Publications by authors named "Maria E Guitart"

Iron deficiency (ID) represents one of the most prevalent nutritional deficits, affecting almost two billion people worldwide. Gestational iron deprivation induces hypomyelination due to oligodendroglial maturation deficiencies and is thus a useful experimental model to analyze oligodendrocyte (OLG) requirements to progress to a mature myelinating state. A previous proteomic study in the adult ID brain by our group demonstrated a pattern of dysregulated proteins involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and mitochondrial dysfunction.

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Developmental iron deficiency (dID) models facilitate the study of specific oligodendrocyte (OL) requirements for their progression to a mature state and subsequent contribution to myelination. In the current work, we used the dID model in transgenic mice expressing green fluorescence protein under the CNPase promoter allowing the identification of cells belonging to the oligodendroglial lineage, and the visualization of the entire myelin structure and single OL morphology. The present work evaluates dID effects on OL complexity in different brain areas.

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The divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) is a multimetal transporter with a primary role in iron transport. Although DMT1 has been described previously in the CNS, nothing was known about the role of this metal transporter in oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination. To determine whether DMT1 is required for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) maturation, we used siRNAs and the system to knock down/knock out DMT1 expression as well as Blocking DMT1 synthesis in primary cultures of OPCs reduced oligodendrocyte iron uptake and significantly delayed OPC development.

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When disrupted, iron homeostasis negatively impacts oligodendrocyte (OLG) differentiation and impairs myelination. To better understand myelin formation and OLG maturation, in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of iron deficiency (ID) not only on OLG maturation but also on astrocytes (AST) and microglial cells (MG). In vivo experiments in an ID model were carried out to describe maturational events during OLG and AST development and the reactive profile of MG during myelination when iron availability is lower than normal.

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The application of cellulases in saccharification processes is restricted by its production cost. Consequently, new fungal strains able to elaborate higher cellulases titers and with special activity profiles are required to make the process economical. The aim of this investigation was to find a promising wild-type Trichoderma strain for cellulases production.

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Endo-polygalacturonase (endo-PGase) activity determinations generally rely on viscosity changes or reducing sugar ends produced by this activity over polygalacturonic acid. Torres and coworkers [Enzyme Microb. Technol.

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