Crystal structures of the Arabidopsis thaliana organellar RNA editing factors MORF1 and MORF9

In flowering plant plastids and mitochondria, multiple organellar RNA editing factor (MORF/RIP) proteins are required at most sites for efficient C to U RNA editing catalyzed by the RNA editosome. MORF proteins harbor a conserved stretch of residues (MORF-box), form homo- and heteromers and interact with selected PPR (pentatricopeptide repeat) proteins, which recognize each editing site. The molecular function of the MORF-box remains elusive since it shares no sequence similarity with known domains. We determined structures of the A. thaliana mitochondrial MORF1 and chloroplast MORF9 MORF-boxes which both adopt a novel globular fold (MORF domain). Our structures state a paradigmatic model for MORF domains and their specific dimerization via a hydrophobic interface. We cross-validate the interface by yeast two-hybrid studies and pulldown assays employing structure-based mutants. We find a structural similarity of the MORF domain to an N-terminal ferredoxin-like domain (NFLD), which confers RNA substrate positioning in bacterial 4-thio-uracil tRNA synthetases, implying direct RNA contacts of MORF proteins during RNA editing. With the MORF1 and MORF9 structures we elucidate a yet unknown fold, corroborate MORF interaction studies, validate the mechanism of MORF multimerization by structure-based mutants and pave the way towards a complete structural characterization of the plant RNA editosome

Nutrição mineral do Panicum maximum cv. Makueni I: cresimento, concentração e extração dos macronutrientes

Makueni being a promissing specie for Brazilian cattle raising, the present work was carried out to determine weight of dry matter production, concentration and accumulation of macronutrients from 30 days after cutting the grass up to 180 days old. For the purpose and area comprising 600 m² of Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (Oxisol) at São Carlos, State of São Paulo, Brazil on the farm Canchim, research institute wich belongs to EMBRAPA, the trial was conducted the meadow was cut and fertilized with ammonium sulphate at the rate of 250 kg/ha. At intervals of 30 days after the cutting up to 180 days plants corresponding to one square metre were collected. The dry matter content was determided and the material was analysed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The maximum production of dry matter is checked at 120 days represented by 1,425 kg/ha. The fasted dry matter production occur around the 60 days after cutting the meadow. The concentration of N is higt at the 30 days (1.62%) and low at the 120 days (0.72%). The concentration of P is highest at the 120 days (0.87%) and lowest at the 60 days (0.003%). The concentration of K is linear with the age of the grass. The concentrations of K change from 2.8% at the begining to 0.76% after 180 days. The concentration of Ca is highest at the 90 days (0.53%). There are not variation in the concentration of Mg in function with the age of the grass. The concentration of S chang of 0,14% at the 30 days for a lowest at the 120 days (0.07%). The accumulation of P, K, Ca is highest at the 90 days. The accumulation of Mg is highest at the 120 days and S accumuled the highest amounts at the 60 days. The greatest amounts of nutrients content in 1.425 kg/ha of dry matter obey the following order: K - 30.4 kg; N - 13-9 kg; Ca - 7-0 kg; Mg - 6.3 kg; S - 1.3 kg; P - 1.2 kg.O trabalho foi conduzido em área de pasto já formado e rebaixado, situado na Fazenda Canchim (UEPAE de São Carlos -EMBRAPA), São Carlos, SP, em Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, fase arenosa. Com a finalidade de avaliar o crescimento, através da produção de matéria seca, a concentração e acúmulo de macronutriena partir dos 30 dias após o rebaixamento até aos 180 dias. A área foi adubada com nitrogênio correspondendo à 250 kg de sulfato de amônio por hectare. Em intervalos de 30 dias após o rebaixamento até aos 180 dias, foram coletadas quatro metros quadrados das plantas ao acaso, sem subdividir em folhas e caules. O material seca à 80°C, e analisado para N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S. A concentração de nitrogênio é máxima aos 30 dias com 1,62% e mínima aos 120 dias com 0,72%. A concentração de fósforo é máxima aos 180 dias com 0,87% e mínima aos 60 dias com 0,003%. A concentração de potássio é linear com as idades variando de 2,8% a 0,76% aos 180 dias. A concentração de cálcio é máxima aos 90 dias com 0,53%. Não há variação na concentração de magnésio em função da idade da planta. A concentração de enxofre varia de 0,14% aos 30 dias para um mínimo aos 120 dias com 0,07%. O acúmulo de fósforo, potássio, cálcio é máximo aos 90 dias. 0 acúmulo de magnésio é máximo aos 120 dias O acúmulo de enxofre é máximo aos 60 dias. A exportação de macronutrientes contida na produção máxima de 1425 kg de matéria seca por hectare obedece á seguinte ordem: potássio-30,4; nitrogênio -13,9 kg; cálcio-7,0 kg; magnésio-6,3kg; enxofre-1,3 kg; fósforo-1,2 kg

Nutrição mineral do Panicum maximum cv. Makueni II: concentração e extração de micronutrientes

The present work was carried out to determine concentration and accumulation of micronutirents from 30 days after cutting the grass up to 180 days old. For the purpose an area comprising 600 m² of Latos solo Vermelho Amarelo (oxisol) at São Carlos, State of São Paulo, Brazil on the farm Canchim, research institute wich belongs to EMBRAPA, the trial was conducted. The neadw was cut and fertlized with ammonium sulphate at the rate of 250 kg/ha. At intervals of 30 days after the cutting up to 180 days plants corresponding to one square metre were collected. The authers concluded: The concentration of Cu is highest at the 30 days (7.63 ppm); The concentration of Zn is highest at the 180 days (22.66 ppm) and lowest at the 120 days (12.42 ppm); The concentration of B is highest at the 150 days (11.76 ppm) and lowest at the 60 days (1.69 ppm); The concentration of Mn is highest at the 180 days (133-8 ppm) and lowest at the 30 days (49.6 ppm); The concentration of Fe is highest at the 180 days (236.25 ppm) and lowest at the 30 days (49.6 ppm); The accumulation of Cu is highest at the 90 days. The accumulation of Zn and Fe did not differ with the age of the grass. The accumulation of B and Mn is highest at the 180 days. The greatest amounts of micronutrients content in 1.425 kg/ha of dry matter obey the following order: Fe - 286 g; Mn - 157 g; Zn - 23 g; B - 13-2 g; Cu - 7.6 g.O trabalho foi conduzido em área de pasto já formado e rebaixado, situado na Fazenda Canchim (UEPAE de São Carlos EMBRAPA), São Carlos - SP, em Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, fase arenosa. Com a finalidade de avaliar a concentração e acúmulo de micronutrientes a partir dos 30 dias após o rebaixamento até aos 180 dias. A área foi adubada com nitrogênio correspondendo à 250 kg de sulfato de amônio por hectare. Em intervalos de 30 dias após o rebaixamento até aos 180 dias, foram coletadas quatro metros quadrados das plantas ao acaso, sem sub dividir em folhas e caules O material seco à 80°C, foi analisado para Cu, Zn, B, Mn e Fe. Os autores concluíram que: . A concentração de cobre é mais elevada aos 30 dias com 7,63ppm. . A concentração de zinco é maxima aos 180 dias com 22,66 ppm e mínima aos 120 dias com 12, 42ppm . A concentração de boro e maxima aos 150 dias com 11,76 ppm e mínima aos 60 dias com 1,69 ppm. . A concentração de manganês é máxima aos 180 dias com 133,85 ppm e mínima aos 30 dias com 49,64 ppm. . A concentração de ferro é máxima aos 180 dias com 236,25 ppm e mínima aos 90 dias com 136,22ppm . O acúmulo de cobre é máximo aos 90 dias. . O acúmulo de boro de mangês é máximo aos 180 dias. . O acúmulo de zinco e ferro não diferiu nas diferentes idades. A exportação de micronutrientes contida na produção máxima de 1.425 kg de matéria seca por hectare obedece a seguinte ordem: ferro - 286 g; manganês - 157 g; zinco - 23g; boro - 13,2g e cobre 7,6 g

Nutrição mineral do Panicum maximum cv. Makueni III: digestibilidade da materia seca

The present work was carried out to determine: Digestibility coeficient of the dry matter; For the purpose an area comprising 600 m² of Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (Oxisol) at São Carlos, State of São Paulo, Brazil on the farm Canchim, research institute which belongs to EMBRAPA, on which trial was conducted the meadow was cut and fertilized with ammonium sulphate at the rate of 250 kg/ha. At intervals of 30 days after the cutting up to 180 days plants corresponding to one square metre were collected. The coeficient of digestibility of the dry matter was determined in vitro. It was found that the coeficient of digestibility was bight at 30 days with 51.9% and lowers to 29.4% at 180 days.O presente trabalho foi conduzido em área de pasto já formado e rebaixado, situado na Fazenda Canchim (UEPAE de São Carlos-EMBRAPA), São Carlos - SP, em Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo, fase arenosa. Com a finalidade de avaliar o coeficiente de digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca em função da idade, a partir dos 30 dias após o rebaixamento até aos l80 dias. A área foi adubada com nitrogênio correspondendo à 250 kg de sulfato de amônio por hectare. Em intervalos de 30 dias após o rebaixamento até aos l80 dias, colhiam-se quatro metrosquadrados das plantas ao acaso, sem subdividir em folhas e caules No mate rial coletado foi determinado o coeficiente de digestibilidade invitro sobre vinte e quatro amostras com duas repetições. Os resultados mostram que o coeficiente de digestibilidade da matéria seca é máximo aos 30 dias com 51,9% e decresce aos 180 dias com 29,4%

Nutrição mineral da seringueira: I - Crescimento e recrutamento de macronutrientes no período de quatro anos pelo clone Fx 3864 na região de Rio Branco, AC

Primary objective of this work was to study the growth, and concentration and accumulation of macronutrierts on the Hevea brasiliensis plants, at various ages. Leaves, stems and branches of rubber tree clone Fx 3864 from one year up to years old were collected from a plantation located at the BONAL S.A. farm at Rio Branco, Brasil the soil under the forest was classified as a heavy texture Red-Yellow Latosol. Results obtained showed that: - Highest growth increment occured from the third year on. - The leaves had the highest nutrient concentration - During the fourth year, nutrient extraction per hectare was: N - 24.54 kg, P - 1.82 kg, K - 18.29 kg, Ca - 11.07 kg, Mg - 5-29 kg, S - 1,88 kg. - Total macronutrients were absorbed in the following decreasing order: N, K, Ca, Mg, S, P.Com o objetivo de obter dados referentes ao crescimento e concentração e acúmulo de macronutrientes em função da idade da planta, foram coleta das amostras de folhas, galhos secos, ponta e base de galhos primários, e ponta, meio e base do tronco de plantas de seringueira clone Fx 3864 com 1,0 a 4,0 anos de idade em plantações situadas sobre Latossol Vermelho-Amarelo textura argilosa na área da BONAL S.A., localizada na região de Rio Branco, AC. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que: - O maior incremento no crescimento ocorreu a partir do terceiro ano. - As maiores concentrações de nutrientes, ocorreram nas folhas. - A extração de nutrientes pela seringueira, por hectare, no quarto ano, foi a seguinte: N - 24, 54 kg, P - 1,82 kg, Ca - 11,07 kg, Mg - 5,29 kg, S - 1,88 kg, - região do Amazonas. - A extração total de macronutrientes pelo sistema, em ordem decrescente: N K Ca Mg S P

Nutrição mineral de hortaliças. XXXVII. deficiências de macronutrientes em cubiu (Solanum topiro Humb. & Bonpl.)

In order to obtain: a) a clear picture of the picture of the deficiency symptoms of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S; b) the effects of lack of the elements on the dry matter production, and; c) concentrations of the macro and micronutrients, excepted for Mo and CI, on the leaves, stems and roots; young cubiu plants (Solanum topiro Humb. & Bonpl.), 'INPA-P6-PL2-BLUU-Exp l', were cultivated in nutrient solutions, in which one of the following elements were omitted at once: N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. Clear cut symptoms were obtained for N, K, Ca and Mg. The symptoms for P and S were uncleared. The growth rate of the cubiu plants was drastically affected by lack of N, P, K, followed by Ca and Mg. The omission of S from the nutrient solution did not affected the growth of the plants. The levels detected by chemical analysis of the leaves from "deficient" and "normal" plants were" N% = 2,02-3.53; P% = 0.12-0.20; K% = 0.84-3.44; Ca% = 0.22-2.64; Mg¾ = 0.07-0.48; 5¾ = 0.10-0.25.Plantas de cubiu (Solanum topiro Humb. & Bonpl.), 'INPA-P6-PL2-BLII-Exp l', foram cultivadas, em casa de vegetação em quartzo moído, irrigadas com soluções nutritivas, conforme SARRUGE (1975), e submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: completo, omissão de N, omissão de P, omissão de K, omissão de Ca, omissão de Mg e omissão de S, com o objetivo de: (a) obter sintomas de deficiência dos macronutrientes; (b) analisar o crescimento das plantas através da produção de matéria seca; (c) determinar a concentração dos macro e micronutrientes, exceto molibdênio e cloro, nas folhas, caules e raízes das plantas. Os sintomas visuais de deficiência foram identificados e descritos. As plantas foram coletadas e separadas em raiz, caule e folhas, e determinaram-se os teores de macro e micronutrientes, exceto molibdênio e cloro, neste material. Os resultados obtidos mostram: a) os sintomas visuais de deficiência de nitrogênio, potássio, cálcio e magnésio são bem definidos e de fácil caracterização, não ocorrendo o mesmo para os sintomas visuais de deficiência de fósforo e enxofre; b) os tratamentos que mais afetaram o desenvolvimento das plantas foram: omissão de N, omissão de P e omissão de K, seguidos por omissão de Ca e omissão de Mg. O desenvolvimento das plantas não foi afetado com o tratamento omissão de S; c) os níveis de deficiência e adequação obtidos nas folhas foram: N% = 2,02-2,53 P% = 0,12-0,20; K% = 0,84-3,44; Ca% = 0,22-2,64; Mg% = 0,07-0,48; S% = 0,10 0,25

Nutrição mineral da seringueira: II. Recrutamento de micronutrientes no período de quatro anos na região de Rio Branco, AC

Primary objective of this work was to study concentration and accumulation of the micronutrients on the rubber plants, at variuns ages. Leaves, stems and branches from one year up to four years old were collected from a plantation located at the BONAL S.A. farm at Rio Branco, Brazil. The soil under the forest was classified as a heavy texture Red-Yellow Latossol. The results showed: The leaves had the highest nutrient concentration, with the exception for copper and zinc. During the fourth year, nutrient extraction per hectare was: 29.4 g B; 18.3 g Cu; 140.4 g Fe; 436.7 g Mn and 52.2 Zn. Total micronutrients were absorbed in the following decreasing order: Fe >; Mn >; Zn >; B >; Cu.Com o objetivo de obter dados referentes a concentração e acúmulo de micronutrientes em função da idade da planta, foram coletadas amostras de folhas, galhos secos, ponta e base de galhos primários, e ponta, meio e base do tronco de plantas de seringueira clone Fx 3864 com 1 a 4 anos de idade situadas sobre Latossol Vermelho-Amarelo, textura argilosa na área da BONAL S.A. localizada na região de Rio Branco, AC Os resultados mostraram que: 1. As maiores concentrações de nutrientes ocor rem nas folhas com exceção do cobre e zinco; 2. A extração de nutrientes por hectare no quarto ano foi de: B-29,4 g, Cu-18,3 g, Fe - 140 g, Mn - 437,7 g e Zn - 52,2 g; 3. A extração total de nutrientes, em ordem decrescente foi: Fe Mn Zn B Cu

Neural Action Fields for Optic Flow Based Navigation: A Simulation Study of the Fly Lobula Plate Network

Optic flow based navigation is a fundamental way of visual course control described in many different species including man. In the fly, an essential part of optic flow analysis is performed in the lobula plate, a retinotopic map of motion in the environment. There, the so-called lobula plate tangential cells possess large receptive fields with different preferred directions in different parts of the visual field. Previous studies demonstrated an extensive connectivity between different tangential cells, providing, in principle, the structural basis for their large and complex receptive fields. We present a network simulation of the tangential cells, comprising most of the neurons studied so far (22 on each hemisphere) with all the known connectivity between them. On their dendrite, model neurons receive input from a retinotopic array of Reichardt-type motion detectors. Model neurons exhibit receptive fields much like their natural counterparts, demonstrating that the connectivity between the lobula plate tangential cells indeed can account for their complex receptive field structure. We describe the tuning of a model neuron to particular types of ego-motion (rotation as well as translation around/along a given body axis) by its ‘action field’. As we show for model neurons of the vertical system (VS-cells), each of them displays a different type of action field, i.e., responds maximally when the fly is rotating around a particular body axis. However, the tuning width of the rotational action fields is relatively broad, comparable to the one with dendritic input only. The additional intra-lobula-plate connectivity mainly reduces their translational action field amplitude, i.e., their sensitivity to translational movements along any body axis of the fly

Aculturação, ansiedade e depressão em imigrantes haitianos na região sul do Brasil

Acculturation refers to changes that occur when people from different cultural backgrounds encounter a new cultural environment. Such changes may play an important role in mental health. The present study investigates the relationships between acculturation, anxiety and depression in 64 Haitians who migrated to Brazil between 2010 and 2016. Participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Immigrant Acculturation Scale, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist - 27. Participants reported low levels of anxiety and depression symptoms and the most adopted acculturation strategy was integration. An assimilationist acculturation orientation was associated with lower levels of anxiety and a separationist orientation was linked to higher levels of depression. Contradicting our initial hypotheses, the final anxiety model negatively associated language separation with high anxiety symptoms. In general, the participants of the present study seemed to be well adapted to the Brazilian culture. However, acculturation strategies in our study varied across domains and were influenced by sociodemographic variables as time since migration and being employed. Considering that Brazil is a large and multi-cultural country, further research should be conducted in different parts of the country and with various migrant groups in order to better understand the acculturation phenomena.A aculturação é definida como mudanças que ocorrem quando pessoas de diferentes contextos culturais encontram uma nova cultura. Essas mudanças podem ter um papel importante na saúde mental dos indivíduos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal investigar as relações entre aculturação, ansiedade e depressão em 64 haitianos que imigraram para o Brasil entre os anos de 2010 e 2016. Os participantes responderam a um questionário sócio demográfico e as escalas Immigrant Acculturation Scale e Hopkins Symptom Checklist - 27. A orientação aculturativa mais apontada pelos participantes foi a integrativa e a média dos sintomas de ansiedade e depressão mostrou-se abaixo do ponto de corte da escala. A orientação aculturativa de assimilação foi associada com baixos níveis de ansiedade, e a orientação aculturativa de separação foi associada com altos níveis de depressão. Contrariamente a nossa hipótese inicial, os participantes que apresentaram uma maior separação na área da linguagem, relataram níveis inferiores de ansiedade. Os participantes do presente estudo relataram, em sua maioria, uma boa adaptação ao contexto cultural brasileiro. No entanto, as orientações aculturativas foram influenciadas por questões sócio demográficas, como o tempo desde a migração e o emprego. Considerando a extensão territorial do Brasil, bem como sua característica multicultural, estudos em outras regiões brasileiras e com diferentes grupos de migrantes devem ser realizados afim de possibilitar uma melhor compreensão do fenômeno da aculturação de migrantes no país

A phase II study for metabolic in vivo response monitoring with sequential 18FDG-PET-CT during treatment with the EGFR-monoclonal-antibody cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer: the Heidelberg REMOTUX trial

BACKGROUND: The epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody cetuximab has proven activity in metastatic colorectal cancer. To date, the mechanisms of action are not completely understood. Especially the impact on tumor glucose metabolism, or tumor vascularization remains largely unclear. The understanding of mechanisms such as early changes in tumor metabolism is of clinical importance since there may be a substantial influence on choice and sequence of drug combinations. Early signals of response to cetuximab may prove useful to identify patients having a relevant clinical treatment benefit. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the predictive relevance of the relative change in (18 )F-Fluorodeoxyglucose tumor uptake for early clinical response during short-term single agent treatment with cetuximab. Early clinical response will be routinely measured according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Accompanying research includes cytokine immune monitoring and analysis of tumor proteins and tumor genes. METHODS/DESIGN: The REMOTUX trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label, single-arm, single-center early exploratory predictive study. The first (18 )F-FDG PET-CT is conducted at baseline followed by the run-in phase with cetuximab at days 1 and 8. At day 14, the second (18 )F-FDG PET-CT is performed. Subsequently, patients are treated according to the Folfiri-cetuximab regimen as an active and approved first-line regimen for metastatic colorectal carcinoma. At day 56, clinical response is evaluated with a CT-scan compared to the baseline analysis. Tracer uptake is assessed using standardized uptake values (SUVs). The main hypothesis to be tested in the primary analysis is whether or not the relative change in the SUV from baseline to day 14 has any predictive relevance for early clinical response determined at day 56. Patients are followed until death from any cause or until 24 months after the last patient has ended trial treatment. DISCUSSION: The aim of this trial is to evaluate metabolic changes in metastatic colorectal cancer during short-term single agent treatment with cetuximab and to analyse their potential of predicting early clinical response. This could be helpful to answer the question if early identification of patients not responding to cetuximab is possible. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT200811021020; EudraCT 20090132792