups of the order Peniculida, is widely distributed across a variety of habitats. However, the definition and identification of isolates are challenging, as there are few reliable characters, and these may overlap among congeners. In the present study, we describe two easily confused species, including a new form F.

Toxicity assessment of atmospheric particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on marine phytoplankton.

Particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known for their stability and significant toxicity, can undergo long-range atmospheric transport and deposit into oceans. However, their impact on phytoplankton remains controversial. We extracted PAH-containing mixtures from aerosol particulate matter (AP-PAHs) and assessed their toxicity on coastal diatom Skeletonema costatum under environmentally relevant exposure levels (0.

Re-annotation improved large-scale assembly of the reef-building coral Acropora intermedia.

Acropora corals, primary reef-builders providing habitat for numerous marine species, now face novel survival pressures due to environmental changes. Acropora intermedia (Brook 1891), a significant contributor to the vibrant ecosystems of coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, also exhibits enhanced resistance to both thermal and acid stress. To advance future studies, we report an improved high-quality genome assembly for A.

Endogenous Retroviruses in Host-Virus Coevolution: From Genomic Domestication to Functional Innovation.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of retroviral infections that have become stably integrated into host germline genomes. Far beyond passive genomic elements, ERVs actively shape host evolution through complex mechanisms involving genetic innovation, immune modulation, and species adaptation. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of ERV biology, highlighting recent advances in their classification, amplification mechanisms, and epigenetic silencing.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (-)-Psychotriadine Featuring [3,3]-Rearrangement and Stereo-Controllable Ring-Contraction.

The first asymmetric total syntheses of (-)-psychotriadine () and its putative congener tetrahydropsychotriadine () were accomplished in 12 and 13 steps, respectively, featuring Meerwein-Eschenmoser-Claisen rearrangement and Fischer indolization/Plancher rearrangement cascade. A stereochemically controllable dearomative ring contraction was utilized to create the vicinal quaternary stereocenters. The absolute configuration was confirmed through X-ray crystallography and >200 mg of (90% enantiomeric excess (ee)) was obtained.