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Bioinformatic prediction and experimental verification of Fur-regulated genes in the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

ABSTRACT: The γ-proteobacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans lives in extremely acidic conditions (pH 2) and, unlike most organisms, is confronted with an abundant supply of soluble iron. It is also unusual in that it oxidizes iron as an energy source. Consequently, it faces the challenging dual problems of (i) maintaining intracellular iron homeostasis when confronted with extremely high environmental loads of iron and (ii) of regulating the use […]

Low awareness of the link between science and innovation affects public policies in developing countries: The Chilean case

ABSTRACT: Developing countries share disbelief about the benefits of the endogenous production of science as a tool for economical growth. Hence, public policies to strengthen science and technology and promote the culture of innovation are, in general, weak and sometimes incoherent. Patenting has become not only an icon to protect discoveries which can yield profits […]

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding a CBF transcription factor from E. globulus

ABSTRACT: The transcription factors CBF/DREB play an important role during low temperature, drought and high-salt stress in higher plants. In this work, we isolated one full-length CBF cDNA clone from the angiosperm Eucalyptus globulus. The derived peptide sequence reveals that it encodes a transcriptional activator that has all the characteristic motifs present in CBF proteins previously described […]

Marking Histone H3 Variants: How, when and why?

ABSTRACT: DNA in eukaryotic cells is compacted into chromatin, a regular repeated structure in which the nucleosome represents the basic unit. The nucleosome not only serves to compact the genetic material but also provides information that affects nuclear functions including DNA replication, repair and transcription. This information is conveyed through numerous combinations of histone post-translational […]

The CK1 gene family: expression patterning in zebrafish development

ABSTRACT: Protein kinase CK1 is a ser/thr protein kinase family which has been identified in the cytosol cell fraction, associated with membranes as well as in the nucleus. Several isoforms of this gene family have been described in various organisms: CK1, CK1, CK1, CK1 and CK1. Over the last decade, several members of this family […]

Expression of a novel non-coding mitochondrial RNA in human proliferating cells

ABSTRACT: Previously, we reported the presence in mouse cells of a mitochondrial RNA which contains an inverted repeat (IR) of 121 nucleotides (nt) covalently linked to the 5’ end of the mitochondrial 16S RNA (16S mtrRNA). Here, we report the structure of an equivalent transcript of 2374nt which is over-expressed in human proliferating cells but […]

Immune complex-induced enhancement of bacterial antigen presentation requires FcУ Receptor III expression on dendritic cells

ABSTRACT: Dendritic cells (DCs) are capable of initiating adaptive immune responses against infectious agents by presenting pathogen- derived antigens on MHC molecules to naïve T cells. Because of their key role in priming adaptive immunity, it is expected that interfering with DC function would be advantageous to the pathogen. We have previously shown that Salmonella […]

The emergence of neurotransmitters as immune modulators

ABSTRACT: Initially, the idea that neurotransmitters could serve as immunomodulators emerged with the discovery that their release and diffusion from nervous tissue could lead to signaling through lymphocyte cell-surface receptors and the modulation of immune function. It is now evident that neurotransmitters can also be released from leukocytes and act as autocrine or paracrine modulators. […]

Role of glutamate on T-cell mediated immunity

ABSTRACT: The pivotal role that glutamate plays in the functioning of the central nervous system is well established. Several glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters have been extensively described in the central nervous system where they, respectively mediate glutamate effects and regulates extracellular glutamate levels. Recent studies have shown that glutamate not only has a role […]

Selective autophagy of the endoplasmic reticulum

ABSTRACT: Throughout their life, cells must maintain homeostasis while facing constantly fluctuating demands on their different organelles. A major mechanism for the homeostatic control of organelle function is the unfolded protein response (UPR), a signaling pathway that triggers a comprehensive remodeling of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the biosynthetic pathway according to need. We discovered […]

Matus S, Burgos PV, Bravo-Zehnder M, Kraft R, Porras OH, Farías P, Barros LF, Torrealba F, Massardo L, Jacobelli S, González A. (2007). Antiribosomal-P autoantibodies from psychiatric lupus target a novel neuronal surface protein causing calcium influx and apoptosis. J Exp Med. 2007 Dec 24;204(13):3221-34.

PTMs on H3 variants before chromatin assembly potentiate their final epigenetic state

ABSTRACT: Histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) and sequence variants regulate genome function. Although accumulating evidence links particular PTM patterns with specific genomic loci, our knowledge concerning where and when these PTMs are imposed remains limited. Here, we find that lysine methylation is absent prior to histone incorporation into chromatin, except at H3K9. Nonnucleosomal H3.1 and H3.3 show distinct enrichments in […]

Autophagy counterbalances endoplasmic reticulum expansion during the unfolded protein response

ABSTRACT: The protein folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is regulated by the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR senses unfolded proteins in the ER lumen and transmits that information to the cell nucleus, where it drives a transcriptional program that is tailored to re-establish homeostasis. Using thin section electron microscopy, we found that […]

Eisosomes mark static sites of endocytosis

ABSTRACT: Endocytosis functions to recycle plasma membrane components, to regulate cell-surface expression of signalling receptors and to internalize nutrients in all eukaryotic cells. Internalization of proteins, lipids and other cargo can occur by one of several pathways that have different, but often overlapping, molecular requirements1–5. To mediate endocytosis, effectors assemble transiently underneath the plasma membrane, carry out the […]

A vaccine against the salmonid pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis based on recombinant proteins

ABSTRACT: We report here the protective effect against piscirickettsiosis elicited in fish by a mixture of recombinant proteins. A comparative genomics strategy was used on a genomic library of Piscirickettsia salmonis in order to select optimal candidates for a recombinant subunit vaccine to protect fish from rickettsial septicaemia (SRS). Based on this information, 15 P. […]