Temporal variation of the total nitrogen concentration in aereal organs of nitrogen fixing and non fixing riparian species

Changes in nitrogen concentration was determinated in samples of Alnus glutinosa, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Populus x canadiensis and Ailanthus altissima leaves, petioles and branches periodically during a year. Maximum nitrogen percentage was found in diazotrophic species (Alnus and Elaeagnus) and the nitrogen retranslocation form branches was higher (2.5 times) in no fixing species.Se estudian 10s cambios en la concentración de nitrógeno en Alnus glutinosa, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Populus x canadiensis y Ailanthus altissima, en hojas, peciolos y tallos periódicamente durante un año. El porcentaje máximo de nitrógeno se encuentra en las especies diazotrofas (Alnus y Elaeagnus) y la retraslocación de dicho elemento desde los tallos es superior (2.5) veces) en las plantas no actinonizas

Up-scaling validation of a dummy regression approach for predictive modelling the fillet fatty acid composition of cultured European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The aim of the study was to validate a dummy regression approach for predictive modelling the fillet fatty acid (FA) composition of cultured European sea bass with dietary FA composition and lipid fillet content as independent variables. The model used our own data on gilthead sea bream as reference subgroup dataset and data from turbot, sole and European sea bass as dummy variables. Most of the observed variance within and among species was explained by the regression model without statistical significant interactions on blocks between diet composition and fish species subgroups. For the validation of European sea bass FA descriptors, predictive values derived from data on fish reared at laboratory scale were plotted against those obtained in farmed fish harvested at commercial size. A close linear association near to equality was found for 12 representative FAs, including saturated FAs, monoenenes and polyunsaturated FAs. This finding reinforces the possibility to produce tailored and healthy seafood products according to the guidelines of essential FA requirements in humans. FA algorithms for all the species in the model are hosted at www.nutrigroup-iats.org/aquafat as a multispecies tool to interrogate the nutritionally regulated FA composition of four cultured marine fish species of a high added value.This study was founded by Spanish (AQUAFAT, AGL2009-07797, Predictive modelling of flesh fatty acid composition in cultured fish species with different muscle lipid content) and EU (ARRAINA, KBBE-2011-5-288925, Advanced research initiatives for nutrition and aquaculture) projects. Additional founding was obtained from the “Generalitat Valenciana” (research grant PROMETEO 2010/006). GFB-L was recipient of a Spanish PhD fellowship from the Diputación Provincial de Castellón.Peer Reviewe

Limpieza de los materiales pétreos de la Catedral de Valladolid (España)

Two types of black crusts showing gypsiferous and calcareous compositions are recognized on the front-walls of the Valladolid Cathedral. On the basis of several petrophysical parameters, in particular compacity, sorption and desorption kinematics of carbonate rocks used building the cathedral, we conclude that the most appropriate cleaning method of the ashlars is washing with water. Highest efficiency of the method is attained with water at 90ºC and at a pressure of 120 bars. This assessment is valid for most of the carbonate rocks of the cathedral except for detrital pelmicrites because of their low compacity which makes that water pressure for cleaning must not exceed 50 bars. The processing of cleaning with water should be preceded by alkaline treatment (NaOH and EDTA) of the rock surface.Atendiendo a los parámetros petrofisicos (compacidad, cinemática de sorción y desorción) de las diferentes facies carbonáticas con las que se construyó la catedral, se determina que el método idóneo para llevar a cabo la limpieza de sus sillares es con agua. La mayor efectividad se alcanza con una temperatura del agua de 90ºC y una presión de 120 bares, a excepción de las pelmicritas detríticas, que dada su baja compacidad la presión no puede ser superior a los 50 bares. Para la eliminación de las costras negras es necesario aplicar previamente un tratamiento alcalino a base de hidróxido sódico y EDTA

Activation of the p75 neurotrophin receptor through conformational rearrangement of disulphide-linked receptor dimers

Ligand-mediated dimerization has emerged as a universal mechanism of growth factor receptor activation. Neurotrophins interact with dimers of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)), but the mechanism of receptor activation has remained elusive. Here, we show that p75(NTR) forms disulphide-linked dimers independently of neurotrophin binding through the highly conserved Cys(257) in its transmembrane domain. Mutation of Cys(257) abolished neurotrophin-dependent receptor activity but did not affect downstream signaling by the p75(NTR)/NgR/Lingo-1 complex in response to MAG, indicating the existence of distinct, ligand-specific activation mechanisms for p75(NTR). FRET experiments revealed a close association of p75(NTR) intracellular domains that was transiently disrupted by conformational changes induced upon NGF binding. Although mutation of Cys(257) did not alter the oligomeric state of p75(NTR), the mutant receptor was no longer able to propagate conformational changes to the cytoplasmic domain upon ligand binding. We propose that neurotrophins activate p75(NTR) by a mechanism involving rearrangement of disulphide-linked receptor subunits

La Piedra de Novelda: una roca muy utilizada en el patrimonio arquitectónico

Novelda Stone is a calcareous rock, of the biocalcarenite type. It is extracted from the «Vinalopó Medio» area (Alicante, eastern Spain). Novelda stone is known as construction material from the 13th century. From final of the 19th century until the present time, it has been used in Madrid, Valencia and Alicante. In the past, the main quarries from which this type of rock was extracted were located in the municipal districts of Monóvar (Almorquí Stone), Sax (Portazgo Stone) and Elda (Bateig Stone). Nowadays, the main active extraction site is situated in the Bateig Hill quarries. The rock extracted is known commercially as Bateig Stone. The main varieties of this Bateig Stone are: White, Blue, Layer and Fantasy. Each variety of Novelda stone has different durability rate and different pathology depending on their characteristics, particularly on their hydric behaviour patterns. Layer Bateig and Portazgo stone undergo granular disintegration and alveolization and are less durable than the rest. White and Blue Bateig, as well as Almorquí stone, only develop fissures or scaling under extreme conditions.La Piedra de Novelda es una roca carbonática del tipo biocalcarenita. Se extrae del área de Vinalopó Medio (Alicante, España oriental). La piedra de Novelda es conocida como material de construcción desde el siglo XIII. Desde finales del siglo XIX hasta la actualidad, se ha utilizado en edificios y monumentos de Madrid y Valencia, así como Alicante. En el pasado, las canteras principales donde se extrajo este tipo de piedra se localizaban en los distritos municipales de Monóvar (Piedra Almorquí), Sax (Piedra Portazgo) y El da (Piedra Bateig). Hoy en día, la actividad principal se sitúa en las canteras de Bateig. La piedra extraída es conocida comercialmente como Piedra Bateig. Las variedades principales de esta Piedra Bateig son: Blanco, Azul, Llano y Fantasía. Consecuencia de las diferentes propiedades y en especial de los diferentes comportamientos hídricos, la durabilidad de los distintos tipos de Piedra de Novelda y sus patologías son diferentes. La Bateig LLano y la Piedra de Portazgo sufren desagregación granular y alveolización y su durabilidad es menor que la del resto de las variedades. La Bateig Blanco y Bateig Azul, junto con la Piedra Almorquí, sólo en condiciones muy extremas llegan a desarrollar fisuraciones y/o descamaciones

RESEAL II: a large-scale in situ demonstration for repository sealing in an argillaceous host rock: phase II

Final ReportPreprin

The genome sequencing of an albino Western lowland gorilla reveals inbreeding in the wild

Background The only known albino gorilla, named Snowflake, was a male wild born individual from Equatorial Guinea who lived at the Barcelona Zoo for almost 40 years. He was diagnosed with non-syndromic oculocutaneous albinism, i.e. white hair, light eyes, pink skin, photophobia and reduced visual acuity. Despite previous efforts to explain the genetic cause, this is still unknown. Here, we study the genetic cause of his albinism and making use of whole genome sequencing data we find a higher inbreeding coefficient compared to other gorillas. Results We successfully identified the causal genetic variant for Snowflake¿s albinism, a non-synonymous single nucleotide variant located in a transmembrane region of SLC45A2. This transporter is known to be involved in oculocutaneous albinism type 4 (OCA4) in humans. We provide experimental evidence that shows that this amino acid replacement alters the membrane spanning capability of this transmembrane region. Finally, we provide a comprehensive study of genome-wide patterns of autozygogosity revealing that Snowflake¿s parents were related, being this the first report of inbreeding in a wild born Western lowland gorilla. Conclusions In this study we demonstrate how the use of whole genome sequencing can be extended to link genotype and phenotype in non-model organisms and it can be a powerful tool in conservation genetics (e.g., inbreeding and genetic diversity) with the expected decrease in sequencing cost. Keywords: Gorilla; Albinism; Inbreeding; Genome; Conservatio

NS2 Protein of Hepatitis C Virus Interacts with Structural and Non-Structural Proteins towards Virus Assembly

Growing experimental evidence indicates that, in addition to the physical virion components, the non-structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are intimately involved in orchestrating morphogenesis. Since it is dispensable for HCV RNA replication, the non-structural viral protein NS2 is suggested to play a central role in HCV particle assembly. However, despite genetic evidences, we have almost no understanding about NS2 protein-protein interactions and their role in the production of infectious particles. Here, we used co-immunoprecipitation and/or fluorescence resonance energy transfer with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy analyses to study the interactions between NS2 and the viroporin p7 and the HCV glycoprotein E2. In addition, we used alanine scanning insertion mutagenesis as well as other mutations in the context of an infectious virus to investigate the functional role of NS2 in HCV assembly. Finally, the subcellular localization of NS2 and several mutants was analyzed by confocal microscopy. Our data demonstrate molecular interactions between NS2 and p7 and E2. Furthermore, we show that, in the context of an infectious virus, NS2 accumulates over time in endoplasmic reticulum-derived dotted structures and colocalizes with both the envelope glycoproteins and components of the replication complex in close proximity to the HCV core protein and lipid droplets, a location that has been shown to be essential for virus assembly. We show that NS2 transmembrane region is crucial for both E2 interaction and subcellular localization. Moreover, specific mutations in core, envelope proteins, p7 and NS5A reported to abolish viral assembly changed the subcellular localization of NS2 protein. Together, these observations indicate that NS2 protein attracts the envelope proteins at the assembly site and it crosstalks with non-structural proteins for virus assembly

The ER-membrane transport system is critical for intercellular trafficking of the NSm movement protein and Tomato Spotted Wilt Tospovirus

Plant viruses move through plasmodesmata to infect new cells. The plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is interconnected among cells via the ER desmotubule in the plasmodesma across the cell wall, forming a continuous ER network throughout the entire plant. This ER continuity is unique to plants and has been postulated to serve as a platform for the intercellular trafficking of macromolecules. In the present study, the contribution of the plant ER membrane transport system to the intercellular trafficking of the NSm movement protein and Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) is investigated. We showed that TSWV NSm is physically associated with the ER membrane in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. An NSm-GFP fusion protein transiently expressed in single leaf cells was trafficked into neighboring cells. Mutations in NSm that impaired its association with the ER or caused its mis-localization to other subcellular sites inhibited cell-to-cell trafficking. Pharmacological disruption of the ER network severely inhibited NSm-GFP trafficking but not GFP diffusion. In the Arabidopsis thaliana mutant rhd3 with an impaired ER network, NSm-GFP trafficking was significantly reduced, whereas GFP diffusion was not affected. We also showed that the ER-to-Golgi secretion pathway and the cytoskeleton transport systems were not involved in the intercellular trafficking of TSWV NSm. Importantly, TSWV cell-to-cell spread was delayed in the ER-defective rhd3 mutant, and this reduced viral infection was not due to reduced replication. On the basis of robust biochemical, cellular and genetic analysis, we established that the ER membrane transport system serves as an important direct route for intercellular trafficking of NSm and TSWV