A Novel Stress-induced Sugarcane Gene Confers Tolerance To Drought, Salt And Oxidative Stress In Transgenic Tobacco Plants.

Drought is a major abiotic stress that affects crop productivity worldwide. Sugarcane can withstand periods of water scarcity during the final stage of culm maturation, during which sucrose accumulation occurs. Meanwhile, prolonged periods of drought can cause severe plant losses. In a previous study, we evaluated the transcriptome of drought-stressed plants to better understand sugarcane responses to drought. Among the up-regulated genes was Scdr1 (sugarcane drought-responsive 1). The aim of the research reported here was to characterize this gene. Scdr1 encodes a putative protein containing 248 amino acids with a large number of proline (19%) and cysteine (13%) residues. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ScDR1is in a clade with homologs from other monocotyledonous plants, separate from those of dicotyledonous plants. The expression of Scdr1 in different varieties of sugarcane plants has not shown a clear association with drought tolerance. The overexpression of Scdr1 in transgenic tobacco plants increased their tolerance to drought, salinity and oxidative stress, as demonstrated by increased photosynthesis, water content, biomass, germination rate, chlorophyll content and reduced accumulation of ROS. Physiological parameters, such as transpiration rate (E), net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs) and internal leaf CO(2) concentration, were less affected by abiotic stresses in transgenic Scdr1 plants compared with wild-type plants. Overall, our results indicated that Scdr1 conferred tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses, highlighting the potential of this gene for biotechnological applications.7e4469

Oligomerization, Membrane Association, and in Vivo Phosphorylation of Sugarcane UDP-glucose Pyrophosphorylase

Sugarcane is a monocot plant that accumulates sucrose to levels of up to 50% of dry weight in the stalk. The mechanisms that are involved in sucrose accumulation in sugarcane are not well understood, and little is known with regard to factors that control the extent of sucrose storage in the stalks. UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase; EC 2.7.7.9) is an enzyme that produces UDP-glucose, a key precursor for sucrose metabolism and cell wall biosynthesis. The objective of this work was to gain insights into the ScUGPase-1 expression pattern and regulatory mechanisms that control protein activity. ScUGPase-1 expression was negatively correlated with the sucrose content in the internodes during development, and only slight differences in the expression patterns were observed between two cultivars that differ in sucrose content. The intracellular localization of ScUGPase-1 indicated partial membrane association of this soluble protein in both the leaves and internodes. Using a phospho-specific antibody, we observed that ScUGPase-1 was phosphorylated in vivo at the Ser-419 site in the soluble and membrane fractions from the leaves but not from the internodes. The purified recombinant enzyme was kinetically characterized in the direction of UDP-glucose formation, and the enzyme activity was affected by redox modification. Preincubation with H2O2 strongly inhibited this activity, which could be reversed by DTT. Small angle x-ray scattering analysis indicated that the dimer interface is located at the C terminus and provided the first structural model of the dimer of sugarcane UGPase in solution.Fil: Soares, Jose Sergio M.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes; BrasilFil: Gentile, Agustina. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes; BrasilFil: Scorsato, Valeria. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Química. Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Cristalografia; BrasilFil: Lima, Aline da C.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Química. Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Cristalografia; BrasilFil: Kiyota, Eduardo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Química. Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Cristalografia; BrasilFil: Santos, Marcelo Leite Dos . Universidade Federal do Sergipe. Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia. Núcleo de Química; BrasilFil: Piattoni, Claudia Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Huber, Steven C.. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, and Department of Plant Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Aparicio, Ricardo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Química. Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural e Cristalografia; BrasilFil: Menossi, Marcelo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Biologia. Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes; Brasi

A Novel Stress-Induced Sugarcane Gene Confers Tolerance to Drought, Salt and Oxidative Stress in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Background: Drought is a major abiotic stress that affects crop productivity worldwide. Sugarcane can withstand periods of water scarcity during the final stage of culm maturation, during which sucrose accumulation occurs. Meanwhile, prolonged periods of drought can cause severe plant losses. Methodology/Principal Findings: In a previous study, we evaluated the transcriptome of drought-stressed plants to better understand sugarcane responses to drought. Among the up-regulated genes was Scdr1 (sugarcane drought-responsive 1). The aim of the research reported here was to characterize this gene. Scdr1 encodes a putative protein containing 248 amino acids with a large number of proline (19%) and cysteine (13%) residues. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ScDR1is in a clade with homologs from other monocotyledonous plants, separate from those of dicotyledonous plants. The expression of Scdr1 in different varieties of sugarcane plants has not shown a clear association with drought tolerance. Conclusions/Significance: The overexpression of Scdr1 in transgenic tobacco plants increased their tolerance to drought, salinity and oxidative stress, as demonstrated by increased photosynthesis, water content, biomass, germination rate, chlorophyll content and reduced accumulation of ROS. Physiological parameters, such as transpiration rate (E), net photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs) and internal leaf CO2 concentration, were less affected by abiotic stresses in transgenic Scdr1 plants compared with wild-type plants. Overall, our results indicated that Scdr1 conferred tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses, highlighting the potential of this gene for biotechnological applications.National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2008/5798-6, 2008/57908-6]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) [574002/2008-1, 552802/2007-7]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP) [815/07]Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP

Hipoacusia asociada a los trastornos en la articulación temporomandibular, presentación de un caso clínico

Se presenta a la consulta la paciente I.S., de 60 años, presentando dolores a nivel articular, dificultad en la apertura bucal y relataba que se le "trababa" la mandíbula. Esto sucedía desde tempranos años de edad de la paciente, cuando le habrían sugerido la eliminación del cóndilo mandibular a través de una cirugía, la cual la madre no accede. En la anamnesis la paciente relata haber sido operada de su oído izquierdo a causa de una otoesclerosis, en el 1996, perdiendo así gran porcentaje de la audición, lo que acarreó la utilización de un audífono externo en el oído derecho para no forzar el mismo.Facultad de Odontologí

Hipoacusia asociada a los trastornos en la articulación temporomandibular, presentación de un caso clínico

Se presenta a la consulta la paciente I.S., de 60 años, presentando dolores a nivel articular, dificultad en la apertura bucal y relataba que se le "trababa" la mandíbula. Esto sucedía desde tempranos años de edad de la paciente, cuando le habrían sugerido la eliminación del cóndilo mandibular a través de una cirugía, la cual la madre no accede. En la anamnesis la paciente relata haber sido operada de su oído izquierdo a causa de una otoesclerosis, en el 1996, perdiendo así gran porcentaje de la audición, lo que acarreó la utilización de un audífono externo en el oído derecho para no forzar el mismo.Facultad de Odontologí

Origin, divergence and phylogeny of Neotyphodium endophytes from native argentine grasses

Los endofitos fúngicos proveen a muchas especies de gramíneas de una protección biológica frente a factores bióticos y abióticos, que incrementa su productividad. Los endofitos del tipo Neotyphodium son asexuales, sistémicos y no patogénicos, mientras que sus parientes más cercanos son especies sexuales del género Epichloë (Familia Clavicipitaceae, Orden Hypocreales) que causan una enfermedad conocida como “Choke”. Se cree que los endofitos asexuales han evolucionado directamente a partir de especies sexuales de Epichloë o por medio de hibridizaciones inter-específicas entre distintas especies de Epichloë y/o Epichloë y Neotyphodium. En el presente trabajo, reportamos el origen evolutivo de endofitos Neotyphodium aislados de diversas poblaciones de 10 pastos nativos de Argentina, y los comparamos con especies tanto sexuales como algunas asexuales de hospedantes nativos de otros continentes. Las relaciones entre los endofitos aislados de gramíneas nativas y también con especies de Epichloë fue estimada por análisis filogenéticos basados en secuencias de la porción variable (principalmente intrones) de los genes de β-tubulina (tub2) y el factor de elongación de la traducción 1- α (tef1). Fueron analizados los caracteres morfológicos de los endofitos que mostraron afinidad filogenética. Los análisis filogenéticos revelaron que la mayoría de los endofitos son híbridos interespecíficos para ambos genes, derivados de dos especies de Epichloë E. festucae y E. typhina. Varios aislamientos de distintos hospedantes resultaron cercanamente relacionados con Neotyphodium tembladerae, previamente analizado filogenéticamente a partir de una gramínea nativa, Poa hueca. Es interesante destacar que un endofito de Phleum commutatum fue aparentemente derivado a partir de un evento de doble hibridización que involucra al menos tres genotipos distintos (E. baconli, E. amarillans y E. typhina). Este endofito particular podría ser considerado una nueva entidad taxonómica. Además de los organismos híbridos, se encontraron endofitos en algunas plantas de Bromus setifolius que resultaron ser, aparentemente, no híbridos; es decir, contaron solamente con una copia de cada gen. Nuestros resultados indican que la hibridación inter-específica podría ser un mecanismo importante y común en la generación de variabilidad genética en endofitos Neotyphodium de Argentina.Seed-borne fungal symbionts (endophytes) provide many cool-season grass species with biological protection from biotic and abiotic stresses together with an increase in productivity. Neotyphodium endophytes are asexual, systemic and nonpathogenic, whereas closely related sexual species of genus Epichloë (family Clavicipitaceae, order Hypocreales) cause grass choke disease. It seems that asexual endophytes have evolved directly from sexual Epichloë species or by inter-specific hybridization between different species of Epichloë and/or Epichloë and Neotyphodium. In the present work, we report on the evolutionary origins of Neotyphodium endophytes from several populations of 10 different native hosts in Argentina, and compare them with the sexual and some asexual species from hosts native to other continents. Relationships among these fungi and with Epichloë species were estimated by phylogenetic analysis based on sequences from variable portions (mainly introns) of genes for β-tubulin (tub2) and translation elongation factor 1-α(tef1). Some morphological characters of the endophytes that showed phylogenetic affinities were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the endophytes were inter-specific hybrids from two different species of Epichlo: E. festucae and E. typhina. Several isolates from different hosts were closely related to Neotyphodium tembladerae, previously described from the Argentinian grass, Poa huecu. It worth noting that an endophyte of Phleum commutatum was apparently derived from two hybridization events involving three different genotypes. This particular endophyte could be considered a distinct taxonomic entity. In addition to the apparent hybrids, we found likely non-hybrid endophytes in some plants of the grass Bromus setifolius. Our results indicate that inter-specific hybridization may be a common and important mechanism for genetic variation in Neotyphodium endophytes from Argentina.Fil:Gentile, Agustina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Práctica de los principios rectores sobre empresas y derechos humanos

Reseña del libro: Dorothée Baumann-Pauly y Justine Nolan (eds.), Business and Human Rights: From Principles to Practice, New York, Routledge, 2019. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly y Justine Nolan, son las editoras de una obra colectiva pensada para todos aquellos que creemos en la implementación efectiva de los Principios Rectores sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos de la ONU. En el libro, se enfatiza el rol de las empresas y su labor conjunta con los estados para avanzar en el campo del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, que traerá como resultado múltiples beneficios para los actores involucrados.           

Comparative study of growth parameters on diaspores and seedlings between populations of Bromus setifolius from Patagonia, differing in Neotyphodium endophyte infection

Bromus setifolius Presl., a native perennial grass, is widely spread in the harsh environment of Patagonia, Argentina. This grass can be associated with Neotyphodium Glenn, Bacon et Hanlin endophytes which are related to aerial tissues of these plants and never show external signs of infection. Endophyte presence of certain grasses improves abiotic and biotic stress resistance, productivity or reproduction in their hosts. To compare and contrast natural populations of B. setifolius differing in endophyte infection diaspore weight of seven populations was registered. In addition, emergence and growth parameters of seedlings, dry weight, leaf length and mortality rate were measured. For this purpose, two independents assays were conducted under controlled environmental conditions, using an infected (E+) and an uninfected (E–) population in each one. Most of the analysed parameters differed between E+ and E– populations, being significantly greater in E+ populations. Populations with percentage of endophyte infection between 0% and 100% presented intermediate mean diaspore weight. These results could suggest an adaptive advantage of infected plants as a consequence of endophyte presence.Fil: Novas, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Gentile, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Cabral, Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentin

Method For Producing Genetically Modified Plants Capable Of Controlling The Production Of Ethylene Hormone, Thus Obtained Genetically Modified Plants, Recombinant Dna Vector And Uses Thereof

MÉTODO PARA PRODUÇÃO DE PLANTAS GENETICAMENTE MODIFICADAS COM CAPACIDADE DE CONTROLE DA PRODUÇÃO DO HORMÔNIO ETILENO, PLANTAS GENETICAMENTE MODIFICADAS ASSIM OBTIDAS, VETOR DE DNA RECOMBINANTE E SEUS USOS. O uso de promotores constitutivos para controle da expressão gênica tem sido uma ferramenta importante em biologia molecular de plantas. Entretanto, em alguns casos, a regulação temporal precisa é desejada para caracterizar a função de um gene em um específico tempo durante o crescimento e desenvolvimento da planta. Adicionalmente, para muitos genes, a constante indução leva a planta a fenótipos deletérios e indesejáveis. Nesse cenário, o sistema de expressão induzido ao etanol, o sistema de expansão alc, tem sido usado com sucesso em tomate, batata, arabidpsis e tabaco. Uma aplicação valiosa desse tipo de sistema é o uso em plantas de cana-de-açúcar para controle da maturação utilizando o etanol como indutor, em substituição á aplicação de reguladores vegetais. A presente invenção descreve um método para produção de plantas transgênicas utilizando um vetar de DNA que compreende o sistema alc na regulação do gene ScAS1 e, consequentemente, no controle da biossíntese do etileno. Adicionalmente, são descritos também os usos do método e do vetor.BRPI1105206 (A2)C12N15/82A01H1/00C12N15/29C12N15/63BR2011PI05206C12N15/82A01H1/00C12N15/29C12N15/6

ScRpb4, Encoding an RNA Polymerase Subunit from Sugarcane, Is Ubiquitously Expressed and Resilient to Changes in Response to Stress Conditions

RNA polymerase II is an essential multiprotein complex that transcribes thousands of genes, being a fundamental component of the transcription initiation complex. In eukaryotes, RNA polymerase II is formed by a 10-multisubunit conserved core complex, and two additional peripheral subunits, Rpb4 and Rpb7, form the Rpb4/7 subcomplex. Although transcription is vital for cell and organismal viability, little is known about the transcription initiation complex in sugarcane. An initial characterization of the sugarcane RNA polymerase subunit IV (ScRpb4) was performed. Our results demonstrate that ScRpb4 is evolutionarily conserved across kingdoms. At the molecular level, ScRpb4 expression was found in vegetative and reproductive tissues. Furthermore, the expression of ScRpb4 remained stable under various stress conditions, most likely to ensure a proper transcriptional response. Optimal conditions to express ScRpb4 in vitro for further studies were also identified. In this study, an initial characterization of the sugarcane polymerase II subunit IV is presented. Our results open the window to more specific experiments to study ScRpb4 function, for instance, crystal structure determination and pull-down assays as well as their function under biotic and abiotic stresses