Loading...
Research Project
Centro de Química Estrutural
Funder
Authors
Publications
MOB: pivotal conserved proteins in cytokinesis, cell architecture and tissue homeostasis
Publication . Delgado, Inês L. S.; Carmona, Bruno; Nolasco, Sofia; Santos, Dulce; Leitão, Alexandre; Soares, Helena
The MOB family proteins are constituted by highly conserved eukaryote kinase signal adaptors that are often essential both for cell and organism survival. Historically, MOB family proteins have been described as kinase activators participating in Hippo and Mitotic Exit Network/ Septation Initiation Network (MEN/SIN) signaling pathways that have central roles in regulating cytokinesis, cell polarity, cell proliferation, and cell fate to control organ growth and regeneration. In metazoans, MOB proteins act as central signal adaptors of the core kinase module MST1/2, LATS1/2, and NDR1/2 kinases that phosphorylate the YAP/TAZ transcriptional co-activators, effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway. More recently, MOBs have been shown to also have non-kinase partners and to be involved in cilia biology, indicating that its activity and regulation is more diverse than expected. In this review, we explore the possible ancestral role of MEN/SIN pathways on the built-in nature of a more complex and functionally expanded Hippo pathway, by focusing on the most conserved components of these pathways, the MOB proteins. We discuss the current knowledge of MOBs-regulated signaling, with emphasis on its evolutionary history and role in morphogenesis, cytokinesis, and cell polarity from unicellular to multicellular organisms.
A thermogravimetric study of HDPE conversion under a reductive atmosphere
Publication . Costa, Cátia S.; MUÑOZ, MARTA; Ribeiro, M. Rosário; Silva, João
The plastic waste has suffered a dramatic increase and has become one of the biggest environmental problems nowadays. The chemical transformation of plastics by catalytic cracking under hydrogen atmosphere (hydrocracking) is one of the viable solutions to this problem since it can convert plastic residues into petrochemicals and fuels. In this work a thermogravimetric study of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conversion under hydrogen atmosphere and in the presence of catalysts with different textural and chemical features is presented. The effect of distinct micro (H-ZSM-5, H-FER and H-MOR) and mesoporous (SBA-15 and MCM-41) catalysts is studied, both in terms of energy requirements and products distribution. Moreover, the effects of sample preparation method, catalyst amount, Si/Al ratio and incorporation of a metallic function (Ni and Pt) are also analyzed. The results show that when MCM-41 and SBA-15 mesoporous silicas are added to HDPE no significant changes are observed in terms of the degradation profile. On the contrary, the use of microporous materials decreases significantly the onset of HDPE degradation temperature. The accessibility and acidic content of the materials proved to be the most important factors influencing the HDPE degradation profiles. Moreover, the introduction of a metal function results in a further shift to lower degradation temperatures and favors the liquid products distribution, promoting the formation of gasoline and diesel.
Viscosity and density measurements of poly(ethyleneglycol) 200 and poly(ethyleneglycol) 600 at high pressures
Publication . Sequeira, Maria Carolina; Avelino, Helena Maria Da Nóbrega Teixeira; Caetano, Fernando J. P.; Fareleira, João
New measurements for the viscosity and density of poly(ethyleneglycol) 200 [PEG 200] and of poly(ethyleneglycol) 600 [PEG 600], at pressures up to 50 MPa, are presented. The temperature range of the measurements performed for PEG 200 was from 293 to 348 K and for PEG 600 was from 303 to 348 K. A vibrating wire viscometer operated in the steady-state mode was used to carry out the measurements with an estimated overall uncertainty less than U(eta) = 0.02 center dot eta, for viscosities up to 68 mPa s, and less than U(eta) = 0.026 center dot eta, for higher viscosities with a confidence level of 0.95 (k = 2). Complementary density measurements for both PEGs were performed in the same ranges of temperature and pressure as for the viscosity measurements, using an Anton Paar HP vibrating tube densimeter, with an estimated overall uncertainty of about U(eta) = 0.002 center dot rho with a confidence level of 0.95 (k = 2). Moreover, pressure-viscosity coefficients were obtained for both PEGs. A method based on a dense hard-sphere fluid theory was used to correlate the viscosity data with the density, for both PEGs, with a deviation of the experimental results less than 1%. A modified Tait equation was used to correlate the density results with temperature and pressure.
Organizational Units
Description
Keywords
Contributors
Funders
Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Funding Award Number
UID/QUI/00100/2019