Long range physical cell-to-cell signalling via mitochondria inside membrane nanotubes: a hypothesis

Coordinated interaction of single cells by cell-to-cell communication (signalling) enables complex behaviour necessary for the functioning of multicellular organisms. A quite newly discovered cell-to-cell signalling mechanism relies on nanotubular cell-co-cell connections, termed “membrane nanotubes” (MNTs). The present paper presents the hypothesis that mitochondria inside MNTs can form a connected structure (mitochondrial network) which enables the exchange of energy and signals between cells. It is proposed that two modes of energy and signal transmission may occur: electrical/electrochemical and electromagnetic (optical). Experimental work supporting the hypothesis is reviewed, and suggestions for future research regarding the discussed topic are given.     

In Vivo Evaluation of Blood Based and Reference Tissue Based PET Quantifications of [11C]DASB in the Canine Brain

This first-in-dog study evaluates the use of the PET-radioligand [¹¹C]DASB to image the density and availability of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the canine brain. Imaging the serotonergic system could improve diagnosis and therapy of multiple canine behavioural disorders. Furthermore, as many similarities are reported between several human neuropsychiatric conditions and naturally occurring canine behavioural disorders, making this tracer available for use in dogs also provide researchers an interesting non-primate animal model to investigate human disorders. Five adult beagles underwent a 90 minutes dynamic PET scan and arterial whole blood was sampled throughout the scan. For each ROI, the distribution volume (V_T), obtained via the one- and two- tissue compartment model (1-TC, 2-TC) and the Logan Plot, was calculated and the goodness-of-fit was evaluated by the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). For the preferred compartmental model BP_ND values were estimated and compared with those derived by four reference tissue models: 4-parameter RTM, SRTM2, MRTM2 and the Logan reference tissue model. The 2-TC model indicated in 61% of the ROIs a better fit compared to the 1-TC model. The Logan plot produced almost identical V_T values and can be used as an alternative. Compared with the 2-TC model, all investigated reference tissue models showed high correlations but small underestimations of the BP_ND-parameter. The highest correlation was achieved with the Logan reference tissue model (Y = 0.9266 x + 0.0257; R² = 0.9722). Therefore, this model can be put forward as a non-invasive standard model for future PET-experiments with [¹¹C]DASB in dogs.     

Proteomic analysis of microvesicles from plasma of healthy donors reveals high individual variability

Healthy blood plasma is required for several therapeutic procedures. To maximize successful therapeutic outcomes it is critical to control the quality of blood plasma. Clearly initiatives to improve the safety of blood transfusions will have a high economical and social impact. A detailed knowledge of the composition of healthy blood plasma is essential to facilitate such improvements. Apart from free proteins, lipids and metabolites, blood plasma also contains cell-derived microvesicles, including exosomes and microparticles from several different cellular origins. In this study, we have purified microvesicles smaller than 220nm from plasma of healthy donors and performed proteomic, ultra-structural, biochemical and functional analyses. We have detected 161 microvesicle-associated proteins, including many associated with the complement and coagulation signal-transduction cascades. Several proteases and protease inhibitors associated with acute phase responses were present, indicating that these microvesicles may be involved in these processes. There was a remarkably high variability in the protein content of plasma from different donors. In addition, we report that this variability could be relevant for their interaction with cellular systems. This work provides valuable information on plasma microvesicles and a foundation to understand microvesicle biology and clinical implications.     

Effects of topographic variability on the scaling of plant species richness in gradient dominated landscapes

It is commonly assumed that variation in abiotic site conditions influences the number of niches, which in turn affects the potential species richness in an area. Based on theoretical considerations, abiotic variation is often used as an estimator of species richness at broad scales, while at finer landscape scales the diversity of habitat types is used. However, habitat estimators assume the landscape to be composed of discrete, homogeneous patches with sharp boundaries, and such a concept is hard to apply in gradient-dominated landscapes. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of topographic variability (TV) on species richness at the landscape level (gamma (γ) diversity) and on its components (alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity) at microsite and habitat group levels. Using floristic data from 12 "landscapes" of 1 km² we investigated the influence on diversity components of two simple and one complex measures of TV. While the standard deviation (SD) of altitude explained a high proportion of the variation in γ diversity (linear regression model, R²=0.63), the complex measure, SD of solar radiation explained it even better (R²=0.82). There were strong effects of TV on α and β diversity components at the microsite level, but only marginal increases of the diversity components at the habitat level. Further analyses revealed that the missing increase of the habitat level components was caused by differences between habitat groups and that only grassland diversity components increased significantly with TV. We conclude that TV at a landscape scale has strong effects on niche or microsite diversity and is an appropriate estimator of relative species richness in landscapes that are topographically heterogeneous and gradient dominated.     

Mechanistic Understanding of Additive Reductive Degradation and SEI Formation in High-Voltage NMC811||SiOx-Containing Cells via Operando ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy

The implementation of silicon (Si)-containing negative electrodes is widely discussed as an approach to increase the specific capacity of lithium-ion batteries. However, challenges caused by severe volume changes and continuous (re-)formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Si need to be overcome. The volume changes lead to electrolyte consumption and active lithium loss, decaying the cell performance and cycle life. Herein, the additive 2-sulfobenzoic acid anhydride (2-SBA) is utilized as an SEI-forming electrolyte additive for SiO_x-containing anodes. The addition of 2-SBA to a state-of-the-art carbonate-based electrolyte in high-voltage LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂, NMC811||artificial graphite +20% SiO_x pouch cells leads to improved electrochemical performance, resulting in a doubled cell cycle life. The origin of the enhanced cell performance is mechanistically investigated by developing an advanced experimental technique based on operando attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The operando ATR-FTIR spectroscopy results elucidate the degradation mechanism via anhydride ring-opening reactions after electrochemical reduction on the anode surface. Additionally, ion chromatography conductivity detection mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and quantum chemistry calculations are employed to further elucidate the working mechanisms of the additive and its degradation products.     

Design of Star-Shaped Trimer Acceptors for High-Performance (Efficiency > 19%), Photostable,and Mechanically Robust Organic Solar Cells

High power conversion efficiency (PCE), long-term stability, and mechanical robustness are prerequisites for the commercial applications of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, a new star-shaped trimer acceptor (TYT-S) is developed and high-performance OSCs with a PCE of 19.0%, high photo-stability (t_80% lifetime = 2600 h under 1-sun illumination), and mechanical robustness with a crack-onset strain (COS) of 21.6% are achieved. The isotropic molecular structure of TYT-S affords efficient multi-directional charge transport and high electron mobility. Furthermore, its amorphous structure prevents the formation of brittle crystal-to-crystal interfaces, significantly enhancing the mechanical properties of the OSC. As a result, the TYT-S-based OSCs demonstrate a significantly higher PCE (19.0%) and stretchability (COS = 21.6%) than the linear-shaped trimer acceptor (TYT-L)-based OSCs (PCE = 17.5% and COS = 6.4%) and the small-molecule acceptor (MYT)-based OSCs (PCE = 16.5% and COS = 1.3%). In addition, the increased molecular size of TYT-S, relative to that of MYT and dimer (DYT), suppresses the diffusion kinetics of the acceptor molecules, substantially improving the photostability of the OSCs. Finally, to effectively demonstrate the potential of TYT-S, intrinsically stretchable (IS)-OSCs are constructed. The TYT-S-based IS-OSCs exhibit high device stretchability (strain at PCE_80% = 31%) and PCE of 14.4%.     

Gaze-dependent evidence accumulation predicts multi-alternative risky choice behaviour

Choices are influenced by gaze allocation during deliberation, so that fixating an alternative longer leads to increased probability of choosing it. Gaze-dependent evidence accumulation provides a parsimonious account of choices, response times and gaze-behaviour in many simple decision scenarios. Here, we test whether this framework can also predict more complex context-dependent patterns of choice in a three-alternative risky choice task, where choices and eye movements were subject to attraction and compromise effects. Choices were best described by a gaze-dependent evidence accumulation model, where subjective values of alternatives are discounted while not fixated. Finally, we performed a systematic search over a large model space, allowing us to evaluate the relative contribution of different forms of gaze-dependence and additional mechanisms previously not considered by gaze-dependent accumulation models. Gaze-dependence remained the most important mechanism, but participants with strong attraction effects employed an additional similarity-dependent inhibition mechanism found in other models of multi-alternative multi-attribute choice.     

Anthozyan-Idioblasten der Frucht vonPolygonatum verticillatum

Ohne ZusammenfassungHerrn Univ.-Prof. Dr. AdolfSperlich zum 80. Geburtstag gewidmet.