Phenotypic Characterization of the Arabidopsis ufm1 (Ubiquitin Fold Modifier) Gene Involved in Seed Development

Background and Objective: With the completion of the Arabidopsis genome sequencing, the next challenge is the determination ofgene function. Post-translational modifications of proteins by small polypeptide are implicated in plant growth and development.Ubiquitin fold modifier 1 is a member of the ubiquitin like protein family. While, the enzymatic conjugation cascade of ubiquitin foldmodifier 1 has been elucidated in recent years, its biological role is still unknown. The present study focuses in elucidate the role of theufm1 in plants development. Materials and Methods: The researchers performed analyses of the development of wild-type Columbiaplants and mutants of the ubiquitin fold modifier 1 gene to identify and interpret phenotypic changes in plants and seeds. Data werestatistically analyzed with the Info Stat software. Results: In this study, evidence suggesting that ubiquitin fold modifier 1 is involved inthe normal development of the seeds. Conclusion: The ufm1 gene would affect the normal development of the seed, particularly of theembryo, causing high percentage of seed abortion.Fil: Cornejo, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Masuelli, Ricardo Williams. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; Argentin

Hydrodynamic properties of whole arabic gum

The most economically important of the hydrodynamic properties of a material are viscosity and density, which allow determining the intrinsic viscosity of raw materials used in the food industry. They serve as an indirect measure of molecular weight (M), hydrodynamic radius (RH), number of Simha, (ν(P)), Perrin parameter (P); hydration value (δ), Scheraga-Mandelkern parameter (β), and Flory parameters (0 and P0). Normally, these parameters are reported at a temperature of 25ºC, which limits their use at different temperatures. This work studies the temperature-dependence of whole arabic gum (WAG) in aqueous solution, finding that in aqueous solution, this biopolymer presents a random coil shape with ν(p) ≈ 2.55. The behavior of WAG in this system indicates that it behaves as a colloidal particle that tends to compact as temperature increases (RH decrease). The M of WAG calculated here are 760000 g/mol. The Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation constants, a and k, for WAG in water solvent-temperature systems have been reported already, where the value of a ranges from 0.5496 to 0.5085 within a temperature range of 20 to 50°C.Fil: Masuelli, Martin Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia. Catedra de Quimica Fisica; Argentin

Study of Bovine Serum Albumin Solubility in Aqueous Solutions by Intrinsic Viscosity Measurements

The behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in water is scarcely studied, and the thermodynamic properties arising from the experimental measurements have not been reported. Intrinsic viscosity measurements are very useful in assessing the interaction between the solute and solvent. This work discussed in a simple determination of the enthalpy of BSA in aqueous solution when the concentration ranges from 0.2 to 36.71% wt. and the temperature from 35 to 40ºC. The relationship between the concentration and intrinsic viscosity is determined according to the method of Huggins. The temperature increase reduces the ratio between inherent viscosity and concentration (/). This is reflected in the Van't Hoff curve. Furthermore, this work proposes hydrodynamic cohesion value as an indicator of the degree of affinity of protein with water and thermodynamic implications in conformational changes.Fil: Masuelli, Martin Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Departamento de Qui­mica; Argentin

Dextrans in Aqueous Solution. Experimental Review on Intrinsic Viscosity Measurements and Temperature Effect

The study of biopolymers as dextran in aqueous solution, is effectively determined by intrinsic viscosity [η] measurements at different temperatures. Molecular weight (Mv) and hydrodynamic properties can be calculated from there. The Mark-Houwink parameters indicate the dependence with temperature (T) in the range from 20 to 50ºC, ie with increasing T a increases and kM-H decreases. These hydrodynamic parameters show that these polysaccharides behave as a compact rigid sphere and contract by the increase of temperature (RH decreases) for the Mw range from 8.8 to 200kDa.Fil: Masuelli, Martin Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Quimica, Bioquimica y Farmacia. Departamento de Quimica; Argentin

Mark-Houwink Parameters for Aqueous-Soluble Polymers and Biopolymers at Various Temperatures

The intrinsic viscosity measurements used to calculate the Mark-Houwink (M-H) parameters are generally performed for different molecular weights at a constant temperature, with the standard value of this temperature being 25°C, or else 37°C in the case of mammalian proteins, or else under theta conditions for polymers and biopolymers. In the polymer industry, polysaccharides and proteins must circulate through pipes during transport processes where pumps have a very high-energy expenditure and where temperatures must be greatly increased, and at this point calculation of the Mark-Houwink parameters becomes important. The M-H parameters are calculated at standardized temperatures and in many cases, these are not useful because of the errors they carry, and it then becomes very difficult to calculate the molecular weight. It is therefore necessary to know the change in molecular weight as evidence of a change in the product obtained, as this may create a need to halt the production process, transport, or extrusion. The basic criterion is that the molecular weight does not change with temperature, or at least within one discrete range of temperatures, but that there is hydrodynamic change (intrinsic viscosity). The method is simple and requires iterative mathematical processing and measurement of intrinsic viscosity at different temperatures. Keywords: intrinsicFil: Masuelli, Martin Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentin

Evaluation of genotypic homogeneity in olive nurseries using molecular markers

La difusión de variedades tradicionales de olivo (Olea europea L.) y la obtención de nuevas variantes fenotípicas han generado confusión en la correcta identificación y denominación de algunas de las aprox. 2 000 variedades conocidas a nivel mundial. En la Argentina, en los últimos años se ha triplicado la superficie implantada con olivo principalmente a partir de plantas de viveros locales e importadas. Con el fin de evaluar la homogeneidad genotípica del material comercializado en Mendoza, se probaron 7 marcadores RAPD altamente reproducibles en muestras de 5 viveros, correspondientes a 5 variedades de olivo. Los marcadores RAPD fueron previamente desarrollados para caracterizar las variedades del INTA Junín. Arbequina y Arauco fueron los materiales más homogéneos. En ambas variedades, todos los individuos compartieron el 100 % de los marcadores utilizados. Los lotes de muestras de Empeltre, Farga y Aloreña no fueron genotípicamente homogéneos, observándose 2-3 patrones diferentes por lote. Todas las variedades ensayadas -en alguna de sus muestras- tuvieron diferencias con su respectiva variedad del INTA Junín. Arbequina y Arauco también compartieron el 100 % de marcadores entre sí, no pudiéndose separar ambos grupos.Approx. 2 000 olive (Olea europea L.) varieties are known in the world. Due to the commerce, promotion of old varieties and the development of new phenotypic variants, a situation of uncertainty exists regarding the correct identification and denomination of some cultivars. In the last years the Argentine olive-cultivated area has been triple folded. Most of the plant materials came from local nurseries and some from importation. In order to test the genotypic homogeneity of the materials commercialized by the local nurseries, plant samples from 5 of them were tested using 7 reproducible RAPD markers. These markers were previously developed for characterizing cultivars from the germplasm bank of INTA Junín. Only samples from cultivars Arbequina and Arauco showed complete homogeneity regarding the markers assayed. Samples from cultivars Empeltre, Farga and Aloreña were not genotypically homogeneous, showing from 2 to 3 different RAPD patterns per lot of samples. All the varieties tested from the nurseries, showed differences with their respective varieties from INTA Junín, for at least 1 of the samples. Arbequina and Arauco also shared 100 % of the markers between them. Therefore it was not possible to distinguish one from the other by the use of these markers.Fil: Cavagnaro, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias BiológicasFil: Masuelli, Ricardo W.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias Biológica

Optimization of RAPD analysis for identification of olive varieties

Entre las técnicas moleculares, RAPD-PCR es una de las más rápidas y operativamente simple para la caracterización de cultivares. Sin embargo, la confiabilidad de sus resultados radica, en gran parte, en la optimización previa de variables que pueden afectar los patrones de amplificación. Se investigó la repetibilidad de patrones RAPD de olivo bajo diferentes condiciones experimentales. Entre ellas, la pureza del ADN, el tipo de Taq ADN-polimerasa, las concentraciones de Mg+2 y dNTPs, el uso de tejidos atacados por patógenos y el uso de diferentes termocicladores, modificaron los patrones de bandas. Por el contrario, pequeñas modificaciones de la temperatura de apareamiento de cebadores, la concentración del ADN molde y la edad de los tejidos vegetales de los cuales se aisló ADN, no afectaron los patrones amplificados.RAPD-PCR, although a relatively fast and simple technique for cultivar characterization, is influenced by several parameters that need to be optimized prior using it as a routine identification methodology. The repeatability of olive RAPD patterns was investigated under different PCR conditions. Among the conditions tested the quality of the DNA, the Taq DNA polymerase source, changes in Mg2+ and dNTPs concentration, pathogen infestation of olive tissues and different thermocyclers could alter the RAPD patterns. In contrast, small changes in the temperature of annealing, the DNA concentration and the age of tissues from which DNA is isolated did not affect the amplification patterns.Fil: Cavagnaro, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias BiológicasFil: Masuelli, Ricardo W.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias Biológica

Advances in genetic breeding for processing tomatoes

de mejora genética en tomate para industria, asistido por marcadores moleculares, con el objetivo principal de generar cultivares autopolinizadas, especialmente orientadas a pequeños productores, como opción al uso de cultivares híbridas, resistentes a nematodos (Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria y M. javanica), peste negra (TSWV) y peca del tomate (Pseudomonas tomato syringae pv. tomato). En el proceso de mejora se siguió el método de retrocruza y selección genealógica. Las determinaciones de marcadores moleculares fueron realizadas por el Laboratorio de Biología Molecular INTA-Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (UNCuyo). Las líneas avanzadas fueron evaluadas en el Programa Tomate 2000, con testigos híbridos difundidos en el gran cultivo. De los materiales evaluados a 2010-11, se han identificado homocigotos para resistencia combinada a nematodos y peste negra; igualmente para nematodos, peste negra y peca del tomate y homocigotos a nematodos, peste negra y peca del tomate. También se han determinado materiales heterocigotos en distintas combinaciones de los genes bajo estudio. Líneas avanzadas del programa de mejora, no arrojaron diferencias significativas con los testigos híbridos, en ensayos comparativos de rendimiento (kg·ha-1). Se analizan recomendaciones de cultivo y destino de los materiales.At the EEA La Consulta, INTA, a molecular assisted breeding program for processing tomatoes started in 2001 with the aim to generate self-pollinated cultivars, specially oriented for small growers. One of the main objectives of breeding program is the introduction of resistance to nematodes (Meloidoyne incognita, M. arenaria y M. javanica), tomato spotted wild virus (TSWV) and, tomato speck (Pseudomonas tomato syringae pv. tomato) as an alternative to use foreign and expensive hybrids cultivars. Breeding lines were obtained by pedigree and backcross selection methods.fake watches Early selection of resistant plants was done using molecular markers linked to nematode and TSWV. Molecular marker determinations were performed by the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the INTA-Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (UNCuyo). Advanced breeding lines were tested against commercial hybrids in the Tomato 2000 Program. From all the materials evaluated up to 2010-11,a cartier replica we have identified homozygous lines that combine resistance to nematodes and tomato spotted wilt virus; homozygous lines that combine resistance to nematodes, tomato spotted wilt virus and tomato speck and homozygous lines resistant to nematodes, tomato spotted wilt virus and tomato speck (in separate genotypes). Also, heterozygous lines in different combinations for the genes under study. In comparative trials,fake watches the yiel (kg·ha-1) of the new lines did not have significant differences from controls. Horticultural recommendations are discussed.Fil: Gallardo, G. S.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Cuyo Mendoza-San Juan. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina;Fil: Masuelli, Ricardo Williams. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Mendoza. Instituto de Biologia Agricola de Mendoza; Argentina; Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Cuyo Mendoza-San Juan. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina;Fil: Ferrer, S,. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Mendoza. Instituto de Biologia Agricola de Mendoza; Argentina; Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Cuyo Mendoza-San Juan. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina

(±)-Gossypol induces apoptosis and autophagy in head and neck carcinoma cell lines and inhibits the growth of transplanted salivary gland cancer cells in BALB/c mice

Racemic Gossypol [(±)-GOS], composed of both (-)-GOS and (+)-GOS, is a small BH3-mimetic polyphenol derived from cotton seeds. (±)-GOS has been employed and well tolerated by cancer patients. Head and neck carcinoma (HNC) represents one of the most fatal cancers worldwide, and a significant proportion of HNC expresses high levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that (±)-GOS inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis and autophagy of human pharynx, tongue, and salivary gland cancer cell lines and of mouse salivary gland cancer cells (SALTO). (±)-GOS was able to: (a) decrease the ErbB2 protein expression; (b) inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT; (c) stimulate p38 and JNK1/2 protein phosphorylation. (±)-GOS administration was safe in BALB/c mice and it reduced the growth of transplanted SALTO cells in vivo and prolonged mice median survival. Our results suggest the potential role of (±)-GOS as an antitumor agent in HNC patients

Epigenetic consequences of interploidal hybridisation in synthetic and natural interspecific potato hybrids

Interploidal hybridisation can generate changes in plant chromosome numbers, which might exert effects additional to the expected due to genome merger per se (i.e., genetic, epigenetic and phenotypic novelties).Wild potatoes are suitable to address this question in an evolutionary context. To this end, we performed genetic (AFLP and SSR), epigenetic (MSAP), and cytological comparisons in: i) natural populations of the diploid cytotype of the hybrid taxonomic species Solanum x rechei (2n=2x, 3x) and its parental species, the triploid cytotype of Solanum microdontum (2n=2x, 3x) and Solanum kurtzianum (2n=2x); and ii) newly synthesised intraploidal (2x x 2x) and interploidal (3x x 2x) S. microdontum x S. kurtzianum hybrids.Aneuploidy was detected in S. x rechei and the synthetic interploidal progeny; this phenomenon might have originated the significantly higher number of methylation changes observed in the interploidal vs. the intraploidal hybrids. The wide epigenetic variability induced by interploidal hybridisation is consistent with the novel epigenetic pattern established in S. x rechei compared to its parental species in nature.These results suggest that aneuploid potato lineages can persist throughout the short term, and possibly medium term, and that differences in parental ploidy resulting in aneuploidy are an additional source of epigenetic variation.Fil: Cara, Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Ferrer, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Masuelli, Ricardo Williams. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Camadro, Elsa Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Marfil, Carlos Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza; Argentin