Microalgae have potential to help meet energy and food demands without exacerbating environmental problems. There is interest in the unicellular green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis, because it produces lipids for biofuels and a highly valuable carotenoid nutraceutical, astaxanthin. To advance understanding of its biology and facilitate commercial development, we present a C. zofingiensis chromosome-level nuclear genome, organelle genomes, and transcriptome from diverse growth conditions. The assembly, derived from a combination of short-and long-read sequencing in conjunction with optical mapping, revealed a compact genome of ∼58 Mbp distributed over 19 chromosomes containing 15,274 predicted protein-coding genes. The genome has uniform gene density over chromosomes, low repetitive sequence content (∼6%), and a high fraction of protein-coding sequence (∼39%) with relatively long coding exons and few coding introns. Functional annotation of gene models identified orthologous families for the majority (∼73%) of genes. Synteny analysis uncovered localized but scrambled blocks of genes in putative orthologous relationships with other green algae. Two genes encoding beta-ketolase (BKT), the key enzyme synthesizing astaxanthin, were found in the genome, and both were up-regulated by high light. Isolation and molecular analysis of astaxanthin-deficient mutants showed that BKT1 is required for the production of astaxanthin. Moreover, the transcriptome under high light exposure revealed candidate genes that could be involved in critical yet missing steps of astaxanthin biosynthesis, including ABC transporters, cytochrome P450 enzymes, and an acyltransferase. The high-quality genome and transcriptome provide insight into the green algal lineage and carotenoid production.Chlorophyceae | carotenoid biosynthesis | de novo genome | genome mapping | RNA-Seq

In this survey, we review the voluminous body of literature on the measurement and the determinants of financial literacy. Wherever possible, we supplement existing findings with recent descriptive evidence of German households' financial literacy levels based on the novel Panel on Household Finances dataset, a large-scale survey administered by the Deutsche Bundesbank and representative of the financial situation of households in Germany. Prior research not only documents generally low levels of financial literacy but also finds large heterogeneity in financial literacy across the population, suggesting that economically vulnerable groups are placed at further disadvantage by their lack of financial knowledge. In addition, we assess the literature evaluating financial education as a means to improve financial literacy and financial behavior. Our survey suggests that the evidence with respect to the effectiveness of the programs is rather disappointing. We also review the role of individuals' financial literacy for the use of professional financial advice and assess whether expert intervention can serve as a substitute to financial literacy. We conclude by discussing several directions for future research.

Aging is one of the most fundamental, yet least understood biological processes that affect all forms of eukaryotic life. Mitochondria are intimately involved in aging, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Electron cryotomography of whole mitochondria from the aging model organism Podospora anserina revealed profound age-dependent changes in membrane architecture. With increasing age, the typical cristae disappear and the inner membrane vesiculates. The ATP synthase dimers that form rows at the cristae tips dissociate into monomers in inner-membrane vesicles, and the membrane curvature at the ATP synthase inverts. Dissociation of the ATP synthase dimer may involve the peptidyl prolyl isomerase cyclophilin D. Finally, the outer membrane ruptures near large contact-site complexes, releasing apoptogens into the cytoplasm. Inner-membrane vesiculation and dissociation of ATP synthase dimers would impair the ability of mitochondria to supply the cell with sufficient ATP to maintain essential cellular functions.subtomogram averaging | cell death

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Light and nutrients are critical regulators of photosynthesis and metabolism in plants and algae. Many algae have the metabolic flexibility to grow photoautotrophically, heterotrophically, or mixotrophically. Here, we describe reversible Glc-dependent repression/activation of oxygenic photosynthesis in the unicellular green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis. We observed rapid and reversible changes in photosynthesis, in the photosynthetic apparatus, in thylakoid ultrastructure, and in energy stores including lipids and starch. Following Glc addition in the light, C. zofingiensis shuts off photosynthesis within days and accumulates large amounts of commercially relevant bioproducts, including triacylglycerols and the high-value nutraceutical ketocarotenoid astaxanthin, while increasing culture biomass. RNA sequencing reveals reversible changes in the transcriptome that form the basis of this metabolic regulation. Functional enrichment analyses show that Glc represses photosynthetic pathways while ketocarotenoid biosynthesis and heterotrophic carbon metabolism are upregulated. Because sugars play fundamental regulatory roles in gene expression, physiology, metabolism, and growth in both plants and animals, we have developed a simple algal model system to investigate conserved eukaryotic sugar responses as well as mechanisms of thylakoid breakdown and biogenesis in chloroplasts. Understanding regulation of photosynthesis and metabolism in algae could enable bioengineering to reroute metabolism toward beneficial bioproducts for energy, food, pharmaceuticals, and human health.

"This paper analyses the trading activity of German mutual funds in the 1998-2002 period to investigate whether German mutual fund managers are engaged in herding behaviour. Another objective of the study is to determine the impact of this herd-like trading on stock prices. Our results provide evidence of herding and positive feedback trading by German mutual fund managers. We show that a significant portion of herding detected in the German market is associated with spurious herding as a consequence of changes in benchmark index composition. Investigating the impact of mutual fund herding on stock prices, we find that herding seems to neither destabilise nor stabilise stock prices." Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2006.

down to single cells and molecules). The review is in line with major European initiatives, such as COMULIS (CA17121), a COST Action to promote and foster Correlated Multimodal Imaging in Life Sciences.

Background/Aims: Pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, has been shown to inhibit growth and to induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, the potential benefit of pravastatin in HCC patients has still not been characterized, which prompted us to test the efficacy of pravastatin in patients with advanced HCC. Methods: We investigated prospectively a cohort of 183 HCC patients who had been selected for palliative treatment by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Fifty-two patients received TACE combined with pravastatin (20–40 mg/day) and 131 patients received chemoembolization alone. Six independent predictors of survival according to the Vienna survival model for HCC were equally distributed in both groups. Results: During the observation period of up to 5 years, 31 (23.7%) out of 131 patients treated by TACE alone and 19 (36.5%) out of 52 patients treated by TACE and pravastatin survived. Median survival was significantly longer in HCC patients treated by TACE and pravastatin (20.9 months, 95% CI 15.5–26.3, p = 0.003) than in HCC patients treated by TACE alone (12.0 months, 95% CI 10.3–13.7). Conclusion: Combined treatment of chemoembolization and pravastatin improves survival of patients with advanced HCC in comparison to patients receiving chemoembolization alone.