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Nosso objetivo foi analisar o papel de uma trilha interpretativa como forma de passar conceitos de Educação Ambiental. Estruturada no entorno do Instituto de Física da Universidade Federal Fluminense, em Niterói, e contendo onze pontos interpretativos, a trilha foi aplicada em visitantes da Casa da Descoberta, o Museu de Ciências da UFF. Através da aplicação de questionários pré e pós-trilha, observou-se lacunas na formação dos visitantes de diferentes segmentos em relação à educação ambiental, um quadro que foi parcialmente revertido com a aplicação deste trabalho. Conclui-se que a trilha interpretativa é um dispositivo adequado para programas de Educação Ambiental no próprio espaço da universidade ressignificando os seus jardins para além dos fins estéticos, mas em espaços educativos.

Este artigo analisa a trajetória das colunas de divulgação científica publicadas no Jornal carioca A Manhã, de 1941 a 1949, mapeando seus temas, identificando seus autores, e analisando a importância e os desdobramentos desse espaço para a divulgação científica brasileira.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, all on-campus activities were required to be adapted to a distance-learning format, which was especially challenging for practical courses. Molecular biology is a mandatory course for biology undergraduates at Universidade Federal Fluminense. To overcome the impossibility of practical activities, we proposed problem-solving synthetic biology assignments to review and consolidate the knowledge acquired in the molecular biology course. A survey indicated that the synthetic biology challenges were effective to promote students' active learning and worked as a proper substitute to the practical classes.

The correct development of a diploid sporophyte body and a haploid gametophyte relies on a strict coordination between cell divisions in space and time. During plant reproduction, these divisions have to be temporally and spatially coordinated with cell differentiation processes, to ensure a successful fertilization. Armadillo BTB Arabidopsis protein 1 (ABAP1) is a plant exclusive protein that has been previously reported to control proliferative cell divisions during leaf growth in Arabidopsis. Here, we show that ABAP1 binds to different transcription factors that regulate male and female gametophyte differentiation, repressing their target genes expression. During male gametogenesis, the ABAP1-TCP16 complex repressesCDT1btranscription, and consequently regulates microspore first asymmetric mitosis. In the female gametogenesis, the ABAP1-ADAP complex repressesEDA24-liketranscription, regulating polar nuclei fusion to form the central cell. Therefore, besides its function during vegetative development, this work shows that ABAP1 is also involved in differentiation processes during plant reproduction, by having a dual role in regulating both the first asymmetric cell division of male gametophyte and the cell differentiation (or cell fusion) of female gametophyte.

Background DNA replication and transcription are dynamic processes regulating plant development that are dependent on the chromatin accessibility. Proteins belonging to the Agenet/Tudor domain family are known as histone modification “readers” and classified as chromatin remodeling proteins. Histone modifications and chromatin remodeling have profound effects on gene expression as well as on DNA replication, but how these processes are integrated has not been completely elucidated. It is clear that members of the Agenet/Tudor family are important regulators of development playing roles not well known in plants. Methods Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses of the Agenet/Tudor Family domain in the plant kingdom were carried out with sequences from available complete genomes databases. 3D structure predictions of Agenet/Tudor domains were calculated by I-TASSER server. Protein interactions were tested in two-hybrid, GST pulldown, semi-in vivo pulldown and Tandem Affinity Purification assays. Gene function was studied in a T-DNA insertion GABI-line. Results In the present work we analyzed the family of Agenet/Tudor domain proteins in the plant kingdom and we mapped the organization of this family throughout plant evolution. Furthermore, we characterized a member from Arabidopsis thaliana named AIP1 that harbors Agenet/Tudor and DUF724 domains. AIP1 interacts with ABAP1, a plant regulator of DNA replication licensing and gene transcription, with a plant histone modification “reader” (LHP1) and with non modified histones. AIP1 is expressed in reproductive tissues and its down-regulation delays flower development timing. Also, expression of ABAP1 and LHP1 target genes were repressed in flower buds of plants with reduced levels of AIP1. Conclusions AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein in plants that could act as a link between DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling during flower development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0641-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.