Amino Acid Composition in Different Tissues of Iceland Scallop from the Barents Sea

The Iceland scallop from the Barents Sea is a commercially important species with promising aquaculture potential, but information on the biochemical properties of its tissues is limited. Our analysis of the adductor muscle, gonad, and mantle of this bivalve mollusk from coastal waters provided insight into its amino acid composition. Biochemical analysis revealed predominant levels of glycine (11.8, 11.5, and 9.6 mg g-1, respectively) and arginine (11.2, 8.3, and 5.8 mg g-1, respectively). While multivariate comparisons did not reveal significant differences in amino acid composition between the tissues, single comparisons showed significantly higher levels of arginine and leucine in the adductor muscle compared to those of the mantle. The abundant presence of glycine and arginine underscores their importance in maintaining basic physiological processes, consistent with other scallop species. Redundancy analysis identified water depth and scallop gonad index as influential factors shaping the amino acid profile in the adductor muscle. In the case of the mantle, water temperature emerged as the main driver of amino acid content. Our results confirm the richness of essential amino acids in scallop by-products and highlight their potential for human consumption, production of feed ingredients for farmed animals, and nutraceuticals.

Oceanic intraplate explosive eruptions fed directly from the mantle

Constraining the volatile content of magmas is critical to our understanding of eruptive processes and their deep Earth cycling essential to planetary habitability [R. Dasgupta, M. M. Hirschmann, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 298, 1 (2010)]. Yet, much of the work thus far on magmatic volatiles has been dedicated to understanding their cycling through subduction zones. Further, studies of intraplate mafic volcanism have disproportionately focused on Hawaii [P. E. Wieser et al., Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 22, e2020GC009364 (2021)], making assessments of the overall role of intraplate volcanoes in the global volatile cycles a challenge. Additionally, while mafic volcanoes are the most common landform on Earth and the Solar System [C. A. Wood, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 7, 387-413 (1980)], they tend to be overlooked in favor of silicic volcanoes when it comes to their potential for explosivity. Here, we report primitive (olivine-hosted, with host Magnesium number - Mg# 78 to 88%) melt inclusion (MI) data from Fogo volcano, Cabo Verde, that suggest that oceanic intraplate silica-undersaturated explosive eruptions sample volatile-rich sources. Primitive MI (melt Mg# 70 to 71%) data suggest that these melts are oxidized (NiNiO to NiNiO+1) and very high in volatiles (up to 2 wt% CO2, 2.8 wt% H2O, 6,000 ppm S, 1,900 ppm F, and 1,100 ppm Cl) making Fogo a global endmember. Storage depths calculated from these high volatile contents also imply that magma storage at Fogo occurs at mantle depths (~20 to 30 km) and that these eruptions are fed from the mantle. Our results suggest that oceanic intraplate mafic eruptions are sustained from the mantle by high volatile concentrations inherited from their source and that deep CO2 exsolution (here up to ~800 MPa) drives their ascent and explosivity.

Slipper Limpet (Crepidula fornicata) Shells Support In Vitro Osteogenesis of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

This study aimed to investigate a cost-effective alternative to man-made calcium phosphate ceramics for treating bone defects. The slipper limpet is an invasive species in European coastal waters, and its shells composed of calcium carbonate could potentially be a cost-effective source of bone graft substitutes. This research analyzed the mantle of the slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata) shells to enhance in vitro bone formation. Discs machined from the mantle of C. fornicata were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray crystallography (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and profilometry. Calcium release and bioactivity were also studied. Cell attachment, proliferation, and osteoblastic differentiation (RT-qPCR and alkaline phosphatase activity) were measured in human adipose-derived stem cells grown on the mantle surface. The mantle material was mainly composed of aragonite and showed a sustained Ca²⁺ release at physiological pH. In addition, apatite formation was observed in simulated body fluid after three weeks, and the materials supported osteoblastic differentiation. Overall, our findings suggest the mantle of C. fornicata shows potential as a material for fabricating bone graft substitutes and structural biomaterials for bone regeneration.

Constraining the Range and Variation of Lithospheric Net Rotation Using Geodynamic Modeling

Lithospheric net rotation (LNR) is the movement of the lithosphere as a solid body with respect to the mantle. Separating the signal of LNR from plate tectonic motion is therefore an important factor in producing absolute plate motion models. Net rotation is difficult to constrain because of uncertainties in geological data and outstanding questions about the stability of the mantle plumes used as a reference frame. We use mantle convection simulations to investigate the controlling factors for the magnitude of LNR and to find the statistical predictability of LNR in a fully self-consistent convective system. We find that high lateral viscosity variations are required to produce Earth-like values of LNR. When the temperature dependence of viscosity is lower, and therefore slabs are softer, other factors such as the presence of continents and a viscosity gradient at the transition zone are also important for determining the magnitude of net rotation. We find that, as an emergent property of the chaotic mantle convection system, the evolution of LNR is too complicated to predict in our models. However, we find that the range of LNR within the simulations follows a Gaussian distribution, with a correlation time of 5 Myr. The LNR from the models needs to be sampled for around 50 Myr to produce a fully Gaussian distribution. This implies, that within the time frames considered for absolute plate motion reconstructions, LNR can be treated as a Gaussian variable. This provides a new geodynamic constraint for absolute plate motion reconstructions.

Aggressive Cyclin D1 Negative Blastoid Variant Mantle Cell Lymphoma-A Case Report

A 68-year-old male presents with generalized lymphadenopathy and fever of short duration. Axillary lymph node excision was performed and was sent for histopathological evaluation. Microscopic evaluation of the submitted lymph node revealed diffuse proliferation of intermediate-sized atypical lymphoid cells with round nuclei, irregular membranes, finely dispersed chromatin, and inconspicuous nucleoli. Mitotic figures were frequently seen. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed diffuse expression of CD20, CD5, CD10, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6). Atypical lymphoid cells were negative for cyclin D1; however, showed diffuse and strong nuclear expression of SOX11. MIB1 proliferation index was high (Ki67: 90%-95%). Based on morphological features and immunohistochemical findings a diagnosis of "cyclin D1 negative aggressive blastoid variant of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)" was offered. The classic morphology of MCL is seen in 90% of cases, while the remaining (∼10%) are considered as variants. A blastoid variant is an aggressive subtype that can lack expression of CD5 as well as cyclin D1, but instead expresses CD10, Bcl6, and CD23. SOX11 expression is seen in 90% cases of MCL and in almost 100% cases of cyclin D1 negative MCL. The current case highlights the unusual morphologic and aggressive variant of MCL and a significant role of SOX11 in its diagnosis.

CAR T-cell therapy in mature lymphoid malignancies: clinical opportunities and challenges

The advent of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm of various hematologic malignancies. Ever since its first approval for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2017, CAR T-cell therapy has been found to be efficacious in various other lymphoid malignancies, with recent approvals in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Although CAR T-cell therapeutics offer a novel immunotherapeutic approach to treat otherwise refractory malignancies, the plethora of studies/products and complexities in manufacturing and administration have led to several challenges for clinicians and the healthcare system as a whole. Some of the areas of unmet need include manufacturing delays, short persistence of CAR T-cells in circulation, lack of predictive biomarkers for efficacy and toxicity, and high cost of therapy. In this review, we evaluate the existing data on the efficacy and safety of CAR T-cell therapies in mature lymphoid malignancies [lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma]. We also provide an in-depth review of the challenges posed by CAR T-cell therapeutics and potential strategies to overcome them. With newer CAR T-cell products and incorporation of measures to mitigate toxicities pertaining to cytokine release and neurological syndromes, there is a potential to overcome several of these challenges in the near future. Finally, as CAR T-cell therapy gains regulatory approval for more indications, there is a need to tackle the financial toxicity posed by this modality to sustain patient access.

Mantle Modularity Underlies the Plasticity of the Molluscan Shell: Supporting Data From Cepaea nemoralis

Molluscs have evolved the capacity to fabricate a wide variety of shells over their 540+ million-year history. While modern sequencing and proteomic technologies continue to expand the catalog of molluscan shell-forming proteins, a complete functional understanding of how any mollusc constructs its shell remains an ambitious goal. This lack of understanding also constrains our understanding of how evolution has generated a plethora of molluscan shell morphologies. Taking advantage of a previous expression atlas for shell-forming genes in Lymnaea stagnalis, I have characterized the spatial expression patterns of seven shell-forming genes in the terrestrial gastropod Cepaea nemoralis, with the aim of comparing and contrasting their expression patterns between the two species. Four of these genes were selected from a previous proteomic screen of the C. nemoralis shell, two were targeted by bioinformatics criteria designed to identify likely shell-forming gene products, and the final one was a clear homolog of a peroxidase sequence in the L. stagnalis dataset. While the spatial expression patterns of all seven C. nemoralis genes could be recognized as falling into distinct zones within the mantle tissue similar to those established in L. stagnalis, some zones have apparently been modified. These similarities and differences hint at a modularity to the molluscan mantle that may provide a mechanistic explanation as to how evolution has efficiently generated a diversity of molluscan shells.

Investigating Byssogenesis with Proteomic Analysis of Byssus, Foot, and Mantle in Mytilus Mussels by LC-MS/MS

Mussel byssus represents a fascinating class of biological materials with a unique capacity to adhere onto virtually any solid surface. Proteins expressed in byssus, the byssal-producing organ (foot) as well as mantle tissue from Mytilus edulis or Mytilus californianus are analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The mantle is used as a control tissue to pinpoint unique proteins from the foot samples potentially involved in byssogenesis. This work represents an important step towards identifying biologically important proteins expressed in foot, as well as extending knowledge on the byssus proteome. Considering the minimal proteomics data of the studied species, this data also contributes to a more complete description of M. edulis and M. californianus proteomes.

An Overview of the Experimental Studies on the Electrical Conductivity of Major Minerals in the Upper Mantle and Transition Zone

In this paper, we present the recent progress in the experimental studies of the electrical conductivity of dominant nominally anhydrous minerals in the upper mantle and mantle transition zone of Earth, namely, olivine, pyroxene, garnet, wadsleyite and ringwoodite. The main influence factors, such as temperature, pressure, water content, oxygen fugacity, and anisotropy are discussed in detail. The dominant conduction mechanisms of Fe-bearing silicate minerals involve the iron-related small polaron with a relatively large activation enthalpy and the hydrogen-related defect with lower activation enthalpy. Specifically, we mainly focus on the variation of oxygen fugacity on the electrical conductivity of anhydrous and hydrous mantle minerals, which exhibit clearly different charge transport processes. In representative temperature and pressure environments, the hydrogen of nominally anhydrous minerals can tremendously enhance the electrical conductivity of the upper mantle and transition zone, and the influence of trace structural water (or hydrogen) is substantial. In combination with the geophysical data of magnetotelluric surveys, the laboratory-based electrical conductivity measurements can provide significant constraints to the water distribution in Earth’s interior.

Trichoblastic infundibular cyst should be renamed infundibular cyst with unique papillary projections

Trichoblastic infundibular cyst (TBIC) was previously reported as a unique keratinous cystic lesion, which was characterized by the papillary projections of follicular germinative-like cells emanating from the cyst wall. Here, we report three additional cases of this cyst and discuss the pathogenesis of this unique entity. In all cases, a unilocular cyst contained keratin, and the cyst wall was composed of squamous epithelium. A number of cords and papillary projections emanated from the basal layer of the cyst wall. They were composed of cells with large nuclei and scant cytoplasm arranged in a peripheral palisade. Immunohistochemically, anti-cytokeratin 15, anti-cytokeratin 20, and anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibodies were negative. Thus, these cells resembled follicular germinative cells or sebaceous mantle morphologically, but we failed to prove the differentiation immunohistochemically. The cyst was surrounded by fibrotic stroma and inflammatory cells, suggesting previous rupture of the cyst. We speculate that the cells of the projections possibly differentiate into the mantle rather than follicular germinative cells, even though we could not provide sufficient immunohistochemical evidence. We also suggest that they may be induced by special reaction to fibrohistiocytic stroma surrounding the infundibular cyst. Therefore, TBIC should be renamed infundibular cyst with unique papillary projections.

Effect of Oral Administration of Active Peptides of Pinctada Martensii on the Repair of Skin Wounds

Skin wound healing, especially chronic wound healing, is a common challenging clinical problem. It is urgent to broaden the sources of bioactive substances that can safely and efficiently promote skin wound healing. This study aimed to observe the effects of active peptides (APs) of the mantle of Pinctada martensii on wound healing. After physicochemical analysis of amino acids and mass spectrometry of APs, the effect of APs on promoting healing was studied through a whole cortex wound model on the back of mice for 18 consecutive days. The results showed that APs consisted of polypeptides with molecular weights in the range 302.17–2936.43 Da. The content of polypeptides containing 2–15 amino acids accounted for 73.87%, and the hydrophobic amino acids accounted for 56.51%. Results of in vitro experimentation showed that mice in APs-L group which were fed a low dose of APs (0.5 g/kg bw) had a shortened epithelialization time due to a shortening inflammatory period (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, this relied on its specific ability to promote the proliferation of CD31, FGF and EGF which accelerated the percentage of wound closure. Moreover, the APs-L group mice had enhanced collagen synthesis and increased type III collagen content in their wounds through a TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway (p > 0.05). Consequently, scar formation was inhibited and wound healing efficiency was significantly improved. These results show that the APs of Pinctada martensii promote dermal wound healing in mice and have tremendous potential for development and utilization in skin wound healing.

Form and function of tentacles in pteriomorphian bivalves

Tentacles are remarkable anatomical structures in invertebrates for their diversity of form and function. In bivalves, tentacular organs are commonly associated with protective, secretory, and sensory roles. However, anatomical details are available for only a few species, rendering the diversity and evolution of bivalve tentacles still obscure. In Pteriomorphia, a clade including oysters, scallops, pearl oysters, and relatives, tentacles are abundant and diverse. We investigated tentacle anatomy in the group to understand variation, infer functions, and investigate patterns in tentacle diversity. Six species from four pteriomorphian families (Ostreidae, Pinnidae, Pteriidae, and Spondylidae) were collected and thoroughly investigated with integrative microscopy techniques, including histology, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy. Tentacles can be classified as middle fold tentacles (MFT) and inner fold tentacles (IFT) according to their position with respect to the folds of the mantle margin. While MFT morphology indicates intense secretion of mucosubstances, no evidence for secretory activity was found for IFT. However, both tentacle types have appropriate ciliary distribution and length to promote mucus transportation for cleaning and lubrication. Protective and sensory functions are discussed based on different lines of evidence, including secretion, cilia distribution, musculature, and innervation. Our results support the homology of MFT and IFT only for Pterioidea and Ostreoidea, considering their morphology, the presence of ciliated receptors at the tips, and branched innervation pattern. This is in accordance with recent phylogenetic hypotheses that support the close relationship between these superfamilies. In contrast, major structural differences indicate that MFT and IFT are probably not homologous across all pteriomorphians. By applying integrative microscopy, we were able to reveal anatomical elements that are essential for the understanding of homology and function when dealing with such superficially similar structures.

Evaluation of Small Molecular Polypeptides from the Mantle of Pinctada Martensii on Promoting Skin Wound Healing in Mice

Skin wound healing, especially chronic wound healing, is a common challenging clinical problem. It is urgent to broaden the sources of bioactive substances that can safely and efficiently promote skin wound healing. This study aimed to observe the effects of small molecular peptides (SMPs) of the mantle of Pinctada martensii on wound healing. After physicochemical analysis of amino acids and mass spectrometry of SMPs, the effect of SMPs on promoting healing was studied through a whole cortex wound model on the back of mice for 18 consecutive days. The results showed that SMPs consisted of polypeptides with a molecular weight of 302.17-2936.43 Da. The content of polypeptides containing 2-15 amino acids accounted for 73.87%, and the hydrophobic amino acids accounted for 56.51%. Results of in vitro experimentation showed that SMPs possess a procoagulant effect, but no antibacterial activity. Results of in vivo experiments indicated that SMPs inhibit inflammatory response by secretion of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 during the inflammatory phase; during the proliferative phase, SMPs promote the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The secretion of transforming growth factor-β1 and cyclin D1 accelerates the epithelialization and contraction of wounds. In the proliferative phase, SMPs effectively promote collagen deposition and partially inhibit superficial scar hyperplasia. These results show that SMPs promotes dermal wound healing in mice and have a tremendous potential for development and utilization in skin wound healing.

Non-lethal method for the preparation of metaphase spreads using cultured mantle tissue from live adult abalone

Metaphase spread preparation in adult abalone has not been successful, which has restricted the applications of karyotyping-based technologies. Here, we present a non-lethal method to enable preparation of metaphase spreads from live adult abalone using a tissue culture method. Mantle tissue fragments from live adult abalone were cultured in vitro and the cultured cells were used for metaphase spread preparation. To retrieve a sufficient number of proliferating cells required for metaphase spread preparation, at least 14 days of culture was required, and culturing the marginal zone of mantle was more optimal than culturing other areas. Additionally, it was shown that simple medium consisting of basal medium, fetal bovine serum and antibiotics could stimulate cellular proliferation followed by metaphase spread preparation.

Melting of CaSiO3 Perovskite at High Pressure

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations predict that CaSiO3 perovskite melts at 5600 K at 136 GPa, and 6400 K at 300 GPa, significantly higher than MgSiO3 perovskite. The entropy of melting (1.8 kB per atom) is much larger than that of many silicates at ambient pressure and of simple liquids and varies little with pressure. The volume of melting decreases rapidly with increasing pressure, to 3 % at 136 GPa, producing a melting slope that diminishes rapidly with pressure. We determine the melting temperature via the ZW method, combining the Z method, for which we clarify the theoretical basis, with a waiting time analysis. The ZW method results are internally confirmed by integrating the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, which also yields our results for the entropy and volume of melting. We find the eutectic composition on the MgSiO3-CaSiO3 join to be x Ca = 0.26 at 136 GPa and that metasilicate melt is denser than coexisting silicates.

SubMachine: Web-Based Tools for Exploring Seismic Tomography and Other Models of Earth's Deep Interior

We present SubMachine, a collection of web-based tools for the interactive visualization, analysis, and quantitative comparison of global-scale data sets of the Earth's interior. SubMachine focuses on making regional and global-scale seismic tomography models easily accessible to the wider solid Earth community, in order to facilitate collaborative exploration. We have written software tools to visualize and explore over 30 tomography models-individually, side-by-side, or through statistical and averaging tools. SubMachine also serves various nontomographic data sets that are pertinent to the interpretation of mantle structure and complement the tomographies. These include plate reconstruction models, normal mode observations, global crustal structure, shear wave splitting, as well as geoid, marine gravity, vertical gravity gradients, and global topography in adjustable degrees of spherical harmonic resolution. By providing repository infrastructure, SubMachine encourages and supports community contributions via submission of data sets or feedback on the implemented toolkits.

A Rhodopsin-Like Gene May Be Associated With the Light-Sensitivity of Adult Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas

Light-sensitivity is important for mollusc survival, as it plays a vital role in reproduction and predator avoidance. Light-sensitivity has been demonstrated in the adult Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, but the genes associated with light-sensitivity remain unclear. In the present study, we designed experiments to identify the genes associated with light-sensitivity in adult oysters. First, we assessed the Pacific oyster genome and identified 368 genes annotated with the terms associated with light-sensitivity. Second, the function of the four rhodopsin-like superfamily member genes was tested by using RNAi. The results showed that the highest level of mRNA expression of the vision-related genes was in the mantle; however, this finding is not true for all oyster genes. Interestingly, we also found four rhodopsin-like superfamily member genes expressed at an very high level in the mantle tissue. In the RNAi experiment, when one of rhodopsin-like superfamily member genes (CGI_1001253) was inhibited, the light-sensitivity capacity of the injected oysters was significantly reduced, suggesting that CGI_10012534 may be associated with light-sensitivity in the adult Pacific oyster.

Light-dependent expression of a Na+/H+ exchanger 3-like transporter in the ctenidium of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, can be related to increased H+ excretion during light-enhanced calcification

Na⁺/H⁺ exchangers (NHEs) regulate intracellular pH and ionic balance by mediating H⁺ efflux in exchange for Na⁺ uptake in a 1:1 stoichiometry. This study aimed to obtain from the ctenidium of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa (TS) the complete cDNA sequence of a NHE3‐like transporter (TSNHE3), and to determine the effect of light exposure on its mRNA expression level and protein abundance therein. The coding sequence of TSNHE3 comprised 2886 bp, encoding 961 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 105.7 kDa. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that TSNHE3 was localized to the apical membrane of epithelial cells of the ctenidial filaments and the tertiary water channels. Particularly, the apical immunofluorescence of the ctenidial filaments was consistently stronger in the ctenidium of clams exposed to 12 h of light than those of the control kept in darkness. Indeed, light induced significant increases in the transcript level and protein abundance of TSNHE3/TSNHE3 in the ctenidium, indicating that the transcription and translation of TSNHE3/TSNHE3 were light‐dependent. As light‐enhanced calcification generates H⁺, the increased expression of TSNHE3/TSNHE3 in the ctenidium could be a response to augment H⁺ excretion in pursuance of whole‐body acid‐base balance during light exposure. These results signify that shell formation in giant clams requires the collaboration between the ctenidium, which is a respiratory and iono‐regulatory organ, and the inner mantle, which is directly involved in the calcification process, and provide new insights into the mechanisms of light‐enhanced calcification in giant clams.

Light induces changes in activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, H(+)/K(+)-ATPase and glutamine synthetase in tissues involved directly or indirectly in light-enhanced calcification in the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 12 h of exposure to light, as compared with 12 h of exposure to darkness (control), on enzymatic activities of transporters involved in the transport of NH(+) 4 or H(+), and activities of enzymes involved in converting NH(+) 4 to glutamate/glutamine in inner mantle, outer mantle, and ctenidia of the giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. Exposure to light resulted in a significant increase in the effectiveness of NH(+) 4 in substitution for K(+) to activate Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA), manifested as a significant increase in the Na(+)/NH(+) 4-activated-NKA activity in the inner mantle. However, similar phenomena were not observed in the extensible outer mantle, which contained abundant symbiotic zooxanthellae. Hence, during light-enhanced calcification, H(+) released from CaCO3 deposition could react with NH3 to form NH(+) 4 in the extrapallial fluid, and NH(+) 4 could probably be transported into the shell-facing inner mantle epithelium through NKA. Light also induced an increase in the activity of glutamine synthetase, which converts NH(+) 4 and glutamate to glutamine, in the inner mantle. Taken together, these results explained observations reported elsewhere that light induced a significant increase in pH and a significant decrease in ammonia concentration in the extrapallial fluid, as well as a significant increase in the glutamine concentration in the inner mantle, of T. squamosa. Exposure of T. squamosa to light also led to a significant decrease in the N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)-sensitive-V-H(+)-ATPase (VATPase) in the inner mantle, and significant increases in the Na(+)/K(+)-activated-NKA, H(+)/NH(+) 4-activated-H(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and NEM-sensitive-VATPase activities in ctenidia, indicating that light-enhanced calcification might perturb Na(+) homeostasis and acid/base balance in the hemolymph, and might involve the active uptake of NH(+) 4 from the environment. This is the first report on light having direct enhancing effects on activities of certain transporters/enzymes related to light-enhanced calcification in the inner mantle and ctenidia of T. squamosa.

Lunar bulk chemical composition: a post-Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory reassessment

New estimates of the thickness of the lunar highlands crust based on data from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory mission, allow us to reassess the abundances of refractory elements in the Moon. Previous estimates of the Moon fall into two distinct groups: earthlike and a 50% enrichment in the Moon compared with the Earth. Revised crustal thicknesses and compositional information from remote sensing and lunar samples indicate that the crust contributes 1.13-1.85 wt% Al2O3 to the bulk Moon abundance. Mare basalt Al2O3 concentrations (8-10 wt%) and Al2O3 partitioning behaviour between melt and pyroxene during partial melting indicate mantle Al2O3 concentration in the range 1.3-3.1 wt%, depending on the relative amounts of pyroxene and olivine. Using crustal and mantle mass fractions, we show that that the Moon and the Earth most likely have the same (within 20%) concentrations of refractory elements. This allows us to use correlations between pairs of refractory and volatile elements to confirm that lunar abundances of moderately volatile elements such as K, Rb and Cs are depleted by 75% in the Moon compared with the Earth and that highly volatile elements, such as Tl and Cd, are depleted by 99%. The earthlike refractory abundances and depleted volatile abundances are strong constraints on lunar formation processes.