Immunohistochemical characterization of bipolar cells in four distantly related avian species.

Visual (and probably also magnetic) signal processing starts at the first synapse, at which photoreceptors contact different types of bipolar cells, thereby feeding information into different processing channels. In the chicken retina, 15 and 22 different bipolar cell types have been identified based on serial electron microscopy and single-cell transcriptomics, respectively. However, immunohistochemical markers for avian bipolar cells were only anecdotally described so far. Here, we systematically tested 12 antibodies for their ability to label individual bipolar cells in the bird retina and compared the eight most suitable antibodies across distantly related species, namely domestic chicken, domestic pigeon, common buzzard, and European robin, and across retinal regions. While two markers (GNB3 and EGFR) labeled specifically ON bipolar cells, most markers labeled in addition to bipolar cells also other cell types in the avian retina. Staining pattern of four markers (CD15, PKCα, PKCß, secretagogin) was species-specific. Two markers (calbindin and secretagogin) showed a different expression pattern in central and peripheral retina. For the chicken and European robin, we found slightly more ON bipolar cell somata in the inner nuclear layer than OFF bipolar cell somata. In contrast, OFF bipolar cells made more ribbon synapses than ON bipolar cells in the inner plexiform layer of these species. Finally, we also analyzed the photoreceptor connectivity of selected bipolar cell types in the European robin retina. In summary, we provide a catalog of bipolar cell markers for different bird species, which will greatly facilitate analyzing the retinal circuitry of birds on a larger scale.

Double Cones and the Diverse Connectivity of Photoreceptors and Bipolar Cells in an Avian Retina.

Double cones are the most common photoreceptor cell type in most avian retinas, but their precise functions remain a mystery. Among their suggested functions are luminance detection, polarized light detection, and light-dependent, radical pair-based magnetoreception. To better understand the function of double cones, it will be crucial to know how they are connected to the neural network in the avian retina. Here we use serial sectioning, multibeam scanning electron microscopy to investigate double-cone anatomy and connectivity with a particular focus on their contacts to other photoreceptor and bipolar cells in the chicken retina. We found that double cones are highly connected to neighboring double cones and with other photoreceptor cells through telodendria-to-terminal and telodendria-to-telodendria contacts. We also identified 15 bipolar cell types based on their axonal stratifications, photoreceptor contact pattern, soma position, and dendritic and axonal field mosaics. Thirteen of these 15 bipolar cell types contacted at least one or both members of the double cone. All bipolar cells were bistratified or multistratified. We also identified surprising contacts between other cone types and between rods and cones. Our data indicate a much more complex connectivity network in the outer plexiform layer of the avian retina than originally expected.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Like in humans, vision is one of the most important senses for birds. Here, we present the first serial section multibeam scanning electron microscopy dataset from any bird retina. We identified many previously undescribed rod-to-cone and cone-to-cone connections. Surprisingly, of the 15 bipolar cell types we identified, 11 received input from rods and 13 of 15 received at least part of their input from double cones. Therefore, double cones seem to play many different and important roles in avian retinal processing, and the neural network and thus information processing in the outer retina are much more complex than previously expected. These fundamental findings will be very important for several fields of science, including vertebrate vision, avian magnetoreception, and comparative neuroanatomy.

The mitochondrial genome of Cavia aperea.

Cavia aperea is a wild guinea pig found throughout South America. The previously published mitochondrial sequence for C. aperea was highly divergent from the C. porcellus sequence and contained stop codons within open reading frames. Here we resequenced the mitochondrial genomes of C. aperea and C. porcellus. Both sequences reflect gene organization typical for mammalian mitochondrial DNA. Our C. aperea mtDNA sequence shows that all of the open reading frames are intact, but confirms the strikingly low level of sequence identity (92.7%) with the closely related C. porcellus mtDNA.

The Earth's Magnetic Field and Visual Landmarks Steer Migratory Flight Behavior in the Nocturnal Australian Bogong Moth.

Like many birds [1], numerous species of nocturnal moths undertake spectacular long-distance migrations at night [2]. Each spring, billions of Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) escape hot conditions in different regions of southeast Australia by making a highly directed migration of over 1,000 km to a limited number of cool caves in the Australian Alps, historically used for aestivating over the summer [3, 4]. How moths determine the direction of inherited migratory trajectories at night and locate their destination (i.e., navigate) is currently unknown [5-7]. Here we show that Bogong moths can sense the Earth's magnetic field and use it in conjunction with visual landmarks to steer migratory flight behavior. By tethering migrating moths in an outdoor flight simulator [8], we found that their flight direction turned predictably when dominant visual landmarks and a natural Earth-strength magnetic field were turned together, but that the moths became disoriented within a few minutes when these cues were set in conflict. We thus conclude that Bogong moths, like nocturnally migrating birds [9], can use a magnetic sense. Our results represent the first reliable demonstration of the use of the Earth's magnetic field to steer flight behavior in a nocturnal migratory insect.

Double-Cone Localization and Seasonal Expression Pattern Suggest a Role in Magnetoreception for European Robin Cryptochrome 4.

Birds seem to use a light-dependent, radical-pair-based magnetic compass. In vertebrates, cryptochromes are the only class of proteins that form radical pairs upon photo-excitation. Therefore, they are currently the only candidate proteins for light-dependent magnetoreception. Cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) is particularly interesting because it has only been found in vertebrates that use a magnetic compass. However, its structure and localization within the retina has remained unknown. Here, we sequenced night-migratory European robin (Erithacus rubecula) Cry4 from the retina and predicted the currently unresolved structure of the erCry4 protein, which suggests that erCry4 should bind Flavin. We also found that Cry1a, Cry1b, and Cry2 mRNA display robust circadian oscillation patterns, whereas Cry4 shows only a weak circadian oscillation. When we compared the relative mRNA expression levels of the cryptochromes during the spring and autumn migratory seasons relative to the non-migratory seasons in European robins and domestic chickens (Gallus gallus), the Cry4 mRNA expression level in European robin retinae, but not in chicken retinae, is significantly higher during the migratory season compared to the non-migratory seasons. Cry4 protein is specifically expressed in the outer segments of the double cones and long-wavelength single cones in European robins and chickens. A localization of Cry4 in double cones seems to be ideal for light-dependent magnetoreception. Considering all of the data presented here, especially including its localization within the European robin retina, its likely binding of Flavin, and its increased expression during the migratory season in the migratory bird but not in chicken, Cry4 could be the magnetoreceptive protein.

Localisation of the Putative Magnetoreceptive Protein Cryptochrome 1b in the Retinae of Migratory Birds and Homing Pigeons.

Cryptochromes are ubiquitously expressed in various animal tissues including the retina. Some cryptochromes are involved in regulating circadian activity. Cryptochrome proteins have also been suggested to mediate the primary mechanism in light-dependent magnetic compass orientation in birds. Cryptochrome 1b (Cry1b) exhibits a unique carboxy terminus exclusively found in birds so far, which might be indicative for a specialised function. Cryptochrome 1a (Cry1a) is so far the only cryptochrome protein that has been localised to specific cell types within the retina of migratory birds. Here we show that Cry1b, an alternative splice variant of Cry1a, is also expressed in the retina of migratory birds, but it is primarily located in other cell types than Cry1a. This could suggest different functions for the two splice products. Using diagnostic bird-specific antibodies (that allow for a precise discrimination between both proteins), we show that Cry1b protein is found in the retinae of migratory European robins (Erithacus rubecula), migratory Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) and pigeons (Columba livia). In all three species, retinal Cry1b is localised in cell types which have been discussed as potentially well suited locations for magnetoreception: Cry1b is observed in the cytosol of ganglion cells, displaced ganglion cells, and in photoreceptor inner segments. The cytosolic rather than nucleic location of Cry1b in the retina reported here speaks against a circadian clock regulatory function of Cry1b and it allows for the possible involvement of Cry1b in a radical-pair-based magnetoreception mechanism.

Methane production from glycolate excreting algae as a new concept in the production of biofuels.

It is the aim of the present work to introduce a new concept for methane production by the interaction of a glycolate-excreting alga (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) and methanogenic microbes operating in separate compartments within one photobioreactor. This approach requires a minimum number of metabolic steps to convert light energy to methane thereby reducing the energetic and financial costs of biomass formation, harvest and refinement. In this feasibility study it is shown that the physiological limitations for sustained glycolate production can be circumvented by the use of C. reinhardtii mutants whose carbon concentrating mechanisms or glycolate dehydrogenase are suppressed. The results also demonstrate that methanogenic microbes are able to thrive on glycolate as single carbon source for a long time period, delivering biogas composed of CO(2)/methane with only very minor contamination.

An iridium-stabilized, formally uncharged Te10 molecule with 3-center-4-electron bonding.

Te for 10: a tricyclic Te(10) molecule is stabilized in an iridium complex. Bonding analysis reveals 3-center-4-electron bonds in the linear Te(3) fragment. The tellurium atoms act as 2-electron donors to the transition-metal atoms.

Neutral tellurium rings in the coordination polymers [Ru(Te9)](InCl4)2, [Ru(Te8)]Cl2, and [Rh(Te6)]Cl3.

Shiny black, air-insensitive crystals of tellurium-rich one-dimensional coordination polymers were synthesized by melting a mixture of the elements with TeCl(4). The compounds [Ru(Te(9))](InCl(4))(2) and [Ru(Te(8))]Cl(2) crystallize in the monoclinic space group type C2/c, whereas [Rh(Te(6))]Cl(3) adopts the trigonal space group type R ̅3c. In the crystal structures, linear, positively charged [M(m+) (Te(n)(±0))] (M=Ru, m=2; Rh, m=3) chains run parallel to the c axes. Each of the uncharged Te(n) molecules (n=6, 8, 9) coordinates two transition-metal atoms as a bridging bis-tridentate ligand. Because the coordinating tellurium atoms act as electron-pair donors, the 18-electron rule is fulfilled for the octahedrally coordinated transition-metal cations. Based on DFT calculations, the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and the electron localizability indicator (ELI) provide insight into the principles of the polar donor bonding in these complexes. Comparison with optimized ring geometries reveals substantial tension in the coordinating tellurium molecules.