Microtubule-associated protein MAP2 preferentially binds to a dA/dT sequence present in mouse satellite DNA

Microtubule-associated protein MAP2 binds to the Sau96.1 restriction monomer fragment of mouse satellite DNA. This fragment is also present in a lower proportion in bulk DNA. The digestion of MAP2-Sau96.1 fragment complex by DNase results in the protection of certain nucleotide sequences. The sequence poly(dA)4/poly(dT)4 is mainly protected against DNase digestion.     

Linking Ocean's Benefits to People (OBP) with Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs)

The fundamental challenge of the inclusion of the human dimension of the oceans in the Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs) provides an opportunity for a transdisciplinary approach to create synergies between the current research by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). We have highlighted the importance of ocean inequality as a critical aspect to consider to unlock current barriers to integrate social sciences in marine integrated assessments. To create bridges between them, we develop an Ocean's Benefits to People (OBP) framework that embraces the blue economy, equity, the UN SDGs goals and support an Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) for the oceans.     

The analysis of Circe, an LTR retrotransposon of Drosophila melanogaster, suggests that an insertion of non-LTR retrotransposons into LTR elements can create chimeric retroelements

Circe is a transposable element recently identified in Drosophila melanogaster which appears to be mostly associated with the constitutive heterochromatin. This element shows the structural features of a long terminal repeat (LTR)-containing retrotransposon: It is flanked by 240-bp-long terminal repeats, and its two open reading frames encode putative proteins resembling the gag and pol polyproteins of retroviruses. However, Circe displays striking similarities of both LOA and Ulysses, a non-LTR element and an LTR element, respectively. The result of its phylogenetic and structural analysis has allowed us to propose a new mechanism for non-LTR retrotransposon evolution.     

Galvanic microparticles increase migration of human dermal fibroblasts in a wound-healing model via reactive oxygen species pathway

Electrical signals have been implied in many biological mechanisms, including wound healing, which has been associated with transient electrical currents not present in intact skin. One method to generate electrical signals similar to those naturally occurring in wounds is by supplementation of galvanic particles dispersed in a cream or gel. We constructed a three-layered model of skin consisting of human dermal fibroblasts in hydrogel (mimic of dermis), a hydrogel barrier layer (mimic of epidermis) and galvanic microparticles in hydrogel (mimic of a cream containing galvanic particles applied to skin). Using this model, we investigated the effects of the properties and amounts of Cu/Zn galvanic particles on adult human dermal fibroblasts in terms of the speed of wound closing and gene expression. The collected data suggest that the effects on wound closing are due to the ROS-mediated enhancement of fibroblast migration, which is in turn mediated by the BMP/SMAD signaling pathway. These results imply that topical low-grade electric currents via microparticles could enhance wound healing.     

Functional characterization of human cancer-derived TRKB mutations

Cancer originates from cells that have acquired mutations in genes critical for controlling cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Often, tumors continue to depend on these so-called driver mutations, providing the rationale for targeted anticancer therapies. To date, large-scale sequencing analyses have revealed hundreds of mutations in human tumors. However, without their functional validation it remains unclear which mutations correspond to driver, or rather bystander, mutations and, therefore, whether the mutated gene represents a target for therapeutic intervention. In human colorectal tumors, the neurotrophic receptor TRKB has been found mutated on two different sites in its kinase domain (TRKB(T695I) and TRKB(D751N)). Another site, in the extracellular part of TRKB, is mutated in a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (TRKB(L138F)). Lastly, our own analysis has identified one additional TRKB point mutation proximal to the kinase domain (TRKB(P507L)) in a human melanoma cell line. The functional consequences of all these point mutations, however, have so far remained elusive. Previously, we have shown that TRKB is a potent suppressor of anoikis and that TRKB-expressing cells form highly invasive and metastatic tumors in nude mice. To assess the functional consequences of these four TRKB mutations, we determined their potential to suppress anoikis and to form tumors in nude mice. Unexpectedly, both colon cancer-derived mutants, TRKB(T695I) and TRKB(D751N), displayed reduced activity compared to that of wild-type TRKB. Consistently, upon stimulation with the TRKB ligand BDNF, these mutants were impaired in activating TRKB and its downstream effectors AKT and ERK. The two mutants derived from human tumor cell lines (TRKB(L138F) and TRKB(P507L)) were functionally indistinguishable from wild-type TRKB in both in-vitro and in-vivo assays. In conclusion, we fail to detect any gain-of-function of four cancer-derived TRKB point mutations.     

Real-Time PCR for the Detection and Quantification of Geodermatophilaceae from Stone Samples and Identification of New Members of the Genus Blastococcus

Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) technology was used for the specific detection and quantification of members of the family Geodermatophilaceae in stone samples. Differences in the nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene region were used to design a pair of family-specific primers that were used to detect and quantify by RT-PCR DNA from members of this family in stone samples from different geographical origins in Spain. These primers were applied later to identify by PCR-specific amplification new members of the family Geodermatophilaceae isolated from the same stone samples. The diversity and taxonomic position of the wild-type strains identified from ribosomal sequence analysis suggest the presence of a new lineage within the genus Blastococcus.     

El significado de las relaciones sociales como mecanismo para mejorar la salud y calidad de vida de las personas mayores,desde una perspectiva interdisciplinar

Introduction

This study presents an analysis on the effects of positive social relationships as determining factors on the health status of the elderly, from an interdisciplinary point of view.

Fermented Soybean Meal Increases Lactic Acid Bacteria in Gut Microbiota of Atlantic Salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis>)

The main goal of the present study was to address the effect of feeding fermented soybean meal-based diet to Atlantic salmon on gut microbiota. Further, expression of genes of interest, including cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (cath), mucin 2 (muc2), aquaporin (aqp8ab), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna), in proximal intestine of fish fed either experimental diet was analyzed. Three experimental diets, including a control fishmeal (30% FM), soybean meal (30% SBM), or fermented soybean meal diet (30% FSBM) were randomly assigned to triplicate tanks during a 50-day trial. The PCR-TTGE showed microbiota composition was influenced by experimental diets. Bands corresponding to genus Lactobacillus and Pediococcus were characteristic in fish fed the FSBM-based diet. On the other hand, bands corresponding to Isoptericola, Cellulomonas, and Clostridium sensu stricto were only observed in fish FM-based diet, while Acinetobacter and Altererythrobacter were detected in fish fed SBM-based diet. The expression of muc2 and aqp8ab were significantly greater in fish fed the FSBM-based diet compared with the control group. Our results suggest feeding FSBM to Atlantic salmon may (1) boost health and growth physiology in fish by promoting intestinal lactic acid bacteria growth, having a prebiotic-like effect, (2) promote proximal intestine health by increasing mucin production, and (3) boost intestinal trans-cellular uptake of water. Further research to better understands the effects of bioactive compounds derived from the fermentation process of plant feedstuff on gut microbiota and the effects on health and growth in fish is required.     

Proteomic analysis from haploid and diploid embryos of Quercus suber L. identifies qualitative and quantitative differential expression patterns

Quercus suber L. is a Mediterranean forest species with ecological, social and economic value. Clonal propagation of Q. suber elite trees has been successfully obtained from in vitro‐derived somatic and gametic embryos. These clonal lines play a main role in breeding and genetic studies of Q. suber. To aid in unravelling diverse genetic and biological unknowns, a proteomic approach is proposed. The proteomic analysis of Q. suber somatic and gametic in vitro culture‐derived embryos, based on DIGE and MALDI‐MS, has produced for the first time proteomic data on this species. Seventeen differentially expressed proteins have been identified which display significantly altered levels between gametic and somatic embryos. These proteins are involved in a variety of cellular processes, most of which had been neither previously associated with embryo development nor identified in the genus Quercus. Some of these proteins are involved in stress and pollen development and others play a role in the metabolism of tannins and phenylpropanoids, which represent two of the major pathways for the synthesis of cork chemical components. Furthermore, the augmented expression levels found for specific proteins are probably related to the homozygous state of a doubled‐haploid sample. Proteins involved in synthesis of cork components can be detected at such early stages of development, showing the potential of the method to be useful in searching for biomarkers related to cork quality.