Publications by authors named "Maria Paz Covarrubias"

Peaches and nectarines [ (L.) Batsch] are among the most exported fresh fruit from Chile to the Northern Hemisphere. Fruit acceptance by final consumers is defined by quality parameters such as the size, weight, taste, aroma, color, and juiciness of the fruit.

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Background: Lesions of the skull make up a small but important part of neurosurgical practice. Several systemic disorders may involve the cranial vault including neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions. Sarcoidosis of the skull is a little-known cause of calvarial involvement that has been rarely reported in the literature.

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Lipoic acid (LA) and its reduced form (dihydrolipoic acid, DHLA) have unique antioxidant properties among such molecules. Moreover, after a process termed lipoylation, LA is an essential prosthetic group covalently-attached to several key multi-subunit enzymatic complexes involved in primary metabolism, including E2 subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). The metabolic pathway of lipoylation has been extensively studied in Escherichia coli and Arabidopsis thaliana in which protein modification occurs via two routes: de novo synthesis and salvage.

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The equilibrium between protein synthesis and degradation is key to maintaining efficiency in different physiological processes. The proteinase inhibitor cystatin regulates protease activities in different developmental and physiological contexts. Here we describe for the first time the identification and the biological function of the cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin of Fragaria chiloensis, FchCYS1.

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Article Synopsis
  • The avocado is a climacteric fruit that softens after harvesting, affecting its quality and storage potential.
  • The study focused on how changes in cell wall pectins and specific enzymes, like polygalacturonase and β-galactosidase, contribute to this softening process in "Hass" avocados during ripening and after cold storage.
  • Key findings indicate that the loss of certain sugars, particularly galactose and changes in arabinose ratios, play significant roles in the enzymatic breakdown of cell wall components, leading to the avocados’ loss of firmness.
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