The cytoskeleton includes three main classes of networked filaments behaving as a coherent and complex structure that confers stability to cell shape while serving as sensor of internal/extracellular changes.Microenvi...The cytoskeleton includes three main classes of networked filaments behaving as a coherent and complex structure that confers stability to cell shape while serving as sensor of internal/extracellular changes.Microenvironmental stimuli interfere with the non-linear dynamics that govern cytoskeleton architecture,namely by fostering symmetry breakings and transitions across different phenotypic states.Such process induces a wholecoherent adaptive response,involving the reprogramming of biochemical and gene-expression patterns.These characteristics are especially relevant during development,and in those conditions in which a deregulated crosstalk between cells and the stroma is at the core of the pathological process.Therefore,studying how the cytoskeleton can be modified–both pharmacologically and/or through microenvironment-dependent changes–has become a major area of interest in cancer and developmental biology.展开更多
Horseshoe crabs are iconic and ecologically significant macroinvertebrates in coastal environments.The processes and mechanisms of larval hatching in Asian horseshoe crabs that occurs beneath the sand are largely unkn...Horseshoe crabs are iconic and ecologically significant macroinvertebrates in coastal environments.The processes and mechanisms of larval hatching in Asian horseshoe crabs that occurs beneath the sand are largely unknown.The spawning and developmental ecology of Tachypleus tridentatus and T.gigas are assumed to be similar to their Atlantic counterpart Limulus polyphemus.However,Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda has been cited as an exception owing to their frequent sightings in muddy mangrove areas even during low tides.To reveal the larval hatching mechanisms,in this study,we examined varying hatching responses of C.rotundicauda embryos within the sediment to the environmental conditions under continuous tidal cycles.During the eight-week experiment,the count of hatched larvae ranged 4%–30%per week,while the cumulative emergence rate from the sediment was 0–47%.Embryos were observed to have the highest active rotation activity in the first two weeks after incubation.The inundation of tidal water significantly enhanced the occurrence of hatching,in which hydration,osmotic shock and possibly agitation had triggered or facilitated the eclosion.The larvae were found to remain in the sediment for approximately 2–6 weeks before emergence.In general,C.rotundicauda was found to share a similar hatching mechanism with L.polyphemus.Our findings provide insight into the developmental ecology of Asian horseshoe crabs exposed to varying tidal conditions,and are helpful to the management and protection of their spawning habitats.展开更多
When foraging on carrion resources, the wasp Vespula germanica usually makes repeated visits to the feeding site until depleting the resource. In the present study we analyzed how environmental cues affect wasps＇ beh...When foraging on carrion resources, the wasp Vespula germanica usually makes repeated visits to the feeding site until depleting the resource. In the present study we analyzed how environmental cues affect wasps＇ behavior when re-locating a protein food source. We studied this behavior in two different natural habitats： closed and open habitats. As closed habitats have more references to orient wasps to the feeding site than open habitats, we hypothesized that they would return to the foraging site more frequently in closed habitats than in open ones. We tested this hypothesis by studying wasp behavior in three different natural habitat conditions： （i） closed habitats, （ii） open habitats, and （iii） open habitats artificially modified by adding five sticks with flagging. Experiments consisted of training individual wasps to feed from a certain array, and at the testing phase we removed food and displaced the array by 60 cm. Therefore, we recorded wasps＇ choices when returning to the training area, by counting both the wasps＇ first approaches and the number of visits to the original feeding site and the displaced array. Wasps＇ behavior while re-locating a protein food source was different if foraging at open or closed habitats. Wasps more frequently re- visited a previous feeding location when foraging in closed habitats than when foraging in open ones. Furthermore, wasps more frequently visited the displaced array than the original feeding site in all three treatments. Nevertheless, when wasps were trained in closed habitats, they returned to the original feeding site more frequently than if trained in open ones. Interestingly, when five sticks with flagging were added in open habitats, wasps responded similarly as in closed habitats without these references. The results show that foraging behavior in V. germanica seems to be different in closed and open habitats, probably associated with the existence of references that guide foragers when re-locating undepleted resources展开更多
文摘The cytoskeleton includes three main classes of networked filaments behaving as a coherent and complex structure that confers stability to cell shape while serving as sensor of internal/extracellular changes.Microenvironmental stimuli interfere with the non-linear dynamics that govern cytoskeleton architecture,namely by fostering symmetry breakings and transitions across different phenotypic states.Such process induces a wholecoherent adaptive response,involving the reprogramming of biochemical and gene-expression patterns.These characteristics are especially relevant during development,and in those conditions in which a deregulated crosstalk between cells and the stroma is at the core of the pathological process.Therefore,studying how the cytoskeleton can be modified–both pharmacologically and/or through microenvironment-dependent changes–has become a major area of interest in cancer and developmental biology.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32060129)Guangxi BaGui Youth Scholars ProgrammeGuangxi Recruitment Program of 100 Global Experts。
文摘Horseshoe crabs are iconic and ecologically significant macroinvertebrates in coastal environments.The processes and mechanisms of larval hatching in Asian horseshoe crabs that occurs beneath the sand are largely unknown.The spawning and developmental ecology of Tachypleus tridentatus and T.gigas are assumed to be similar to their Atlantic counterpart Limulus polyphemus.However,Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda has been cited as an exception owing to their frequent sightings in muddy mangrove areas even during low tides.To reveal the larval hatching mechanisms,in this study,we examined varying hatching responses of C.rotundicauda embryos within the sediment to the environmental conditions under continuous tidal cycles.During the eight-week experiment,the count of hatched larvae ranged 4%–30%per week,while the cumulative emergence rate from the sediment was 0–47%.Embryos were observed to have the highest active rotation activity in the first two weeks after incubation.The inundation of tidal water significantly enhanced the occurrence of hatching,in which hydration,osmotic shock and possibly agitation had triggered or facilitated the eclosion.The larvae were found to remain in the sediment for approximately 2–6 weeks before emergence.In general,C.rotundicauda was found to share a similar hatching mechanism with L.polyphemus.Our findings provide insight into the developmental ecology of Asian horseshoe crabs exposed to varying tidal conditions,and are helpful to the management and protection of their spawning habitats.
文摘When foraging on carrion resources, the wasp Vespula germanica usually makes repeated visits to the feeding site until depleting the resource. In the present study we analyzed how environmental cues affect wasps＇ behavior when re-locating a protein food source. We studied this behavior in two different natural habitats： closed and open habitats. As closed habitats have more references to orient wasps to the feeding site than open habitats, we hypothesized that they would return to the foraging site more frequently in closed habitats than in open ones. We tested this hypothesis by studying wasp behavior in three different natural habitat conditions： （i） closed habitats, （ii） open habitats, and （iii） open habitats artificially modified by adding five sticks with flagging. Experiments consisted of training individual wasps to feed from a certain array, and at the testing phase we removed food and displaced the array by 60 cm. Therefore, we recorded wasps＇ choices when returning to the training area, by counting both the wasps＇ first approaches and the number of visits to the original feeding site and the displaced array. Wasps＇ behavior while re-locating a protein food source was different if foraging at open or closed habitats. Wasps more frequently re- visited a previous feeding location when foraging in closed habitats than when foraging in open ones. Furthermore, wasps more frequently visited the displaced array than the original feeding site in all three treatments. Nevertheless, when wasps were trained in closed habitats, they returned to the original feeding site more frequently than if trained in open ones. Interestingly, when five sticks with flagging were added in open habitats, wasps responded similarly as in closed habitats without these references. The results show that foraging behavior in V. germanica seems to be different in closed and open habitats, probably associated with the existence of references that guide foragers when re-locating undepleted resources
