Notch inhibits Yorkie activity in Drosophila wing discs.

During development, tissues and organs must coordinate growth and patterning so they reach the right size and shape. During larval stages, a dramatic increase in size and cell number of Drosophila wing imaginal discs is controlled by the action of several signaling pathways. Complex cross-talk between these pathways also pattern these discs to specify different regions with different fates and growth potentials. We show that the Notch signaling pathway is both required and sufficient to inhibit the activity of Yorkie (Yki), the Salvador/Warts/Hippo (SWH) pathway terminal transcription activator, but only in the central regions of the wing disc, where the TEAD factor and Yki partner Scalloped (Sd) is expressed. We show that this cross-talk between the Notch and SWH pathways is mediated, at least in part, by the Notch target and Sd partner Vestigial (Vg). We propose that, by altering the ratios between Yki, Sd and Vg, Notch pathway activation restricts the effects of Yki mediated transcription, therefore contributing to define a zone of low proliferation in the central wing discs

Mechanisms and mechanics of cell competition in epithelia

When fast-growing cells are confronted with slow-growing cells in a mosaic tissue, the slow-growing cells are often progressively eliminated by apoptosis through a process known as cell competition. The underlying signalling pathways remain unknown, but recent findings have shown that cell crowding within an epithelium leads to the eviction of cells from the epithelial sheet. This suggests that mechanical forces could contribute to cell elimination during cell competition

QTL mapping for brown rot (Monilinia fructigena) resistance in an intraspecific peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) F1 progeny

Brown rot (BR) caused by Monilinia spp. leads to significant post-harvest losses in stone fruit production, especially peach. Previous genetic analyses in peach progenies suggested that BR resistance segregates as a quantitative trait. In order to uncover genomic regions associated with this trait and identify molecular markers for assisted selection (MAS) in peach, an F1 progeny from the cross "Contender" (C, resistant) 7 "Elegant Lady" (EL, susceptible) was chosen for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Over two phenotyping seasons, skin (SK) and flesh (FL) artificial infections were performed on fruits using a Monilinia fructigena isolate. For each treatment, infection frequency (if) and average rot diameter (rd) were scored. Significant seasonal and intertrait correlations were found. Maturity date (MD) was significantly correlated with disease impact. Sixty-three simple sequence repeats (SSRs) plus 26 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to genotype the C 7 EL population and to construct a linkage map. C 7 EL map included the eight Prunus linkage groups (LG), spanning 572.92 cM, with an average interval distance of 6.9 cM, covering 78.73 % of the peach genome (V1.0). Multiple QTL mapping analysis including MD trait as covariate uncovered three genomic regions associated with BR resistance in the two phenotyping seasons: one containing QTLs for SK resistance traits near M1a (LG C 7 EL-2, R2 = 13.1-31.5 %) and EPPISF032 (LG C 7 EL-4, R2 = 11-14 %) and the others containing QTLs for FL resistance, near markers SNP_IGA_320761 and SNP_IGA_321601 (LG3, R2 = 3.0-11.0 %). These results suggest that in the C 7 EL F1 progeny, skin resistance to fungal penetration and flesh resistance to rot spread are distinguishable mechanisms constituting BR resistance trait, associated with different genomic regions. Discovered QTLs and their associated markers could assist selection of new cultivars with enhanced resistance to Monilinia spp. in fruit

Controlling peach fruit quality by interfering with ethylene production with polyamines and jasmonates

In climacteric fruit, the control of ripening mainly relies on ethylene production and/or action, although there are some parameters that do not seem to strictly respond to this hormone. The peach fruit is well characterized from the physiological and molecular point of view and thus it offers a good fruit model system to study the relationship between ripening and quality. Here we review the results of the application of two kinds of natural growth regulators, polyamines (PAs) and jasmonates (JAs). Although characterized by substantially different biological activities, both are able to interfere with ethylene synthesis and perception, and, as a consequence, to alter the progression of ripening and the evolution of the main fruit quality traits. On the basis of endogenous levels of PAs and JAs in the fruit, experimental protocols aimed at manipulating these levels were established. This article reports the main results obtained in relation to fruit ripening and quality, and functional properties. Field application to peach fruit in late developmental stage (S3-S4) of the PAs putrescine (Pu), spermidine (Sd) or spermine (Sm) leads almost invariably to ripening delay and prolonged shelf-life. This is due to inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis/production, inhibition of cell wall-dismantling activity/retention of flesh firmness (FF), reduced soluble solids concentration (SSC). Equally, in the case of JAs, their application in planta causes a ripening delay, as shown by reduced ethylene biosynthesis/production and firmness retention probably due to a trade-off between growth and defence. Although likely via different signal transduction pathways, PAs and JAs, by interfering with ethylene biosynthesis and perception, lead to a less ripe fruit and, consequently, they are very promising compounds for quality control in the postharvest handling chain. For practical purposes, besides optimizing application strategies, commercial products containing PAs would be highly desirable

A reflex technology to improve sun filter by SPF booster effect

A new reflex technology has been emploided in order to improve sun filter performances and thus decrease chemical substances content in solar product

Three cases of choroidal metastases with rapid growth and atypical echographic characteristics.

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Applicazioni cosmetiche di estratti di plantago lanceolata

Il moderno concetto di salute tende sempre più a comprendere non solo l’assenza di malattie ma anche il più ampio concetto di benessere inteso come equilibrio tra le diverse condizioni: emotiva, fisica, mentale, sociale e spirituale. L’uomo si è evoluto in presenza di numerosi principi attivi prodotti dalla nautra e ai quali si è adattato. In un contesto che attribuisce sempre maggiore rilevanza al il concetto di aspetto fisico come caratteristica legata ad un buono stato di salute, è normale quindi che un settore come quello cosmetico sia costantemente alla ricerca di nuove fonti di materie prime funzionali, alle quali viene associato un elevato grado di sicurezza e naturalità, ma in grado di essere efficaci ed innovative. I farmaci vegetali tradizionali forniscono un interessante, in gran parte inesplorata, fonte per lo sviluppo di potenziali nuovi ingredienti attivi. L'eventuale sviluppo di nuovi ingredienti cosmetici per il trattamento degli inestetismi cutanei che facciano uso delle conoscenze sui farmaci vegetali tradizionali rappresenta in effetti una strategia molto attraente (T. Aburjai and F.M. Natsheh, Plants used in cosmetics, Phytotherapy Research 17 (2003), pp. 987–1000) ed è di grande interesse sapere se preparati utilizzati nella medicina popolare possiedono attività che potrebbero essere veicolate da formulazioni moderne. In questo lavoro è stato sviluppato un nuovo estratto, ne sono state valutate le proprietà antiossidanti e le sue applicazioni in ambito dermo-cosmetico in particolare in riferimento alla attività idratante e lenitiva

Determinazione della capacità antiossidanti integrale (IAC) di formulazioni cosmetiche mediante fotochemiluminescenza (PCL)

Determinazione della capacità antiossidanti integrale (IAC) di formulazioni cosmetiche mediante fotochemiluminescenza (PCL