Bmi1过表达通过促进增殖、抑制凋亡纠正活性维生素D缺乏引起的骨量降低

摘要 目的：探索B淋巴瘤Mo-MLV插入区1（B cell-specific MLV integration site-1, Bmi-1）过表达能否通过促进增殖、抑制凋亡改善1,25-二羟基维生素D (1,25-dihydroxy vitamin d,1,25(OH) ₂D)缺乏引起的小鼠骨质骨量丢失。方法：取8月龄Bmi-1 ^Tg 、Bmi1 ^Tg 1α(OH)ase^+/-与 1α(OH)ase^+/-小鼠以及同窝野生型（wild type, WT）小鼠椎骨组织,通过流式细胞术及TUNEL染色检测间充质干细胞周期变化及凋亡水平,通过PCNA染色及免疫组织化学染色检测小鼠椎骨组织中Bcl-2、Caspase-3等指标的变化,通过Western blot检测小鼠椎骨中Caspase-3、CDK4、CDK6、OPN、OCN等蛋白表达量的差异,通过ALP染色检查成骨细胞骨形成水平。结果：在骨髓间充质干细胞中过表达Bmi1可以通过促进增殖,抑制凋亡、增加成骨细胞骨形成来纠正1α(OH)ase^+/-小鼠的骨量降低。结论：Bmi1是1,25(OH) ₂D的关键下游靶点,在防止1,25(OH) ₂D缺乏引起的骨丢失方面起着至关重要的作用。     

Chk2在Bmi1缺失所致的肾脏早衰和纤维化中的作用和机制研究

摘要 目的：探究细胞周期检测点激酶2（cell-cycle checkpoint kinase 2，Chk2）在B淋巴瘤Mo-MLV插入区1（B cell-specific MLV integration site-1，Bmi1）缺失所致的肾脏早衰和纤维化中的作用及可能的机制。方法：取5周龄WT、Bmi1^-/-、Chk2^-/-、Bmi1^-/-Chk2^-/-小鼠肾脏，采用HE染色观察肾脏结构变化，采用免疫荧光和Masson染色观察肾脏纤维化情况，采用衰老相关β半乳糖苷酶（Senescence-associated β-galactosidase，SA-β-gal）染色观察肾脏衰老情况，采用免疫组化染色和western blot观察肾脏超氧化物歧化酶1（Superoxide Dismutase 1，SOD1）、超氧化物歧化酶2（Superoxide Dismutase 2，SOD2）表达水平和定位。从5周龄WT、Bmi1^-/-、Chk2^-/-、Bmi1^-/-Chk2^-/-小鼠肾脏皮质中提取和分离原代肾小管上皮细胞，采用免疫荧光和western blot检测其SOD1、SOD2表达水平。结果：与WT小鼠肾脏组织相比，Bmi1^-/-小鼠肾脏组织表现为体积变小、肾脏皮质厚度减少、肾小球数量减少，β-gal活性增加，SOD1和SOD2水平降低；与Bmi1^-/-小鼠肾脏相比，Bmi1^-/-Chk2^-/-小鼠肾脏体积增大、肾脏皮质厚度增加，肾小球数量增多，β-gal活性降低，SOD1和SOD2水平增加。与WT小鼠肾脏皮质原代肾小管上皮细胞相比，Bmi1^-/-小鼠肾脏皮质原代肾小管上皮细胞中SOD1和SOD2水平；与Bmi1^-/-小鼠肾脏皮质原代肾小管上皮细胞相比，Bmi1^-/-Chk2^-/-小鼠肾脏皮质原代肾小管上皮细胞中抗氧化指标SOD1和SOD2增加。结论：Chk2通过抑制肾小管上皮细胞的抗氧化能力促进Bmi1缺失所致的肾脏早衰和纤维化。     

smc5基因敲除斑马鱼肝脏转录组学分析

摘要 目的：探讨smc5基因敲除对斑马鱼肝脏基因表达谱的影响,进一步明确smc5突变对斑马鱼代谢的影响。方法：用CRISPR/Cas9技术构建smc5基因敲除斑马鱼模型,取3个月的smc5^-/-和野生型斑马鱼肝脏进行转录组测序,创建基因表达谱文库,观察smc5基因敲除后斑马鱼肝脏基因表达谱的变化,将筛选出的差异表达基因进行功能富集,并运用荧光定量PCR对KEGG通路中显著的差异表达基因进行验证。结果：成功构建出7号外显子上2碱基缺失造成移码突变的smc5基因敲除斑马鱼模型。RNA-seq发现smc5^-/-斑马鱼的肝脏基因表达谱变化显著,包含p53的多个通路激活,如细胞周期和凋亡。糖酵解、脂肪酸降解与代谢、丙酮酸代谢等相关通路显著下调。荧光定量PCR结果与RNA-seq结果一致。结论：smc5基因敲除下调斑马鱼肝脏糖脂代谢。本研究结果为进一步研究SMC5基因在糖脂代谢调控中的潜在机制奠定基础。     

室间隔缺损ALK3下游相关基因的初步研究

了解ALK3在心脏发育中的作用,探索室间隔缺损的特异相关基因及其信号传导途径。应用α-MHC-Cre/lox P系统,建立了心脏ALK3基因敲除小鼠模型,利用PCR选择性cDNA差异显示法和基因芯片扫描(RNA microarray)的方法,比较对照组和试验组mRNA表达水平,筛选ALK3下游基因。对照组的mRNA来自α-MHC-Cre^+/-ALK3^F/＋的11.5d小鼠胚胎心脏,试验组的mRNA来自α-MHC-Cre^+/-ALK3^F/-的11.5d小鼠胚胎心脏。心脏特异的ALK3基因敲除后,血小板激活因子乙酰水解酶及转录因子Pax-8等基因的表达水平下降,β亚类14-3-3蛋白及蛋白酪氨酸激酶等基因的表达水平上调。血小板激活因子乙酰水解酶及转录因子Pax-8等基因可能是ALK3重要的下游基因,与室间隔缺损的形成有关;β亚类14-3-3蛋白及蛋白酪氨酸激酶等基因是骨形态形成蛋白信号传导途径的调控因子。     

组蛋白去乙酰化酶3对外周CD4+ T细胞分化的影响

目的 探讨组蛋白去乙酰化酶3（HDAC3）对外周CD4⁺ T细胞分化及功能的调控作用。方法 采用CD4cre酶介导Hdac3杂合基因缺失小鼠（Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-）及其野生型正常对照小鼠（Hdac3^fl/fl，WT），流式细胞术检测HDAC3缺失对外周CD4⁺和CD8⁺ T细胞比例和数量的影响；在体外佛波酯（PMA）和离子霉素（Ionomycin）刺激条件下，流式细胞术检测HDAC3缺失对CD4⁺ T细胞中IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17A的表达以及Tfh细胞产生的影响；采用ELISA检测HDAC3缺失对小鼠血清IFN-γ、IL-4和IL-17表达的影响；分选Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-和WT小鼠外周初始CD4⁺ T细胞，分别在Th1和Th2分化条件下培养，细胞内染色检测HDAC3缺失对Th1、Th2以及Th17相关细胞因子及其特异转录因子表达的影响；采用Microarray检测HDAC3缺失对CD4⁺ T细胞分化亚群相关基因表达的影响；采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）处理小鼠构建I型糖尿病（TIDM）疾病模型，检测HDAC3缺失对T1DM发病的影响。结果 与WT小鼠相比，Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-小鼠外周CD4⁺和CD8⁺ T细胞的比例和数量显著降低。Hdac3^fl/flCD4^cre+/-小鼠CD4⁺ T细胞及血清中IFN-γ的表达显著降低，而IL-4和IL-17A的表达显著增加，Tfh细胞比例也显著增加；HDAC3缺失抑制体外培养CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1分化但促进其向Th2分化；Microarray检测发现HDAC3缺失导致Th1型细胞谱系基因表达降低，而Th2、Th17以及Tfh细胞谱系基因表达增加；在STZ诱导条件下，HDAC3缺失抑制小鼠T1DM的发生和CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1分化。结论 HDAC3促进外周CD4⁺ T细胞向Th1细胞分化并加重T1DM的发生。     

活性维生素D缺乏诱发与衰老相关的特发性肺纤维化

摘要 目的：研究活性维生素D缺乏致小鼠肺纤维化的作用与机制。方法：取7周龄同窝野生型（Wild Type, WT）小鼠,维生素D缺乏（1α(OH)ase^-/-）小鼠置于肺功能检测仪器中,对其吸气时间,最大吸气流速、呼出50%气量时对应的呼气流速、潮气量、分钟通气量,呼吸频率等指标进行分析。培养小鼠原代肺成纤维细胞,按基因型分为对照组、活性维生素D缺乏组,之后分组检测细胞SA-β-gal阳性率。另外取小鼠肺组织样本多聚甲醛固定后脱水浸蜡以制作石蜡组织切片, 对各组切片进行HE、Masson染色以观察肺的组织学形态的变化,使用免疫组织化学观察肺组织中的衰老相关蛋白（p16、p53）的表达量差异。结果：相较于同窝WT小鼠,1α(OH)ase^-/-小鼠通气功能显著减弱,肺成纤维细胞衰老程度和肺组织纤维化程度均有不同程度增加,且免疫组化结果显示肺组织中与衰老相关的p53及p16阳性的细胞也显著增加。结论：活性维生素D的缺乏能够诱发与衰老相关的特发性肺纤维化,可能的机制是通过激活p53/p16信号引发肺成纤维细胞提前衰老,继而引起肺组织异常纤维化。     

CIC通过激活棕色脂肪组织逆转高脂膳食诱导的肥胖

摘要 目的：探讨慢性间歇性冷暴露（Chronic intermittent cold exposure,CIC）干预对小鼠棕色脂肪组织的影响及其作用机制。方法：利用高脂饲料喂养C57BL/6小鼠,建立肥胖小鼠模型,同时给予CIC处理。将动物随机分为4组：对照组（Con组）、慢性间歇性冷暴露组（CIC组）、高脂组（HF组）、高脂冷暴露组（HF+CIC组）,每组6只小鼠;CIC干预过程中,检测小鼠体重、肛温等数据。CIC处理16周后,麻醉处死小鼠取肩胛部位棕色脂肪组织, HE染色法观察棕色脂肪组织的形态学改变,Western blotting和q-PCR 检测棕色脂肪组织Cirbp、PPAR-γ、C/EBPα、PGC-1α、UCP-1等信号分子表达情况。结果：肛温变化结果显示,干预初期小鼠冷暴露前后肛温差较大,冷适应后各组无显著性差异;与Con组相比,HF组小鼠体重升高、棕色脂肪占体重的比例下降,棕色脂肪组织中Cirbp、PPAR-γ、C/EBPα表达增高,PGC-1α、UCP-1表达下降（P<0.05）;与HF组相比,HF+CIC组小鼠体重下降、棕色脂肪占体重的比例增高,棕色脂肪组织中Cirbp、PPAR-γ、C/EBPα表达下调,PGC-1α、UCP-1表达上调（P<0.05）。结论：CIC可能是通过激活Cirbp,影响PPAR-γ-PGC-1α-UCP-1信号通路的表达变化从而对棕色脂肪组织的活化产生影响,起到防治肥胖的作用。     

花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢氧化失活PTEN促进结直肠癌生长

摘要 目的：本研究旨在阐明过表达COX-2的结直肠癌中花生四烯酸代谢与PTEN及其下游通路的相互关系。方法：利用过表达COX-2结直肠癌细胞系CT26和Apc ^Min/+小鼠腺瘤模型,联合花生四烯酸、COX-2抑制剂NS-398和COX-2基因敲除的干预,采用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡、细胞周期及活性氧的产生;Transwell和克隆形成试验观察细胞的迁移和增殖能力;Western blot和免疫组化检测PTEN及其下游相关蛋白的表达。结果：花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢产生活性氧并失活PTEN抑癌基因表达,从而激活PI3K-AKT蛋白促进CT26结直肠癌细胞迁移和增殖,抑制细胞凋亡;而COX-2抑制剂NS-398阻止了花生四烯酸在CT26结直肠癌细胞中的恶性生物学行为。同时,在COX-2基因敲除Apc ^Min/+小鼠腺瘤组织中,减弱了氧化应激水平,增加了PTEN表达,抑制了PI3K-AKT磷酸化,进一步抑制腺瘤生长,提高小鼠生存率。结论：花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢产生活性氧下调PTEN活性,并激活PI3K-AKT促进结直肠癌生长;COX-2抑制剂可间接促进PTEN表达,抑制结直肠癌生长,能够作为CRC的潜在治疗靶点。     

葛根素对正常产后小鼠泌乳作用的影响

摘要 目的：探究葛根素对产后正常小鼠泌乳作用的影响及其机制,并初步探究葛根素对产后正常小鼠的安全性。方法：将雌、雄KM小鼠以3:1比例合笼配种,得到孕鼠饲养至分娩。分娩后的小鼠随机分为正常对照组、葛根素低剂量（18 mg?kg^-1）、高剂量组（72 mg?kg^-1）,每组8只。从产后第3 d起,每天灌胃一次,共10 d。观察小鼠每日泌乳量变化,ELISA法检测血清中催乳素（PRL）、孕酮（P4）、雌二醇（E₂）含量,HE染色观察乳腺、肝、肾、子宫、卵巢组织病理学形态,Western Blot法检测乳腺组织中催乳素受体（PRLR）、酪氨酸激酶 2（JAK2）和信号传导与激活因子5a（STAT5a）的表达。结果：与正常对照组相比,从给药的第6天起,葛根素低剂量组的泌乳量显著升高（P＜0.05）;葛根素低、高剂量组均可见乳腺小叶内腺泡明显变大,分泌物明显增多,且低剂量组更为明显;葛根素低、高剂量组血清PRL水平明显升高（P＜0.01或P＜0.05）;葛根素低剂量组PRLR的蛋白表达明显增加（P＜0.01）,而葛根素高剂量组PRLR、JAK2的蛋白表达明显降低（P＜0.01）。葛根素低剂量组PRLR、JAK2、STAT5a的蛋白表达明显高于葛根素高剂量组（P＜0.01或P＜0.05）。结论：葛根素低剂量对产后正常小鼠有一定促进泌乳作用,高剂量时对泌乳作用不明显。葛根素低、高剂量均未对产后正常小鼠的肝、肾、卵巢和子宫产生明显的病理学改变。     

人成体肝细胞在Fah-/-Nod/Scid小鼠肝脏中的显著增殖

利用人肝细胞异种移植到受体鼠肝内建立人源化肝脏的嵌合体小鼠(人鼠嵌合肝)对药物代谢、乙型肝炎病毒等嗜肝性病毒及其疫苗的研究具有重要意义. 研究表明, 利用Fah^-/-Rag2^-/-Il2rg^-/-三基因剔除小鼠可获得人肝细胞在小鼠肝脏中的显著再殖, 但较高的死亡率及纯合子不能用于繁殖, 制约着该小鼠模型的规模化应用. 本研究结合延胡索酰乙酰乙酸水解酶基因剔除(Fah^-/-)小鼠的肝脏再殖优势和Nod/Scid小鼠异种移植的特点, 将这两种小鼠进行杂交繁育建立Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠品系, Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠可以纯合保种并能正常繁殖. 采用提前停药的预处理方案, 结合FK506处理, 移植的人成体肝细胞能够实现在Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠肝脏中的显著增殖, 肝脏再殖程度达到30%以上. 采用体重曲线、肝功能和人肝细胞功能蛋白表达等三方面指标评价嵌合肝脏中人肝细胞的功能, 结果表明再殖的肝细胞具有正常的人肝细胞功能. 这些结果表明, Fah^-/-Nod/Scid小鼠可以作为理想的可规模应用的人鼠嵌合肝模型, 该技术体系的改进简化了Fah^-/-小鼠作为人源化肝脏小鼠模型的实用性问题.     

Metabolic engineering of fatty acyl-ACP reductase-dependent pathway to improve fatty alcohol production in Escherichia coli

Fatty alcohols are important components of surfactants and cosmetic products. The production of fatty alcohols from sustainable resources using microbial fermentation could reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emission. However, the industrialization of this process has been hampered by the current low yield and productivity of this synthetic pathway. As a result of metabolic engineering strategies, an Escherichia coli mutant containing Synechococcus elongatus fatty acyl-ACP reductase showed improved yield and productivity. Proteomics analysis and in vitro enzymatic assays showed that endogenous E. coli AdhP is a major contributor to the reduction of fatty aldehydes to fatty alcohols. Both in vitro and in vivo results clearly demonstrated that the activity and expression level of fatty acyl-CoA/ACP reductase is the rate-limiting step in the current protocol. In 2.5-L fed-batch fermentation with glycerol as the only carbon source, the most productive E. coli mutant produced 0.75 g/L fatty alcohols (0.02 g fatty alcohol/g glycerol) with a productivity of up to 0.06 g/L/h. This investigation establishes a promising synthetic pathway for industrial microbial production of fatty alcohols.     

Effect of salinity on growth,biochemical composition,and lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis oculata CS 179

Effect of salinity (15, 25, 35, 45, and 55‰) on growth, biochemical composition, and lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis oculata CS 179 was investigated under controlled cultivation in a 19‐day study. The results demonstrate that the dry biomass of N. oculata was the highest at a salinity of 25‰ among the treatments in the first 10‐day cultivation (P<0.05). During days 14–19 (stage III), the dry biomass productivity was the highest at a salinity of 35‰ (P<0.05). The algae had the highest chlorophyll a content (26.47 mg g^?1) at 25‰ in stage I, and it decreased continuously at stage III. Protein content (as% of dry biomass) of algae reached the highest value of 42.25 ± 2.10% at 15‰, and the lipid content was the highest of 32.11 ± 1.30% of dry biomass at 25‰. However, the lipid productivity of these algae was the highest at 35‰ (64.71 mg L^?1 d^?1; P<0.001). C16 series content was the highest among the total fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and eicosapentaenoic acid C20:5n‐3 (EPA) content was high at the low salinity. Fatty acid profiles of N. oculata varied significantly under different salinities.     

Eicosadiynoic acid: A non-toxic inhibitor of multiple enzymatic steps in the production of icosanoids from arachidonic acid

We have studied the acetylenic fatty acid 20:2Δ8a, 11a (eicosadiynoic acid, EDYA). It was found that this compound acts as an inhibitor of several steps in the production of icosanoids from arachidonic acid. First, the compound was shown to inhibit arachidonate uptake by platelets. Second, using a detergent solubilized preparation from calf brain, EDYA was found to inhibit both the arachidonoyl and the non-specific long chain acyl-CoA synthetase, which convert arachidonate to its CoA ester. Third, the compound decreased the conversion of dihomo gamma linolenic acid to arachidonate in the mouse fibrosarcoma HSDM₁C₁ cell line, acting as an apparent Δ5 desaturase inhibitor. Finally, EDYA (50 uM) inhibited cyclooxygenase activity. The compound was not toxic to cultured cells. Cells were grown for months in tissue culture medium at concentrations as high as 50 uM, with no morphologic changes by light microscopy and no prolongation of the doubling time over untreated cells. Our findings with this compound indicate that it limits icosanoid production by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and also by limiting arachidonate uptake, activation, and production from precursor fatty acids.     

Gating of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore by Long Chain Fatty Acyl Analogs in Vivo

The role played by long chain fatty acids (LCFA) in promoting energy expenditure is confounded by their dual function as substrates for oxidation and as putative classic uncouplers of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. LCFA analogs of the MEDICA (MEthyl-substituted DICarboxylic Acids) series are neither esterified into lipids nor β-oxidized and may thus simulate the uncoupling activity of natural LCFA in vivo, independently of their substrate role. Treatment of rats or cell lines with MEDICA analogs results in low conductance gating of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP), with 10–40% decrease in the inner mitochondrial membrane potential. PTP gating by MEDICA analogs is accounted for by inhibition of Raf1 expression and kinase activity, resulting in suppression of the MAPK/RSK1 and the adenylate cyclase/PKA transduction pathways. Suppression of RSK1 and PKA results in a decrease in phosphorylation of their respective downstream targets, Bad(Ser-112) and Bad(Ser-155). Decrease in Bad(Ser-112, Ser-155) phosphorylation results in increased binding of Bad to mitochondrial Bcl2 with concomitant displacement of Bax, followed by PTP gating induced by free mitochondrial Bax. Low conductance PTP gating by LCFA/MEDICA may account for their thyromimetic calorigenic activity in vivo.     

Endogenous cannabinoids: metabolism and their role in reproduction

Over the past two decades a number of endogenous compounds that act as ligands for the cannabinoid receptors has been discovered. In analogy with the "endorphins" these compounds have been called "endocannabinoids". Endocannabinoids have been demonstrated in many mammalian tissues including humans and are widely distributed in the CNS, peripheral nerves, uterus, leukocytes, spleen and testicles. The uterus contains the highest levels of anandamide, the first discovered endocannabinoid, suggesting an important role for this substance in reproduction. Several studies have shown anandamide to be involved in the regulation of implantation and reduced activity of the enzyme that degrades anandamide has been associated with early pregnancy loss in humans. The bulk of the literature concerning endocannabinoids is based upon anandamide related studies; therefore, in this review we focus on the metabolism of anandamide and its role in reproduction.     

Selective screening for fatty acid oxidation disorders by tandem mass spectrometry: difficulties in practical discrimination

In a selective screening for fatty acid oxidation disorders by tandem mass spectrometry, we tested the diagnostic ratios and acylcarnitine concentrations in sera or blood spots, which were reported to be specific to very long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I deficiency, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency. While the acylcarnitine profiles in the majority of these patients were typical in the respective disorders, some overlapping of the indices was observed between these patients and the infants, who showed symptoms mainly related to hypoglycemia but did not have the disorders mentioned above. Although the diagnostic ratio of tetradecenoylcarnitine to dodecanoylcarnitine for very long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency seemed to minimize the overlapping in this study, additional measures including careful assessment of clinical data and enzyme assays may be necessary for the diagnosis in atypical cases.     

Production of moth sex pheromones for pest control by yeast fermentation

The use of insect sex pheromones is an alternative technology for pest control in agriculture and forestry, which, in contrast to insecticides, does not have adverse effects on human health or environment and is efficient also against insecticide-resistant insect populations. Due to the high cost of chemically synthesized pheromones, mating disruption applications are currently primarily targeting higher value crops, such as fruits. Here we demonstrate a biotechnological method for the production of (Z)-hexadec-11-en-1-ol and (Z)-tetradec-9-en-1-ol, using engineered yeast cell factories. These unsaturated fatty alcohols are pheromone components or the immediate precursors of pheromone components of several economically important moth pests. Biosynthetic pathways towards several pheromones or their precursors were reconstructed in the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, which was further metabolically engineered for improved pheromone biosynthesis by decreasing fatty alcohol degradation and downregulating storage lipid accumulation. The sex pheromone of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera was produced by oxidation of fermented fatty alcohols into corresponding aldehydes. The resulting yeast-derived pheromone was just as efficient and specific for trapping of H. armigera male moths in cotton fields in Greece as a conventionally produced synthetic pheromone mixture. We further demonstrated the production of (Z)-tetradec-9-en-1-yl acetate, the main pheromone component of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. Taken together our work describes a biotech platform for the production of commercially relevant titres of moth pheromones for pest control via yeast fermentation.     

Alternative Exon Usage in the Single CPT1 Gene of Drosophila Generates Functional Diversity in the Kinetic Properties of the Enzyme: DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED VARIANTS IN DROSOPHILA TISSUES*

The Drosophila melanogaster genome contains only one CPT1 gene (Jackson, V. N., Cameron, J. M., Zammit, V. A., and Price, N. T. (1999) Biochem. J. 341, 483–489). We have now extended our original observation to all insect genomes that have been sequenced, suggesting that a single CPT1 gene is a universal feature of insect genomes. We hypothesized that insects may be able to generate kinetically distinct variants by alternative splicing of their single CPT1 gene. Analysis of the insect genomes revealed that (a) the single CPT1 gene in each and every insect genome contains two alternative exons and (ii) in all cases, the putative alternative splicing site occurs within a small region corresponding to 21 amino acid residues that are known to be essential for the binding of substrates and of malonyl-CoA in mammalian CPT1A. We performed PCR analyses of mRNA from different Drosophila tissues; both of the anticipated splice variants of CPT1 mRNA were found to be expressed in all of the tissues tested (both in larvae and adults), with the expression level for one of the splice variants being significantly different between flight muscle and the fat body of adult Drosophila. Heterologous expression of the full-length cDNAs corresponding to the two putative variants of Drosophila CPT1 in the yeast Pichia pastoris revealed two important differences between the properties of the two variants: (i) their affinity (K_0.5) for one of the substrates, palmitoyl-CoA, differed by 5-fold, and (ii) the sensitivity to inhibition by malonyl-CoA at fixed, higher palmitoyl-CoA concentrations was 2-fold different and associated with different kinetics of inhibition. These data indicate that alternative splicing that specifically affects a structurally crucial region of the protein is an important mechanism through which functional diversity of CPT1 kinetics is generated from the single gene that occurs in insects.