Desaturase gene expression in specific fatty acid desaturase mutants from Arabidopsis thaliana: evidence of compensatory pathways

Panel (S7-P10) presentado en la Reunión de la Sociedad Española de Fisiología Vegetal (SEFV) (18ª. Zaragoza. 8-11 septiembre 2009).Synthesis of glycerolipids in plants takes place almost exclusively in plastids and in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through two pathways, the “prokaryotic pathway” and the “eukaryotic pathway”. In the prokaryotic pathway, glycerolipids are synthesized entirely in plastids. On the other hand, in the eukaryotic pathway, phospholipids are synthesized in the ER while MGD, DGD and SL are synthesized in plastids from PC produced in the ER. In both glycerolipid synthetic pathways, fatty acid desaturases are key enzymes that introduce double bounds in fatty acid chains. They produce polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which are important in maintaining membrane fluidity and function [1]. PUFAs also serve as precursors of plant hormones like jasmonates [2] that are involved in defence signalling against pathogen attack, wound response, plant development and adaptation to environmental stress. The relative amount of glycerolipid synthesized and desaturated by the two pathways may vary in different tissues and in different plant species. Arabidopsis thaliana is an example of 16:3 plants, in which both pathways are almost equally involved in total glycerolipid synthesis [3]. On the other hand, in 18:3 plants (such as Glycine max) the leading pathway is the eukaryotic one. Although several lines of evidence indicate the existence of regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the activity of both pathways for glycerolipid synthesis in plants, molecular and biochemical components of this regulatory mechanism as well as how this coordination takes place are still unknown. As a first step to understand how the communication between the chloroplast and the reticulum takes place, we have studied the changes in gene expression profiles of fatty acid desaturases in response to specific mutations in the desaturase pathway from Arabidopsis thaliana. We have analysed five different mutants, fad2; fad5; fad6; act1 and the triple mutant fad3/fad7/fad8. These mutations affected to desaturases operating in both glycerolipid synthetic pathways. The analysis of the effect of each mutation in the expression profiles of the rest of the desaturase genes has allowed us to observe transcriptional responses associated to the existence of compensatory pathways between the chloroplast and the reticulum to minimize the effects of the mutation. It has also helped us to identify the key role of the palmitoyl desaturase, fad5, in controlling the flux through the prokaryotic pathway. [1] Wallis & Browse (2002) Prog. in Lipid Res. 41: 254-278 [2] Weber et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94: 10473-10478 [3] Browse et al. (1986) Biochem. J. 235: 25-31This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (project AGL2008-00733), , and the Aragón Government (PIP140/08).Peer reviewe

Observación del sistema poroso de rocas carbonatadas al microscopio electrónico de barrido

Se estudia en este trabajo el sistema poroso de tres rocas carbonatadas, a partir de observaciones de moldes de resina y réplicas de látex al microscopio electrónico de barrido. Las rocas seleccionadas -calizas de Hontoria y Sevilla, y dolomía de Boñar- han sido ampliamente utilizadas en la construcción de importantes monumentos del Patrimonio Histórico Español. Se ha comprobado, asimismo, el grado de impregnación alcanzado por las resinas epoxídicas en diferentes procedimientos, a partir de técnicas de porosimetria de inyección de mercurio. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto, en general, la complejidad de la estructura porosa de dichas rocas.The pore system of three carbonate rocks is studied through observation of resin and latex casts, under scanning electron microscope. The seleeted rocks -Hontoria and Seville limestones, and Boñar dolomite- have been broadly employed in tbe construction of outstanding monuments of the Spanish Historical Heritage. The degree of impregnation achieved by the epoxy resins, according to different procedures, is also checked by means of mercury injection porosimetry techniques. The observation of the pore casts displays, generally, tbe complexity of the pore systems of these rocks

Eyelid Exfoliation Treatment Efficacy and Safety in Dry Eye Disease, Blepharitis, and Contact Lens Discomfort Patients: A Systematic Review

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of eyelid exfoliation treatment in dry eye disease (DED), blepharitis, and contact lens (CL) discomfort patients. Methods: A systematic review that included only full-length randomized controlled studies, reporting the effects of eyelid exfoliation treatment in 2 databases, PubMed and Web of Science, was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The search period was between October 29, 2022 and December 6, 2022. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to analyze the quality of the studies selected. Results: A total of 7 studies were included in this systematic review. Eyelid exfoliation treatment influence on DED, blepharitis, and CL discomfort were analyzed in 6, 4, and 2 studies, respectively. Eyelid exfoliation treatment achieved a better improvement than control group interventions in all reported variables. The mean differences between both groups were as follows: Ocular Surface Disease Index score of-5.0 ± 0.9 points, tear breakup time of 0.43 ± 0.2 seconds, ocular surface staining of-1.4 ± 1.5 points, meibomian glands secretions of 1.2 ± 1.1 points, meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion of 0.6 ± 0.3 points, microorganism load of-3.2 ± 4.7 points, and Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 of-2.15 ± 0.1 points. Minimal discomfort (n = 13) and eyelid irritation (n = 2) were the main complications after an eyelid exfoliation treatment. Conclusions: Eyelid exfoliation is a safe and effective treatment that should be indicated for DED, blepharitis, and CL discomfort

BAX/BCL-XL gene expression ratio inversely correlates with disease progression in chronic myeloid leukemia

BCR-ABL fusion gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), encoding the oncoprotein p210 BCR-ABL with an anti-apoptotic activity. The inability to undergo apoptosis is an important mechanism of drug resistance and neoplastic evolution in CML. The gene transcript expression of mitochondrial apoptotic related genes BAX and BCL-XL were evaluated by quantitative Real Time PCR (qPCR) in vitro in K562 cells and in vivo in peripheral blood of 66 CML patients in different stages of the disease: 13 cases at diagnosis, 34 in chronic phase (CP), 10 in accelerated phase (AP) and 9 in blast crisis (BC). Our results in K562 cells showed that all treatments with different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) induced a decreased expression of the antiapoptotic oncogene BCL-XL, whereas the proapoptotic gene BAX remains constant with minor modifications. A significantly lower BAX/BCL-XL expression ratio (mean ± SEM) than a group of healthy individuals (4.8 ± 0.59) were observed in CML patients at diagnosis (1.28 ± 0.16), in AP (1.14 ± 0.20), in BC (1.16 ± 0.30) and in 18% of cases of patients in CP (2.71 ± 0.40). Most CP cases (82%) showed a significantly increased ratio (10.03 ± 1.30), indicating that the treatment with TKIs efficiently inhibited the expression of BCL-XL by blocking BCR-ABL oncoprotein. The BAX/BCL-XL ratio showed a significant inverse correlation (Spearman P< 0.0001) with BCR-ABL/ABL relative expression indicating that low BAX/BCL-XL associated with disease progression. Accordingly, the follow up of a cohort of eight cases during 6 months from diagnosis showed that while the BAX/BCL-XL ratio rapidly increased after treatment in seven cases with good evolution, it decreased in the only one case that showed  bad evolution and short survival. Our data suggest that BAX/BCL-XL expression ratio may be a sensitive monitor of disease progression and an early predictor of TKI therapy responsiveness in CML patients.Fil: Gonzalez, Mariana Selena. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: de Brasi, Carlos Daniel. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bianchini, Michele. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gargallo, Patricia Martha. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; ArgentinaFil: Moiraghi, Beatriz. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Ramos Mejía"; ArgentinaFil: Bengió, Raquel. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; ArgentinaFil: Larripa, Irene Beatriz. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas "Mariano R. Castex"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Intense Pulse Light Combined With Low-Level Light Therapy in Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review

Objectives:To evaluate the improvement in symptoms and signs associated with intense pulse light (IPL) combined with low-level light therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).Methods:A systematic review of full-length original studies reporting the effects of IPL combined with LLLT for DED in two databases, PubMed and Scopus, was performed according to the PRISMA statement. The quality assessment tool for case series studies from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute was used to analyze the quality of the studies selected.Results:The search provided a total of 393 articles, of which six were included. Significant decreases in the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) score, MGD grade, and meiboscore and increases in tear film stability, lipid layer thickness, and loss area of the meibomian gland have been reported. Concerning tear volume, tear meniscus height, and Schirmer test remained unchanged. In relation to tear osmolarity and corneal fluorescein staining, contradictory outcomes were found.Conclusions:Intense pulse light combined with LLLT for the treatment of dry eye improves OSDI, tear film stability, and meibomian gland function; thus, this treatment may be recommended for DED patients due to MGD

Morfología corneal y resultados visuales en pacientes con LASIK después de ortoqueratología

[Extracto] Justificación y objetivos - Comparar la morfología corneal y los resultados visuales de los usuarios de lentes contacto blandas (controle) y ortoqueratología (OK) a largo plazo sometidos a cirugía refractiva corneal (LASIK) para la corrección de la miopía. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Metagenomic sequence of prokaryotic microbiota from an intermediate-salinity pond of a saltern in Isla Cristina, Spain

Marine salterns are artificial multipond systems designed for the commercial production of salt by evaporation of seawater. We report here the metagenomic sequence of the prokaryotic microbiota of a pond with intermediate salinity (21% total salts) of a saltern located in Isla Cristina, Huelva, southwest Spain

Performance of surface and subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating eutrophic waters

[EN] Three medium size constructed wetlands (CWs) with a total surface of 90 ha are working since 2009 in the Albufera de Valencia Natural Park (Spain). Two of them are fed with eutrophic waters from l'Albufera Lake. Their objectives are both reduce the phytoplankton biomass and increase the biodiversity; consequently, improved water quality is returned to the lake. A "science based governance" of these CWs is ongoing inside the LIFE + 12 Albufera Project to demonstrate the environmental benefits of these features. In this paper, results and relationships among hydraulic operation, physicochemical variables and plankton in two different CWs typologies, five free water surface CW (FWSCW) and one horizontal subsurface flow CW(HSSFCW), were analysed showing that CWs were capable of improving the water quality and biodiversity but showing clear differences depending on the CW type. The CWs worked under different hydraulic load rates (HLR) from <0.12 to 54.75 m yr(-1). Inflow water quality was typical from eutrophic waters with mean values of chlorophyll a (Chl a) about 22-90 mu g Chl a l(-1) and mean total phosphorus (TP) between 0.122 and 0.337 mg l(-1). The main conclusion is that HSSFCW was much more efficient than FWSCW in the removal of organic matter, suspended solids and nutrients. The biological role of several shallow lagoons located at the end of the CWs has also been evaluated, showing that they contribute to increase the zooplankton biomass, a key factor to control the phytoplankton blooms.The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of LIFE program of CE, Confederacion Hidrografica del Jucar, Aguas de las Cuencas Mediterraneas and the Spanish Fundacion Biodiversidad (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment) to the project LIFE12/ENV/ES/000685 ALBUFERA.Hernández Crespo, C.; Gargallo Bellés, S.; Benedito Durá, V.; Nacher Rodriguez, B.; Rodrigo-Alacreu, MA.; Martín Monerris, M. (2017). Performance of surface and subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating eutrophic waters. The Science of The Total Environment. 595:584-593. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.278S58459359