TY - JOUR AB - Maintaining fertility in a fluctuating environment is key to the reproductive success of flowering plants. Meiosis and pollen formation are particularly sensitive to changes in growing conditions, especially temperature. We have previously identified cyclin-dependent kinase G1 (CDKG1) as a master regulator of temperature-dependent meiosis and this may involve the regulation of alternative splicing (AS), including of its own transcript. CDKG1 mRNA can undergo several AS events, potentially producing two protein variants: CDKG1L and CDKG1S, differing in their N-terminal domain which may be involved in co-factor interaction. In leaves, both isoforms have distinct temperature-dependent functions on target mRNA processing, but their role in pollen development is unknown. In the present study, we characterize the role of CDKG1L and CDKG1S in maintaining Arabidopsis fertility. We show that the long (L) form is necessary and sufficient to rescue the fertility defects of the cdkg1-1 mutant, while the short (S) form is unable to rescue fertility. On the other hand, an extra copy of CDKG1L reduces fertility. In addition, mutation of the ATP binding pocket of the kinase indicates that kinase activity is necessary for the function of CDKG1. Kinase mutants of CDKG1L and CDKG1S correctly localize to the cell nucleus and nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively, but are unable to rescue either the fertility or the splicing defects of the cdkg1-1 mutant. Furthermore, we show that there is partial functional overlap between CDKG1 and its paralog CDKG2 that could in part be explained by overlapping gene expression. AU - Nibau, Candida AU - Dadarou, Despoina AU - Kargios, Nestoras AU - Mallioura, Areti AU - Fernandez-Fuentes, Narcis AU - Cavallari, Nicola AU - Doonan, John H. ID - 8924 JF - Frontiers in Plant Science TI - A functional kinase is necessary for cyclin-dependent kinase G1 (CDKG1) to maintain fertility at high ambient temperature in Arabidopsis VL - 11 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Bimetallic nanoparticles with tailored size and specific composition have shown promise as stable and selective catalysts for electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2R) in batch systems. Yet, limited effort was devoted to understand the effect of ligand coverage and postsynthesis treatments on CO2 reduction, especially under industrially applicable conditions, such as at high currents (>100 mA/cm2) using gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) and flow reactors. In this work, Cu–Ag core–shell nanoparticles (11 ± 2 nm) were prepared with three different surface modes: (i) capped with oleylamine, (ii) capped with monoisopropylamine, and (iii) surfactant-free with a reducing borohydride agent; Cu–Ag (OAm), Cu–Ag (MIPA), and Cu–Ag (NaBH4), respectively. The ligand exchange and removal was evidenced by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis, whereas high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) showed their effect on the interparticle distance and nanoparticle rearrangement. Later on, we developed a process-on-substrate method to track these effects on CO2R. Cu–Ag (OAm) gave a lower on-set potential for hydrocarbon production, whereas Cu–Ag (MIPA) and Cu–Ag (NaBH4) promoted syngas production. The electrochemical impedance and surface area analysis on the well-controlled electrodes showed gradual increases in the electrical conductivity and active surface area after each surface treatment. We found that the increasing amount of the triple phase boundaries (the meeting point for the electron–electrolyte–CO2 reactant) affect the required electrode potential and eventually the C+2e̅/C2e̅ product ratio. This study highlights the importance of the electron transfer to those active sites affected by the capping agents—particularly on larger substrates that are crucial for their industrial application. AU - Irtem, Erdem AU - Arenas Esteban, Daniel AU - Duarte, Miguel AU - Choukroun, Daniel AU - Lee, Seungho AU - Ibáñez, Maria AU - Bals, Sara AU - Breugelmans, Tom ID - 8926 IS - 22 JF - ACS Catalysis TI - Ligand-mode directed selectivity in Cu-Ag core-shell based gas diffusion electrodes for CO2 electroreduction VL - 10 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Superconductor insulator transition in transverse magnetic field is studied in the highly disordered MoC film with the product of the Fermi momentum and the mean free path kF*l close to unity. Surprisingly, the Zeeman paramagnetic effects dominate over orbital coupling on both sides of the transition. In superconducting state it is evidenced by a high upper critical magnetic field 𝐵𝑐2, by its square root dependence on temperature, as well as by the Zeeman splitting of the quasiparticle density of states (DOS) measured by scanning tunneling microscopy. At 𝐵𝑐2 a logarithmic anomaly in DOS is observed. This anomaly is further enhanced in increasing magnetic field, which is explained by the Zeeman splitting of the Altshuler-Aronov DOS driving the system into a more insulating or resistive state. Spin dependent Altshuler-Aronov correction is also needed to explain the transport behavior above 𝐵𝑐2. AU - Zemlicka, Martin AU - Kopčík, M. AU - Szabó, P. AU - Samuely, T. AU - Kačmarčík, J. AU - Neilinger, P. AU - Grajcar, M. AU - Samuely, P. ID - 8944 IS - 18 JF - Physical Review B SN - 24699950 TI - Zeeman-driven superconductor-insulator transition in strongly disordered MoC films: Scanning tunneling microscopy and transport studies in a transverse magnetic field VL - 102 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Skeletal muscle activity is continuously modulated across physiologic states to provide coordination, flexibility and responsiveness to body tasks and external inputs. Despite the central role the muscular system plays in facilitating vital body functions, the network of brain-muscle interactions required to control hundreds of muscles and synchronize their activation in relation to distinct physiologic states has not been investigated. Recent approaches have focused on general associations between individual brain rhythms and muscle activation during movement tasks. However, the specific forms of coupling, the functional network of cortico-muscular coordination, and how network structure and dynamics are modulated by autonomic regulation across physiologic states remains unknown. To identify and quantify the cortico-muscular interaction network and uncover basic features of neuro-autonomic control of muscle function, we investigate the coupling between synchronous bursts in cortical rhythms and peripheral muscle activation during sleep and wake. Utilizing the concept of time delay stability and a novel network physiology approach, we find that the brain-muscle network exhibits complex dynamic patterns of communication involving multiple brain rhythms across cortical locations and different electromyographic frequency bands. Moreover, our results show that during each physiologic state the cortico-muscular network is characterized by a specific profile of network links strength, where particular brain rhythms play role of main mediators of interaction and control. Further, we discover a hierarchical reorganization in network structure across physiologic states, with high connectivity and network link strength during wake, intermediate during REM and light sleep, and low during deep sleep, a sleep-stage stratification that demonstrates a unique association between physiologic states and cortico-muscular network structure. The reported empirical observations are consistent across individual subjects, indicating universal behavior in network structure and dynamics, and high sensitivity of cortico-muscular control to changes in autonomic regulation, even at low levels of physical activity and muscle tone during sleep. Our findings demonstrate previously unrecognized basic principles of brain-muscle network communication and control, and provide new perspectives on the regulatory mechanisms of brain dynamics and locomotor activation, with potential clinical implications for neurodegenerative, movement and sleep disorders, and for developing efficient treatment strategies. AU - Rizzo, Rossella AU - Zhang, Xiyun AU - Wang, Jilin W.J.L. AU - Lombardi, Fabrizio AU - Ivanov, Plamen Ch ID - 8955 JF - Frontiers in Physiology TI - Network physiology of cortico–muscular interactions VL - 11 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Development of the nervous system undergoes important transitions, including one from neurogenesis to gliogenesis which occurs late during embryonic gestation. Here we report on clonal analysis of gliogenesis in mice using Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers (MADM) with quantitative and computational methods. Results reveal that developmental gliogenesis in the cerebral cortex occurs in a fraction of earlier neurogenic clones, accelerating around E16.5, and giving rise to both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Moreover, MADM-based genetic deletion of the epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) in gliogenic clones revealed that Egfr is cell autonomously required for gliogenesis in the mouse dorsolateral cortices. A broad range in the proliferation capacity, symmetry of clones, and competitive advantage of MADM cells was evident in clones that contained one cellular lineage with double dosage of Egfr relative to their environment, while their sibling Egfr-null cells failed to generate glia. Remarkably, the total numbers of glia in MADM clones balance out regardless of significant alterations in clonal symmetries. The variability in glial clones shows stochastic patterns that we define mathematically, which are different from the deterministic patterns in neuronal clones. This study sets a foundation for studying the biological significance of stochastic and deterministic clonal principles underlying tissue development, and identifying mechanisms that differentiate between neurogenesis and gliogenesis. AU - Zhang, Xuying AU - Mennicke, Christine V. AU - Xiao, Guanxi AU - Beattie, Robert J AU - Haider, Mansoor AU - Hippenmeyer, Simon AU - Ghashghaei, H. Troy ID - 8949 IS - 12 JF - Cells SN - 2073-4409 TI - Clonal analysis of gliogenesis in the cerebral cortex reveals stochastic expansion of glia and cell autonomous responses to Egfr dosage VL - 9 ER -