We examined the origins and functional evolution of the Shaker and KCNQ families of voltage-gated K + channels to better understand how neuronal excitability evolved. In bilaterians, the Shaker family consists of four functionally distinct gene families (Shaker, Shab, Shal, and Shaw) that share a subunit structure consisting of a voltage-gated K + channel motif coupled to a cytoplasmic domain that mediates subfamily-exclusive assembly (T1). We traced the origin of this unique Shaker subunit structure to a common ancestor of ctenophores and parahoxozoans (cnidarians, bilaterians, and placozoans). Thus, the Shaker family is metazoan specific but is likely to have evolved in a basal metazoan. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the Shaker subfamily could predate the divergence of ctenophores and parahoxozoans, but that the Shab, Shal, and Shaw subfamilies are parahoxozoan specific. In support of this, putative ctenophore Shaker subfamily channel subunits coassembled with cnidarian and mouse Shaker subunits, but not with cnidarian Shab, Shal, or Shaw subunits. The KCNQ family, which has a distinct subunit structure, also appears solely within the parahoxozoan lineage. Functional analysis indicated that the characteristic properties of Shaker, Shab, Shal, Shaw, and KCNQ currents evolved before the divergence of cnidarians and bilaterians. These results show that a major diversification of voltage-gated K + channels occurred in ancestral parahoxozoans and imply that many fundamental mechanisms for the regulation of action potential propagation evolved at this time. Our results further suggest that there are likely to be substantial differences in the regulation of neuronal excitability between ctenophores and parahoxozoans.Shaker | KCNQ | Nematostella | ctenophore | Mnemiopsis

PIP2 mediates the bimodal regulation of the EAG family K+ channel ELK1 to produce an overall inhibitory effect.

Globally, crop straw is a rich resource and further establishment of its use as an energy source is an important aspect in developing the circular economy. Projects in this vein can bring benefits such as improving energy access and living conditions as well as boosting the local economy and employment opportunities in rural communities. This paper presents a detailed case study on the production of bionatural gas (BNG) from corn straw in China, using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, conducting economic analysis, and analyzing operation management models. The "Nongbaomu" business model (whereby professional personnel assist farmers in the management of straw collection, bundling, storage and transportation) and the "Mutual Offsetting in Kind" business model (whereby farmers can buy a quota of the project's BNG products at a lower price in return for selling straw to the project) can ensure the acquisition of straw by the BNG project at stable prices and high quality. Because the main product (BNG) replaces refined oil products used by automobiles and the byproduct (organic fertilizer) replaces traditional fertilizer (produced using coal), the project offers the potential for significant decreases (up to 80%) in life cycle GHG emissions and fossil fuel use. Benefited from the relatively high natural gas prices in the project location and applicable government subsidies, our studied case was found to be economically viable.The findings in this study are also likely to be relevant to other countries where governments should develop industrial policies that support the development of rural distributed energy, and introduce and implement appropriate subsidies to allow BNG to compete in the traditional natural gas market.Although, enterprises are responsible for selecting an effective business models and the most appropriate technological pathway, governments should also identify the ways in which they can support businesses to make these choices.

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