Nuevas especies de Surazomus Reddell & Cokendolpher, 1995 (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) de Costa Rica

Se describen tres especies nuevas de esquizómidos de Costa Rica que pertenecen al género Surazomus Reddell & Cokendolpher, 1995: una de la Estación Biológica La Selva, provincia Heredia; las otras dos, de la Estación Biológica Las Cruces, Coto Brus, provincia Puntarenas. Con estos nuevos aportes, se elevan a 16 los miembros del género y a nueve las especies de esquizómidos formalmente descritas de este país centroamericano.Three new species of Costa Rican schizomids belonging to the genus Surazomus Reddell & Cokendolpher, 1995, are described from Biological Station La Selva, Heredia province, and Biological Station Las Cruces, Coto Brus, Puntarenas province. Those additions raise to 16 the known nominal species of this genus and to nine the schizomid species recognized from Costa Rica

A Motor Function for the DEAD-Box RNA Helicase, Gemin3, in Drosophila

The survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, the determining factor for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), is complexed with a group of proteins in human cells. Gemin3 is the only RNA helicase in the SMN complex. Here, we report the identification of Drosophila melanogaster Gemin3 and investigate its function in vivo. Like in vertebrates, Gemin3 physically interacts with SMN in Drosophila. Loss of function of gemin3 results in lethality at larval and/or prepupal stages. Before they die, gemin3 mutant larvae exhibit declined mobility and expanded neuromuscular junctions. Expression of a dominant-negative transgene and knockdown of Gemin3 in mesoderm cause lethality. A less severe Gemin3 disruption in developing muscles leads to flightless adults and flight muscle degeneration. Our findings suggest that Drosophila Gemin3 is required for larval development and motor function

BOD1 Is Required for Cognitive Function in Humans and <i>Drosophila</i>

Here we report a stop-mutation in the BOD1 (Biorientation Defective 1) gene, which co-segregates with intellectual disability in a large consanguineous family, where individuals that are homozygous for the mutation have no detectable BOD1 mRNA or protein. The BOD1 protein is required for proper chromosome segregation, regulating phosphorylation of PLK1 substrates by modulating Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity during mitosis. We report that fibroblast cell lines derived from homozygous BOD1 mutation carriers show aberrant localisation of the cell cycle kinase PLK1 and its phosphatase PP2A at mitotic kinetochores. However, in contrast to the mitotic arrest observed in BOD1-siRNA treated HeLa cells, patient-derived cells progressed through mitosis with no apparent segregation defects but at an accelerated rate compared to controls. The relatively normal cell cycle progression observed in cultured cells is in line with the absence of gross structural brain abnormalities in the affected individuals. Moreover, we found that in normal adult brain tissues BOD1 expression is maintained at considerable levels, in contrast to PLK1 expression, and provide evidence for synaptic localization of Bod1 in murine neurons. These observations suggest that BOD1 plays a cell cycle-independent role in the nervous system. To address this possibility, we established two Drosophila models, where neuron-specific knockdown of BOD1 caused pronounced learning deficits and significant abnormalities in synapse morphology. Together our results reveal novel postmitotic functions of BOD1 as well as pathogenic mechanisms that strongly support a causative role of BOD1 deficiency in the aetiology of intellectual disability. Moreover, by demonstrating its requirement for cognitive function in humans and Drosophila we provide evidence for a conserved role of BOD1 in the development and maintenance of cognitive features

Methods for Monitoring Matrix-Induced Autophagy.

A growing body of research demonstrates modulation of autophagy by a variety of matrix constituents, including decorin, endorepellin, and endostatin. These matrix proteins are both pro-autophagic and anti-angiogenic. Here, we detail a series of methods to monitor matrix-induced autophagy and its concurrent effects on angiogenesis. We first discuss cloning and purifying proteoglycan fragment and core proteins in the laboratory and review relevant techniques spanning from cell culture to treatment with these purified proteoglycans in vitro and ex vivo. Further, we cover protocols in monitoring autophagic progression via morphological and microscopic characterization, biochemical western blot analysis, and signaling pathway investigation. Downstream angiogenic effects using in vivo approaches are then discussed using wild-type mice and the GFP-LC3 transgenic mouse model. Finally, we explore matrix-induced mitophagy via monitoring changes in mitochondrial DNA and permeability

Pure and mixed forest plantations with native species of the dry tropics of Costa Rica: a comparison of growth and productivity

In Costa Rica, most reforestation trials with native species were established in the tropical humid region. In the dry tropics, research on the performance of native species in forest plantations is incipient and trials comparing pure and mixed designs are limited. This paper presents the results of two experimental plantations with native trees in pure and mixed plots in the dry tropics of Costa Rica. The growth and productivity of 13 native species in pure and mixed plantations was compared with Tectona grandis (L.f.) Lam, an exotic species broadly used in the region. In a plantation of relatively slower growing species, measurements taken at 68 months of age resulted in Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merril. and Dalbergia retusa Hemsl. demonstrating the best growth, followed by Astronium graveolens Jacq. and Swietenia macrophylla King. Measurements in a plantations of relatively faster growing species, at 68 months of age, showed that growth of Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake was greatest in the pure and mixed plots, followed by Terminalia oblonga (Ruiz & Pav.) Steud., Anarcadium excelsum (Bert. & Balb. ex Kunth) Skeels and Pseudosamanea guachapele (Kunth) Harms. The native species grew better in the mixed plots. The pure plots of T. grandis (L.f.) Lam. were the most productive, compared to all species and the mixture of species. Plantations of T. grandis (L.f.) Lam. seem to be well adapted to the region and are certainly a commercially interesting alternative. Nevertheless, mixed plantations with native species would contribute more to sustainable management, because while single-species plantations do not provide a great range of goods and services when compared to the natural forest, mixed plantations are likely to increase this range of benefits

Nuevas especies de Surazomus Reddell &amp; Cokendolpher, 1995 (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) de Costa Rica

Se describen tres especies nuevas de esquizómidos de Costa Rica que pertenecen al género Surazomus Reddell &amp; Cokendolpher, 1995: una de la Estación Biológica La Selva, provincia Heredia; las otras dos, de la Estación Biológica Las Cruces, Coto Brus, provincia Puntarenas. Con estos nuevos aportes, se elevan a 16 los miembros del género y a nueve las especies de esquizómidos formalmente descritas de este país centroamericano

Forest plantations in Costa Rica and Nicaragua: performance of species and preferences of farmers

The area of forest plantations in the tropics worldwide is increasing as a response to the expansion of degraded lands. Rural farmers of many regions of the dry and humid areas are responding to government and other incentives, dedicating portions of their land to native and exotic tree plantations with varied uses and objectives.We evaluated the success of reforestation efforts in a dry region of Nicaragua and in a humid region of Costa Rica where reforestation has been promoted by the governments with local assistance of technical personnel and non-governmental organizations. In all farms, the survival, diameter at breast height (dbh), height, form, and health of the tree plantations were evaluated. In addition information regarding the farmer's preferences and characteristics of the farms and the farmers was gathered through a survey including socioeconomic and silvicultural aspects. In both countries farmers used more native than exotic species for reforestation. Farmers are willing to continue reforesting as long as they continue to receive government incentives. In Costa Rica the plantations had better silvicultural management than in Nicaragua. In Nicaragua the species preferred by farmers for their growth were Azadirachta indica, Caesalpinia eriostachys, Eucalyptus spp., Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, and Tectona grandis. In Costa Rica the preferred species for their growth were Cordia alliodora, Gmelina arborea, Terminalia amazonia, Tectona grandis, Vochysia guatemalensis, and Virola koschnyi. The implementation of incentive programs for reforestation was a key factor in encouraging the participation of small and medium farmers

An extract from date palm fruit (&ITPhoenix dactylifera&IT) acts as a co-agonist ligand for the nuclear receptor FXR and differentially modulates FXR target-gene expression&IT in vitro &IT

Date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption reduces serum triglyceride levels in human subjects. The objective of this study was to prepare an extract from dates and determine whether it acts as a ligand for the farnesoid x receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor important for maintaining triglyceride and cholesterol homeostasis. Freeze-dried extracts were isolated from California-grown dates (Deglet Noor and Medjool) from the 2014 and 2015 harvests, by means of liquid extraction and solid phase separation. Each date palm extract (DPE) was characterized via HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and the procyanidin content was qualitatively determined. Extracts were tested to determine their ability to modulate nuclear receptor-mediated transactivation using transient transfection. The effect of DPE on FXR-target genes regulating bile acid absorption and transport was then assessed in vitro, in Caco-2 cells. Characterization reveals that DPE is a rich source of polyphenols including hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins, and lipohilic polyphenols, and comprises 13% proanthocyanidins. Transactivation results show that DPE acts as a co-agonist ligand for both mouse and human FXR, wherein it activates bile acid-bound FXR greater than that seen with bile acid alone. Additionally, DPE alone activated a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) chimera in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with DPE as a co-agonist ligand for FXR, studies in Caco-2 cells reveal that co-incubation with bile acid, dose-dependently enhances the expression of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), compared to treatment with bile acid alone. In contrast, DPE inhibited bile acid-induced expression of ileal bile acid binding protein (IBABP). Our results demonstrate that DPE acts as a potent co-agonist ligand for FXR, and that it differentially regulates FXR-target gene expression in vitro in human intestinal cells. This study provides novel insight into a potential mechanism by which dates may exert a hypotriglyceridemic effect via FXR and modulation of bile acid homeostasis