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Specific Point Mutations in the RRT5 Gene Modulate Fermentative Phenotypes of an Industrial Wine Yeast
No full textSaccharomyces cerevisiae is a yeast species of industrial importance due to its role in the production of several alcoholic beverages, including wine. During wine fermentation, S. cerevisiae must be able to cope with several stresses, such as limited nitrogen availability; nitrogen deficiencies in grape must could lead to stuck or sluggish fermentations, generating for the wine industry significant economic losses. A microbiological alternative to this problem is the generation of yeast strains with low nitrogen requirements for fermentation. In this context, it is important to study the natural diversity regarding adaptation to low nitrogen conditions, especially in terms of searching for beneficial alleles with potential industrial applications. In the present work, we validated the impact of specific SNPs present in the RRT5 gene in an industrial genetic background (T73 strain), analyzing both growth kinetics under microculture conditions and fermentative phenotypes in a larger volume. In this way, we were able to validate that these SNPs do indeed have an impact on the growth kinetics and fermentative capabilities of this strain, although the particular effect depends on the type of must used (synthetic or natural) and the nitrogen content (limiting or non-limiting). In particular, one mutation (601A>C) caused slower fermentation kinetics in the nitrogen-limited natural must but did not affect the ethanol produced or the amount of sugars consumed, in addition to producing more glycerol and consuming less phenylalanine, which could have a positive impact on the organoleptic properties of the wine produced and therefore an industrial potential. To our knowledge, this is the first work linking RRT5 to fermentative phenotypes, and the genetic variants validated could have industrial potential for the wine industry.This research was funded by ANID/FONDECYT [grant 1201104], ANID/FONDEF IDeA I+D [grant ID21I10198], and Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH)/Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Innovación y Creación [grant Proyecto AYUDANTE_DICYT 0824100MF_Ayudante] to C.M., and ANID/FONDECYT [grant 11220533] and ANID/FONDEF IDeA I+D [grant ID24I10027] to E.I.K.-P.Peer reviewe
Selenium Nanoparticles in Critical Illness—Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects
No full textSelenium (Se) has important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, plays an important role in the immune system through redox balance, and is part of selenoproteins. In patients who are critically ill, Se supplementation causes alterations in inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin, leukocyte count, albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammatory cytokines, and cholesterol. The decrease in Se levels leads to a reduction in the levels of various selenoenzymes, in particular glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P. These antioxidant selenoproteins play a protective role against the lipoperoxidation of cell membranes and also participate in the process of regulating the inflammatory response. Currently, there are no conclusive data that allow us to affirm the existence of a significant reduction in mortality with the use of Se in intensive care. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can be used as dietary supplements or therapeutic agents due to their low toxicity and better bioavailability compared to traditional Se supplementation. In this review, we focus on the current state of research on SeNPs and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as a therapy for patients who are seriously ill, without the toxic effects of other Se species.Peer reviewe
Optimization of the Full Hydrolysis of Babassu Oil by Combi-Lipases
No full textThe concept of combi-lipases is herein explored in the full hydrolysis of babassu oil. The commercially immobilized lipases from Candida antarctica (form B) (Novozym® 435), Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme® RM-IM), and Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme® TL-IM) were evaluated as single and combined biocatalysts by a mixture design with triangular surface. As a result, after evaluating the response desirability profiling for all biocatalysts, the best biocatalyst in the reaction was the combi-lipases composed of 75% of Lipozyme® RM-IM, 17% of Novozym® 435, and 8% of Lipozyme® TL-IM, reaching full hydrolysis (>99%) after 4 h of reaction. Subsequently, such combi-lipases were employed as biocatalysts in the optimization of the reaction in a shorter reaction time (3 h). After optimization by the Taguchi method, full hydrolysis (>99%) was reached under optimized reaction conditions (9 wt.% of biocatalyst content, 1:2 (oil/water), 40 °C, and 180 rpm). Under such conditions, the combi-lipases maintained 70% of their initial activity after 10 reaction cycles. The antimicrobial activity against some of the most common environmental bacteria of the obtained free fatty acids (FFAs) was also evaluated. The FFAs inhibited more than 90% of the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosus when using 10 mg FFAs/mL.We gratefully recognize the financial support from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Spanish Government) (PID2022-136535OB-I00). Airton A. Oliveira Jr thanks the Programa de Formação de Recursos Humanos—Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis/Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (PRH 31.1—ANP/Finep). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brazil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.Peer reviewe
Large-scale fabrication of green carbon quantum dots and its nanocomposite with TiO2 for enhanced photocatalytic oxidation of organic pollutants
No full textWe have successfully synthesized green carbon nanodots (CDs) on a large scale through catalytic hydrothermal carbonization, using apple and grape pomace as the primary carbon sources and KOH as a catalyst. The resulting nanodots are named ACD and GCD, respectively. We then created a nanocomposite by combining CDs and commercially available rutile TiO2 to enhance its photocatalytic and optical characteristics. Several analytical techniques were applied in the characterization of CDs and/or TiO2/CDs nanocomposites such as XRD, FTIR, IR, TEM, HRTEM, thermal analysis, spectrophotometric absorbance, and photoluminescence (PL). CDs exhibited a graphite structure with conjugated sp2 domains and surface functional groups of carboxylate and hydroxyl, showing an average particle size of approximately 4 nm. When CDs were incorporated into TiO2, they acted as a peptizing agent and led to a reduction in size, decreasing aggregations, and increasing stability. This resulted in a synergistic effect that enhanced the material’s electronic and photophysical properties. TEM images and XRD analysis indicate that the TiO2/CDs nanocomposites exhibit considerably reduced particle dimensions in the nanoscale, in contrast to the original micrometer-sized TiO2. To investigate the TiO2/CDs nanocomposites’ photocatalytic efficiency, we used malachite green (MG) as a pollutant model. The photocatalytic performance of rutile TiO2 increased by about 21% after synergistic action with CDs for MG photodegradation during 45 min of reaction under UV illumination. This enhancement of photocatalytic oxidation increased in a basic medium. The addition of CDs to TiO2 increased its absorption in the UV-visible light region. Superoxide radicals (O2•−) and positive holes (h+) were identified as the primary active species accountable for the effective photocatalytic degradation of MG by the TiO2/CDs nanocomposites.This work was supported by the University of Oviedo, The Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2020-113558RB-C41), and Gobierno del Principado de Asturias (GRUPIN-2021/50997).Peer reviewe
The architecture of the European-Mediterranean Lithosphere: a synthesis of the Re-Os evidence
No full textRhenium-depletion model ages (TRD) of sulfi des in peridotite xenoliths from the subcontinental mantle beneath central Spain (the Calatrava volcanic fi eld) reveal that episodes of mantle magmatism and/or metasomatism in the Iberia microplate were linked to crustal growth events, mainly during supercontinent assembly and/or breakup at ca. 1.8, 1.1, 0.9, 0.6, and 0.3 Ga. A synthesis of available in situ and whole-rock Os-isotope data on mantlederived peridotites shows that this type of mantle (maximum TRD of ca. 1.8 Ga) is widespread in the subcontinental mantle of Europe and Africa outboard from the Betics-Maghrebides-Appenines front. In contrast, the mantle enclosed within the Alpine domain records TRD as old as 2.6 Ga, revealing a previously unrecognized Archean domain or domains in the central and western Mediterranean. Our observations indicate that ancient fragments of subcontinental lithospheric mantle have played an important role in the development of the present architecture of the Mediterranean lithosphere.Financial support was provided by tre ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems, Villaseca González grant from Fundación Caja Madrid
convocatoria 2010, the Spanish "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación" grant CGL201O-14848, Junta de Andalucia research grants RNM-131 and 2009RNM4495, and the International Lithosphere Program (CC4-:MEDYNA)
Human Purkinje cells outperform mouse Purkinje cells in dendritic complexity and computational capacity
Get PDFPurkinje cells in the cerebellum are among the largest neurons in the brain and have been extensively investigated in rodents. However, their morphological and physiological properties remain poorly understood in humans. In this study, we utilized high-resolution morphological reconstructions and unique electrophysiological recordings of human Purkinje cells ex vivo to generate computational models and estimate computational capacity. An inter-species comparison showed that human Purkinje cell had similar fractal structures but were larger than those of mouse Purkinje cells. Consequently, given a similar spine density (2/μm), human Purkinje cell hosted approximately 7.5 times more dendritic spines than those of mice. Moreover, human Purkinje cells had a higher dendritic complexity than mouse Purkinje cells and usually emitted 2–3 main dendritic trunks instead of one. Intrinsic electro-responsiveness was similar between the two species, but model simulations revealed that the dendrites could process ~6.5 times (n = 51 vs. n = 8) more input patterns in human Purkinje cells than in mouse Purkinje cells. Thus, while human Purkinje cells maintained spike discharge properties similar to those of rodents during evolution, they developed more complex dendrites, enhancing computational capacity.We thank the NIH NeuroBioBank for providing post-mortem fixed human cerebellar cortex tissue samples; and we thank the Smith Family Foundation for their generous support towards providing and maintaining electrophysiological recording equipment at the Hebrew University. This research has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program for Research and Innovation under the Specific Grant Agreement No. 945539 (Human Brain Project SGA3) and Specific Grant Agreement No. 785907 (Human Brain Project SGA2). We acknowledge the use of Fenix Infrastructure resources, which are partially funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program through the ICEI project under the grant agreement No. 800858. Work supported by EBRAINS-Italy (IR00011) Project IR11EBRAINS-Italy- M4C2 Line 3.1 of the PNRR, Action 3.1.1– Funded by European Commission– NextGenerationEU (CUP B51E22000150006). We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing
Correction: Pollen signal of modern vegetation registered in surface soil samples along an elevation gradient from Iztaccíhuatl volcano, central Mexico
No full textIn the original published article, the affiliation'Doctorat en Ecologia, Ciències Ambientals i Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, c/ Diagonal 643,08028 Barcelona, Spain' for author "Erandi Rodríguez-Pérez" was missing.The original article has been corrected
Stock indicators in the GSA 6 (ICATMAR, 25-01)
Get PDF11 pages, 6 figures, 1 tableIn this document, we summarize the available information about the species of interest in the MAP, and specifically about European hake as the most vulnerable species, that can orient the discussion about the current state of the stocks besides the available stock assessments, in view of the coming benchmark processWith the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)Peer reviewe
Assessment tool addresses implementation challenges of ecosystem-based management principles in marine spatial planning processes
Get PDF12 pages, 5 figures, supplementary information https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01975-7.-- Data availability: The EB-MSP assessment tool is available as a web app at https://aztidata.es/EB-MSP. A dedicated video tutorial on the use of the tool can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14209518. The data underlying this article are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14169488Ecosystem-based marine spatial planning is an approach to managing maritime activities while ensuring human well-being and biodiversity conservation as key pillars for sustainable development. Here, we use a comprehensive literature review and a co-development process with experts to build an assessment framework and tool that integrates the fundamental principles of an ecosystem approach to management and translates them into specific actions to be undertaken during planning processes. We illustrate the potential of this tool through the evaluation of two national marine spatial plans (Spain and France), in consultation with the representatives involved in their development and implementation. To ensure more coherent future planning, socio-ecological system evolution in a climate change scenario and the future marine space needs of maritime sectors should be considered, as well as improving the governance structure and knowledge of ecosystem processes. This framework provides a consistent and transparent assessment method for practitioners and competent authoritiesThis research was funded by the MarinePlan project “Improved transdisciplinary science for effective ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning and conservation in European Seas”; Horizon Europe grant agreement No 101059407; UKRI grant numbers 10038951 & 10050537. M. Bas was supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and NextGenerationEU/PRTR, Grant no. FJC2020-043762-I. M. Bas acknowledges the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S). This research is also part of the Integrated Marine Ecosystem Assessments (iMARES) research group funded by Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Generalitat de Catalunya) Grant no. 2021 SGR 00435. T. Morato was supported by the FCT-IP Programs Stimulus of Scientific Employment (CCCIND/03345/2020) and Institutional Funding (UIDB/05634/2020 and UIDP/05634/2020), and the Azores Government (Contract 18/DRPM/2022 ACORES-14-62G4-FEDER-000001)Peer reviewe
