The Transcription Factor Function of Parkin: Breaking the Dogma

PRKN (PARK2) is a key gene involved in both familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease that encodes parkin (PK). Since its discovery by the end of the 90s, both functional and more recently, structural studies led to a consensual view of PK as an E3 ligase only. It is generally considered that this function conditions the cellular load of a subset of cytosolic proteins prone to proteasomal degradation and that a loss of E3 ligase function triggers an accumulation of potentially toxic substrates and, consequently, a neuronal loss. Furthermore, PK molecular interplay with PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), a serine threonine kinase also involved in recessive cases of Parkinson’s disease, is considered to underlie the mitophagy process. Thus, since mitochondrial homeostasis significantly governs cell health, there is a huge interest of the scientific community centered on PK function. In 2009, we have demonstrated that PK could also act as a transcription factor (TF) and induces neuroprotection via the downregulation of the pro-apoptotic and tumor suppressor factor, p53. Importantly, the DNA-binding properties of PK and its nuclear localization suggested an important role in the control of several genes. The duality of PK subcellular localization and of its associated ubiquitin ligase and TF functions suggests that PK could behave as a key molecular modulator of various physiological cellular signaling pathways that could be disrupted in pathological contexts. Here, we update the current knowledge on PK direct and indirect TF-mediated control of gene expression

Carbon in forest species of the Atlantic Forest as an indicator of stocks and quality

The objective is to quantify the carbon content (C) of the reservoirs of plant biomass of different species in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Northeast Brazil. Ten species of high absolute density were selected. We sampled biomass from the leaf and wood compartments of each species to determine the C content. There was a difference in leaf C levels between species. The C content in leaves of species varied between 451.4 and 456.7 g kg-1. The C content of the wood of species varied between 451.7 and 456.8 g kg-1. The group formed by the families Burseraceae, Moraceae, and Sapotaceae showed higher average levels of C in leaves. The Burseraceae family had the highest average C content in the species' wood. The use of a pre-established carbon content (500 g kg-1) may generate inconsistent estimates higher than the real values for the species and families in an Atlantic Forest environment. We suggest that C stock estimates use specific levels for species and/or families, contributing to a more realistic estimate of C storage patterns in the shoot biomass of Atlantic Forest species.Keywords: Carbon concentration; Carbon sequestration; Tropical Rainforest

The beneficial effects of a water-based aerobic exercise session on the blood lipids of women with dyslipidemia are independent of their training status

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the acute effects of a session of water-based aerobic exercise on the blood lipid levels of women with dyslipidemia and to compare these results according to their training status. METHOD: Fourteen premenopausal women with dyslipidemia, aged 40–50 years, participated in two waterbased aerobic exercise sessions, the first when they were generally sedentary and the second after they were trained with a water-based aerobic training program for 12 weeks. Both experimental sessions were performed using the same protocol, lasted 45 min, and incorporated an interval method, alternating 3 min at a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of 13 and 2 min at an RPE of 9. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and lipoprotein lipase enzyme (LPL) were obtained through venous blood collection before and immediately after each session. A generalized estimating equation method and Bonferroni tests were conducted (with time and training status as factors) for statistical analyses. RESULTS: At enrollment, the mean age of the participants was 46.57 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 44.81– 48.34). The statistical analyses showed a significant time effect for all variables (TC: p=0.008; TG: p=0.012; HDL: po0.001; LPL: po0.001) except for LDL (p=0.307). However, the training status effect was not significant for any variable (TC: p=0.527; TG: p=0.899; HDL: p=0.938; LDL: p=0.522; LPL: p=0.737). These results indicate that the TC and TG levels reduced and the HDL and LPL concentrations increased from pre- to post-session in similar magnitudes in both sedentary and trained women. CONCLUSIONS: A single water-based aerobic exercise session is sufficient and effective to beneficially modify the lipid profile of women with dyslipidemia, regardless of their training status

Transcription- and phosphorylation-dependent control of a functional interplay between XBP1s and PINK1 governs mitophagy and potentially impacts Parkinson disease pathophysiology

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.Parkinson disease (PD)-affected brains show consistent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitophagic dysfunctions. The mechanisms underlying these perturbations and how they are directly linked remain a matter of questions. XBP1 is a transcription factor activated upon ER stress after unconventional splicing by the nuclease ERN1/IREα thereby yielding XBP1s, whereas PINK1 is a kinase considered as the sensor of mitochondrial physiology and a master gatekeeper of mitophagy process. We showed that XBP1s transactivates PINK1 in human cells, primary cultured neurons and mice brain, and triggered a pro-mitophagic phenotype that was fully dependent of endogenous PINK1. We also unraveled a PINK1-dependent phosphorylation of XBP1s that conditioned its nuclear localization and thereby, governed its transcriptional activity. PINK1-induced XBP1s phosphorylation occurred at residues reminiscent of, and correlated to, those phosphorylated in substantia nigra of sporadic PD-affected brains. Overall, our study delineated a functional loop between XBP1s and PINK1 governing mitophagy that was disrupted in PD condition.Abbreviations: 6OHDA: 6-hydroxydopamine; baf: bafilomycin A1; BECN1: beclin 1; CALCOCO2/NDP52: calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 2; CASP3: caspase 3; CCCP: carbonyl cyanide chlorophenylhydrazone; COX8A: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8A; DDIT3/CHOP: DNA damage inducible transcript 3; EGFP: enhanced green fluorescent protein; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; ERN1/IRE1α: endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorting; HSPD1/HSP60: heat shock protein family D (Hsp60) member 1; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MFN2: mitofusin 2; OPTN: optineurin; PD: Parkinson disease; PINK1: PTEN-induced kinase 1; PCR: polymerase chain reaction:; PRKN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; XBP1s [p-S61A]: XBP1s phosphorylated at serine 61; XBP1s [p-T48A]: XBP1s phosphorylated at threonine 48; shRNA: short hairpin RNA, SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TIMM23: translocase of inner mitochondrial membrane 23; TM: tunicamycin; TMRM: tetramethyl rhodamine methylester; TOMM20: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20; Toy: toyocamycin; TP: thapsigargin; UB: ubiquitin; UB (S65): ubiquitin phosphorylated at serine 65; UPR: unfolded protein response, XBP1: X-box binding protein 1; XBP1s: spliced X-box binding protein 1.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contaminações alimentares por Aspergillus spp. e o papel do nutricionista: uma revisão

Aspergillus spp. is a cosmopolitan fungus with great occurrence in tropical and subtropical regions due to favorable climatic conditions, as it occurs in Brazil. Fungi are more relevant in foodborne diseases due to the production of mycotoxins, produced when food is stored in poor conditions, in humid environments, without adequate ventilation, or with the presence of insects and rodents that damage the grains and facilitate the proliferation of fungi, like Aspergillus. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of the genus Aspergillus and the diseases associated with the presence of its mycotoxins in food. In addition, it was demonstrated the important role of the nutritionist in the control of food quality to ensure the safety of diners. For this, it was consolidated data available in databases such as LILACS, SCIELO, BVS and PUBMED, using the following descriptors: Aflatoxins, ochratoxins and aspergillosis, as well as the data related to the maximum tolerated limits (LMT) for Aflatoxins and Ocratoxins in Brazil, established by ANVISA through RDC n. 7/2011 and RDC n. 138/2017. In this way, it was highlighted the great relevance of food contamination by fungi, which is estimated to reach around 25% of agricultural products worldwide. The Aspergillus genus stands out among toxigenic fungi, mainly the species A. flavus, since its toxin (Aflatoxin) is one of the most frequent in cases of food poisoning by mycotoxins. But some species of this genus can also cause infections to humans and animals, such as the occurrence of aspergillosis, a lung disease that can evolve to an invasive form. For the prevention and control of this and other foodborne diseases, the application of quality control tools in the production of food is essential, and the nutritionist is a qualified technical agent to act both in the food industry and in the services and units of food and nutrition.Aspergillus spp. é um fungo cosmopolita com grande ocorrência em regiões tropicais e subtropicais devido as condições climáticas favoráveis, como ocorre no Brasil. Os fungos apresentam maior relevância nas contaminações alimentares pela produção de micotoxinas, produzidas quando os alimentos são armazenados em más condições, em ambientes úmidos, sem ventilação adequada, ou com a presença de insetos e roedores que danificam os grãos e facilitam a proliferação dos fungos, como Aspergillus. Assim o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a ocorrência do gênero Aspergillus e as patogenias associadas a presença de suas micotoxinas em alimentos. Além disso, demonstrar o importante papel do profissional nutricionista no controle de qualidade alimentar para garantir a segurança dos comensais. Para isso, foram consolidados dados disponíveis em bases de dados como LILACS, SCIELO, BVS e PUBMED, utilizando os seguintes descritores: Aflatoxinas, ocratoxinas e aspergilose, assim como os dados referente aos limites máximos tolerados (LMT) para Aflatoxinas e Ocratoxinas no Brasil, estabelecidos pela ANVISA através das RDC n. 7/2011 e RDC n. 138/2017. Desta forma, foi evidenciado a grande relevância das contaminações alimentares por fungos, que estima-se atingir cerca de 25% dos produtos agrícolas em todo o mundo. O gênero Aspergillus se destaca entre os fungos toxigênicos, principalmente a espécie A. flavus, uma vez que a sua toxina (Aflatoxina) é uma das mais frequentes nos casos de intoxicações alimentares por micotoxinas. Mas algumas espécies desse gênero também podem ocasionar infecções ao homem e animais, como a ocorrência de aspergilose, doença pulmonar que pode evoluir para a forma invasiva. Para a prevenção e controle desta e de outras contaminações alimentares é imprescindível a aplicação de ferramentas de controle de qualidade na produção de alimentos, sendo o profissional nutricionista é agente técnico capacitado para atuar tanto na indústria de alimentos como nos serviços e unidades de alimentação e nutrição

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability as Key Elements for Innovation: A Brazilian Dilemma

Considering the socio-economic reality of Brazil and from the relevance of the issues related to entrepreneurship and organizational innovation in the country, the importance of sustainability for the organizations could become a solution for the integration of entrepreneurship with innovation. The objective of this research is to highlight the relevance of sustainability for organizations as a way to trigger the integration of entrepreneurship toward innovation in the Brazilian context. Various exploratory and descriptive researches on the dynamics of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability in the main organizations of the Serra Gaúcha (RS), Brazil were carried out through the Multidisciplinary Research Group on Innovation and Competitiveness, in partnership with a research Nucleus on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability. The main results indicate that the key sectors of this Brazilian regional economy present less “innovation intensity,” which are mainly characterized by internal organizational activities of innovation, preventing them to become “regional systems of innovation,” and which presupposes the lack of sustainability. Those limitations can be characterized as “innovation ghettos.” In that logic, the researchers have also demonstrated the presence of “ghettos of sustainability, ghettos of innovation, and therefore, ghettos of sustainability and innovation” in the sectors of this Brazilian regional economy, but in differentiated and restricted perspective