CONSTANS–FKBP12 interaction contributes to modulation of photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis

Flowering time is a key process in plant development. Photoperiodic signals play a crucial role in the floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana, and the protein CONSTANS (CO) has a central regulatory function that is tightly regulated at the transcriptional and post-translational levels. The stability of CO protein depends on a light-driven proteasome process that optimizes its accumulation in the evening to promote the production of the florigen FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and induce seasonal flowering. To further investigate the post-translational regulation of CO protein we have dissected its interactome network employing in vivo and in vitro assays and molecular genetics approaches. The immunophilin FKBP12 has been identified in Arabidopsis as a CO interactor that regulates its accumulation and activity. FKBP12 and CO interact through the CCT domain, affecting the stability and function of CO. fkbp12 insertion mutants show a delay in flowering time, while FKBP12 overexpression accelerates flowering, and these phenotypes can be directly related to a change in accumulation of FT protein. The interaction is conserved between the Chlamydomonas algal orthologs CrCO–CrFKBP12, revealing an ancient regulatory step in photoperiod regulation of plant development.Ministerio de Ciencia BIO2014-52425-P, BIO2017-83629-RJunta de Andalucía P08-AGR-03582, BIO-281European Union GA83831

Calcineurin Undergoes a Conformational Switch Evoked via Peptidyl-Prolyl Isomerization

A limited repertoire of PPP family of serine/threonine phosphatases with a highly conserved catalytic domain acts on thousands of protein targets to orchestrate myriad central biological roles. A major structural reorganization of human calcineurin, a ubiquitous Ser/Thr PPP regulated by calcium and calmodulin and targeted by immunosuppressant drugs cyclosporin A and FK506, is unveiled here. The new conformation involves trans- to cis- isomerization of proline in the SAPNY sequence, highly conserved across PPPs, and remodels the main regulatory site where NFATc transcription factors bind. Transitions between cis- and trans- conformations may involve peptidyl prolyl isomerases such as cyclophilin A and FKBP12, which are known to physically interact with and modulate calcineurin even in the absence of immunosuppressant drugs. Alternative conformations in PPPs provide a new perspective on interactions with substrates and other protein partners and may foster development of more specific inhibitors as drug candidates

Cómo afrontan los profesores universitarios de Contabilidad la materia de Trabajo Fin de Grado

El trabajo recoge la opinión y percepción de los profesores universitarios de contabilidad a nivel nacional sobre los aspectos más relevantes relacionados con la materia de TFG, en concreto sobre regulación, asunción de créditos, obligatoriedad del TFG en los grados para profesores y alumnos, dedicación y reconocimiento de créditos, asignación, tutorización, evaluación y competencias a desarrollar en el TFG. La metodología seguida ha sido, una vez elaborado el cuestionario es distribuido por internet (Google Formulario) y se realiza un tratamiento de la información mediante estudio descriptivo con SPSS 23. Los resultados muestran que existe un nivel general de no satisfacción, pero cuando se entra en el análisis de aspectos concretos, el estado de opinión actual de los profesores es divergente respecto a las exigencias normativas y reconocimientos docentes; así mismo se encuentran divergencias entre los métodos y la evaluación seguidos y los que se consideran debería seguirse. También existen percepciones de diferencia entre la importancia y el nivel de desarrollo de las competencias

Perfil de los alumnos que acceden a los grados de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad de Sevilla

Este trabajo analiza diversas características de los alumnos de nuevo ingreso en la Universidad de Sevilla. El análisis descriptivo de los estudiantes universitarios ha sido llevado a cabo a través de una investigación empírica. Los datos se han obtenido a partir de una encuesta dirigida a una numerosa muestra de estudiantes universitarios de primer curso provenientes de siete Grados diferentes de una importante área universitaria: ciencias sociales. Los factores analizados son: año de nacimiento del alumno, sexo, estado civil, etc.This paper analyzes different characteristics of new registered students from the University of Seville. The descriptive analysis of university students has been carried out by an empirical research. Data have been obtained from a questionnaire addressed to a large sample of university students in their first year from seven different degree programs from a big academic area in higher education: social sciences. The analyzed factors are: birth year, student's gender, marital status, and so on

Downregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma facilitates transforming growth factor-β-induced epithelial to amoeboid transition

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) are key regulators of hepatocarcinogenesis. Targeting EGFR was proposed as a promising therapy; however, poor success was obtained in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical trials. Here, we describe how EGFR is frequently downregulated in HCC patients while TGF-β is upregulated. Using 2D/3D cellular models, we show that after EGFR loss, TGF-β is more efficient in its pro-migratory and invasive effects, inducing epithelial to amoeboid transition. EGFR knock-down promotes loss of cell-cell and cell-to-matrix adhesion, favouring TGF-β-induced actomyosin contractility and acquisition of an amoeboid migratory phenotype. Moreover, TGF-β upregulates RHOC and CDC42 after EGFR silencing, promoting Myosin II in amoeboid cells. Importantly, low EGFR combined with high TGFB1 or RHOC/CDC42 levels confer poor patient prognosis. In conclusion, this work reveals a new tumour suppressor function for EGFR counteracting TGF-β-mediated epithelial to amoeboid transitions in HCC, supporting a rational for targeting the TGF-β pathway in patients with low EGFR expression. Our work also highlights the relevance of epithelial to amoeboid transition in human tumours and the need to better target this process in the clinic

Activation of lysophosphatidic acid receptor type 1 (LPA1) contributes to pathophysiology of spinal cord injury

Altres ajuts: NIH/NS084398Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an extracellular lipid mediator involved in many physiological functions that signals through six known G-protein-coupled receptors (LPA1-LPA6). A wide range of LPA effects have been identified in the CNS, including neural progenitor cell physiology, astrocyte and microglia activation, neuronal cell death, axonal retraction, and development of neuropathic pain. However, little is known about the involvement of LPA in CNS pathologies. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that LPA signaling via LPA1 contributes to secondary damage after spinal cord injury. LPA levels increase in the contused spinal cord parenchyma during the first 14 d. To model this potential contribution of LPA in the spinal cord, we injected LPA into the normal spinal cord, revealing that LPA induces microglia/macrophage activation and demyelination. Use of a selective LPA1 antagonist or mice lacking LPA1 linked receptor-mediated signaling to demyelination, which was in part mediated by microglia. Finally, we demonstrate that selective blockade of LPA1 after spinal cord injury results in reduced demyelination and improvement in locomotor recovery. Overall, these results support LPA-LPA1 signaling as a novel pathway that contributes to secondary damage after spinal cord contusion in mice and suggest that LPA1 antagonism might be useful for the treatment of acute spinal cord injur

Conflictos en el trabajo en grupo: dos casos representativos

Se recogen dos casos representativos de conflictos entre los miembros de un grupo cuando se utilizan técnicas de aprendizaje basado en proyectos. Este tipo de conflictos, si no deseables, son una oportunidad para aprender habilidades valiosas. Se proponen pautas que pueden ayudar al profesorado a acompañar con eficacia a sus alumnos frente a los conflictos.Peer Reviewe

Mathematical models in education for sustainable development

El proyecto tiene como objetivo mejorar el conjunto de recursos docentes a disposición del profesorado responsable de la impartición de dos asignaturas de programación de ordenadores que se imparten en los planes de estudios de la Escola Politècnica Superior de Castelldefels. En concreto, se han experimentado recursos disponibles en Moodle/Atenea, se han desarrollado materiales para ayudar a profesores y alumnos en el desasrrollo de la competencia de trabajo en grupo y se ha puesto en marcha una plataforma para la difusión de los resultados de nuestro trabajo.Peer Reviewe

Follow-up and feedback processes in the EHEA

In the present paper, we describe the work being carried out by a group of professors so as to implement the follow-up and feedback processes of the activities students do throughout the first academic years in their Engineering studies. Not to mention, this project is within the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) framework. Our results show that these processes are key to enhance students learning, they can also have an impact in their academic performance and can be optimized in such a way that professors can assume the time it requires.Peer Reviewe

Contrasting parental roles shape sex differences in poison frog space use but not navigational performance.

Sex differences in vertebrate spatial abilities are typically interpreted under the adaptive specialization hypothesis, which posits that male reproductive success is linked to larger home ranges and better navigational skills. The androgen spillover hypothesis counters that enhanced male spatial performance may be a byproduct of higher androgen levels. Animal groups that include species where females are expected to outperform males based on life-history traits are key for disentangling these hypotheses. We investigated the association between sex differences in reproductive strategies, spatial behavior, and androgen levels in three species of poison frogs. We tracked individuals in natural environments to show that contrasting parental sex roles shape sex differences in space use, where the sex performing parental duties shows wider-ranging movements. We then translocated frogs from their home areas to test their navigational performance and found that the caring sex outperformed the non-caring sex only in one out of three species. In addition, males across species displayed more explorative behavior than females and androgen levels correlated with explorative behavior and homing accuracy. Overall, we reveal that poison frog reproductive strategies shape movement patterns but not necessarily navigational performance. Together this work suggests that prevailing adaptive hypotheses provide an incomplete explanation of sex differences in spatial abilities