UC MEXUS Reporting Forms

Barbara Blanco-Ulate, Plant Science, UC Davis María Elena Santos Cervantes, Biotecnología Agrícola, Centro Interdisciplinario para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Sinaloa del Instituto Politécnico Nacional

Analysis of the cuticular resistance of papaya fruits (Carica papaya L.) to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum truncatum / Análisis de la resistencia cuticular de frutos de papaya (Carica papaya L.) a Colletotrichum gloesporioides y Colletotrichum truncatum

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Angela Brooks, Biomolecular Engineering, UC Santa Cruz Rebeca Débora Martínez Contreras, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla

Identification and reprogramming alternative splicing signatures relevant in prostate and breast cancer for the Mexican population / Identificación y re-programación de firmas de splicing alternativo relevantes para cáncer de próstata y de mama para la población mexicana 

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Mu-Chun Chen, Physics and Astronomy, UC Irvine Saúl Ramos Sánchez, Depto. Física Teórica, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Solving the flavor puzzle of particle physics / Resolviendo el problema de sabor de la física de partículas

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© 2021 University of California Alianza MX

Papaya is an economically important fruit due to its high nutritional and nutraceutical value. Mexico occupies third place in the global production, and it is the primary exporter to the United States market, with a value of more than $100 million dollars. Papaya fruit is a highly perishable and very susceptible to postharvest fungal infections, including anthracnose, which is mainly caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum truncatum. Several studies have shown that the resistance of some fruits to fungal pathogens is associated with the composition of the cuticle. Recent research by our group found one genotype with resistance to C. gloesporioides y C. truncatum. Currently, there are no molecular studies of the responses of papaya to anthracnose, the chemical composition of the cuticle in papaya fruits is unknown, and there is a lack of knowledge about the role of cuticular compounds in resistance against C. gloesporioides and C. truncatum. Here we propose to investigate the cuticular resistance of papaya fruits to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum truncatum. by: Analyzing the cuticle structure and composition of papaya genotypes displaying resistance and susceptibility to anthracnose, and determining molecular responses associated with the cuticular resistance of papaya fruit to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum truncatum. 

Barbara Blanco-Ulate, Plant Science, UC Davis

María Elena Santos Cervantes, Biotecnología Agrícola, Centro Interdisciplinario para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Sinaloa del Instituto Politécnico Nacional

Breast Cancer (BrCa) and Prostate Cancer (PCa) are among the most common and lethal types of cancer. Chemotherapeutic agents constitute the regular choice, but additional therapeutic targets are needed. The impact of splice variant expression is critical for understanding and treating cancer, but its actual role in cancer is starting to be elucidated. Our goal is to identify and correct splicing events that are specifically associated with BrCa and PCa in the Mexican population. We intend to use public databases such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) to identify BrCa- and PCa-associated splicing events. A collection of these events would be validated in BrCa and PCa cell lines versus normal cell lines from these tissues. Functional evaluation of these events will be assesed by analyzing cell growth, cell viability, apoptosis and metabolic behavior in cell lines. The identified splicing signatures will be targeted with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in order to modulate the use of splice sites towards inhibiting the cancer-related isoforms. Successfull ASOs could be tested for therapeuic purposes.

Angela Brooks, Biomolecular Engineering, UC Santa Cruz

Rebeca Débora Martínez Contreras, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla

The flavor puzzle concerns the pattern of masses of the elementary fermions of the standard model of particle physics. Specifically, the origin of mass and mixing parameters is unknown. That is, as of now there is no established theory of flavor. The aim of this project is to develop such a theory. Flavor symmetries are expected to play a key role in achieving this aim. In particular, newly available tools and ideas, such as modular flavor symmetries, may be instrumental to obtain a better understanding of the flavor sector. These symmetries will be derived from more complete settings such as string compactifications. Apart from progress in this research field, our project will set the foundations of a  fruitful collaboration, in which interested students can be exchanged among UCI and UNAM.