1. |
- Kehoe, Laura, et al.
(author)
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Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable
- 2019
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 364:6438, s. 341-
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)
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2. |
- Kattge, Jens, et al.
(author)
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TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access
- 2020
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In: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 26:1, s. 119-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.
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3. |
- Ongay, Sara, et al.
(author)
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CIEF and MALDI-TOF-MS methods for analyzing forms of the glycoprotein VEGF165
- 2009
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In: Electrophoresis. - Weinheim : WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH. - 0173-0835 .- 1522-2683. ; 30:7, s. 1198-1205
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in different sicknesses (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other). Out of the many components of the VEGF family, the A splice variant with 165 amino acids (VEGF(165)) is the main component. in spite of the potential as biomarker that this protein has, information about its physico-chemical characteristics is scarce. In this study CIEF and MALDI-TOF-MS methods for intact recombinant human VEGF(165) are developed and applied to analyze this glycoprotein expressed in glycosylating (Sf 21 insect cells) and non-glycosylating (Escherichia coli) systems. Different parameters influencing the CIEF separation were studied. The developed CIEF method allowed for the separation of up to seven peaks in the VEGF(165) expressed in insect cells and up to three in VEGF(165) expressed in E. coli. The use of the presented method permits the estimation of the apparent pI of the different forms of VEGF(165) expressed in insect cells to be in a range of 6.8-8.2. The three peaks with intermediate pI values are observed in the protein expressed in both systems, insect cells and E. coli. The MALDI-TOF-MS method enabled to a rapid partial characterization of VEGF(165) based on its MS fingerprint. MALDI-MS analysis of VEGF(165) expressed in insect cells shows the presence of, at least, four forms or groups of forms of VEGF(165) as a result of the different PTMs of the protein. According to the MALDI-MS analysis, VEGF(165) expressed in E. coli was produced as a very homogeneous protein, although the results suggest the existence of some PTMs in the protein. The patterns of VEGF(165) of both origins obtained by CIEF and MALDI-MS indicate the possibility of using these analytical methods to compare samples from people with different pathophysiological conditions. This work is thus a starting point to make possible the study of the role of the various forms of VEGF(165) as biomarkers. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that intact VEGF(165) has been analyzed by CIEF and MALDI-TOF-MS.
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4. |
- Ongay, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Development of CE methods to analyze potential components of the angiogenic glycoprotein vascular endothelial growth factor 165
- 2009
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In: Electrophoresis. - : Wiley. - 0173-0835 .- 1522-2683. ; 30:2, s. 315-324
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) is the predominant form of thecomplex VEGF family. This glycoprotein has, among others, an angiogenic effect inmany physiological and pathological events. For this reason, its roles as a biomarker andas a therapeutic drug have been considered. However, very little is known about theexistence of different forms of VEGF165 arising from glycosylation and other potentialPTMs. This aspect is crucial because it is known that for other glycoproteins the ratiobetween these isoforms actually acts as a biomarker for certain diseases and otherphysiological states. In addition, for therapeutic use of glycoproteins it is known that thebiological activity may differ for the various isoforms. In this work CE methods toseparate up to seven peaks without baseline resolution containing various forms ofVEGF165 are developed. Using a computer program previously developed in-house peakassignment could be performed with accuracy close to 100%. In this way, comparisonbetween recombinant human VEGF165 expressed in insect cells, which is a glycosylatingsystem, and in Escherichia coli cells, which are unable of performing glycosylation ofproteins, has been possible. The methods developed, besides providing informationabout the existence of several forms of VEGF165, mean a starting point that permits thestudy of the role of VEGF165 as a potential biomarker of different diseases and physiologicalprocesses and to perform quality control of the recombinant drug duringmanufacturing. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that CE methods forVEGF165 have been developed.
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