Secretory Autophagy and Its Relevance in Metabolic and Degenerative Disease

Proteins to be secreted through so-called “conventional mechanisms” are characterized by the presence of an N-terminal peptide that is a leader or signal peptide, needed for access to the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus for further secretion. However, some relevant cytosolic proteins lack of this signal peptides and should be secreted by different unconventional or “non-canonical” processes. One form of this unconventional secretion was named secretory autophagy (SA) because it is specifically associated with the autophagy pathway. It is defined by ATG proteins that regulate the biogenesis of the autophagosome, its representative organelle. The canonical macroautophagy involves the fusion of the autophagosomes with lysosomes for content degradation, whereas the SA pathway bypasses this degradative process to allow the secretion. ATG5, as well as other factors involved in autophagy such as BCN1, are also activated as part of the secretory pathway. SA has been recognized as a new mechanism that is becoming of increasing relevance to explain the unconventional secretion of a series of cytosolic proteins that have critical biological importance. Also, SA may play a role in the release of aggregation-prone protein since it has been related to the autophagosome biogenesis machinery. SA requires the autophagic pathway and both, secretory autophagy and canonical degradative autophagy are at the same time, integrated and highly regulated processes that interact in ultimate cross-talking molecular mechanisms. The potential implications of alterations in SA, its cargos, pathways, and regulation in human diseases such as metabolic/aging pathological processes are predictable. Further research of SA as potential target of therapeutic intervention is deserved.Fil: González, Claudio Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Resnik, Roxana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Vaccaro, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; Argentin

Hepatic elimination of drugs in gestational diabetes

Background: The liver is the major metabolic clearance organ for chemical agents from the human body. Pregnancy is associated with several physiological changes that may affect one or more of these factors, and also induces changes in the hepatic clearance of certain drugs. The aim of this paper was to review some of the currently available information in the field to provide some insights about the relevance of these changes on the clearance of some drugs. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out to identify eligible studies from MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE and SCIELO databases through 1970 first semester. Results: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a frequent disease commonly associated with other entities as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, prothrombotic conditions, changes in intestinal microbiome. These entities, together with the glycemic fluctuations associated with GDM might affect the determinants of the hepatic clearance (hepatic blood flow, the unbound fraction of drugs, and the hepatic intrinsic clearance). GDM is frequently associated with multi-drug treatments. While many of these drugs are cleared by the liver, little is known about the clinical relevance of these GDM associated pharmacokinetic changes. Conclusion: Considering the frequency of the disease and the effects that these pharmacokinetic changes might have on the mother and child, the need for further research seems advisable. In the meantime, cautious clinical judgment in the management of drug administration in women affected by this disease is recommended.Fil: González, Claudio Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Centro de Educación Medica E Invest.clinicas; ArgentinaFil: Alvariñas, Jorge. Sociedad Argentina de Neurología Infantil; ArgentinaFil: Bolaños, Ricardo. Ministerio de Salud. Administración Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Di Girolamo, Guillermo. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Study of the Cys-His bridge electron transfer pathway in a copper-containing nitrite reductase by site-directed mutagenesis, spectroscopic, and computational methods

The Cys-His bridge as electron transfer conduit in the enzymatic catalysis of nitrite to nitric oxide by nitrite reductase from Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011 (SmNir) was evaluated by site-directed mutagenesis, steady state kinetic studies, UV-vis and EPR spectroscopic measurements as well as computational calculations. The kinetic, structural and spectroscopic properties of the His171Asp (H171D) and Cys172Asp (C172D) SmNir variants were compared with the wild type enzyme. Molecular properties of H171D and C172D indicate that these point mutations have not visible effects on the quaternary structure of SmNir. Both variants are catalytically incompetent using the physiological electron donor pseudoazurin, though C172D presents catalytic activity with the artificial electron donor methyl viologen (kcat =3.9(4) s-1) lower than that of wt SmNir (kcat =240(50) s-1). QM/MM calculations indicate that the lack of activity of H171D may be ascribed to the Nδ1H...OC hydrogen bond that partially shortcuts the T1-T2 bridging Cys-His covalent pathway. The role of the Nδ1H...OC hydrogen bond in the pH-dependent catalytic activity of wt SmNir is also analyzed by monitoring the T1 and T2 oxidation states at the end of the catalytic reaction of wt SmNir at pH6 and 10 by UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies. These data provide insight into how changes in Cys-His bridge interrupts the electron transfer between T1 and T2 and how the pH-dependent catalytic activity of the enzyme are related to pH-dependent structural modifications of the T1-T2 bridging chemical pathway.Fil: Cristaldi, Julio César. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, María C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: González, Pablo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Ferroni, Felix Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Dalosto, Sergio Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Física del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Física del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Rizzi, Alberto Claudio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Rivas, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; ArgentinaFil: Brondino, Carlos Dante. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Física; Argentin

Model-to-Model Transformations for RIA Architectures: a Systematic Mapping Study

This study focuses on model-to-model transformations, as part of the Model-Driven Development (MDD) approach, for Rich Internet Applications (RIA). The main aim of this study is to identify fields that require further contributions, and/or research opportunities in the previously mentioned context.CONACYT – Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPROCIENCI

A Unified Framework for Reservoir Computing and Extreme Learning Machines based on a Single Time-delayed Neuron

In this paper we present a unified framework for extreme learning machines and reservoir computing (echo state networks), which can be physically implemented using a single nonlinear neuron subject to delayed feedback. The reservoir is built within the delay-line, employing a number of “virtual” neurons. These virtual neurons receive random projections from the input layer containing the information to be processed. One key advantage of this approach is that it can be implemented efficiently in hardware. We show that the reservoir computing implementation, in this case optoelectronic, is also capable to realize extreme learning machines, demonstrating the unified framework for both schemes in software as well as in hardware

Autophagy dysregulation in diabetic kidney disease: From pathophysiology to pharmacological interventions

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a frequent, potentially devastating complication of diabetes mellitus. Several factors are involved in its pathophysiology. At a cellular level, diabetic kidney disease is associated with many structural and functional alterations. Autophagy is a cellular mechanism that transports intracytoplasmic components to lysosomes to preserve cellular function and homeostasis. Autophagy integrity is essential for cell homeostasis, its alteration can drive to cell damage or death. Diabetic kidney disease is associated with profound autophagy dysregulation. Autophagy rate and flux alterations were described in several models of diabetic kidney disease. Some of them are closely linked with disease progression and severity. Some antidiabetic agents have shown significant effects on autophagy. A few of them have also demonstrated to modify disease progression and improved outcomes in affected patients. Other drugs also target autophagy and are being explored for clinical use in patients with diabetic kidney disease. The modulation of autophagy could be relevant for the pharmacological treatment and prevention of this disease in the future. Therefore, this is an evolving area that requires further experimental and clinical research. Here we discuss the relationship between autophagy and Diabetic kidney disease and the potential value of autophagy modulation as a target for pharmacological intervention.Fil: González, Claudio Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno"; ArgentinaFil: Carro Negueruela, María Paula. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno"; ArgentinaFil: Santamarina, Catalina Nicora. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno"; ArgentinaFil: Resnik, Roxana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Vaccaro, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno"; Argentin

Telomere length in the two extremes of abnormal fetal growth and the programming effect of maternal arterial hypertension

We tested the hypothesis that leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with birth weight in both extremes of abnormal fetal growth: small (SGA) and large for gestational age newborns (LGA). Clinical and laboratory variables of the mothers and the neonates were explored; 45 newborns with appropriate weight for gestational age (AGA), 12 SGA and 12 LGA were included. Whether the differences might be explained by variation in OBFC1 (rs9419958) and CTC1 (rs3027234) genes associated with LTL was determined. A significant association between birth weight and LTL was observed; LTL was significantly shorter in LGA newborns (1.01 ± 0.12) compared with SGA (1.73 ± 0.19) p < 0.005, mean ± SE. Maternal (Spearman R = −0.6, p = 0.03) and neonatal LTL (R = −0.25, p = 0.03) were significantly and inversely correlated with maternal history of arterial hypertension in previous gestations. Neonatal LTL was not significantly associated with either rs9419950 or rs3027234, suggesting that the association between neonatal LTL and birth weight is not influenced by genetic variation in genes that modify the interindividual LTL. In conclusion, telomere biology seems to be modulated by abnormal fetal growth; modifications in telomere length might be programmed by an adverse environment in utero.Fil: Tellechea, Mariana Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Gianotti, Tomás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Alvariñas, Jorge. Policlínico Bancario; ArgentinaFil: González, Claudio Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Sookoian, Silvia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Pirola, Carlos José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

A Novel E2F1-EP300-VMP1 Pathway Mediates Gemcitabine-Induced Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer Cells Carrying Oncogenic KRAS

Autophagy is an evolutionarily preserved degradation process of cytoplasmic cellular constituents, which participates in cell response to disease. We previously characterized VMP1 (Vacuole Membrane Protein 1) as an essential autophagy related protein that mediates autophagy in pancreatic diseases. We also demonstrated that VMP1-mediated autophagy is induced by HIF-1A (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha) in colon-cancer tumor cell lines, conferring resistance to photodynamic treatment. Here we identify a new molecular pathway, mediated by VMP1, by which gemcitabine is able to trigger autophagy in human pancreatic tumor cell lines. We demonstrated that gemcitabine requires the VMP1 expression to induce autophagy in the highly resistant pancreatic cancer cells PANC-1 and MIAPaCa-2 that carry activated KRAS. E2F1 is a transcription factor that is regulated by the retinoblastoma pathway. We found that E2F1 is an effector of gemcitabine-induced autophagy and regulates the expression and promoter activity of VMP1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that E2F1 binds to the VMP1 promoter in PANC-1 cells. We have also identified the histone acetyltransferase EP300 as a modulator of VMP1 promoter activity. Our data showed that the E2F1-EP300 activator/co-activator complex is part of the regulatory pathway controlling the expression and promoter activity of VMP1 triggered by gemcitabine in PANC-1 cells. Finally, we found that neither VMP1 nor E2F1 are induced by gemcitabine treatment in BxPC-3 cells, which do not carry oncogenic KRAS and are sensitive to chemotherapy. In conclusion, we have identified the E2F1-EP300-VMP1 pathway that mediates gemcitabine-induced autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. These results strongly support that VMP1-mediated autophagy may integrate the complex network of events involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma chemo-resistance. Our experimental findings point at E2F1 and VMP1 as novel potential therapeutic targets in precise treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer.Fil: Ropolo, Alejandro Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Catrinacio, Cintia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Renna, Felipe Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Boggio, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Orquera, Tamara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: González, Claudio Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Vaccaro, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentin

Estrategias socio-pedagógicas para la educación virtual en el marco de la pandemia del COVID-19 en el Ecuador

Because of the global pandemic of COVID-19 that emerged at the end of 2019 in the city of Wuhan (China), life systems worldwide underwent great transformations in all spheres. Regarding the educational field, as a way of responding to the conditions implemented to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-19, it was necessary to rethink the education schemes that traditionally characterized the training of children, youth, and adults; generating what experts worldwide have called one of the greatest online learning experiences of all time. The analysis of the educational experience in different countries by UNESCO maintains that the success of online education in countries such as China, in the context of the pandemic, focused on the levels of technological development that characterized the Asian country and the timely articulation between the education system and technological development. Unlike China, in most Latin American countries the low levels of development of new technologies and social inequalities represent determining obstacles to guaranteeing the continuity of education. In the specific case of Ecuador, according to a report of UNICEF only 37% of the population has access to the internet, therefore guaranteeing the inalienable right to education presents greater difficulties in the context of an emergency declaration national and the decree of teleworking modality at all levels of education as a mechanism for the prevention of infections by COVID-19.El análisis de la experiencia educativa en diferentes países por parte de la UNESCO sostiene que el éxito de la educación en línea en países como China, en el marco de la pandemia, se centró en los niveles de desarrollo tecnológico que caracterizaban al país asiático y la articulación oportuna entre el sistema de educación y desarrollo tecnológico. A diferencia de China, en la gran mayoría de los países de América Latina los bajos niveles de desarrollo de las nuevas tecnologías y las desigualdades sociales representan obstáculos determinantes para garantizar la continuidad de la educación. En el caso específico de Ecuador solo 37% de la población tiene acceso a internet, por lo cual garantizar el derecho inalienable a la educación presenta mayores dificultades en el contexto de emergencia nacional y el decreto de modalidad de teletrabajo en todos los niveles de educación como mecanismo para la prevención de contagios por la COVID-19. Este trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo analizar las acciones que desde un enfoque psicológico, pedagógico y técnico- administrativo han garantizado el derecho a la educación. Empleando el método analítico-descriptivo se toma como referencia la experiencia del Instituto Superior Tecnológico Particular Sudamericano de la ciudad de Cuenca. Como resultado de la investigación se propone un conjunto de estrategias socio-pedagógicas para la retención estudiantil, así como lineamientos para la planificación de la virtualización de la educación en línea.La pandemia del COVID- 19 ha sido propicia para la transformación de todos los sistemas de vida a nivel mundial y más aún para repensar los esquemas de educación tradicional que caracterizaron gran parte de la educación escolarizada hasta la actualidad. En China, país asiático donde se origina la pandemia, se inicia también lo que los expertos denominaron la mayor experiencia de aprendizaje en línea de todos los tiempos. De acuerdo con la UNESCO, el éxito de esta experiencia se centró en la articulación del sistema de educación y el desarrollo tecnológico que poseen. En el caso de América Latina, los niveles de desarrollo tecnológico y de desigualdad social se convierten en uno de los principales obstáculos para garantizar la continuidad de la educación. En Ecuador, la declaratoria de emergencia exhorta al acogimiento de la modalidad de teletrabajo en todos los niveles de la educación, sin embargo, de acuerdo con el Informe de la UNICEF sólo el 37% de la población tiene acceso a internet. Este trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo analizar las acciones que desde un enfoque psicológico, pedagógico y técnico- administrativo han garantizado el derecho a la educación. Empleando el método analítico-descriptivo se toma como referencia la experiencia del Instituto Superior Tecnológico Particular Sudamericano de la ciudad de Cuenca. Como resultado de la investigación se propone un conjunto de estrategias socio-pedagógicas para la retención estudiantil, así como lineamientos para la planificación de la virtualización de la educación en línea

Ulva compressa from Copper-Polluted Sites Exhibits Intracellular Copper Accumulation, Increased Expression of Metallothioneins and Copper-Containing Nanoparticles in Chloroplasts

In order to analyze the mechanisms involved in copper accumulation in Ulva compressa, algae were collected at control sites of central and northern Chile, and at two copper-polluted sites of northern Chile. The level of intracellular copper, reduced glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs), PC2 and PC4, and transcripts encoding metallothioneins (MTs) of U. compressa, UcMT1, UcMT2 and UcMT3, were determined. Algae of control sites contained around 20 μg of copper g−1 of dry tissue (DT) whereas algae of copper-polluted sites contained 260 and 272 μg of copper g−1 of DT. Algae of control sites and copper-polluted sites did not show detectable amounts of GSH, the level of PC2 did not change among sites whereas PC4 was increased in one of the copper-polluted sites. The level of transcripts of UcMT1 and UcMT2 were increased in algae of copper-polluted sites, but the level of UcMT3 did not change. Algae of a control site and a copper-polluted site were visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the existence of copper in electrodense particles was analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). Algae of copper-polluted sites showed electrodense nanoparticles containing copper in the chloroplasts, whereas algae of control sites did not. Algae of a control site, Cachagua, were cultivated without copper (control) and with 10 μM copper for 5 days and they were analyzed by TEM-EDXS. Algae cultivated with copper showed copper-containing nanoparticles in the chloroplast whereas control algae did not. Thus, U. compressa from copper-polluted sites exhibits intracellular copper accumulation, an increase in the level of PC4 and expression of UcMTs, and the accumulation of copper-containing particles in chloroplasts.This work was financed by Fondecyt Regular 1160013 to A.M and by Dicyt-USACH