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1. The rax homeobox gene is mutated in the eyeless axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum

   https://doi.org/10.1002/dvdy.246  

   Davis, Erik S. ; Voss, Gareth ; Miesfeld, Joel B. ; Zarate‐Sanchez, Juan ; Voss, S. Randal ; Glaser, Tom ( September 2020 , Developmental Dynamics)

   Vertebrate eye formation requires coordinated inductive interactions between different embryonic tissue layers, first described in amphibians. A network of transcription factors and signaling molecules controls these steps, with mutations causing severe ocular, neuronal, and craniofacial defects. Ineyelessmutant axolotls, eye morphogenesis arrests at the optic vesicle stage, before lens induction, and development of ventral forebrain structures is disrupted.

   We identified a 5‐bp deletion in therax(retina and anterior neural fold homeobox) gene, which was tightly linked to the recessiveeyeless(e) axolotl locus in an F2 cross. This frameshift mutation, in exon 2, truncates RAX protein within the homeodomain (P154fs35X). Quantitative RNA analysis shows that mutant and wild‐typeraxtranscripts are equally abundant inE/eembryos. Translation appears to initiate from dual start codons, via leaky ribosome scanning, a conserved feature among gnathostome RAX proteins. Previous data showraxis expressed in the optic vesicle and diencephalon, deeply conserved among metazoans, and required for eye formation in other species.

   Theeyelessaxolotl mutation is a null allele in theraxhomeobox gene, with primary defects in neural ectoderm, including the retinal and hypothalamic primordia.

    

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2. Anomalous ortho -Proton Acidities of the para -Haloanisoles: Anomalous ortho -Proton Acidities of the para -Haloanisoles

   https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.201701265  

   Slocum, D. W. ; Maulden, Emily A. ; Whitley, Paul E. ; Reinscheld, Thomas K. ; Jackson, Colleen S. ; Maddox, Jeremy B. ( December 2017 , European Journal of Organic Chemistry)
3. The XXL Survey. XLII. The LX − σ v relation of galaxy groups and clusters detected in the XXL and GAMA surveys

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab3626  

   Giles, P. A. ; Robotham, A. ; Ramos-Ceja, M. E. ; Maughan, B. J. ; Sereno, M. ; McGee, S. ; Phillipps, S. ; Iovino, A. ; Turner, D. J. ; Adami, C. ; et al ( February 2022 , Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   The XXL Survey is the largest homogeneous survey carried out with XMM-Newton. Covering an area of 50 deg2, the survey contains several hundred galaxy clusters out to a redshift of ≈2, above an X-ray flux limit of ∼6 × 10−15 er g cm−2 s−1. The GAMA spectroscopic survey of ∼300 000 galaxies covers ≈286 deg2, down to an r-band magnitude of r < 19.8 mag. The region of overlap of these two surveys (covering 14.6 deg2) represents an ideal opportunity to study clusters selected via two independent selection criteria. Generating two independently selected samples of clusters, one drawn from XXL (spanning a redshift range 0.05 ≤ z ≤ 0.3) and another from GAMA (0.05 ≤ z ≤ 0.2), both spanning 0.2 ≲ M500 ≲ 5 × 1014 M⊙, we investigate the relationship between X-ray luminosity and velocity dispersion (LX − σv relation). Comparing the LX − σv relation between the X-ray selected and optically selected samples, when not accounting for the X-ray selection, we find that the scatter of the X-ray selected sample is 2.7 times higher than the optically selected sample (at the 3.7σ level). Accounting for the X-ray selection to model the LX − σv relation, we find that the difference in the scatter increases (with the X-ray selected sample having a scatter 3.4 times larger than the optically selected sample). Although the scatter of the optically selected sample is lower, we find 13 optically selected GAMA groups undetected in X-rays. Inspection of the difference in magnitude between the first and second brightest galaxies in the cluster, and a stacked X-ray image of these 13 groups, suggests that these are young systems still in the process of forming.

    

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4. The long and short of the S ‐locus in Turnera (Passifloraceae)

   https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15970  

   Shore, Joel S. ; Hamam, Hasan J. ; Chafe, Paul D. J. ; Labonne, Jonathan D. J. ; Henning, Paige M. ; McCubbin, Andrew G. ( July 2019 , New Phytologist)

   Distyly is an intriguing floral adaptation that increases pollen transfer precision and restricts inbreeding. It has been a model system in evolutionary biology since Darwin. Although theS‐locus determines the long‐ and short‐styled morphs, the genes were unknown inTurnera. We have now identified these genes.

   We used deletion mapping to identify, and then sequence,BACclones and genome scaffolds to constructS/shaplotypes. We investigated candidate gene expression, hemizygosity, and used mutants, to explore gene function.

   Thes‐haplotype possessed 21 genes collinear with a region of chromosome 7 of grape. TheS‐haplotype possessed three additional genes and two inversions.TsSPH1was expressed in filaments and anthers,TsYUC6in anthers andTsBAHDin pistils. Long‐homostyle mutants did not possessTsBAHDand a short‐homostyle mutant did not expressTsSPH1.

   Three hemizygous genes appear to determine S‐morph characteristics inT. subulata. Hemizygosity is common to all distylous species investigated, yet the genes differ. The pistil candidate gene,TsBAHD, differs from that ofPrimula, but both may inactivate brassinosteroids causing short styles.TsYUC6is involved in auxin synthesis and likely determines pollen characteristics.TsSPH1is likely involved in filament elongation. We propose an incompatibility mechanism involvingTsYUC6andTsBAHD.

    

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5. Revision of Batrachospermum section Macrospora (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) with the establishment of the new genus Montagnia

   https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2019.1624143  

   Necchi Jr, Orlando ; Garcia Fo., Auro Silva ; Paiano, Monica O. ; Vis, Morgan L. ( November 2019 , Phycologia)