Fatty Acid Profile Changes During Gradual Soil Water Depletion in Oats Suggests a Role for Jasmonates in Coping With Drought

Although often investigated within the context of plant growth and development and/or seed composition, plant lipids have roles in responses to environment. To dissect changes in lipid and fatty acid composition linked to drought tolerance responses in oats, we performed a detailed profiling of ( > 90) different lipids classes during a time course of water stress. We used two oat cultivars, Flega and Patones previously characterized as susceptible and tolerant to drought, respectively. Significant differences in lipid classes (mono, di and triacylglycerols; [respectively MAG, DAG, and TAG] and free fatty acids [FFA]) and in their fatty acid (FA) composition was observed between cultivars upon drought stress. In Flega there was an increase of saturated FAs, in particular 16:0 in the DAG and TAG fractions. This led to significant lower values of the double bond index and polyunsaturated/saturated ratio in Flega compared with Patones. By contrast, Patones was characterized by the early induction of signaling- related lipids and fatty acids, such as DAGs and linolenic acid. Since the latter is a precursor of jasmonates, we investigated further changes of this signaling molecule. Targeted measurements of jasmonic acid (JA) and Ile-JA indicated early increases in the concentrations of these molecules in Patones upon drought stress whereas no changes were observed in Flega. Altogether, these data suggest a role for jasmonates and specific fatty acids in different lipid classes in coping with drought stress in oat

New interfacial microtubule inhibitors of marine origin, PM050489/PM060184, with potent antitumor activity and a distinct mechanism

We have investigated the target and mechanism of action of a new family of cytotoxic small molecules of marine origin. PM050489 and its dechlorinated analogue PM060184 inhibit the growth of relevant cancer cell lines at subnanomolar concentrations. We found that they are highly potent microtubule inhibitors that impair mitosis with a distinct molecular mechanism. They bind with nanomolar affinity to unassembled αβ-tubulin dimers, and PM050489 binding is inhibited by known Vinca domain ligands. NMR TR-NOESY data indicated that a hydroxyl-containing analogue, PM060327, binds in an extended conformation, and STD results define its binding epitopes. Distinctly from vinblastine, these ligands only weakly induce tubulin self-association, in a manner more reminiscent of isohomohalichondrin B than of eribulin. PM050489, possibly acting like a hinge at the association interface between tubulin heterodimers, reshapes Mg2+-induced 42 S tubulin double rings into smaller 19 S single rings made of 7 ± 1 αβ-tubulin dimers. PM060184-resistant mutants of Aspergillus nidulans map to β-tubulin Asn100, suggesting a new binding site different from that of vinblastine at the associating β-tubulin end. Inhibition of assembly dynamics by a few ligand molecules at the microtubule plus end would explain the antitumor activity of these compounds, of which PM060184 is undergoing clinical trials.We wish to thank J. M. Fernandez Sousa (PharmaMar) for useful discussions and support, E. Hamel (NCI) for providing eribulin, C. Scazzocchio and G. Diallinas for useful advice on mutant screening, H. N. Arst for advice on mutant screening and mapping and for kindly providing strains MAD3688 and MAD4655, T. J. Fitzgerald (A&M University) for MTC and C. Alfonso (CIB) for AUC analysis. We also thank Rhône Poulenc Rorer Aventis for supplying docetaxel and Matadero Municipal Vicente de Lucas de Segovia for providing the calf brains for tubulin purification. B.P. had a contract from Comunidad de Madrid, and A.C. had a Ramon y Cajal contract, J.R.-S. had a fellowship from “Programa de Cooperación Científica entre el Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnologías y Medio Ambiente de la República de Cuba (CITMA) y el CSIC”. This work was supported by grants BIO2010-16351 (J.F.D.), BQU2009-08536 (J.J.-B.), CAM S2010/BMD-2457 (J.F.D.), CAM S2010/BMD-2353 (J.J.-B., J.M.A.), IPT-2011-0752-900000 and BIO2012-30965 (M.A.P.), BFU2011-23416 (J.M.A.) and PharmaMar-CSIC contracts

There and back again: historical perspective and future directions for Vaccinium breeding and research studies

The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains a wide diversity of culturally and economically important berry crop species. Consumer demand and scientific research in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have increased worldwide over the crops' relatively short domestication history (~100 years). Other species, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) are largely still harvested from the wild but with crop improvement efforts underway. Here, we present a review article on these Vaccinium berry crops on topics that span taxonomy to genetics and genomics to breeding. We highlight the accomplishments made thus far for each of these crops, along their journey from the wild, and propose research areas and questions that will require investments by the community over the coming decades to guide future crop improvement efforts. New tools and resources are needed to underpin the development of superior cultivars that are not only more resilient to various environmental stresses and higher yielding, but also produce fruit that continue to meet a variety of consumer preferences, including fruit quality and health related trait

Peripheral T-lymphocytes express WNT7A and its restoration in leukemia-derived lymphoblasts inhibits cell proliferation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>WNT7a, a member of the Wnt ligand family implicated in several developmental processes, has also been reported to be dysregulated in some types of tumors; however, its function and implication in oncogenesis is poorly understood. Moreover, the expression of this gene and the role that it plays in the biology of blood cells remains unclear. In addition to determining the expression of the <it>WNT7A </it>gene in blood cells, in leukemia-derived cell lines, and in samples of patients with leukemia, the aim of this study was to seek the effect of this gene in proliferation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, sorted CD3 and CD19 cells, four leukemia-derived cell lines, and blood samples from 14 patients with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 19 clinically healthy subjects. Reverse transcription followed by quantitative Real-time Polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis were performed to determine relative <it>WNT7A </it>expression. Restoration of WNT7a was done employing a lentiviral system and by using a recombinant human protein. Cell proliferation was measured by addition of WST-1 to cell cultures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>WNT7a is mainly produced by CD3 T-lymphocytes, its expression decreases upon activation, and it is severely reduced in leukemia-derived cell lines, as well as in the blood samples of patients with ALL when compared with healthy controls (<it>p </it>≤0.001). By restoring <it>WNT7A </it>expression in leukemia-derived cells, we were able to demonstrate that WNT7a inhibits cell growth. A similar effect was observed when a recombinant human WNT7a protein was used. Interestingly, restoration of <it>WNT7A </it>expression in Jurkat cells did not activate the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To our knowledge, this is the first report evidencing quantitatively decreased <it>WNT7A </it>levels in leukemia-derived cells and that <it>WNT7A </it>restoration in T-lymphocytes inhibits cell proliferation. In addition, our results also support the possible function of <it>WNT7A </it>as a tumor suppressor gene as well as a therapeutic tool.</p

Exposure to N-Ethyl-N-Nitrosourea in Adult Mice Alters Structural and Functional Integrity of Neurogenic Sites

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that prenatal exposure to the mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), a N-nitroso compound (NOC) found in the environment, disrupts developmental neurogenesis and alters memory formation. Previously, we showed that postnatal ENU treatment induced lasting deficits in proliferation of neural progenitors in the subventricular zone (SVZ), the main neurogenic region in the adult mouse brain. The present study is aimed to examine, in mice exposed to ENU, both the structural features of adult neurogenic sites, incorporating the dentate gyrus (DG), and the behavioral performance in tasks sensitive to manipulations of adult neurogenesis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 2-month old mice received 5 doses of ENU and were sacrificed 45 days after treatment. Then, an ultrastructural analysis of the SVZ and DG was performed to determine cellular composition in these regions, confirming a significant alteration. After bromodeoxyuridine injections, an S-phase exogenous marker, the immunohistochemical analysis revealed a deficit in proliferation and a decreased recruitment of newly generated cells in neurogenic areas of ENU-treated animals. Behavioral effects were also detected after ENU-exposure, observing impairment in odor discrimination task (habituation-dishabituation test) and a deficit in spatial memory (Barnes maze performance), two functions primarily related to the SVZ and the DG regions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results demonstrate that postnatal exposure to ENU produces severe disruption of adult neurogenesis in the SVZ and DG, as well as strong behavioral impairments. These findings highlight the potential risk of environmental NOC-exposure for the development of neural and behavioral deficits

Anales del III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad "Debate en torno a la nueva agenda urbana"

Acta de congresoEl III Congreso Internacional de Vivienda y Ciudad “Debates en torno a la NUEVa Agenda Urbana”, ha sido una apuesta de alto compromiso por acercar los debates centrales y urgentes que tensionan el pleno ejercicio del derecho a la ciudad. Para ello las instituciones organizadoras (INVIHAB –Instituto de Investigación de Vivienda y Hábitat y MGyDH-Maestría en Gestión y Desarrollo Habitacional-1), hemos convidado un espacio que se concretó con potencia en un debate transdisciplinario. Convocó a intelectuales de prestigio internacional, investigadores, académicos y gestores estatales, y en una metodología de innovación articuló las voces académicas con las de las organizaciones sociales y/o barriales en el Foro de las Organizaciones Sociales que tuvo su espacio propio para dar voz a quienes están trabajando en los desafíos para garantizar los derechos a la vivienda y los bienes urbanos en nuestras ciudades del Siglo XXI

Seasonal growth of small pelagic fish off Talcahuano, Chile (37°S, 73°W): a consequence of their reproductive strategy to seasonal upwelling?

Is the seasonal growth of Strangomera bentincki (Clupeidae) and Engraulis ringens (Engraulidae) a consequence of their reproductive strategy to adapt to the seasonal upwelling ecosystem they inhabit? This question is addressed by analysing monthly length-frequency data, gonadosomatic index and condition factor of the species in relation with the seasonal patterns of environmental variables. Modal progression analysis of mean length-at-age of cohorts along the time axis was used to study the growth in the period 1990–1997. A seasonally oscillating growth curve was estimated for both species, with the slowest growth rate occurring between April and May, a few months before the higher reproductive activity occurring in August–September. The reproductive strategy is to spawn when environmental conditions are related with onshore transport in winter (August), favouring the concentration and retention of eggs and larvae. One month later, a moderate upwelling determines an enrichment in food particles and the spawning area is transformed in a nursery area for juveniles. The reproductive strategy is combined with an ‘energy storage strategy’ during the period of upwelling. The energy stored is used for reproduction several months later, affecting the growth process of the species. It is concluded that the regularity in the seasonal growth in both species is a response, from an evolutionary point of view, of a long-term reproductive adaptation to the seasonal upwelling ecosystem of the central southern area off Chile

Characterising the mechanisms underlying cognitive control in high and low arousal states

Throughout two different experiments, we implemented an auditory Simon task to healthy participants in a natural state of either transition into sleep (drowsiness) or physical extenuation (high-intensity physical exercise) to study the behavioural dynamics of cognitive control during non-pharmacological altered arousal states. Databases from both experiments were combined. Reaction times and accuracy data were fitted using multilevel linear mixed-effects modelling (as implemented in the lme4 R package; Bates et al., 2014). We also applied a diffusion model for conflict tasks (DMC; Ulrich et al., 2015), by implementing the DMCfun package in R (Mackenzie &amp; Dudschig, 2021)