Methane production of dairy cows fed cereals with or without protein supplement and high quality silage

Ruminants produce methane during the fermentation of feed in the rumen. This release of methane represents not only an energetic loss for the animal but also contributes to the global warming because methane is released to the atmosphere. To mitigate the methane production from ruminants, and in particular from cows, feeding strategies need to be studied. The objective of the thesis was to evaluate the quantity of methane produced in diets with or without protein concentrate combined with two silages differing in protein content (17% vs. 13%). An experiment using a Latin squares design with six Swedish Red cows in two orthogonal blocks was performed to study three different treatments: treatment AC with silage A (2/3 early harvested silage + 1/3 red clover) and cereal, treatment AP with silage A, cereal and protein supplement and treatment BC with silage B and cereal. Each period lasted three weeks with two weeks adaptation to the diet and last week as a measurement period. There were no differences in methane production in absolute terms between treatments, and the average methane production of the cows was 473 g/d. Milk production and methane production per kg milk did not differ between treatments. Significant differences were found only between treatments AP and BC in methane production per kg of protein intake (104.7 g/kg vs. 203.3), per kg of MJ intake (1.6 g/kg vs. 2.0) and per kg of starch intake (492.1 g/kg vs. 228.5)

Efecto de diferentes sistemas de alojamiento en conejos de la raza leprino de viterbo

Sin resume

The PYL4 A194T mutant uncovers a key role of PYL4-PP2CA interaction for ABA signaling and plant drought resistance

[EN] Because abscisic acid (ABA) is recognized as the critical hormonal regulator of plant stress physiology, elucidating its signaling pathway has raised promise for application in agriculture, for instance through genetic engineering of ABA receptors. PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE1/PYR1-LIKE (PYL)/REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF ABA RECEPTORS ABA receptors interact with high affinity and inhibit clade A phosphatases type-2C (PP2Cs) in an ABA-dependent manner. We generated an allele library composed of 10,000 mutant clones of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PYL4 and selected mutations that promoted ABA-independent interaction with PP2CA/ABA-HYPERSENSITIVE3. In vitro protein-protein interaction assays and size exclusion chromatography confirmed that PYL4(A194T) was able to form stable complexes with PP2CA in the absence of ABA, in contrast to PYL4. This interaction did not lead to significant inhibition of PP2CA in the absence of ABA; however, it improved ABA-dependent inhibition of PP2CA. As a result, 35S: PYL4(A194T) plants showed enhanced sensitivity to ABA-mediated inhibition of germination and seedling establishment compared with 35S:PYL4 plants. Additionally, at basal endogenous ABA levels, whole-rosette gas exchange measurements revealed reduced stomatal conductance and enhanced water use efficiency compared with nontransformed or 35S:PYL4 plants and partial up-regulation of two ABA-responsive genes. Finally, 35S:PYL4(A194T) plants showed enhanced drought and dehydration resistance compared with nontransformed or 35S:PYL4 plants. Thus, we describe a novel approach to enhance plant drought resistance through allele library generation and engineering of a PYL4 mutation that enhances interaction with PP2CA.Pizzio Bianchi, GA.; Rodriguez, L.; Antoni-Alandes, R.; Gonzalez Guzman, M.; Yunta, C.; Merilo, E.; Kollist, H.... (2013). The PYL4 A194T mutant uncovers a key role of PYL4-PP2CA interaction for ABA signaling and plant drought resistance. Plant Physiology. 163(1):441-455. doi:10.​1104/​pp.​113.​224162S441455163

Calcium-dependent oligomerization of CAR proteins at cell membrane modulates ABA signaling

[EN] Regulation of ion transport in plants is essential for cell function. Abiotic stress unbalances cell ion homeostasis, and plants tend to readjust it, regulating membrane transporters and channels. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and the second messenger Ca2+ are central in such processes, as they are involved in the regulation of protein kinases and phosphatases that control ion transport activity in response to environmental stimuli. The identification and characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of ABA and Ca2+ signaling pathways on membrane function are central and could provide opportunities for crop improvement. The C2-domain ABA-related (CAR) family of small proteins is involved in the Ca2+-dependent recruitment of the pyrabactin resistance 1/PYR1like (PYR/PYL) ABA receptors to the membrane. However, to fully understand CAR function, it is necessary to define a molecular mechanism that integrates Ca2+ sensing, membrane interaction, and the recognition of the PYR/PYL interacting partners. We present structural and biochemical data showing that CARs are peripheral membrane proteins that functionally cluster on the membrane and generate strong positive membrane curvature in a Ca2+-dependent manner. These features represent a mechanism for the generation, stabilization, and/or specific recognition of membrane discontinuities. Such structures may act as signaling platforms involved in the recruitment of PYR/PYL receptors and other signaling components involved in cell responses to stress.A.A. and J.A.M. thank the European Syncrotron Radiation Facility and EMBL for access to the synchrotron radiation source. This work was funded by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) Grants BFU2014-59796-R (to A.A.), BFU2011-28184-C02 (to M.J.S.-B.), and BIO2014-52537-R (to P.L.R.) and Comunidad de Madrid Grant S2010/BMD-2457 (to A.A and M.M.). M.J.S.-B. is supported by Ramon y Cajal Contract RYC-2008-03449 from MINECO and M.D. by a fellowship from Senacyt-Ifarhu. Access to the High Throughput Crystallization facility at European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble was supported by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme through the Protein Production Platform project (P-CUBE) Grant 227764.Diaz, M.; Sanchez-Barrena, MJ.; Gonzalez Rubio, JM.; Rodríguez Solovey, LN.; Fernández, D.; Antoni-Alandes, R.; Yunta, C.... (2016). Calcium-dependent oligomerization of CAR proteins at cell membrane modulates ABA signaling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113(3):E396-E405. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1512779113SE396E4051133Serrano, R., & Rodriguez-Navarro, A. (2001). 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The Plant Journal, 60(4), 575-588. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2009.03981.xNishimura, N., Sarkeshik, A., Nito, K., Park, S.-Y., Wang, A., Carvalho, P. C., … Schroeder, J. I. (2009). PYR/PYL/RCAR family members are major in-vivo ABI1 protein phosphatase 2C-interacting proteins in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal, 61(2), 290-299. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2009.04054.xWang, P., Xue, L., Batelli, G., Lee, S., Hou, Y.-J., Van Oosten, M. J., … Zhu, J.-K. (2013). Quantitative phosphoproteomics identifies SnRK2 protein kinase substrates and reveals the effectors of abscisic acid action. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(27), 11205-11210. doi:10.1073/pnas.1308974110Umezawa, T., Sugiyama, N., Takahashi, F., Anderson, J. C., Ishihama, Y., Peck, S. C., & Shinozaki, K. (2013). Genetics and Phosphoproteomics Reveal a Protein Phosphorylation Network in the Abscisic Acid Signaling Pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. 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La química da mucho juego...¿jugamos?

¿Quién no ha jugado alguna vez? ¿Qué juegos conocemos? ¿Podemos motivar a los alumnos a través del juego?. Desde nuestra experiencia durante el curso 2016-2017 y utilizando adaptaciones de dos juegos tradicionales de mesa podemos observar que los alumnos participan y aprenden jugando y que el profesor puede utilizar el juego para evaluar las competencias y habilidades de los participantes. Con el juego los docentes dejamos de ser el centro de la clase o del laboratorio y pasamos a ser meros conductores del proceso de aprendizaje además de facilitar el trabajo en pequeños grupos. Los juegos utilizados son una adaptación de juegos de mesa que utilizan preguntas relacionadas con la Química. Se ha desarrollado material didáctico en forma de cartulinas con cuatro tipos de preguntas adaptadas a diferentes asignaturas de diferentes grados y que se pueden utilizar tanto en el laboratorio de prácticas como en el aula. Los juegos se han utilizado en asignaturas de los grados de Química, Biología e Ingeniería Química en tutorías, seminarios o en el laboratorio o bien al final del mismo o durante los periodos en los que los alumnos tienen “tiempos muertos” dado el desarrollo de las prácticas

European journalism observatory: An international consolidated platform for training and professional networks in the Faculty of Information Sciences

El objetivo principal de este proyecto Innova-Docenia era ampliar y consolidar una plataforma de formación internacional y consolidada, para alumnos y alumnas de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Información, como parte del European Journalism Observatory (EJO), fundado por el Instituto Reuters de la Universidad de Oxford. Se trataba de afianzar EJO Spain como plataforma de formación y escaparate de las acciones implementadas en España, donde la Universidad Complutense de Madrid se convertía en el socio español principal. El Observatorio Europeo de Periodismo (EJO), una red de instituciones independientes y sin ánimo de lucro del campo de la comunicación de 14 países, tiene como objetivo tender puentes entre la investigación y la práctica del periodismo en Europa y fomentar el profesionalismo y la libertad de prensa. Promueve el diálogo entre investigadores y profesionales de los medios. Acerca los resultados de la investigación a las personas que trabajan en los medios. Su objetivo es mejorar la calidad del periodismo, contribuir a una mejor comprensión de los medios y fomentar la libertad de prensa y la responsabilidad de los medios. Nació en 2004, como una red de varios socios europeos, coordinados por la Universidad de Lugano y la Universidad de Oxford. Fue diseñado para observar las tendencias en el periodismo y en los medios de comunicación, desde una perspectiva ética y deontológica muy amplia. Desde entonces, sus artículos, investigaciones y editoriales son publicados en las distintas páginas web de cada socio: https://es.ejo-online.eu/red-ej

Impact of prenatal and neonatal nutrition on metabolism and future performance in dairy heifers

En los últimos años se ha demostrado que existe una conexión entre las primeras etapas de la vida y la futura productividad y salud de los animales. En esta tesis se desarrollaron 3 estudios para evaluar, por un lado estrategias de manejo de los terneros durante las primeras semanas de vida que podrían mejorar su rendimiento, y por otro estrategias que podrían ser implementadas en el futuro para mejorar el desarrollo fetal durante la gestación. En el primer estudio se compararon parámetros de crecimiento, reproducción y salud en terneros alimentados con leche de tanque y lactorremplazante. No se encontraron diferencias en el crecimiento entre los tratamientos aunque sí una reducción en el cociente insulina/glucosa y un menor número de terneros tratados con antibióticos en los terneros alimentados con leche de tanque. Estos resultados sugieren un mejor metabolismo de la glucosa y un posible beneficio sanitario en los terneros alimentados con leche de tanque comparados con los alimentados con lactorremplazante. En el segundo estudio se quiso evaluar el rendimiento de crecimiento a corto y medio plazo así como el metabolismo de glucosa e insulina en terneros alimentados con 2, 3 o 4 L de lactorremplazante dos veces al día. Los terneros alimentados a base de 4 L de lactorremplazante dos veces al día tuvieron una mayor ganancia media diaria preadestete, pero no fueron capaces de suplir la falta de lactorremplazante durante el destete, lo que produjo un descenso de la ganancia media diaria en comparación con los terneros alimentados con 2 L dos veces al día. La edad en la primera inseminación fue mayor en los terneros que recibieron sólo 2 L dos veces al día pero no se encontraron diferencias en la edad a la primera inseminación fecundante ni en el ratio de concepción. Por otro lado, ofrecer 4 L dos veces al día de lactorremplazante provocó efectos negativos transitorios en el metabolismo de la glucosa, aunque éstos desaparecieron con la edad. En el tercer estudio se evaluaron los efectos de la suplementación vía peritoneo de arginina en la hemodinámica de la arteria uterina en novillas entre 40 y 140 días de gestación. El flujo sanguíneo uterino y otros parámetros hemodinámicos se determinaron por ultrasonido Doppler. Las medidas incluyeron ritmo cardíaco, flujo sanguíneo, índices de pulsatilidad y resistencia. También se analizaron la concentración en plasma de aminoácidos (AA), óxido nítrico, glucosa, factor de crecimiento insulínico, progesterona, hormona de crecimiento y prolactina. La suplementación con arginina no causó el incremento del flujo sanguíneo de la arteria uterina pero modificó otros parámetros que podrían influir en el crecimiento fetal como el ritmo cardiaco, la concentración materna de AA y la síntesis de progesterona.A connection between early stages of life and health and performance in the adult life has been lately demonstrated. In this thesis three studies were conducted in order to evaluate on the one hand rearing strategies that may improve calves performance, and on the other hand strategies that may be implemented in the future to ameliorate fetal development during pregnancy. In the first study, differences in growth, reproductive and health performance were evaluated between calves fed milk replacer (MR) and calves fed whole milk (WM). No differences were found in milk or solid feed intake and growth performance between treatments. But, the reduced insulin to glucose ratio and the decrease in the number of antibiotic treatments in calves fed WM compared with those fed MR suggested an improvement in glucose metabolism, and a potential benefit on calf health when feeding WM. The second study aimed at evaluating shorta and mediumaterm growth performance and glucose metabolism of dairy calves fed 2, 3 or 4 L of MR twice a day. Calves fed 4 L of MR twice daily had greater ADG during the preweaning period, but were unable to compensate the lack of MR during the weaning process resulting in a decreased ADG compared with calves fed 2 L twice daily. Age at first breeding was greater when calves received 2 L twice daily, but no differences were found on age at pregnancy and conception rate. Also, offering 4 L twice daily of MR had transitory negative effects on glucose metabolism, but those disappeared with age. The third study evaluated the effects of Arg supplementation on uterine artery hemodynamics between 40 and 140 days of gestation as it could foster placental vascularization. Uterine blood flow volume (FV) and other hemoadynamics were determined using Doppler ultrasonography. The measurements included heart rate, FV, pulsatility index, and resistance index. Plasma concentrations of amino acids (AAs), nitric oxide, glucose, insulin growth factor, progesterone (P4), growth hormone, and prolactin were analyzed. Contrary to our hypothesis, Arg supplementation did not increase blood flow to the uterus but did change other parameters that could influence placental and fetal growth such as heart rate, maternal concentration of plasma AAs, or P4 synthesis

The structure of arabidopsis thaliana OST1 provides insights into the kinase regulation mechanism in response to osmotic stress

10 pags, 4 figs, 1 tabSnRK [SNF1 (sucrose non-fermenting-1)-related protein kinase] 2.6 [open stomata 1 (OST1)] is well characterized at molecular and physiological levels to control stomata closure in response to water-deficit stress. OST1 is a member of a family of 10 protein kinases from Arabidopsis thaliana (SnRK2) that integrates abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent and ABA-independent signals to coordinate the cell response to osmotic stress. A subgroup of protein phosphatases type 2C binds OST1 and keeps the kinase dephosphorylated and inactive. Activation of OST1 relies on the ABA-dependent inhibition of the protein phosphatases type 2C and the subsequent self-phosphorylation of the kinase. The OST1 ABA-independent activation depends on a short sequence motif that is conserved among all the members of the SnRK2 family. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying this regulation. The crystallographic structure of OST1 shows that ABA-independent regulation motif stabilizes the conformation of the kinase catalytically essential α C helix, and it provides the basis of the ABA-independent regulation mechanism for the SnRK2 family of protein kinases. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Thiswork was funded by the grant BFU2008-00368/BMC, BFU2001-25384 and “Factoría de Cristalización” Consolider-Ingenio 2010 of the Spanish “Plan Nacional” (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) to A.A