Biology subjects

Mao, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Mao, M..

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Functional segregation of body-brain signals in the area postrema

Nausea arises from activation of specialized neurons in the area postrema (AP)1-8. The AP also mediates much of the satiety produced by GLP1R agonists9-12, suggesting a broader role in non-aversive physiology, yet the functions of AP cell types are not well understood. Here, we have used optical recordings in behaving mice to systematically define the natural regulation of an array of AP neurons, including the cell types that are principal targets of widely-used weight loss drugs. We discover that neurons expressing GFRAL, the receptor for the sickness-related hormone GDF15, are unexpectedly activated when mice consume food rich in fat. This fat-specific GFRAL neuron activation is required for fat satiation but does not involve GDF15 or canonical gut-brain pathways. Instead, "anti-nausea" neurons expressing GIPR, which directly inhibit GFRAL neurons, are selectively activated by sugar, enabling macronutrient-specific gating of GFRAL responses. In addition, we show that CALCR neurons link intestinal hyperosmolality to the suppression of feeding, whereas PRLHR neurons respond to changes in blood volume and pressure. These findings reveal a broad role for AP cell types in sensing and responding to physiologic signals unrelated to nausea. They also reveal that GFRAL and GIPR neurons, which are key targets of the weight-loss drug tirzepatide, have a natural function in sensing ingestion of fat and sugar, respectively.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Genuine Directed Evolution In Test Tube (GENie)

Directed evolution has long been constrained by complex screening hardware and labor-intensive workflows. Here, we report the first genuine test-tube screening platform that uses His6-tagged peptide-functionalized magnetic beads and Fe3+-decorated E. coli cells to establish a phenotype-genotype linkage, thereby decoupling ultrahigh-throughput screening from specialized instrumentation and democratizing directed evolution. The platform demonstrated a screening throughput of > 108 events s-1 and an enrichment factor of up to 63-fold. Using galactose oxidase as a model, we identified variants with up to a 26-fold increase in catalytic efficiency. Extensions to D-amino acid oxidase and alcohol oxidase yielded variants with up to 5383-fold and 25-fold improvements over their respective wildtypes after a single round of screening. These results highlight the platforms capacity to rapidly engineer H2O2-generating oxidases and to advance AI-driven enzyme design through rapid data generation.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

A newly identified Duck orbivirus as the etiological agent of egg-production decline in Chinese breeder ducks

The genus Orbivirus comprises double-stranded RNA viruses, many of which are transmitted by arthropods and cause febrile, hemorrhagic, or reproductive diseases in animals. In recent years, unexplained outbreaks characterized by marked egg-production decline have occurred in breeder duck flocks in China. To identify the causative agent, samples were collected from affected farms in multiple regions across China between 2022 and 2025. Representative samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing, followed by phylogenetic analysis, transmission electron microscopy, host cell infection assays, and animal challenge experiments. A previously unreported Orbivirus, designated Duck orbivirus (DORV), was identified. Epidemiological investigation indicated that outbreaks mainly affected breeder ducks during the peak laying period (21-55 weeks of age), with higher incidence in summer and autumn. The DORV genome contains ten double-stranded RNA segments encoding seven structural and five nonstructural proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed that DORV is closely related to Parrys Lagoon virus (PLV) and Corriparta virus (CORV). Electron microscopy revealed icosahedral particles 30-40 nm in diameter. DORV replicated efficiently in DEF, DEL and C6/36 cells but not in MDCK and LMH cells, suggesting a restricted host range with potential arthropod-borne features. Infection of breeder ducks with DORV-SD01 reduced egg production by 30-40% and caused lesions in the ovary, liver, and spleen. This study describes a novel duck-origin Orbivirus linked to egg-production decline, offering new etiological insights and extending the host spectrum of Orbivirus. The results provide a foundation for future surveillance and prevention of emerging waterfowl diseases.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Treating Myotonic Dystrophy with artificial RNA endonucleases to specifically degrade toxic RNA expansions

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common autosomal dominant muscular disorder, is driven by expanded CUG repeats in the 3' UTR of DMPK gene, which sequester RNA-binding proteins and cause aberrant alternative splicing. Despite extensive study, no effective treatment exists, and current care remains limited to symptomatic management. Using a customized dual-color reporter carrying RNA repeats in different lengths, we engineered a new class of programmable artificial enzymes (artificial RNA cleavers, or ARCs) that preferentially degrade the pathogenic repeats both in cells and in a mouse model. We further examined the in vivo efficacy of ARCs by systematically delivering ARCs into the DM1 mouse model with muscle-specific adeno-associated viruses, and validated that ARCs can rescue the muscular pathology and movement ability. The treatment by ARCs showed sustained efficacy, low immunogenicity, and minimal off-target effects in animal model, which are key concerns in clinical translation of gene therapies. Collectively, these findings establish ARCs as a potent and precise RNA-targeting platform with strong clinical potential for the treatment of DM1 and other repeat expansion disorders.

synthetic biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Attention field as a cognitive-behavioral marker for demarcating internet- but not smoking-addiction from reward

Attentional effect (AE), attention profile (AP), and attention field (AF) have been studied extensively, however, their roles in addiction and demarcating addiction from rewards remain unclear. Using a modified Posner-paradigm with two types of pre-rewarded-cues (addiction-related and addiction-unrelated) and four groups (smoking-dependents, internet-dependents, and respective HCs), we found that both AEs and APs were independent of either cue type or group, while AFs were interactively modulated by the two. AFs of addiction-related cues were narrower than those of addiction-unrelated cues for internet-dependents, but not for either smoking-dependents or HCs; AFs of internet-dependents (not smoking-dependents) were narrower than those of HCs for addiction-related cues, but not for addiction-unrelated cues. Significantly, internet-dependents reduced AFs can be simulated by the divisive-normalization computation, both of which closely tracked their addictive severities. Our findings identify a cognitive-behavioral marker for demarcating internet-addiction from rewarding, arguing against the notion that internet-addiction, or, more generally, non-substance-addiction, is ill-posed.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Retrospective Attention Can Trigger Visual Perception Without Dependence on Either Cue Awareness or Target Reporting

Whether retrospective attention changes a target representation relevant to conscious perception, rather than only later report processes, remains unresolved. Across three experiments, we traced a progression from retroperception to attentional selection and to a consciousness-linked target representation. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that post-target cues altered orientation discrimination despite strongly reduced cue-location discrimination; Experiment 2 additionally revealed an N2pc modulation, a lateralized event-related potential (ERP) signature consistent with attentional selection. Experiment 3 combined parallel Report and No-report sessions with cue-controlled EEG and validity-neutral decoding. During Report, stronger target evidence predicted visibility and orientation discrimination, and Valid cues enhanced this evidence at medium contrast. Under No-report, Valid cues enhanced high-contrast target evidence. Crucially, target evidence learned entirely under No-report predicted visibility and orientation discrimination in an independent Report session, and target-present codes generalized between Report and No-report in both directions. In contrast, validity transfer was reliable only from Report to No-report. These results support the conclusion that retrospective attention can strengthen a target representation linked to conscious visibility and discrimination without requiring an explicit target report.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Magnetoelectric Microrobots for Spinal Cord Injury Regeneration

Regenerative medicine continually seeks effective methods to address spinal cord injuries (SCI), which are known for their limited regenerative potential. Despite advances in neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplants for spinal cord injuries, challenges related to graft survival, reliable in vivo differentiation, and neural integration significantly hinder real functional recovery and limit clinical outcomes. This study introduces NPCbots, biohybrid microrobots engineered by integrating human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NPCs with magnetoelectric nanoparticles composed of cobalt ferrite-barium titanate. These enable magnetic navigation and neuronal stimulation, enhancing targeted therapeutic interventions. Our lab-on-a-chip system allows for the mass production of NPCbots, ensuring their differentiation and biocompatibility. Remarkably, in a zebrafish model of SCI, NPCbots stimulated by an alternating magnetic field demonstrated rapid in vivo differentiation and integration into damaged neural pathways, significantly enhancing neural regeneration. Within three days, injured zebrafish treated with NPCbots exhibited almost normal swimming behavior and significantly improved exploratory behavior, showcasing the potential of NPCbots to swiftly repair neural structures and restore the central nervous systems functionality in spinal cord injury models through non-invasive means. Additionally, precise in vitro and in vivo manipulation of NPCbots indicates their broader application in various neurodegenerative disorders, offering a promising route for effective spinal cord and neurological recovery.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Emerging neurodevelopmental mechanisms in patient induced pluripotent stem cells-derived spheroids modelling SCN1A Dravet Syndrome

SCN1A encodes Na1.1, a voltage-gated sodium channel preferentially expressed in GABAergic interneurons, and it is the major cause of Dravet Syndrome (DS), a rare condition of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Among over 1000 DS mutations reported to date, almost all cause SCN1A loss-of function (LoF). A reduction in NaV1.1 function in inhibitory neurons would subsequently cause an over-excitation of glutamatergic neurons resulting in seizures, which are exacerbated by the use of sodium channel blocking common anti-seizure medications (ASM). In this study we generated and assessed 3D spheroids enriched with GABAergic neurons from SCN1A DS patient to establish a 3D human-derived DS model. To investigate developmental disruptions in DS pathophysiology we profiled the transcriptome of patient-derived spheroids and subsequently, tested the capability of this 3D in vitro model to reveal the cellular mechanisms of DS and predict drug response. In summary, our patient iPSC-derived neuronal model of SCN1A DS revealed a profound dysregulation of developmental processes which correlated with functional disruption in GABAergic neurons and predicted response to fenfluramine, an ASM increasingly used for the treatment of DS.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Distinctive in vitro phenotypes in iPSC-derived neurons from patients with gain- and loss-of-function SCN2A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy

SCN2A encodes NaV1.2, an excitatory neuron voltage-gated sodium channel and major monogenic cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, including developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) and autism. Clinical presentation and pharmocosensitivity vary with nature of SCN2A variant dysfunction with gain-of-function (GoF) cases presenting with pre- or peri-natal seizures and loss-of-function (LoF) patients typically having infantile spasms after 6 months of age. Here, we established and assessed patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) - derived neuronal models for two recurrent SCN2A DEE variants with GoF R1882Q and LoF R853Q associated with early- and late-onset DEE, respectively. Patient-derived iPSC lines were differentiated using a Neurogenin-2 overexpression yielding populations of cortical-like glutamatergic neurons. Electrophysiological and transcriptomic profiles were assessed after 2-4 weeks in culture. Increased neuronal activity at both cellular and network level was observed for R1882Q iPSC-derived neurons at three weeks of differentiation. In contrast, R853Q neurons showed only subtle changes in excitability after four weeks in vitro. In alignment with the reported efficacy in some GoF SCN2A patients, phenytoin (sodium channel blocker) reduced excitability of neurons to the control levels in R1882Q neuronal cultures. Transcriptomic alterations in neurons were detected for each variant and convergent pathways pointed at the shared mechanisms underlying SCN2A DEE.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Proliferative Exhausted CD8 T Cells Exacerbate Long-lasting Anti-tumor Effects in Human Papillomavirus Positive Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The survival prognosis of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is largely different, and little is known about the anti-tumor mechanism of tumor-infiltrated CD8+ exhausted T cells (Tex) in HNSCC. We performed cell level multi-omics sequencing on human HNSCC samples to decipher the multi-dimensional characteristics of Tex cells. A proliferative exhausted CD8+ T cell cluster (P-Tex) which was beneficial to survival outcomes of patients with HPV-positive HNSCC was identified. Interestingly, P-Tex cells expressed CDK4 genes as high as cancer cells, which could be simultaneously inhibited by CDK4 inhibitors and might be a potential reason for the ineffectiveness of CDK4 inhibitors in treating HPV-positive HNSCC. P-Tex cells could aggregate in the antigen presenting cell niches and activate certain signaling pathways. Together, our findings suggest a promising role for P-Tex cells in the prognosis of patients with HPV-positive HNSCC by providing modest but persistent anti-tumor effects. Graphic abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=105 SRC="FIGDIR/small/513993v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (39K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f8810forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e11d84org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@58fb6aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e20a13_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

NcPath: A novel tool for visualization and enrichment analysis of human non-coding RNA and KEGG signaling pathways

Noncoding RNAs play important roles in transcriptional processes and participate in the regulation of various biological functions, in particular miRNAs and lncRNAs. Despite their importance for several biological functions, the existing signaling pathway databases do not include information on miRNA and lncRNA. Here, we redesigned a novel pathway database named NcPath by integrating and visualizing a total of 178,308 human experimentally-validated miRNA-target interactions (MTIs), 36,537 experimentally-verified lncRNA target interactions (LTIs), and 4,879 experimentally-validated human ceRNA networks across 222 KEGG pathways (including 27 sub-categories). To expand the application potential of the redesigned NcPath database, we identified 553,523 reliable lncRNA-PCG interaction pairs by integrating co-expression relations, ceRNA relations, co-TF-binding interactions, co-Histone-modification interactions, cis-regulation relations and lncPro Tool predictions between lncRNAs and protein-coding genes. In addition, to determine the pathways in which miRNA/lncRNA targets are involved, we performed a KEGG enrichment analysis using an hypergeometric test. The NcPath database also provides information on MTIs/LTIs/ceRNA networks, PubMed IDs, gene annotations and the experimental verification method used. In summary, the NcPath database will serve as an important and continually updated platform that provides annotation and visualization of the pathways on which noncoding RNAs (miRNA and lncRNA) are involved, and provide support to multimodal noncoding RNAs enrichment analysis. The NcPath database is freely accessible at http://ncpath.pianlab.cn/.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2022

Exercise reprograms the inflammatory landscape of multiple stem cell compartments during mammalian aging

Exercise has the ability to rejuvenate stem cells and improve tissue homeostasis and regeneration in aging animals. However, the cellular and molecular changes elicited by exercise have not been systematically studied across a broad range of cell types in stem cell compartments. To gain better insight into the mechanisms by which exercise affects niche and stem cell function, we subjected young and old mice to aerobic exercise and generated a single cell transcriptomic atlas of muscle, neural and hematopoietic stem cells with their niche cells and progeny. Complementarily, we also performed whole transcriptome analysis of single myofibers from these animals. We identified common and unique pathways that are compromised across these tissues and cell types in aged animals. We found that exercise has a rejuvenating effect on subsets of stem cells, and a profound impact in the composition and transcriptomic landscape of both circulating and tissue resident immune cells. Exercise ameliorated the upregulation of a number of inflammatory pathways as well as restored aspects of cell-cell communication within these stem cell compartments. Our study provides a comprehensive view of the coordinated responses of multiple aged stem cells and niche cells to exercise at the transcriptomic level.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Programmable RNA base editing with a single gRNA-free enzyme

Programmable RNA editing enables rewriting gene expression without changing genome sequences. Current tools for specific RNA editing dependent on the assembly of guide RNA into an RNA/protein complex, causing delivery barrier and low editing efficiency. We report a new gRNA-free system, RNA editing with individual RNA-binding enzyme (REWIRE), to perform precise base editing with a single engineered protein. This artificial enzyme contains a human-originated programmable PUF domain to specifically recognize RNAs and different deaminase domains to achieve efficient A-to-I or C-to-U editing, which achieved 60-80% editing rate in human cells, with a few non-specific editing sites in the targeted region and a low level off-target effect globally. The RNA-binding domain in REWIREs was further optimized to improve editing efficiency and minimize off-target effects. We applied the REWIREs to correct disease-associated mutations and achieve both types of base editing in mice. As a single-component system originated from human proteins, REWIRE presents a precise and efficient RNA editing platform with broad applicability.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

Twelve-month specific IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain among COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors in Wuhan

To investigate the duration of humoral immune response in convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, we conduct a 12-month longitudinal study through collecting a total of 1,782 plasma samples from 869 convalescent plasma donors in Wuhan, China and test specific antibody responses. The results show that positive rate of IgG antibody against receptor-binding domain of spike protein (RBD-IgG) to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors exceeded 70% for 12 months post diagnosis. The level of RBD-IgG decreases with time, with the titer stabilizing at 64.3% of the initial level by the 9th month. Moreover, male plasma donors produce more RBD-IgG than female, and age of the patients positively correlates with the RBD-IgG titer. A strong positive correlation between RBD-IgG and neutralizing antibody titers is also identified. These results facilitate our understanding of SARS-CoV-2-induced immune memory to promote vaccine and therapy development.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

Distinct mutations and lineages of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the early phase of COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent global expansion

A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has caused over 190 million cases and over 4 million deaths worldwide since it occurred in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Here we conceptualized the temporospatial evolutionary and expansion dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 by taking a series of cross-sectional view of viral genomes from early outbreak in January 2020 in Wuhan to early phase of global ignition in early April, and finally to the subsequent global expansion by late December 2020. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the early patients in Wuhan, Wuhan/WH04/2020 is supposed to be a more appropriate reference genome of SARS-CoV-2, instead of the first sequenced genome Wuhan-Hu-1. By scrutinizing the cases from the very early outbreak, we found a viral genotype from the Seafood Market in Wuhan featured with two concurrent mutations (i.e. M type) had become the overwhelmingly dominant genotype (95.3%) of the pandemic one year later. By analyzing 4,013 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from different continents by early April, we were able to interrogate the viral genomic composition dynamics of initial phase of global ignition over a timespan of 14-week. 11 major viral genotypes with unique geographic distributions were also identified. WE1 type, a descendant of M and predominantly witnessed in western Europe, consisted a half of all the cases (50.2%) at the time. The mutations of major genotypes at the same hierarchical level were mutually exclusive, which implying that various genotypes bearing the specific mutations were propagated during human-to-human transmission, not by accumulating hot-spot mutations during the replication of individual viral genomes. As the pandemic was unfolding, we also used the same approach to analyze 261,323 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the world since the outbreak in Wuhan (i.e. including all the publicly available viral genomes) in order to recapitulate our findings over one-year timespan. By 25 December 2020, 95.3% of global cases were M type and 93.0% of M-type cases were WE1. In fact, at present all the four variants of concern (VOC) are the descendants of WE1 type. This study demonstrates the viral genotypes can be utilized as molecular barcodes in combination with epidemiologic data to monitor the spreading routes of the pandemic and evaluate the effectiveness of control measures. Moreover, the dynamics of viral mutational spectrum in the study may help the early identification of new strains in patients to reduce further spread of infection, guide the development of molecular diagnosis and vaccines against COVID-19, and help assess their accuracy and efficacy in real world at real time.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Identification of Fibronectin 1 as a candidate genetic modifier in a Col4a mutant mouse model of Gould syndrome

Collagen type IV alpha 1 and alpha 2 (COL4A1 and COL4A2) are major components of almost all basement membranes. COL4A1 and COL4A2 mutations cause a multisystem disorder called Gould syndrome which can affect any organ but typically involves the cerebral vasculature, eyes, kidneys and skeletal muscles. The manifestations of Gould syndrome are highly variable and animal studies suggest that allelic heterogeneity and genetic context contribute to the clinical variability. We previously characterized a mouse model of Gould syndrome caused by a Col4a1 mutation in which the severities of ocular anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD), myopathy, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were dependent on genetic background. Here, we performed a genetic modifier screen to provide insight into the mechanisms contributing to Gould syndrome pathogenesis and identified a single locus (modifier of Gould syndrome 1; MoGS1) on Chromosome 1 that suppressed ASD. A separate screen showed that the same locus ameliorated myopathy. Interestingly, MoGS1 had no effect on ICH, suggesting that this phenotype may be mechanistically distinct. We refined the MoGS1 locus to a 4.3 Mb interval containing 18 protein coding genes, including Fn1 which encodes the extracellular matrix component fibronectin 1. Molecular analysis showed that the MoGS1 locus increased Fn1 expression raising the possibility that suppression is achieved through a compensatory extracellular mechanism. Furthermore, we show evidence of increased integrin linked kinase levels and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation in Col4a1 mutant mice that is partially restored by the MoGS1 locus implicating the involvement of integrin signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that tissue-specific mechanistic heterogeneity contributes to the variable expressivity of Gould syndrome and that perturbations in integrin signaling may play a role in ocular and muscular manifestations.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2020

Light intensity affects the coloration and structure of chimeric leaves of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus

Ananas comosus var. bracteatus is an important tropical ornamental plant because of its green/white chimeric leaves. The accumulation of anthocyanin makes the leaf red especially the white margin. However, the leaves lost red color in summer and winter. Light intensity is one of the most important factors affecting leaf color along the season. In order to understand the effects of light intensity on the growth and coloration of the chimeric leaves, Ananas comosus var. bracteatus was grown under full sunlight, 50% shade and 75% shade for 75 days to evaluate the content of pigments, the color parameters (value L*, a*, b*) and structural histocytology characteristics of chimeric leaves. The results showed that high irradiance was beneficial to keep the chimeric leaves red. However, prolonged exposure to high irradiance caused light damage, some of the leaves wrinkled and even burned. Shading decreased the content of anthocyanin and increased the content of chlorophyll especially in the white margin of the leaves. Numerous chloroplasts were found in the mesophyll cells of the white margin part of chimeric leaves under shading for 75 days. The increase of chlorophyll content resulted in better growth of plants. In order to balance the growth and ornamental value of the leaves, approximately 50% shade is suggested to be the optimum light irradiance condition for Ananas comosus var. bracteatus in summer.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Cicada endosymbionts have tRNAs that are correctly processed despite having genomes that do not encode all of the tRNA processing machinery

Gene loss and genome reduction are defining characteristics of nutritional endosymbiotic bacteria. In extreme cases, even essential genes related to core cellular processes such as replication, transcription, and translation are lost from endosymbiont genomes. Computational predictions on the genomes of the two bacterial symbionts of the cicada Diceroprocta semicincta, \"Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola\" (Alphaproteobacteria) and \"Ca. Sulcia muelleri\" (Betaproteobacteria), find only 26 and 16 tRNA, and 15 and 10 aminoacyl tRNA synthetase genes, respectively. Furthermore, the original \"Ca. Hodgkinia\" genome annotation is missing several essential genes involved in tRNA processing, such as RNase P and CCA tRNA nucleotidyltransferase, as well as several RNA editing enzymes required for tRNA maturation. How \"Ca. Sulcia\" and \"Ca. Hodgkinia\" preform basic translation-related processes without these genes remains unknown. Here, by sequencing eukaryotic mRNA and total small RNA, we show that the limited tRNA set predicted by computational annotation of \"Ca. Sulcia\" and \"Ca. Hodgkinia\" is likely correct. Furthermore, we show that despite the absence of genes encoding tRNA processing activities in the symbiont genomes, symbiont tRNAs have correctly processed 5 and 3 ends, and seem to undergo nucleotide modification. Surprisingly, we find that most \"Ca. Hodgkinia\"and \"Ca. Sulcia\" tRNAs exist as tRNA halves. Finally, and in contrast with other related insects, we show that cicadas have experienced little horizontal gene transfer that might complement the activities missing from the endosymbiont genomes. We conclude that \"Ca. Sulcia\" and \"Ca. Hodgkinia\" tRNAs likely function in bacterial translation, but require host-encoded enzymes to do so.

evolutionary biology↗