Selecció clonal i sanitària de la varietat trepat a la denominació d'origen Conca de Barberà

El trepat, varietat de raïm cultivada principalment a la Denominació d'Origen (DO) Conca de Barberà, és considerat una varietat autòctona catalana. La selecció clonal i sanitària s'ha realitzat per a permetre la certificació i multiplicació dels millors clons, amb una elevada adaptació a les condicions ambientals i amb una producció per a l'obtenció de vins de qualitat. Aquest programa de selecció també permet la conservació de la diversitat intravarietal procurant mantenir el nivell de variabilitat que presenta encara la població actual.El trepat, variedad de uva cultivada principalmente en la Denominación de Origen (D. O.) Conca de Barberà, se considera una variedad autóctona catalana. La selección clonal y sanitaria se ha realizado para permitir la certificación y multiplicación de los mejores clones, con una elevada adaptación a las condiciones ambientales y con una producción para la obtención de vinos de calidad. Este programa de selección también permite la conservación de la diversidad intravarietal procurando mantener el nivel de variabilidad que aun presenta la población actual

RNY3 modulates cell proliferation and IL13 mRNA levels in a T lymphocyte model: a possible new epigenetic mechanism of IL-13 regulation

[EN] llergic asthma is the most common type of asthma. It is characterized by TH2 cell–driven infammation in which interleukin-13 (IL-13) plays a pivotal role. Cytoplasmic RNAs (Y-RNAs), a variety of non-coding RNAs that are dysregulated in many cancer types, are also diferentially expressed in patients with allergic asthma. Their function in the development of the disease is still unknown. We investigated the potential role of RNY3 RNA (hY3) in the TH2 cell infammatory response using the Jurkat cell line as a model. hY3 expression levels were modulated to mimic the upregulation efect in allergic disease. We evaluated the efect of hY3 over cell stimulation and the expression of the TH2 cytokine IL13. Total RNA was isolated and retrotranscribed, and RNA levels were assessed by qPCR. In Jurkat cells, hY3 levels increased upon stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. When transfecting with high levels of hY3 mimic molecules, cell proliferation rate decreased while IL13 mRNA levels increased upon stimulation compared to stimulated control cells. Our results show the efect of increased hY3 levels on cell proliferation and the levels of IL13 mRNA in Jurkat cells. Also, we showed that hY3 could act over other cells via exosomes. This study opens up new ways to study the potential regulatory function of hY3 over IL-13 production and its implications for asthma development.Publicación en abierto financiada por el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Castilla y León (BUCLE), con cargo al Programa Operativo 2014ES16RFOP009 FEDER 2014-2020 DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN, Actuación:20007-CL - Apoyo Consorcio BUCLE

PTGDR gene expression and response to dexamethasone treatment in an in vitro model

[EN]Asthma is a multifactorial pathology influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Glucocorticoid treatment decreases symptoms by regulating genes involved in the inflammatory process through binding to specific DNA sequences. Polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the Prostaglandin D Receptor (PTGDR) gene have been related to asthma. We aimed to analyze the effect of PTGDR promoter haplotypes on gene expression and response to corticosteroid therapy. A549 lung epithelial cells were transfected with vectors carrying four different PTGDR haplotypes (CTCT, CCCC, CCCT and TCCT), and treated with dexamethasone. Different approaches to study the promoter activity (Dual Luciferase Reporter System), gene expression levels (qPCR) and cytokine secretion (Multiplexed Bead-based Flow Cytometric) were used. In addition, in silico analysis was also performed. Cells carrying the TCCT haplotype showed the lowest promoter activity (p-value<0.05) and mRNA expression levels in basal conditions. After dexamethasone treatment, cells carrying the wild-type variant CTCT showed the highest response, and those carrying the TCCT variant the lowest (p-value<0.05) in luciferase assays. Different transcription factor binding patterns were identified in silico. Moreover, differences in cytokine secretion were also found among different promoter haplotypes. Polymorphisms of PTGDR gene influence basal promoter activity and gene expression, as well as the cytokine secretory pattern. Furthermore, an association between these positions and response to corticoid treatment was observed

Phycomyces MADB interacts with MADA to form the primary photoreceptor complex for fungal phototropism

The fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus reacts to environmental signals, including light, gravity, touch, and the presence of nearby objects, by changing the speed and direction of growth of its fruiting body (sporangiophore). Phototropism, growth toward light, shares many features in fungi and plants but the molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Phycomyces mutants with altered phototropism were isolated ≈40 years ago and found to have mutations in the mad genes. All of the responses to light in Phycomyces require the products of the madA and madB genes. We showed that madA encodes a protein similar to the Neurospora blue-light photoreceptor, zinc-finger protein WC-1. We show here that madB encodes a protein similar to the Neurospora zinc-finger protein WC-2. MADA and MADB interact to form a complex in yeast 2-hybrid assays and when coexpressed in E. coli, providing evidence that phototropism and other responses to light are mediated by a photoresponsive transcription factor complex. The Phycomyces genome contains 3 genes similar to wc-1, and 4 genes similar to wc-2, many of which are regulated by light in a madA or madB dependent manner. We did not detect any interactions between additional WC proteins in yeast 2-hybrid assays, which suggest that MADA and MADB form the major photoreceptor complex in Phycomyces. However, the presence of multiple wc genes in Phycomyces may enable perception across a broad range of light intensities, and may provide specialized photoreceptors for distinct photoresponses

Actuación para el seguimiento de la adquisición de conocimientos por parte de los alumnos de la asignatura de Genética en el Grado de Biología

Memoria ID-032. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

TWEAK/Fn14 and non-canonical NF-kappaB signaling in kidney disease

The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing. However, there is no effective therapy for AKI and current approaches only slow down, but do not prevent progression of CKD. TWEAK is a TNF superfamily cytokine. A solid base of preclinical data suggests a role of therapies targeting the TWEAK or its receptor Fn14 in AKI and CKD. In particular TWEAK/Fn14 targeting may preserve renal function and decrease cell death, inflammation, proteinuria, and fibrosis in mouse animal models. Furthermore there is clinical evidence for a role of TWEAK in human kidney injury including increased tissue and/or urinary levels of TWEAK and parenchymal renal cell expression of the receptor Fn14. In this regard, clinical trials of TWEAK targeting are ongoing in lupus nephritis. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation plays a key role in TWEAK-elicited inflammatory responses. Activation of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway is a critical difference between TWEAK and TNF. TWEAK activation of the non-canonical NF-κB pathways promotes inflammatory responses in tubular cells. However, there is an incomplete understanding of the role of non-canonical NF-κB activation in kidney disease and on its contribution to TWEAK actions in vivo.Grant support: ISCII and FEDER funds FIS PS09/00447, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN/RD06/0016, RD12/0021, Comunidad de Madrid/CIFRA/S2010/BMD-2378. Salary support: FIS to MDSN, Programa Intensificación Actividad Investigadora (ISCIII/Agencia Laín-Entralgo/CM) to AO, FPU (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte) to JP, Fundacion Conchita Rabago to LCT

Benzbromarone, Quercetin, and Folic Acid Inhibit Amylin Aggregation

Human Amylin, or islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), is a small hormone secreted by pancreatic-cells that forms aggregates under insulin deficiency metabolic conditions, and it constitutes a pathological hallmark of type II diabetes mellitus. In type II diabetes patients, amylin is abnormally increased, self-assembled into amyloid aggregates, and ultimately contributes to the apoptotic death of -cells by mechanisms that are not completely understood. We have screened a library of approved drugs in order to identify inhibitors of amylin aggregation that could be used as tools to investigate the role of amylin aggregation in type II diabetes or as therapeutics in order to reduce -cell damage. Interestingly, three of the compounds analyzed-benzbromarone, quercetin, and folic acid-are able to slow down amylin fiber formation according to Thioflavin T binding, turbidimetry, and Transmission Electron Microscopy assays. In addition to the in vitro assays, we have tested the effect of these compounds in an amyloid toxicity cell culture model and we have found that one of them, quercetin, has the ability to partly protect cultured pancreatic insulinoma cells from the cytotoxic effect of amylin. Our data suggests that quercetin can contribute to reduce oxidative damage in pancreatic insulinoma cells by modulating the aggregation propensity of amylin

Impaired Mesopic Visual Acuity in Eyes with Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose.: To determine photopic and mesopic distance high-contrast visual acuity (HC-VA) and low-contrast visual acuity (LC-VA) in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods.: Measurements were made in 22 subjects with early AMD and 28 healthy control subjects. Inclusion criteria included a photopic HC-VA of 20/25 or better. Distance VA was measured using HC (96%) and LC (10%) Bailey-Lovie logMAR letter charts under photopic (85 cd/m2) and mesopic (0.1–0.2 cd/m2) luminance conditions. Results.: Mean mesopic distance HC-VA and LC-VA were significantly worse (0.1 logMAR and 0.28 logMAR, respectively) in the early AMD group than in the control group. Under mesopic conditions, the mean difference between LC-VA and HC-VA was significantly greater in the early AMD (0.45 logMAR) than the control group (0.27 logMAR). Mean differences between mesopic versus photopic HC-VA and mesopic versus photopic LC-VA were significantly greater in the early AMD than the control group (0.13 and 0.32 logMAR of difference between the means, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity were significantly greater for mesopic LC-VA than for mesopic HC-VA (Receiver Operating Characteristics, area under the curve [AUC], 0.94 ± 0.030 and 0.76 ± 0.067, respectively). AUC values for photopic HC-VA and LC-VA were below 0.70. Conclusions.: Visual acuity testing under low luminance conditions emerged as an optimal quantitative measure of retinal function in early AMD

Gαq activation modulates autophagy by promoting mTORC1 signaling.

The mTORC1 node plays a major role in autophagy modulation. We report a role of the ubiquitous Gαq subunit, a known transducer of plasma membrane G protein-coupled receptors signaling, as a core modulator of mTORC1 and autophagy. Cells lacking Gαq/11 display higher basal autophagy, enhanced autophagy induction upon different types of nutrient stress along with a decreased mTORC1 activation status. They are also unable to reactivate mTORC1 and thus inactivate ongoing autophagy upon nutrient recovery. Conversely, stimulation of Gαq/11 promotes sustained mTORC1 pathway activation and reversion of autophagy promoted by serum or amino acids removal. Gαq is present in autophagic compartments and lysosomes and is part of the mTORC1 multi-molecular complex, contributing to its assembly and activation via its nutrient status-sensitive interaction with p62, which displays features of a Gαq effector. Gαq emerges as a central regulator of the autophagy machinery required to maintain cellular homeostasis upon nutrient fluctuations.We thank Paula Ramos, Susana Rojo-Berciano, and Laura López for helpful technicalassistance. Dr. Marta Cruces (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain) for herinvaluable help regarding the liver explants experiments, Dr. Badford Berk (University ofRochester, NY, USA) for providing the GFP-Flag-PB1-p62 plasmid, Drs. Stefan Offer-manns and Nina Wettschureck (Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research,Germany) for providing Tie2-CreERT2; Gnaq f/f; Gna11−/−[EC-q/11-KO) mice, andDr. Guzmán Sánchez for scientific advice. We thank also Ricardo Ramos from theGenomic facility of Fundación Parque Científico de Madrid (Universidad Autónoma deMadrid, Spain) and Gemma Rodríguez-Tarduchy from the Genomic facility of theInstituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas“Alberto Sols”for their help with cell linesauthentication. The help from CBMSO Animal Care, Flow Cytometry, Electron andOptical and Confocal Microscopy facilities is also acknowledged. This work was sup-ported by Ministerio de Economía; Industria y Competitividad (MINECO) of Spain(grant SAF2017-84125-R to F.M.), (grant BFU2017-83379-R to A.M.A.), Instituto deSalud Carlos III (PI18/01662 to CR, co-funded with European FEDER contribution),CIBERCV-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (grant CB16/11/00278 to F.M., co-fundedwith European FEDER contribution), Fundación Ramón Areces (to C.R. and F.M.) andPrograma de Actividades en Biomedicina de la Comunidad de Madrid-B2017/BMD-3671-INFLAMUNE to F.M. and NIH grants AG021904 and AG038072 to A.M.C. Wealso acknowledge the support of a Contrato para la Formación del Profesorado Uni-versitario (FPU13/04341) and (FPU14/06670), an EMBO short-term fellowship (ASTF600-2016). We also acknowledge institutional support to the CBMSO from FundaciónRamón Areces.S

Fungal cryptochrome with DNA repair activity reveals an early stage in cryptochrome evolution

DASH (Drosophila, Arabidopsis, Synechocystis, Human)-type cryp- tochromes (cry-DASH) belong to a family of flavoproteins acting as repair enzymes for UV-B–induced DNA lesions (photolyases) or as UV-A/blue light photoreceptors (cryptochromes). They are present in plants, bacteria, various vertebrates, and fungi and were originally considered as sensory photoreceptors because of their incapability to repair cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) lesions in duplex DNA. However, cry-DASH can repair CPDs in single-stranded DNA, but their role in DNA repair in vivo remains to be clarified. The genome of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus contains a single gene for a protein of the cryptochrome/photolyase family (CPF) encoding a cry-DASH, cryA, despite its ability to photoreactivate. Here, we show that cryA expression is induced by blue light in a Mad complex-dependent man- ner. Moreover, we demonstrate that CryA is capable of binding flavin (FAD) and methenyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF), fully complements the Escherichia coli photolyase mutant and repairs in vitro CPD lesions in single-stranded and double-stranded DNA with the same efficiency. These results support a role for Phycomyces cry-DASH as a photolyase and suggest a similar role for cry-DASH in mucoromycotina fung