Big Spider, Big Genome: Chromosome-level genome of a North American tarantula (Aphonopelma marxi) and comparative genomics across 300 million years of spider evolution

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  Image Credit: WikiCommons Big Spider, Big Genome: Chromosome-level genome of a North American tarantula (Aphonopelma marxi) and comparative genomics across 300 million years of spider evolution Abstract The comparison of chromosome-level genomes allows biologists to investigate new axes of organismal evolution. Spiders comprise a significant proportion of known arachnid diversity, with many complex morphologies and unique natural histories, yet comparative genomics in spiders has been limited due to the number of available genomes. We present a de novo chromosomal reference genome of a mature male tarantula, Aphonopelma marxi, and comparatively examine spider genome evolution across the Order Araneae. Using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing, the final 6.5 Gb assembly consists of 17 autosomes, 1 X chromosome, and 127 unplaced scaffolds, with an N50 of 370 Mb and Arachnida (odb10; 2934 genes) BUSCO of 96.7%. By comparing 20 additional spider genomes from 15 families, we find mygalomo...

Scorpion Venom Heat-Resistant Synthetic Peptide Alleviates Neuronal Necroptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease Model by Regulating Lnc Gm6410 Under PM2.5 Exposure

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Scorpion Venom Heat-Resistant Synthetic Peptide Alleviates Neuronal Necroptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease Model by Regulating Lnc Gm6410 Under PM2.5 Exposure

Abstract

Recent epidemiological studies have indicated that exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less in the ambient air (PM2.5) is significantly associated with an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its progression. Scorpion venom heat-resistant synthetic peptide (SVHRSP) exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, the exact ways in which SVHRSP mitigates the progression of AD induced by PM2.5 are still unknown. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a crucial role in various biological processes. Necroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has garnered considerable attention in recent years. This study aims to investigate whether Lnc Gm16410 and neuronal necroptosis are involved in PM2.5-exacerbated AD progression and the mechanisms of SVHRSP in alleviating this process. Through the establishment of a PM2.5 exposure model in AD mice and an in vitro model, it was found that PM2.5 exposure could promote necroptosis and the down-regulation of Lnc Gm16410, thereby promoting the progression of AD. Behavioral tests showed that SVHRSP alleviated cognitive impairment in PM2.5-induced AD mice. WB, qRT-PCR, and other molecular biological assays indicate that Lnc Gm16410 regulates neuronal necroptosis under PM2.5 exposure via the p38 MAPK pathway. SVHRSP is a potential regulator of AD progression by regulating Lnc Gm16410 to alleviate PM2.5 exposure-induced necroptosis. These findings offer new insights into the mechanism through which PM2.5 exposure accelerates the progression of AD, examined from the perspective of LncRNA. Furthermore, we offer new targets for the treatment and prevention of AD following PM2.5 exposure by investigating the mechanism of action of SVHRSP in alleviating AD.

Qin, C., Li, D., Zhang, J., Yin, Z., & Li, F. (2025). Scorpion Venom Heat-Resistant Synthetic Peptide Alleviates Neuronal Necroptosis in Alzheimer’s Disease Model by Regulating Lnc Gm6410 Under PM2.5 Exposure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(9), 4372. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094372