Inhibition of the PP2A activity by the histone chaperone ANP32B is long-range allosterically regulated by respiratory cytochrome c

Repair of injured DNA relies on nucleosome dismantling by histone chaperones and de-phosphorylation events carried out by Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Typical histone chaperones are the Acidic leucine-rich Nuclear Phosphoprotein 32 family (ANP32) members, e.g. ANP32A, which is also a well-known PP2A inhibitor (a.k.a. I1PP2A). Here we report the novel interaction between the endogenous family member B—so-called ANP32B—and endogenous cytochrome c in cells undergoing camptothecin-induced DNA damage. Soon after DNA lesions but prior to caspase cascade activation, the hemeprotein translocates to the nucleus to target the Low Complexity Acidic Region (LCAR) of ANP32B; in a similar way, our group recently reported that the hemeprotein targets the acidic domain of SET/Template Activating Factor-Iß (SET/TAF-Iß), which is another histone chaperone and PP2A inhibitor (a.k.a. I2PP2A). The nucleosome assembly activity of ANP32B is indeed unaffected by cytochrome c binding. Like ANP32A, ANP32B inhibits PP2A activity and is thus herein referred to as I3PP2A. Our data demonstrates that ANP32B-dependent inhibition of PP2A is regulated by respiratory cytochrome c, which induces long-distance allosteric changes in the structured N-terminal domain of ANP32B upon binding to the C-terminal LCAR. In agreement with the reported role of PP2A in the DNA damage response, we propose a model wherein cytochrome c is translocated from the mitochondria into the nucleus upon DNA damage to modulate PP2A activity via its interaction with ANP32B. © 2021 The Author(s

Assessing microplastic ingestion and occurrence of bisphenols and phthalates in bivalves, fish and holothurians from a Mediterranean marine protected area

Microplastic (MP) ingestion, along with accumulated plasticizers such as bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS), and phthalates represented by diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were quantified in bivalves, fish, and holothurians collected from a coastal pristine area at the western Mediterranean Sea. MP ingestion in sediment-feeders holothurians (mean value 12.67 ± 7.31 MPs/individual) was statistically higher than ingestion in bivalves and fish (mean 4.83 ± 5.35 and 3 ± 4.44 MPs/individual, respectively). The main ingested polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The levels of BPS, BPF, and DEHP were highest in bivalves' soft tissue; BPA and DBP had the highest levels in the holothurians’ muscle. In addition, the levels of all plasticizers assessed were lowest in fish muscle; only BPA levels in fish were higher than in bivalves, with intermediate values between those of bivalves and holothurians. This study provides data on exposure to MPs and plasticizers of different species inhabiting Cabrera Marine Protected Area (MPA) and highlights the differences in MP ingestion and levels of plasticizers between species with different ecological characteristics and feeding strategies.En prensa3,39

Evaluation Activities in Pharmacognosy

La implantación del EEES comporta un nuevo sistema educativo enfocado al aprendizaje basado en el trabajo del estudiante, el cual deja de ser un sujeto pasivo que adquiere y memoriza conocimientos para convertirse en un sujeto activo de su desarrollo competencial y ser capaz de gestionar sus conocimientos eficientemente, bajo la tutela del profesor. Esto implica modificar no sólo la docencia sino también la evaluación, que como parte esencial del proceso educativo, asegura cubrir necesidades de aprendizaje y actualizar contenidos, proporciona retroalimentación, reflexión y análisis de la propia práctica y permite corregir deficiencias y mejorar metodologías. En Farmacognosia, actualmente en segundo curso de la Licenciatura de Farmacia, se han introducido estrategias de evaluación coherentes con los resultados de aprendizaje descritos, a considerar cuando se inicie el desarrollo de sus competencias en tercer curso de Grado. Inicialmente, se ha realizado una prueba de conocimientos previos. Se han aplicado dos tipos de pruebas, unas que enfatizan en la adquisición y comprensión de conocimientos y otras que abarcan competencias disciplinarias y transversales. Entre las primeras se han incluido: tests en aula virtual, que permiten discriminar información y dar una retroalimentación rápida; pruebas de respuesta abierta para comprobar capacidad de expresión, organización de ideas y razonamiento; y resolución de problemas para ver capacidad de gestionar información. Entre las segundas, después de realizar prácticas de laboratorio, se plantea una prueba de ejecución para una droga problema y se elabora un informe que demuestre el desarrollo de la ejecución, búsqueda y selección de información, observación e interpretación de resultados, y posterior exposición oral para valorar capacidad de comunicación.The implantation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) requires an educational system rooted in a competency-based learning approach in which, under professorial supervision, the students become active agents in order to reach a sufficient level of competence, retain more knowledge, and manage and apply this knowledge more efficiently. It implies modifying not only our teaching practices, but also our methods of evaluation, which, as an essential part of the education process, guarantees the acquisition of an ample range of skills and keeps course material up to date while providing students and educators with feed-back, reflection and analysis of the whole process. This, in turn, facilitates the correction of deficiencies and improvement of methodologies. In Pharmacognosy, which is currently taught in the second year of the Pharmacy program and in which ca. 200 students are enrolled, various evaluation strategies coherent with the established learning objectives were introduced to two groups of students. We first administered a questionnaire to ascertain the range of knowledge the students already had in related subjects. Then, two types of test were given: one type emphasizing the acquisition and understanding of knowledge and the other type focussing on more generic, interdisciplinary competence. The former type included: on-line multiple choice questionnaires, which allow for discernment of information and quick feed-back; open answer tests to determine the students’ ability to reason, organize their thoughts and express their ideas; and the resolution of problems to see how the students handle information. The latter type of exercise was given to pairs of students who, upon completing the laboratory component of the class, were given a proposal for solving a problem relating to a crude drug. The students then had to draft a scientific paper-like document describing the experimental protocol along with their observations, analysis of the results, and how they searched for and selected information. Finally, the students gave an oral presentation of the protocol and their findings, thus allowing the professor to evaluate their oral communication skills.Este trabajo ha sido financiado con un proyecto de innovación educativa, modalidad Finestra Oberta (29/FO/8) del Vicerectorat de Convergència Europea i Qualitat de la Universitat de València

Actas de las V Jornadas ScienCity 2022. Fomento de la Cultura Científica, Tecnológica y de Innovación en Ciudades Inteligentes

ScienCity es una actividad que viene siendo continuada desde 2018 con el objetivo de dar a conocer los conocimientos y tecnologías emergentes siendo investigados en las universidades, informar de experiencias, servicios e iniciativas puestas ya en marcha por instituciones y empresas, llegar hasta decisores políticos que podrían crear sinergias, incentivar la creación de ideas y posibilidades de desarrollo conjuntas, implicar y provocar la participación ciudadana, así como gestar una red internacional multidisciplinar de investigadores que garantice la continuación de futuras ediciones. En 2022 se recibieron un total de 48 trabajos repartidos en 25 ponencias y 24 pósteres pertenecientes a 98 autores de 14 instituciones distintas de España, Portugal, Polonia y Países Bajos.Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología-Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades; Consejería de la Presidencia, Administración Pública e Interior de la Junta de Andalucía; Estrategia de Política de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Huelva; Cátedra de Innovación Social de Aguas de Huelva; Cátedra de la Provincia; Grupo de investigación TEP-192 de Control y Robótica; Centro de Investigación en Tecnología, Energía y Sostenibilidad (CITES

Novel Loci for Adiponectin Levels and Their Influence on Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Traits : A Multi-Ethnic Meta-Analysis of 45,891 Individuals

J. Kaprio, S. Ripatti ja M.-L. Lokki työryhmien jäseniä.Peer reviewe

A selective review of research on Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Col.: Bostrichidae) with an annotated and updated bibliography

A review is presented of worldwide research on the stored products pest Prostephanus truncatus, with an emphasis on recent (post-1986) and previously neglected work, particularly that published in languages other than English. Topics reviewed include distribution, pest status, biology, ecology, monitoring and control. An annotated bibliography is included

Effects of terpenoids from Salvia willeana in delayed-type hypersensitivity, human lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production

The effect of the lipophilic extract of S. willeana and three terpenoids isolated therefrom, camphor, lupeol and oleanolic acid, on oxazolone-induced hypersensitivity was evaluated. The extract reduced the ear edema by 46% at 24 h after challenge. All three terpenoids inhibited the edema and suppressed cytokines release at different rates. Lupeol inhibited the swelling by over 50% and reduced the production of IL-1β by 62%. Camphor caused inhibition of the efferent phase (45% inhibition at 72 h) and the levels of IL-1β, IL-4 and TNF-α (around 80% inhibition). Oleanolic acid diminished moderately the reaction and the levels of IL-4 and TNF-α. We also demonstrated that the three terpenoids inhibited human T-lymphocytes proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and induced their apoptosis. Thus, these terpenoids could be considered anti-inflammatory constituents of S. willeana