University of Jena

About: University of Jena is a education organization based out in Jena, Thüringen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Laser & Population. The organization has 22198 authors who have published 45159 publications receiving 1401514 citations. The organization is also known as: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena & Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Ultrastructure of attachment specializations of hexapods (Arthropoda): evolutionary patterns inferred from a revised ordinal phylogeny

Abstract: Attachment devices of representatives of most higher taxa of hexapods were examined. Short descriptions of tibial, tarsal and pretarsal adhesive structures for each order are presented. In their evolution, hexapods have developed two distinctly different mechanisms to attach themselves to a variety of substrates: hairy surfaces and smooth flexible pads. The flexible properties of pad material guarantees a maximal contact with surfaces, regardless of the microsculpture. These highly specialized structures are not restricted to one particular area of the leg. They may be located on different parts, such as claws, derivatives of the pretarsus, tarsal apex, tarsomeres, or tibia. The 10 characters of the two alternative designs of attachment devices – smooth and hairy – were coded and analysed together with a data matrix containing 105 additional morphological characters of different stages and body parts. The analysis demonstrates, that similar structures (arolium, euplantulae, hairy tarsomeres) have evolved independently in several lineages. Nevertheless, some of them support monophyletic groups (e.g. Embioptera + Dermaptera; Dictyoptera + Phasmatodea + Grylloblattodea + Orthoptera; Dictyoptera + Phasmatodea; Hymenoptera + Mecopterida; Neuropterida + Strepsiptera + Coleoptera). Other structures such as claw pads (Ephemeroptera), balloon-shaped eversible pads (Thysanoptera), or fossulae spongiosae (Reduviidae) are unique for larger or smaller monophyletic units. It is plausible to assume that the evolution of flight and the correlated necessity to cling to vegetation or other substrates was a major trigger for the evolution of adhesive structures. Groups with a potential to evolve a great variety of designs of adhesive pads are Hemiptera and Diptera. Even though characters of the adhesive pads are strongly subject to selection, they can provide phylogenetic information. The results of the cladistic analyses are largely congruent with current hypotheses of hexapod phylogeny. A sistergroup relationship between Diplura and Insecta and between Zygentoma (excl. Tricholepidion) and Pterygota is confirmed. Plecoptera are probably the sistergroup of the remaining Neoptera. Dermaptera are the sistergroup of Embioptera and Dictyoptera the sistergroup of Phasmatodea. Paurometabola excl. Dermaptera + Embioptera are monophyletic. A sistergroup relationship between Zoraptera and a clade comprising Paraneoptera + Endopterygota is only supported by weak evidence. Coleoptera + Strepsiptera are the sistergroup of Neuropterida and Hymenoptera the sistergroup of Mecopterida.

Recent progress in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for biological and biomedical applications: from cells to clinics

Abstract: The application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in biological and biomedical detection schemes is feasible due to its excellent molecular specificity and high sensitivity as well as the capability of SERS to be performed in complex biological compositions. SERS-based investigation of cells, which are the basic structure and functional unit of organisms, represents the starting point of this review. It is demonstrated that SERS provides a deep understanding of living cells as well as their microenvironment which is needed to assess the development of diseases. The clinical relevance of SERS is proved by its application for the detection of cancer cells and tumour margins under in vivo conditions and examples for theranostic approaches are discussed. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress within the last 3 years.

A systems study reveals concurrent activation of AMPK and mTOR by amino acids

Abstract: Amino acids (aa) are not only building blocks for proteins, but also signalling molecules, with the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) acting as a key mediator. However, little is known about whether aa, independently of mTORC1, activate other kinases of the mTOR signalling network. To delineate aa-stimulated mTOR network dynamics, we here combine a computational–experimental approach with text mining-enhanced quantitative proteomics. We report that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) are acutely activated by aa-readdition in an mTORC1-independent manner. AMPK activation by aa is mediated by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ). In response, AMPK impinges on the autophagy regulators Unc-51-like kinase-1 (ULK1) and c-Jun. AMPK is widely recognized as an mTORC1 antagonist that is activated by starvation. We find that aa acutely activate AMPK concurrently with mTOR. We show that AMPK under aa sufficiency acts to sustain autophagy. This may be required to maintain protein homoeostasis and deliver metabolite intermediates for biosynthetic processes. mTORC1 is known to mediate the signalling activity of amino acids. Here, the authors combine modelling with experiments and find that amino acids acutely stimulate mTORC2, IRS/PI3K and AMPK, independently of mTORC1. AMPK activation through CaMKKβ sustains autophagy under non-starvation conditions.

The beetle tree of life reveals that Coleoptera survived end‐Permian mass extinction to diversify during the Cretaceous terrestrial revolution

Abstract: © 2015 The Authors. Systematic Entomology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Entomological Society This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionߚNonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.