Citron kinase controls abscission through RhoA and Anillin.

The small GTPase RhoA plays a crucial role in the different stages of cytokinesis, including contractile ring formation, cleavage furrow ingression, and midbody abscission. Citron kinase (CIT-K), a protein required for cytokinesis and conserved from insects to mammals, is currently considered a cytokinesis-specific effector of active RhoA. In agreement with previous observations, we show here that, as in Drosophila cells, CIT-K is specifically required for abscission in mammalian cells. However, in contrast with the current view, we provide evidence that CIT-K is an upstream regulator rather than a downstream effector of RhoA during late cytokinesis. In addition, we show that CIT-K is capable of physically and functionally interacting with the actin-binding protein anillin. Active RhoA and anillin are displaced from the midbody in CIT-K-depleted cells, while only anillin, but not CIT-K, is affected if RhoA is inactivated in late cytokinesis. The overexpression of CIT-K and of anillin leads to abscission delay. However, the delay produced by CIT-K overexpression can be reversed by RhoA inactivation, while the delay produced by anillin overexpression is RhoA-independent. Altogether, these results indicate that CIT-K is a crucial abscission regulator that may promote midbody stability through active RhoA and anillin

Renewable polyol obtained by microwave-assisted alcoholysis of epoxidized soybean oil: Preparation, thermal properties and relaxation process

[EN] The soybean oil polyol (SOP) use as feedstock in the polyurethane industry has been recently emphasized due to its excellent resistance to hydrolysis, which is also applicable in coatings and thermal insulation. In this article, the SOP was obtained by a very fast microwave-assisted alcoholysis of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). The preparation method, thermal properties, and relaxation process were evaluated. High yields as opening and consumption epoxy group and selectivity of 99.8 mol%, 985 mol%, and 71.2 mol% were obtained. Through titrations, nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography were identified parameters as 0.32 mg KOH.g(-1) acid number, 190 mg KOH.g(-1) hydroxyl number, 150 mg KOH.g(-1) saponification index, 0.17 wt% water content, 1463 g.mol(-1) molecular weight, 4.98 average functionality, 2.4 x 10(-5) mPa.s(-1) viscosity at 333 K and 1.00 g.cm(-3) density. The dielectric relaxation spectroscopy allowed identifying the alpha-relaxation process with a 193.5 K glass transition (T-g), 63.2 fragility index and 234.1 kJ mol(-1) activation energy associated with T-g from the dynamic fragility index. The ionic conductivity temperature dependence on SOP obeys Arrhenius behavior. In summary, the SOP structure and thermal relaxation parameters determination are fundamental for the understanding of the structure-properties relationship of renewable polyurethanes. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.The authors thank the financial support from the Brazilian Agency Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) and Sindicato das Industrias de Material Plastic do Nordeste Gaucho (SIMPLAS) for the gratification received at Jovens Pesquisadores 2017, da University of Caxias do Sul (UCS). CAF and OB are National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) fellows. CMG and MJS thank the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MAT2015-63955-R) for partial financial help. The authors also thank Dr. Cesar H. Wanke for the suggestions. This work was supported by CNPq-Brazil (06086/2018-2).Favero, D.; Marcon, VR.; Barcellos, T.; Gomez-Clari, CM.; Sanchis Sánchez, MJ.; Carsí Rosique, M.; Figueroa, CA.... (2019). Renewable polyol obtained by microwave-assisted alcoholysis of epoxidized soybean oil: Preparation, thermal properties and relaxation process. Journal of Molecular Liquids. 285:136-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.04.078S13614528

Ultrastructural features of human metaphase II oocytes subjected to slow freezing or vitrification in an IVF program: a comparative analysis

During the past two decades important advances have been made in the field of assisted reproduction by using oocyte cryopreservation. However, mature (metaphase II) oocytes are very susceptible to cryodamage. In order to contribute to the identification of a cryopreservation protocol with minimal side effects on the oocyte structure and function, we evaluated and compared the subcellular features of human oocytes cryopreserved either with slow (controlled rate) freezing or vitrification (ultrarapid freezing). Supernumerary human metaphase II oocytes were donated by consenting patients enrolled in an IVF program. The age of these women ranged from 27 to 32 years old. The eggs were cryopreserved using slow freezing with 1.5M propanediol + 0.2M sucrose concentration or a closed vitrification system (Cryotip Irvine Scientific CA). Fresh oocytes were used as controls. Samples were fixed and prepared for light and transmission electron microscopy (LM and TEM) observations. By LM, all the oocytes were generally rounded, 90-100 microns in diameter, with regular ooplasm showing uniform distribution of organelles. By TEM, mitochondria-smooth endoplasmic reticulum (M-SER) aggregates were the most common structures found in all the oocytes fixed or cryopreserved within 3-4 hours after the retrieval. M-SER aggregates appeared instead partially replaced by mitochondria-vesicle complexes when oocytes were maintained in culture for a prolonged period of time. A slight to moderate vacuolization was found in the cytoplasm of the oocytes subjected to slow freezing. Slight microvacuolization was also found in vitrified oocytes, whereas vacuoles were almost completely absent in fresh controls. Amount and density of cortical granules (CGs) appeared abnormally reduced in all cryopreserved oocytes, irrespective of the protocol applied. In conclusion, it has been evidenced that prolonged stay in culture induces an intracellular membrane “recycling” in the oocytes, that causes the transformation of slender, anastomosed SER tubules into rounded vesicles surrounded by mitochondria, whose role is still uncertain. In addition, even though all cryopreservation protocols studied ensured a good overall preservation of the oocyte, vacuolization appears as a recurrent form of cell damage. This happens both during slow freezing and, at a lesser extent, during vitrification using a closed device. In addition, premature CG exocytosis was observed in both groups

Secondary stress, intensity and fundamental frequency in Brazilian Portuguese

This paper investigates whether values of acoustical correlates of pretonic syllables adjacent to the one(s) perceived as bearing secondary stress could predict such perception in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) data. In order to pursue this goal, a comparison is made between pretonic syllables perceived as bearing secondary stress and those perceived as not bearing it. According to the results, obtained by application of statistical analyses, it is possible to claim that variation in intensity and in F0 in syllables perceived as bearing secondary stress, as well as in adjacent syllables, can be taken as a robust correlate for data perception regarding secondary stress placement in BP. Variation in intensity and in F0 in syllables perceived as bearing secondary stress and variation in intensity and in F0 in the other adjacent pretonic syllables seem to be complementary information for the perception of secondary stresses by BP speakers. The results point to relevant questions for further work concerning the rhythmic and intonational organization of Brazilian Portuguese.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Imaging biomarkers of lung ventilation in interstitial lung disease from ¹²⁹Xe and oxygen enhanced ¹H MRI

PURPOSE: To compare imaging biomarkers from hyperpolarised 129Xe ventilation MRI and dynamic oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI) with standard pulmonary function tests (PFT) in interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients. To evaluate if biomarkers can separate ILD subtypes and detect early signs of disease resolution or progression. STUDY TYPE: Prospective longitudinal. POPULATION: Forty-one ILD (fourteen idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), eleven hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), eleven drug-induced ILD (DI-ILD), five connective tissue disease related-ILD (CTD-ILD)) patients and ten healthy volunteers imaged at visit 1. Thirty-four ILD patients completed visit 2 (eleven IPF, eight HP, ten DIILD, five CTD-ILD) after 6 or 26 weeks. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: MRI performed at 1.5 T. Inversion recovery T1 mapping, dynamic MRI acquisition with varying oxygen levels, and hyperpolarised 129Xe ventilation MRI. Subjects underwent standard spirometry and gas transfer testing. ASSESSMENT: Five 1H MRI and two 129Xe MRI ventilation metrics were compared with spirometry and gas transfer measurements. STATISTICAL TEST: To evaluate differences at visit 1 among subgroups: ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis rank tests with correction for multiple comparisons. To assess the relationships between imaging biomarkers, PFT, age and gender, at visit 1 and for the change between visit 1 and 2: Pearson correlations and multilinear regression models. RESULTS: The global PFT tests could not distinguish ILD subtypes. Ventilated volumes were lower in ILD patients than in HVs when measured with 129Xe MRI (HV 97.4 ± 2.6, CTD-ILD: 91.0 ± 4.8 p = 0.017, DI-ILD 90.1 ± 7.4 p = 0.003, HP 92.6 ± 4.0 p = 0.013, IPF 88.1 ± 6.5 p < 0.001), but not with OE-MRI. 129Xe reported more heterogeneous ventilation in DI-ILD and IPF than in HV, and OE-MRI reported more heterogeneous ventilation in DI-ILD and IPF than in HP or CTD-ILD. The longitudinal changes reported by the imaging biomarkers did not correlate with the PFT changes between visits. DATA CONCLUSION: Neither 129Xe ventilation nor OE-MRI biomarkers investigated in this study were able to differentiate between ILD subtypes, suggesting that ventilation-only biomarkers are not indicated for this task. Limited but progressive loss of ventilated volume as measured by 129Xe-MRI may be present as the biomarker of focal disease progresses. OE-MRI biomarkers are feasible in ILD patients and do not correlate strongly with PFT. Both OE-MRI and 129Xe MRI revealed more spatially heterogeneous ventilation in DI-ILD and IPF

Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. Urban ecosystems

Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 requires member states to Map and Assess the state of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES). This report provides guidance for mapping and assessment of urban ecosystems. The MAES urban pilot is a collaboration between the European Commission, the European Environment Agency, volunteering Member States and cities, and stakeholders. Its ultimate goal is to deliver a knowledge base for policy and management of urban ecosystems by analysing urban green infrastructure, condition of urban ecosystems and ecosystem services. This report presents guidance for mapping urban ecosystems and includes an indicator framework to assess the condition of urban ecosystems and urban ecosystem services. The scientific framework of mapping and assessment is designed to support in particular urban planning policy and policy on green infrastructure at urban, metropolitan and regional scales. The results are based on the following different sources of information: a literature survey of 54 scientific articles, an online-survey (on urban ecosystems, related policies and planning instruments and with participation of 42 cities), ten case studies (Portugal: Cascais, Oeiras, Lisbon; Italy: Padua, Trento, Rome; The Netherlands: Utrecht; Poland: Poznań; Spain: Barcelona; Norway: Oslo), and a two-day expert workshop. The case studies constituted the core of the MAES urban pilot. They provided real examples and applications of how mapping and assessment can be organized to support policy; on top, they provided the necessary expertise to select a set of final indicators for condition and ecosystem services. Urban ecosystems or cities are defined here as socio-ecological systems which are composed of green infrastructure and built infrastructure. Urban green infrastructure (GI) is understood in this report as the multi-functional network of urban green spaces situated within the boundary of the urban ecosystem. Urban green spaces are the structural components of urban GI. This study has shown that there is a large scope for urban ecosystem assessments. Firstly, urban policies increasingly use urban green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in their planning process. Secondly, an increasing amount of data at multiple spatial scales is becoming available to support these policies, to provide a baseline, and to compare or benchmark cities with respect to the extent and management of the urban ecosystem. Concrete examples are given on how to delineate urban ecosystems, how to choose an appropriate spatial scale, and how to map urban ecosystems based on a combination of national or European datasets (including Urban Atlas) and locally collected information (e.g., location of trees). Also examples of typologies for urban green spaces are presented. This report presents an indicator framework which is composed of indicators to assess for urban ecosystem condition and for urban ecosystem services. These are the result of a rigorous selection process and ensure consistent mapping and assessment across Europe. The MAES urban pilot will continue with work on the interface between research and policy. The framework presented in this report needs to be tested and validated across Europe, e.g. on its applicability at city scale, on how far the methodology for measuring ecosystem condition and ecosystem service delivery in urban areas can be used to assess urban green infrastructure and nature-based solutions

PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1-LIKE8 plays an important role for the regulation of abscisic acid signaling in root

[EN] Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling plays a critical role in regulating root growth and root system architecture. ABA-mediated growth promotion and root tropic response under water stress are key responses for plant survival under limiting water conditions. In this work, we have explored the role of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1 (PYR1)/PYR1-LIKE (PYL)/REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF ABA RECEPTORS for root ABA signaling. As a result, we discovered that PYL8 plays a nonredundant role for the regulation of root ABA sensitivity. Unexpectedly, given the multigenic nature and partial functional redundancy observed in the PYR/PYL family, the single pyl8 mutant showed reduced sensitivity to ABA-mediated root growth inhibition. This effect was due to the lack of PYL8-mediated inhibition of several clade A phosphatases type 2C (PP2Cs), since PYL8 interacted in vivo with at least five PP2Cs, namely HYPERSENSITIVE TO ABA1 (HAB1), HAB2, ABA-INSENSITIVE1 (ABI1), ABI2, and PP2CA/ABA-HYPERSENSITIVE GERMINATION3 as revealed by tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry proteomic approaches. We also discovered that PYR/PYL receptors and clade A PP2Cs are crucial for the hydrotropic response that takes place to guide root growth far from regions with low water potential. Thus, an ABA-hypersensitive pp2c quadruple mutant showed enhanced hydrotropism, whereas an ABA-insensitive sextuple pyr/pyl mutant showed reduced hydrotropic response, indicating that ABA-dependent inhibition of PP2Cs by PYR/PYLs is required for the proper perception of a moisture gradient.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (grant no. BIO2011-23446 to P. L. R.; fellowships to R. A., L. R., and M. P.-L.; Juan de la Cierva contract to M.G.-G.).Antoni-Alandes, R.; Gonzalez Guzman, M.; Rodriguez, L.; Peirats-Llobet, M.; Pizzio Bianchi, GA.; Fernández, MA.; De Winne, N.... (2013). PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1-LIKE8 plays an important role for the regulation of abscisic acid signaling in root. Plant Physiology. 161(2):931-941. doi:10.1104/pp.112.208678S931941161