Estatutos

Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 201

The arogenate dehydratase ADT2 is essential for seed development in Arabidopsis

Phenylalanine (Phe) biosynthesis in plants is a key process, as Phe serves as precursor of proteins and phenylpropanoids. The prephenate pathway connects chorismate, final product of the shikimate pathway, with the biosynthesis of Phe and Tyr. Two alternative routes of Phe biosynthesis have been reported: one depending of arogenate, and the other of phenylpyruvate. Whereas the arogenate pathway is considered the main route, the role of the phenylpyruvate pathway remains unclear. Here, we report that the deficiency in ADT2, a bifunctional arogenate dehydratase (ADT)/ prephenate dehydratase (PDT) enzyme, causes embryo arrest and seed abortion. This result makes a clear distinction between the essential role of ADT2 and the five remaining ADTs from Arabidopsis, which display mostly overlapping functions. We have found that PHA2, a monofunctional PDT from yeast, restores the adt2 phenotype when is targeted within the plastids, but not when is expressed in the cytosol. Similar results can be obtained by expressing ADT3, a monofunctional ADT. These results suggest that Phe can be synthesized from phenylpyruvate or arogenate when the bifunctional ADT2 is replaced by other ADT or PDT enzymes during seed formation, highlighting the importance of Phe for embryo development, and providing further insights into the plasticity of Phe biosynthesis.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Biochemical regulation of arginine biosynthesis in plants

Arginine plays a relevant role in plant metabolism due to its importance as building block of proteins but also as precursor of multiple secondary metabolites, polyamines and nitric oxide. Importantly, arginine frequently plays an essential role as a major nitrogen storage form in seeds and other vegetative tissues and its mobilization provides an efficient flux of nitrogen for different physiological processes [1][2][3]. Despite its importance, the biochemical regulation and kinetics of the enzymes involved in arginine biosynthesis remains poorly characterized in plants. In this work, we provide new knowledge about the biochemical regulation of the three enzymes involved in the last steps of the arginine pathway: ornithine transcarbamoylase (OTC), argininosuccinate synthetase (ASSY), and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). Our results indicate that these enzymes are regulated by the concentration of different amino acids and metabolites, including arginine, suggesting that feedback regulatory loops could play and important role in the homeostasis of this amino acid. Besides, these regulatory mechanisms seem to have been subjected to a progressive refinement during the evolution of land plants, pointing towards a coevolution with the higher requirements of arginine in seed plants.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Materiales protohistóricos de "El Turuñuelo" (Mérida, Badajoz)

Tanto por los materiales que aquí se presentan como por sus características morfológicas, un gran túmulo de más de 60 m de diámetro situado en el llano, el yacimiento de El Turuñuelo de Mérida recuerda enormemente al denominado Palacio-Santuario de Cancho Roano, complejo monumental protohistórico que viene excavándose desde 1978 en Zalamea de la Serena (Badajoz). A partir de estas premisas se analizan con cierto detalle los nuevos objetos y se hacen algunas reflexiones acerca de los retos e interrogantes que plantea la generalización de un fenómeno arqueológico tan singular y tan característico del Valle Medio del Guadiana durante el Período Post-Orientalizante.So many by the archaeological finds we present here as by its topographical and sedimentary traits, a big tumulus with more than 60 mts. diametre placed in the plain, the settlement of El Turuñuelo (Mérida, Badajoz), resembles very much the so called Palace Sanctuary of Cancho Roano, a monumental architectutral complex (5th. cent. B.e.) being excavated since 1978 in Zalamea de la Serena (Badajoz). From those premises we analyze in some detail the new objects and we do some reflections on challenges and questions proposed by the generalization of an archaeological fact so peculiar and so characteristic of the Middle Valley of Guadiana during the Post-Orientalizing Period

Validación de la escala de ansiedad ante la muerte y su relación con afrontamiento en personas que viven con VIH/SIDA

Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: a) determinar la consistencia interna y estructura factorial de la Escala de Ansiedad ante la Muerte (EAM-25); b) describir su distribución; y c) estudiar su relación con variables sociodemográficas —edad, sexo, escolaridad y estado civil—, clínicas —estatus de la enfermedad, conteo de CD41, carga viral y tiempo desde el diagnóstico— y con estrategias de afrontamiento. Se aplicaron la escala EAM-25 (Osadolor, I., 2005) y el Cuestionario de Afrontamiento del Estrés (CAE) (Sandín, B. y P. Chorot, 2003) a una muestra aleatoria de 100 mujeres —33.3 por ciento— y 200 hombres —66.7 por ciento— que viven con VIH/Sida atendidos en el Centro Ambulatorio de Prevención y Atención del SIDA e Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual (CAPASITS) de Nuevo León, México. La media de edad en ambos sexos fue de 37 años; 39 personas —13 por ciento— se señalaron como sintomáticas y 261 —87 por ciento— como asintomáticas. Con base en los valores de consistencia interna y carga factorial se redujo la escala EAM a 22 ítems. Una estructura de cuatro factores correlacionados mostró un ajuste adecuado a los datos por Mínimos Cuadrados Generalizados (GLS, por sus siglas en inglés) —χ2/gl = 2.40, GFI = .85, AGFI = .82 y RMSEA = .07—. La consistencia interna del puntaje total —α= .92— y los 4 factores —de .81 a .88— fueron altas. La distribución del puntaje total se ajustó a una curva normal de media 70.65 y desviación estándar de 20.36. Se encontró que mujeres, viudos y pacientes sintomáticos promediaron más alto en el puntaje total de EAM22 y/o alguno de sus factores. Asimismo, se obtuvo correlación negativa con escolaridad en la muestra conjunta y con el tiempo de diagnóstico sólo en personas asintomáticas. Sin embargo, edad, conteo de CD4 y carga viral no tuvieron correlación. Las estrategias de afrontamiento que correlacionaron de forma directa con la EAM22 fueron: expresión emocional abierta, autofocalización negativa y evitación. Las que correlacionaron de forma inversa fueron: focalización en la solución de problemas y reevaluación positiva. La ansiedad ante la muerte fue independiente del apoyo en la religión y búsqueda de apoyo social. Se concluye que la escala es consistente, muestra validez y parece útil para futuros estudios

Reglamento que deberá observarse por los patronos de la Santa Vera-Cruz en la ermita del Humilladero para el mejor arreglo del mismo.

Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 201

The psychological significance of the five stages of grief proposed by Kübler-Ross through natural semantic networks

Los objetivos del estudio fueron: 1) identificar el significado psicológico de las cinco fases del proceso del duelo propuestas por Kübler-Ross, y 2) diseñar una escala para medir las cinco fases del duelo ante la pérdida de la salud desde los resultados obtenidos. Se aplicó un test de asociación libre de palabras con la técnica de redes semánticas naturales a una muestra no probabilística intencional de 18 pacientes oncológicos y 12 cuidadores primarios. Se encontraron que las asociaciones de palabras eran congruentes con la expectativa teórica. A partir de estas palabras y algunas consideraciones teóricas se redactaron 67 ítems. Al ser sometidos al juicio de 9 expertos, un ítem fue eliminado y 19 corregidos. Se discuten los resultados para aclarar el contenido de las fases. Finalmente se presenta la Escala de la Fases del Duelo de 66 ítems tipo Likert para su posterior estudio psicométrico.The aims of the study were: 1) to identify the psychological significance of the five stages of the grief process proposed by Kübler-Ross, and 2) to design a scale to measure the five stages of grief at the health loss from the obtained results. A test of free association of words from the natural semantic network technique was applied to a non-probabilistic intentional sample of 18 cancer patients and 12 primary caregivers. It was found that the word associations were consistent with the theoretical expectation. From these words and some theoretical considerations, 67 items were written. The items were subjected to the judgment of 9 experts. One item was removed and 19 were corrected. The results are discussed to clarify the content of the phases. Finally the 66-item Likert type Grief Stages Scale was presented for further psychometric study

Multidisciplinary teaching of Biotechnology and Omics sciences

In the last years, there was a great boom in the Omics fields that have developed as multidisciplinary sciences. They use laboratory techniques related to Biology and Chemistry but also Bioinformatics tools. However, the developmental progress of these disciplines has led that much of undergraduate studies related to Biology have curricula that become outdated. From this point of view, it is necessary to focus the students to the fundamentals and techniques of complementary disciplines that will be essentials for the understanding of the Omics sciences. In the present work, we have developed a new teaching approach for Biochemistry, Biology and Bioinformatics students. They formed interdisciplinary working groups. These groups have prepared and presented communications about different techniques or methods in Molecular Biology, Omics or Bioinformatics participating in a technical meeting. This learning strategy “I do and I learn” has enabled to the students a first contact with the scientific communication including the approach to the scientific literature to acquire technical knowledge. The cooperation between students from different disciplines has enriched their point of view and even has been used in some practical master’s works.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Maritime pine PpMYB8 directly co-regulates secondary cell wall architecture and the associated Phe-biosynthesis pathway

Plants rely on the biosynthesis of L-Phenylalanine as building block for the synthesis of proteins but also as precursor for a tremendous range of plant-derived compounds essential for its grown, development and defense. Polymerization of secondary cell wall in trees involves the massive biosynthesis, among others, of the Phe-derived compound lignin. Thus, these plants require an accurate metabolic coordination between Phe and lignin biosynthesis to ensure its normal development. We have here identified that the pine arogenate dehydratase, whose enzyme activity limits the biosynthesis of Phe in plants, is transcriptionally regulated through direct interaction with PpMyb8. We have also shown that this transcription factor is directly involve in secondary cell wall biogenesis and cell death processes. Together these results indicate that a single transcription factor coordinates lignin accumulation and the proper biosynthesis of its essential precursor L-Phe.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Metabolic channeling of phe for lignin biosynthesis in maritime pine

Phenylalanine (Phe) is the main precursor of phenylpropanoids biosynthesis in plants. This vast family of Phe-derived compounds can represent more than 30% of captured photosynthetic carbon, playing essential roles in plants such as cell wall components, defense molecules, pigments and flavors. In addition to its physiological importance, phenylpropanoids and particularly lignin, a component of wood, are targets in plant biotechnology. The arogenate pathway has been proposed as the main pathway for Phe biosynthesis in plants (Maeda et al., 2010). The final step in Phe biosynthesis, catalyzed by the enzyme arogenate dehydratase (ADT), has been considered as a key regulatory point in Phe biosynthesis, due to its key branch position in the pathway, the multiple isoenzymes identified in plants and the existence of a feedback inhibition mechanism by Phe. So far, the regulatory mechanisms underlying ADT genes expression have been poorly characterized, although a strong regulation of the Phe metabolic flux should be expected depending on its alternative use for protein biosynthesis versus phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. This second fate involves a massive carbon flux compared to the first one. Here we report our current research activities in the transcriptional regulation of ADT genes by MYB transcription factors in Pinus pinaster. The conifers channels massive amounts of photosynthetic carbon for phenylpropanoid biosynthesis during wood formation. We have identified the complete ADT gene family in maritime pine (El-Azaz et al., 2016) and a set of ADT isoforms specifically related with the lignification process. The potential control of transcription factors previously reported as key regulators in pine wood formation (Craven-Bartle et al., 2013) will be presented.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech