Roles of Calcium Signaling in Gene Expression and Photosynthetic Acclimatization of Solanum lycopersicum Micro-Tom (MT) after Mechanical Damage

A momentary increase in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ generates an oscillation responsible for the activation of proteins, such as calmodulin and kinases, which interact with reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the transmission of a stress signal. This study investigated the influence of variations in calcium concentrations on plant defense signaling and photosynthetic acclimatization after mechanical damage. Solanum lycopersicum Micro-Tom was grown with 0, 2 and 4 mM Ca²⁺, with and without mechanical damage. The expression of stress genes was evaluated, along with levels of antioxidant enzymes, hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, histochemistry, photosynthesis and dry mass of organs. The ROS production generated by mechanical damage was further enhanced by calcium-free conditions due to the inactivation of the oxygen evolution complex, contributing to an increase in reactive species. The results indicated that ROS affected mechanical damage signaling because calcium-free plants exhibited high levels of H₂O₂ and enhanced expression of kinase and RBOH1 genes, necessary conditions for an efficient response to stress. We conclude that the plants without calcium supply recognized mechanical damage but did not survive. The highest expression of the RBOH1 gene and the accumulation of H₂O₂ in these plants signaled cell death. Plants grown in the presence of calcium showed higher expression of SlCaM2 and control of H₂O₂ concentration, thus overcoming the stress caused by mechanical damage, with photosynthetic acclimatization and without damage to dry mass production.     

Robust invariant sets for constrained storage systems

Several items are produced and stored into n buffers in order to supply an external demand without interruptions. We consider the classical problem of determining control laws and smallest buffer levels guaranteeing that an unknown bounded demand is always satisfied. A simple model with n decoupled integrators and n additive bounded disturbances is employed. The coupling arises from bounds on the total production capacity and on the total demand. Invariant set theory for linear and switched linear systems is exploited to compute robust positive invariant sets and controlled robust invariant sets for two commonly adopted scheduling policies. This paper provides the explicit expression of the invariant sets for any arbitrary n.     

Plant DNA Methylation: An Epigenetic Mark in Development,Environmental Interactions,and Evolution

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification of the genome involved in the regulation of gene expression and modulation of chromatin structure. Plant genomes are widely methylated, and the methylation generally occurs on the cytosine bases through the activity of specific enzymes called DNA methyltransferases. On the other hand, methylated DNA can also undergo demethylation through the action of demethylases. The methylation landscape is finely tuned and assumes a pivotal role in plant development and evolution. This review illustrates different molecular aspects of DNA methylation and some plant physiological processes influenced by this epigenetic modification in model species, crops, and ornamental plants such as orchids. In addition, this review aims to describe the relationship between the changes in plant DNA methylation levels and the response to biotic and abiotic stress. Finally, we discuss the possible evolutionary implications and biotechnological applications of DNA methylation.     

LncRNA H19 Impairs Chemo and Radiotherapy in Tumorigenesis

Various treatments based on drug administration and radiotherapy have been devoted to preventing, palliating, and defeating cancer, showing high efficiency against the progression of this disease. Recently, in this process, malignant cells have been found which are capable of triggering specific molecular mechanisms against current treatments, with negative consequences in the prognosis of the disease. It is therefore fundamental to understand the underlying mechanisms, including the genes—and their signaling pathway regulators—involved in the process, in order to fight tumor cells. Long non-coding RNAs, H19 in particular, have been revealed as powerful protective factors in various types of cancer. However, they have also evidenced their oncogenic role in multiple carcinomas, enhancing tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In this review, we analyze the role of lncRNA H19 impairing chemo and radiotherapy in tumorigenesis, including breast cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, glioma, and colorectal carcinoma.     

Molecular Framework of Mouse Endothelial Cell Dysfunction during Inflammation: A Proteomics Approach

A key aspect of cytokine-induced changes as observed in sepsis is the dysregulated activation of endothelial cells (ECs), initiating a cascade of inflammatory signaling leading to leukocyte adhesion/migration and organ damage. The therapeutic targeting of ECs has been hampered by concerns regarding organ-specific EC heterogeneity and their response to inflammation. Using in vitro and in silico analysis, we present a comprehensive analysis of the proteomic changes in mouse lung, liver and kidney ECs following exposure to a clinically relevant cocktail of proinflammatory cytokines. Mouse lung, liver and kidney ECs were incubated with TNF-α/IL-1β/IFN-γ for 4 or 24 h to model the cytokine-induced changes. Quantitative label-free global proteomics and bioinformatic analysis performed on the ECs provide a molecular framework for the EC response to inflammatory stimuli over time and organ-specific differences. Gene Ontology and PANTHER analysis suggest why some organs are more susceptible to inflammation early on, and show that, as inflammation progresses, some protein expression patterns become more uniform while additional organ-specific proteins are expressed. These findings provide an in-depth understanding of the molecular changes involved in the EC response to inflammation and can support the development of drugs targeting ECs within different organs. Data are available via ProteomeXchange (identifier PXD031804).     

Influence of Lees Contact on Evolution of Amines in Chardonnay Wine

ABSTRACT:  Some white wines of Chardonnay variety are aged on their lees in oak barrels over several months. Over this period, autolysis takes place and different compounds are freed in the wine, among them, nitrogen compounds. The aim of this work was to study the evolution of amines in Chardonnay wine during 180 d of maturation on lees, with and without weekly stirring. The process was carried out in new French oak barrels with 225 L capacity. From the results obtained it was found that weekly stirring mainly had an influence on histamine and tyramine concentration. The concentration of these amines at the end of the aging period was higher in the wine with weekly stirring. This treatment showed no effect on the amine concentration at the beginning of the wine aging on lees. The aging time also had an influence on the concentration of amines in the Chardonnay wine.     

High-performance-liquid-chromatographic determination of carbohydrates in soft drinks

Summary The sugar content of fourteen soft drinks amply consumed in Spain has been determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method, fast and reliable requires a minimum of sample preparation. For the total sugar content, a comparison is made with the classical column chromatography.

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Bestimmung von Kohlenhydraten in Erfrischungsgetränken durch Hochdruckflüssigkeitschromatographie

Zusammenfassung Der Zuckergehalt von vierzehn Erfrischungsgetränken, deren Verbrauch in Spanien sehr groß ist, wurde durch die Hochdruckflüssigkeitschromatographie (HPLC) festgestellt. Diese schnelle und zuverlässige Methode erfordert ein Minimum an Vorbereitungen. Für den gesamten Zuckergehalt wird ein Vergleich mit der klassischen Säulenchromatographie durchgeführt.

     

Effect of selected mould strains on the sensory properties of dry fermented sausages

The effect of one Mucor and two Penicillium strains (Penicillium-3 and Penicillium-6) on the development of the sensory properties of dry fermented sausages has been studied. These strains were previously isolated from Spanish fermented sausages and selected for their proteolytic and lipolytic activity. Several experimental batches were prepared: one of them was non-inoculated and considered as control batch, three were inoculated with the selected strains, and the last one was inoculated with a commercial starter culture of P. nalgiovense. The pleasantness of the sensory attributes of the different batches were determined using an unstructured line scale of 10 cm. A triangular test was also carried out. Apart from their external appearance, batches inoculated with Mucor and Penicillium-3 had the highest scores for all the sensory attributes studied. The batch inoculated with P. nalgiovense had the lowest scores and similar to the control batch but its external appearance was considered to be the most pleasant. The batch inoculated with Penicillium-6 presented intermediate characteristics. A relation between these results and the enzymic activity of the moulds was established. The three strains selected for this study are proposed to be incorporated in a commercial starter culture because they improve the sensory properties of these meat products.     

Intracellular silver accumulation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii upon exposure to carbonate coated silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate

The intracellular silver accumulation ({Ag}(in)) upon exposure to carbonate coated silver nanoparticles (AgNP, 0.5-10 μM, average diameter 29 nm) and silver nitrate (20-500 nM) was examined in the wild type and in the cell wall free mutant of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at pH 7.5. The {Ag}(in) was measured over time up to 1 h after a wash procedure to remove silver ions (Ag(+)) and AgNP from the algal cell surface. The {Ag}(in) increased with increasing exposure time and with increasing AgNP and AgNO(3) concentrations in the exposure media, reaching steady-state concentrations between 10(-5) and 10(-3) mol L(cell)(-1). According to estimated kinetic parameters, high Ag(+) bioconcentration factors were calculated (>10(3) L L(cell)(-1)). Higher accumulation rate constants were assessed in the cell wall free mutant, indicating a protective role of the cell wall in limiting Ag(+) uptake. The bioavailability of AgNP was calculated to be low in both strains relative to Ag(+), suggesting that AgNP internalization across the cell membrane was limited.