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JLUpub ist das institutionelle Repositorium der Justus-Liebig-Universität.
JLUpub bietet Mitgliedern und Angehörigen der Universität die Möglichkeit neben wissenschaftlichen Dokumenten auch Forschungsdaten elektronisch zu veröffentlichen und dauerhaft zugänglich zu machen. Alle Veröffentlichungen erhalten einen Digital Object Identifier (DOI) und werden über nationale und internationale Bibliothekskataloge sowie Suchmaschinen nachgewiesen und auffindbar.
Neue Veröffentlichungen:
Illuminating the Regulatory Dynamics of Plant Growth: A Study on Cell Cycle Genes and Motif Enrichment in Arabidopsis thaliana
(2024) Wang, Xuesong
Plant growth and development rely on the proliferation and expansion of root tip cells, which involves a network of genes participating in the regulation of the cell cycle, namely the mitotic cell cycle and endocycle. Since plants have their sessile nature, they cannot actively avoid adverse factors imposed by the environment, compelling them to develop a suite of adaptive mechanisms to enhance their adaptability and ensure survival. Some of these adaptive mechanisms influence the regulation of the cell cycle, although the underlying mechanistic connections remain elusive. Including the role of transcription factors in regulating the expression of cell cycle genes and their influencing factors, as well as the regulation of the transition between the mitotic cycle and endocycle, remain current research challenges.
Research on plant cell cycle genes reached its peak in the early 21st century when combining cell cycle synchronization in cell cultures with DNA microarray and other technologies. At that time cycle-related genes have been assigned to different cell cycle phases. However, since then, the cell cycle gene networks have hardly been studied or annotated in more detail. Moreover, the ramifications of cell cycle synchronization on the cell cycle dynamics are not fully characterized and quantified. To this end, this work aimed to map and analyze cell cycle gene networks, leveraging more advanced technologies and methodologies, such as single-cell sequencing, to undertake a comprehensive exploration of the cell cycle networks. As for transcriptional regulation mechanisms of cell cycle genes, the focus has primarily been on the issue of transcription factor binding under single motif conditions. This work will focus on the binding characteristics of motif pairs and their role in transcriptional regulation.
This work integrated root single-cell and bulk sequencing data of *Arabidopsis thaliana* to calculate correlations, delineating developmental zones at the single-cell level. Cycling cells in these zones were identified using known cell cycle genes and clustering methods. Differential expression analyses on cells in different cycle phases expanded the cell cycle-related gene set.
The Paired Motif Enrichment Tool (PMET) identifies promoter motif pairs. Building on the existing PMET foundation, this work extends its application to uncover genetic mechanisms regulating the mitotic cycle and endocycle. Using PMET, diverse promoter motif pairs linked to cell cycle-related and stress-induced genes were identified, elucidating gene regulatory patterns involving synergistic transcription factors. Many motif pairs are specific to genes in certain cycle phases and stress conditions, offering new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of cell cycle and stress-induced gene networks.
Comprehensive Database for Nutrient Composition of Major Food Items and Underutilized Plant Species in Africa
(2025-10-24) Gbahoungbola, Hessede Modoukpe; Odongo, Nicanor; Bodjrenou, Sam; Donkor, Emmanuel; Ndindeng, Sali; Parvez, Haris; Brima, Eid; Frei, Michael
The current version of the database contains 196 foods - 51 vegetables, 79 fruits, 47 seeds and nuts, 19 roots and tubers. It focuses on major foods and underutilized plant species, including vegetables, fruits, seed, nuts and roots and tubers. The aim of the database is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional content of major foods and underutilized crops consumed in eight African countries. This will enable us to promote their production and consumption, contributing to improved food and nutritional security. The database was created using Microsoft Excel and is 3.91 MB.
Critical analysis of socio-natural dynamics driven by the agricultural commodity boom: the case of Hass avocado in northern Caldas, Colombia
(2025) Suarez, Andres
This explanatory study investigates the expansion of Hass avocado plantations (HAP) and their transformative impact on the socio-natural dynamics in Salamina, Caldas, Colombia. The central research question—Why are Hass avocado plantations expanding and transforming the socio-natural dynamics in the Global South?—is addressed through a systematic approach grounded in interdisciplinary frameworks and methods.
To address this overarching question, a robust theoretical framework was first developed to analyze the socio-natural interactions underlying these transformations. The study then employed four sub-questions to explore the issue systematically. The first sub-question examined the phenomenon from a Global South perspective, followed by two sub-questions focusing on the specifics of the Salamina case. The final sub-question recontextualized the findings within the broader global transformations of food systems, offering insights into the dynamics of these changes as part of a larger learning process.
This interdisciplinary research is underpinned by Critical Realism, integrating theoretical and conceptual approaches from political ecology, critical resource geography, and critical political economy. A multilevel design was utilized to address the four sub-questions, employing tailored sub-designs for each. The study’s overarching objective was explanatory: not only to elucidate the socio-economic and environmental implications of HAP expansion but also to analyze the socio-historical, economic, and political structures enabling this phenomenon.
Methodologically, a mixed-methods approach was employed through a sequential design, balancing qualitative and quantitative data collected and analyzed simultaneously before integration during interpretation. A single cross-sectional explanatory case study further deepened the analysis.
Findings reveal a complex landscape of socio-economic and environmental dynamics in Colombia’s HAP sector. While the plantations have driven economic growth and employment in Salamina and Caldas, they have also introduced significant environmental and social challenges. Colombia faces a critical juncture where economic development must align with environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Policymakers, environmental agencies, and the agricultural community must act decisively to achieve this balance, leveraging the economic potential of Hass avocados while safeguarding ecological systems and cultural heritage. The development and enforcement of sustainable public policies will be essential to navigating this multifaceted challenge.
Verborgene Schätze – Eine Uhrmacherhandschrift aus dem 18. Jahrhundert
(2025) Schneider, Olaf
Stoffeigenschaften und Umweltverhalten von Ivermectin und anderen Antiparasitika im One Health-Kontext: Interdisziplinäre Herausforderungen für den Bodenschutz
(2025) Heinrich, Andre Patrick
Die kumulative Dissertation untersucht die Stoffeigenschaften und das Umweltverhalten des Veterinär-Antiparasitikums Ivermectin und weiterer verwandter Wirkstoffe. Ziel ist es, die Umweltrisiken dieser Substanzen aus einer One Health Perspektive zu betrachten. Diese strebt die ganzheitliche Betrachtung der Zusammenhänge zwischen menschlicher Gesundheit, Tiergesundheit und Umweltschutz an. Die Wirkstoffe gehören zur Gruppe der makrozyklischen Laktone, die in Human- und Veterinärmedizin sowie im Pflanzenschutz zur Kontrolle von Schadorganismen verwendet werden. Zunehmend wird auch ein Einsatz in der Vektorkontrolle diskutiert. Der breite Einsatz der Wirkstoffe wirft daher Fragen nach der Vereinbarkeit von Gesundheitszielen und Umweltschutz im Sinne von One Health auf.