Undercovering the molecular mechanisms of lipid signalling at ER-PM contact sites in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under abiotic stress conditions

Abiotic stresses cause large reductions in crop production. Therefore, is important to understand how plants respond in order to develop varieties with increased resistance. Lipid-transport proteins (LTP) are emerging as key players of lipid signaling in response to numerous stresses. Specifically, SYT1, a protein first identified by its role in abiotic stress tolerance, is now recognized as an endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact site tether capable. Our recent data support that SYT1 in involved on non-vesicular lipid-transport of diacyl glycerol (DAG) through its SMP domain. This data together with the interaction of SYT1 with a diacyl glycerol kinase (DGK) suggest a lipid signaling pathway where the product of phospholipase C, diacylglycerol, might be simultaneously translocated from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic-reticulum by SYT1 and phosphorylated to phosphatidic acid by DGK at the plasma membrane. Using in vitro biochemical approaches we are investigating the affinity of specific lipid species transported by SYT1 using lipid-competition assays, where a fluorescent lipid competes for SYT1 binding-pocket with different lipid species. Using bioinformatic we are obtaining insight into the lipid signal pathway involving PHOSPHOLIPASE C (PLC), DIACYLGLYCEROL KINASE (DGK) and SYNAPTOTAGMIN1 (SYT1) in tomatoUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Stabilized Chiral Organic Material Containing BINAP Oxide Units as a Heterogeneous Asymmetric Organocatalyst for Allylation of Aldehydes

Condensation of BINAPO-(PhCHO)2 and 1,3,5- tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) results in a new imine-based chiral organic material (COM) that can be further postfunctionalized through reductive transformation of imine linkers to amines. While the imine-based material does not show the necessary stability to be used as a heterogeneous catalyst, the reduced amine-linked framework can be efficiently employed in asymmetric allylation of different aromatic aldehydes. Yields and enantiomeric excesses found are comparable to those observed for the molecular BINAP oxide catalyst, but importantly, the aminebased material also permits its recyclabilityFinancial support was provided by the Spanish Government (PID2019-110637RB-I00). A.L.-M. thanks UAM for a FPIUAM predoctoral fellowship. M.S.-F. thanks Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación for a FPI contract (PRE2020-092295). A.M. acknowledges the Spanish Government and the European Union through the Funds Next Generation through grant Maria Zambrano-UAM (CA3/RSUE/2021-00648

Implementing FFT-based digital channelized receivers on FPGA platforms

This paper presents an in-depth study of the implementation and characterization of fast Fourier transform (FFT) pipelined architectures suitable for broadband digital channelized receivers. When implementing the FFT algorithm on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms, the primary goal is to maximize throughput and minimize area. Feedback and feedforward architectures have been analyzed regarding key design parameters: radix, bitwidth, number of points and stage scaling. Moreover, a simplification of the FFT algorithm, the monobit FFT, has been implemented in order to achieve faster real time performance in broadband digital receivers. The influence of the hardware implementation on the performance of digital channelized receivers has been analyzed in depth, revealing interesting implementation trade-offs which should be taken into account when designing this kind of signal processing systems on FPGA platforms

Spectrally resolved white light interferometry to measure material dispersion over a wide spectral band in a single acquisition

In this paper we apply spectrally resolved white light interferometry to measure refractive and group index over a wide spectral band from 400 to 1000 nm. The output of a Michelson interferometer is spectrally decomposed by a homemade prism spectrometer with a high resolution camera. The group index is determined directly from the phase extracted from the spectral interferogram while the refractive index is estimated once its value at a given wavelength is known.Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) (MAT2014-57943-C3-1-P, MAT2014-57943-C3-2-P); Xunta de Galicia and FEDER (R2014/015, AGRU 2015/11)S

Real Time FPGA Implementation of an Modulation Classifier for Electronic Warfare Applications

This paper presents an automatic modulation classifier for electronic warfare applications. It is a pattern recognition modulation classifier based on statistical features of the phase and instantaneous frequency. This classifier runs in a real time operation mode with sampling rates in excess of 1 Gsample/s. The hardware platform for this application is a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This AMC is subsidiary of a digital channelised receiver also implemented in the same platform

Elevation of Tear MMP-9 Concentration as a Biomarker of Inflammation in Ocular Pathology by Antibody Microarray Immunodetection Assays

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of enzymes fundamental in inflammatory processes. Between them, MMP-9 is up-regulated during inflammation; thus, its quantification in non-invasive fluids is a promising approach for inflammation identification. To this goal, a biomarker quantification test was developed for ocular inflammation detection using anti-MMP-9 antibody microarrays (AbMAs). After validation with eight healthy control tear samples characterized by ELISA, 20 samples were tested from individuals diagnosed with ocular inflammation due to: cataracts, glaucoma, meibomian gland dysfunction, allergy, or dry eye. Concentration values of tear MMP-9 were obtained for each sample, and 12 patients surpassed the pathological threshold (30 ng/mL). A significant elevation of MMP-9 concentration in the tears of glaucoma patients compared with healthy controls was observed. In order to evaluate the diagnostic ability, an ROC curve analysis was performed using our data, determining the optimal threshold for the test at 33.6 ng/mL of tear MMP-9. In addition, a confusion matrix was applied, estimating sensitivity at 60%, specificity at 88%, and accuracy at 68%. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the AbMAs system allows the quantification of MMP-9 in pathologies that involve inflammation of the ocular surface.This research was funded by Basque Government, BIKAINTEK, grant number 48-AF-W2-2019-00006; by the University of the Basque Country, PIFIND19/02, grant number 201900016247; by ELKARTEK, grant number (KK-2019/00086), by MINECO-Retos, grant number (PID2019-111139RBI00) to E.V.; and by FISS, grant number FISS-21-RD21/0002/0041, to I.R.-A. and A.A

La Informática Industrial en las Ingenierías Industriales

El término Informática Industrial se utiliza para dar cabida a un conjunto muy diverso de disciplinas y tecnologías. El encontrar un criterio unificador que articule los diversos enfoques posibles y que, ayude tanto al docente como al alumno, en el proceso de enseñanza/aprendizaje de manera que se brinde conocimiento perdurable y al mismo tiempo actualizado, es una tarea clave. En esta contribución se discuten estas ideas relativas a la docencia de esta disciplina en las diferentes titulaciones de la Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales de la UVA, manifestando ideas de cómo ese marco conceptual puede adaptarse al contexto de las diferentes especialidades.Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas y Automática2018-01-0

Selective interaction of PEGylated polyglutamic acid nanocapsules with cancer cells in a 3D model of a metastatic lymph node

Background Metastases are the most common reason of cancer death in patients with solid tumors. Lymph nodes, once invaded by tumor cells, act as reservoirs before cancer cells spread to distant organs. To address the limited access of intravenously infused chemotherapeutics to the lymph nodes, we have developed PEGylated polyglutamic acid nanocapsules (PGA-PEG NCs), which have shown ability to reach and to accumulate in the lymphatic nodes and could therefore act as nanotransporters. Once in the lymphatics, the idea is that these nanocapsules would selectively interact with cancer cells, while avoiding non-specific interactions with immune cells and the appearance of subsequent immunotoxicity. Results The potential of the PGA-PEG NCs, with a mean size of 100 nm and a negative zeta potential, to selectively reach metastatic cancer cells, has been explored in a novel 3D model that mimics an infiltrated lymph node. Our 3D model, a co-culture of cancer cells and lymphocytes, allows performing experiments under dynamic conditions that simulate the lymphatic flow. After perfusion of the nanocarriers, we observe a selective interaction with the tumor cells. Efficacy studies manifest the need to develop specific therapies addressed to treat metastatic cells that can be in a dormant state. Conclusions We provide evidence of the ability of PGA-PEG NCs to selectively interact with the tumor cells in presence of lymphocytes, highlighting their potential in cancer therapeutics. We also state the importance of designing precise in vitro models that allow performing mechanistic assays, to efficiently develop and evaluate specific therapies to confront the formation of metastasisThe authors acknowledge financial support given by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (CP12/03150, PIE13/00024 and PI15/00828), ERA-NET EuroNanoMed 2009 (Lymphotarg PI09/2670) and EuroNanoMed 2013 (053 NICHE). The first author also acknowledges a fellowship received from the Fundación Ramón Domínguez, Spain. Abellan-Pose also acknowledges a fellowship from the Biomedical Sciences and Health Technologies Doctoral School-University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)S

Molecular Determinants of Kv1.3 Potassium Channels-induced Proliferation

Producción CientíficaChanges in voltage-dependent potassium channels (Kv channels) associate to proliferation in many cell types, including transfected HEK293 cells. In this system Kv1.5 overexpression decreases proliferation, whereas Kv1.3 expression increases it independently of K+ fluxes. To identify Kv1.3 domains involved in a proliferation-associated signaling mechanism(s), we constructed chimeric Kv1.3-Kv1.5 channels and point-mutant Kv1.3 channels, which were expressed as GFP- or cherry-fusion proteins. We studied their trafficking and functional expression, combining immunocytochemical and electrophysiological methods, and their impact on cell proliferation. We found that the C terminus is necessary for Kv1.3-induced proliferation. We distinguished two residues (Tyr-447 and Ser-459) whose mutation to alanine abolished proliferation. The insertion into Kv1.5 of a sequence comprising these two residues increased proliferation rate. Moreover, Kv1.3 voltage-dependent transitions from closed to open conformation induced MEK-ERK1/2-dependent Tyr-447 phosphorylation. We conclude that the mechanisms for Kv1.3-induced proliferation involve the accessibility of key docking sites at the C terminus. For one of these sites (Tyr-447) we demonstrated the contribution of MEK/ERK-dependent phosphorylation, which is regulated by voltage-induced conformational changes.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Instituto de Salud Carlos III y Programa Estatal de Investigación , Fundación Ramón Areces y Consejería de Sanidad de la Junta de Castilla y León