Biology subjects

Edler, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Edler, D..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

IsoformMapper: A Web Application for Protein-Level Comparison of Splice Variants through Structural Community Analysis

Alternative splicing (AS) plays a key role in numerous cellular processes by enabling the existence of different protein isoforms with potentially different functions and fine-tuning isoform abundance. However, despite its biological importance, tools to compare the domain composition of AS-derived protein isoforms have lagged as they require both structural data and an appropriate methodology for isoform comparison. Recent advances in AI-driven protein structure prediction, particularly AlphaFold2, have made accurate structural determination of splicing isoforms easily accessible, paving the way for new tools to compare their structures and asses the functional consequences of AS at the protein structure level. Here, we present IsoformMapper, a web resource that enables researchers to study alternative splicing at the protein structural level using protein network community analysis, which captures 3D physical interactions between protein regions often missed by traditional domain analysis, allowing comparisons of isoforms across any biological system. As a proof of concept, we used our tool to a case study, in which we studied how GENOMES UNCOUPLED1 (GUN1) dependent retrograde signaling regulates plant de-etiolation through alternative splicing in Arabidopsis. In response to light, we demonstrate that GUN1 regulates the expression of specific spliceosome components, consequently modifying alternative splicing of key genes encoding components essential for establishing of photosynthesis. Additionally, the gun1 mutant showed altered splice variant ratios for PNSL2, CHAOS, and SIG5. Our tool revealed that these isoforms have significantly different protein community structures, illustrating the impact of AS on protein function and demonstrating the practical value of the tool. (247 words) O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=112 SRC="FIGDIR/small/641708v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (19K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c006dcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1025b07org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a64bf6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c512af_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG O_FLOATNOGraphical Abstract.C_FLOATNO IsoformMapper enables structural comparison of protein isoforms through a multi-step analysis pipeline. Starting with AlphaFold2 protein structure predictions of splice variants, the method generates weighted network representations for each isoform. The web application processes multiple AlphaFold predictions per isoform, with the conformational variability between predictions represented as weighted edges in the network representation. These networks are then analyzed using the InfoMap community detection algorithm to identify structural communities, ultimately allowing visualization and comparison of protein isoform structures through interactive network displays and alluvial diagrams. The method is applicable to protein isoforms from any biological system, providing comprehensive analysis of alternative splicing consequences at the protein level by examining structural domains as integrated units. This holistic approach enables users to evaluate potential functional differences between isoforms based on their structural organization. C_FIG

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2023

Spiny but photogenic: amateur sightings complement herbarium specimens to reveal the bioregions of cacti

PremiseCacti are characteristic elements of the Neotropical flora and of major interest for biogeographic, evolutionary, and ecological studies. Here we test global biogeographic boundaries for Neotropical Cactaceae using specimen-based occurrences coupled with data from visual observations, including citizen science records, as a means to tackle the known collection biases in the family. MethodsSpecies richness and record density were assessed separately for preserved specimens and human observations and a bioregional scheme tailored to Cactaceae was produced using the interactive web application Infomap Bioregions based on data from 261,272 point records cleaned through automated and manual steps. Key ResultsWe find that areas in Mexico and southwestern USA, Eastern Brazil and along the Andean region have the greatest density of records and the highest species richness. Human observations complement information from preserved specimens substantially, especially along the Andes. We propose 24 cacti bioregions, among which the most species-rich are, in decreasing order: northern Mexico/southwestern USA, central Mexico, southern central Mexico, Central America, Mexican Pacific coast, central and southern Andes, northwestern Mexico/extreme southwestern USA, southwestern Bolivia, northeastern Brazil, Mexico/Baja California. ConclusionsThe bioregionalization proposed shows novel or modified biogeographical boundaries specific to cacti, and can thereby aid further evolutionary, biogeographic, and ecological studies by providing a validated framework for further analyses. This classification builds upon, and is distinctive from, other expert-derived regionalization schemes for other taxa. Our results showcase how observation data, including citizen-science records, can complement traditional specimen-based data for biogeographic research, particularly for taxa with specific specimen collection and preservation challenges and those that are threatened or internationally protected.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

A natural history of networks: Higher-order network modeling for paleobiology research

Paleobiologists are increasingly employing network-based methods to analyze the complex data retrieved from geohistorical records, including stratigraphic sections, sediments, and fossil collections. However, the lack of a common framework for designing, performing, evaluating, and communicating these studies, leads to issues of reproducibility and communicability. The high-dimensional geohistorical data also raises questions about the limitations of standard network approaches, which assume independent interactions between pairs of components. Higher-order network models better suited for the complex relational structure of the geohistorical data provide an opportunity to overcome these challenges. These models can represent temporal and spatial constraints inherent to the biosedimentary record and describe higher-order interactions, capturing more accurate biogeographical, biostratigraphic, and macroevolutionary patterns. Here we describe how to use the Map Equation framework for designing higher-order network models of geohistorical data, address some practical decisions involved in modeling complex dependencies, and discuss critical methodological and conceptual issues that currently make it difficult to compare results across studies in the growing body of network-based paleobiology research. We illustrate different higher-order network representations and models, including multilayers, hypergraphs, and varying Markov times models, using case studies on gradient analysis, bioregionalization, and macroevolution, and delineate future research directions for current challenges in the emerging field of network paleobiology.

paleontology↗

bioRxiv2020

A dynamical perspective to community detection in ecological networks

O_LIAnalysing how species interact in modules is a fundamental problem in network ecology. Theory shows that a modular network structure can reveal underlying dynamic ecological and evolutionary processes, influence dynamics that operate on the network and affect the stability of the ecological system. C_LIO_LIAlthough many ecological networks describe flows, such as biomass flows in food webs or disease trans-mission, most modularity analyses have ignored network flows, which can hinder our understanding of the interplay between structure and dynamics. C_LIO_LIHere we present Infomap, an established method based on network flows to the field of ecological networks. Infomap is a flexible tool that can identify modules in virtually any type of ecological network and is particularly useful for directed, weighted and multilayer networks. We illustrate how Infomap works on all these network types. We also provide a fully documented repository with additional ecological examples. Finally, to help researchers analyse their networks with Infomap, we introduce the open source R package infomapecology. C_LIO_LIAnalysing flow-based modularity is useful across ecology and transcends to other biological and non-biological disciplines. A dynamic approach for detecting modular structure has strong potential to provide new insights into the organisation of ecological networks. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Exploring the impact of political regimes on biodiversity

National governments are the main actors responsible for mapping and protecting their biodiversity, but countries differ in their capacity, willingness, and effectiveness to do so. We quantify the global biodiversity managed by different regime types and developed a tool to explore the links between level of democracy and other key socio-economic variables with the number of natural history specimens registered within country boundaries. Using this tool, distinct and previously unknown patterns emerge around the world, that urge for increased collaboration between the natural and social sciences to further explore these patterns and their underlying processes.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

raxmlGUI 2.0 beta: a graphical interface and toolkit for phylogenetic analyses using RAxML

RaxmlGUI is a graphical user interface to RAxML, one of the most popular and widely used software for phylogenetic inference using maximum likelihood. Here we present raxmlGUI 2.0, a complete rewrite of the GUI which seamlessly integrates RAxML binaries for all major operating systems with an intuitive graphical front-end to set up and run phylogenetic analyses. Our program offers automated pipelines for analyses that require multiple successive calls of RAxML and built-in functions to concatenate alignment files while automatically specifying the appropriate partition settings. In addition to RAxML 8.x, raxmlGUI 2.0 also supports the new RAxML Next Generation. RaxmlGUI facilitates phylogenetic analyses by coupling an intuitive interface with the unmatched performance of RAxML.

bioinformatics↗