A drug molecule can bind in various orientations to a DNA strand. Nature of the binding decides the functionality and efficacy of the drug. To innovate a new method to detect the nature of binding of a drug to DNA strands, herein we have used the dipole−dipole interaction driven Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and a DNA-bound small molecule, (E)-3-ethyl-2-(4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)styryl)benzo[d]thiazol-3-ium (EPSBT), which belongs to the hemicyanine family and binds typically to the minor groove of a DNA duplex. EPSBT was designed to obtain appreciable fluorescence quantum yield, which constructed an efficient FRET pair with the synthesized CNPs. The tested compound prefers the thymine nucleobase to bind to the DNA strand. Orientation of its dipole on attachment to the DNA strand and the donor−acceptor distance dictate the FRET efficiency with the CNPs. The results provided a precise estimation of the nature of binding of EPSBT to the DNA backbone and, hence, supposedly will help in deciding the functional efficacy.
Mixed-species groups occur across a wide range of faunal communities and provide several benefits to members. While zebrafish have often been observed to form mixed-species shoals with coexisting species, the factors determining their occurrence are not yet fully understood. Shoals comprising zebrafish (Danio rerio), flying barbs (Esomus danricus), and whitespots (Aplocheilus panchax) were collected from a stagnant canal at Haringhata (West Bengal, India), and using laboratory-based experiments, we deciphered likely drivers of mixed-species shoaling among zebrafish. Experiments assessing foraging efficiency revealed that the amount of food consumed by zebrafish individuals in mixed shoals was comparable to the amount consumed by these individuals in conspecific shoals. Within mixed-species shoals, zebrafish individuals, despite being smaller than the other species, consumed a comparable amount of food as the other species. Shoal choice experiments revealed that under predator risk, zebrafish associate more with mixed shoals and showed comparable associations to shoals differing in the abundance of conspecifics. Furthermore, zebrafish preferred associating with familiar conspecifics over unfamiliar mixed and unfamiliar conspecific shoals. Therefore, equitable food consumption in mixed shoals, greater association with mixed shoals in the presence of predators, and familiarity were important in driving zebrafish towards mixed-species shoaling.
Shoaling in fishes is regulated by factors like predation, vegetation cover, water flow and food availability. Shoals detect and respond to changes in these ecological factors using a multimodal sensory system. Here, we examine the immediate response of wild-caught zebrafish (Danio rerio)shoals to cues from its natural predator, the snakehead (Channa sp.). Zebrafish shoals were recorded upon exposure to (1) olfactory predator cues, (2) visual predator cues, (3) both cues together, and (4) no cue. We tracked individuals and analysed shoal responses across these treatments. We found that compared to control treatments, shoals receiving either visual or olfactory cues had significantly greater: (i) cohesion, (ii) polarization and (iii) velocity. Interestingly, when the shoals received both cues simultaneously, the cohesion, polarization and velocity decreased and a significantly greater number of individual freezing events occurred. Therefore, zebrafish relied on both visual and olfactory cues to escape predation. However, when shoals were presented with both cues together, while freezing frequency increased, other responses were comparable to control treatments where no predator cue was provided. While this study indicates that multimodal cues elicit a different anti-predator response than the cues singly, more experiments are required to identify the underlying cause of this behaviour.
Animals are known to acquire and store information of their environment in order to enhance their performance in different tasks like foraging, migration and breeding. Having information regarding nesting sites would be particularly useful when they have to relocate. In the current study, we asked if having information of a new nest prior to or at the onset of relocation has a positive impact on the ability of ant colonies to relocate. We performed five sets of experiments on a ponerine ant species Diacamma indicum that recruits nestmates solely by tandem running. By analyzing data of 4756 unique ants across 61 colonies, we found that, access to information of the new nest for 1 day prior to the relocation did not give any significant advantage as compared to no prior information of the new nest. However, access to information for 7 days prior to relocation resulted in 50% increase in the number of tandem leaders and reduction of the transport time by an average of 49%. Our data on providing information at the onset of relocation indicates that introducing explorers to the new nest did not aid the process of relocation but when information of a new nest was self‐acquired, there was a reduction in discovery time by 50% and also in the transport time per unit distance for relocation into a new nest. Having information regarding only the surroundings and not the nest at the onset of a relocation did not give any significant advantages. Further, the manner in which work was organized during the relocation process was not significantly influenced by prior information across any of the treatments. Our findings suggest that information of new nest is important and when such information is self‐acquired at the onset of relocation or is available for a long enough duration, it has a positive influence in the process of relocation in this ant species.
Aim: The aim of the present study was to understand the molecular relationship between nematode (parasite) and fish (host) through codon usage bias (CUB) analysis. Methodology: The Codon usage bias analysis has been performed in fish Carassius gibelio (Prussian carp) and nematode fish parasite Anisakis simplex. The complete coding sequences (CDS) of C. gibelio (Prussian carp) and A. simplex (Nematode) were retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information and followed to that we have performed bioinformatics analysis to understand the codon usage pattern between host and parasite. Results: Different CUB indices like Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU), Effective number of codons (ENC), Codon adaptation index (CAI) and Codon bias index (CBI) revealed a similar pattern in the codon usage in C. gibelio and A. simplex. In addition, inclusive analysis using different plots (ENC, parity, neutrality) had shown the influence of both the evolutionary forces i.e mutational and translational selection on codon usage pattern. This describes the role of evolutionary forces in determining the conserved genome to establish species-specific function-level differences for efficient survival. Interpretation: The present study elucidated the association between Carassiusgibelio (host) and Anisakis simplex (parasite) based on the similar pattern of codon usage bias between both the species.
Noncanonical DNA segments are formed by those disobeying the Watson−Crick canon, and among which are the i-motifs. These are fourstranded DNA secondary structures that form sequences rich in cytosine (C). Two anti-parallely oriented DNA duplexes, held together by intercalated C:C + base pairs, are stabilized in the acidic pH under normal conditions. The i-motif structures have been observed forming and dissolving in living cells, and hence, this area is opened up for active investigation from the human cell perspective. DNA "breathing" is a thermally driven process, which interferes with the stability of the base-paired DNA sequences that transiently adopt local conformations, and the same is true for the i-motifs as well. Herein, we have synthesized folic acid (FA)-derived ultrasmall carbon nanodots (CNDs) with amine and amide surface functionalities that provide hydrogen-bonding centers. These CNDs interfere with the sequential breathing phenomenon and regulate the equilibrium in the i-motif formation. Thus, we could effectively regulate the transient process of the noncanonical i-motif production in real time, which, in turn, could be of great benefit in gene regulation and carcinogenic treatments.
Animals communicate with each other through a variety of behavioral interactions, many of which are often complex due to the interplay of several ecological factors. Observations on dyadic interactions can help throw light on the more complex interactions observed among group living organisms and can help in understanding mechanisms of behaviors related to mating strategies, dominance hierarchies, and decision-making. This study focused on the assessment of several generally observed interactions among dyads of different sexes (femalefemale, male-male, and male-female) in wild zebrafish (Danio rerio). Temporal dynamics of these interactive behaviors were observed in 45 dyads across 3 time intervals of the day. We used generalized linear mixed models to investigate the effect of time, sex of dyad, and their interaction on specific behaviors. While the frequency of occurrence of some behaviors showed clear variation across time intervals of the day, these were further found to depend on the composition of the dyad. Contrary to previous reports, we found that same-sex dyads are equally aggressive and aggressive interactions did not vary temporally. Mating-associated interactions, as expected, were significantly higher in mixed-sex dyads and declined significantly from early morning to afternoon. Interestingly, we also found some mating-associated interactions in same-sex dyads. A fine line exists between social and mating-associated interactions in many organisms and so we speculate that these interactions could also be social interactions and not mating-related behavior. Our findings shed light on complex interactive behaviors among zebrafish, that are likely to be affected by time as well as sex composition of interacting individuals and thus has important implications for groups varying in sex ratios in the wild.
Mixed-species groups commonly occur across a wide range of faunal communities and are known to provide several benefits to members. While zebrafish have often been observed to form mixed-species shoals with coexisting species, the factors determining their occurrence are not yet understood. Using laboratory-based experiments, we decipher the main ecological drivers of mixed-species shoaling in these tropical fish communities. Shoals comprising zebrafish (Danio rerio), flying barbs (Esomus danricus), and whitespots (Aplocheilus panchax) were collected from a stagnant canal at Haringhata (West Bengal, India). Experiments to assess foraging efficiency were conducted where single or mixed-species shoals (comprising 5 individuals) were given low or high amounts of food. Shoal choice experiments were also conducted to assess the preferences of test subjects (zebrafish individuals) for forming associations based on shoal composition and familiarity. Results from experiments on feeding efficiency revealed that foraging time varied substantially among the shoal types (i.e., single or mixed-species), and was dependent on the quantity of food available, but not linked to the body size of species composing the shoal. The choice experiments to examine preference for associations revealed that under predator risk, zebrafish associate more with mixed shoals, and showed comparable associations to shoals differing in the abundance of conspecifics. Furthermore, we found that zebrafish preferred to associate with familiar conspecific over unfamiliar mixed and unfamiliar conspecific shoals. Therefore, equitable food consumption in mixed shoals, greater association with mixed shoals in presence of predators, and familiarity were found to be important drivers for choosing mixed-species shoaling by zebrafish.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.