The Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) mediates bifunctional growth regulation in melanoma and is a novel target for therapeutic intervention

Despite emergence of new systemic therapies, metastatic melanoma remains a challenging and often fatal form of skin cancer. The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is a major physiological regulatory pathway controlling salt–water equilibrium, intravascular volume and blood pressure. Biological effects of the RAS are mediated by the vasoactive hormone angiotensin II (AngII) via two receptor subtypes, AT1R (encoded by AGTR1) and AT2R (encoded by AGTR2). We report decreasing expression and increasing CpG island methylation of AGTR1 in metastatic versus primary melanoma and detection in serum of methylated genomic DNA from the AGTR1 CpG island in metastatic melanoma implying that AGTR1 encodes a tumour suppressor function in melanoma. Consistent with this hypothesis, antagonism of AT1R using losartan or shRNA-mediated knockdown in melanoma cell lines expressing AGTR1 resulted in acquisition of the ability to proliferate in serum-free conditions. Conversely, ectopic expression of AGTR1 in cell lines lacking endogenous expression inhibits proliferation irrespective of the presence of AngII implying a ligand-independent suppressor function for AT1R. Treatment of melanoma cell lines expressing endogenous AT2R with either AngII or the AT2R-selective agonist Y6AII induces proliferation in serum-free conditions whereas the AT2R-specific antagonists PD123319 and EMA401 inhibit melanoma growth and angiogenesis and potentiate inhibitors of BRAF and MEK in cells with BRAF V600 mutations. Our results demonstrate that the RAS has both oncogenic and tumour suppressor functions in melanoma. Pharmacological inhibition of AT2R may provide therapeutic opportunities in melanomas expressing this receptor and AGTR1 CpG island methylation in serum may serve as a novel biomarker of metastatic melanoma

Evolution of the B3 DNA Binding Superfamily: New Insights into REM Family Gene Diversification

Background: The B3 DNA binding domain includes five families: auxin response factor (ARF), abscisic acid-insensitive3 (ABI3), high level expression of sugar inducible (HSI), related to ABI3/VP1 (RAV) and reproductive meristem (REM). The release of the complete genomes of the angiosperm eudicots Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus trichocarpa, the monocot Orysa sativa, the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens,the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri and the red algae Cyanidioschyzon melorae provided an exceptional opportunity to study the evolution of this superfamily. Methodology: In order to better understand the origin and the diversification of B3 domains in plants, we combined comparative phylogenetic analysis with exon/intron structure and duplication events. In addition, we investigated the conservation and divergence of the B3 domain during the origin and evolution of each family. Conclusions: Our data indicate that showed that the B3 containing genes have undergone extensive duplication events, and that the REM family B3 domain has a highly diverged DNA binding. Our results also indicate that the founding member of the B3 gene family is likely to be similar to the ABI3/HSI genes found in C. reinhardtii and V. carteri. Among the B3 families, ABI3, HSI, RAV and ARF are most structurally conserved, whereas the REM family has experienced a rapid divergence. Thes

Potential use of seaweeds in the laying hen ration to improve the quality of n-3 fatty acid enriched eggs

An association between dietary fish oil and decreased yolk weight and reduced sensory quality of eggs has been reported when eggs are enriched with n-3 FA from fish oil. Seaweeds are an important source of compounds that seem to increase egg weight when included in the laying hen diet. The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of the dietary seaweeds Macrocystis pyrifera, Sargassum sinicola and Enteromorpha sp. on the physical quality, lipid composition and consumer acceptability of n-3 FA enriched eggs. One-hundred and forty-four 35-weekold Leghorn hens were randomly distributed in tour treatments that consisted of the inclusion of 2% of sardine oil (SO) and 10% of each marine alga (MA) in laying hens' diets; a control diet (C) was also prepared. The study lasted 8 weeks and egg physical quality, egg lipids and sensory attributes were evaluated. The results showed that incorporation of 10% M. pyrifera in the diets is an effective way of increasing the n-3 FA content, the albumen height and yola color, but not the egg weight, when these are enriched with n-3 FA from fish oil. The egg flavor was also not affected

The alga Sargassum spp. as alternative to reduce egg cholesterol content

In order to determine the effect of the addition of the sea alga Sargassum spp. on the egg cholesterol content in the diet of laying hens, 225 Leghorn hens were used at 19 weeks of age and distributed randomly into five treatments (0 %, 2 %, 4 %, 6 %, and 8 % of the sea alga). The experiment lasted five weeks, during which the productive variables were recorded. The physical quality was assessed in 75 eggs per treatment. Thirty-five pieces of each treatment were collected for the analysis of the egg cholesterol (yolk + albumin) through gas chromatography. The data were analyzed through ANOVA and the test of Tukey was applied to compare the means (P < 0.05). The results showed that with 4, 6, and 8 % of the sea alga the egg production was reduced and the yolk color was increased. The colesterol concentrations (mg 100 g-1 fresh egg) were 416.28 (0 % sea alga), 396.77 (2 % sea alga), 363.35 (4 % sea alga), 309.05 (6 % sea alga), and 338.76 (8 % sea alga). It was concluded that the addition of 4, 6, and 8 of the alga Sargassum spp. in the diet of laying hens reduces significantly the egg cholesterol content and affects favorably the yolk color

Hydrogeochemical characterization and quantification of the groundwater mixture in a hydrogeological basin of the middle zone of San Luis Potosí

The hydrogeochemical characterization and water-rock interaction processes in the subbasins of Santa Catarina and Ocampo-Paraíso in the Zona Media of San Luis Potosí have allowed identifying the types of groundwater. The results of the chemical analysis and the regional geological study show the possible rock-water interaction mechanisms. These results indicate that the composition of the groundwater in each of these basins reflects the dissolution of the carbonate and magnesium minerals of the carbonate rocks of Cretaceous age (El Abra Formation), by rainwater, and of the groundwater through a granular medium with a strong influence of the material of volcanic origin. The Ca-HCO3, Ca-Mg-HCO3, water type are modified during the groundwater flow by incorporation of Na+ and SO42- ions. The San Nicolás (subbasin III) has covered by fluvial deposits in a climatic conditions of semiarid regions. The hydrogeochemical analysis of major ions, lithium and bromine allowed identifying that the extracted water from the region is a product of mixing process, involving three endmembers (ternary mixture). The first, Santa Catarina (C1), has the lowest concentrations of bromine and lithium and its recharge occur in the highest altitude land in the region, towards the Sierra de Álvarez. The second end member (C2), displays high values of bromine, low in lithium and originates towards the Ocampo Paraíso Valley. The third end member (C3), has low bromine concentrations, high in lithium, and comes from San Nicolás Tolentino area. The mixing percentages indicate that C1 contributes 50%, C2 gives 31% and C3 adds 19% water to the system. doi: https://doi.org/10.22201/igeof.00167169p.2019.58.4.205

Crecimiento y producción de biomasa de moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) bajo las condiciones climáticas del Noreste de México

El cultivo de Moringa oleifera Lam. representa una alternativa viable para producción de biomasa por tener un rápido crecimiento vegetativo; sin embargo, tanto el crecimiento del cultivo como la producción de biomasa, pueden tener variaciones de acuerdo con las condiciones climatológicas y edáficas en que se desarrolle el cultivo. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue: evaluar el crecimiento y la producción de biomasa en dos niveles de fertilización (0 y 400 kg de N ha-1 año-1), dos variedades de M. oleifera (vaina corta 24 cm y vaina larga 45 cm, dos densidades de población (11 y 33 plantas m-2) y dos alturas de planta al corte (145.7 y 178.4 cm), durante los años 2013 y 2014 bajo condiciones de riego por goteo. El experimento se realizó a cielo abierto en el estado de Nuevo León, México (25o 47’ 07.54’’ latitud Norte, 100o 17’ 03.93’’ longitud Oeste, altitud de 479 msnm), utilizando un diseño experimental de bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones, con un arreglo factorial Taguchi de 24. La altura de planta registró relación positiva con la producción de biomasa. La densidad de población registró relación negativa al crecimiento, pero en la producción de biomasa registró relaciones positivas y negativas, dependiendo del periodo de crecimiento. Las variedades y la fertilización no registraron diferencias significativas en el crecimiento ni en la producción de biomasa. Se concluye que la altura de planta al corte y la densidad de población, afectan el crecimiento y la producción de biomasa de M. oleifera