TENT5C is a non-canonical cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase highly expressed by activated B cells to suppress their proliferation. Here we measure the global distribution of poly(A) tail lengths in responsive B cells using a Nanopore direct RNA-sequencing approach, showing that TENT5C polyadenylates immunoglobulin mRNAs regulating their half-life and consequently steady-state levels. TENT5C is upregulated in differentiating plasma cells by innate signaling. Compared with wild-type, Tent5c −/− mice produce fewer antibodies and have diminished T-cell-independent immune response despite having more CD138 high plasma cells as a consequence of accelerated differentiation. B cells from Tent5c −/− mice also have impaired capacity of the secretory pathway, with reduced ER volume and unfolded protein response. Importantly, these functions of TENT5C are dependent on its enzymatic activity as catalytic mutation knock-in mice display the same defect as Tent5c −/−. These findings define the role of the TENT5C enzyme in the humoral immune response.

Light is necessary for life, but prolonged exposure to artificial light is a matter of increasing health concern. Humans are exposed to increased amounts of light in the blue spectrum produced by light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which can interfere with normal sleep cycles. The LED technologies are relatively new; therefore, the long-term effects of exposure to blue light across the lifespan are not understood. We investigated the effects of light in the model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, and determined that flies maintained in daily cycles of 12-h blue LED and 12-h darkness had significantly reduced longevity compared with flies maintained in constant darkness or in white light with blue wavelengths blocked. Exposure of adult flies to 12 h of blue light per day accelerated aging phenotypes causing damage to retinal cells, brain neurodegeneration, and impaired locomotion. We report that brain damage and locomotor impairments do not depend on the degeneration in the retina, as these phenotypes were evident under blue light in flies with genetically ablated eyes. Blue light induces expression of stress-responsive genes in old flies but not in young, suggesting that cumulative light exposure acts as a stressor during aging. We also determined that several known blue-light-sensitive proteins are not acting in pathways mediating detrimental light effects. Our study reveals the unexpected effects of blue light on fly brain and establishes Drosophila as a model in which to investigate long-term effects of blue light at the cellular and organismal level.

Paper presents the phenomenon of thanatosis or death-feigning in selected aphids species. This specific reaction was predominantly analysed on the example of aphid subfamily Lachninae. Individuals of this group were used in experiments, during which a thanatotic response was induced with various results. The response differed from prolonged thanatosis, lasting for several minutes (Eulachnus rileyi), through shrinking behaviour (e. g. in Stomaphis graffii) to non-responsive species such as Cinara (Schizolachnus) pineti. The large interspecies variation of observed responses can be linked to other defensive mechanisms existing in the studied species, as well as to their mutualistic relationship with ants. The behaviour of shrinking is hypothesized to be the mutualistic response, developed from thanatosis, and being adapted to transportation by ant workers.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10905-018-9662-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Tok-tokkies are one of the most iconic lineages within Tenebrionidae. In addition to containing some of the largest darkling beetles, this tribe is recognized for its remarkable form of sexual communication known as substrate tapping. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic relationships within the group remain poorly understood. This study investigates the usefulness of female terminalia morphology for delimiting Sepidiini and reconstructing relationships among it. Data on the structure of the ovipositors, genital tubes and spicula ventrali have been generated for >200 species representing 28 Pimeliinae tribes. This dataset was used in a comparative analysis at the subfamilial level, which resulted in recognition of several unique features of tok-tokkie terminalia. Additionally, new features linking phenotypically challenging tribes also were recovered (Cryptochilini + Idisiini + Pimeliini). Secondly, 23 characters linked to the structure of female terminalia were defined for tok-tok beetles. Cladistic analysis demonstrates the nonmonophyletic nature of most of the recognized subtribes. The morphological dataset was analysed separately and in combination with available molecular data (CAD, Wg, cox1, cox2, 28S). All obtained topologies were largely congruent, supporting the following changes: Palpomodina Kami nski & Gearner subtr.n. is erected to accommodate the genera Namibomodes and Palpomodes; Argenticrinis and Bombocnodulus are transferred from Hypomelina to Molurina; 153 species and subspecies previously classified within Psammodes are distributed over three separate genera (Mariazofia Kami nski nom.n., Piesomera stat.r., Psammodes sens.n.). Psammodes sklodowskae Kami nski & Gearner sp.n. is described. Preliminary investigation of the ovipositor of Mariazofia basuto (Koch) comb.n. was carried out with the application of microcomputed tomography, illuminating the muscular system as a reliable reference point for recognizing homologous elements in highly modified ovipositors.

31TENT5C is a non-canonical cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase (ncPAP) upregulated in 32 activated B cells and suppressing their proliferation. Herein we measured the global distribution of 33 poly(A) tail lengths in responsive B cells using a modified Nanopore direct RNA-sequencing 34 approach and revealed that TENT5C polyadenylates immunoglobulin mRNAs regulating their 35 steady-state levels. Consequently, TENT5C deficient B cells secrete less antibodies and KO mice 36 have diminished gamma globulin concentrations despite the increased number of CD138 high plasma 37 cells as a consequence of accelerated differentiation. TENT5C is explicitly upregulated in 38 differentiating plasma cells by innate signaling. Importantly, TENT5C deficiency in B lymphocytes 39 impairs the capacity of the secretory pathway through the reduction of ER volume and 40 downregulation of unfolded protein response. 41 Our findings define the role of the TENT5C enzyme in B cell physiology and discover the 42 first ncPAP engaged in the regulation of immunoglobulin mRNA poly(A) tails, thus serving as a 43 regulator of humoral immunity. 44 45 46 Introduction 47 Development of an adaptive humoral immune response requires activation of resting B cells 48 following antigen recognition. This process is associated with structural and functional changes 49 leading to the generation of high-affinity memory B cells and antibody-secreting plasma cells (ASC). 50 Extensive B cell differentiation is characterized by the clonal expansion, somatic hypermutation 51 leading to affinity maturation, isotype switching, and formation of ASC or memory cells. At a cellular 52 level, this process involves the reorganization of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi 53 compartments to promote immunoglobulin synthesis, assembly and secretion (Lynes and Simmen, 54 2011; Wiest et al., 1990). These global physiological changes occurring during B cell differentiation 55 and activation are linked to broad changes in the transcriptomic profile which is controlled by the 56 coordinated action of regulatory networks of transcriptional factors such as NF-kB, BCL6, IRF4, and 57