Francisco Alonso - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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Papers by Francisco Alonso
Plant Physiology, 2000
The last step in the synthesis of lignin and suberin has been proposed to be catalyzed by peroxid... more The last step in the synthesis of lignin and suberin has been proposed to be catalyzed by peroxidases, although other proteins may also be involved. To determine which peroxidases are involved in the synthesis of lignin and suberin, five peroxidases from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) roots, representing the majority of the peroxidase activity in this organ, have been partially purified and characterized kinetically. The purified peroxidases with isoelectric point (pI) values of 3.6 and 9.6 showed the highest catalytic efficiency when the substrate used was syringaldazine, an analog of lignin monomer. Using a combination of transgenic expression and antibody recognition, we now show that the peroxidase pI 9.6 is probably encoded by TPX1, a tomato peroxidase gene we have previously isolated. In situ RNA hybridization revealed that TPX1 expression is restricted to cells undergoing synthesis of lignin and suberin. Salt stress has been reported to induce the synthesis of lignin and/or suberin. This stress applied to tomato caused changes in the expression pattern of TPX1 and induced the TPX1 protein. We propose that the TPX1 product is involved in the synthesis of lignin and suberin.
Building and Environment, 2003
This paper studies the black soiling rate of building granite, marble and limestones in two urban... more This paper studies the black soiling rate of building granite, marble and limestones in two urban environments with di erent climates. Specimens were placed horizontally, sheltered and unsheltered from rainfall. Colour changes were monitored. Changes in L * were utilised to determine the total darkening of the stones and their soiling rate and were compared by statistical analysis.
Color Research and Application, 2007
This article investigates the impact of sulfur dioxide attack, deposition of dark particles in ur... more This article investigates the impact of sulfur dioxide attack, deposition of dark particles in urban environments and laser cleaning with Nd:YAG 1064 nm on color change in a range of ornamental limestones. We have used the CIELAB and CIELCH systems to compare the relative importance of the variation of each coordinate for the color change. Sulfur dioxide and dark particle deposition seems to increase the chroma, most particularly in the yellow component. Particle deposition also leads to an obvious darkening of stone surfaces. Laser irradiation at 1064 nm affects the red component of limestone, particularly if they already possess a reddish color. In general, the more intense the original color of the stone the greater are the chromatic changes, but the direction change of the color-parameter affected by a particular process remains the same. It has always been apparent in an atmosphere heavily polluted with soot that the main changes to light-colored stones are the exponential decrease in the parameter L* (darkening–blackening). This has important aesthetic and social implications. However, in the near future it may be that in cleaner atmospheres, perhaps more dominated by organic pollutants, a yellowing process may be of greater concern. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 320–331, 2007
Atmospheric Environment, 2001
A methodology to collect and analyse atmospheric particulate matter has been developed at the Cat... more A methodology to collect and analyse atmospheric particulate matter has been developed at the Cathedral of Burgos (Spain). Particles were collected in a portable particle sampler on carbon layers and stone surfaces. The analyses were undertaken under SEM-EDX by means X-ray mapping and Featurescan (a program for the automated characterisation of particles). To determine their possible sources, particles collected in the sampler and on carbon layers were classi"ed according to their composition, mainly by cluster analysis. Then, they were compared with those deposited on stone surfaces. This classi"cation is useful when a plan of preventive conservation for monuments is to be undertaken. In general, no important di!erences are observed between the chemical composition of particles directly collected from the atmosphere and those deposited on di!erent substrates. Fine particles present the highest sulphur contents (almost 100%), while calcium is the major element in the medium and coarse particles. Other abundant elements are silicon, chlorine and phosphorus. The number of iron-rich particles is small. The study of the material deposited on carbon layers and stone substrates has con"rmed the presence of gypsum in all cases.
Archives of Toxicology, 2008
Oxidative stress can be defined as the imbalance between cellular oxidant species production and ... more Oxidative stress can be defined as the imbalance between cellular oxidant species production and antioxidant capability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in a variety of different cellular processes ranging from apoptosis and necrosis to cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. In fact, molecular events, such as induction of cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and oxidative DNA damage have been proposed to be critically involved in carcinogenesis. Carcinogenicity and aging are characterized by a set of complex endpoints, which appear as a series of molecular reactions. ROS can modify many intracellular signaling pathways including protein phosphatases, protein kinases, and transcription factors, suggesting that the majority of the effects of ROS are through their actions on signaling pathways rather than via non-specific damage of macromolecules; however, exact mechanisms by which redox status induces cells to proliferate or to die, and how oxidative stress can lead to processes evoking tumor formation are still under investigation.
Biochemical Journal, 2000
Biochemical Journal, 2000
Phosphate-activated glutaminase has a critical role in tumours and rapidly dividing cells and its... more Phosphate-activated glutaminase has a critical role in tumours and rapidly dividing cells and its activity is correlated with malignancy. Ehrlich ascites tumour cells transfected with the pcDNA3 vector containing an antisense segment (0.28 kb) of rat kidney glutaminase showed impairment in the growth rate and plating efficiency, as well as a shortage in the glutaminase protein and activity. The C-terminal segment used is well conserved in all glutaminase sequences known. The transfected cells, named 0.28AS-2, displayed remarkable changes in their morphology compared with the parental cell line. The 0.28AS-2 cells also lost their tumourigenic capacity in i o. Control mice developed an
Plant Physiology, 2000
The last step in the synthesis of lignin and suberin has been proposed to be catalyzed by peroxid... more The last step in the synthesis of lignin and suberin has been proposed to be catalyzed by peroxidases, although other proteins may also be involved. To determine which peroxidases are involved in the synthesis of lignin and suberin, five peroxidases from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) roots, representing the majority of the peroxidase activity in this organ, have been partially purified and characterized kinetically. The purified peroxidases with isoelectric point (pI) values of 3.6 and 9.6 showed the highest catalytic efficiency when the substrate used was syringaldazine, an analog of lignin monomer. Using a combination of transgenic expression and antibody recognition, we now show that the peroxidase pI 9.6 is probably encoded by TPX1, a tomato peroxidase gene we have previously isolated. In situ RNA hybridization revealed that TPX1 expression is restricted to cells undergoing synthesis of lignin and suberin. Salt stress has been reported to induce the synthesis of lignin and/or suberin. This stress applied to tomato caused changes in the expression pattern of TPX1 and induced the TPX1 protein. We propose that the TPX1 product is involved in the synthesis of lignin and suberin.
Building and Environment, 2003
This paper studies the black soiling rate of building granite, marble and limestones in two urban... more This paper studies the black soiling rate of building granite, marble and limestones in two urban environments with di erent climates. Specimens were placed horizontally, sheltered and unsheltered from rainfall. Colour changes were monitored. Changes in L * were utilised to determine the total darkening of the stones and their soiling rate and were compared by statistical analysis.
Color Research and Application, 2007
This article investigates the impact of sulfur dioxide attack, deposition of dark particles in ur... more This article investigates the impact of sulfur dioxide attack, deposition of dark particles in urban environments and laser cleaning with Nd:YAG 1064 nm on color change in a range of ornamental limestones. We have used the CIELAB and CIELCH systems to compare the relative importance of the variation of each coordinate for the color change. Sulfur dioxide and dark particle deposition seems to increase the chroma, most particularly in the yellow component. Particle deposition also leads to an obvious darkening of stone surfaces. Laser irradiation at 1064 nm affects the red component of limestone, particularly if they already possess a reddish color. In general, the more intense the original color of the stone the greater are the chromatic changes, but the direction change of the color-parameter affected by a particular process remains the same. It has always been apparent in an atmosphere heavily polluted with soot that the main changes to light-colored stones are the exponential decrease in the parameter L* (darkening–blackening). This has important aesthetic and social implications. However, in the near future it may be that in cleaner atmospheres, perhaps more dominated by organic pollutants, a yellowing process may be of greater concern. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 320–331, 2007
Atmospheric Environment, 2001
A methodology to collect and analyse atmospheric particulate matter has been developed at the Cat... more A methodology to collect and analyse atmospheric particulate matter has been developed at the Cathedral of Burgos (Spain). Particles were collected in a portable particle sampler on carbon layers and stone surfaces. The analyses were undertaken under SEM-EDX by means X-ray mapping and Featurescan (a program for the automated characterisation of particles). To determine their possible sources, particles collected in the sampler and on carbon layers were classi"ed according to their composition, mainly by cluster analysis. Then, they were compared with those deposited on stone surfaces. This classi"cation is useful when a plan of preventive conservation for monuments is to be undertaken. In general, no important di!erences are observed between the chemical composition of particles directly collected from the atmosphere and those deposited on di!erent substrates. Fine particles present the highest sulphur contents (almost 100%), while calcium is the major element in the medium and coarse particles. Other abundant elements are silicon, chlorine and phosphorus. The number of iron-rich particles is small. The study of the material deposited on carbon layers and stone substrates has con"rmed the presence of gypsum in all cases.
Archives of Toxicology, 2008
Oxidative stress can be defined as the imbalance between cellular oxidant species production and ... more Oxidative stress can be defined as the imbalance between cellular oxidant species production and antioxidant capability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in a variety of different cellular processes ranging from apoptosis and necrosis to cell proliferation and carcinogenesis. In fact, molecular events, such as induction of cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and oxidative DNA damage have been proposed to be critically involved in carcinogenesis. Carcinogenicity and aging are characterized by a set of complex endpoints, which appear as a series of molecular reactions. ROS can modify many intracellular signaling pathways including protein phosphatases, protein kinases, and transcription factors, suggesting that the majority of the effects of ROS are through their actions on signaling pathways rather than via non-specific damage of macromolecules; however, exact mechanisms by which redox status induces cells to proliferate or to die, and how oxidative stress can lead to processes evoking tumor formation are still under investigation.
Biochemical Journal, 2000
Biochemical Journal, 2000
Phosphate-activated glutaminase has a critical role in tumours and rapidly dividing cells and its... more Phosphate-activated glutaminase has a critical role in tumours and rapidly dividing cells and its activity is correlated with malignancy. Ehrlich ascites tumour cells transfected with the pcDNA3 vector containing an antisense segment (0.28 kb) of rat kidney glutaminase showed impairment in the growth rate and plating efficiency, as well as a shortage in the glutaminase protein and activity. The C-terminal segment used is well conserved in all glutaminase sequences known. The transfected cells, named 0.28AS-2, displayed remarkable changes in their morphology compared with the parental cell line. The 0.28AS-2 cells also lost their tumourigenic capacity in i o. Control mice developed an