Elena Ramirez - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Elena Ramirez

Investigacion y ciencia

A rabidopsis thaliana es una crucífera, familia a la que pertenecen la mos-taza y la col. Aunque ... more A rabidopsis thaliana es una crucífera, familia a la que pertenecen la mos-taza y la col. Aunque de escaso interés agrícola o farmacológico, se ha converti-do en el sistema por excelencia para el es-tudio molecular y genético de las plantas. Merced a su tamaño reducido y su corto ciclo biológico (entre 6 y 8 sema-nas), puede cultivarse en el laboratorio. Presenta un genoma compacto y mínimo, con escasas secuencias repetidas y un bajo contenido en ADN. Se caracteriza, ade-más, por la facilidad con que se presta a la manipulación génica. El estudio del efecto producido sobre la morfología celular con la pérdida o ga-nancia de función de determinados genes permite desentrañar los mecanismos re-guladores del desarrollo de la planta. Un conocimiento que se aplicará luego para la modifi cación genética de plantas de in-terés agrícola, es decir, para la mejora ve-getal. Las imágenes que aportamos se ha ob-tenido mediante un microscopio electró-nico de barrido. Nos ofrecen una breve muestra...

Additional file 3 Figure S1. Evaluation of epicuticular wax content, root and aerial weight, osmo... more Additional file 3 Figure S1. Evaluation of epicuticular wax content, root and aerial weight, osmolyte levels and pigment content for accession identified as drought tolerant (284, 510 and 521 identified with plain colours on the histograms bars of all the figures) and drought sensitives (502, 506 and 545 identified with ornamented wefts on the histogram bars of all the figures). A. Epicuticular wax content from 4-week-old leaves from greenhouse-grown plants. B. Weight of aerial and radicular part of different 4-week-old greenhouse-grown varieties. C-D. Soluble sugars (lower panel) and free proline (upper panel) content were determined on 4-week-old greenhouse-grown plants under control condition or drought treated (3 experiments; n = 10 plants/each). E-F. Pigment content: Anthocyanin levels (E) or chlorophyll a and b levels (F) from 4 week-old greenhouse-grown plants under control condition or drought treated (3 experiments; n = 20 plants/each). A-E. Values are means ± sd. Different...

Additional file 2 Dataset S2. Excel tables containing information of DEG in different experimenta... more Additional file 2 Dataset S2. Excel tables containing information of DEG in different experimental conditions as indicated (drought versus control, and tolerant versus sensitive variants in both conditions) and statistical analysis of functional enrichment in categories: GO, KEGG, Pfam and GOG terms. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WnnFJTsmCVBGFvevDgQCOki7z0dz1e8l

Additional file 1: Dataset S1. Excel tables with V. sativa Uniprot annotation and functional clas... more Additional file 1: Dataset S1. Excel tables with V. sativa Uniprot annotation and functional classification assignment of the assembled unigenes and in GO, KEGG, Pfam and GOG terms. https://drive.google.com/open?id=153IX8pv-CxL6G4SDoKjP17WQ26FMeY9x

Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021

Common vetch (Vicia sativaL.) is a legume used for animal feed because of its high protein conten... more Common vetch (Vicia sativaL.) is a legume used for animal feed because of its high protein content and great capacity for nitrogen fixation, making this crop relevant in sustainable agriculture. The Spanish vetch collection, conserved at the Spanish Plant Genetic Resources Center (CRF), is one of the largest collections of this species worldwide, including landraces, wild relatives mainly collected in Spain, and commercial cultivars, but also accessions of international origin. The analysis of the genetic diversity of this material, whose genome has not been sequenced yet, and the assembly of a representative collection could play a pivotal role in conserving and exploiting these genetic resources in breeding programs mainly in those focused on consequences and demands of climate change. In this work, a set of 14 simple sequence repeat (SSR) reference alleles for genetic diversity analysis of the CRF vetch collection has been developed, used for genotyping more than 545 common vetch...

BMC Plant Biology, 2020

Background Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a forage grain legume of high protein content and hi... more Background Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a forage grain legume of high protein content and high nitrogen fixation, relevant in sustainable agriculture systems. Drought is the main limiting factor of this crop yield. Genetic resources collections are essential to provide genetic variability for breeding. The analysis of drought associated parameters has allowed us to identify drought tolerant and sensitive ecotypes in a vetch core collection. Results To understand the mechanisms involved in drought response we analysed transcriptomic differences between tolerant and sensitive accessions. Polymorphic variants (SNPs and SSRs) in these differential expressed genes (DEGs) have also been analysed for the design of drought-associated markers. A total of 1332 transcripts were commonly deregulated in both genotypes under drought. To know the drought adaptive response, we also analysed DEGs between accessions. A total of 2646 transcripts are DEG between sensitive and tolerant ecotypes, in...

Filing Date: 1999-05-07 -- Priority Data: ES P 9800975 (1998-05-08), ES P 9800981 (1998-05-11) A ... more Filing Date: 1999-05-07 -- Priority Data: ES P 9800975 (1998-05-08), ES P 9800981 (1998-05-11) A method of controlling plant growth and/or cellular DNA replication and/or cell cycle progression, differentiation and development comprising increasing or decreasing E2F activity in a plant cell. Peer reviewed

De la Rosa et al. Genetic Diversity Vicia sativa Collection presents a minimum loss of genetic di... more De la Rosa et al. Genetic Diversity Vicia sativa Collection presents a minimum loss of genetic diversity concerning the total collection and constitutes an invaluable material that can be used in future breeding programs for direct use in a resilient agricultural system.

Background: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a forage grain legume of high protein content and h... more Background: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a forage grain legume of high protein content and high nitrogen fixation, relevant in sustainable agriculture systems. Drought is the main limiting factor of this crop yield. Genetic resources collections are essential to provide genetic variability for breeding. The analysis of drought associated parameters has allowed us to identify drought tolerant and sensitive ecotypes in a vetch core collection. Results: To understand the mechanisms involved in drought response we analysed transcriptomic differences between tolerant and sensitive accessions. Polymorphic variants (SNPs and SSRs) in these differential expressed genes (DEGs) have also been analysed for the design of drought-associated markers. A total of 1332 transcripts were commonly deregulated in both genotypes under drought. To know the drought adaptive response, we also analysed DEGs between accessions. A total of 2646 transcripts are DEG between sensitive and tolerant ecotypes, in watered and drought conditions, including important genes involved in redox homeostasis, cell wall modifications and stress-response. The integration of this functional and genetic information will contribute to understand the molecular mechanisms of drought response and the adaptive mechanisms of drought tolerance in common vetch. The identification of polymorphic variants in these DEGs has also been screened for the design of droughtassociated markers that could be used in future breeding program strategies. Conclusions: Our studies shed light for the first time in common vetch about the genes and pathways associated with drought tolerance. In addition, we identify over 100 potential drought associated polymorphism, as SNPs or SSRs, which are differently present in drought and tolerant genotypes. The use of these molecular markers for trait prediction would enable the development of genomic tools for future engineering strategies by screening of germplasm crop collections for traits related with crop drought resilience, adaptability or yield in vetch.

Plant growth and development require a continuous balance between cell division and differentiati... more Plant growth and development require a continuous balance between cell division and differentiation. In root meristems, differentiated cells acquire specialized functions, losing their mitotic potential. Some plant cells, such as pericycle cells, have a remarkable plasticity to regenerate new organs. The molecular mechanisms underlying cell reprogramming are not completely known. In this work, a functional screening of transcription factors identified Arabidopsis OBP4 (OBF Binding Protein 4) as a novel regulator of root growth and cell elongation and differentiation. Overexpression of OBP4 regulates the levels of a large number of transcripts in roots, many involved in hormonal signaling and callus formation. OBP4 controls cell elongation and differentiation in root cells. OBP4 does not induce cell division in the root meristem, but promotes pericycle cell proliferation, forming callus-like structures at the root tip, as shown by the expression of stem cell markers. Callus formation is enhanced by ectopic expression of OBP4 in the wild-type or alf4-1, but is significantly reduced in roots that have lower levels of OBP4. Our data provide molecular insights into how differentiated root cells acquire the potential to generate callus, a pluripotent mass of cells that can regenerate fully functional plant organs.

Abstract: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a grain legume used in animal feeding, rich in protei... more Abstract: Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is a grain legume used in animal feeding, rich in protein
content, fatty acid, and mineral composition that makes for a very adequate component to enrich
feedstuff. In addition, relevant pharmacological properties have been reported in humans. The
common vetch, similar to other legumes, can fix atmospheric nitrogen, a crucial feature for sustainable
agricultural systems. These properties enhance the use of vetch as a cover crop and its sowing in
intercropping systems. Moreover, several studies have recently pointed out the potential of vetch
in the phytoremediation of contaminated soils. These characteristics make vetch a relevant crop,
which different potential improvements target. Varieties with different yields, flowering times,
shattering resistance, nutritional composition, rhizobacteria associations, drought tolerance, nitrogen
fixation capacity, and other agronomic-relevant traits have been identified when different vetch
accessions are compared. Recently, the analysis of genomic and transcriptomic data has allowed the
development of different molecular markers to be used for assisted breeding purposes, promoting
crop improvement. Here, we review the potential of using the variability of V. sativa genetic resources
and new biotechnological and molecular tools for selecting varieties with improved traits to be used
in sustainable agriculture systems.

Drought is one of the greatest threats to agricultural production. Legumes are relatively suscept... more Drought is one of the greatest threats to agricultural production. Legumes are relatively susceptible to drought and have the unique ability to establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Deciphering how symbiotic interactions affect legume stress tolerance is a relevant question that remains unsolved, especially in the context of maintaining crop production under climate change. Our study addresses the comparative analysis of drought response and drought tolerance in symbiosis-dependent versus N-fed plants. Our results support the existence of attenuation in the damage promoted by drought in nodulated pea and vetch plants. This increase in drought tolerance correlates with changes in physiological parameters, such the hydric status of the plant, changes in biochemical parameters, such as the accumulation of osmolytes and antioxidant pigments, or the protection against lipid peroxidation. We have also found changes at the molecular level, identifying different genomic pathways through transcriptomic analysis. Although this characterization strengthens the evidence for a common strategy of coping with water deprivation in nodulated and N-fed plants, the above-mentioned changes suggest divergent and specific strategies of drought tolerance in nodulated plants as well as differences between pea and common vetch. In addition, our transcriptomic studies help unravel the molecular mechanisms through which rhizobial symbiosis contributes to drought tolerance in Vicia sativa and Pisum sativum. These results highlight the potential of using effective Rhizobium inoculants as a tool to cope with drought and enhance Nfixing ability under agriculturally relevant conditions.

Environmental and Experimental Botany

Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F... more Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F targets and the two genes are differently expressed in proliferating and endoreplicating cells"Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(17):5404-5414.Published online 22 Sep 2005PMCID:PMC1236721.© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved () Levels of mRNA for each gene and for were determined by real-time RT–PCR in extracts of 10–12 day-old seedlings of plants expressing a dominant negative version of DP () and in control plants transformed with an empty vector. Measurements were carried out as described in Materials and Methods and, then the values made relative to that of in control plants. Asterisks indicate that the differences between the mean relative values of control and DPΔBD-expressing plants were statistically significant ( ≤ 0.025). () Levels of mRNA for each gene and for were determined by real-time RT–PCR in extracts of 10 day-old seedlings of plants expressing the wild-type geminivirus RepA protein (RepA) or the same protein bearing the E198K point mutation (RepA), and in control plants transformed with an empty vector. Measurements were carried out 7 h after induction of RepA protein by treatment with 1 µM dexamethasone and in each case the values were made relative to those obtained in the control plants. Asterisks indicate that the differences between the mean relative values in plants expressing RepA and RepA were statistically significant.

Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F... more Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F targets and the two genes are differently expressed in proliferating and endoreplicating cells"Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(17):5404-5414.Published online 22 Sep 2005PMCID:PMC1236721.© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved () Expression pattern of genes in different organs. Measurements were normalized to the amount of or and, then all the values made relative to the amount of present in the sample of aerial part of these seedlings (the lowest of all). Samples were prepared from aerial parts and root system of 12 day-old seedlings, young and mature rosette leaves, cauline leaves, stems, flowers at different stages or growth. () MM2d suspension cultured cells were sucrose-starved for 24 h and the amount of different AtORC mRNAs was determined by real-time RT–PCR, using the normalization procedure described for panel A. () MM2d suspension cultured cells, sucrose-starved for 24 h, were stimulated to re-enter the cell cycle, as described (). The amount of mRNA of several cell cycle marker genes () was determined at the indicated times after sucrose addition by real-time RT–PCR, as described in panel A. and were used as G1 markers, and histone , as S-phase markers and , as a G2/M marker (panel C). The mRNA levels of each gene (panel D) were determined at the indicated times after sucrose addition by real-time RT–PCR, as described in panel A. Numbers on top of the bars in panels C and D indicate the fold increase at the maximum level of expression relative to the value, in each case, obtained at time zero (arrested cells). In all cases, the RT–PCR measurements were repeated, at least, 2–3 times but error bars have been omitted for simplicity.

Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F... more Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F targets and the two genes are differently expressed in proliferating and endoreplicating cells"Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(17):5404-5414.Published online 22 Sep 2005PMCID:PMC1236721.© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved () Summary of domain organization and major landmarks of AtORC proteins deduced from their cDNA sequence. Regions with the highest homology to ORC proteins from other sources appear in grey. Putative CDK phosphorylation sites (closed circles), KEN boxes (empty circles) and D-boxes (bars) are also shown. Note the six domains (hatched) shared among plant and animal ORC1, ORC4 and ORC5 proteins and CDC6 and RFC1. Accession numbers of sequences reported here are: AtORC1a (AJ421410), AtORC1b (AJ426477), AtORC4 (CAE01428), AtORC5 (CAE01429) and AtORC6 (CAE01430). Sequences of AtORC2 and AtORC3 have been reported (U40269 and AY524002, respectively). () Pull-down assays of translated AtORC subunits (ORC2-6) with purified GST-ORC proteins. () Schematic representation of the interactions observed among the different AtORC subunits. Lines indicate direct interaction in the pull-down assays.

New Phytologist, 2016

Summary Plant growth and development require a continuous balance between cell division and diffe... more Summary Plant growth and development require a continuous balance between cell division and differentiation. In root meristems, differentiated cells acquire specialized functions, losing their mitotic potential. Some plant cells, such as pericycle cells, have a remarkable plasticity to regenerate new organs. The molecular mechanisms underlying cell reprogramming are not completely known. In this work, a functional screening of transcription factors identified Arabidopsis OBP4 (OBF Binding Protein 4) as a novel regulator of root growth and cell elongation and differentiation. Overexpression of OBP4 regulates the levels of a large number of transcripts in roots, many involved in hormonal signaling and callus formation. OBP4 controls cell elongation and differentiation in root cells. OBP4 does not induce cell division in the root meristem, but promotes pericycle cell proliferation, forming callus‐like structures at the root tip, as shown by the expression of stem cell markers. Callus f...

Journal of Experimental Botany, 2015

Polyploidy is a common event in plants that involves the acquisition of more than two complete se... more Polyploidy is a common event in plants that involves the acquisition of more than two complete sets of chromosomes. Allopolyploidy originates from interspecies hybrids while autopolyploidy originates from intraspecies whole genome duplication (WGD) events. In spite of inconveniences derived from chromosomic rearrangement during polyploidization, natural plant polyploids species often exhibit improved growth vigour and adaptation to adverse environments, conferring evolutionary advantages. These advantages have also been incorporated into crop breeding programmes. Many tetraploid crops show increased stress tolerance, although the molecular mechanisms underlying these different adaptation abilities are poorly known. Understanding the physiological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms coupled to WGD, in both allo-and autopolyploidy, is a major challenge. Over the last few years, several studies, many of them in Arabidopsis, are shedding light on the basis of genetic, genomic, and epigenomic changes linked to WGD. In this review we summarize and discuss the latest advances made in Arabidopsis polyploidy, but also in other agronomic plant species.

Investigacion y ciencia

Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021

BMC Plant Biology, 2020

Environmental and Experimental Botany

Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F... more Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F targets and the two genes are differently expressed in proliferating and endoreplicating cells"Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(17):5404-5414.Published online 22 Sep 2005PMCID:PMC1236721.© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved () Expression pattern of genes in different organs. Measurements were normalized to the amount of or and, then all the values made relative to the amount of present in the sample of aerial part of these seedlings (the lowest of all). Samples were prepared from aerial parts and root system of 12 day-old seedlings, young and mature rosette leaves, cauline leaves, stems, flowers at different stages or growth. () MM2d suspension cultured cells were sucrose-starved for 24 h and the amount of different AtORC mRNAs was determined by real-time RT–PCR, using the normalization procedure described for panel A. () MM2d suspension cultured cells, sucrose-starved for 24 h, were stimulated to re-enter the cell cycle, as described (). The amount of mRNA of several cell cycle marker genes () was determined at the indicated times after sucrose addition by real-time RT–PCR, as described in panel A. and were used as G1 markers, and histone , as S-phase markers and , as a G2/M marker (panel C). The mRNA levels of each gene (panel D) were determined at the indicated times after sucrose addition by real-time RT–PCR, as described in panel A. Numbers on top of the bars in panels C and D indicate the fold increase at the maximum level of expression relative to the value, in each case, obtained at time zero (arrested cells). In all cases, the RT–PCR measurements were repeated, at least, 2–3 times but error bars have been omitted for simplicity.

Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F... more Copyright information:Taken from "The genes encoding ORC subunits are E2F targets and the two genes are differently expressed in proliferating and endoreplicating cells"Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(17):5404-5414.Published online 22 Sep 2005PMCID:PMC1236721.© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved () Summary of domain organization and major landmarks of AtORC proteins deduced from their cDNA sequence. Regions with the highest homology to ORC proteins from other sources appear in grey. Putative CDK phosphorylation sites (closed circles), KEN boxes (empty circles) and D-boxes (bars) are also shown. Note the six domains (hatched) shared among plant and animal ORC1, ORC4 and ORC5 proteins and CDC6 and RFC1. Accession numbers of sequences reported here are: AtORC1a (AJ421410), AtORC1b (AJ426477), AtORC4 (CAE01428), AtORC5 (CAE01429) and AtORC6 (CAE01430). Sequences of AtORC2 and AtORC3 have been reported (U40269 and AY524002, respectively). () Pull-down assays of translated AtORC subunits (ORC2-6) with purified GST-ORC proteins. () Schematic representation of the interactions observed among the different AtORC subunits. Lines indicate direct interaction in the pull-down assays.

New Phytologist, 2016

Journal of Experimental Botany, 2015