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Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/3
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Item Metadata only EDA2R-NIK signalling promotes muscle atrophy linked to cancer cachexia(Nature Portfolio, 2023) N/A; 0000-0002-7785-2143; N/A; 0000-0002-2661-3505; N/A; N/A; 0000-0002-0990-3543; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/A; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; N/A; N/A; Bilgiç, Şevval Nur; Waraich, Aylin Domaniku; Toledo, Batu; Ağca, Samet; Weber, Bahar Çamurdanoğlu.; Arabacı, Hilal Dilşad; Özörnek, Zeynep; PhD Student; PhD Student; Master Student; PhD Student; Researcher; PhD Student; PhD Student; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Sciences; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/ASkeletal muscle atrophy is a hallmark of the cachexia syndrome that is associated with poor survival and reduced quality of life in patients with cancer(1). Muscle atrophy involves excessive protein catabolism and loss of muscle mass and strength(2). An effective therapy against muscle wasting is currently lacking because mechanisms driving the atrophy process remain incompletely understood. Our gene expression analysis in muscle tissues indicated upregulation of ectodysplasin A2 receptor (EDA2R) in tumour-bearing mice and patients with cachectic cancer. Here we show that activation of EDA2R signalling promotes skeletal muscle atrophy. Stimulation of primary myotubes with the EDA2R ligand EDA-A2 triggered pronounced cellular atrophy by induction of the expression of muscle atrophy-related genes Atrogin1 and MuRF1. EDA-A2-driven myotube atrophy involved activation of the non-canonical NF?B pathway and was dependent on NF?B-inducing kinase (NIK) activity. Whereas EDA-A2 overexpression promoted muscle wasting in mice, deletion of either EDA2R or muscle NIK protected tumour-bearing mice from loss of muscle mass and function. Tumour-induced oncostatin M (OSM) upregulated muscle EDA2R expression, and muscle-specific oncostatin M receptor (OSMR)-knockout mice were resistant to tumour-induced muscle wasting. Our results demonstrate that EDA2R-NIK signalling mediates cancer-associated muscle atrophy in an OSM-OSMR-dependent manner. Thus, therapeutic targeting of these pathways may be beneficial in prevention of muscle loss.Publication Metadata only Insectivorous birds consume an estimated 400-500 million tons of prey annually(Springer, 2018) Nyffeler, Martin; Whelan, Christopher J.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Şekercioğlu, Çağan Hakkı; Faculty Member; College of Sciences; 327589In this paper, we present an estimate of the predation impact of the global population of insectivorous birds based on 103 (for the most part) published studies of prey consumption (kg ha(-1) season(-1)) of insectivorous birds in seven biome types. By extrapolation-taking into account the global land cover of the various biomes-an estimate of the annual prey consumption of the world's insectivorous birds was obtained. We estimate the prey biomass consumed by the world's insectivorous birds to be somewhere between 400 and 500 million metric tons year(-1), but most likely at the lower end of this range (corresponding to an energy consumption of ae 2.7 x 10(18) J year(-1) or ae 0.15% of the global terrestrial net primary production). Birds in forests account for > 70% of the global annual prey consumption of insectivorous birds (a 300 million tons year(-1)), whereas birds in other biomes (savannas and grasslands, croplands, deserts, and Arctic tundra) are less significant contributors (a 100 million tons year(-1)). Especially during the breeding season, when adult birds feed their nestlings protein-rich prey, large numbers of herbivorous insects (i.e., primarily in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera) supplemented by spiders are captured. The estimates presented in this paper emphasize the ecological and economic importance of insectivorous birds in suppressing potentially harmful insect pests on a global scale-especially in forested areas.Publication Metadata only Long-term declines in bird populations in tropical agricultural countryside(Natl Acad Sciences, 2019) Oviedo-Brenes, Federico; Horns, Joshua J.; Ehrlich, Paul R.; Daily, Gretchen C; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Şekercioğlu, Çağan Hakkı; Faculty Member; College of Sciences; 327589Tropical agriculture is a major driver of biodiversity loss, yet it can provide conservation opportunities, especially where protected areas are inadequate. To investigate the long-term biodiversity capacity of agricultural countryside, we quantified bird population trends in Costa Rica by mist netting 57,255 birds of 265 species between 1999 and 2010 in sun coffee plantations, riparian corridors, secondary forests, forest fragments, and primary forest reserves. More bird populations (69) were declining than were stable (39) or increasing (4). Declines were common in resident, insectivorous, and more specialized species. There was no relationship between the species richness of a habitat and its conservation value. High-value forest bird communities were characterized by their distinct species composition and habitat and dietary functional signatures. While 49% of bird species preferred forest to coffee, 39% preferred coffee to forest and 12% used both habitats, indicating that coffee plantations have some conservation value. Coffee plantations, although lacking most of the forest specialists, hosted 185 bird species, had the highest capture rates, and supported increasing numbers of some forest species. Coffee plantations with higher tree cover (7% vs. 13%) had more species with increasing capture rates, twice as many forest specialists, and half as many nonforest species. Costa Rican countryside habitats, especially those with greater tree cover, host many bird species and are critical for connecting bird populations in forest remnants. Diversified agricultural landscapes can enhance the biodiversity capacity of tropical countryside, but, for the long-term persistence of all forest bird species, large (> 1,000 ha) protected areas are essential.Publication Metadata only Location-level processes drive the establishment of alien bird populations worldwide(Nature Portfolio, 2019) Redding, David W.; Pigot, Alex L.; Dyer, Ellie E.; Kark, Salit; Blackburn, Tim M.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Şekercioğlu, Çağan Hakkı; Faculty Member; College of Sciences; 327589Human-mediated translocation of species to areas beyond their natural distribution (which results in 'alien' populations(1)) is a key signature of the Anthropocene(2), and is a primary global driver of biodiversity loss and environmental change(3). Stemming the tide of invasions requires understanding why some species fail to establish alien populations, and others succeed. To achieve this, we need to integrate the effects of features of the introduction site, the species introduced and the specific introduction event. Determining which, if any, location-level factors affect the success of establishment has proven difficult, owing to the multiple spatial, temporal and phylogenetic axes along which environmental variation may influence population survival. Here we apply Bayesian hierarchical regression analysis to a global spatially and temporally explicit database of introduction events of alien birds(4) to show that environmental conditions at the introduction location, notably climatic suitability and the presence of other groups of alien species, are the primary determinants of successful establishment. Species-level traits and the size of the founding population (propagule pressure) exert secondary, but important, effects on success. Thus, current trajectories of anthropogenic environmental change will most probably facilitate future incursions by alien species, but predicting future invasions will require the integration of multiple location-, species-and event-level characteristics.Publication Metadata only Citizen science in ecology: a place for humans in nature(Wiley, 2020) Adler, Frederick R.; Green, Austin M.; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Şekercioğlu, Çağan Hakkı; Faculty Member; College of Sciences; 327589By involving the public, citizen science runs against the grain of an idealized science that leaves out the human element, and thus provides new opportunities for ecological research and society. We classify the goals of citizen science in ecology and environment into four broad categories: (1) scientific, (2) participant benefits, (3) community, and (4) policy. Although none of these goals have been well studied, we review the literature showing that these projects are most effective in tracking ecological trends over large swaths of space and time, and discuss the challenges of recruiting, training, retaining, and educating participants, maintaining and disseminating high-quality data, and connecting with the larger community and policy. Biomedical studies, where patients participate in their own treatment in randomized trials, provide an interesting comparison with citizen science in ecology, sharing challenges in recruitment and involvement of nonscientists and ethical conduct of research. Future study will help address the ethical difficulties and enhance ways for citizen science in ecology and the environment to complement scientific discovery, involve and educate the public, and guide policy founded in science and the local community.