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1. Stable native RIP 9 complexes associate with C‐to‐U RNA editing activity, PPR s, RIP s, OZ 1, ORRM 1 and ISE 2

   https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14384  

   Sandoval, Rafael ; Boyd, Robert D. ; Kiszter, Alena N. ; Mirzakhanyan, Yeva ; Santibańez, Paola ; Gershon, Paul D. ; Hayes, Michael L. ( June 2019 , The Plant Journal)

   The mitochondrial and chloroplastmRNAs of the majority of land plants are modified through cytidine to uridine (C‐to‐U)RNAediting. Previously, forward and reverse genetic screens demonstrated a requirement for pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins forRNAediting. Moreover, chloroplast editing factorsOZ1,RIP2,RIP9 andORRM1 were identified in co‐immunoprecipitation (co‐IP) experiments, albeit the minimal complex sufficient for editing activity was never deduced. The current study focuses on isolated, intact complexes that are capable of editing distinct sites. Peak editing activity for four sites was discovered in size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) fractions ≥ 670 kDa, while fractions estimated to be approximately 413 kDa exhibited the greatest ability to convert a substrate containing the editing siterps14C80.RNAcontent peaked in the ≥ 670 kDa fraction. Treatment of active chloroplast extracts withRNase A abolished the relationship of editing activity with high‐MWfractions, suggesting a structuralRNAcomponent in native complexes. By immunoblotting,RIP9,OTP86,OZ1 andORRM1 were shown to be present in active gel filtration fractions, thoughOZ1 andORRM1 were mainly found in low‐MWinactive fractions. Active editing factor complexes were affinity‐purified using anti‐RIP9 antibodies, and orthologs to putativeArabidopsis thalianaRNAediting factorPPRproteins,RIP2,RIP9,RIP1,OZ1,ORRM1 andISE2 were identified via mass spectrometry. Western blots from co‐IP studies revealed the mutual association ofOTP86 andOZ1 with nativeRIP9 complexes. Thus,RIP9 complexes were discovered to be highly associated with C‐to‐URNAediting activity and other editing factors indicative of their critical role in vascular plant editosomes.

    

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2. Systematic description of putative animal fossils from the early E diacaran L antian F ormation of S outh C hina

   https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12242  

   Wan, Bin ; Yuan, Xunlai ; Chen, Zhe ; Guan, Chengguo ; Pang, Ke ; Tang, Qing ; Xiao, Shuhai ; McIlroy, ed., Duncan ( April 2016 , Palaeontology)
3. Genetic diversity in S vaneti and its implications for the human settlement of the H ighland C aucasus

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23324  

   Yardumian, Aram ; Shengelia, Ramaz ; Chitanava, David ; Laliashvili, Shorena ; Bitadze, Lia ; Laliashvili, Irma ; Villanea, Fernando ; Sanders, Akiva ; Azzam, Andrew ; Groner, Victoria ; et al ( October 2017 , American Journal of Physical Anthropology)
4. Inferring population connectivity in eastern m assasauga rattlesnakes ( S istrurus c atenatus ) using landscape genetics

   https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2793  

   Martin, Scott A. ; Peterman, William E. ; Lipps, Jr., Gregory J. ; Gibbs, H. Lisle ( January 2023 , Ecological Applications)

   Assessing the environmental factors that influence the ability of a threatened species to move through a landscape can be used to identify conservation actions that connect isolated populations. However, direct observations of species' movement are often limited, making the development of alternate approaches necessary. Here we use landscape genetic analyses to assess the impact of landscape features on the movement of individuals between local populations of a threatened snake, the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus). We linked connectivity data with habitat information from two landscapes of similar size: a large region of unfragmented habitat and a previously studied fragmented landscape consisting of isolated patches of habitat. We used this analysis to identify features of the landscape where modification or acquisition would enhance population connectivity in the fragmented region. We found evidence that current connectivity was impacted by both contemporary land‐cover features, especially roads, and inherent landscape features such as elevation. Next, we derived estimates of expected movement ability using a recently developed pedigree‐based approach and least‐cost paths through the unfragmented landscape. We then used our pedigree and resistance map to estimate resistance polygons of the potential extent forS. catenatusmovement in the fragmented landscape. These polygons identify possible sites for future corridors connecting currently isolated populations in this landscape by linking the impact of future habitat modification or land acquisition to dispersal ability in this species. Overall, our study shows how modeling landscape resistance across differently fragmented landscapes can identify habitat features that affect contemporary movement in threatened species in fragmented landscapes and how this information can be used to guide mitigation actions whose goal is to connect isolated populations.

    

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5. Effects of drought stress on oviposition preference and offspring performance of the lace bug Corythucha marmorata on its goldenrod host, Solidago altissima

   https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12449  

   Helmberger, Maxwell S. ; Craig, Timothy P. ; Itami, Joanne K. ( June 2016 , Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata)