Differential pattern of glycogen accumulation after protein phosphatase 1 glycogen-targeting subunit PPP1R6 overexpression, compared to PPP1R3C and PPP1R3A, in skeletal muscle cells

Background PPP1R6 is a protein phosphatase 1 glycogen-targeting subunit (PP1-GTS) abundant in skeletal muscle with an undefined metabolic control role. Here PPP1R6 effects on myotube glycogen metabolism, particle size and subcellular distribution are examined and compared with PPP1R3C/PTG and PPP1R3A/GM. Results PPP1R6 overexpression activates glycogen synthase (GS), reduces its phosphorylation at Ser-641/0 and increases the extracted and cytochemically-stained glycogen content, less than PTG but more than GM. PPP1R6 does not change glycogen phosphorylase activity. All tested PP1-GTS-cells have more glycogen particles than controls as found by electron microscopy of myotube sections. Glycogen particle size is distributed for all cell-types in a continuous range, but PPP1R6 forms smaller particles (mean diameter 14.4 nm) than PTG (36.9 nm) and GM (28.3 nm) or those in control cells (29.2 nm). Both PPP1R6- and GM-derived glycogen particles are in cytosol associated with cellular structures; PTG-derived glycogen is found in membrane- and organelle-devoid cytosolic glycogen-rich areas; and glycogen particles are dispersed in the cytosol in control cells. A tagged PPP1R6 protein at the C-terminus with EGFP shows a diffuse cytosol pattern in glucose-replete and -depleted cells and a punctuate pattern surrounding the nucleus in glucose-depleted cells, which colocates with RFP tagged with the Golgi targeting domain of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase, according to a computational prediction for PPP1R6 Golgi location. Conclusions PPP1R6 exerts a powerful glycogenic effect in cultured muscle cells, more than GM and less than PTG. PPP1R6 protein translocates from a Golgi to cytosolic location in response to glucose. The molecular size and subcellular location of myotube glycogen particles is determined by the PPP1R6, PTG and GM scaffolding

Comparative gene expression profiling between human cultured myotubes and skeletal muscle tissue

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A high-sensitivity DNA microarray platform requiring nanograms of RNA input facilitates the application of transcriptome analysis to individual skeletal muscle (SM) tissue samples. Culturing myotubes from SM-biopsies enables investigating transcriptional defects and assaying therapeutic strategies. This study compares the transcriptome of aneurally cultured human SM cells versus that of tissue biopsies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used the Illumina expression BeadChips to determine the transcriptomic differences between tissue and cultured SM samples from five individuals. Changes in the expression of several genes were confirmed by QuantiGene Plex assay or reverse transcription real-time PCR. In cultured myotubes compared to the tissue, 1216 genes were regulated: 583 down and 633 up. Gene ontology analysis showed that downregulated genes were mainly associated with cytoplasm, particularly mitochondria, and involved in metabolism and the muscle-system/contraction process. Upregulated genes were predominantly related to cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum, and extracellular matrix. The most significantly regulated pathway was mitochondrial dysfunction. Apoptosis genes were also modulated. Among the most downregulated genes detected in this study were genes encoding metabolic proteins AMPD1, PYGM, CPT1B and UCP3, muscle-system proteins TMOD4, MYBPC1, MYOZ1 and XIRP2, the proteolytic CAPN3 and the myogenic regulator MYF6. Coordinated reduced expression of five members of the GIMAP gene family, which form a cluster on chromosome 7, was shown, and the GIMAP4-reduction was validated. Within the most upregulated group were genes encoding senescence/apoptosis-related proteins CDKN1A and KIAA1199 and potential regulatory factors HIF1A, TOP2A and CCDC80.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cultured muscle cells display reductive metabolic and muscle-system transcriptome adaptations as observed in muscle atrophy and they activate tissue-remodeling and senescence/apoptosis processes.</p

Jardins per a la salut

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia. Assignatura: Botànica farmacèutica. Curs: 2014-2015. Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són el recull de les fitxes botàniques de 128 espècies presents en el Jardí Ferran Soldevila de l’Edifici Històric de la UB. Els treballs han estat realitzats manera individual per part dels estudiants dels grups M-3 i T-1 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos de febrer a maig del curs 2014-15 com a resultat final del Projecte d’Innovació Docent «Jardins per a la salut: aprenentatge servei a Botànica farmacèutica» (codi 2014PID-UB/054). Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pels professors de l’assignatura. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica. També s’ha pretès motivar els estudiants a través del retorn de part del seu esforç a la societat a través d’una experiència d’Aprenentatge-Servei, deixant disponible finalment el treball dels estudiants per a poder ser consultable a través d’una Web pública amb la possibilitat de poder-ho fer in-situ en el propi jardí mitjançant codis QR amb un smartphone

Carbon sequestration potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the Latin American tropics

Regrowth of tropical secondary forests following complete or nearly complete removal of forest vegetation actively stores carbon in aboveground biomass, partially counterbalancing carbon emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, burning of fossil fuels, and other anthropogenic sources. We estimate the age and spatial extent of lowland second-growth forests in the Latin American tropics and model their potential aboveground carbon accumulation over four decades. Our model shows that, in 2008, second-growth forests (1 to 60 years old) covered 2.4 million km2 of land (28.1%of the total study area).Over 40 years, these lands can potentially accumulate a total aboveground carbon stock of 8.48 Pg C (petagrams of carbon) in aboveground biomass via low-cost natural regeneration or assisted regeneration, corresponding to a total CO2 sequestration of 31.09 Pg CO2. This total is equivalent to carbon emissions from fossil fuel use and industrial processes in all of Latin America and the Caribbean from1993 to 2014. Ten countries account for 95% of this carbon storage potential, led by Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. We model future land-use scenarios to guide national carbon mitigation policies. Permitting natural regeneration on 40% of lowland pastures potentially stores an additional 2.0 Pg C over 40 years. Our study provides information and maps to guide national-level forest-based carbon mitigation plans on the basis of estimated rates of natural regeneration and pasture abandonment. Coupled with avoided deforestation and sustainable forestmanagement, natural regeneration of second-growth forests provides a low-costmechanism that yields a high carbon sequestration potential with multiple benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem services. © 2016 The Authors

Biodiversity recovery of Neotropical secondary forests

Old-growth tropical forests harbor an immense diversity of tree species but are rapidly being cleared, while secondary forests that regrow on abandoned agricultural lands increase in extent. We assess how tree species richness and composition recover during secondary succession across gradients in environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance in an unprecedented multisite analysis for the Neotropics. Secondary forests recover remarkably fast in species richness but slowly in species composition. Secondary forests take a median time of five decades to recover the species richness of old-growth forest (80% recovery after 20 years) based on rarefaction analysis. Full recovery of species composition takes centuries (only 34% recovery after 20 years). A dual strategy that maintains both old-growth forests and species-rich secondary forests is therefore crucial for biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical landscapes. Copyright © 2019 The Authors, some rights reserved

Respuesta del laboratorio de cribado neonatal de Cataluña ante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2

Faced with the prospect of a collapsed health system due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the professionals involved in the Neonatal Screening Programme (NSP) of Catalonia had to adapt to this situation in a flexible, forceful and efficient manner. The most important goals were to prevent the risk of infection in the professionals, in families and their newborns, as well as to ensure the same effectiveness for the early detection of the diseases included in our programme. To this end, the laboratory was reorganised by dividing the staff into groups and the spaces were redistributed. It was also necessary to modify several protocols and circuits, especially for the management of early discharges from maternity centres, and for the collection of the necessary second samples (from newborns with inconclusive results or for low quality samples). In general, a 36% reduction in the time of arrival of these second samples at the laboratory was achieved with respect to the previous circuit. In the specific case of cystic fibrosis detection, the implementation of a new strategy meant a 100% reduction in the request for second samples and a 70% reduction in the age of diagnosis of the newborn. After evaluating these changes, it can be concluded that in the face of the pandemic, the NSP of Catalonia showed determined leadership, aligning all its professionals, ensuring the continuity of the activity in the programme and generating new opportunities. The new processes and circuits implemented have been definitively consolidated, improving the efficiency of the programme.Ante la crisis de un sistema sanitario colapsado debido a la pandemia por la COVID-19, los profesionales implicados en el Programa de Cribado Neonatal (PCN) de Cataluña nos tuvimos que adaptar a dicha situación de forma ágil, contundente y eficiente. Los objetivos prioritarios fueron prevenir el riesgo de contagio tanto en los profesionales sanitarios como en las familias y sus recién nacidos, así como asegurar la misma eficacia para la detección precoz de las enfermedades incluidas en el PCN. Para ello, se reorganizó el laboratorio dividiendo en grupos al personal y se redistribuyeron los espacios. También fue necesario modificar varios protocolos y circuitos, en especial para la gestión de las altas precoces de los centros maternales y para la toma de las segundas muestras necesarias (de recién nacidos que presentaron resultados dudosos o por muestra inválida). En general, se consiguió una reducción del 36% del tiempo de llegada de estas segundas muestras al laboratorio respecto al circuito anterior. Para la detección de la fibrosis quística, la implementación de una nueva estrategia supuso una reducción del 100% en la solicitud de segundas muestras y del 70% en la edad de diagnóstico del recién nacido. Tras la evaluación de estos cambios, se puede concluir que ante la pandemia el PCN de Cataluña mostró un liderazgo decidido, alineando a todos sus profesionales, asegurando la continuidad de la actividad en el programa y generando nuevas oportunidades. Los nuevos procesos y circuitos de trabajo implantados han quedado definitivamente consolidados, mejorando la eficiencia del programa

EINA360 2023

Aquesta publicació és un recull del treball realitzat pels estudiants i exestudiants d’EINA. Mitjançant una selecció de projectes, es mostra el rigor acadèmic i la capacitat d’anàlisi i experimentació que tenen els alumnes del Grau de Disseny i dels diferents Màsters i Postgraus d’EINA. Aquesta filosofia, que fomenta el potencial innovador del disseny i l’art, també es recull en la praxis professional que duen a terme els nostres alumni. Tots els projectes publicats són una síntesi de l’aprenentatge enriquidor, obert a diferents sistemes de pensament i llenguatges, amb què EINA treballa des de la seva fundació el 1967. Una metodologia en constant evolució a d’avançar-se a les necessitats i exigències de la nostra societat canviant, per poder donar resposta als nous reptes i fer realitat nous productes, nous serveis i noves experiències. En definitiva, aquesta publicació és el testimoni de la trajectòria de l’escola com a plataforma de cultura i coneixement de generacions de professionals del disseny i l’art que participen activament en el desenvolupament d’una societat més sostenible, ètica, reflexiva i compromesa.Esta publicación es una recopilación del trabajo realizado por los estudiantes y exestudiantes de EINA. Mediante una selección de proyectos se muestra el rigor académico y la capacidad de análisis y experimentación que tienen los alumnos del Grado de Diseño y de los diferentes Másters y Postgrados de EINA. Esta filosofía, que fomenta el potencial innovador del diseño y el arte, también se recoge en la praxis profesional que llevan a cabo nuestro alumni. Todos los proyectos publicados son una síntesis del aprendizaje enriquecedor, abierto a diferentes sistemas de pensamiento y lenguajes, con que EINA trabaja desde su fundación en 1967. Una metodología en constante evolución con el fin de adelantarse a las necesidades y exigencias de nuestra sociedad cambiante, para poder dar respuesta a los nuevos retos y hacer realidad nuevos productos, nuevos servicios y nuevas experiencias. En definitiva, esta publicación es el testimonio de la trayectoria de la escuela como plataforma de cultura y conocimiento de generaciones de profesionales del diseño y el arte que participan activamente en el desarrollo de una sociedad más sostenible, ética, reflexiva y comprometida.This publication is a collection of the work of EINA’s students past and present, a selection of projects from the Degree in Design and the various Masters’ and Postgraduate programmes, chosen for their academic rigor and analytic and experimental capacity. This foundation, which fosters the innovative potential of design and art, is also reflected in the professional practice of our alumni. All of the published projects are a synthesis of the enriching learning style, open to different systems of thought and language, which EINA has prioritized since its founding in 1967. It is a methodology in constant evolution, whose aim is to advance to meet the needs and demands of our changing society, so as to be able to respond to new challenges and make new products, new services and new experiences a reality. In short, this publication is witness to the trajectory of the school as the platform for knowledge and culture behind generations of art and design professionals who actively participate in the development of a more sustainable, ethical, thoughtful and committed society

Expression and glycogenic effect of glycogen-targeting protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit GL in cultured human muscle

Glycogen-targeting PP1 (protein phosphatase 1) subunit GL (coded for by the PPP1R3B gene) is expressed in human, but not rodent, skeletal muscle. Its effects on muscle glycogen metabolism are unknown. We show that GL mRNA levels in primary cultured human myotubes are similar to those in freshly excised muscle, unlike subunits GM (gene PPP1R3A) or PTG (protein targeting to glycogen; gene PPP1R3C), which decrease strikingly. In cultured myotubes, expression of the genes coding for GL, GM and PTG is not regulated by glucose or insulin. Overexpression of GL activates myotube GS (glycogen synthase), glycogenesis in glucose-replete and -depleted cells and glycogen accumulation. Compared with overexpressed GM, GL has a more potent activating effect on glycogenesis, while marked enhancement of their combined action is only observed in glucose-replete cells. GL does not affect GP (glycogen phosphorylase) activity, while co-overexpression with muscle GP impairs GL activation of GS in glucose-replete cells. GL enhances long-term glycogenesis additively to glucose depletion and insulin, although GL does not change the phosphorylation of GSK3 (GS kinase 3) on Ser9 or its upstream regulator kinase Akt/protein kinase B on Ser473, nor its response to insulin. In conclusion, in cultured human myotubes, the GL gene is expressed as in muscle tissue and is unresponsive to glucose or insulin, as are GM and PTG genes. GL activates GS regardless of glucose, does not regulate GP and stimulates glycogenesis in combination with insulin and glucose depletion