Publications by authors named "Fernando N de la Torre"

The amino acids arginine and ornithine are the precursors of a wide range of nitrogenous compounds in all living organisms. The metabolic conversion of ornithine into arginine is catalyzed by the sequential activities of the enzymes ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), argininosuccinate synthetase (ASSY) and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). Because of their roles in the urea cycle, these enzymes have been purified and extensively studied in a variety of animal models.

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High levels of nitrogen are stored as arginine during the last stages of seed formation in maritime pine ( Aiton). The protein sensor PII regulates the feedback inhibition of arginine biosynthesis through interaction with the key enzyme -acetylglutamate kinase (NAGK). In this study, the structural and functional characteristics of PII have been investigated in maritime pine to get insights into the regulation of arginine metabolism.

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Low nitrogen (N) availability is a major limiting factor for tree growth and development. N uptake, assimilation, storage and remobilization are key processes in the economy of this essential nutrient, and its efficient metabolic use largely determines vascular development, tree productivity and biomass production. Recently, advances have been made that improve our knowledge about the molecular regulation of acquisition, assimilation and internal recycling of N in forest trees.

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Podosphaera xanthii is the main causal agent of powdery mildew disease in cucurbits. In a previous study, we determined that P. xanthii expresses approximately 50 Podosphaera effector candidates (PECs), identified based on the presence of a predicted signal peptide and the absence of functional annotation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Asparaginases (ASPG) are enzymes that convert L-asparagine into L-aspartate and ammonium, and three specific types (PpASPG1, PpASPG2, and PpASPG3) have been found in maritime pine.
  • Only PpASPG1 efficiently hydrolyzes L-asparagine, featuring a unique 77 amino acid region that is crucial for enzyme activity and stability.
  • The study indicates that maritime pine ASPG has distinct properties compared to those found in flowering plants, particularly in how they interact with potassium.
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Nitrogen (N) is frequently a limiting factor for tree growth and development. Because N availability is extremely low in forest soils, trees have evolved mechanisms to acquire and transport this essential nutrient along with biotic interactions to guarantee its strict economy. Here we review recent advances in the molecular basis of tree N nutrition.

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The amino acid phenylalanine (Phe) is a critical metabolic node that plays an essential role in the interconnection between primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Phe is used as a protein building block but it is also as a precursor for numerous plant compounds that are crucial for plant reproduction, growth, development, and defense against different types of stresses. The metabolism of Phe plays a central role in the channeling of carbon from photosynthesis to the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids.

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