Search

The professional profiles of future scientists need to undergo a deep and rapid change to address recent advances in biomedical sciences and the social and environmental contexts in which we currently live. For instance, they have to be trained to be able to develop innovative and creative strategies for solving complex problems under a responsible research and innovation (RRI) perspective. Training these competencies should start during higher education. We propose a hybrid activity combining flipped classroom, project-based learning, and the jigsaw technique to employ transversal skills in a complex and real-world context. We found that this combination motivates students' self-learning processes overall, with the development of competencies such as creativity, teamwork, and oral communication. Further, it trains them for the real-world challenges they might face in their future professional careers. Notably, the combined activity increases both motivation and acquisition of knowledge needed to pass the subject more than the conventional learning. Introduction of the hybrid activity also allows the students to develop competencies that are not otherwise trained in classical approaches, including linking concepts from different subjects, creativity, and critical thinking.

This document titled "From the archives: Tales from evolution—inflorescence diversity, gene duplication, and chromatin-mediated gene regulation" discusses three different studies related to plant biology. The first study focuses on the diversity of inflorescence (flower) architecture in strawberries and its impact on fruit quality. The second study explores the role of gene duplication in generating genetic diversity and climate adaptations in plants. The third study investigates chromatin-mediated gene regulation and its importance in plant development. These studies provide valuable insights into evolutionary processes, agricultural practices, and genetic engineering in plants. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the journal Plant Cell, discusses the importance of amino acid homeostasis in plant biology and the role of amino acid transporters in regulating the distribution of amino acids within cells and between cellular compartments. The authors focus on a specific family of amino acid transporters called UMAMIT, which have been identified as potential amino acid exporters. The study provides evidence that UMAMIT44 is the main player involved in the export of glutamate from the chloroplast in Arabidopsis plants. The researchers demonstrate the biological relevance of glutamate export by UMAMIT44 and its impact on plant growth and metabolism. This study contributes to our understanding of amino acid biology and has implications for potential applications in metabolic engineering. [Extracted from the article]

The professional profiles of future scientists need to undergo a deep and rapid change to address recent advances in biomedical sciences and the social and environmental contexts in which we currently live. For instance, they have to be trained to be able to develop innovative and creative strategies for solving complex problems under a responsible research and innovation (RRI) perspective. Training these competencies should start during higher education. We propose a hybrid activity combining flipped classroom, project-based learning, and the jigsaw technique to employ transversal skills in a complex and real-world context. We found that this combination motivates students' self-learning processes overall, with the development of competencies such as creativity, teamwork, and oral communication. Further, it trains them for the real-world challenges they might face in their future professional careers. Notably, the combined activity increases both motivation and acquisition of knowledge needed to pass the subject more than the conventional learning. Introduction of the hybrid activity also allows the students to develop competencies that are not otherwise trained in classical approaches, including linking concepts from different subjects, creativity, and critical thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxane diterpenes are secondary metabolites with an important pharmacological role in the treatment of cancer. Taxus spp. biofactories have been used for taxane production, but the lack of knowledge about the taxane biosynthetic pathway and its molecular regulation hinders their optimal function. The difficulties in introducing foreign genes in Taxus spp. genomes hinder the study of the molecular mechanisms involved in taxane production, and a new approach is required to overcome them. In this study, a reliable, simple and fast method to obtain Taxus  ×  media protoplasts was developed, allowing their manipulation in downstream assays for the study of physiological changes in Taxus spp. cells. Using this method, Taxus protoplasts were transiently transfected for the first time, corroborating their suitability for transfection assays and the study of specific physiological responses. The two assayed transcription factors (BIS2 and TSAR2) had a positive effect on the expression of several taxane-related genes, suggesting their potential use for the improvement of taxane yields. Furthermore, the results indicate that the developed method is suitable for obtaining T.  ×  media protoplasts for transfection with the aim of unraveling regulatory mechanisms in taxane production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cell biofactories represent a promising solution to the increasing demand for plant-derived compounds, but there are still limiting factors that prevent optimal production, including the loss of yield during in vitro maintenance. Our results reveal a clear correlation between genomic methylation levels and a progressive decline in taxane production in Taxus spp. cell cultures. A comparative study of two cell lines, one 10 years old and low productive and the other new and high productive, revealed important differences in appearance, growth, taxane accumulation and expression levels of several taxane biosynthetic genes. Differences in taxane content and gene expression profile indicate an altered pathway regulation and that the BAPT gene, located in the center of the expression network of taxane biosynthetic genes, is active in a potentially flux-limiting step. The methylation patterns of the BAPT gene were studied in both cell lines by bisulfite sequencing, which revealed high rates of CHH methylated cytosines on the core promoter. Using a bioinformatics approach, this hotspot was identified as a Y-patch promoter element. The Y-patch may play a key role in the epigenetic regulation of the taxane biosynthetic pathway, which would open up novel genetic engineering strategies toward stable and high productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]