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- Deficiency in the Phosphorylated Pathway of Serine Biosynthesis perturbs sulfur assimilation.(2019) Anoman, Djoro Armand; Flores-Tornero, María; Benstein, Ruben M.; Blau, Samira; Rosa Téllez, Sara; Bräutigam, Andrea; Fernie, Alisdair R.; Muñoz Bertomeu, Jesús; Schilasky, Sören; Meyer, Andreas J.; Kopriva, Stanislav; Segura García del Río, Juan; Krueger, Stephan; Ros Palau, RocAlthough the plant Phosphorylated Pathway of l-Ser Biosynthesis (PPSB) is essential for embryo and pollen development, and for root growth, its metabolic implications have not been fully investigated. A transcriptomics analysis of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PPSB-deficient mutants at night, when PPSB activity is thought to be more important, suggested interaction with the sulfate assimilation process. Because sulfate assimilation occurs mainly in the light, we also investigated it in PPSB-deficient lines in the day. Key genes in the sulfate starvation response, such as the adenosine 5′phosphosulfate reductase genes, along with sulfate transporters, especially those involved in sulfate translocation in the plant, were induced in the PPSB-deficient lines. However, sulfate content was not reduced in these lines as compared with wild-type plants; besides the glutathione (GSH) steady-state levels in roots of PPSB-deficient lines were even higher than in wild type. This suggested that PPSB deficiency perturbs the sulfate assimilation process between tissues/organs. Alteration of thiol distribution in leaves from different developmental stages, and between aerial parts and roots in plants with reduced PPSB activity, provided evidence supporting this idea. Diminished PPSB activity caused an enhanced flux of 35S into thiol biosynthesis, especially in roots. GSH turnover also accelerated in the PPSB-deficient lines, supporting the notion that not only biosynthesis, but also transport and allocation, of thiols were perturbed in the PPSB mutants. Our results suggest that PPSB is required for sulfide assimilation in specific heterotrophic tissues and that a lack of PPSB activity perturbs sulfur homeostasis between photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic tissues.
- The UAP56-interacting export factors UIEF1 and UIEF2 function in mRNA export(2019) Ehrnsberger, Hans F.; Pfaff, Christina; Hachani, Ines; Flores-Tornero, María; Sorensen, Brian B.; Längst, Gernot; Sprunck, Stefanie; Grasser, Marion; Grasser, Klaus D.In eukaryotes, the regulated transport of mRNAs from the nucleus to the cytosol through nuclear pore complexes represents an important step in the expression of protein-coding genes. In plants, the mechanism of nucleocytosolic mRNA transport and the factors involved are poorly understood. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome encodes two likely orthologs of UAP56-interacting factor, which acts as mRNA export factor in mammalian cells. In yeast and plant cells, both proteins interact directly with the mRNA export-related RNA helicase UAP56 and the interaction was mediated by an N-terminal UAP56-binding motif. Accordingly, the two proteins were termed UAP56-INTERACTING EXPORT FACTOR1 and 2 (UIEF1/2). Despite lacking a known RNA-binding motif, recombinant UIEF1 interacted with RNA, and the C-terminal part of UIEF1 mainly contributed to the RNA interaction. Mutation of UIEF1, UIEF2, or both in the double-mutant 2xuief caused modest growth defects. A cross between the 2xuief and 4xaly (defective in the four ALY1-4 mRNA export factors) mutants produced the sextuple mutant 4xaly 2xuief, which displayed more severe growth impairment than the 4xaly plants. Developmental defects including delayed bolting and reduced seed set were observed in the 4xaly but not the 2xuief plants. Analysis of the cellular distribution of polyadenylated mRNAs revealed more pronounced nuclear mRNA accumulation in 4xaly 2xuief than in 2xuief and 4xaly cells. In conclusion, the results indicate that UIEF1 and UIEF2 act as mRNA export factors in plants and that they cooperate with ALY1-ALY4 to mediate efficient nucleocytosolic mRNA transport.
- Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals conserved programmes underpinning organogenesis and reproduction in land plants(2021) Julca, Irene; Ferrari, Camilla; Flores-Tornero, María; Proost, Sebastian; Lindner, Ann-Cathrin; Hackenberg, Dieter; Steinbachová, Lenka; Michaelidis, Christos; Gomes Pereira, Sónia; Shekhar Misra, Chandra; Kawashima, Tomokazu; Borg, Michael; Berger, Frédéric; Goldberg, Jacob; Johnson, Mark; Honys, David; Twell, David; Sprunck, Stefanie; Dresselhaus, Thomas; Becker, Jörg D.; Mutwil, MarekThe appearance of plant organs mediated the explosive radiation of land plants, which shaped the biosphere and allowed the establishment of terrestrial animal life. The evolution of organs and immobile gametes required the coordinated acquisition of novel gene functions, the co-option of existing genes and the development of novel regulatory programmes. However, no large-scale analyses of genomic and transcriptomic data have been performed for land plants. To remedy this, we generated gene expression atlases for various organs and gametes of ten plant species comprising bryophytes, vascular plants, gymno- sperms and flowering plants. A comparative analysis of the atlases identified hundreds of organ- and gamete-specific ortho- groups and revealed that most of the specific transcriptomes are significantly conserved. Interestingly, our results suggest that co-option of existing genes is the main mechanism for evolving new organs. In contrast to female gametes, male gametes showed a high number and conservation of specific genes, which indicates that male reproduction is highly specialized. The expression atlas capturing pollen development revealed numerous transcription factors and kinases essential for pollen biogenesis and function
- Transcriptomic and Proteomic Insights into Amborella trichopoda Male Gametophyte Functions(2020) Flores-Tornero, María; Vogler, Frank; Mutwil, Marek; Potesil, David; Ihnatová, Ivana; Zdráhal, Zbynek; Sprunck, Stefanie; Dresselhaus, ThomasFlowering plants (angiosperms) are characterized by pollen tubes (PTs; male gametophytes) carrying two immobile sperm cells that grow over long distances through the carpel toward the ovules, where double fertilization is executed. It is not understood how these reproductive structures evolved, which genes occur de novo in male gametophytes of angiosperms, and to which extent PT functions are conserved among angiosperms. To contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolution of gametophyte functions, we generated RNA sequencing data from seven reproductive and two vegetative control tissues of the basal angiosperm Amborella trichopoda and complemented these with proteomic data of pollen grains (PGs) and PTs. The eudicot model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) served as a reference organism for data analysis, as more than 200 genes have been associated with male gametophyte functions in this species. We describe methods to collect bicellular A. trichopoda PGs, to induce their germination in vitro, and to monitor PT growth and germ cell division. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicate that A. trichopoda PGs are prepared for germination requiring lipids, energy, but likely also reactive oxygen species, while PTs are especially characterized by catabolic/biosynthetic and transport processes including cell wall biosynthesis and gene regulation. Notably, a number of pollen-specific genes were lacking in Arabidopsis, and the number of genes involved in pollen signaling is significantly reduced in A. trichopoda. In conclusion, we provide insight into male gametophyte functions of the most basal angiosperm and establish a valuable resource for future studies on the evolution of flowering plants.
- DMP8 and 9 regulate HAP2/GCS1 trafficking for the timely acquisition of sperm fusion competence(2022) Wang, Wei; Xiong, Hanxian; Cyprys, Philipp; Malka, Raphael; Flores-Tornero, María; Peng, Zhao; Peng, Xiongbo; Sprunck, Stefanie; Sun, Meng-XiangSexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes of opposite sex. Although thesperm-expressed fusogen HAPLESS 2 (HAP2) or GENERATIVE CELL SPECIFIC 1(GCS1) plays a vital role in this process in many eukaryotic organisms and an understand-ing of its regulation is emerging in unicellular systems [J. Zhang et al., Nat. Commun.12, 4380 (2021); J. F. Pinello et al. Dev. Cell 56, 3380-3392.e9 (2021)], neither HAP2/GCS1 interactors nor mechanisms for delivery and activation at the fusion site areknown in multicellular plants. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana HAP2/GCS1interacts with two sperm DUF679 membrane proteins (DMP8 and DMP9), whichare required for the EGG CELL 1 (EC1)-induced translocation of HAP2/GCS1 frominternal storage vesicle to the sperm plasma membrane to ensure successful fertilization.Our studies in Arabidopsis and tobacco provide evidence for a conserved function ofDMP8/9-like proteins as HAP2/GCS1 partner in seed plants. Our data suggest thatseed plants evolved a DMP8/9-dependent fusogen translocation process to achievetimely acquisition of sperm fusion competence in response to egg cell-derived signals,revealing a previously unknown critical step for successful fertilization.
- Fifty years of sperm cell isolations: from structural to omic studies(2023) Flores-Tornero, María; Becker, Jörg D.The fusion of male and female gametes is a fundamental process in the perpetuation and diversification of species. During the last 50 years, significant efforts have been made to isolate and characterize sperm cells from flowering plants, and to identify how these cells interact with female gametes to achieve double fertilization. The first tech- niques and analytical approaches not only provided structural and biochemical characterizations of plant sperm cells but also paved the way for in vitro fertilization studies. Further technological advances then led to unique insights into sperm biology at the transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenetic level. Starting with a historical overview of sperm cell isolation techniques, we provide examples of how these contributed to create our current knowledge of sperm cell biology, and point out remaining challenges
- Comparative analyses of angiosperm secretomes identify apoplastic pollen tube functions and novel secreted peptides(2020) Flores-Tornero, María; Wang, Lele; Potesil, David; Hafidh, Said; Vogler, Frank; Zdráhal, Zbynek; Honys, David; Sprunck, Stefanie; Dresselhaus, ThomasFlowering plants (angiosperms) generate pollen grains that germinate on the stigma and produce tubes to transport their sperm cells cargo deep into the maternal reproductive tissues toward the ovules for a double fertilization process. During their journey, pollen tubes secrete many proteins (secreted proteome or secretome) required, for example, for communica- tion with the maternal reproductive tissues, to build a solid own cell wall that withstands their high turgor pressure while softening simultaneously maternal cell wall tissue. The composition and species specificity or family specificity of the pollen tube secretome is poorly understood. Here, we provide a suitable method to obtain the pollen tube secretome from in vitro grown pollen tubes of the basal angiosperm Amborella trichopoda (Amborella) and the Poaceae model maize. The previ- ously published secretome of tobacco pollen tubes was used as an example of eudicotyledonous plants in this comparative study. The secretome of the three species is each strongly different compared to the respective protein composition of pollen grains and tubes. In Amborella and maize, about 40% proteins are secreted by the conventional 'classic' pathway and 30% by unconventional pathways. The latter pathway is expanded in tobacco. Proteins enriched in the secretome are especially involved in functions associated with the cell wall, cell surface, energy and lipid metabolism, proteolysis and redox processes. Expansins, pectin methylesterase inhibitors and RALFs are enriched in maize, while tobacco secretes many proteins involved, for example, in proteolysis and signaling. While the majority of proteins detected in the secretome occur also in pollen grains and pollen tubes, and correlate in the number of mapped peptides with relative gene expression levels, some novel secreted small proteins were identified. Moreover, the identification of secreted proteins containing pro-peptides indicates that these are processed in the apoplast. In conclusion, we provide a proteome resource from three distinct angiosperm clades that can be utilized among others to study the localization, abundance and processing of known secreted proteins and help to identify novel pollen tube secreted proteins for functional studies.
- Transcriptomics of manually isolated Amborella trichopoda egg apparatus cells(2019) Flores-Tornero, María; Proost, Sebastian; Mutwil, Marek; Scutt, Charles P.; Dresselhaus, Thomas; Sprunck, StefanieSexual reproduction is particularly complex in flowering plants (angiosperms). Studies in eudicot and monocot model species have significantly contributed to our knowledge on cell fate specification of gametophytic cells and on the numerous cellular communication events necessary to deliver the two sperm cells into the embryo sac and to accomplish double fertilization. However, for a deeper understanding of the evolution of these processes, morphological, genomic and gene expression studies in extant basal angiosperms are inevitable. The basal angiosperm Amborella trichopoda is of special importance for evolutionary studies, as it is likely sister to all other living angiosperms. Here, we report about a method to isolate Amborella egg apparatus cells and on genome-wide gene expression profiles in these cells. Our transcriptomics data revealed Amborella-specific genes and genes conserved in eudicots and monocots. Gene products include secreted proteins, such as small cysteine-rich proteins previously reported to act as extracellular signaling molecules with important roles during double fertilization. The detection of transcripts encoding EGG CELL 1 (EC1) and related prolamin-like family proteins in Amborella egg cells demonstrates the potential of the generated data set to study conserved molecular mechanisms and the evolution of fertilization-related genes and their encoded proteins.
- ALY RNA-Binding proteins are required for nucleocytosolic mRNA transport and modulate plant growth and development(2018) Pfaff, Christina; Ehrnsberger, Hans F.; Flores-Tornero, María; Sorensen, Brian B.; Schubert, Thomas; Längst, Gernot; Griesenbeck, Joachim; Sprunck, Stefanie; Grasser, Marion; Grasser, Klaus D.The regulated transport of mRNAs from the cell nucleus to the cytosol is a critical step linking transcript synthesis and processing with translation. However, in plants, only a few of the factors that act in the mRNA export pathway have been functionally characterized.Flowering plant genomes encode several members of the ALY protein family, which function as mRNA export factors in other organisms. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ALY1 to ALY4 are commonly detected in root and leaf cells,but they are differentially expressed in reproductive tissue. Moreover, the subnuclear distribution of ALY1/2 differs from that of ALY3/4. ALY1 binds with higher affinity to single-stranded RNA than double-stranded RNA and single-stranded DNA and interacts preferentially with 5-methylcytosine-modified single-stranded RNA. Compared with the full-length protein, the individual RNA recognition motif of ALY1 binds RNA only weakly. ALY proteins interact with the RNA helicase UAP56, indicating a link to them RNA export machinery. Consistently, ALY1 complements the lethal phenotype of yeast cells lacking the ALY1 ortholog Yra1. Whereas individual aly mutants have a wild-type appearance, disruption of ALY1 to ALY4 in 4xaly plants causes vegetative and reproductive defects, including strongly reduced growth, altered flower morphology, as well as abnormal ovules and female gametophytes, causing reduced seed production. Moreover, polyadenylated mRNAs accumulate in the nuclei of 4xaly cells. Our results highlight the requirement of efficient mRNA nucleocytosolic transport for proper plant growth and development and indicate that ALY1 to ALY4 act partly redundantly in this process; however, differences in expression and subnuclear localization suggest distinct functions
- High throughput isolation of male gametophyte cells of Solanum lycopersicum var. Micro-Tom by fluorescence-activated cell sorting(2025) Flores-Tornero, María; Sapeta, Helena; Lobato-Gómez, Maria; Teixeira, Beatriz; Monteiro, Marta; Granell, Antonio; Becker, Jörg D.Efficient isolation of male gametes has enabled unprecedented advances in omics research, crucial for elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing male gametogenesis and fertilization. In this study, we developed a method for iso-lating generative and sperm cells from the economically important crop Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). A double fluorescent marker line was generated in the tomato variety Micro-Tom, employing mTurquoise and mScarlet-I fluor-escent proteins under the control of promoters exhibiting preferential activity in generative and sperm cells, respect-ively. Then we developed a protocol that combines male gamete release from pollen grains and pollen tubes of this double fluorescent marker line and SYTOX Red live/dead cell stain to obtain viable cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. This allows the isolation of generative cells from mature pollen grains, and of sperm cells from pollen tubes after semi-in vivo growth, in both high quantity and purity. Additionally, an unexpected mScarlet-I signal in the vege-tative nucleus, that persists until the sperm cells are formed, allows the sorting of vegetative nuclei. We anticipate that our novel double marker line will accelerate research into tomato male gametogenesis, thereby enhancing efforts to improve the resilience of fertilization processes to climate change
- Close-space sublimation as a versatile deposition process for efficient perovskite silicon tandem solar cells(2026) Diercks, Alexander; Chozas-Barrientos, Sofía; Gil Escrig, Lidón; Ventosinos, Federico; Gomar Fernández, Inma; Roldán Carmona, Cristina; Rodkey, Nathan; Zhao, Tonghan; Petermann, Julian; Senno, Maximiliano; Held, Vladimir; Carroy, Perrine; Muñoz, Delfina; Fassl, Paul; Sessolo, Michele; Paetzold, Ulrich W.; Bolink, HenkThe envisaged breakthrough of perovskite photovoltaic technologies demands rapid advances in scalable and robust high-throughput fabrication methods. Here we present close-space sublimation (CSS) as a vacuum-based, industrially relevant deposition method for the conversion of sublimed PbI2 inorganic scaffolds into high-quality wide-bandgap perovskite absorbers (MAPb(I0.79Br0.21)3, 1.64 eV), employing a reusable mixed-halide organic source for stable bandgap control. We provide mechanistic insights into the substitution-reaction-limited CSS process and achieve power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of up to 18.5% for fully vacuum-processed p-i-n single-junction devices. Monolithic integration in tandem solar cells onto planar, nano- and micro-textured silicon bottom cells reveals consistent optoelectronic and morphological properties across all configurations without requiring adjustments of deposition parameters, as corroborated by comprehensive characterization techniques. The resulting perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells reach PCEs up to 24.3%, with minimal variation across the different bottom cells. Our findings highlight the broad process window and versatility of CSS, positioning it as an industry-suitable deposition method for solvent-free high-throughput fabrication.
- Vapor-phase iodine emission and Ag surface accumulation in perovskite solar cells(2026) He, Haoyuan; Held, Vladimir; Bolink, Henk; Okubo, Takashi; Tanaka, SenkuThe origin and time-dependent behavior of iodine detected on Ag electrodes in perovskite solar cells were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Iodine was present at the Ag surface and near the Ag/hole transport layer interface, but no significant signal was observed in bulk Ag. Surface iodine increased within the first few days after fabrication and continued to rise over several weeks. Surface iodine accumulation was also observed on Ag films stored in the same container without direct contact with the perovskite devices. These results are consistent with volatile iodine-containing species released from the perovskite layer and re-adsorbing on Ag
- eIF5A coordinates the transcription and translation of its target genes(2026) Barba-Aliaga, Marina; Chi, Lianqi; Prieto-Díez, Samoa; Planells, Jordi; García Martínez, José; Pérez Ortín, José Enrique; Alepuz Martínez, PaulaMaintaining balanced cellular protein levels requires precise control of gene expression and effective coordination between the various stages of the process, from transcription to translation. In recent years, several components of the translation apparatus have been found in the nuclei of various eukaryotes, where they regulate transcription, mRNA processing or export, thereby integrating different stages of gene expression. eIF5A is an essential and evolutionarily conserved translation elongation factor that is involved in viral infection and in the development of diseases such as cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. eIF5A promotes translation elongation by binding to ribosomes that stall at codons encoding problematic amino acids for peptide bond formation, such as consecutive prolines, also known as polyproline motifs. Although eIF5A shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm, its specific nuclear roles remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear yeast eIF5A binds to chromatin and represses gene transcription by preventing the binding of RNA polymerase II. Importantly, chromatin binding and transcriptional repression by eIF5A have a higher impact on genes encoding its own translational targets. The presence of polyproline motifs in genes imposes both translation and transcriptional control by eIF5A. Furthermore, eIF5A's active engagement in cytoplasmic translation is necessary for its role in repressing transcription. Our results suggest that eIF5A coordinates gene expression by promoting the cytoplasmic translation of specific genes while repressing their transcription in the nucleus, thus ensuring efficient final protein synthesis.
- Phase Homogeneity and Photothermal Stability in Fully Vacuum-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells(2026) Poli, Isabella; Sessolo, Michele; Meggiolaro, Daniele; Gregori, Luca; Sebastian Alonso, Javier Enrique; Senno, Maximiliano; Choi, Yunseong; Gil Escrig, Lidón; Prato, Mirko; Paracchino, Adriana; Treglia, Antonella; De Angelis, Filippo; Bolink, Henk; Petrozza, Annamariacuum-deposited lead halide perovskite thin films enable solvent-free fabrication, eliminating residual processing solvents that might compromise the long-term stability. Here, we investigate the stability of thermally evaporated mixed-cation compositions FA0.8Cs0.2PbI3 and FA0.8MA0.2PbI3 (FA+ = formamidinium and MA+ = methylammonium) under thermal and light stress. Although from a thermodynamic perspective the phase stability hierarchy is typically described as MA+ < FA+ < Cs+, with Cs-based perovskites expected to be the most stable, both compositions exhibit thermal robustness, retaining their structural, optical, and morphological properties after continuous heating at 85 °C for over 500 h. Under continuous illumination, however, distinct degradation pathways emerge: FA0.8Cs0.2PbI3 shows the largest morphological and optical changes. This is attributed to chemical inhomogeneities caused by CsI-rich segregations during crystallization, which make point defects effective triggers for photodegradation. Film homogeneity improves by partially replacing iodide with bromide. Based on these results, we selected FA0.8MA0.2PbI3 and FA0.8Cs0.2Pb(I0.8Br0.2)3 for device fabrication and evaluated their operational stability. The resulting perovskite solar cells maintain their performance after four months of outdoor operation and withstand 900 h under continuous sun-equivalent indoor illumination at room temperature. These results demonstrate how a high-quality crystallization process can reveal the potential of MA-containing perovskite formulations for long-lived perovskite photovoltaics.
- Flexible and High-Performance Perovskite-Polymer Composites for Dual X-Ray and Proton Direct Detection(2026) Bordoni, Camilla; Huisman, Bas A. H.; Reinders, Joost W. C.; Frate Ilaria; Chiari, Massimo; Basiricò, Laura; Bolink, Henk; Ciavatti, Andrea; Sessolo, Michele; Fraboni, BeatriceRobust, flexible, and scalable detectors for ionizing radiation are critically needed in advanced medical, environmental, and aerospace applications. Here, a polymer-perovskite composite fabricated by mechanical sintering is studied, which enables the production of thick (up to 0.5 mm) free-standing pellets. They are used in novel vertical detector architecture, with efficient charge collection, which fully exploits the large interaction volume with ionizing radiation, obtaining a low limit of detection of (37.2 ± 1.1) nGy s−1. The hybrid matrix ensures excellent radiation hardness and long-term operational stability preserving device properties over months. The addition of polymer not only enhances the device stability, but also confers mechanical robustness, enabling the thick perovskite-based detectors to maintain unchanged photoconductivity under extreme bending conditions (1 mm radius, >10% strain), challenging the conventional trade-off between thickness and flexibility. Additionally, we demonstrate direct detection of 5 MeV proton beam, obtaining a sensitivity of (9.3 ± 0.2)∙10−18 C/H+ with an applied electric field of 2 V µm−1. Moreover, we show the possibility of further sensitivity improvement by tuning the active layer thickness to maximize energy deposition. Overall, these results establish a scalable and conformable platform for next-generation radiation detectors, offering a unique combination of structural robustness, stability, and sensitivity to different kinds of radiation.
- Drawing-Centred and Associated Visual-Representation Strategies in Anatomy and Histology Education: A Systematic Evidence Map(2026) Bruna-Mejias, Alejandro; Sanchis-Gimeno, Juan A.Drawing-centred and drawing-associated visual-representation strategies are used in anatomy and histology education, but the literature spans learner-generated drawing, guided drawing, screencasts, multisensory approaches, and model-based visual abstraction. This systematic evidence map examined their use and conducted an exploratory quantitative synthesis of objective learning outcomes among health science students. The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261360533) and reported according to PRISMA 2020. Searches finalized in April 2026 covered PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, and MEDLINE via Ovid, with backward and forward citation searching. After deduplication and supplementary searching, 1,129 records were screened, 181 full-text reports were assessed, and 100 unique studies were included in the evidence map. Fifty-one studies were preliminary quantitative candidates. Six independent contrasts met the numerical meta-analysis criteria; however, only four were sufficiently aligned with drawing-centred learning to form the primary quantitative subset. Random-effects meta-analysis using Hedges g, REML estimation, and Hartung-Knapp confidence intervals yielded a positive but statistically uncertain primary estimate (g = 0.18, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.64; I² = 50.1%; τ² = 0.037; prediction interval -0.85 to 1.22). The broader six-contrast model was also positive but uncertain (g = 0.29, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.67). Certainty of evidence was very low. These analyses are exploratory rather than confirmatory because few conceptually comparable studies were available.
- High vulnerability of jellyfish ephyras (Aurelia aurita) and copepods (Calanoids) to understudied organic UV filters: A multi-trophic ecotoxicological assessment(2026) Mercado Casares, Borja; Diago-Sánchez, Irene; Piera-Martínez, Isabel; Candelas, Miguel; Andreu-Sánchez, OscarOrganic ultraviolet filters have become a growing concern in coastal environments, yet our understanding of their toxicity remains surprisingly uneven. While some compounds like benzophenone have been studied extensively, others that are increasingly used in sunscreens such as octisalate (EHS) and ethylhexyl triazone (EHT) have received little attention. Even less is known about how these substances affect marine species that are not part of standard toxicity testing. To address these gaps, this work combined a systematic review following the PRISMA approach with a series of acute toxicity tests across five marine species: the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum, the crustaceans Artemia franciscana, Calanoids sp. and Gammarus sp., and ephyras of the jellyfish Aurelia aurita and five organic UV filters were tested (avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, ethylhexyl triazone, and UV-326) along with three commercial sunscreen formulations. The literature review confirmed that research has been heavily skewed toward benzophenone and inorganic filters, while EHS and EHT together account for only 13% of the studies. The experimental results revealed that these understudied compounds are far from harmless. Octisalate proved to be highly toxic to both A. aurita (EC50 48 h = 2.1 mg/L) and Calanoids sp. (EC50 48 h = 4.3 mg/L). Octocrylene also showed considerable toxicity, particularly in A. franciscana (EC50 48 h = 23.8 mg/L), and caused noticeable behavioural issues in jellyfish ephyras, which struggled to pulse normally. Interestingly, the jellyfish ephyras were by far the most sensitive organisms we tested, more so than the standard crustacean models. When we tested commercial sunscreens, they generally turned out to be less toxic than the pure compounds, suggesting that the other ingredients in these formulations might limit how much of the UV filters are available to cause harm. The one exception was a sunscreen that combined octocrylene and octisalate, which was significantly toxic to copepods. The microalga, in contrast, showed little sensitivity to any of the treatments. Taken together, these findings suggest that octisalate and octocrylene pose a greater threat to marine zooplankton and jellyfish than the current literature would lead us to believe. We hope these data will help fill some of the existing knowledge gaps and support more informed regulatory decisions that consider a wider range of marine organisms.
- Làmines estil Lankester de líquens del Barranco de Ajuez (Parc Natural de la Serra d'Espadà)(Universitat de València, 2026) Garrido Benavent, Isaac; Moya Gay, Patricia; Segarra Moragues, José Gabriel; Atienza Tamarit, Violeta; Boisset López, Fernando; Chiva Natividad, SalvadorCol·lecció de làmines estil Lankester de líquens del paratge Barranco de Ajuez, situat a la localitat de Chóvar, al Parc Natural de la Serra d'Espadà (Castelló, Comunitat Valenciana). Les làmines han sigut elaborades per l'alumnat del grup A i B de l'assignatura Botànica I, corresponent al primer curs del Grau en Biologia de la Facultat de Ciències Biològiques (Universitat de València), dins del desenvolupament del Projecte d'Innovació Educativa de l'SFPIE amb codi PIEE 3898991.
- Somatic Stem Cells in Leiomyoma Formation(Nova Science Publishers, Inc, 2015) Mas , Aymara; Simón Vallés, CarlosSomatic stem cells [SSCs] are undifferentiated cells that reside in adult organisms, which can self-renew and differentiate into the more specialized cell types of their own tissue/organ. In the last 7 years, several studies using the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine [BrdU] and side population [SP] methods in murine and human myometrium have suggested the presence and functional relevance of SSCs in this tissue [1,2]. Moreover, it has been reported that SP cells are present in human leiomyomas [3,4] and consequently the stem cell hypothesis has been put forward as a paradigm to describe, at least in part, the origin of this benign tumor [5,6]. Here, we provide a detailed summary about the current scientific knowledge of SSCs in human myometrium as well as their putative implications in leiomyoma formation in order to establish new therapeutic horizons.
- Migration rate, timing of sex, and resident genetic diversity jointly shape effective gene flow during rotifer colonization(2026) Arenas-Sánchez, C.; Ortells Bañeres, Raquel; Carmona Navarro, María José; García Roger, Eduardo Moisés; Montero Pau, JavierDispersal is a complex process that affects all living organisms, with the settlement phase being particularly critical. This phase depends on the interaction between the environmental conditions of the new habitat and the biological traits of both resident and immigrant populations. While these factors have been studied individually, their combined effects remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we conducted a controlled laboratory experiment using populations of the facultatively sexual rotifer Brachionus plicatilis assembled from clonal lines originating from two natural populations¿one serving as the resident and the other as the immigrant. We examined how the combination of initial immigrant density, resident population genetic diversity, and the timing of sexual reproduction in immigrants influences effective gene flow. Using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) tracking, we quantified the contribution of immigrants to the diapausing-egg bank. Our results indicate that all three factors¿both individually and interactively¿significantly affect settlement success. Specifically, higher immigrant density, lower genetic diversity in the resident population, and earlier sexual reproduction in immigrants were all associated with greater effective gene flow. Notably, these factors interacted: high initial density had the strongest impact when combined with early sexual reproduction in immigrants, while low genetic diversity in the resident population facilitated the settlement of immigrants with delayed sexual reproduction. Overall, our results highlight that multiple interacting factors jointly shape colonization outcomes and provide mechanistic insight into how dispersal and reproduction jointly drive gene flow in metapopulations.
