Very Rare Complementation between Mitochondria Carrying Different Mitochondrial DNA Mutations Points to Intrinsic Genetic Autonomy of the Organelles in Cultured Human Cells

In the present work, a large scale investigation was done regarding the capacity of cultured human cell lines (carrying in homoplasmic form either the mitochondrial tRNALys A8344G mutation associated with the myoclonic epilepsy and ragged red fiber (MERRF) encephalomyopathy or a frameshift mutation, isolated in vitro, in the gene for the ND4 subunit of NADH dehydrogenase) to undergo transcomplementation of their recessive mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations after cell fusion. The presence of appropriate nuclear drug resistance markers in the two cell lines allowed measurements of the frequency of cell fusion in glucose-containing medium, non-selective for respiratory capacity, whereas the frequency of transcomplementation of the two mtDNA mutations was determined by growing the same cell fusion mixture in galactose-containing medium, selective for respiratory competence. Transcomplementation of the two mutations was revealed by the re-establishment of normal mitochondrial protein synthesis and respiratory activity and by the relative rates synthesis of two isoforms of the ND3 subunit of NADH dehydrogenase. The results of several experiments showed a cell fusion frequency between 1.4 and 3.4% and an absolute transcomplementation frequency that varied between 1.2 × 10^-5 and 5.5 × 10^-4. Thus, only 0.3-1.6% of the fusion products exhibited transcomplementation of the two mutations. These rare transcomplementing clones were very sluggish in developing, grew very slowly thereafter, and showed a substantial rate of cell death (22-28%). The present results strongly support the conclusion that the capacity of mitochondria to fuse and mix their contents is not a general intrinsic property of these organelles in mammalian cells, although it may become activated in some developmental or physiological situations

Zooarqueología del III Milenio A.N.E.: El barrio metalúrgico de Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla)

Presentamos el estudio zooarqueológico del conjunto faunístico registrado en el barrio metalúrgico de Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla), centro político de la red de jerarquización (relaciones centro/periferia) del Valle del Guadalquivir durante el III Milenio A.N.E. Fue analizado con el objetivo de conocer la dieta, la explotación animal y las relaciones sociales, a través de la identificación y clasificación taxonómica, el cálculo de la abundancia relativa y la división ósea por regiones anatómicas. Además, se reconocieron los diversos fenómenos que interaccionaron y afectaron al conjunto óseo (procesos tafonómicos). El compendio de los análisis realizados reflejó un modelo de conducta caracterizado por una explotación de especies domésticas sacrificadas en edad adulta, una presencia elevada de huesos con utilidad alimenticia gracias a la representaci ón de partes esqueléticas (%MAU, valores observados/esperados y test de chi-cuadrado o X2), un patrón de fragmentación debido a procesos posdeposicionales y una amalgama de alteraciones sobre las superficies óseas que reflejan la acción tanto humana y animal como de los agentes abióticos en el registro faunístico.In this paper we are presenting the zooarchaeological study of the faunal assemblage from the smelting quarter of Valencina de la Concepción (Seville); a political centre found within the intersettlement hierarchical framework (core/periphery relationships) of the Guadalquivir Valley around the Third millennium BCE. These faunal remains were analyzed with the aim of establishing the diet, animal exploitation patterns and social relations through taxonomic identification and classification, the calculation of the relative abundance and the division of animal bones in anatomical regions. Furthermore, the analysis was focused on recognizing the various phenomena that interacted and affected the whole bone (taphonomic processes). The summary of the analysis showed a pattern of behaviour characterized by the exploitation of adult domesticated animals, a high presence of bones with food utility (%MAU, observed/expected values and chi-square test or X2), a pattern of fragmentation due to post-depositional processes and, finally, alterations on the bone surfaces that reflect both human/animal action and abiotic agents on the faunal record

Effects of Fe deficiency on the protein profiles and lignin composition of stem tissues from Medicago truncatula in absence or presence of calcium carbonate

12 Pags.- 2 Tabls.- 5 Figs.- Supp. Data.Iron deficiency is a yield-limiting factor with major implications for crop production, especially in soils with high CaCO3. Because stems are essential for the delivery of nutrients to the shoots, the aim of this work was to study the effects of Fe deficiency on the stem proteome of Medicago truncatula. Two-dimensional electrophoresis separation of stem protein extracts resolved 276 consistent spots in the whole experiment. Iron deficiency in absence or presence of CaCO3 caused significant changes in relative abundance in 10 and 31 spots, respectively, and 80% of them were identified by mass spectrometry. Overall results indicate that Fe deficiency by itself has a mild effect on the stem proteome, whereas Fe deficiency in the presence of CaCO3 has a stronger impact and causes changes in a larger number of proteins, including increases in stress and protein metabolism related proteins not observed in the absence of CaCO3. Both treatments resulted in increases in cell wall related proteins, which were more intense in the presence of CaCO3. The increases induced by Fe-deficiency in the lignin per protein ratio and changes in the lignin monomer composition, assessed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and microscopy, respectively, further support the existence of cell wall alterations. Biological significance: In spite of being essential for the delivery of nutrients to the shoots, our knowledge of stem responses to nutrient deficiencies is very limited. The present work applies 2-DE techniques to unravel the response of this understudied tissue to Fe deficiency. Proteomics data, complemented with mineral, lignin and microscopy analyses, indicate that stems respond to Fe deficiency by increasing stress and defense related proteins, probably in response of mineral and osmotic unbalances, and eliciting significant changes in cell wall composition. The changes observed are likely to ultimately affect solute transport and distribution to the leaves.Work supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Competitiveness (MINECO; projects AGL2012-31988, AGL2011-25379 and AGL2013-42175-R, co-financed by FEDER), the Aragón Government (group A03), and the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (under Agreement number 58-6250-0-008 to MAG). Support was obtained by contracts I3P-CSIC (JRC), FPI-MINECO (GL and LC-L), JAE-PRE-CSIC (EG-C) and JAE-DOC-CSIC (JR), co-financed by the European Social Fund.Peer reviewe

Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis Management in Resource-limited Settings

Managing MDRTB through national programs can yield results similar to those seen in wealthier settings

大加勒比地区的中国印象: 昨天与今日

Con autorización de la editorial para este libro. Coordinación del libro a cargo de Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben.La versión en español de este libro puede encontrarse en el siguiente enlace: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/263728Connected Worlds: The Caribbean, Origin of Modern World. European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska Curie grant agreement Nº 823846.Peer reviewe

La presencia china en el Gran Caribe: Ayer y hoy

Con autorización de la editorial para este libro. Coordinación del libro a cargo de Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben.La versión en inglés de este libro puede encontrarse en el siguiente enlace: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/276647Connected Worlds: The Caribbean, Origin of Modern World. European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska Curie grant agreement Nº 823846.Peer reviewe

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

Long-term thermal sensitivity of Earth’s tropical forests

The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater impact per °C in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth’s climate