The Role of Green Infrastructure in Urban and Peri-urban Areas in Latin American: a Case Study in Cuenca, Ecuador

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchive

A mutation in the first intracellular loop of CACNA1A prevents P/Q channel modulation by SNARE proteins and lowers exocytosis

Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM)-causing mutations in the gene encoding the P/Q Ca2+ channel α1A subunit (CACNA1A) locate to the pore and voltage sensor regions and normally involve gain-of-channel function. We now report on a mutation identified in the first intracellular loop of CACNA1A (α1A(A454T)) that does not cause FHM but is associated with the absence of sensorimotor symptoms in a migraine with aura pedigree. α1A(A454T) channels showed weakened regulation of voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation by CaVβ subunits. More interestingy, A454T mutation suppressed P/Q channel modulation by syntaxin 1A or SNAP-25 and decreased exocytosis. Our findings reveal the importance of I-II loop structural integrity in the functional interaction between P/Q channel and proteins of the vesicle-docking/fusion machinery, and that genetic variation in CACNA1A may be not only a cause but also a modifier of migraine phenotype

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

The effects of dairy cattle manure and mineral N fertilizer on irrigated maize and soil N and organic C

This work was aimed at providing a sustainable approach in the use of manure in irrigated maize crop under Mediterranean climatic conditions. To this end, the effect of continuous annual applications of dairy cattle manure, combined or not with mineral N fertilizer, on the following parameters was studied: grain yield, grain and plant N concentration, N uptake by plant, N use efficiency, and soil N and organic carbon. The experiment was conducted in a furrow-irrigated sandy soil under dry Mediterranean conditions during seven years. Three different rates of cattle manure (CM): 0, 30 and 60 Mg ha−1, were applied each year before sowing. These CM rates were combined with four mineral N rates (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg N ha−1) applied at sidedress. On average, the highest grain yields during the 7 years were obtained with the combination of CM at 30 Mg ha−1 and mineral fertilizer and with CM at 60 Mg ha−1 without mineral fertilizer. With CM at 30 Mg ha−1, mineral fertilizer increased yields during most of the growing seasons, meanwhile with CM at 60 Mg ha−1, there was not any significant effect of the joint application of mineral fertilizer on yields. Overall, best results were obtained exceeding maximum rates according to present legislation. The mean apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR) fraction during the 7 seasons was 29% for N exclusively applied as CM. Overall, increased N rates applied as CM resulted in decreased ANRs. However, ANR with CM at 30 and 60 Mg ha−1 increased during the first two seasons. This increased ANR ascribed to mineralization of residual organic N applied in previous seasons explained the increasing yields observed in the treatments along the study. The application of CM during 7 years increased the soil organic carbon in the first 30 cm by 5.7 and 9.9 Mg ha−1 with CM at 30 and 60 Mg ha−1, respectively, when compared to the initial stock. Thus, manure-based fertilization could be an alternative to mineral fertilizer in order to achieve high maize yields while improving soil quality under dry Mediterranean conditions

A mutation in the first intracellular loop of CACNA1A prevents P/Q channel modulation by SNARE proteins and lowers exocytosis

Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM)-causing mutations in the gene encoding the P/Q Ca2+ channel α1A subunit (CACNA1A) locate to the pore and voltage sensor regions and normally involve gain-of-channel function. We now report on a mutation identified in the first intracellular loop of CACNA1A (α1A(A454T)) that does not cause FHM but is associated with the absence of sensorimotor symptoms in a migraine with aura pedigree. α1A(A454T) channels showed weakened regulation of voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation by CaVβ subunits. More interestingy, A454T mutation suppressed P/Q channel modulation by syntaxin 1A or SNAP-25 and decreased exocytosis. Our findings reveal the importance of I-II loop structural integrity in the functional interaction between P/Q channel and proteins of the vesicle-docking/fusion machinery, and that genetic variation in CACNA1A may be not only a cause but also a modifier of migraine phenotype

The European Genome-phenome Archive in 2021

The European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA - https://ega-archive.org/) is a resource for long term secure archiving of all types of potentially identifiable genetic, phenotypic, and clinical data resulting from biomedical research projects. Its mission is to foster hosted data reuse, enable reproducibility, and accelerate biomedical and translational research in line with the FAIR principles. Launched in 2008, the EGA has grown quickly, currently archiving over 4,500 studies from nearly one thousand institutions. The EGA operates a distributed data access model in which requests are made to the data controller, not to the EGA, therefore, the submitter keeps control on who has access to the data and under which conditions. Given the size and value of data hosted, the EGA is constantly improving its value chain, that is, how the EGA can contribute to enhancing the value of human health data by facilitating its submission, discovery, access, and distribution, as well as leading the design and implementation of standards and methods necessary to deliver the value chain. The EGA has become a key GA4GH Driver Project, leading multiple development efforts and implementing new standards and tools, and has been appointed as an ELIXIR Core Data Resource.Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Union [CORBEL [654248], ELIXIR-EXCELERATE [676559], Solve-RD [779257], EASI-Genomics [824110], EJP-RD [825575], CINECA [825775], EuCanCan [825835], EUCanshare [825903], ELIXIR-CONVERGE [871075]]; Wellcome Trust Global Alliance for Genomics and Health [201535/Z/16/Z]; UK Biobank; Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation [2017-171304 (5022)]; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL); LaCaixa Foundation [004745/008034]; [LCF/PR/CE20/50740008]. Funding for open access charge: LaCaixa Foundation [LCF/PR/CE20/50740008]