Timed receptor tyrosine kinase signaling couples the central and a peripheral circadian clock in Drosophila.

Circadian clocks impose daily periodicities to behavior, physiology, and metabolism. This control is mediated by a central clock and by peripheral clocks, which are synchronized to provide the organism with a unified time through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Here, we characterized in Drosophila the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in coupling the central clock and the peripheral clock located in the prothoracic gland (PG), which together control the circadian rhythm of emergence of adult flies. The time signal from central clock neurons is transmitted via small neuropeptide F (sNPF) to neurons that produce the neuropeptide Prothoracicotropic Hormone (PTTH), which is then translated into daily oscillations of Ca2+ concentration and PTTH levels. PTTH signaling is required at the end of metamorphosis and transmits time information to the PG through changes in the expression of the PTTH receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), TORSO, and of ERK phosphorylation, a key component of PTTH transduction. In addition to PTTH, we demonstrate that signaling mediated by other RTKs contributes to the rhythmicity of emergence. Interestingly, the ligand to one of these receptors (Pvf2) plays an autocrine role in the PG, which may explain why both central brain and PG clocks are required for the circadian gating of emergence. Our findings show that the coupling between the central and the PG clock is unexpectedly complex and involves several RTKs that act in concert and could serve as a paradigm to understand how circadian clocks are coordinated.

Neuronal and endocrine mechanisms underlying the circadian gating of eclosion: insights from Drosophila.

The circadian rhythm of adult emergence (aka eclosion) of the fruit fly Drosophila is a classic behavioural read-out that served in the first characterisation of the key features of circadian clocks and was also used for the identification of the first clock genes. Rhythmic eclosion requires the central clock in the brain, as well as a peripheral clock in the steroidogenic prothoracic gland. Here, we review recent findings on the timing and neuroendocrine coupling mechanisms of the two clocks. These findings identify rhythmic PTTH and downstream ERK signalling as the main coupling pathway, and show that the two clocks impose a daily rhythmicity to the temporal pattern of eclosion by regulating the timing of the very last steps in metamorphosis.

The brain of Cataglyphis ants: Neuronal organization and visual projections.

Cataglyphis ants are known for their outstanding navigational abilities. They return to their inconspicuous nest after far-reaching foraging trips using path integration, and whenever available, learn and memorize visual features of panoramic sceneries. To achieve this, the ants combine directional visual information from celestial cues and panoramic scenes with distance information from an intrinsic odometer. The largely vision-based navigation in Cataglyphis requires sophisticated neuronal networks to process the broad repertoire of visual stimuli. Although Cataglyphis ants have been subjected to many neuroethological studies, little is known about the general neuronal organization of their central brain and the visual pathways beyond major circuits. Here, we provide a comprehensive, three-dimensional neuronal map of synapse-rich neuropils in the brain of Cataglyphis nodus including major connecting fiber systems. In addition, we examined neuronal tracts underlying the processing of visual information in more detail. This study revealed a total of 33 brain neuropils and 30 neuronal fiber tracts including six distinct tracts between the optic lobes and the cerebrum. We also discuss the importance of comparative studies on insect brain architecture for a profound understanding of neuronal networks and their function.

A very simple and high-yield method to synthesize nanolayered Mn oxide.

Nanolayered Mn oxides have been prepared by a very simple, low-cost and high-yield method using soap, KOH, MnCl2 and H2O2. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectrometry have been used to characterize the phase and the morphology of the nanolayered Mn oxide. The nanolayered Mn oxide shows good catalytic activity toward water oxidation in the presence of cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate.

Nano-sized Mn oxides on halloysite or high surface area montmorillonite as efficient catalysts for water oxidation with cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate: support from natural sources.

We used halloysite, a nano-sized natural mineral, and high surface area montmorillonite as supports for nano-sized Mn oxides to synthesize efficient water-oxidising catalysts. The composites were synthesized by an easy and simple procedure, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectrometry. Halloysite has low amounts of hydroxyl groups on its surface, thus it causes better dispersion of Mn oxides. The water-oxidising activities of these composites were also measured in the presence of cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate. Considering the low-cost, environmentally friendly precursors, simple synthesis and efficiency for water oxidation, the composites are promising catalysts in artificial photosynthetic systems.

Nano-sized layered Mn oxides as promising and biomimetic water oxidizing catalysts for water splitting in artificial photosynthetic systems.

One challenge in artificial photosynthetic systems is the development of artificial model compounds to oxidize water. The water-oxidizing complex of Photosystem II which is responsible for biological water oxidation contains a cluster of four Mn ions bridged by five oxygen atoms. Layered Mn oxides as efficient, stable, low cost, environmentally friendly and easy to use, synthesize, and manufacture compounds could be considered as functional and structural models for the site. Because of the related structure of these Mn oxides and the catalytic centre of the active site of the water oxidizing complex of Photosystem II, the study of layered Mn oxides may also help to understand more about the mechanism of water oxidation by the natural site. This review provides an overview of the current status of layered Mn oxides in artificial photosynthesis and discuss the sophisticated design strategies for Mn oxides as water oxidizing catalysts.

The effect of different metal ions between nanolayers of manganese oxide on water oxidation.

Here, we used a strategy to answer to the question that whether Ca(II) ion is specific for water oxidation or not? In the procedure, first we synthesized layered Mn oxides with K(I) between layers and then replaced K(I) by Ca(II), K(I), Mg(II), La(III) or Ni(II). We proposed that Ca(II), K(I), Mg(II), La(III) and Ni(II), between layers are important to form efficient water-oxidizing catalyst, but not specific in water oxidation. However, Cu(II) ions decrease water-oxidizing activity of layered Mn oxides. The result is important to find critical factors in water oxidation by low-cost and environmentally friendly nanolayered Mn oxides.

The role of nano-sized manganese oxides in the oxygen-evolution reactions by manganese complexes: towards a complete picture.

Eighteen Mn complexes with N-donor and carboxylate ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Three Mn complexes among them are new and are reported for the first time. The reactions of oxygen evolution in the presence of oxone (2KHSO5·KHSO4·K2SO4) and cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate catalyzed by these complexes are studied and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, membrane-inlet mass spectrometry and electrochemistry. Some of these complexes evolve oxygen in the presence of oxone as a primary oxidant. CO2 and MnO4(-) are other products of these reactions. Based on spectroscopic studies, the true catalysts for oxygen evolution in these reactions are different. We proposed that for the oxygen evolution reactions in the presence of oxone, the true catalysts are both high valent Mn complexes and Mn oxides, but for the reactions in the presence of cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate, the active catalyst is most probably a Mn oxide.