Pectin De-methylesterification and AGP Increase Promote Cell Wall Remodeling and Are Required During Somatic Embryogenesis of Quercus suber

Somatic embryogenesis is a reliable system for in vitro plant regeneration, with biotechnological applications in trees, but the regulating mechanisms are largely unknown. Changes in cell wall mechanics controlled by methylesterification of pectins, mediated by pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and pectin methyl esterase inhibitors (PMEIs) underlie many developmental processes. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated proteins located at the surface of plasma membranes, in cell walls, and in extracellular secretions, with key roles in a range of different processes. In this study, we have investigated changes in two cell wall components, pectins and AGPs, during somatic embryogenesis in Quercus suber, a forest tree of high economic and ecologic value. At early embryogenesis stages, cells of proembryogenic masses showed high levels of esterified pectins and expression of QsPME and QsPMEI genes encoding a PME and a putative PMEI, respectively. At advanced stages, differentiating cells of heart, torpedo and cotyledonary embryos exhibited walls rich in de-esterified pectins, while QsPME gene expression and PME activity progressively increased. AGPs were detected in cell walls of proembryogenic masses and somatic embryos. QsLys-rich-AGP18, QsLys-rich-AGP17, and QsAGP16L1 gene expression increased with embryogenesis progression, as did the level of total AGPs, detected by dot blot with β-glucosyl Yariv reagent. Immuno dot blot, immunofluorescence assays and confocal analysis using monoclonal antibodies to high- (JIM7, LM20) and low- (JIM5, LM19) methylesterified pectins, and to certain AGP epitopes (LM6, LM2) showed changes in the amount and distribution pattern of esterified/de-esterified pectins and AGP epitopes, that were associated with proliferation and differentiation and correlated with expression of the PME and AGP genes analyzed. Pharmacological treatments with catechin, an inhibitor of PME activity, and Yariv reagent, which blocks AGPs, impaired the progression of embryogenesis, with pectin de-esterification and an increase in AGP levels being necessary for embryo development. Findings indicate a role for pectins and AGPs during somatic embryogenesis of cork oak, promoting the cell wall remodeling during the process. They also provide new insights into the regulating mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis in woody species, for which information is still scarce, opening up new possibilities to improve in vitro embryo production in tree breeding

EstuPlan: Methodology for the development of creativity in the resolution of scientific and social problems

[EN] Creative thinking is necessary to generate novel ideas and solve problems. "EstuPlan" is a methodology in which knowledge and creativity converge for the resolution of scientific problems with social projection. It is a training programme that integrates teachers, laboratory technicians and PhD students, master and undergraduate students which form working groups for the development of projects. Projects have a broad and essential scope and projection in terms of environmental problems, sustainable use of natural resources, food, health, biotechnology or biomedicine. The results show the success of this significant learning methodology using tools to develop creativity in responding to scientific and social demand for problem-solving to transfer academic knowledge to different professional environments. Bioplastics, Second Life of Coffee, LimBio, Algae oils, Ecomers, Caring for the life of your crop and Hate to Deforestate are currently being developed.Astudillo Calderón, S.; De Díez De La Torre, L.; García Companys, M.; Ortega Pérez, N.; Rodríguez Martínez, V.; Alzahrani, S.; Alonso Valenzuela, R.... (2019). EstuPlan: Methodology for the development of creativity in the resolution of scientific and social problems. En HEAD'19. 5th International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 711-717. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD19.2019.9205OCS71171

Cork oak microspore embryogenesis

In vivo, the microspore inside the anther divides and follows the gametophytic program to form the mature pollen grain. In vitro, upon the application of a stress treatment the microspore can be deviated towards a proliferation process leading to embryogenesis, the so-called microspore embryogenesis that can be induced in anther and isolated microspore cultures (Maluszynski et al. 2003).This work has been supported by projects (BFU2011-23752, AGL2014-52028-R, AGL2017-82447-R) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, MINECO, and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER) of the European Commission.Peer reviewe

Bioactive compounds from plants. Development of new or novel food

Introducción: los compuestos bioactivos (sustancias con efecto fisiológico) están teniendo en los últimos años una gran consideración en las dietas de las poblaciones, sobre todo en aquellas que consumen un alto contenido de alimentos vegetales que las aportan. Métodos: recoger los últimos datos científicos sobre compuestos bioactivos de origen vegetal y recopilar la legislación que regula la información nutricional de los alimentos y de las bebidas, así como de las propiedades saludables y de prevención de riesgo de enfermedad y de la aprobación de nuevos alimentos. Resultados: existe evidencia científica sobre el efecto de los compuestos bioactivos, lo que ha supuesto su incorporación en índices de calidad de la dieta (como la brújula alimentaria), así como la aprobación de 26 declaraciones de propiedades saludables y 2 de prevención de riesgo de enfermedad en la Unión Europea. También se han aprobado varios ingredientes o alimentos catalogados como nuevos alimentos dentro de la legislación alimentaria de la Unión Europea. Conclusiones: los compuestos bioactivos tienen cada vez más evidencia científica para estar recomendados, directamente o a través de los alimentos y de las bebidas que los contienen, en las guías alimentarias y deberían considerarse como otros nutrientes e incorporarse a la información nutricional, aunque no tengan aporte calórico.Introduction: substances with physiological effect or bioactive compounds are having a fundamental consideration in the diets of the populations during the last years, especially those that consume high content from plant foods that provide them. Methods: collect the latest scientific data on bioactive compounds from plant origin and develop legislation regulating the nutritional information of foods and beverages, as well as the health claims and reduction of disease risk claims. The approval of novel foods too. Results: there is scientific evidence on the effect of bioactive compounds, and this has meant their incorporation into dietary quality indices, such as the food compass. As well as the approval of 26 health claims and 2 reduction of disease risk claims in the European Union. Several ingredients or foods classified as novel foods have also been approved within European Union food law. Conclusions: bioactive compounds have more and more scientific evidence to be recommended directly or through the foods and beverages that contain them in dietary guidelines and must be considered as other nutrients and incorporated into the nutritional information even if they do not have caloric intake.Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Dynamics of Endogenous Auxin and Its Role in Somatic Embryogenesis Induction and Progression in Cork Oak

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a feasible in vitro regeneration system with biotechnological applications in breeding programs, although, in many forest species, SE is highly inefficient, mainly due to their recalcitrance. On the other hand, SE represents a valuable model system for studies on cell reprogramming, totipotency acquisition, and embryogenic development. The molecular mechanisms that govern the transition of plant somatic cells to embryogenic cells are largely unknown. There is increasing evidence that auxins mediate this transition and play a key role in somatic embryo development, although data on woody species are very limited. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics and possible role of endogenous auxin during SE in cork oak (Quercus suber L.). The auxin content was low in somatic cells before cell reprogramming, while it increased after induction of embryogenesis, as revealed by immunofluorescence assays. Cellular accumulation of endogenous auxin was also detected at the later stages of somatic embryo development. These changes in auxin levels correlated with the expression patterns of the auxin biosynthesis (QsTAR2) and signaling (QsARF5) genes, which were upregulated after SE induction. Treatments with the inhibitor of auxin biosynthesis, kynurenine, reduced the proliferation of proembryogenic masses and impaired further embryo development. QsTAR2 and QsARF5 were downregulated after kynurenine treatment. Our findings indicate a key role of endogenous auxin biosynthesis and signaling in SE induction and multiplication, as well as somatic embryo development of cork oak

Pectin de-methylesterification and AGP increase promote cell wall remodeling and are required during somatic embryogenesis of Quercus suber

© 2019 Pérez-Pérez, Carneros, Berenguer, Solís, Bárány, Pintos, Gómez-Garay, Risueño and Testillano.Somatic embryogenesis is a reliable system for in vitro plant regeneration, with biotechnological applications in trees, but the regulating mechanisms are largely unknown. Changes in cell wall mechanics controlled by methylesterification of pectins, mediated by pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and pectin methyl esterase inhibitors (PMEIs) underlie many developmental processes. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated proteins located at the surface of plasma membranes, in cell walls, and in extracellular secretions, with key roles in a range of different processes. In this study, we have investigated changes in two cell wall components, pectins and AGPs, during somatic embryogenesis in Quercus suber, a forest tree of high economic and ecologic value. At early embryogenesis stages, cells of proembryogenic masses showed high levels of esterified pectins and expression of QsPME and QsPMEI genes encoding a PME and a putative PMEI, respectively. At advanced stages, differentiating cells of heart, torpedo and cotyledonary embryos exhibited walls rich in de-esterified pectins, while QsPME gene expression and PME activity progressively increased. AGPs were detected in cell walls of proembryogenic masses and somatic embryos. QsLys-rich-AGP18, QsLys-rich-AGP17, and QsAGP16L1 gene expression increased with embryogenesis progression, as did the level of total AGPs, detected by dot blot with β-glucosyl Yariv reagent. Immuno dot blot, immunofluorescence assays and confocal analysis using monoclonal antibodies to high- (JIM7, LM20) and low- (JIM5, LM19) methylesterified pectins, and to certain AGP epitopes (LM6, LM2) showed changes in the amount and distribution pattern of esterified/de-esterified pectins and AGP epitopes, that were associated with proliferation and differentiation and correlated with expression of the PME and AGP genes analyzed. Pharmacological treatments with catechin, an inhibitor of PME activity, and Yariv reagent, which blocks AGPs, impaired the progression of embryogenesis, with pectin de-esterification and an increase in AGP levels being necessary for embryo development. Findings indicate a role for pectins and AGPs during somatic embryogenesis of cork oak, promoting the cell wall remodeling during the process. They also provide new insights into the regulating mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis in woody species, for which information is still scarce, opening up new possibilities to improve in vitro embryo production in tree breeding.This work was supported by projects AGL2014-52028-R and AGL2017-82447-R funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER). YP-P was recipient of a grant (PEJ15/BIO/AI-01S8) funded by Comunidad de Madrid and European Commission through ERDF/FEDER

Right to the point: THE PODCAST AS A DIDACTIC AND SCIENTIFIC DISSEMINATION TOOL THAT BRINGS STUDENTS CLOSER TO THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD.

Universidad Complutense de MadridDepto. de Genética, Fisiología y MicrobiologíaFac. de Ciencias BiológicasFALSEsubmitte

Molecular imprinting science and technology : A survey of the literature for the years 2004 - 2011

Herein, we present a survey of the literature covering the development of molecular imprinting science and technology over the years 2004-2011. In total, 3779 references to the original papers, reviews, edited volumes and monographs from this period are included, along with recently identified uncited materials from prior to 2004, which were omitted in the first instalment of this series covering the years 1930-2003. In the presentation of the assembled references, a section presenting reviews and monographs covering the area is followed by sections describing fundamental aspects of molecular imprinting including the development of novel polymer formats. Thereafter, literature describing efforts to apply these polymeric materials to a range of application areas is presented. Current trends and areas of rapid development are discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd