Líquenes y su importancia en la exploración del Sistema Solar

The exploration for life outside our planet is one of the main objectives proposed by astrobiology. Many international space missions have been launched and the most important have been focused on the planet Mars. Although many enigmas have been solved from the results of these missions, a large part of the research carried out in the field of astrobiology is developed at laboratories placed on Earth and through terrestrial areas that have been recognized as planetary analogues characterized by extreme habitability conditions. For the study of the evolution of life under these conditions, lichens have proven to be model organisms to know the limits of life in space and other planets. The main conclusion of the experiments on these organisms shows that they are able to survive in space.La búsqueda de la vida fuera de nuestro planeta es uno de los objetivos que se propone la astrobiología. Para ello se han llevado a cabo multitud de misiones espaciales de carácter internacional estando muchas de ellas centradas en el planeta Marte. Aunque a partir de los resultados de estas misiones se han resuelto muchos enigmas, también se desarrollan investigaciones en el campo de la astrobiología en laboratorios ubicados en la Tierra y en zonas terrestres que han sido reconocidas como análogos planetarios, caracterizadas por unas condiciones de habitabilidad extrema. Para el estudio de la evolución de la vida en estas condiciones, los líquenes han demostrado ser unos organismos especialmente idóneos para conocer los límites de la vida en el espacio y sobre otros planetas. Las conclusiones de los experimentos con estos organismos demuestran que son capaces de sobrevivir en el espacio

Insight of lichens as ideal models for astrobiological studies analyzed by Raman spectroscopy

Exposure experiments of different species to space conditions are essential because real space conditions with different radiation sources like ionizing radiation, UV-radiation, X-rays, gamma-ray from even galactic radiation, vacuum and space weathering by micro-dust cannot simultaneously be simulated in parallel even in our best simulation chambers on Earth. We need results from experiments under real space conditions to enable the development of appropriate predictions about the stability of organisms and their constituent organic parts. The extremophile lichen Circinaria gyrosa is one of the selected species within the BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment) experiment and in this work we compare the previous Raman results obtained in this lichen [1] with the corresponding Raman results on the lichen Xanthoparmelia hueana. Both species have been exposed to space and simulated Mars-like conditions in planetary chambers and we have studied and identified possible degradation process in different layers and biomarkers. The analysis by Raman spectroscopy of simulated Space and Mars exposed samples confirm alterations and damages of the photobiont part of the lichen and changes related to the molecular structure of whewellite. The conclusions of this work will be important to understand what are the effects to consider when biological systems are exposed to space or Mars-like conditions and to expand our knowledge of how life survives in most extreme conditions that is a prerequisite in future planetary exploration projects.Acknowledgment Support for this work was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), by the project BIOindicadores en MARTE y Espacio (BIOMARSS) (PID2019-109448RB-I00) and by INTA. References [1] M.R. Lopez Ramirez, L.G Sancho, J. P. de Vera, M. Baqué, U. Böttcher, E. Rabbow, J. Martínez-Frías, R. de la Torre Noetzel. Spectrochimica Acta, Part A. 261 (2021) 120046.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Nanoparticle-cell-nanoparticle communication by stigmergy to enhance poly(I:C) induced apoptosis in cancer cells

[EN] Nanoparticle-cell-nanoparticle communication by stigmergy was demonstrated using two capped nanodevices. The first community of nanoparticles (i.e.S(RA)(IFN)) is loaded with 9-cis-retinoic acid and capped with interferon-gamma, whereas the second community of nanoparticles (i.e.S(sulf)(PIC)) is loaded with sulforhodamine B and capped with poly(I:C). The uptake ofS(RA)(IFN)by SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells enhanced the expression of TLR3 receptor facilitating the subsequent uptake ofS(sulf)(PIC)and cell killing.We thank the Spanish Government (projects RTI2018-100910-B-C41 and RTI2018-101599-B-C22 (MCUI/FEDER, EU)), Generalitat Valenciana (project PROMETEO2018/024) and CIBER-BBN (project NANOCOMMUNITY) for support. A. U. and C. G are grateful to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport for her doctoral FPU grant.Ultimo, A.; De La Torre-Paredes, C.; Giménez, C.; Aznar, E.; Coll, C.; Marcos Martínez, MD.; Murguía, JR.... (2020). Nanoparticle-cell-nanoparticle communication by stigmergy to enhance poly(I:C) induced apoptosis in cancer cells. Chemical Communications. 56(53):7273-7276. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0cc02795bS727372765653Schaming, D., & Remita, H. (2015). Nanotechnology: from the ancient time to nowadays. Foundations of Chemistry, 17(3), 187-205. doi:10.1007/s10698-015-9235-yHauert, S., & Bhatia, S. N. (2014). Mechanisms of cooperation in cancer nanomedicine: towards systems nanotechnology. Trends in Biotechnology, 32(9), 448-455. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.06.010Theraulaz, G., & Bonabeau, E. (1999). A Brief History of Stigmergy. Artificial Life, 5(2), 97-116. doi:10.1162/106454699568700Llopis-Lorente, A., Díez, P., Sánchez, A., Marcos, M. D., Sancenón, F., Martínez-Ruiz, P., … Martínez-Máñez, R. (2017). Interactive models of communication at the nanoscale using nanoparticles that talk to one another. Nature Communications, 8(1). doi:10.1038/ncomms15511Luis, B., Llopis‐Lorente, A., Rincón, P., Gadea, J., Sancenón, F., Aznar, E., … Martínez‐Máñez, R. (2019). An Interactive Model of Communication between Abiotic Nanodevices and Microorganisms. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 58(42), 14986-14990. doi:10.1002/anie.201908867De la Torre, C., Domínguez-Berrocal, L., Murguía, J. R., Marcos, M. D., Martínez-Máñez, R., Bravo, J., & Sancenón, F. (2018). ϵ -Polylysine-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Carrier of the C 9h Peptide to Induce Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. Chemistry - A European Journal, 24(8), 1890-1897. doi:10.1002/chem.201704161García-Fernández, A., García-Laínez, G., Ferrándiz, M. L., Aznar, E., Sancenón, F., Alcaraz, M. J., … Orzáez, M. (2017). Targeting inflammasome by the inhibition of caspase-1 activity using capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Journal of Controlled Release, 248, 60-70. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.01.002Murugan, C., Rayappan, K., Thangam, R., Bhanumathi, R., Shanthi, K., Vivek, R., … Kannan, S. (2016). Combinatorial nanocarrier based drug delivery approach for amalgamation of anti-tumor agents in breast cancer cells: an improved nanomedicine strategy. Scientific Reports, 6(1). doi:10.1038/srep34053Van Rijt, S. H., Bölükbas, D. A., Argyo, C., Datz, S., Lindner, M., Eickelberg, O., … Meiners, S. (2015). Protease-Mediated Release of Chemotherapeutics from Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles to ex Vivo Human and Mouse Lung Tumors. ACS Nano, 9(3), 2377-2389. doi:10.1021/nn5070343Llopis-Lorente, A., Lozano-Torres, B., Bernardos, A., Martínez-Máñez, R., & Sancenón, F. (2017). Mesoporous silica materials for controlled delivery based on enzymes. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 5(17), 3069-3083. doi:10.1039/c7tb00348jBianchi, F., Pretto, S., Tagliabue, E., Balsari, A., & Sfondrini, L. (2017). Exploiting poly(I:C) to induce cancer cell apoptosis. Cancer Biology & Therapy, 18(10), 747-756. doi:10.1080/15384047.2017.1373220Ultimo, A., Giménez, C., Bartovsky, P., Aznar, E., Sancenón, F., Marcos, M. D., … Murguía, J. R. (2016). Targeting Innate Immunity with dsRNA-Conjugated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Promotes Antitumor Effects on Breast Cancer Cells. Chemistry - A European Journal, 22(5), 1582-1586. doi:10.1002/chem.201504629Bernardo, A. R., Cosgaya, J. M., Aranda, A., & Jiménez-Lara, A. M. (2013). Synergy between RA and TLR3 promotes type I IFN-dependent apoptosis through upregulation of TRAIL pathway in breast cancer cells. Cell Death & Disease, 4(1), e479-e479. doi:10.1038/cddis.2013.5Clarke, N., Jimenez-Lara, A. M., Voltz, E., & Gronemeyer, H. (2004). Tumor suppressor IRF-1 mediates retinoid and interferon anticancer signaling to death ligand TRAIL. The EMBO Journal, 23(15), 3051-3060. doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600302Kajita, A. i., Morizane, S., Takiguchi, T., Yamamoto, T., Yamada, M., & Iwatsuki, K. (2015). Interferon-Gamma Enhances TLR3 Expression and Anti-Viral Activity in Keratinocytes. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 135(8), 2005-2011. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.125Weihua, X., Kolla, V., & Kalvakolanu, D. V. (1997). Modulation of Interferon Action by Retinoids. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 272(15), 9742-9748. doi:10.1074/jbc.272.15.974

Raman spectroscopic analysis of the calcium oxalate producing extremotolerant lichen Circinaria gyrosa

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.In the context of astrobiological exposure and simulation experiments in the BIOMEX project, the lichen Circinaria gyrosa was investigated by Raman microspectroscopy. Owing to the symbiotic nature of lichens and their remarkable extremotolerance, C. gyrosa represents a valid model organism in recent and current astrobiological research. Biogenic compounds of C. gyrosa were studied that may serve as biomarkers in Raman assisted remote sensing missions, e.g. ExoMars. The surface as well as different internal layers of C. gyrosa have been characterized and data on the detectability and distribution of β-carotene, chitin and calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite) are presented in this study. Raman microspectroscopy was applied on natural samples and thin sections. Although calcium oxalates can also be formed by rare geological processes it may serve as a suitable biomarker for astrobiological investigations. In the model organism C. gyrosa, it forms extracellular crystalline deposits embedded in the intra-medullary space and its function is assumed to balance water uptake and gas exchange during the rare, moist to wet environmental periods that are physiologically favourable. This is a factor that was repeatedly demonstrated to be essential for extremotolerant lichens and other organisms. Depending on the decomposition processes of whewellite under extraterrestrial environmental conditions, it may not only serve as a biomarker of recent life, but also of past and fossilized organisms.BMWi, 50WB1153, Analysen zur Stabilität und Degradation biogener Substanzen sowie zum Resistenzpotential der Fleche Buellia frigida unter simulierten Marsbedingungen und nach Exposition im LEO-Weltrau

B-Function Expression in the Flower Center Underlies the Homeotic Phenotype of Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae)

Spontaneous homeotic transformations have been described in natural populations of both plants and animals, but little is known about the molecular-genetic mechanisms underlying these processes in plants. In the ABC model of floral organ identity in Arabidopsis thaliana, the B- and C-functions are necessary for stamen morphogenesis, and C alone is required for carpel identity. We provide ABC model-based molecular-genetic evidence that explains the unique inside-out homeotic floral organ arrangement of the monocotyledonous mycoheterotroph species Lacandonia schismatica (Triuridaceae) from Mexico. Whereas a quarter million flowering plant species bear central carpels surrounded by stamens, L. schismatica stamens occur in the center of the flower and are surrounded by carpels. The simplest explanation for this is that the B-function is displaced toward the flower center. Our analyses of the spatio-temporal pattern of B- and C-function gene expression are consistent with this hypothesis. The hypothesis is further supported by conservation between the B-function genes of L. schismatica and Arabidopsis, as the former are able to rescue stamens in Arabidopsis transgenic complementation lines, and Ls-AP3 and Ls-PI are able to interact with each other and with the corresponding Arabidopsis B-function proteins in yeast. Thus, relatively simple molecular modifications may underlie important morphological shifts in natural populations of extant plant taxa

Inflammasome in als skeletal muscle: Nlrp3 as a potential biomarker

Since NLRP3 inflammasome plays a pivotal role in several neurodegenerative disorders, we hypothesized that levels of inflammasome components could help in diagnosis or prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Gene and protein expression was assayed by RT-PCR and Western blot. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the linear correlation of transcriptional expression levels with longevity throughout disease progression in mice models. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to evaluate MCC950 effects (NLRP3 inhibitor) on lifespan of SOD1G93A mice. The results showed significant alterations in NLRP3 inflammasome gene and protein levels in the skeletal muscle of SOD1G93A mice. Spearman’s correlation coefficient revealed a positive association between Nlrp3 transcriptional levels in skeletal muscle and longevity of SOD1G93A mice (r = 0.506; p = 0.027). Accordingly, NLRP3 inactivation with MCC950 decreased the lifespan of mice. Furthermore, NLRP3 mRNA levels were significantly elevated in the blood of ALS patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.03). In conclusion, NLRP3 could be involved in skeletal muscle pathogenesis of ALS, either through inflammasome or independently, and may play a dual role during disease progression. NLRP3 gene expression levels could be used as a biomarker to improve diagnosis and prognosis in skeletal muscle from animal models and also to support diagnosis in clinical practice with the blood of ALS patients

Competing endogenous rna networks as biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases

Protein aggregation is classically considered the main cause of neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). However, increasing evidence suggests that alteration of RNA metabolism is a key factor in the etiopathogenesis of these complex disorders. Non-coding RNAs are the major contributor to the human transcriptome and are particularly abundant in the central nervous system, where they have been proposed to be involved in the onset and development of NDDs. Interestingly, some ncRNAs (such as lncRNAs, circRNAs and pseudogenes) share a common functionality in their ability to regulate gene expression by modulating miRNAs in a phenomenon known as the competing endogenous RNA mechanism. Moreover, ncRNAs are found in body fluids where their presence and concentration could serve as potential non-invasive biomarkers of NDDs. In this review, we summarize the ceRNA networks described in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinocerebellar ataxia type 7, and discuss their potential as biomarkers of these NDDs. Although numerous studies have been carried out, further research is needed to validate these complex interactions between RNAs and the alterations in RNA editing that could provide specific ceRNET profiles for neurodegenerative disorders, paving the way to a better understanding of these diseases

The Histidine-Phosphocarrier Protein of the Phosphoenolpyruvate: Sugar Phosphotransferase System of Bacillus sphaericus Self-Associates

The phosphotransferase system (PTS) is involved in the use of carbon sources in bacteria. Bacillus sphaericus, a bacterium with the ability to produce insecticidal proteins, is unable to use hexoses and pentoses as the sole carbon source, but it has ptsHI genes encoding the two general proteins of the PTS: enzyme I (EI) and the histidine phosphocarrier (HPr). In this work, we describe the biophysical and structural properties of HPr from B. sphaericus, HPrbs, and its affinity towards EI of other species to find out whether there is inter-species binding. Conversely to what happens to other members of the HPr family, HPrbs forms several self-associated species. The conformational stability of the protein is low, and it unfolds irreversibly during heating. The protein binds to the N-terminal domain of EI from Streptomyces coelicolor, EINsc, with a higher affinity than that of the natural partner of EINsc, HPrsc. Modelling of the complex between EINsc and HPrbs suggests that binding occurs similarly to that observed in other HPr species. We discuss the functional implications of the oligomeric states of HPrbs for the glycolytic activity of B. sphaericus, as well as a strategy to inhibit binding between HPrsc and EINsc

Problemas de corrosión

93 páginas.Compendio de problemas para el estudio de la corrosión, para estudiantes, técnicos e ingenieros entre otros, dedicados al estudio de esta área, visión de cómo resolver problemas que se puedan presentar en la vida diaria

The BIOMEX experiment on-board the International Space Station: limits of life and detection of biomarkers after exposure to space- and to Mars-like conditions

To explore the limits of terrestrial life in space, we have to understand the effects of the space environment on unprotected biological and chemical material, and on the degradation of organic molecules or biomarkers. The exposure platform EXPOSE-R2 on the ISS offer a suitable facility for the exposure of samples of the astrobiological model lichen Circinaria gyrosa, included in the BIOMEX experiment (Biology and Mars Experiment, ESA). During 18 months (2014-2016), the lichens lived in a latent state at space and at simulated Mars-like conditions, to study Mars’ habitability and resistance to space conditions. After the return of the samples in June 2016, initial analysis showed rapid recovery of photosystem II (PSII) activity in the samples exposed exclusively to space vacuum and to Mars-like atmosphere. In contrast, the samples directly exposed to solar UV radiation showed a slow and a lower recovery, in reference to their observed original activity. This tendency was corroborated with the complementary morphological/ultrastructural and biomolecular analyses. Complementary, the biogeochemical variations have been examined with Raman spectroscopy to assess the possible degradation of cell surfaces and pigments which were in contact with terrestrial rocks, and Martian analogue regolith. Identification of the biomarker whewellite (calcium oxalate) and other organic compounds and mineral products of the biological activity of Circinaria gyrosa were detected by Raman Laser. These findings contribute to answer questions on the habitability of Mars, the likelihood of the Lithopanspermia Hypothesis, the capability to detect biomolecules exposed to an extraterrestrial environment by life-detection instruments and will be of relevance for planetary protection issues