Santiago Martín-Bravo

Geographical speciation related to Pleistocene range shifts in the western Mediterranean mountains (Reseda sect. Glaucoreseda, Resedaceae)

6 pages, 4 figures, 17 references.-- Trabajo presentado al 7th International Workshop on Sap Flow, celebrado del 21-24 de octubre 2008, en Sevilla, Espana.This research has been supported in part by the “Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia”, Spain, (VIN00-036-C6-3, RF02-004-C5-2, HP2000-0032, VIN03-002-C6-3). The Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Pontevedra also provided a research grant.Presentacion con 38 diapositivas ; Conferencia invitada ; ECLA 2016: Gas on the rock, CSIC, Madrid, Spain, 21-25 Nov. 2016El objetivo perseguido en este trabajo ha sido avanzar y profundizar en el conocimiento de la ruta de degradacion del acido fenilacetico (PA) en Escherichia coli W En primer lugar se ha caracterizado la segunda etapa en la degradacion de PA, la transformacion de PA en fenilacetil-CoA (PA-CoA). Se ha demostrado por una parte, que los genes paaABCDE son todos necesarios para la hidroxilacion del anillo aromatico de PA-CoA, primer intermediario de la ruta, y por otro lado, que esta hidroxilacion es dependiente de oxigeno. En segundo lugar se han estudiado el gen paaX, que codifica un represor que controla la expresion de los genes catabolicos. En este trabajo se ha confirmado que la proteina PaaX tambien esta implicada en la represion de su propia expresion, y se ha observado que el PA-CoA es el inductor del sistema. La proteina PaaX es capaz de competir y desplazar la union de la RNA polimerasa a la zona promotora. Se ha observado que los promotores de la ruta de degradacion del PA no se pueden activar en anaerobiosis, porque no puede sintetizarse PA-CoA, ya que la PA-CoA ligasa pierde rapidamente su actividad en ausencia de oxigeno. En tercer lugar se ha estudiado la funcion del gen paaY que se encuentra contiguo al gen paaX La ausencia del gen paaY retrasa de forma significativa el crecimiento de E. coli en PA pero solo cuando esta presente el represor PaaX. Ademas las celulas deficientes en este gen no son capaces de activar de forma efectiva la ruta paa cuando la bacteria utiliza unicamente PA como fuente de energia. La proteina PaaY se ha hiperexpresado y purificado, comprobandose que es una metaloenzima trimerica que presenta actividad tioesterasa sobre algunos compuestos derivados de CoA.8 paginas.-- 3 figuras.-- 1 tabla.-- 23 referencias.-- Comunicacion oral presentada en Geothermal biology and geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park: Proceeding of the Thermal Biology Institute workshop, Yellowstone National Park, WY, October 2003This paper was made possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (Research Project BHA2003-04414-C03-01).Recientemente se ha sintetizado en nuestro laboratorio el primer oxido mixto de cobre y plata. Tal sintesis ha sido posible gracias a la utilizacion de metodos de quimica suave y baja temperatura, que impiden que los oxidos de plata se descompongan. En este trabajo se describe el estudio llevado a cabo sobre el comportamiento electroquimico del oxido mixto de cobre y plata, Ag2Cu2O3 ,mediante voltametria ciclica y electrolisis tanto para los procesos de oxidacion como de reduccion. Dicho compuesto sufre varios procesos redox cuando es reducido, obteniendose plata metalica y cobre metalico como productos finales, sin que se de regeneracion del oxido al volver a oxidar a estos. En cambio al ser oxidado el Ag2Cu2O3, se observa la formacion de una fase oxidada de estequiometria Ag2Cu2O4�}� a partir de la cual se puede regenerar el compuesto original.Con el desarrollo de la biologia molecular, la produccion de proteinas en sistemas heterologos ha cobrado gran importancia en el campo de la biotecnologia. La posibilidad de purificar e inmovilizar estas proteinas recombinantes representan una ventaja importante para su aplicacion en procesos industriales o en el desarrollo de productos biotecnologicos. Por ello, el uso de polipeptidos de afinidad, mas conocidos como tags, que proporcionan caracteristicas determinadas a las proteinas de fusion es una tecnologia ampliamente utilizada tanto en investigacion basica como en procesos industriales. En esta Tesis se ha trabajado con dos sistemas muy ventajosos que permiten purificar e inmovilizar proteinas de fusion en soportes solidos utilizando dos tipos de tags: - El ChBD, tag de afinidad que reconoce colina y otros compuestos analogos, permiten purificar en un unico paso de cromatografico utilizando un soporte muy economico, la DEAE-celulosa. Ademas ofrece la posibilidad de inmovilizar dichas proteinas en papel de DEAE-celulosa manteniendo su funcionalidad. - BioF, un nuevo tag disenado en esta Tesis, que permite obtener proteinas de fusion inmovilizadas en granulos de polihidroxialcanoato de cadena media, un soporte solido biodegradable y biocompatible conocido como bioplastico. Las proteinas de fusion asociadas a estos granulos pueden purificarse con ellos mediante una sencilla centrifugacion y, si es necesario, liberarse en solucion mediante tratamientos suaves. En esta Memoria se han determinado distintas caracteristicas de dichos tags se han disenado las herramientas biotecnologicas necesarias para su utilizacion. Ademas se han realizado proteinas de fusion que demuestran la funcionalidad de ambos tags. Entre las proteinas obtenidas, es relevante destacar, por su interes industrial, la DAO-ChBD, con actividad D-aminoacido oxidasa y la ChBD-Pyr, con actividad pirofosfatasa. Tambien seIn Possibilistic Decision Theory (PDT), decisions are ranked by a pressimistic or by an optimistic qualitative criteria. The preference relations induced by these criteria have been axiomatized by corresponding sets of rationality postulates, both a la von Neumann and Morgenstern and a la Savage. In this paper we first address a particular issue regarding the axiomatic systems of PDT a la von Neumann and Morgenstern. Namely, we show how to adapt the axiomatic systems for the pessimistic and optimistic criteria when some finiteness assumptions in the original model are dropped. Second, we show that a recent axiomatic approach by Giang and Shenoy using binary utilities can be captured by preference relations defined as lexicographic refinements of the above two criteria. We also provide an axiomatic characterization of these lexicographic refinements.The southwestern margin of the Iberian Peninsula hosts the present-day convergent boundary between the European and African Plates. Plate convergence is about 4 mm/yr and is accommodated over a wide and diffuse deformation zone (Sartori et al. 1994) characterized by significant and widespread seismic activity (e.g. Grimison & Chen 1986; Buforn et al. 1995; Stich et al. 2005), being the source of the largest events in Western Europe, such as the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami (estimated Moment Magnitude Mw 8.5) (Abe 1989; Johnston 1996; Baptista et al. 1998) and 1969 Horseshoe Earthquake (Mw 7.8) (Fukao 1973; Stich et al. 2005) (Fig. 1).Application of Isotopic analysis in archaeometallurgy research Isotopic analysis of archaeological metals plays a key role in provenance and trade/exchange studies. These analytical techniques were developed originally in the field of Earth Sciences for the study of rocks and minerals, but since the 60s of the XX century have also been used for the analysis of many ancient materials (metals, glass and glazed pottery). Of particular interest for tracing the provenance of metals is lead (Pb). Depending on age, type and geochemical composition of the ore source, different isotopic compositions are found. Due to isotopic ratios not changing through the metallurgical processes (smelting and melting), the isotopic fingerprint of one metal can be linked with the ore sources. Recent investigations with Cu, Sn and Os isotopes provide new paths for the study of the metals provenance.Financial support of the DGES (Project PB97-1046) and DGI (Project BOS2000-0296-C03-01) of Spain is kindly acknowledged.Trabajo presentado por Yolanda Aguilera Gutierrez para optar al grado de Doctor y que ha sido realizado en el Departamento de Quimica Agricola de la Facultad de Ciencias de la UAM.En esta Tesis Doctoral se caracterizan las dos proteinas MFP1 (MAR-blinding Filament-like Protein 1) nucleares de Allum cepa mediante inmunodeteccion e inmunoprecipitacion con dos sueros desarrollados contra las proteinas de tomate y Arabidopsis. AcMFP1-78KDa es una proteina constitutiva con un pl ligeramente acido (5,5), y se distribuye en distintos subdominios nucleares en funcion del tipo celular y el tejido. Mediante microscopia electronica se ha demostrado que lo hace en pequenos dominios localizados preferentemente en la periferia de las masas de heterocromatina densa. Posee ademas una doble localizacion subcelular, localizados en los cloroplastos con un patron de distribucion similar al de MFP1 en otras especies. El segundo homologo, de 90 Kda y al basico (8,5-9,5), posee distintos estados de fosforilacion que influyen en su union a la matriz nuclear, habiendose demostrado que la Caseina kinasa CK2 endogena puede regular dicha union. AcMFP1-90KDa se acumula en cuerpos nucleares cuyo numero se incrementa por la proliferacion celular y la presencia de luz. Tambien se distribuye por el reticulo de la matriz nuclear, asociada a los filamentos del nucleoesqueleto. Estudios de co-localizacion demuestran que las proteinas AcMFP1 no forman parte de los complejos de replicacion, los de procesamiento co-transcripcional, los granulos intercromatinicos ni los Cuerpos de Cajal. Las distintas caracteristicas y patrones de distribucion y expresion de ambas proteinas sugieren funciones diferentes, o al menos distintas formas de regulacion. Los resultados sugieren una interaccion de AcMFP1-78KDa con la eucromatina, y una funcion estructural en la matriz nuclear para AcMFP1-90KDa.6 pages, 5 figures, 18 references. Electronic Newsletter. CSIC Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage and Network on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla, CSIC, Apartado de Correos 1052, 41080 Sevilla (Spain)This paper deals with three main aspects os the imagery of youth in Hellenistic Iberia. First, I study the iconography of vegetation and flowers associated with juvenile vigour and with the gods, as expressed in vase scenes from San Miguel de Liria or La Alcudia de Elche. Second, I analyze the ideal of the young leader or prince, spread in Iberia by the Barcids and especially by Hannibal and, later, by the Roman conquerors, exemplified by Publius Cornelius Scipio). I point to the function fulfilled by the youth in political pacts, via amicitia and fides. Literary and numismatic sources, emphasizing the Carthago Nova mint, are also studied. Finally, I refer to the representation of a duel by youths, as in the case of the sculptured monument at Osuna (Seville), and put forward the hypothesis of a ritualization of war in festivals, in which young men and women take part, although I leave this last part open to further debate.espanolSe estudio el efecto de la contaminacion con altas cantidades de un residuo compuesto de isomeros de 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexaclorociclohexano (HCHs) (10, 50 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo) sobre la densidad en el suelo de microorganismos heterotrofos, algas y cianobacterias fijadoras de N2 , sobre algunos microorganismos implicados en los ciclos de C y N (amonificantes, amiloliticos, y celuloliticos) asi como sobre la capacidad de las comunidades microbianas edaficas para degradar varios sustratos carbonados (perfiles fisiologicos de las comunidades microbianas, CCLP). Estas propiedades microbianas se analizaron a las 2 semanas y los 2 y 4 meses de la aplicacion del contaminante. Tambien se estudio el efecto de la contaminacion con HCHs aplicado a distintas concentraciones y en forma de particulas de distinto tamano, sobre la respiracion del suelo. A corto plazo tras la adicion del contaminante al suelo, la densidad de los microorganismos heterotrofos aumento, la abundancia de algas descendio y la poblacion de cianobacterias no vario significativamente. A los 4 meses de la contaminacion el efecto de las concentraciones de contaminante mas altas (50 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo) sobre los grupos microbianos mencionados fue negativo. El residuo de HCHs tuvo un efecto sobre la poblacion amonificante similar a la observada en los microorganismos heterotrofos. Las densidades de amiloliticos y celuloliticos no se vieron afectadas o aumentaron, a corto plazo despues de la adicion de contaminante, aunque, a largo plazo (4 meses tras la contaminacion) experimentaron una reduccion con las concentraciones mas altas de HCHs. A los dos meses de la contaminacion, la capacidad de las comunidades microbianas del suelo para degradar sustratos carbonados (CCLP) se vio negativamente afectada por el residuo de HCHs. Cabe resaltar el descenso en la degradacion de aminoacidos, que fue especialmente importante en los suelos con 50 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo. El residuo de HCHs tambien afecto a la respiracion del suelo, aunque el efecto dependio de la cantidad y tamano de particula del contaminante y de la presencia o ausencia de microorganismos procedentes de un emplazamiento contaminado con HCHs por largo tiempo (adaptados a la contaminacion con HCHs). Cuando estuvieron presentes microorganismos adaptados a HCHs y el contaminante se aplico en forma de particulas 4-10 mm, la respiracion del suelo se vio estimulada con concentraciones entre 20 y 100 g HCHs kg-1 suelo e inhibida con concentraciones mayores de 200 g HCHs kg-1 suelo. Al aplicar el residuo de HCHs en forma de particulas EnglishThe effect of heavy contamination with a residue composed of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) (10, 50 and 100 g HCHs kg-1 soil) on the densities of cultivable soil heterotrophs, algae and N2 -fixing cyanobacteria, on soil microorganisms involved in the N and C cycles (ammonifiers, amylolytics and cellulolytics) as well as on the ability of soil microbial communities to degrade several C substrates (community level physiological profiles, CCLP) was studied. These microbial properties were analysed 2 weeks, and 2 and 4 months, after the soil was artificially contaminated. The effect of HCHs residue applied at different concentrations, and in the form of particles of different sizes on soil respiration was studied. The influence of the presence or absence of microorganisms from a long term polluted site on the effect of HCHs on soil respiration was also analysed. In the short term after the addition of the contaminant to the soil, the density of heterotrophs increased, the abundance of algae decreased, while the population of cyanobacteria did not change significantly. Four months after contamination the effect of the highest concentrations of HCHs (50 and 100 g HCHs kg-1 soil) on these microbial groups was negative. The HCH residue had a similar effect on the ammonifying population to that on heterotrophs. The densities of amylolytics and cellulolytics were either not modified, or were stimulated by the contaminant in the short term but, in the longer term (4 months after the contamination), were inhibited by HCHs applied at the highest concentrations. Two months after contamination, the ability of soil microbial communities to degrade C substrates (CCLP) was negatively affected by HCHs. It was noteworthy the decrease in the ability for degrading aminoacids, which was particularly important in the soils with 50 and 100 g HCHs kg-1 soil. HCHs also affected soil respiration but the effect depended on the HCH concentration, particle size of the contaminant, and on the presence or absence of microorganisms from a long term HCH-contaminated site (adapted to HCH contamination). When microorganisms adapted to HCH contamination were present and the contaminant was applied in form of particles of 4-10 mm, the soil respiration was stimulated by HCH at concentrations between 20 and 100 g HCH kg-1 and inhibited with concentrations higher than 200 g HCH kg-1 soil. If the HCHs were applied as particlesThis study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (grant BOS2000-0450).Este trabajo pretende una reflexion sobre la verdadera dimension cientifica de Jose Maria Esquerdo. A la luz de las escasas fuentes disponibles, se lleva a cabo un analisis critico de sus aportaciones a la teoria y a la clinica �que vienen a completar otros acercamientos previos centrados en aspectos politicos, profesionales y asistenciales�. Se hace hincapie en la vertiente mas doctrinal de su pensamiento, ubicando el mismo en el marco del alienismo espanol y europeo de su epoca y valorando hasta que punto la obra de esta figura de la medicina espanola decimononica pueden ser considerada, tal y como se ha sostenido con frecuencia, relevante en el contexto en que fue realizadaIn this paper, we propose a box particle filtering algorithm for state estimation in nonlinear systems whose model assumes two types of uncertainties: stochastic noise in the measurements and bounded errors affecting the system dynamics. These assumptions respond to situations frequently encountered in practice. The proposed method includes a new way to weight the box particles as well as a new resampling procedure based on repartitioning the box enclosing the updated state. The proposed box particle filtering algorithm is applied in a fault detection schema illustrated by a sensor network target tracking example.Tesis doctoral inedita. Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Geologia y Geoquimica. Fecha de lectura: 22-04-0811 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, 75 references. We thank the Consejeria de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucia, and the Direction of the National Park of Sierra Nevada for permission to field work, constant support and facilities. We are also especially grateful to Empresa de Transformacion Agraria S.A. (TRAGSA) for carrying out the experimental reforestation. We thank Sergio de Haro and several students for field assistance. David Nesbitt looked over the English version of the manuscript.En este trabajo se ha estudiado la sintesis de hidroxiapatito por el metodo de combustion. Se ha considerado la influencia de los parametros de temperatura, tiempo de reaccion, relacion Ca/P y la acidez del medio, para sintetizar particulas nanometricas de hidroxiapatito por un metodo rapido y simple como es el de combustion. Se han empleado como materias primas nitrato de calcio y fosfato amonico, y como combustible urea. Las diferentes sintesis se han llevado a cabo en una mufla y los polvos obtenidos han sido caracterizados por DRX, FESEM, ATD-TG, FTIR y superficie especifica.En este trabajo se presentan y discuten los resultados de la caracterizacion arqueometrica realizada sobre un conjunto representativo de figurillas ceramicas del Clasico Tardio procedentes de las excavaciones arqueologicas efectuadas en la ciudad maya de Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico). Los objetivos principales han sido recabar informacion sobre la tecnologia de manufactura de estas ceramicas y evaluar su posible procedencia. La caracterizacion arqueometrica se ha llevado a cabo mediante las siguientes tecnicas complementarias: microscopia optica convencional (MO), difraccion de rayos X (DRX) de polvo, espectroscopia infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier (FT- R) y fluorescencia de rayos X (FRX). Con el fin de aislar grupos ceramicos con un perfil quimico similar, los datos obtenidos con FRX se han analizado tambien con tecnicas exploratorias de analisis estadistico multivariante. Los resultados indican que la mayoria de las figurillas se manufacturaron localmente con una materia prima arcillosa rica en carbonato de calcio (calcita). Tambien se ha identificado un pequeno grupo de ceramicas rico en carbonatos mixtos de calcio y magnesio (dolomita), que podria ser foraneo o procedente de otra zona de la region de Calakmul. Estos datos sugieren que la produccion de figurillas ceramicas pudo estar asociada a talleres ligados al monopolio sobre la produccion ceramica que el poder centralizado de la ciudad de Calakmul ejercio en este periodo.Se ha estudiado la influencia del humo de silice sobre el mecanismo de hidratacion del monoaluminato de calcio (CaAl2O4) a temperatura ambiente y con una relacion agua/solidos de 0,5. La evolucion de las fases hidratadas, que se forman en los primeros instantes de la reaccion, se ha estudiado por difraccion de rayos X de laboratorio con una resolucion temporal de 36 min. La integracion de picos de difraccion seleccionados de las fases: Ca2Al2O5·8H2O (Ca2Al2(OH)10·3H2O), CaAl2O4 y Ca4Al2(OH)12(CO3)·5H2O, ha permitido establecer la cinetica de la reaccion. Asi, se ha puesto de manifiesto que el humo de silice provoca una drastica disminucion en el periodo de induccion de la hidratacion y acelera la formacion de los hidratos cristalinos metaestables Ca2Al2(OH)10·3H2O y Ca4Al2(OH)12(CO3)·5H2O. Estos resultados se han confirmado por Termogravimetria, Analisis Termico Diferencial y Microscopia Electronica de Barrido. El mecanismo de hidratacion propuesto se apoya en datos previos de Resonancia Magnetica Nuclear de Solidos (RMN) de 29Si de los autores de este articulo.Una version anterior de este trabajo fue presentada en el XIX Congreso de Geografos Espanoles: ‘Espacios publicos, espacios privados’, organizado por la AGE y el Departamento de Geografia, Urbanismo y Ordenacion del Territorio de la Universidad de Cantabria. Santander (Espana), Octubre 2005.Trabajo realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigacion BHA2003-01664 del MCYT y como contratado por el Programa Ramon y Cajal del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (convocatoria 2002)The aim of the present work is to determine the physical and hydrodynamic properties of the soils and the factors that govern the spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture in the semiarid sector of the Duero basin (Spain). To accomplish this, we used a soil moisture-measuring network, with 20 stations, each endowed with 4 TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) probes inserted at different depths. At each of the soil moisture sampling points we determined the texture, bulk density, organic matter content and the water retention curve. The study period lasted 21 months, during which contrasted climatic situations were recorded. The results show that the textural fraction is the main variable accounting for the patterns of spatial soil moisture distribution over time. Its effect is direct on i) the water retention capacity of the soils, with an amount of plant available water ranging between 6.5 and 8.9 % vol.; ii) the spatial variability of the soil moisture throughout the area, and iii) soil moisture distribution along the profile. Finally, an outstanding aspect is the considerable effect of the organic matter, despite its low contents, on the water retention capacity of the soils studied.El trabajo experimental presentado en esta memoria por Roberto Alonso Gil, ha sido realizado en el Instituto de Biologia y Genetica Molecular (Universidad de Valladolid-CSIC) y en el Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas “Alberto Sols” (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid-CSIC; Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biologia Molecular), bajo la direccion del Dr. Manuel Izquierdo Pastor.Two new sterols, 1-2, unus ually hydroxylated at C -21 have been isolated from the marine pulmonate Trimusculus peruvianus. Compound 2 possesses a Δ 7 -3α,5α,6β-triol nucleus unprecedented in marine organisms. The structure and stereochemistries were determined on the basis of spectral studies, particularly NMR and MS spectroscopic data. 1 and 2 are the entire sterol content of the mollusk and both exhibit moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity against human colon carcinoma cell lines.4 paginas, 4 figuras, 4 tablas.-- Trabajo presentado a la 34a Sesion Cientifica, Bilbao 2003.In Drosophila, mutations in double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair enzymes, such as spn-B, activate a meiotic checkpoint leading to dorsal-ventral patterning defects in the egg and an abnormal appearance of the oocyte nucleus. Mutations in spn-D cause an array of ovarian phenotypes similar to spn-B. We have cloned the spn-D locus and found that it encodes a protein of 271 amino acids that shows significant homology to the human RAD51C protein. In mammals the spn-B and spn-D homologs, XRCC3 and RAD51C, play a role in genomic stability in somatic cells. To test for a similar role for spn-B and spn-D in double-strand DNA repair in mitotic cells, we analyzed the sensitivity of single and double mutants to DSBs induced by exposure to X rays and MMS. We found that neither singly mutant nor doubly mutant animals were significantly sensitized to MMS or X rays. These results suggest that spn-B and spn-D act in meiotic recombination but not in repair of DSBs in somatic cells. As there is no apparent ortholog of the meiosis-specific DMC1 gene in the Drosophila genome, and given their meiosis-specific requirement, we suggest that spn-B and spn-D may have a function comparable to DMC1.Este trabajo se realizo en el marco del proyecto BTE 2002-040 17 -C02-01 del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia en el desarrollo de la beca FPI con referencia BES- 2003-1573.Trabajo realizado en el marco del Programa Contrato Ramon y Cajal (2002) y financiado por los proyectos de Investigacion: BHA-2002-00588 y BHA 2003-01664 del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia.Trabajo realizado en el marco del Proyecto BHA 2002-00588 (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia- Espana)espanolUna caracteristica esencial de la vida de todo organismo es la adaptacion constante a los cambios que tienen lugar en su entorno. Para ello, esas variaciones ambientales deben ser leidas y traducidas en respuesta fisiologica. De ahi que, los organismos hayan desarrollado diversos mecanismos de integracion, de amplificacion y de mantenimiento de la senal del medio. La naturaleza de los mecanismos de senalizacion y respuesta celular varia en funcion de la complejidad del organismo. Sin embargo, se puede decir que el aspecto basico de toda adaptacion es de caracter universal, en el que se pueden distinguir tres grandes etapas: 1) la lectura de la senal propiciada por el entorno, 2) la transmision de la senal recibida y, 3), la respuesta celular. Al final toda respuesta celular implica un cambio intracelular basado en el control de la expresion genica y/o actividad de proteinas, cuya funcion permite adecuar el metabolismo celular a las necesidades de cada momento. La tesis aqui presentada se centra en el mecanismo de senalizacion por glucosa. La glucosa es la principal fuente de carbono y de energia para la mayoria de los organismos. Ademas de ser nutriente se puede considerar a la glucosa como una hormona de crecimiento, ya que regula varios aspectos del crecimiento, metabolismo y desarrollo celular. Para llevar a cabo dicho estudio hicimos uso de la levadura Saccharomyces cerevisiae. En S. cerevisiae la presencia de glucosa modula distintos procesos celulares. La regulacion del metabolismo supone controlar las rutas implicadas a distintos niveles: a corto plazo se modifica la actividad de distintas proteinas, como es el caso de la inactivacion por catabolito de los transportadores de galactosa y maltosa; mientras que a largo plazo se producen cambios en la actividad transcripcional. La glucosa en S. cerevisiae regula la expresion genica mediante dos rutas diferentes denominadas ruta de induccion y ruta de represion. Mediante la ruta de represion se inactiva la expresion genica de un gran numero de genes tales como los genes responsables de la utilizacion de otras fuentes de carbono distintas a la glucosa, de la gluconeogenesis y la respiracion. Por el contrario, mediante la ruta de induccion se activan los genes responsables de la utilizacion de la glucosa, tales como genes que codifican para enzimas glicoliticos y transportadores de glucosa, HXTs. Para estudiar la senalizacion por glucosa estudiamos la regulacion de la expresion genica del transportador de glucosa de baja afinidad, HXT1, de S. cerevisiae, cuyo sistema de expresion se considera modelo de induccion genica por glucosa. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que la regulacion por glucosa de la expresion del transportador de glucosa de baja afinidad, HXT1, de S. cerevisiae se realiza a traves de al menos tres mecanismos de senalizacion diferentes: el sistema de induccion genica por glucosa, la ruta TOR, ruta de senalizacion de nutrientes a traves de los homologos a las proteinas 14-3-3, y la ruta HOG, ruta de respuesta a estres osmotico. La accion coordinada de dichos mecanismos modula la actividad transcripcional sobre el gen HXT1, permitiendo finalmente que el gen se exprese ante la presencia de glucosa. Por tanto, la regulacion de HXT1 es un ejemplo mas de como se interrelacionan distintos procesos celulares para adecuar el metabolismo celular segun las necesidades. TOR (target of rapamycin). HOG ( High osmolarity glycerol signal transduction pathway ). __________________________________________________________________________________________________ EnglishSensing nutrients is a fundamental requisite for all living cells. For most eukaryotic cells glucose is a major source of energy, having significant and varied effects on cell function. Maintaining glucose homoeostasis is consequently of great importance to many organisms. Interest in identifying mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to variations in glucose concentration has increased lately. Glucose regulates genes in all cells by mechanisms which have been conserved throughout evolution. The consensus is that glucose could act on target cells either by binding to a receptor at the cell surface, or through its metabolism. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate the mechanism involved in glucose sensing in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells prefer glucose as carbon source and have evolved mechanisms for sensing and responding to wildly fluctuating levels of extracellular glucose. These mechanisms involve a large family of hexose transporters (HXT proteins) and the glucose transporter homologues Snf3 and Rgt2. Snf3 and Rgt2 are glucose-sensing proteins at the plasma membrane with no detectable transport activity. They sense the extracellular glucose and generate an intracellular glucose signal that triggers the induction of HXT gene expression. Expression of HXT1, a gene encoding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae low-affinity glucose transporter, is regulated by glucose availability, being activated in the presence of glucose and inhibited when the levels of the sugar are scarce. In this study we show how glucose regulate HXT1 expression, and how glucose requires at least the coordinated action of three different mechanisms of signalling: glucose signalling pathway, osmotic stress signalling (HOG pathway) and nutrient-signalling (TOR pathway) .9 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, 55 references. We thank the Consejeria de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucia, for permitting our fieldwork in the Sierra Nevada National Park and Sierra de Baza Natural Park. We are especially grateful to Sergio de Haro, Elena Baraza and Jose Antonio Hodar for their help in the field. Peter Klinkhamer and two anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. David Nesbitt improved the English version.The Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (Project REN2003-00381) and the Spanish Ministry of Environment (Project RESEL).Resumen del poster presentado al 48th European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting, celebrado en Berlin (Alemania) del 1 al 5 de octubre de 2012.-- et al.2 paginas y 1 tabla.- Resumen del poster presentado en el IV Congreso de Mejora genetica de plantas, celebrado en Cordoba entre el 14 y el 16 de octubre de 2008.Understanding the processes of tree population recruitment and their limitations, is the scientific basis to assure the forest natural regeneration, and to improve techniques of restoration and afforestation. We present here preliminary results of a collaborative project (HETEROMED). The environmental heterogeneity of Mediterranean forests was related to natural patterns of seedling establishment. Factorial design experiments of seed addition were carried out and the resulting emergence and survival were related to the conditions of light and soil moisture. The fieldwork was carried out at two natural areas in South Spain: Sierra Nevada National Park (higher mountains on the Southeast) and Los Alcornocales Natural Park (lower mountains in Sierra del Aljibe range, on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula). The experiments were focussed in seven target species - Quercus suber, Quercus canariensis, Quercus ilex, Quercus pyrenaica, Pinus sylvestris, Acer granatense and Sorbus aria. In addition, a glasshouse factorial experiment investigated the differential response of the four Quercus species to the combined effects of shade and drought. In both field sites (Sierra Nevada and Sierra del Aljibe) seedling emergence differed among species, but was not significantly affected by habitat (light availability). In Sierra Nevada, seedling survival after dry summer was statistically different between tree species, habitat type and irrigation treatment. Summer drought was the main cause of seedling mortality. Survival was higher in deep shade habitats than in open stands. Irrigation boosted survival in open areas (full light) and under shrublands (medium shade), but had scant effect inside woodland stands (deep shade). In Sierra del Aljibe, there were significant differences in seedling survival of Quercus suber between habitat types. Most surviving seedlings after the dry summer were in habitats with medium shade (under tree canopy), rather than in full light (open areas) or deep shade (closed forest) habitats. In the glasshouse study, the seedling mass (after six months of growth) was statistically different between species, and between light and water treatments. In the deep shade treatment seedling mass was not affected by stopping irrigation (simulating seasonal drought), unlike in the full light. A comparison of field and glasshouse results is carried out. A conflict between components of regeneration (seedling emergence, survival, and growth) is demonstrated as common in Mediterranean forests. The implications for ecological restoration are discussed and future perspectives of HETEROMED project are advanced.Presentacion con 40 diapositivas; Theoretical Challenges in Small Molecule Dynamics; The 15th ICQC Satellite Meeting, Dalian, China, 2-6 June 2015; http://www.sklmr.dicp.ac.cn/2015icqc/Financiacion del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia a traves de los proyectos MAT2000-1495 y MAT2000-1533-C03-02.Los fondos para la realizacion de los estudios que componen la presente memoria fueron proporcionados por el Ministerio de Educacion que concedio una beca de formacion de personal investigador al licenciado Rodrigo Manuel Megia Palma (BES-2010-038427).8 paginas, 3 figuras, 20 referencias.-- 5th International Symposium on Olive Growing, celebrado en Izmir, Turquia, 2004.Los estudios realizados en esta Tesis han permitido la identificacion y caracterizacion del potencial catabolico de Azoarcus sp. CIB, capaz de degradar anaerobicamente (condiciones desnitrificantes) compuestos aromaticos tales corno tolueno y m-xileno. Por primera vez en el genero Azoarcus se ha propuesto una ruta central de degradacion anaerobica de compuestos aromaticos via benzoil-CoA y se han identificado los genes responsables de dicha ruta bioquimica, que se agrupan en un cluster, denominado bzd, organizado en un operon regulador, constituido por el gen bzdR, bajo el control del promotor PR y otro operon catabolico, bzdNOPQMSTUVWXYZ, bajo el control del promotor PN. Se ha disenado una casete portadora de los genes bzd en un vector movilizable de amplio espectro de huesped con el objetivo de explorar el potencial de la ingenieria de rutas anaerobicas, siendo esta la primera casete que se describe en el catabolismo anaerobico de compuestos aromaticos. El gen bzdA codifica una benzoato-CoA ligasa involucrada en la primera reaccion del catabolismo anaerobico de benzoato y reconoce corno sustratos una mayor variedad de compuestos aromaticos que otras benzoato-CoA ligasas descritas hasta el momento, por lo que su hiperproduccion en huespedes heterologos muestra interes biotecnologico para la sintesis de derivados de benzoil-CoA. La proteina reguladora BzdR constituye el primer represor transcripcional que se describe en el catabolismo anaerobico de compuestos aromaticos. Este regulador transcripcional interacciona con tres regiones operadoras presentes en el promotor catabolico PN inhibiendo su actividad, habiendose caracterizado, tambien por primera vez en catabolismo anaerobico de compuestos aromaticos, la naturaleza de la molecula inductora, el benzoil-CoA. La novedosa estructura modular de la proteina BzdR, constituida por un dominio de tipo HTH-XRE tipico de proteinas de union a ADN yEste trabajo ha sido realizado en el marco del Programa Ramon y Cajal del MCyT (Convocatoria 2002).Se pretende estimar el efecto de un eventual cambio climatico y edafico sobre el patron de almacenamiento de carbohidratos en plantulas de un ano de tres especies lenosas mediterraneas del genero Quercus. Para ello se han cultivado las plantulas bajo tres condiciones contrastadas de fertilidad y tres de riego, experimento no factorial, durante una estacion de crecimiento. Se espera que en los medios menos fertiles se acumule carbono en forma de reservas debido a la limitacion en el crecimiento por falta de nutrientes. Asimismo, en condiciones de riego bajo, aumente la concentracion de glucosa para contribuir al ajuste osmotico de las hojas. Por ultimo, esperamos que Q. faginea, la especie de crecimiento mas rapido, invierta mayor cantidad de carbono en crecimiento y por tanto acumule menos almidon. Las concentracion de almidon en raiz y tallo de Q. ilex y Q. coccifera fue inversamente proporcional al nivel de fertilizacion. La concentracion de glucosa foliar mostro mayores concentraciones en las plantulas que experimentaron deficit hidrico. La especie que mas carbohidratos almaceno fue Q. faginea. Nuestro estudio sugiere, que el efecto de un incremento de aridez sobre el almacenamiento de carbohidratos depende, no solo de la especie, sino tambien de la fertilidad del suelo sobre el que se asiente.Trabajo presentado en el V Simposio Nacional sobre Control de la Degradacion y uso Sostenible del Suelo, celebrado en Murcia (Espana), del 27 al 30 de junio de 2011Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (Proyecto RESEL) y Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Proyecto REN2003-00381).Thesis submitted to the University of Castilla La Mancha by Silvia Diaz Fernandez in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.El presente trabajo comprende el diseno y procesamiento por colaje de suspensiones de sistemas multicapa basados en capas gruesas de alumina y capas finas de alumina-circona. Durante el enfriamiento desde la temperatura de sinterizacion se generan tensiones residuales en las capas debido a la expansion asociada a la transformacion martensitica de la circona. En esta investigacion se estudian los parametros de procesamiento para la fabricacion de estos sistemas laminados y se caracterizan microestructuralmente las capas que lo componen. Como resultado se obtienen multicapas ceramicas con diferente relacion de espesores entre capas adyacentes utilizando como metodo de control las cineticas de colaje de los correspondientes monoliticos. Adicionalmente, se determinan analiticamente las tensiones residuales generadas en los laminados por medio de las diferencias volumetricas determinadas en ensayos dilatometricos y del modulo elastico de cada capa. Se encuentra que en las capas delgadas se desarrollan elevadas tensiones de compresion mientras que en las gruesas se inducen tensiones residuales de traccion. El efecto de estas tensiones sobre la integridad mecanica del material se discute en terminos de las observaciones de fenomenos de fisuracion intrinseca: tanto de grietas de borde o ?edge cracks? en la superficie libre de las capas delgadas como de fisuras tunel o ?tunneling cracks? en las capas gruesas.Trabajo presentado en II EMBO Workshop on Cortical Interneurons in Health and Disease, celebrado en Costa d’en Blanes, Mallorca (Espana), del 24 al 27 de junio de 2012CBR systems solve problems by assessing their similarity with already solved problems (cases). Explanation of a CBR system prediction usually consists of showing the user the set of cases that are most similar to the current problem. Examining those retrieved cases the user can then assess whether the prediction is sensible. Using the notion of symbolic similarity, our proposal is to show the user a symbolic description that makes explicit what the new problem has in common with the retrieved cases. Specifically, we use the notion of anti-unification (least general generalization) to build symbolic similarity descriptions. We present an explanation scheme using anti-unification for CBR systems applied to classification tasks. This scheme focuses on symbolically describing what is shared between the current problem and the retrieved cases that belong to dierent classes. Examining these descriptions of symbolic similarities the user can assess which aspects are determining that a problem is classified one way or another. The paper exemplifies this proposal with an implemented application of the symbolic similarity scheme to the domain of predicting the carcinogenic activity of chemical compounds.Reseda sect. Glaucoreseda is a monophyletic group composed of five endemic tetraploid species with a disjunct distribution in the high mountains and plateaus of the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. It was previously suggested that range shifts induced by Quaternary glaciations played an important role in the speciation of the group. We studied the evolution of R. sect. Glaucoreseda in order to infer historical range dynamics and speciation processes, and to understand current distributional patterns. Phylogeographic analyses were performed using nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnL-F and rps16 sequences. Cloning of additive ITS sequences was carried out to elucidate the origin of intra-individual polymorphisms. A dated phylogeny based on ITS and cpDNA (rbcL, matK, trnL-F) sequences was used to estimate divergence times of R. sect. Glaucoreseda. Time estimates using Penalized Likelihood analyses indicate a late Pleistocene diversification of R. sect. Glaucoreseda. Incomplete lineage sorting of ancestral polymorphisms due to recent divergence, rather than rampant hybridisation, is suggested as the main cause of the phylogenetic incongruence detected between nuclear and plastid datasets. Our results support the vicariance hypothesis for population disjunctions in the Iberian Peninsula, in which an ancestral, widespread species could have undergone differentiation by Quaternary interglacial fragmentation. In contrast, long-distance dispersal across the Strait of Gibraltar may have been involved in the colonisation of North African plateaus by R. battandieri.La informacion cuantitativa sobre la radiacion disponible en el sotobosque es crucial para la comprension de multitud de aspectos relacionados con la ecologia y dinamica del bosque. Dado que la gestion del bosque es en buena medida la gestion de la luz, la combinacion de estudios sobre ecofisiologia, heterogeneidad luminica, dinamica forestal y cambio global representa un punto de encuentro entre la ecologia y la gestion forestal, algo muy necesario en ecosistemas mediterraneos donde las incertidumbres son grandes y las predicciones poco optimistas. En este trabajo se presentan resultados sobre la heterogeneidad temporal y espacial de la luz en el sotobosque de diversas formaciones forestales ibericas (encinares, alcornocales, pinares, abedulares y hayedos). En general se observa que las formaciones mediterraneas tiene una mayor estructura espacial y una mayor heterogeneidad luminica que los bosques no mediterraneos, que la radiacion disponible bajo un dosel es inversamente proporcional a la tolerancia a la sombra de las especies arboreas que lo componen y que el numero de destellos de sol disminuye con la radiacion total que llega al sotobosque (i.e. los destellos se hacen largos e intensos). Las implicaciones de estos resultados se interpretan considerando la informacion disponible sobre las respuestas de las plantas a la combinacion de sombra y sequia, y sobre el papel de la heterogeneidad abiotica en la coexistencia de especies. Se propone que el cambio global conduce a un sotobosque mas oscuro y luminicamente homogeneo, lo cual unido al incremento de aridez ira dando lugar a bosques huecos, pobres en especies y con escasa capacidad de regeneracion natural.The Tufted(1) (Tft(1)) dominant mutation promotes the generation of ectopic bristles (macrochaetae) in the dorsal mesothorax of Drosophila. Here we show that Tft(1) corresponds to a gain-of-function allele of the proneural gene amos that is associated with a chromosomal aberration at 36F-37A. This causes ectopic expression of amos in large domains of the lateral-dorsal embryonic ectoderm, which results in supernumerary neurons of the PNS, and in the notum region of the third instar imaginal wing, which gives rise to the mesothoracic extra bristles. Revertants of Tft(1), which lack ectopic neurons and bristles, do not show ectopic expression of amos. One revertant is a loss-of-function allele of amos and has a recessive phenotype in the embryonic PNS. Our results suggest that both normal and ectopic Tft(1) bristles are generated following similar rules, and both are subjected to Notch-mediated lateral inhibition. The ability of Tft(1) bristles to appear close together may be due to amos having a stronger proneural capacity than that of other proneural genes like asense and scute. This ability might be related to the wild-type function of amos in promoting development of large clusters of closely spaced olfactory sensilla.Web tematica.-- Proposito: divulgativo.-- Estado del proyecto: finalizado.-- Fecha de la consulta: 2019-01-10.-- Los materiales contenidos en esta pagina web estan protegidos por el Texto Refundido de la Ley de Propiedad Intelectual y legislacion conexa.Poster presentado a las II Jornadas del Grupo de Viticultura y Enologia (SECH), celebradas en Madrid el 3 y 4 de noviembre de 2016.

Karyotypic Changes through Dysploidy Persist Longer over Evolutionary Time than Polyploid Changes

Chromosome evolution has been demonstrated to have profound effects on diversification rates and speciation in angiosperms. While polyploidy has predated some major radiations in plants, it has also been related to decreased diversification rates. There has been comparatively little attention to the evolutionary role of gains and losses of single chromosomes, which may or not entail changes in the DNA content (then called aneuploidy or dysploidy, respectively). In this study we investigate the role of chromosome number transitions and of possible associated genome size changes in angiosperm evolution. We model the tempo and mode of chromosome number evolution and its possible correlation with patterns of cladogenesis in 15 angiosperm clades. Inferred polyploid transitions are distributed more frequently towards recent times than single chromosome gains and losses. This is likely because the latter events do not entail changes in DNA content and are probably due to fission or fusion events (dysploidy), as revealed by an analysis of the relationship between genome size and chromosome number. Our results support the general pattern that recently originated polyploids fail to persist, and suggest that dysploidy may have comparatively longer-term persistence than polyploidy. Changes in chromosome number associated with dysploidy were typically observed across the phylogenies based on a chi-square analysis, consistent with these changes being neutral with respect to diversification.

Systematics and Taxonomy of Carex sect. Ceratocystis (Cyperaceae) in Europe: A Molecular and Cytogenetic Approach

Abstract Carex sect. Ceratocystis is distributed in Eurasia and North America, with a few disjunct taxa in the Southern Hemisphere. Despite being one of the most intensively studied groups within Carex, its taxonomy remains a complex issue due to hybridization and faint morphological boundaries. Two main contrasting approaches to its taxonomy may be distinguished, synthetic and analytical, widely differing in the number of considered taxa. The status of several morphotypes from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin are particularly problematic. We used phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid rps16 and 5′trnK sequences along with cytogenetic data to evaluate the main taxonomic approaches and to infer evolutionary patterns in Europe and North Africa, with a special focus on the problematic morphotypes. Three major clades were found which mostly match morphological features of the utricle. Carex durieui should be excluded from section Ceratocystis. Although a linear agmatoploid series has been generally proposed to account for the cytogenetic evolution of section Ceratocystis, our results suggest chromosome number increase but not in a linear fashion. Different extensive hybridization areas in South Europe are suggested for some of the problematic morphotypes (Pyrenean-Cantabrian Mountains, Atlantic-Iberian Strip and Corsica).

Is Oligomeris (Resedaceae) indigenous to North America? Molecular evidence for a natural colonization from the Old World

Oligomeris linifolia constitutes one of the few examples of intercontinental disjunctions at the species level between the arid regions of the Old World and SW North America. The status of the American populations has been obscure, with some authors considering the populations to be introduced, whereas others believe them to be native. To clarify these conflicting opinions, we performed phylogeographic analyses using nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnL-F and rps16 sequences to infer the origin of the disjunct American populations. Two independent molecular clock approaches based on ITS and cpDNA sequences (rbcL, matK, trnL-F) were used to estimate a divergence time of O. linifolia. Low levels of sequence divergence and estimates of relatively recent splits of Oligomeris lineages disagree with the vicariance hypotheses traditionally suggested to account for New-Old World disjunctions. In addition, significant genetic differentiation of American populations does not indicate a recent anthropogenic introduction. Morphological uniformity and the sharing of haplotypes between disjunct populations, together with the molecular clock results, suggest that a long-distance dispersal event from the Old Word to SW North America may have taken place during the Quaternary, in spite of limited dispersal mechanisms in Oligomeris.

Monophyly, phylogenetic position and the role of hybridization in Schoenoxiphium Nees (Cariceae, Cyperaceae).

Incongruence between gene trees, even within genomes, is often the result of hybridization and/or other processes such as incomplete lineage sorting, and can cause problems for phylogenetic analyses. We show here that the radiation of the Cyperaceae genus Schoenoxiphium involved at least one hybridization event with a closely related species of Carex, as indicated by a recombinant nuclear ITS region shared by all species in the S. rufum clade and C. camptoglochin. Recombinant sequences were confirmed with cloning experiments and recombination analyses. The monophyly of Schoenoxiphium has, in previous analyses, been suspected but not sufficiently supported, possibly due in part to this problem. Our phylogenetic analyses include an appropriate representation of Schoenoxiphium and other related Cariceae species and an extended sampling of the nuclear ITS and plastid marker regions, trnLF and rps16. We demonstrate that Schoenoxiphium is monophyletic, nested within Carex, and that several supported clades exist in Schoenoxiphium.

Megaphylogenetic Specimen-Level Approaches to the Carex (Cyperaceae) Phylogeny Using ITS, ETS, and matK Sequences: Implications for Classification

Abstract We present the first large-scale phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus Carex based on 996 of the 1983 accepted species (50.23%). We used a supermatrix approach using three DNA regions: ETS, ITS and matK. Every concatenated sequence was derived from a single specimen. The topology of our phylogenetic reconstruction largely agreed with previous studies. We also gained new insights into the early divergence structure of the two largest clades, core Carex and Vignea clades, challenging some previous evolutionary hypotheses about inflorescence structure. Most sections were recovered as non-monophyletic. Homoplasy of characters traditionally selected as relevant for classification, historical misunderstanding of how morphology varies across Carex, and regional rather than global views of Carex diversity seem to be the main reasons for the high levels of polyphyly and paraphyly in the current infrageneric classification.

Species Boundaries within the Southwest Old World Populations of the Carex flava Group (Cyperaceae)

Abstract Carex flava is a species complex with frequent hybridization. Within its Old World distribution, the group reaches the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and Macaronesia, where the taxonomy of the group is particularly controversial. We performed a biometric study using quantitative characters and statistical multivariate and univariate techniques to test taxonomic relationships within previously defined genetic lineages, and to study the clinal morphological variation between those lineages. Our analytical approach allowed us to clearly discriminate between five well-defined morphogroups (C. demissa s. s., C. flava, C. lepidocarpa, C. viridula and a fifth group composed of C. nevadensis and populations from the Atlas region) and to establish morphological relationships for problematic morphotypes. The Pyrenean-Cantabrian populations predominantly displayed intermediate morphologies between C. demissa and C. lepidocarpa. Conversely, the Atlantic-Iberian morphotype, considered a hybrid between C. demissa and C. viridula, displayed a morphology that was often similar to C. lepidocarpa. The analytical approach adopted here may be relevant for the study of morphological intermediates in other plant species complexes with similar taxonomic problems.

Disentangling the taxonomy of Carex acuta s.l. in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East: Re-evaluation of C. panormitana Guss. and C. kurdica Kuk. ex Hand.-Mazz

The morphology of the Eurasian Carex acuta L. has remained poorly characterized, which has allowed its traditional usage as a taxonomic hotchpotch, in which other similar taxa have been included. In this study, we clarify the taxonomic status of C. acuta and assess the delimitation of two similar species found in the southern part of the C. acuta range: Carex panormitana Guss. and Carex kurdica Kük. ex Hand.-Mazz. To this purpose, we performed a detailed morphological study of 101 vouchers from 19 herbaria, including the type material of the three studied taxa and additional related species. Some distinct populations previously regarded as C. acuta were ascribed to C. panormitana or C. kurdica. Detailed morphological descriptions are provided for C. acuta, C. kurdica and C. panormitana. The ranges of the three taxa are revised in the Central–Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, and new records of C. panormitana in North Africa and of C. kurdica in Eastern Europe and Mediterranean Anatolia are presented. An epitype is proposed for C. kurdica to complement the identity of the lectotype, as this is immature.

Molecular Data Helps Traditional Taxonomy: Re-evaluation of Reseda collina (Resedaceae), and a New Record for Europe

Reseda collina is included in Reseda section Phyteuma, a monophyletic and morphologically well-defined group that is also characterized by taxonomic problems regarding species circumscription. The status of this species has been controversial, usually being subordinated to the widespread R. phyteuma. A study of R. collina and allied taxa based on morphological and molecular (nuclear ITS, plastid trnL-F) data supports the taxonomic identity of R. collina and its separation from R. phyteuma. An epitype is designated to support the holotype and prevent future nomenclature problems. In addition, our molecular and morphological analyses suggest that some problematic southeastern Iberian populations, previously identified as R. phyteuma, belong to R. collina, which implies a new European record for this species that was previously considered as a northwestern African endemic. Following this finding, biogeographic relationships between the southern Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Africa are also discussed.

Biogeography of Flowering Plants: A Case Study in Mignonettes (Resedaceae) and Sedges (Carex, Cyperaceae)

Biogeography is a multidisciplinary science that studies the past and present geographic distribution of organisms and the causes behind it. The combination of historical events and evolutionary processes has usually an outstanding role when explaining the shape of a species range. As already noted by Darwin more than 150 years ago, patterns of species distribution may often be seen as clear footsteps of their evolution and diversification (Darwin, 1859). It is now also well known that geological events (i.e. continental drift, orogeny or island formation) and climatic oscillations occurred during the recent geological history of the Earth, like the cooling and aridification that took place during the Pliocene (5.3 – 2.5 million years ago, m.a) and the Pleistocene glaciations (1.8 – 0.01 m.a), prompted great range shifts. These geological and/or climatic changes caused, in some cases, the extinction of species; in many others, they provided conditions of reproductive isolation and/or genetic divergence between populations and, eventually, produced speciation, the engine of biodiversity.