Role of Monoubiquitylation on the Control of IκBα Degradation and NF-κB Activity

9 p.

Surface Expression and Subunit Specific Control of Steady Protein Levels by the Kv7.2 Helix A-B Linker

12 p.

Activación de aldehídos a,b-insaturados mediante aminocatálisis en procesos enantioselectivos. Cicloadiciones (3+2) y reacciones en cascada Michael/Henry

During the research that it is summarized in the present memory, the activation of enals via iminium ion catalysis in different transformations has been studied. Firstly, a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between stable azomethine ylides and a,b-unsaturated aldehydes catalyzed by a chiral imidazolidinone derivative has been optimized. Employing this methodology we have synthesized a large range of densely substituted pyrroloisoquinolines and pyrrolophthalazines with good yields and high values of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Moreover, a mechanistic study has been carried out based on DFT calculations and experimental data which have allowed us to propose that the (3+2) cycloaddition reaction follows a sequential Michael addition/Mannich cyclization pathway. The formation of the iminium ion as a result of the condensation between the a,b-unsaturated aldehyde and the catalyst plays an essential role, regarding both reactivity and stereoselectivity. On the other hand we have developed a methodology to carry out a cascade Michael/Henry reaction followed by a sequential dehydration. Starting from simple substrates (2-nitromethylacrilates and a,b-unsaturated aldehydes) and employing a prolinol-derivative catalyst a series of quiral nitrocyclohexadienes have been synthesized.

Progressive Decrease in the Potential Usefulness of Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine (4CMenB, Bexsero (R)) in Gipuzkoa, Northern Spain

The effectiveness of a vaccine is determined not only by the immunogenicity of its components, but especially by how widely it covers the disease-causing strains circulating in a given region. Because vaccine coverage varies over time, this study aimed to detect possible changes that could affect vaccine protection during a specific period in a southern European region. The 4CMenB vaccine is licensed for use in Europe, Canada, and Australia and is mainly directed against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. This vaccine contains four main immunogenic components: three recombinant proteins, FHbp, Nhba and NadA, and an outer membrane vesicle [PorA P1.4]. The allelic distribution of FHbp, Nhba, NadA, and PorA antigens in 82 invasive isolates (B and non-B serogroups) isolated from January 2008 to December 2013 were analyzed. 4CMenB was likely protective against 61.8% and 50% of serogroup B and non-B meningococci, respectively, in the entire period, but between 2012 and 2013, the predicted protection fell below 45% (42.1% for serogroup B isolates). The observed decreasing trend in the predicted protection during the 6 years of the study (X-2 for trend = 4.68, p=0.03) coincided with a progressive decrease of several clonal complexes (e. g., cc11, cc32 and cc41/44), which had one or more antigens against which the vaccine would offer protection.

On-demand generation and removal of alginate biocompatible microvalves for flow control in microfluidics

[EN] This paper describes, for the first time, the use of alginate hydrogels as miniaturised microvalves within microfluidic devices. These biocompatible and biodegradable microvalves are generated in situ and on demand, allowing for microfluidic flow control. The microfluidic devices were fabricated using an origami inspired technique of folding several layers of cyclic olefin polymer followed by thermocompression bonding. The hydrogels can be dehydrated at mild temperatures, 37◦C, to slightly open the microvalve and chemically erased using an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) solution, to completely open the channel, ensuring the reusability of the whole device and removal of damaged or defective valves for subsequent regeneration.