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Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso

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Cornejo Ibergallartu

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Alfonso

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Ciencias

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InaMat2. Instituto de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados y Matemáticas

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0000-0001-8810-0062

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2417

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 15
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Tryptophan levels as a marker of auxins and nitric oxide signaling
    (MDPI, 2022) López Gómez, Pedro; Smith, Edward N.; Bota, Pedro; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Urra Rodríguez, Marina; Buezo Bravo, Javier; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
    The aromatic amino acid tryptophan is the main precursor for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which involves various parallel routes in plants, with indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx) being one of the most common intermediates. Auxin signaling is well known to interact with free radical nitric oxide (NO) to perform a more complex effect, including the regulation of root organogenesis and nitrogen nutrition. To fathom the link between IAA and NO, we use a metabolomic approach to analyze the contents of low-molecular-mass molecules in cultured cells of Arabidopsis thaliana after the application of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), an NO donor or IAOx. We separated the crude extracts of the plant cells through ion-exchange columns, and subsequent fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), thus identifying 26 compounds. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on N-metabolism-related compounds, as classified by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The differences observed between controls and treatments are mainly explained by the differences in Trp contents, which are much higher in controls. Thus, the Trp is a shared response in both auxin- and NO-mediated signaling, evidencing some common signaling mechanism to both GSNO and IAOx. The differences in the low-molecularmass- identified compounds between GSNO- and IAOx-treated cells are mainly explained by their concentrations in benzenepropanoic acid, which is highly associated with IAA levels, and salicylic acid, which is related to glutathione. These results show that the contents in Trp can be a marker for the study of auxin and NO signaling.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Effects of polyols at low concentration on the release of sweet aroma compounds in model soda beverages
    (Elsevier, 2024) Barba González-Albo, Carmen; Angós Iturgaiz, Ignacio; Maté Caballero, Juan Ignacio; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
    This study investigated the effect of polyols erythritol, D-mannitol, and maltitol on the volatility of aroma compounds γ-butyrolactone, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and 2-phenylethanol in aqueous solution. Headspace solidphase microextraction/gas chromatography and diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were used to obtain information on aroma–food matrix interaction. Results demonstrated that adding polyols at final low concentrations of 5% or 10% (w/w) to an aqueous solution of 2-phenylethanol reduced the release of vapor-phase aromas, except in the case of 3-methyl-1-butanol, which was not affected by the presence of polyols in the liquid matrix. Polyols also reduced the diffusion coefficients of all three aroma compounds, probably due to friction between the molecules. At low polyol concentrations, aroma compound volatility and diffusion coefficient values were altered compared to those of aromas released from pure water. This observation is related to the physicochemical properties of the aroma compounds. These insights may help guide the use of the combination of aroma compounds and polyols in the formulation of sugar-free and reduced-sugar beverages. Chemical compounds: γ-butyrolactone (PubChem CID: 7302), 3-methyl-1-butanol (PubChem CID: 31260), 2-phenylethanol (PubChem CID: 6054), erythritol (PubChem CID: 222285), D-mannitol (PubChem CID: 6251), maltitol (PubChem CID: 493591).
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The importance of the urea cycle and its relationships to polyamine metabolism during ammonium stress in Medicago truncatula
    (Oxford University Press, 2022) Urra Rodríguez, Marina; Buezo Bravo, Javier; Royo Castillejo, Beatriz; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; López Gómez, Pedro; Cerdán Ruiz, Daniel; Esteban Terradillos, Raquel; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Gogorcena, Yolanda; Tavladoraki, Paraskevi; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Ciencias; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernuaren
    The ornithine–urea cycle (urea cycle) makes a signifcant contribution to the metabolic responses of lower photosynthetic eukaryotes to episodes of high nitrogen availability. In this study, we compared the role of the plant urea cycle and its relationships to polyamine metabolism in ammonium-fed and nitrate-fed Medicago truncatula plants. High ammonium resulted in the accumulation of ammonium and pathway intermediates, particularly glutamine, arginine, ornithine, and putrescine. Arginine decarboxylase activity was decreased in roots, suggesting that the ornithine decarboxylase-dependent production of putrescine was important in situations of ammonium stress. The activity of copper amine oxidase, which releases ammonium from putrescine, was signifcantly decreased in both shoots and roots. In addition, physiological concentrations of ammonium inhibited copper amine oxidase activity in in vitro assays, supporting the conclusion that high ammonium accumulation favors putrescine synthesis. Moreover, early supplementation of plants with putrescine avoided ammonium toxicity. The levels of transcripts encoding urea-cyclerelated proteins were increased and transcripts involved in polyamine catabolism were decreased under high ammonium concentrations. We conclude that the urea cycle and associated polyamine metabolism function as important protective mechanisms limiting ammonium toxicity in M. truncatula. These fndings demonstrate the relevance of the urea cycle to polyamine metabolism in higher plants.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Extraction of phenolic compounds from populus salicaceae bark
    (MDPI, 2022) Autor, E.; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Bimbela Serrano, Fernando; Maisterra Udi, Maitane; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate
    Lignocellulosic residues have the potential for obtaining high value-added products that could be better valorized if biorefinery strategies are adopted. The debarking of short-rotation crops yields important amounts of residues that are currently underexploited as low-grade fuel and could be a renewable source of phenolic compounds and other important phytochemicals. The isolation of these compounds can be carried out by different methods, but for attaining an integral valorization of barks, a preliminary extraction step for phytochemicals should be included. Using optimized extraction methods based on Soxhlet extraction can be effective for the isolation of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. In this study, poplar bark (Populus Salicaceae) was used to obtain a series of extracts using five different solvents in a sequential extraction of 24 h each in a Soxhlet extractor. Selected solvents were put in contact with the bark sample raffinate following an increasing order of polarity: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The oily residues of the extracts obtained after each extraction were further subjected to flash chromatography, and the fractions obtained were characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity (AOA) of the samples was evaluated in their reaction with the free radical 2,2-Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH method). Polar solvents allowed for higher individual extraction yields, with overall extraction yields at around 23% (dry, ash-free basis). Different compounds were identified, including hydrolyzable tannins, phenolic monomers such as catechol and vanillin, pentoses and hexoses, and other organic compounds such as long-chain alkanes, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, among others. An excellent correlation was found between TPC and antioxidant activity for the samples analyzed. The fractions obtained using methanol showed the highest phenolic content (608 g of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg) and the greatest antioxidant activity.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Exploring a low-cost valorization route for amazonian cocoa pod husks through thermochemical and catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis vapors
    (ACS Publications, 2023) Villasana, Yanet; Armenise, Sabino; Ábrego, Javier; Atienza Martínez, María; Hablich Alvarracin, Karina Lissett; Bimbela Serrano, Fernando; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
    Ecuador as an international leader in the production of cocoa beans produced more than 300 000 tons in 2021; hence, the management and valorization of the 2 MM tons of waste generated annually by this industry have a strategic and socioeconomic value. Consequently, appropriate technologies to avoid environmental problems and promote sustainable development and the bioeconomy, especially considering that this is a megadiverse country, are of the utmost relevance. For this reason, we explored a low-cost pyrolysis route for valorizing cocoa pod husks from Ecuador’s Amazonian region, aiming at producing pyrolysis liquids (bio-oil), biochar, and gas as an alternative chemical source from cocoa residues in the absence of hydrogen. Downstream catalytic processing of hot pyrolysis vapors using Mo- and/or Ni-based catalysts and standalone γ-Al2O3 was applied for obtaining upgraded bio-oils in a laboratory-scale fixed bed reactor, at 500 °C in a N2 atmosphere. As a result, bimetallic catalysts increased the bio-oil aqueous phase yield by 6.6%, at the expense of the organic phase due to cracking reactions according to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) results. Overall product yield remained constant, in comparison to pyrolysis without any downstream catalytic treatment (bio-oil ∼39.0–40.0 wt % and permanent gases 24.6–26.6 wt %). Ex situ reduced and passivated MoNi/γ-Al2O3 led to the lowest organic phase and highest aqueous phase yields. The product distribution between the two liquid phases was also modified by the catalytic upgrading experiments carried out, according to heteronuclear single-quantum correlation (HSQC), total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), and NMR analyses. The detailed composition distribution reported here shows the chemical production potential of this residue and serves as a starting point for subsequent valorizing technologies and/or processes in the food and nonfood industry beneficiating society, environment, economy, and research.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Innovative catalyst integration on transparent silicone microreactors for photocatalytic applications
    (Elsevier, 2022) Pellejero, Ismael; Clemente, Alberto; Reinoso, Santiago; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Navajas León, Alberto; Vesperinas Oroz, José Javier; Urbiztondo, Miguel A.; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
    Reproducible and controllable incorporation and immobilization of catalysts and other active particles onto silicone microreactor channels is still challenging. In this work, we present an innovative fabrication protocol to attain affordable, custom-designed photocatalytic microreactors in a fast and simple manner. In this protocol, a 3D-printed ABS microreactor mold is first dip-coated with the photocatalyst, and subsequently, the catalytic layer is transferred onto the microchannel walls by indirect immobilization during the silicone casting and scaffold removal step. Serpentine-shaped microreactors have been satisfactorily fabricated with Au@POM-impregnated TiO2 nanoparticles (Au@POM/TiO2; Au 0.18 % w/w, POM: H3PW12O40) as the integrated photocatalytic layer. The suitability of our fabrication method has been validated on the basis of the excellent photocatalytic performance shown by the microreactors in a model test reaction such as the continuous-flow photoreduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol with NaBH4 and monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Systematic diffusion-ordered spectroscopy for the selective determination of molecular weight in real lignins and fractions arising from base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction mixtures
    (American Chemical Society, 2020) Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; García Yoldi, Íñigo; Galilea Gonzalo, Rebeca; Hablich Alvarracin, Karina Lissett; Gil Idoate, María José; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
    The valorization of biorefinery downstream lignin fractions is a key issue in increasing the sustainability of second-generation biofuels. The development of reliable methodologies for the selective determination of the apparent masses of the poly(hydroxy)-aromatic ethers arising from lignin depolymerization reaction is crucial. Diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) has been tested to estimate the molecular weight in downstream biorefinery lignins and base-catalyzed depolymerization reaction mixtures. Excellent correlation was found in the calibration of molecular weight and diffusion coefficients with standards. DOSY permitted the selective estimation of the apparent masses of different fractions in the lignin and in the depolymerization reaction mixtures, providing a more profound knowledge of the reaction mixture composition than that obtained with traditional size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Excellent correlations have been achieved in the estimation of the apparent masses of poly(hydroxy)-aromatic ethers between SEC and DOSY. This permits a reliable estimation of the molecular weight of different fractions in the lignin and in the depolymerization product, which is essential for their further applications.
  • PublicationEmbargo
    A new oxidative pathway of nitric oxide production from oximes in plants
    (Cell Press, 2024) López Gómez, Pedro; Buezo Bravo, Javier; Urra Rodríguez, Marina; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Esteban Terradillos, Raquel; Fernández de los Reyes, Jorge; Urarte Rodríguez, Estíbaliz; Rodríguez-Dobreva, Estefanía; Chamizo Ampudia, Alejandro; Eguaras, Alejandro; Wolf, Sebastian; Marino Bilbao, Daniel; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
    Nitric oxide (NO) is an essential reactive oxygen species and a signal molecule in plants. Although several studies have proposed the occurrence of oxidative NO production, only reductive routes for NO production, such as the nitrate (NO-3) -upper-reductase pathway, have been evidenced to date in land plants. However, plants grown axenically with ammonium as the sole source of nitrogen exhibit contents of nitrite and NO3, evidencing the existence of a metabolic pathway for oxidative production of NO. We hypothesized that ox- imes, such as indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx), a precursor to indole-3-acetic acid, are intermediate oxidation products in NO synthesis. We detected the production of NO from IAOx and other oximes catalyzed by peroxidase (POD) enzyme using both 4-amino-5-methylamino-20,70-difluorescein fluorescence and chem- iluminescence. Flavins stimulated the reaction, while superoxide dismutase inhibited it. Interestingly, mouse NO synthase can also use IAOx to produce NO at a lower rate than POD. We provided a full mech- anism for POD-dependent NO production from IAOx consistent with the experimental data and supported by density functional theory calculations. We showed that the addition of IAOx to extracts from Medicago truncatula increased the in vitro production of NO, while in vivo supplementation of IAOx and other oximes increased the number of lateral roots, as shown for NO donors, and a more than 10-fold increase in IAOx dehydratase expression. Furthermore, we found that in vivo supplementation of IAOx increased NO pro- duction in Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type plants, while prx33-34 mutant plants, defective in POD33-34, had reduced production. Our data show that the release of NO by IAOx, as well as its auxinic effect, explain the superroot phenotype. Collectively, our study reveals that plants produce NO utilizing diverse molecules such as oximes, POD, and flavins, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom, thus intro- ducing a long-awaited oxidative pathway to NO production in plants. This knowledge has essential impli- cations for understanding signaling in biological systems.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Production of aromatic compounds by catalytic depolymerization of technical and downstream biorefinery lignins
    (MDPI, 2020) Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Bimbela Serrano, Fernando; García Yoldi, Íñigo; Maisterra Udi, Maitane; Gandía Pascual, Luis; Martínez Merino, Víctor; Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Ciencias; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, PC036-037 Biovalorización; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
    Lignocellulosic materials are promising alternatives to non-renewable fossil sources when producing aromatic compounds. Lignins from Populus salicaceae., Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster from industrial wastes and biorefinery effluents were isolated and characterized. Lignin was depolymerized using homogenous (NaOH) and heterogeneous (Ni-, Cu-or Ni-Cu-hydrotalcites) base catalysis and catalytic hydrogenolysis using Ru/C. When homogeneous base catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) and Ru/C hydrogenolysis were combined on poplar lignin, the aromatics amount was ca. 11 wt.%. Monomer distributions changed depending on the feedstock and the reaction conditions. Aqueous NaOH produced cleavage of the alkyl side chain that was preserved when using modified hydrotalcite catalysts or Ru/C-catalyzed hydrogenolysis in ethanol. Depolymerization using hydrotalcite catalysts in ethanol produced monomers bearing carbonyl groups on the alkyl side chain. The analysis of the reaction mixtures was done by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and diffusion ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DOSY NMR).31P NMR and heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectroscopy (HSQC) were also used in this study. The content in poly-(hydroxy)-aromatic ethers in the reaction mixtures decreased upon thermal treatments in ethanol. It was concluded that thermo-solvolysis is key in lignin depolymerization, and that the synergistic effect of Ni and Cu provided monomers with oxidized alkyl side chains.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Indole-3-acetaldoxime delays root iron-deficiency responses and modify auxin homeostasis in medicago truncatula
    (Elsevier, 2023) Roman, Angela; Montenegro, Joaquín; Fraile, Laura; Urra Rodríguez, Marina; Buezo Bravo, Javier; Cornejo Ibergallartu, Alfonso; Morán Juez, José Fernando; Gogorcena, Yolanda; Ciencias; Zientziak; Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology - IMAB; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
    Iron (Fe) is an essential plant micronutrient, being a major limiting growth factor in calcareous soils. To increase Fe uptake, plants induce lateral roots growth, the expression of a Fe(III)-chelate reductase (FCR), a Fe(II)-transporter and a H+-ATPase and the secretion of flavins. Furthermore, auxin hormone family is involved in the Fe-deficiency responses but the action mechanism remains elusive. In this work, we evaluated the effect of the auxin-precursor indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOx) on hydroponically grown Medicago truncatula plants under different Fe conditions. Upon 4-days of Fe starvation, the pH of the nutrient solution decreased, while both the FCR activity and the presence of flavins increased. Exogenous IAOx increased lateral roots growth contributing to superroot phenotype, decreased chlorosis, and delayed up to 3-days the pH-decrease, the FCR-activity increase, and the presence of flavins, compared to Fe-deficient plants. Gene expression levels were in concordance with the physiological responses. Results: showed that IAOx was immediately transformed to IAN in roots and shoots to maintain auxin homeostasis. IAOx plays an active role in iron homeostasis delaying symptoms and responses in Fe-deficient plants. We may speculate that IAOx or its derivatives remobilize Fe from root cells to alleviate Fe-deficiency. Overall, these results point out that the IAOx-derived phenotype may have advantages to overcome nutritional stresses.