Updated Phylogeny and Protein Structure Predictions Revise the Hypothesis on the Origin of MADS-box Transcription Factors in Land Plants

MADS-box transcription factors (TFs), among the first TFs extensively studied, exhibit a wide distribution across eukaryotes and play diverse functional roles. Varying by domain architecture, MADS-box TFs in land plants are categorized into Type I (M-type) and Type II (MIKC-type). Type I and II genes have been considered orthologous to the SRF and MEF2 genes in animals, respectively, presumably originating from a duplication before the divergence of eukaryotes. Here, we exploited the increasing availability of eukaryotic MADS-box sequences and reassessed their evolution. While supporting the ancient duplication giving rise to SRF- and MEF2-types, we found that Type I and II genes originated from the MEF2-type genes through another duplication in the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of land plants. Protein structures predicted by AlphaFold2 and OmegaFold support our phylogenetic analyses, with plant Type I and II TFs resembling the MEF2-type structure, rather than SRFs. We hypothesize that the ancestral SRF-type TFs were lost in the MRCA of Archaeplastida (the kingdom Plantae sensu lato). The retained MEF2-type TFs acquired a Keratin-like domain and became MIKC-type before the divergence of Streptophyta. Subsequently in the MRCA of land plants, M-type TFs evolved from a duplicated MIKC-type precursor through loss of the Keratin-like domain, leading to the Type I clade. Both Type I and II TFs expanded and functionally differentiated in concert with the increasing complexity of land plant body architecture. The recruitment of these originally stress-responsive TFs into developmental programs, including those underlying reproduction, may have facilitated the adaptation to the terrestrial environment

Hyperreactivity of Salivary Alpha-Amylase to Acute Psychosocial Stress and Norepinephrine Infusion in Essential Hypertension

It is unknown whether the observed general physiological hyperreactivity to acute psychosocial stress in essential hypertension also extends to salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), a surrogate sympathetic nervous system marker. Here, we investigated sAA reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in essential hypertensive males (HT) as compared to normotensive controls (NT). To shed light on underlying mechanisms, we moreover tested for sAA reactivity following a standardized norepinephrine (NE) infusion. We hypothesized that both acute psychosocial stress and an NE infusion of similar duration would lead to greater sAA reactivity in HT than in NT. In the stress study, we examined sAA reactivity to 15 min of acute psychosocial stress induced by the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in 19 HT and 23 NT up to 40 min after stress. In the infusion study, 20 HT and 22 NT received a standardized NE infusion (5 μg/mL/min) over 15 min mimicking NE release in reaction to acute psychosocial stress. HT exhibited greater sAA reactivity to the TSST as compared to NT (p = 0.049, ηp2 = 0.08, f = 0.29). In reaction to the standardized NE infusion, HT showed higher sAA reactivity as compared to NT (p = 0.033, ηp2 = 1.00, f = 0.33). Our findings suggest stress-induced sAA hyperreactivity in essential hypertension that seems to be at least in part mediated by a higher reactivity to a standardized amount of NE in HT. With respect to clinical implications, sAA stress reactivity may serve as a noninvasive marker indicative of early cardiovascular risk

Understanding the gastrointestinal tract of the elderly to develop dietary solutions that prevent malnutrition

Although the prevalence of malnutrition in the old age is increasing worldwide a synthetic understanding of the impact of aging on the intake, digestion, and absorption of nutrients is still lacking. This review article aims at filling the gap in knowledge between the functional decline of the aging gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the consequences of malnutrition on the health status of elderly. Changes in the aging GIT include the mechanical disintegration of food, gastrointestinal motor function, food transit, chemical food digestion, and functionality of the intestinal wall. These alterations progressively decrease the ability of the GIT to provide the aging organism with adequate levels of nutrients, what contributes to the development of malnutrition. Malnutrition, in turn, increases the risks for the development of a range of pathologies associated with most organ systems, in particular the nervous-, muscoskeletal-, cardiovascular-, immune-, and skin systems. In addition to psychological, economics, and societal factors, dietary solutions preventing malnutrition should thus propose dietary guidelines and food products that integrate knowledge on the functionality of the aging GIT and the nutritional status of the elderly. Achieving this goal will request the identification, validation, and correlative analysis of biomarkers of food intake, nutrient bioavailability, and malnutrition.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determining cellular CTCF and cohesin abundances to constrain 3D genome models.

Achieving a quantitative and predictive understanding of 3D genome architecture remains a major challenge, as it requires quantitative measurements of the key proteins involved. Here, we report the quantification of CTCF and cohesin, two causal regulators of topologically associating domains (TADs) in mammalian cells. Extending our previous imaging studies (Hansen et al., 2017), we estimate bounds on the density of putatively DNA loop-extruding cohesin complexes and CTCF binding site occupancy. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation studies of an endogenously tagged subunit (Rad21) suggest the presence of cohesin dimers and/or oligomers. Finally, based on our cell lines with accurately measured protein abundances, we report a method to conveniently determine the number of molecules of any Halo-tagged protein in the cell. We anticipate that our results and the established tool for measuring cellular protein abundances will advance a more quantitative understanding of 3D genome organization, and facilitate protein quantification, key to comprehend diverse biological processes

Alpha-Adrenergic Mechanisms in the Cardiovascular Hyperreactivity to Norepinephrine-Infusion in Essential Hypertension.

Aims Essential hypertension (EHT) is characterized by cardiovascular hyperreactivity to stress but underlying mechanism are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of α-adrenergic receptors (α-AR) in the cardiovascular reactivity to a norepinephrine (NE)-stress reactivity-mimicking NE-infusion in essential hypertensive individuals (HT) as compared to normotensive individuals (NT). Methods 24 male HT and 24 male NT participated in three experimental trials on three separate days with a 1-min infusion followed by a 15-min infusion. Trials varied in infusion-substances: placebo saline (Sal)-infusions (trial-1:Sal+Sal), NE-infusion without (trial-2:Sal+NE) or with non-selective α-AR blockade by phentolamine (PHE) (trial-3:PHE+NE). NE-infusion dosage (5µg/ml/min) and duration were chosen to mimic duration and physiological effects of NE-release in reaction to established stress induction protocols. We repeatedly measured systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as well as heart rate before, during, and after infusions. Results SBP and DBP reactivity to the three infusion-trials differed between HT and NT (p's≤.014). HT exhibited greater BP reactivity to NE-infusion alone compared to NT (trial-2-vs-trial-1: p's≤.033). Group differences in DBP reactivity to NE disappeared with prior PHE blockade (trial-3: p=.26), while SBP reactivity differences remained (trial-3: p=.016). Heart rate reactivity to infusion-trials did not differ between HT and NT (p=.73). Conclusion Our findings suggest a mediating role of α-AR in DBP hyperreactivity to NE-infusion in EHT. However, in SBP hyperreactivity to NE-infusion in EHT, the functioning of α-AR seems impaired suggesting that the SBP hyperreactivity in hypertension is not mediated by α-AR

Drei wichtige Aufgaben der Linguistischen Rhetorik

Kindt W. Drei wichtige Aufgaben der Linguistischen Rhetorik. In: Anreiter P, Mairhofer E, Posch C, eds. Argumenta. Festschrift für Manfred Kienpointner zum 60. Geburtstag. Wien: Praesens-Verl.; 2015: 191-200

Sub-Andean Project: Geological maps to promote investment opportunities in remote areas of the Peruvian Subandean

Since 2019 the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute - INGEMMET has been developing the “Sub-Andean Project”. This project aims to integrate geological surface information acquired by hydrocarbon companies since the last decade in their exploration activities (PERUPETRO - INGEMMET Technical Information Exchange Agreement) with studies of Geological National Chart in this part of the territory to provide timely and quality information with a high geological value of the different areas of the Sub-Andean. From 2019 to 2021, “Sub-Andean Project” will update 155 quadrants at a scale of 1: 50,000 and annual reports of the geological update. In 2019, 45 quadrants located in the high jungle of Madre de Dios, Ucayali and Ene / Pachitea were update. In 2020 are being updated 104 quadrants of the Huallaga and Santiago basins and for 2021, 06 quadrants and 05 geological maps at 1: 250,000 scale will programmed. As an important background to this project in 2015 were updated 17 sheets at scale 1: 50,000 located in Madre de Dios basin and in 2016 were updated 13 sheets belonging to Ucayali Sur basin. As part of the project carried out field campaigns to validate and improve the quality of the integrated geological information, geological maps are prepared, geological data positioned, the stratigraphy is standardized and the main geological structures exposed in the called folded belts. The processing of all information collected is through an organized and standardized database processed in a GIS project in Geodatabase format

Sintesis Poli N-Isopropilakrilamida (PNIPA)/Polityrosin (PTYR) Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs) Bertanda Iodium-125

Saat ini perkembangan polimer telah semakin maju, berbagai aplikasi polimer telah dikembangkan baik di sektor energi, pangan maupun kesehatan. PNIPA/PTYR IPNs bertanda iodium-125 dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber terapi kanker. PNIPA/PTYR merupakan polimer peka temperatur. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah sintesis PNIPA/PTYR IPNs bertanda iodium-125. Polityrosin ditandai dengan iodium-125 kemudian secara simultan direaksikan dengan monomer N-isopropilakrilamida melalui polimerisasi radikal bebas dengan inisiator amonium persulfat (APS) dan tetrametiletilenediamin (TEMED) untuk memperoleh PNIPA/PTYR IPNs bertanda iodium-125. Kemurnian radiokimia PNIPA/PTYR IPNs bertanda iodium-125 diukur dengan krom atografi lapis tipis (KLT) dengan fasa gerak 2 propanol: 1 butanol: 0,2 M NH4OH. Selain Itu, stabilitas PNIPA/PTYR IPNs bertanda iodium-125 diuji pada media air. PNIPA/PTYR IPNs telah berhasil ditandai dengan iodium-125 dengan rendemen penandaan sebesar 37,6 ± 4,2 % (n = 3). Hasil pengamatan visual, ditunjukkan bahwa polimer mengalami Perubahan sifat pada temperatur 32 oC sampai dengan 34°C. Hasil H-NMR hanya menunjukkan spektrum dari polimer PNIPA. Berdasarkan pemeriksaan KLT, kemurnian radiokimia PNIPA/PTYR IPNs bertanda iodium-125 adalah 95,93%. Pengujian stabilitas polimer bertanda iodum-125 pada media air pada T = 37°C selama 2 minggu menunjukkan bahwa iodium-125 yang masih tertahan pada polimer adalah 71,3 ± 6,2 %