Presence of bryozoans in the mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cádiz

The Gulf of Cádiz, located in the NE Atlantic Ocean, between the Iberian Peninsula and northern Africa, contains more than 50 mud volcanoes (MVs). MVs are seafloor edifices that result from the release of mud, brine and hydrocarbon fluids in areas with gas-rich over pressure sediments. These MVs are in different stages of seepage activity, bearing a broad diversity of chemosymbiotic and heterotrophic organisms. Some previous works focussed on the bryozoans from some areas of the Gulf of Cádiz (e.g. López de la Cuadra & García Gómez, 1994, Harmelin & d’Hondt, 1992a, b) however, information on bryozoans colonizing the different substrate types (bioclasts, authigenic carbonates, mud breccias) of MVs is almost nule. During 2010 and 2011 and within the framework of the INDEMARES-CHICA project, 25 samples were collected with beam trawl and benthic dredge at six MVs (Gazul, Almazán, Aveiro, Pipoca, Tarsis and Chica). Forty-five taxa belonging to 26 families and 31 genera were identified. Most taxa (39) was found in a single MV (Gazul) and others in several MVs, including the taxa Adeonellopsis, Palmicellaria, Tessaradoma, Reteporellina, and Schizomavella sp. 2. Several factors may influence the observed bryozoan biodiversity such as the sampling effort and sampling method used, the type and heterogeneity of substrates, and habitats as well as the depth. The identification to species level of the bryozoan material will improve the information on benthic communities of these MVs located in the recently established Site of Community Importance of “Volcanes de fango del Golfo de Cádiz”.Versión del edito

SUMO-2 and PIAS1 modulate insoluble mutant Huntingtin protein accumulation

A key feature in Huntington disease (HD) is the accumulation of mutant Huntingtin (HTT) protein, which may be regulated by posttranslational modifications. Here, we define the primary sites of SUMO modification in the amino-terminal domain of HTT, show modification downstream of this domain, and demonstrate that HTT is modified by the stress-inducible SUMO-2. A systematic study of E3 SUMO ligases demonstrates that PIAS1 is an E3 SUMO ligase for both HTT SUMO-1 and SUMO-2 modification and that reduction of dPIAS in a mutant HTT Drosophila model is protective. SUMO-2 modification regulates accumulation of insoluble HTT in HeLa cells in a manner that mimics proteasome inhibition and can be modulated by overexpression and acute knockdown of PIAS1. Finally, the accumulation of SUMO-2-modified proteins in the insoluble fraction of HD postmortem striata implicates SUMO-2 modification in the age-related pathogenic accumulation of mutant HTT and other cellular proteins that occurs during HD progression

Review of temperature sensors as monitors for RF mmW built-in testing and self-calibration schemes

International audienceThis paper presents an overview of the work done so far related to the use of temperature sensors as performance monitors for RF and MMW circuits with the goal to implement built-in testing or self-calibration techniques. The strategy is to embed small temperature sensors on the same silicon die as the circuit under test, taking advantage of empty spaces in the layout. This paper reviews the physical principles, and presents examples that reveal how temperature sensors can be used as functional built-in testers serving to reduce testing costs and enhance yield as part of self-healing strategies