The long noncoding RNA neuroLNC regulates presynaptic activity by interacting with the neurodegeneration-associated protein TDP-43

The cellular and the molecular mechanisms by which long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may regulate presynaptic function and neuronal activity are largely unexplored. Here, we established an integrated screening strategy to discover lncRNAs implicated in neurotransmitter and synaptic vesicle release. With this approach, we identified neuroLNC, a neuron-specific nuclear lncRNA conserved from rodents to humans. NeuroLNC is tuned by synaptic activity and influences several other essential aspects of neuronal development including calcium influx, neuritogenesis, and neuronal migration in vivo. We defined the molecular interactors of neuroLNC in detail using chromatin isolation by RNA purification, RNA interactome analysis, and protein mass spectrometry. We found that the effects of neuroLNC on synaptic vesicle release require interaction with the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 (TAR DNA binding protein-43) and the selective stabilization of mRNAs encoding for presynaptic proteins. These results provide the first proof of an lncRNA that orchestrates neuronal excitability by influencing presynaptic function

The middle-southern Adriatic basin in February 1999: the chemical and physical characteristics of the water column.

In the Southern Adriatic depression nitrogen and phosphorous salts are concentrated in the bottom water. The Redfield ratio, same 29, is higher at Pomo and D transect, mostly on the bottom, because phosphorous is limiting and nitrogen is abundant. Northern waters influence this southern area, together with surface and intermediate waters coming from Ionian sea, and western shelf waters which tend to sink to the bottom. Key-words: Adriatic Sea, thermohaline characteristics, nutrient salts, Redfield rati

The contradictory effect of the methoxy-substituent in palladium-catalyzed ethylene/methyl acrylate cooligomerization

Two new nonsymmetric bis(aryl-imino)acenaphthene ligands (Ar,Ar'-BIAN) and one symmetric Ar2-BIAN were studied. The three ligands share the presence of at least one methoxy group on one of the two aryl rings. These ligands were used for the synthesis of neutral and monocationic palladium(II) complexes of general formula [Pd(CH3)Cl(N-N)] and [Pd(CH3)(L)(N-N)][PF6] (N-N = Ar,Ar'-BIAN, Ar2-BIAN; L = CH3CN, dmso). Due to the nonsymmetric nature of the ligands and their coordination to palladium in a nonsymmetric chemical environment, cis and trans isomers are possible for the three series of complexes with Ar,Ar'-BIANs. Both a detailed NMR investigation in solution and the X-ray characterization in solid state point out that the trans isomer is the preferred species for the neutral derivatives, whereas for the cationic compounds a decrease in the stereoselectivity of the coordination is observed. One of the new Ar,Ar'-BIANs differs from an already reported nonsymmetric \uf061-diimine for the replacement, on one aryl ring, of a methyl group with a methoxy susbtituent, thus allowing a comparison of the structural features of the relevant complexes. The monocationic complexes were tested as precatalysts for the ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymerization under mild reaction conditions. Despite the structural similarities observed in solution with the already known precatalysts, the present compounds demonstrated a remarkable decrease in the productivity values associated to a higher affinity for the polar monomer

Protein phosphorylation in depolarized synaptosomes: Dissecting primary effects of calcium from synaptic vesicle cycling

Synaptic transmission is mediated by the regulated exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. When the presynaptic membrane is depolarized by an incoming action potential, voltage-gated calcium channels open, resulting in the influx of calcium ions that triggers the fusion of synaptic vesicles (SVs) with the plasma membrane. SVs are recycled by endocytosis. Phosphorylation of synaptic proteins plays a major role in these processes, and several studies have shown that the synaptic phosphoproteome changes rapidly in response to depolarization. However, it is unclear which of these changes are directly linked to SV cycling and which might regulate other presynaptic functions that are also controlled by calcium-dependent kinases and phosphatases. To address this question, we analyzed changes in the phosphoproteome using rat synaptosomes in which exocytosis was blocked with botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) while depolarization-induced calcium influx remained unchanged. BoNT-treatment significantly alters the response of the synaptic phoshoproteome to depolarization and results in reduced phosphorylation levels when compared with stimulation of synaptosomes by depolarization with KCl alone. We dissect the primary Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation from SV-cycling-dependent phosphorylation and confirm an effect of such SV-cycling-dependent phosphorylation events on syntaxin-1a-T21/T23, synaptobrevin-S75, and cannabinoid receptor-1-S314/T322 on exo- and endocytosis in cultured hippocampal neurons

Radical defects modulate the photocatalytic response in 2D-graphitic carbon nitride

Graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) is an important heterogeneous metal-free catalytic material. Thermally induced post-synthetic modifications, such as amorphization and/or reduction, were recently used to enhance the photocatalytic response of these materials for certain classes of organic transformations, with structural defects possibly playing an important role. The knowledge of how these surface modifications modulate the photocatalytic response of gCN is therefore not only interesting from a fundamental point of view, but also necessary for the development and/or tuning of metal-free gCN systems with superior photo-catalytic properties. Herein, employing density functional theory calculations and combining both the periodic and molecular approaches, in conjunction with experimental EPR measurements, we demonstrate that different structural defects on the gCN surface generate distinctive radical defect states localized within the electronic bandgap, with only those correlated with amorphous and reduced gCN structures being photo-active. To this end, we (i) model defective gCN surfaces containing radical defect states; (ii) assess the interactions of these defects with the radical precursors involved in the photo-driven alkylation of electron-rich aromatic compounds (namely perfluoroalkyl iodides); and (iii) describe the photo-chemical processes triggering the initial step of that reaction at the gCN surface. We provide a coherent structure/photo-catalytic property relationship on defective gCN surfaces, elaborating how only specific defect types act as binding sites for the perfluoroalkyl iodide reagent and can favor a photo-induced charge transfer from the gCN surface to the molecule, thus triggering the perfluoroalkylation reaction

CHALLENGE TESTS WITH LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN SALAMI: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Challenge tests are the preferable methodology to study the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes on ready to eat foods, according to Regulation (EC) 2073/2005. Challenge testing using L. monocytogenes in seasoned salami from different food business operators showed, after seasoning of the product, a count reduction of the inoculated organisms without any further growth of the pathogen; however differences of L. monocytogenes behaviour could be observed according to different production protocols

Supply chain simulation in a Big Data context: risks and uncertainty analysis

Due to their complex and dynamic nature, Supply Chains are prone to risks that may occur at any time and place. To tackle this problem, simulation can be used. However, such models should use Big Data technologies, in order to provide the level of data and detail contained in the data sources associated to the business processes. In this regard, this paper considered a real case of an automotive electronics Supply chain. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to propose a simulation tool, which uses real industrial data, provided by a Big Data Warehouse, and use such decision-support artifact to test different types of risks. More concretely, risks in the supply and demand end of the network are analyzed. The presented results also demonstrate the possible benefits that can be achieved by using simulation in the analysis of risks in a Supply Chain.This work has been supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tec-nologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019 and by the Doctoral scholarship PDE/BDE/114566/2016 funded by FCT, the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology andHigher Education, through national funds, and co-financed by the European Social Fund(ESF) through the Operational Programme for Human Capital (POCH)