An improved method for high-quality RNA isolation from needles of adult maritime pine trees

Conventional RNA isolation methods optimised for pine seedlings have been shown to produce poor quality RNA when applied to needles of adult pine trees. We describe here a modified procedure to isolate high pure RNA from needles of thirty-year-old maritime pines, exhibiting high levels of phenolics, polysaccharides and RNases. Major changes were the inclusion of proteinase K in the extraction medium followed by incubation at 42°C. Integrity and purity were evaluated by denaturing gel electrophoresis and by spectrophotometry (A260/A230 and A260/A280). Total RNA could be successfully used for poly(A)+-RNA isolation and cDNA library construction.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - grant ref. SFRH/BD/3194/2000

Molecular aproach on the study of infection of Pinus pinaster Ait. by the fungus Lophodermium seditiosum

Poster apresentado no 10th International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Madison, Wisconsin, Estados Unidos da América.The fungi genus Lophodermium comprises several species known to intervene in the degradation process of pine needles. Amongst these species, only L. seditiosum is known to be pathogenic, as it is able to infect healthy needles in young pine populations, spreading from stomata and leading to the death of the needle (needle cast disease). Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster, Ait) is one of the most relevant forest species in SW Europe. Needle cast disease, by attacking young plants, leads to two main events: the lack of self regeneration in natural populations, and complete destruction of pine nurseries. The purpose of our study is to understand the nature of the infection of Pinus pinaster Ait. by L. seditiosum and ultimately gain some knowledge on the overall response of Conipherophyta to infection. As a first step towards this goal, a cDNA library of Pinus pinaster was constructed. Subsequent effort has been directed towards the screening of genes encoding PR proteins involved in host-pathogen interaction, as well as oxidative stress enzymes. In addition, PCR amplification using degenerate primers is in progress in order to allow the identification of putative Resistance genes.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - grant ref. SFRH/BD/3194/200

Indirect rapid tooling with aluminium and milled fibre reinforced resins

It is well known that Rapid Prototyping (RP) and Rapid Tooling (RT) are fundamental technologies to reduce the time tomarket and consequently increase productivity and competitiveness of companies working in different industrial sectors.RT with epoxy resins is presently accepted as an established process of indirect rapid tooling. However, patents,processing difficulties and companies limitations disable a wider implementation of this technology.This paper presents the experimental results of a detailed work, conducted at INEGI, to manufacture moulds for plasticinjection, with tailored properties, using RP models and aluminium filled and fibres reinforced epoxy resins

The effect of aluminium granulometry on the behaviour of filled epoxy resins for rapid tooling

Aluminium filled epoxies moulds have beenused in indirect rapid tooling. These moulds, whichhave a low cost processing, are very competitive,when applied in the manufacturing of low volumeseries.The geometry and the size distribution of thealuminium particles affect significantly the powderpacking density, the resin ratio, the thermalconductivity, the curing time, the homogeneity andthe mechanical characteristics of the tool.Using three high temperature epoxy resins itwas possible to understand the resin behaviour inthe presence of the aluminium filler and formulatefilled resins with the best compromise ofmechanical, thermal and processing performance