Structure-function dissection of Myxococcus xanthus CarD N-terminal domain, a defining member of the CarD-CdnL-TRCF family of RNA polymerase interacting proteins

© 2015 Bernal-Bernal et al. Two prototypes of the large CarD-CdnL-TRCF family of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP)-binding proteins, Myxococcus xanthus CarD and CdnL, have distinct functions whose molecular basis remain elusive. CarD, a global regulator linked to the action of several extracytoplasmic function (ECF) σ-factors, binds to the RNAP β subunit (RNAP-β) and to protein CarG via an N-terminal domain, CarDNt, and to DNA via an intrinsically unfolded C-terminal domain resembling eukaryotic high-mobility-group A (HMGA) proteins. CdnL, a CarDNt-like protein that is essential for cell viability, is implicated in σA-dependent rRNA promoter activation and interacts with RNAP-β but not with CarG. While the HMGA-like domain of CarD by itself is inactive, we find that CarDNt has low but observable ability to activate ECF σ-dependent promoters in vivo, indicating that the C-terminal DNA-binding domain is required to maximize activity. Our structure-function dissection of CarDNt reveals an N-terminal, five-stranded β-sheet Tudor-like domain, CarD1-72, whose structure and contacts with RNAP-β mimic those of CdnL. Intriguingly, and in marked contrast to CdnL, CarD mutations that disrupt its interaction with RNAP-β did not annul activity. Our data suggest that the CarDNt C-terminal segment, CarD61-179, may be structurally distinct from its CdnL counterpart, and that it houses at least two distinct and crucial function determinants: (a) CarG-binding, which is specific to CarD; and (b) a basic residue stretch, which is also conserved and functionally required in CdnL. This study highlights the evolution of shared and divergent interactions in similar protein modules that enable the distinct activities of two related members of a functionally important and widespread bacterial protein family.Peer Reviewe

Fermionic Models with Superconducting Circuits

We propose a method for the efficient quantum simulation of fermionic systems with superconducting circuits. It consists in the suitable use of Jordan-Wigner mapping, Trotter decomposition, and multiqubit gates, be with the use of a quantum bus or direct capacitive couplings. We apply our method to the paradigmatic cases of 1D and 2D Fermi-Hubbard models, involving couplings with nearest and next-nearest neighbours. Furthermore, we propose an optimal architecture for this model and discuss the benchmarking of the simulations in realistic circuit quantum electrodynamics setups.Comment: Published in EPJ Quantum Technolog

Epidemiology of injuries in professional and amateur spanish paddle players

Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo, analizando la incidencia y las características de las lesiones sufridas por jugadores de pádel españoles profesionales y no profesionales. Se registraron las lesiones sufridas por 478 jugadores entre el 1 de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2016. Se registraron datos sobre el número de lesiones, lesiones más frecuentes, distribución, tipo, ubicación, el momento en que ocurrieron y la causa de las lesiones que afectan el sistema locomotor. La tasa de lesiones en esta población fue de 2,75 lesiones por 1000 horas de exposición al riesgo. Las lesiones leves y aquellas con mecanismos de lesión intrínseca fueron las más frecuentes, y tuvieron lugar el final de la práctica deportiva. La extremidad inferior fue el área corporal más lesionada, y el tejido más lesionado fue el sistema musculo-tendinoso. A su vez, la epicondilitis fue la patología más comúnAn epidemiological study was conducted using retrospective, observational and descriptive methodologies. We sought to analyse the incidence and features of injuries sustained by professional and non-professional Spanish Padel players. In total, 478 injuries were registered in 2016 from January 1st to December 31st. We collected data on the number of injuries, the most frequent injuries, their distribution, type, location, the moment at which these occurred and the cause of the injuries affecting the locomotor system. We found that the injury rate in this population was 2.75 injuries per 1000 hours of risk exposure. The most frequent injuries were those which were mild or with mechanisms of intrinsic injury, and most occurred towards the end any given game or practice. The lower limb was the most frequently injured body area, and the most injured tissue was the muscle-tendinous system. In turn, epicondylitis was the most common patholog

Epifisiolisis cartílago trirradiado: a propósito de un caso

La epifisiolisis del cartílago trirradiado es una patología muy infrecuente que puede dar lugar a displasia acetabular y subluxación de cadera. Los primeros síntomas pueden aparecer de forma tardía, incluso algunas décadas después del traumatismo. Los factores pronóstico más importantes son la edad en el momento de la lesión y el tipo de epifisiolisis. El diagnóstico es difícil y, en algunos casos, sólo a posteriori. Se presenta un caso de epifisiolisis, tipo I de Salter y Harris o tipo I de Bucholz, en una niña de 11 años de edad que fue tratada de forma conservadora.Trirradiate cartilage epiphysiolysis is a rare disorder that can cause acetabular dysplasia and subluxation of the hip. The main prognostic factors are age and type of lesion. The disorder is difficult to diagnose and in some instances can only be diagnosed a posteriori. This paper presents a case report of Salter and Harris type I or Bucholtz type I trirradiate cartilage epiphysiolysis in an 11 year old girl who received orthopedic treatment

Platinum and N-doped carbon nanostructures as catalysts in hydrodechlorination reactions

Novel Pt catalysts supported on undoped and N-doped (1% N, w) carbons with well interconnected and nanostructured mesoporosity (Vmesopore = 0.65 cm3 g−1, SEXT = 730 m2 g−1) were prepared and tested in the hydrodechlorination of 4-chlorophenol in water at 30–70 °C. The growth of Pt nanoparticles was achieved using incipient wetness impregnation and a modified colloidal synthesis. Total conversion of 4chlorophenol and 100% selectivity to cyclohexanol was achieved. The remarkable activity in the hydrogenation of the phenol resulting from hydrodechlorination has not been reported before with Pt catalysts and it is of high interest because it maximizes detoxification. When the Pt NPs were synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation some influence of the N-doping of the support was observed in the size and electronic state of the NPs. However, highly reproducible Pt NPs were prepared by in situ colloidal synthesis regardless the nature of the support. In this last case similar activity was observed for the catalysts with undoped and N-doped carbon support, although the activity increased more with temperature for the later. Apparent activation energies of 15–25 kJ mol−1 were obtained for the disappearance of 4-chlorophenolThe authors also thank to Hexion Speciality Chemicals Iberica S.A. for providing the resol resin Bakelite®PF9934 FL. The authors thank financial support (CTQ2012-32821, CTQ2015-65491_R) and C. Ruiz-García for PhD grant (BES-2013-066085) to MINEC

N-Doped CMK-3 carbons supporting palladium nanoparticles as catalysts for hydrodechlorination

The effect of nitrogen doping of a carbon support on the activity of Pd catalysts in the hydrodechlorination of 4-chlorophenol in water has been studied. Highly mesoporous CMK-3 carbons have been synthesized by infiltration of a commercial resol resin into SBA-15 silica followed by pyrolysis at 700 °C and removal of the template with NaOH. Nitrogen doping was achieved by infiltrating 1,10-phenantroline together with the resin. Equivalent porous texture and Pd nanoparticles size were obtained for the catalysts based on undoped and nitrogen-doped CMK-3 carbons. The catalysts allowed fast 4-chlorophenol hydrodechlorination with exclusive selectivity to phenol. A higher activity was observed at 30 °C for the catalyst with the N-doped support (76-81 mmol·gPd-1·min-1), showing the beneficial effect of nitrogen doping of the carbon supports. The different behavior was also evidenced by the activation energies calculated for the catalysts with undoped (53 kJ·mol-1) and N-doped CMK-3 carbon (36 kJ·mol-1) in the 30 - 70 °C temperature rangeThe authors thank Hexion Speciality Chemicals Iberica S.A. for providing the resol resin Bakelite PF9934 FL and MINECO for providing financial support (CTQ2012-32821, CTQ2015-65491_R) and for the Ph.D. (BES-2013-066085) grant to C.R.-

Adipose-Derived Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins Plasma Concentrations Are Increased in Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that could play a role in tumor progression via its secreted adipokines. The role of adipose-derived fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) 4 and FABP5 in breast cancer is presently under study, but their circulating levels in this pathology are poorly known. We analyzed the blood concentrations of FABP4 and FABP5 in breast cancer patients to determine whether there is an association between them and breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 294 women in the oncology department with a family history of breast cancer; 198 of the women had breast cancer, and 96 were healthy controls. The levels of FABP4, FABP5, lipid profile, standard biochemical parameter, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined. We analyzed the association of FABP4 and FABP5 with breast cancer, while adjusting for demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Breast cancer patients had a 24.8% (p < .0001) and 11.4% (p < .05) higher blood concentration of FABP4 and FABP5, respectively. Fatty acid-binding protein 4 was positively associated with age, body mass index (BMI), FABP5, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLc), non-high-density lipoprote in cholesterol (non-HDLc), Apolipoprotein B 100 (ApoB100), triglycerides, glycerol, glucose, and hsCRP (p < .05), and was negatively associated with HDLc (p < .005) in breast cancer patients. Fatty acid-binding protein 5 was positively associated with BMI, FABP4, VLDLc, triglycerides, glycerol, and hsCRP (p < .05), and was negatively associated with HDLc and Apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI) (p < .05) in breast cancer patients. Using a logistic regression analysis and adjusting for age, BMI, hsCRP, non-HDLc, and triglycerides, FABP4 was independently associated with breast cancer (odds ratio [OR]: 1.091 [95% CI: 1.037-1.149]). Moreover, total cholesterol, VLDLc, non-HDLc, ApoB100, triglycerides, and hsCRP were significantly increased in breast cancer patients (p < .005). In contrast, the non-esterified fatty acids concentrations were significantly decreased in breast cancer patients (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Circulating FABP4 and FABP5 levels were increased in breast cancer patients compared with controls. The positive association of FABP4 with breast cancer was maintained after adjusting for important covariates, while the association with FABP5 was lost. Our data reinforce the role of adipose tissue and their adipokines in breast cancer. Despite these data, further studies must be performed to better explain the prognosis or diagnostic value of these blood parameters and their possible role in breast cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: We focus on the effect of adipose tissue on cancer, which is increasingly recognized. The association between adipocyte-derived adipokines and breast cancer opens new diagnosis and therapy perspectives. In this study, we provide original data concerning FABP4 and FABP5 plasma concentrations in breast cancer patients. Compared to control group, breast cancer patients show higher FABP4 and FABP5 blood levels. Our data suggest that, particularly, circulating FABP4 levels could be considered a new independent breast cancer biomarker. Our work translates basic science data to clinic linking the relationship between adipose tissue and lipid metabolism to breast cancer

Recensiones [Revista de Historia Económica Año XVIII Otoño-Invierno 2000 n. 3 pp. 687-734]

Editada en la Fundación Empresa PúblicaColl, S., y Guijarro, M.: Estadística aplicada a las Ciencias Sociales (Por Daniel Peña).-- Tedde de Lorca, P.: El Banco de San Femando (1829-1856) (Por Carlos Marichal).-- Comín Comín, F., y Martín Aceña, P.: Tabacalera y el estanco de tabaco en España (1636-1998) (Por Lina Gálvez Muñoz).-- Millán García-Várela, J.: El poder de la tierra. La sociedad agraria del bajo Segura en la época del liberalismo (Por Ricardo Robledo).-- Matés Barco, J. M.: La conquista del agua. Historia económica del abastecimiento urbano (Por Beatriz Mera González).-- Ortiz Batalla, J.: Los Bancos Centrales en América Latina (Por Raúl García Heras).-- Guirao, F.: Spain and the Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1945-57: Challenge and Response (Por Jordi Catalán).-- Aghion, P., y Howitt, P.: Endogenous Growth Theory (Por Joan R. Rosés).-- Dye, A. D.: Cuban Sugar in the Age of Mass Production. Technology and the Economics of Sugar Central, 1899-1929 (Por Antonio Santamaría García).-- Gourvish, T. R., y Tiratsoo, N. (eds.): Missionaries and managers: American influences on European management education, 1945-60 (Por Nuria Puig).-- Coastworth, J., y Taylor, A. (eds.): Latin America and the World Economy since 1800 (Por Gustavo A. del Ángel-Mobarak)Publicad