Sex-biased gene expression in the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus

Background The fucoid brown algae (Heterokontophyta, Phaeophyceae) are increasingly the focus of ecological genetics, biodiversity, biogeography and speciation research. The molecular genetics underlying mating system variation, where repeated dioecious – hermaphrodite switches during evolution are recognized, and the molecular evolution of sex-related genes are key questions currently hampered by a lack of genomic information. We therefore undertook a comparative analysis of male and female reproductive tissue transcriptomes against a vegetative background during natural reproductive cycles in Fucus vesiculosus. Results Over 300 k reads were assembled and annotated against public protein databases including a brown alga. Compared with the vegetative tissue, photosynthetic and carbohydrate metabolism pathways were under-expressed, particularly in male tissue, while several pathways involved in genetic information processing and replication were over-expressed. Estimates of sex-biased gene (SBG) expression were higher for male (14% of annotated orthologues) than female tissue (9%) relative to the vegetative background. Mean expression levels and variance were also greater in male- than female-biased genes. Major female-biased genes were carbohydrate-modifying enzymes with likely roles in zygote cell wall biogenesis and/or modification. Male-biased genes reflected distinct sperm development and function, and orthologues for signal perception (a phototropin), transduction (several kinases), and putatively flagella-localized proteins (including candidate gamete-recognition proteins) were uniquely expressed in males. Overall, the results suggest constraint on female-biased genes (possible pleiotropy), and less constrained male-biased genes, mostly associated with sperm-specific functions. Conclusions Our results support the growing contention that males possess a large array of genes regulating male fitness, broadly supporting findings in evolutionarily distant heterogametic animal models. This work identifies an annotated set of F. vesiculosus gene products that potentially regulate sexual reproduction and may contribute to prezygotic isolation, one essential step towards developing tools for a functional understanding of species isolation and differentiation.Peer Reviewe

Bioactivity of phenolic acids: Metabolites versus parent compounds: A review

Phenolic acids are present in our diet in different foods. In particular, mushrooms are a good source of these molecules. Due to their bioactive properties, phenolic acids are extensively studied and there is evidence of their role in disease prevention. Nevertheless, in vivo, these compounds are metabolized and circulate in the organism as glucuronated, sulfated and methylated metabolites, displaying higher or lower bioactivity. To clarify the importance of the metabolism of phenolic acids, the knowledge about the bioactivity of the metabolites is extremely important. In this review, chemical features, biosynthesis and bioavailability of phenolic acids are discussed as well as the chemical and enzymatic synthesis of their metabolites. Finally, the metabolites bioactive properties are compared with that of the corresponding parental compounds.The authors are grateful to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER-COMPETE/QREN/EU for the financial support through the research centres (PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 and PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011). S.A. Heleno (BD/70304/2010) also thanks FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for her grant

Scenarios for the future Brazilian power sector based on a multi-criteria assessment

The Brazilian power generation sector faces a paradigm change driven by, on one hand, a shift from a hydropower dominated mix and, on the other hand, international goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The objective of this work is to evaluate five scenarios for the Brazilian power sector until 2050 using a multi-criteria decision analysis tool. These scenarios include a baseline trend and low carbon policy scenarios based on carbon taxes and carbon emission limits. To support the applied methodology, a questionnaire was elaborated to integrate the perceptions of experts on the scenario evaluation process. Considering the results from multi-criteria analysis, scenario preference followed the order of increasing share of renewables in the power sector. The preferable option for the future Brazilian power sector is a scenario where wind and biomass have a major contribution. The robustness of the multi-criteria tool applied in this study was tested by a sensitivity analysis. This analysis demonstrated that, regardless of the respondents' preferences and backgrounds, scenarios with higher shares of fossil fuel sources are the least preferable option, while scenarios with major contributions from wind and biomass are the preferable option to supply electricity in Brazil through 2050.The research that allowed the publication of this paper has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union in the context of the CLIMACAP project (EuropeAid/131944/C/SER/Multi) and of the U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the context of the LAMP project (under Interagency Agreements DW89923040 and DW89923951US). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the U.S. government. The authors would like to thank the feedback and efforts from all CLIMACAP and LAMP project partners for enabling the research results reported in this article. This research was also supported by a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme Fellowship within the 7th European Union Framework Programme, under project NETEP-European Brazilian Network on Energy Planning (PIRSES-GA-2013-612263).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Unlocking the in vitroanti- inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of Polygonum maritimum

Context: Several Polygonum species (Polygonaceae) are used in traditional medicine in Asia, Europe and Africa to treat inflammation and diabetes. Objective: Evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of leaves and roots of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. Material and methods: Antioxidant activity was determined (up to 1mg/mL) as radical-scavenging activity (RSA) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), copper (CCA) and iron (ICA) chelating activities and iron reducing power (FRAP). NO production was measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages for 24 h at concentrations up to 100 mu g/mL and antidiabetic potential was assessed by alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition (up to 10 g/mL) assays. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The methanol leaf extract had the highest activity against DPPH center dot (IC50 = 26 mu g/mL) and ABTS1(+)center dot (IC50 = 140 mu g FRAP (IC50 = 48 mu g/mL) and CCA (IC50 = 770 mu g/mL). Only the dichloromethane leaf extract (LDCM) showed anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 48 mu g/mL). The methanol root (IC50 = 19 mu g/mL) and leaf (IC50 = 29 mu g/mL) extracts strongly inhibited baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase, but LDCM had higher rat's alpha-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 2527 mu g/mL) than acarbose (IC50 = 4638 mu g/mL). GC-MS analysis identified beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 1-octacosanol and linolenic acid as possible molecules responsible for the observed bioactivities. Conclusions: Our findings suggest P. maritimum as a source of high-value health promoting commodities for alleviating symptoms associated with oxidative and inflammatory diseases, including diabetes.XtremeBio project - Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [PTDC/MAR-EST/4346/2012]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [CCMAR/Multi/04326/ 2013, IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BPD/86071/2012, UID/Multi/00612/2013

Biodegradation of bioaccessible textile azo dyes by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Azo dyes are important chemical pollutants of industrial origin. Textile azo dyes with bioaccessible groups for lignin degrading fungi, such as 2-methoxyphenol (guaiacol) and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (syringol), were synthesised using different aminobenzoic and aminosulphonic acids as diazo components. The inocula of the best biodegradation assays were obtained from a pre-growth medium (PAM), containing one of the synthesised dyes. The results of the dye biodegradation assays were evaluated every 7 days, by the decrease of the absorbance at the maximum wavelength of the dye, by the decrease of the sucrose concentration in the culture medium and by the increase of the biomass during the 28 days of assay. It was observed that the extent of dye biodegradation depended on the sucrose concentration, on the degraded dye structure and, on the dye present in the PAM medium.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PRAXIS XXI/BD/15878/98, PRAXIS XXI/BD/9120/96.Instituto de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (IBQF)

Estudos de biodegradabilidade de corantes azo de aplicação têxtil por Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Sintetizaram-se corantes azo de aplicação têxtil, usando como componentes diazo ácidos aminobenzóicos e aminossulfónicos e como componentes de acoplamento 2- metoxifenol e 2,6-dimetoxifenol. A utilização destas componentes de acoplamento teve como objectivo aumentar a bioacessibilidade dos corantes ao fungo lenhinolítico da podridão branca Phanerochaete chrysosporium, já que estes grupos estão presentes na estrutura da lenhina e têm sido referidos como pontos de acesso para o sistema enzimático lenhinolítico do fungo. As experiências de biodegradação realizaram-se em meio líquido, com sacarose e em condições limitantes de azoto, com agitação e temperatura controladas. A biodegradação dos corantes foi acompanhada por espectrofotometria UV-Visível, quantificando a diminuição da intensidade da banda de absorção máxima (λmax) do corante. Em estudos preliminares estabeleceram-se condições experimentais optimizadas relativamente ao meio de préadaptação e à concentração de sacarose utilizada. Estabeleceram-se algumas correlações entre a estrutura química dos corantes e a sua biodegradação.Praxis XX

Water Peel-Off Transfer of Electronically Enhanced, Paper-Based Laser-Induced Graphene for Wearable Electronics

Funding Information: This work is funded by National Funds through FCT I.P., under the scope of the project UIDB/50025/2020-2023. The authors acknowledge the ERC AdG project DIGISMART ref 787410, EC project SYNERGY H2020-WIDESPREAF-2020-5, CSA, proposal number 952169, EC project EMERGE, No. 101008701, and project BEST - ALT20-03-0247-FEDER-113469 | LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-113469. T.P. and R.C. acknowledge funding from FCT I.P. through the Ph.D. Grants DFA/BD/8606/2020 and UI/BD/151295/2021. The authors also want to thank Jonas Deuermeier for the help with XPS measurements and analysis. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Chemical Society.Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has gained preponderance in recent years, as a very attractive material for the fabrication and patterning of graphitic structures and electrodes, for multiple applications in electronics. Typically, polymeric substrates, such as polyimide, have been used as precursor materials, but other organic, more sustainable, and accessible precursor materials have emerged as viable alternatives, including cellulose substrates. However, these substrates have lacked the conductive and chemical properties achieved by conventional LIG precursor substrates and have not been translated into fully flexible, wearable scenarios. In this work, we expand the conductive properties of paper-based LIG, by boosting the graphitization potential of paper, through the introduction of external aromatic moieties and meticulous control of laser fluence. Colored wax printing over the paper substrates introduces aromatic chemical structures, allowing for the synthesis of LIG chemical structures with sheet resistances as low as 5 ω·sq-1, translating to an apparent conductivity as high as 28.2 S·cm-1. Regarding chemical properties, ID/IG ratios of 0.28 showcase low defect densities of LIG chemical structures and improve on previous reports on paper-based LIG, where sheet resistance has been limited to values around 30 ω·sq-1, with more defect dense and less crystalline chemical structures. With these improved properties, a simple transfer methodology was developed, based on a water-induced peel-off process that efficiently separates patterned LIG structures from the native paper substrates to conformable, flexible substrates, harnessing the multifunctional capabilities of LIG toward multiple applications in wearable electronics. Proof-of concept electrodes for electrochemical sensors, strain sensors, and in-plane microsupercapacitors were patterned, transferred, and characterized, using paper as a high-value LIG precursor for multiples scenarios in wearable technologies, for improved sustainability and accessibility of such applications.publishersversionpublishe

Diversity and Agronomic Performance of Lupinus mutabilis Germplasm in European and Andean Environments

Original ResearchThe introduction of Lupinus mutabilis (Andean lupin) in Europe will provide a new source of protein and oil for plant-based diets and biomass for bio-based products, while contributing to the improvement of marginal soils. This study evaluates for the first time the phenotypic variability of a large panel of L. mutabilis accessions both in their native environment and over two cropping conditions in Europe (winter crop in the Mediterranean region and summer crop in North-Central Europe), paving the way for the selection of accessions adapted to specific environments. The panel of 225 accessions included both germplasm pools from the Andean region and breeding lines from Europe. Notably, we reported higher grain yield in Mediterranean winter-cropping conditions (18 g/plant) than in the native region (9 g/plant). Instead, North European summercropping conditions appear more suitable for biomass production (up to 2 kg/plant). The phenotypic evaluation of 16 agronomical traits revealed significant variation in the panel. Principal component analyses pointed out flowering time, yield, and architecturerelated traits as the main factors explaining variation between accessions. The Peruvian material stands out among the top-yielding accessions in Europe, characterized by early lines with high grain yield (e.g., LIB065, LIB072, and LIB155). Bolivian and Ecuadorian materials appear more valuable for the selection of genotypes for Andean conditions and for biomass production in Europe. We also observed that flowering time in the different environments is influenced by temperature accumulation. Within the panel, it is possible to identify both early and late genotypes, characterized by different thermal thresholds (600 C–700 C and 1,000–1,200 C GDD, respectively). Indications on top-yielding and early/late accessions, heritability of morpho-physiological traits, and their associations with grain yield are reported and remain largely environmental specific, underlining the importance of selecting useful genetic resources for specific environments. Altogether, these results suggest that the studied panel holds the genetic potential for the adaptation of L. mutabilis to Europe and provide the basis for initiating a breeding program based on exploiting the variation described hereininfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prediction of sunlight-driven CO2 conversion: producing methane from photovoltaics, and full system design for single-house application

ABSTRACT: CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are being immensely researched as means to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle. One approach known as artificial photosynthesis uses solar energy from photovoltaics (PV), carbon dioxide and water to generate hydrocarbon fuels, being methane (CH4) a preferential target due to the already in place infrastructures for its storage, distribution and consumption. Here, a model is developed to simulate a direct (1-step) solar methane production approach, which is studied in two scenarios: first, we compare it against a more conventional 2-step methane production route, and second, we apply it to address the energetic needs of concept buildings with usual space and domestic hot water heating requirements. The analysed 2-step process consists in the PV-powered synthesis of an intermediate fuel - syngas - followed by its conversion to CH4 via a Fischer -Tropsch (methanation) process. It was found that the 1-step route could be adequate to a domestic, small scale use, potentially providing energy for a single-family house, whilst the 2-step can be used in both small and large scale applications, from domestic to industrial uses. In terms of overall solar-to-CH4 energy efficiency, the 2-step method reaches 13.26% against the 9.18% reached by the 1-step method. Next, the application of the direct solar methane technology is analysed for domestic buildings, in different European locations, equipped with a combination of solar thermal collectors (STCs) and PV panels, in which the heating needs that cannot be fulfilled by the STCs are satisfied by the combustion of methane synthesized by the PV-powered electrolyzers. Various combinations of situations for a whole year were studied and it was found that this auxiliary system can produce, per m(2) of PV area, in the worst case scenario 23.6 g/day (0.328 kWh/day) of methane in Stockholm, and in the best case scenario 47.4 g/day (0.658 kWh/day) in Lisbon.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Metagenómica en la identificación de microorganismos que producen biodeterioro: patrimonio edificado con arquitectura en tierra, Vale Histórico Paulista (São Paulo, Brasil)

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar resultados obtenidos mediante análisis por metagenómica como herramienta novedosa para la identificación taxonómica de hongos y bacterias a partir de biofilms en paredes de arquitectura en tierra (“pau-a-pique”, “taipa de pilão” y adobe), de edificaciones históricas del Vale Histórico Paulista, representativas del período colonial brasileño, Se extrajo el DNA total de los biofilms, que fue amplificado mediante primers específicos para regiones variables de los genes 16S y 18S ribosomal, y luego secuenciado obteniéndose bibliotecas del amplificado. El programa QIIME reveló la diversidad taxonómica en los distintos sustratos. Los géneros más abundantes de bacterias fueron: Aciditerrimonas, Blastococcus, Geodermatophilus, Arthrobacter, Micromonospora, Nocardioides, Propionibacterium, Pseudonocardia, Rubrobacter, Solirubrobacter, Thermoleophilum, Sphingobacterium, Sphaerobacter, Streptococcus, Gemmatimonas, Methylobacterium, Microvirga, Sphingomonas, Massilia, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Los géneros más abundantes de hongos: Passalora, Lacazia, Anisomeridium, Poliblastia, Hypocrea, Verrucaria, Caloplaca, Chaetomella, Meyerozima, Humicola, Oxyporus, Coriolopsis, Rhodotorula, Sporidiobolus, Trichosporon, Mucor, Syncephalastrum. Este trabajo es el primer reporte de comunidades microbianas a partir de paredes hechas con técnicas de arquitectura en tierra con el uso de metagenómica