Recurrencias etimológicas. Los nombres de animales (y 2)

Utilizando el diccionario Corominas y una gran parte del DRAE, se examinan las etimologías que dan lugar a un nombre de animal. Se pueden distinguir ciertas regularidades en estas evoluciones semánticas. Alrededor del 75% de los nombres de los animales son palabras que significaban: 1) características físicas, 2) actividades; 3) lugares característicos; 5) colores, o 4) onomatopeyas.Using the Corominas dictionary and a large part of DRAE, the etymologies that give rise to an animal name are examined. Certain regularities in these semantic evolutions can be distinguished. Around 75% of the animal names are words that meant: 1) physical features; 2) activities; 3) characteristic places; 5) colours; or 4) onomatopoeias.notPeerReviewe

Recurrencias etimológicas. Los nombres de animales (I)

Se examina la etimología que viene de un nombre de animal, según el diccionario de Corominas y una gran parte del DRAE. Podemos ver algunas regularidades en estas evoluciones semánticas. Hoy en día, se utiliza más de la mitad de los nombres de los animales con el fin de: 1) describir a las personas; 2) los titulares de nombres; 3) plantas de nombre; 4) el empleo de nombres; 5) nombrar los colores.The etymology that comes from a name of animal, according to Corominas' dictionary and a large part of D.R.A.E., is examined. We can see some regularities in these semantic evolutions. Nowadays, we use more than a half of the animal names in order to: 1) describe persons; 2) name holders; 3) name plants; 4) name jobs; 5) name colours.notPeerReviewe

Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 Is Required for Genomic Stability and Modulates the Malignant Phenotype of Melanoma Cells.

The mouse mahoganoid mutation abrogating Mahogunin Ring Finger-1 (MGRN1) E3 ubiquitin ligase expression causes hyperpigmentation, congenital heart defects and neurodegeneration. To study the pathophysiology of MGRN1 loss, we compared Mgrn1-knockout melanocytes with genetically matched controls and melan-md1 (mahoganoid) melanocytes. MGRN1 knockout induced a more differentiated and adherent phenotype, decreased motility, increased the percentage of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and promoted genomic instability, as shown by stronger γH2AX labelling, increased burden of DNA breaks and higher abundance of aneuploid cells. Lack of MGRN1 expression decreased the ability of melanocytes to cope with DNA breaks generated by oxidizing agents or hydroxyurea-induced replicative stress, suggesting a contribution of genomic instability to the mahoganoid phenotype. MGRN1 knockout in B16-F10 melanoma cells also augmented pigmentation, increased cell adhesion to collagen, impaired 2D and 3D motility and caused genomic instability. Tumors formed by Mgrn1-KO B16-F10 cells had lower mitotic indices, fewer Ki67-positive cells and showed a trend towards smaller size. In short-term lung colonization assays Mgrn1-KO cells showed impaired colonization potential. Moreover, lower expression of MGRN1 is significantly associated with better survival of human melanoma patients. Therefore, MGRN1 might be an important phenotypic determinant of melanoma cells

Genetic variants associated with skin photosensitivity in a southern European population from Spain

Background/Purpose: Recent GWAS studies, mostly performed in populations of North European origin, have identified the genetic loci associated with pigmentation, sun sensitivity, freckling and skin cancer susceptibility. Here, we aimed at addressing the genetic determinants of sunlight sensitivity in Spain, a southern European population.Methods: Nine SNPs located in 8 pigmentation- related genes (IRF4,TYR,ASP,HERC2,OCA2,BNC2,SLC24A4 and SLC45A2) were genotyped in 456 Spaniards. Additionally, the complete sequence of the MC1R gene was obtained, testing each nonsynony-mous mutation supported by the classification as R or r alleles. A standardised ques-tionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, pigmentation and sun sensitivity traits, as well as sun exposure habits.Results: MC1R R alleles and IRF4 rs12203592 were significantly associated with sun-light sensitivity at the Bonferroni-corrected level (P- value < 4.54 × 10−3). Genetic variants in SLC45A2 (rs16891982) and HERC2 (rs12913832) were also found to be significantly associated with skin photosensitivity in our Spanish sample. Interaction analysis using the MDR method revealed epistatic effects when these four variants were considered together.Conclusion: MC1R, IRF4,HERC2 and SLC45A2 play a significant role in skin sensitivity to sunlight in the Spanish population. Moreover, interaction among these four loci seems to modulate the ability of the skin to respond to UV radiation

MGRN1 as a Phenotypic Determinant of Human Melanoma Cells and a Potential Biomarker

Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 (MGRN1), a ubiquitin ligase expressed in melanocytes, interacts with the α melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor, a well-known melanoma susceptibility gene. Previous studies showed that MGRN1 modulates the phenotype of mouse melanocytes and melanoma cells, with effects on pigmentation, shape, and motility. Moreover, MGRN1 knockdown augmented the burden of DNA breaks in mouse cells, indicating that loss of MGRN1 promoted genomic instability. However, data concerning the roles of MGRN1 in human melanoma cells remain scarce. We analyzed MGRN1 knockdown in human melanoma cells. Transient MGRN1 depletion with siRNA or permanent knockdown in human melanoma cells by CRISPR/Cas9 caused an apparently MITF-independent switch to a more dendritic phenotype. Lack of MGRN1 also increased the fraction of human cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and the burden of DNA breaks but did not significantly impair proliferation. Moreover, in silico analysis of publicly available melanoma datasets and estimation of MGRN1 in a cohort of clinical specimens provided preliminary evidence that MGRN1 expression is higher in human melanomas than in normal skin or nevi and pointed to an inverse correlation of MGRN1 expression in human melanoma with patient survival, thus suggesting potential use of MGRN1 as a melanoma biomarker.This research was funded by grant SAF2018_RTI2018-094929-B-I00 financed by FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación—Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Spain) (to C.J.-C. and J.C.G.-B.), and by grant UPV/EHU GIU20/035 (to S.A and M.D.B.)