High relative expression of two genes of a melon near-isogenic line versus its parental during ripening

[SPA] Con el fin de comparar la expresión génica de una línea casi isogénica (NIL) SC10-2 de melón y su Piel de Sapo (PS) parental durante la maduración y para comprender los mecanismos de diferenciación, se realizó una secuenciación de transcriptoma. Los genes CmTCP15 (Factor de actividad de transcripción) y CmGDSL (actividad de la esterasa y la lipasa) tenían una alta expresión diferencial en el NIL SC10-2 en comparación con el PS debido a la introgresión en LG X. En consecuencia, algunos atributos de calidad de fruto como el aroma, dulzura y, probablemente otros pueden estar afectados por tales genes. [ENG] In order to compare the gene expression of a melon Near-isogenic Line (NIL) SC10-2 and its parental Piel de Sapo (PS) during ripening and to understand the differentiate mechanisms, a transcriptome sequencing was performed. CmTCP15 (Transcription factor activity) and CmGDSL (Esterase and lipase activity) genes were high differentially expressed in the NIL SC10-2 compared with PS due to the introgression in LG X. Consequently, some fruit quality traits such as aroma, sweetness and probably others can be affected by such genes.Financial support: Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (11784/PI/09), MINECO & UE-FEDER funds (AGL2010-20858). Thanks for the technical assistance to P. Varó and his team in CIFEA-Torre Pacheco (Consejería de Agricultura, Región de Murcia), N. Dos-Santos, E. Cuadros, M. García-Gutiérrez, A. Hakmaoui (UPCT), M.J. Roca (SAIT-UPCT), and IRTA-CRAG for the seeds of the NIL

Gene expression and volatile production during melon ripening

[SPA] Se realizó una secuenciación de transcriptoma para analizar los genes implicados en la formación de aromas expresados durante la maduración y para comprender los mecanismos moleculares que diferencian una línea casi isogénica (NIL) SC10-2 de melón y su parental Piel de Sapo (PS). El gen CmLOX18 (similar a la lipoxigenasa 4) se expresó diferencialmente comparando la NIL SC10-2 y PS y se asoció a la producción de hexanal, un compuesto diana e indicador del proceso de maduración no climatérica. La expresión del gen de la CmACO1 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase 1) implicado en la biosíntesis de etileno no manifestó diferencias durante la maduración. La introgresión en LG X estuvo asociada a la diferente producción de hexanal entre la NIL y PS. Se propone un eQTL en el LG X que controla la producción de aromas del gen CmLOX18 localizado en LG I. [ENG] Transcriptome sequencing was performed in order to analyze the genes associated to volatile synthesis expressed during ripening and to understand the molecular mechanisms that differentiate a melon Near-isogenic Line (NIL) SC10-2 and its parental Piel de Sapo (PS). CmLOX18 gene (Similar to Lipoxygenase 18) was differentially expressed in the NIL SC10-2 compared with PS associated with the aroma volatile compound hexanal as a target compound of the non-climacteric ripening. The expression of CmACO1 (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase 1) gene associated with ethylene biosynthesis did not change during ripening. The introgression in LG X was associated with the differential hexanal production of the NIL and PS. An eQTL located in LG X is probably controlling the production of aroma volatiles due to CmLOX18 in LG I.Financial support: Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (11784/PI/09), MINECO & UE-FEDER funds (AGL2010-20858). Thanks for the technical assistance to P. Varó and his team in CIFEA-Torre Pacheco (Consejería de Agricultura, Región de Murcia), N. Dos-Santos, E. Cuadros, M. García-Gutiérrez, A. Hakmaoui (UPCT), M.J. Roca (SAIT-UPCT), and IRTA-CRAG for the seeds of the NIL

Lower relative differential expression of two genes is associated with delayed ripening in melon

[SPA] Con el fin de comparar la expresión génica de un melón cerca de la línea isogénica (NIL) SC10-2 y su parental Piel de Sapo (PS) durante la maduración y para comprender los mecanismos de diferenciación, se realizó una secuenciación transcriptoma. Dos genes de CmGGP (GDP-L-galactosa fosforilasa 1) y CmRAP2-11 (factor de transcripción sensible al etileno RAP2-11) mostraron menor expresión relativa en la NIL SC10 -2 versus PS debido a la introgresión en LG X. Sin embargo, no existieron diferencias en expresión de CmAP2-like X1 (factor de transcripción sensible al etileno, similar a AP2 TOE3 isoforma X1). En consecuencia, la expresión de genes que mapearon en el grupo de ligamiento X como un factor de transcripción de respuesta a etileno o del metabolismo del ácido ascórbico estuvieron probablemente asociados con el retraso de maduración. [ENG] The expression of selected genes during ripening was studied considering a melon Near-isogenic Line (NIL) SC10-2 and its parental “Piel de Sapo” (PS). The expression of CmGGP (GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase 1), CmAP2-like X1 (AP2-like ethylene-responsive transcription factor TOE3 isoform X1) and CmRAP2-11 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor RAP2-11) were differentially expressed in the NIL SC10-2 compared with PS. Consequently, expression of genes that mapped in LG X such as one ethylene response transcription factors or ascorbic acid metabolism gene were probably associated with delayed ripening.Financial support: Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (11784/PI/09), MINECO & UE-FEDER funds (AGL2010-20858). Thanks for the technical assistance to P. Varó and his team in CIFEA-Torre Pacheco (Consejería de Agricultura, Región de Murcia) for crop management and IRTA-CRAG for the seeds of the NIL

Nonlinear dispersive waves in repulsive lattices

[EN] The propagation of nonlinear waves in a lattice of repelling particles is studied theoretically and experimentally. A simple experimental setup is proposed, consisting of an array of coupled magnetic dipoles. By driving harmonically the lattice at one boundary, we excite propagating waves and demonstrate different regimes of mode conversion into higher harmonics, strongly influenced by dispersion and discreteness. The phenomenon of acoustic dilatation of the chain is also predicted and discussed. The results are compared with the theoretical predictions of $\alpha$-FPU equation, describing a chain of masses connected by nonlinear quadratic springs and numerical simulations. The results can be extrapolated to other systems described by this equation.The work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MINECO) and European Union FEDER through Project No. FIS2015- 65998-C2-2 and by Project No. AICO/2016/060 by Conselleria de Educacion, Investigacion, Cultura y Deporte de la Generalitat Valenciana. L.J.S.-C. gratefully acknowledge the support of PAID-01-14 at Universitat Politscnica de Valsncia. A. M. gratefully acknowledge to Generalitat Valenciana (Santiago Grisolia program).Mehrem, A.; Jimenez, N.; Salmerón-Contreras, LJ.; García-Andrés, FX.; García-Raffi, LM.; Picó Vila, R.; Sánchez Morcillo, VJ. (2017). Nonlinear dispersive waves in repulsive lattices. Physical Review E. 96(1). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.96.012208S00220096

Thomas Decomposition and Nonlinear Control Systems

This paper applies the Thomas decomposition technique to nonlinear control systems, in particular to the study of the dependence of the system behavior on parameters. Thomas' algorithm is a symbolic method which splits a given system of nonlinear partial differential equations into a finite family of so-called simple systems which are formally integrable and define a partition of the solution set of the original differential system. Different simple systems of a Thomas decomposition describe different structural behavior of the control system in general. The paper gives an introduction to the Thomas decomposition method and shows how notions such as invertibility, observability and flat outputs can be studied. A Maple implementation of Thomas' algorithm is used to illustrate the techniques on explicit examples

CPEB alteration and aberrant transcriptome-polyadenylation lead to a treatable SLC19A3 deficiency in Huntington's disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder of the basal ganglia for which disease-modifying treatments are not yet available. Although gene-silencing therapies are currently being tested, further molecular mechanisms must be explored to identify druggable targets for HD. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins 1 to 4 (CPEB1 to CPEB4) are RNA binding proteins that repress or activate translation of CPE-containing transcripts by shortening or elongating their poly(A) tail. Here, we found increased CPEB1 and decreased CPEB4 protein in the striatum of patients and mouse models with HD. This correlated with a reprogramming of polyadenylation in 17.3% of the transcriptome, markedly affecting neurodegeneration-associated genes including PSEN1, MAPT, SNCA, LRRK2, PINK1, DJ1, SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, and HTT and suggesting a new molecular mechanism in neurodegenerative disease etiology. We found decreased protein content of top deadenylated transcripts, including striatal atrophy–linked genes not previously related to HD, such as KTN1 and the easily druggable SLC19A3 (the ThTr2 thiamine transporter). Mutations in SLC19A3 cause biotin-thiamine–responsive basal ganglia disease (BTBGD), a striatal disorder that can be treated with a combination of biotin and thiamine. Similar to patients with BTBGD, patients with HD demonstrated decreased thiamine in the cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, patients and mice with HD showed decreased striatal concentrations of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), the metabolically active form of thiamine. High-dose biotin and thiamine treatment prevented TPP deficiency in HD mice and attenuated the radiological, neuropathological, and motor HD-like phenotypes, revealing an easily implementable therapy that might benefit patients with HD

A Genotyping-by-Sequencing approach brings new insights into the population structure and local adaptation of Western Mediterranean Oaks

XIX ENBE Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Association for Evolutionary Biology, 18-19 December 2023, Lisboninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effectiveness of sewage treatment processes to remove faecal pathogens and antibiotic residues

Pathogens and antibiotics enter the aquatic environment via sewage effluents and may pose a health risk to wild life and humans. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of faecal bacteria, and selected antibiotic residues in raw wastewater and treated sewage effluents from three different sewage treatment plants in the Western Cape, South Africa. Sewage treatment plant 1 and 2 use older technologies, while sewage treatment plant 3 has been upgraded and membrane technologies were incorporated in the treatment processes. Coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used as bioindicators for faecal bacteria. A chromogenic test was used to screen for coliforms and E. coli. Fluoroquinolones and sulfamethoxazole are commonly used antibiotics and were selected to monitor the efficiency of sewage treatment processes for antibiotic removal. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) were used to quantitate antibiotic residues in raw and treated sewage. Raw intake water at all treatment plants contained total coliforms and E. coli. High removal of E. coli by treatment processes was evident for treatment plant 2 and 3 only. Fluoroquinolones and sulfamethoxazole were detected in raw wastewater from all sewage treatment plants. Treatment processes at plant 1 did not reduce the fluoroquinolone concentration in treated sewage effluents. Treatment processes at plant 2 and 3 reduced the fluoroquinolone concentration by 21% and 31%, respectively. Treatment processes at plant 1 did not reduce the sulfamethoxazole concentration in treated sewage effluents. Treatment processes at plant 2 and 3 reduced sulfamethoxazole by 34% and 56%, respectively. This study showed that bacteria and antibiotic residues are still discharged into the environment. Further research needs to be undertaken to improve sewage treatment technologies, thereby producing a better quality treated sewage effluent

Monitorización del consumo de sustancias de abuso legales e ilegales en España a través de las aguas residuales en el marco de la red ESAR-Net

Trabajo presentado en el 4th Congreso Internacional y XLIX Jornadas Nacionales de Socidrogalcohol - VIII Congreso Nacional Patología Bio-Psicosocial, celebrado en Tenerife del 06 al 08 de octubre de 2022

Local-Scale Patterns of Genetic Variability, Outcrossing, and Spatial Structure in Natural Stands of Arabidopsis thaliana

As Arabidopsis thaliana is increasingly employed in evolutionary and ecological studies, it is essential to understand patterns of natural genetic variation and the forces that shape them. Previous work focusing mostly on global and regional scales has demonstrated the importance of historical events such as long-distance migration and colonization. Far less is known about the role of contemporary factors or environmental heterogeneity in generating diversity patterns at local scales. We sampled 1,005 individuals from 77 closely spaced stands in diverse settings around Tübingen, Germany. A set of 436 SNP markers was used to characterize genome-wide patterns of relatedness and recombination. Neighboring genotypes often shared mosaic blocks of alternating marker identity and divergence. We detected recent outcrossing as well as stretches of residual heterozygosity in largely homozygous recombinants. As has been observed for several other selfing species, there was considerable heterogeneity among sites in diversity and outcrossing, with rural stands exhibiting greater diversity and heterozygosity than urban stands. Fine-scale spatial structure was evident as well. Within stands, spatial structure correlated negatively with observed heterozygosity, suggesting that the high homozygosity of natural A. thaliana may be partially attributable to nearest-neighbor mating of related individuals. The large number of markers and extensive local sampling employed here afforded unusual power to characterize local genetic patterns. Contemporary processes such as ongoing outcrossing play an important role in determining distribution of genetic diversity at this scale. Local “outcrossing hotspots” appear to reshuffle genetic information at surprising rates, while other stands contribute comparatively little. Our findings have important implications for sampling and interpreting diversity among A. thaliana accessions