Hacia la generalización de la rehabilitación integral o arquitectónica de la edificación española

In this paper the author reflects on the need to promote a comprehensive approach to buildings refurbishment. The idea is to identify the most relevant aspects that this architectural approach should consider and the tools that would enable its full-scale implementation in the framework of the new Law 8/2013, of June 26, regarding urban renewal, regeneration and renovation. To achieve this, the participation of the architectural professionals in collaboration with public administrations is essential. This way it is ensured that interventions on the building stock are carried out considering that buildings are affected by a complexity of issues such as those related to structures, environment, energy, urban development, sanitation and accessibility. To this end, it is proposed to create a document called “Basic Seal” conceived as a comprehensive assessment report of buildings state and the possible improvements from an architectural perspective, which will necessarily have a comprehensive approach. The improvement of the quality of life of citizens, the conservation of built heritage and the reduction of environmental impact in our cities are the ultimate objectives of this approach.<br><br>El artículo reflexiona sobre la necesidad de fomentar un enfoque integral en la rehabilitación de los edificios. Se trata de identificar los aspectos más relevantes que debería contemplar este enfoque de carácter arquitectónico para la rehabilitación así como las herramientas que harían posible su implantación a gran escala, teniendo como marco de la nueva Ley 8/2013 de rehabilitación, regeneración y renovación urbanas. Para ello, se considera fundamental la participación de los profesionales de la arquitectura en colaboración con las administraciones públicas, de manera que se garantice que las intervenciones sobre el parque edificado se realicen contemplando la complejidad de cuestiones que afectan a los edificios (estructurales, ambientales, energéticas, urbanísticas, de salubridad, de accesibilidad, valores patrimoniales y culturales). En este sentido, se propone la creación de un documento, denominado sello básico, que a modo de informe evalúe de forma integral el estado de un edificio y las posibles mejoras desde un enfoque arquitectónico, que necesariamente debe tener un enfoque integral. Los objetivos finales de este planteamiento son el fomento de una rehabilitación masiva e integral del parque edificado que conduzca a la mejora de la calidad de vida para los ciudadanos, la conservación del patrimonio construido y la reducción del impacto ambiental de nuestras ciudades

The expression pattern of the tonoplast intrinsic protein γ-TIP in Arabidopsis thaliana Is correlated with cell enlargement

The vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) contains an abundant intrinsic protein with six membrane-spanning domains that is encoded by a small gene family. Different isoforms of tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) are expressed in different tissues or as a result of specific signals. Using promoter-beta-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions and in situ hybridization, we have examined the expression of gamma-TIP in Arabidopsis thaliana. GUS staining of plants transformed with promoter-GUS fusions showed that gamma-TIP gene expression is high in recently formed tissues of young roots. In the shoot, gamma-TIP gene expression was highest in the vascular bundles of stems and petioles, as well as in the stipules and in the receptacle of the flower. No GUS activity was detected in root or shoot meristems or in older tissues, suggesting temporal control of gamma-TIP gene expression associated with cell elongation and/or differentiation. In situ hybridization carried out with whole seedlings confirmed that in root tips, gamma-TIP mRNA was present only in the zone of cell elongation just behind the apical meristem. In seedling shoots, mRNA abundance was also found to be correlated with cell expansion. These results indicate that gamma-TIP may be expressed primarily at the time when the large central vacuoles are being formed during cell enlargement.Supported by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (to M.J.C.), a European Molecular Biology Organization fellowship (to H.H.), and a fellowship from the Provincial Government of Catalonia (to D.L.).Peer reviewe

The Expression of a Xylanase Targeted to ER-Protein Bodies Provides a Simple Strategy to Produce Active Insoluble Enzyme Polymers in Tobacco Plants

Background Xylanases deserve particular attention due to their potential application in the feed, pulp bleaching and paper industries. We have developed here an efficient system for the production of an active xylanase in tobacco plants fused to a proline-rich domain (Zera) of the maize storage protein γ-zein. Zera is a self-assembling domain able to form protein aggregates in vivo packed in newly formed endoplasmic reticulum-derived organelles known as protein bodies (PBs). Methodology/Principal Findings Tobacco leaves were transiently transformed with a binary vector containing the Zera-xylanase coding region, which was optimized for plant expression, under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter. The fusion protein was efficiently expressed and stored in dense PBs, resulting in yields of up to 9% of total protein. Zera-xylanase was post-translationally modified with high-mannose-type glycans. Xylanase fused to Zera was biologically active not only when solubilized from PBs but also in its insoluble form. The resistance of insoluble Zera-xylanase to trypsin digestion demonstrated that the correct folding of xylanase in PBs was not impaired by Zera oligomerization. The activity of insoluble Zera-xylanase was enhanced when substrate accessibility was facilitated by physical treatments such as ultrasound. Moreover, we found that the thermostability of the enzyme was improved when Zera was fused to the C-terminus of xylanase. Conclusion/Significance In the present work we have successfully produced an active insoluble aggregate of xylanase fused to Zera in plants. Zera-xylanase chimeric protein accumulates within ER-derived protein bodies as active aggregates that can easily be recovered by a simple density-based downstream process. The production of insoluble active Zera-xylanase protein in tobacco outlines the potential of Zera as a fusion partner for producing enzymes of biotechnological relevance. Zera-PBs could thus become efficient and low-cost bioreactors for industrial purposes.This work was mainly supported by ERA Biotech (www.erabiotech.com). Additional support was supplied by grant SGR 2009/703 funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya (www10.gencat.net) and grants CDS2007/00036 of Consolider Ingenio program and TRA 2009/0124 of TRACE program funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovación (MICINN, www.micinn.es). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Hacia la generalización de la rehabilitación integral o arquitectónica de la edificación española

In this paper the author reflects on the need to promote a comprehensive approach to buildings refurbishment. The idea is to identify the most relevant aspects that this architectural approach should consider and the tools that would enable its full-scale implementation in the framework of the new Law 8/2013, of June 26, regarding urban renewal, regeneration and renovation. To achieve this, the participation of the architectural professionals in collaboration with public administrations is essential. This way it is ensured that interventions on the building stock are carried out considering that buildings are affected by a complexity of issues such as those related to structures, environment, energy, urban development, sanitation and accessibility. To this end, it is proposed to create a document called “Basic Seal” conceived as a comprehensive assessment report of buildings state and the possible improvements from an architectural perspective, which will necessarily have a comprehensive approach. The improvement of the quality of life of citizens, the conservation of built heritage and the reduction of environmental impact in our cities are the ultimate objectives of this approach.<br><br>El artículo reflexiona sobre la necesidad de fomentar un enfoque integral en la rehabilitación de los edificios. Se trata de identificar los aspectos más relevantes que debería contemplar este enfoque de carácter arquitectónico para la rehabilitación así como las herramientas que harían posible su implantación a gran escala, teniendo como marco de la nueva Ley 8/2013 de rehabilitación, regeneración y renovación urbanas. Para ello, se considera fundamental la participación de los profesionales de la arquitectura en colaboración con las administraciones públicas, de manera que se garantice que las intervenciones sobre el parque edificado se realicen contemplando la complejidad de cuestiones que afectan a los edificios (estructurales, ambientales, energéticas, urbanísticas, de salubridad, de accesibilidad, valores patrimoniales y culturales). En este sentido, se propone la creación de un documento, denominado sello básico, que a modo de informe evalúe de forma integral el estado de un edificio y las posibles mejoras desde un enfoque arquitectónico, que necesariamente debe tener un enfoque integral. Los objetivos finales de este planteamiento son el fomento de una rehabilitación masiva e integral del parque edificado que conduzca a la mejora de la calidad de vida para los ciudadanos, la conservación del patrimonio construido y la reducción del impacto ambiental de nuestras ciudades

The Expression Pattern of the Tonoplast Intrinsic Protein γ-TIP in \u3cem\u3eArabidopsis thaliana\u3c/em\u3e Is Correlated With Cell Enlargement

The vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) contains an abundant intrinsic protein with six membrane-spanning domains that is encoded by a small gene family. Different isoforms of tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) are expressed in different tissues or as a result of specific signals. Using promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions and in situ hybridization, we have examined the expression of γ-TIP in Arabidopsis thaliana. GUS staining of plants transformed with promoter-GUS fusions showed that γ-TIP gene expression is high in recently formed tissues of young roots. In the shoot, γ-TIP gene expression was highest in the vascular bundles of stems and petioles, as well as in the stipules and in the receptacle of the flower. No GUS activity was detected in root or shoot meristems or in older tissues, suggesting temporal control of γ-TIP gene expression associated with cell elongation and/or differentiation. In situ hybridization carried out with whole seedlings confirmed that in root tips, γ-TIP mRNA was present only in the zone of cell elongation just behind the apical meristem. In seedling shoots, mRNA abundance was also found to be correlated with cell expansion. These results indicate that γ-TIP may be expressed primarily at the time when the large central vacuoles are being formed during cell enlargement