冷刺激对小鼠脂肪组织褐色化和脂代谢的影响

目的:探讨4摄氏度冷刺激对小鼠脂肪组织褐色化的影响。方法:野生型小鼠在4摄氏度环境下饲养一周,称取小鼠重量并取不同的脂肪组织固定,进行HE染色;对血液中甘油三酯、脂肪酸的水平进行检测;检测不同脂肪组织中脂肪含量和相关蛋白的表达水平。结果:野生型小鼠在4℃环境下饲养一周后体重明显降低。血液中甘油三酯、脂肪酸和甘油的水平明显下降。皮下白色脂肪组织(subcutaneous white adipose tissue, SWAT),腹腔生殖腺旁白色脂肪(gonadal visceral white adipose tissue, GWAT)和褐色脂肪(brown adipose tissue, BAT)中的脂肪含量明显降低,其中SWAT和BAT中脂肪含量降低近50%。SWAT发生明显的褐色化现象,组织中出现含有多个脂滴的脂肪细胞,同时褐色化的标志蛋白UCP1(uncoupling protein 1)和Cidea明显增加。GWAT中脂滴仍呈现单室大脂滴,脂肪细胞变小,脂肪积累降低约14%,低于SWAT和BAT中的相应变化。BAT组织中脂滴明显变小,UCP1的表达明显增加。同时我们在三种脂肪组织中都观察到线粒体相关蛋白CPT1 (Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I)的明显增加。结论:冷刺激能明显改变小鼠的脂代谢状态,全身的脂肪积累明显降低。SWAT发生明显的褐色化现象,Cidea和UCP1的表达明显增加。SWAT, GWAT和BAT脂肪组织中有明显的线粒体活性的增加。     

驱动蛋白-1在小鼠脂肪组织糖脂代谢中的作用研究

目的:本文旨在探讨动物体内水平驱动蛋白-1在脂肪组织糖、脂代谢中的作用。方法:通过Cre/Loxp重组系统构建脂肪组织特异性敲除驱动蛋白-1的小鼠模型,在生理水平观察驱动蛋白-1表达缺陷对小鼠糖代谢、脂代谢和脂肪因子分泌的影响。结果:与六月龄对照组小鼠相比,同月龄驱动蛋白-1敲除小鼠的体重、脂肪组织重量和空腹血糖水平没有显著差异,但是其血清胰岛素水平显著升高;使用葡萄糖耐量试验(GTT)和胰岛素耐量实验(ITT)对小鼠的糖代谢水平进行评估,结果显示驱动蛋白-1敲除小鼠表现为葡萄糖不耐受、胰岛素不耐受;进一步血清检测显示驱动蛋白-1敲除小鼠表现为高甘油三酯血症和血清脂联素水平降低。结论:驱动蛋白-1在脂肪组织中参与调节糖、脂代谢过程,其表达或功能障碍是2型糖尿病等代谢性疾病的一个重要的发病因素。     

实验性糖尿病小鼠的血清氨基酸代谢谱

目的通过测定2型糖尿病小鼠血清氨基酸代谢谱的变化,探讨代谢轮廓分析结合模式识别技术在糖尿病动物模型中的应用。方法 SPF级雄KM小鼠高脂饲料喂养4周后,腹腔注射链脲菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)建立2型糖尿病模型,动态监测空腹血糖(FBG)变化,分别于造模后第4周处死,收集小鼠血清,检测甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)水平。采用高效液相色谱(HPLC)柱前衍生方法检测小鼠血清中氨基酸代谢谱的变化。结果 2型糖尿病小鼠FBG、TG、TC明显升高,差异均有显著性。利用代谢轮廓分析可以对模型组大鼠代谢谱与对照组完全区分。结论小鼠成模后体内氨基酸发生了明显变化。从差异变量中鉴定出4个氨基酸对组间贡献较大(精氨酸、苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸、牛磺酸)。氨基酸的代谢轮廓分析结合模式识别技术可以在一定程度上反映2型糖尿病小鼠的代谢变化。     

严重高甘油三酯血症小鼠血液流变学的异常分析

目的:本研究旨在检测两种严重高甘油三酯血症(HTG)小鼠的血液流变学,建立具有异常血液流变学特点的HTG小鼠模型,以应用于进一步的相关机制研究。方法:采用ApoC3转基因与GPIHBP1基因敲除的HTG小鼠及野生型小鼠,所用小鼠均为C57BL/6J背景下8周龄雄性小鼠,通过生物物理法检测和比较其血浆粘度、红细胞渗透脆性、变形性与电泳率。结果:与野生小鼠相比,ApoC3转基因与GPIHBP1基因敲除的HTG小鼠血浆甘油三酯含量明显升高(P0.05),红细胞渗透脆性显著增加(P0.05),变形指数与电泳率明显降低(P0.05),血浆粘度显著升高(P0.05),但血细胞计数等血常规指标均未见显著差异(P0.05)。结论:Apo C3tg与GPIHBP1KO小鼠血液流变学发生异常改变,可能作为探讨HTG血液流变学异常和动脉粥样硬化心血管疾病病理机制的动物模型。     

青年和老年小鼠脑糖原及其代谢的差异

目的:比较青年小鼠和老年小鼠不同脑区糖原及其代谢的差异,为后续相关研究奠定基础。方法:分别取雄性C57BL/6J青年小鼠(8周龄)和老年小鼠(18月龄)皮层、海马、纹状体三个脑区脑组织,通过糖原定量试剂盒检测糖原含量,通过Western Blot检测糖原代谢相关酶(包括糖原合成、糖原分解、葡萄糖转运、乳酸转运相关酶类)的表达水平。结果:与青年小鼠相比,老年小鼠皮层、纹状体糖原含量明显上升,但海马的糖原含量无明显变化。在糖原合成代谢的关键酶中,糖原合成酶在老年小鼠皮层、纹状体的表达水平明显升高,而海马区则无明显差异;糖原分支酶在老年小鼠皮层的表达水平有所下降,在海马和纹状体则无明显变化。在糖原分解代谢的关键酶中,老年小鼠的糖原磷酸化酶在皮层、海马和纹状体均明显升高,而糖原脱支酶在上述脑区则无明显变化。葡萄糖转运体1的表达水平在老年小鼠与青年小鼠各脑区无显著差异。在单羧酸转运体中,老年小鼠单羧酸转运体1在各脑区均明显上升,单羧酸转运体4在皮层明显升高,其余脑区则无明显差异。结论:老年小鼠脑内糖原含量总体上较青年小鼠高,老年小鼠脑糖原代谢通路相关酶的表达与青年小鼠存在明显差异,且不同脑区之间存在异质性。     

异育银鲫口服不同剂量葡萄糖后的代谢反应

平均体重为 16 4± 12g的异育银鲫 (方正银鲫♀×兴国红鲤♂ )禁食四周 ,以使肝糖原含量充分下降 ,然后灌喂不同剂量的葡萄糖 ,研究葡萄糖负荷后的代谢反应。实验结果表明 ,不管口服剂量是多少 ,异育银鲫在口服葡萄糖后都出现持久的高血糖 ;口服后 1h血浆总氨基酸、甘油三酯和乳酸水平显著上升 ,然后迅速下降 ;肝糖原含量先降低 ,2h左右开始回升。血糖、总氨基酸、甘油三酯、乳酸及肝糖原的变化幅度也随口服剂量变化而变化 :血糖升幅随口服剂量增加而加大 ;在口服后 1h ,总氨基酸含量随着口服剂量的增加而增加 ,甘油三酯和乳酸含量随着口服剂量的增加而减少 ,而在口服后 2— 10h内 ,口服剂量越高 ,总氨基酸、甘油三酯水平越低 ,乳酸水平越高 ;肝糖原含量随着口服剂量的增加而减少。上述结果提示异育银鲫在口服高剂量葡萄糖之初的 1h内生长抑素和胰高血糖素水平较高 ,而胰岛素的分泌可能受到了抑制 ;推测当口服剂量较低时胰岛素则能正常分泌     

水通道 AQP1 敲除小鼠肿瘤血管生成障碍及肿瘤生长减缓

血管生成是肿瘤生长、浸润和转移的必要步骤. 肿瘤血管生成涉及瘤旁组织血管内皮细胞增殖、向肿瘤细胞团内迁移以及管腔形成,目前机理尚不完全清楚. 水通道 AQP1 在多种肿瘤血管内皮高表达,提示其可能参与肿瘤血管的生成过程. 应用 AQP1 敲除小鼠荷瘤实验证实了 AQP1 在黑色素瘤生长和血管新生中的作用. 结果表明,皮下接种的黑色素瘤在 AQP1 敲除小鼠的生长较之在野生型小鼠延迟近 30％ (P<0.01). 免疫组化与肿 瘤病理形态学分析显示, AQP1 在野生型小鼠黑色素瘤血管内皮细胞上高表达,而在 AQP1 敲除小鼠黑色素瘤血管内皮细胞呈阴性表达. 在病理结构上,黑色素瘤细胞围绕血管分支呈岛状分布. 野生型小鼠黑色素瘤内血管管腔较细小,而 AQP1(－/－)小鼠黑色素瘤内血管床显著膨大. AQP1(－/－)小鼠肿瘤内平均微血管密度 (47/mm²) 较之 AQP1(＋/＋) 肿瘤 (142/mm²) 减少 67％ (P<0.01). 围绕 AQP1(－/－) 肿瘤血管的肿瘤细胞岛周边坏死区域明显大于 AQP1(＋/＋)肿瘤. 上述结果提出确切证据表明, AQP1 缺失使肿瘤血管生成发生障碍,从而影响了肿瘤血液供应和肿瘤生长. AQP1参与肿瘤血管生成的机理值得深入研究.     

MODY3相关蛋白HNF1α第249位丝氨酸突变导致小鼠葡萄糖代谢异常

肝细胞核因子1α(HNF1α)不仅是调节葡萄糖代谢的重要转录因子,还参与肝、胰等多个器官中蛋白质合成、物质代谢、增殖分化相关基因的表达调控。HNF1α突变或表达异常引发包括青少年糖尿病3型(maturity onset diabetes of young 3,MODY3)在内的多种代谢疾病。Ser249是HNF1α重要的功能位点,该位点受ATM蛋白激酶直接磷酸化修饰,并可能是ATM蛋白激酶影响葡萄糖代谢的效应靶点,也可能是共济失调毛细血管扩张症(ataxia telangiectasia,AT)患者糖代谢异常的致病靶点。为进一步研究Ser249磷酸化在体内的功能,本文构建人源野生型HNF1α转基因小鼠(WT小鼠)和HNF1αS249A转基因小鼠(S249A小鼠),对其基础代谢水平和葡萄糖代谢能力进行检测。相较于对照小鼠,S249A小鼠的多项基础代谢指标异常,WT小鼠未显示差异;但当小鼠接受刺激后,无论是注射葡萄糖,还是丙酮酸或胰岛素,相较于各自的对照小鼠,WT小鼠都表现出更强的反应性,而S249A小鼠的糖异生反应和胰岛素敏感性均未显示出差异。实时定量PCR结果表明,WT小鼠肝的多个糖代谢基因表达上调,但S249A小鼠肝中糖代谢基因上调幅度明显小于WT小鼠。本研究提示,HNF1αSer249突变导致小鼠糖代谢异常,可能与磷酸化修饰失调进而影响其转录活性有关。     

α-核突触蛋白基因突变小鼠脑组织中内源性代谢产物的变化

目的:明确α-核突触蛋白与帕金森病的病理生理相关性及其临床意义。方法:采用相色谱-质谱联用(UPLC-MS)检测野生型小鼠和基因突变型小鼠脑组织中内源性代谢性产物,通过mzcloud法对小鼠脑组织中内源性代谢物质进行鉴定,将相应数据进行主成分分析(PCA)和聚类分析,分析其相关差异表达代谢物,并构建通路图和互作网络图。结果:(1)基于LC/MS法的代谢组分析结果显示两组间差异代谢物以氨基酸类及磷脂类等为主,包括β-丙氨酰-L-组氨酸、L-精氨酸、L-组氨酸、L-亮氨酸、L-苯丙氨酸、L-缬氨酸、L-天门冬氨酸、L-丙氨酸、磷脂酰胆碱等;(2)构建的代谢通路主要涉及酮体的合成和降解、牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢、丙氨酸,天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢、精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢、组氨酸代谢、苯丙氨酸代谢、缬氨酸,亮氨酸和异亮氨酸的生物合成、甘油磷脂代谢等,从中发现18个具有标志性的代谢成分。结论:α-核突触蛋白基因突变后,酮体的合成和降解、牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢、丙氨酸,天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢、精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢、组氨酸代谢、苯丙氨酸代谢、缬氨酸,亮氨酸和异亮氨酸的生物合成、甘油磷脂代谢等代谢通路发生了变化,涉及β-丙氨酰-L-组氨酸、L-精氨酸、L-组氨酸、L-亮氨酸、L-苯丙氨酸、L-缬氨酸、L-天门冬氨酸、L-丙氨酸、磷脂酰胆碱等的生物学标志性代谢产物变化。     

利拉鲁肽对ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响

目的:探讨利拉鲁肽对载脂蛋白E基因缺陷(ApoE-/-)小鼠动脉粥样硬化(AS)的影响。方法:将24只无特定病原体(SPF)级雄性ApoE-/-小鼠(6周龄)随机分成对照组与实验组,各12只,分别用高脂饲料、高脂饲料+利拉鲁肽饲养,饲养12周后,比较两组小鼠AS斑块面积/管腔面积、内膜厚度/中膜厚度及血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、一氧化氮(NO)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)及丙二醛(MDA)水平。结果:实验组AS斑块面积/管腔面积和内膜厚度/中膜厚度均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。实验组血清TC、TG及LDL-C水平均明显低于对照组(P0.05),但两组小鼠血清HDL-C水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组小鼠血清NO水平明显高于对照组、血清TNF-α水平明显低于对照组(P0.05),但两组小鼠血清MDA水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:利拉鲁肽能够改善ApoE-/-小鼠血脂水平、保护细胞内皮功能、抑制炎症反应,抗AS作用显著。     

虎眼万年青多糖降血糖作用的研究

目的:研究虎眼万年青多糖对四氧嘧啶诱导的糖尿病小鼠的降糖作用以及对糖尿病相关特征的影响。方法:采用腹腔注射四氧嘧啶致糖尿病小鼠模型;分成阳性药物组、模型对照组、空白对照组、虎眼万年青多糖高、中、低剂量组,连续给药14d,观察糖尿病小鼠的体重、血糖水平、总胆固醇(TG)和甘油三脂(TC)的变化。结果:经灌胃给药14d后,与空白对照组比较,模型组小鼠体质量呈下降趋势(P0.01),血糖值(P0.01)、总胆固醇TG(P0.01)、甘油三酯TC(P0.01)均明显上升;与模型组比较,虎眼万年青多糖高、中剂量组能有效降低糖尿病小鼠的血糖水平(P0.01),总胆固醇TG(P0.01),甘油三脂TC(P0.01),并且虎眼万年青多糖高剂量组可缓解糖尿病小鼠体重减轻症状(P0.01),而低剂量组作用效果不明显(P0.05)。结论:虎眼万年青多糖能够降低四氧嘧啶致糖尿病小鼠血糖水平,改善血脂代谢紊乱。     

抗CD90单克隆抗体在治疗黑色素细胞瘤中的基础研究

目的:探讨应用抗CD90单克隆抗体治疗黑色素细胞瘤的可行性及相关机制。方法:首先通过流式细胞检测技术,探究抗CD90单克隆抗体是否能在体外诱导B16细胞凋亡。之后,通过向C57BL/6J小鼠皮下注射B16细胞建立小鼠黑色素瘤模型,并给予抗CD90单克隆抗体治疗,评价其抗肿瘤的治疗效果。同时,应用免疫组织化学的方法观察小鼠成瘤组织中新生血管的形成和分布情况,统计肿瘤中微血管密度进行比较。结果:抗CD90单克隆抗体在体外不能直接诱导B16细胞凋亡,但抗CD90单克隆抗体能够抑制小鼠黑色素瘤的原位生长(p=0.049);使用免疫组织化学染色法对肿瘤组织切片进行染色,发现经过抗体治疗的小鼠成瘤组织中的新生血管明显减少,治疗组和对照组肿瘤组织的微血管密度存在显著性差异(p=0.011)。结论:抗CD90单克隆抗体能够通过抑制肿瘤组织中新生血管的形成影响黑色素瘤的发生发展,从而达到治疗黑色素瘤的效果。     

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes generated by short-term in vitro TCR stimulation in the presence of IL-4 are therapeutically effective against B16 melanoma

P14 TCR transgenic CD8+ T cells (LCMV gp33-specific) were activated by antigen in the presence of either IL-2 or IL-2+IL-4 to generate effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The therapeutic effectiveness of such IL-2- or IL-2+IL-4-grown CTLs was tested in mice that had received intravenous inoculations of B16.gp33 melanoma cells 7 days previously. Administration of P14 CTLs activated by antigen +IL-2+IL-4 was significantly more effective at reducing melanoma colony formation in the lung than those grown in the presence of antigen +IL-2. Highly significant improvement in survival was observed with 80% of B16.gp33-inoculated mice showing long-term survival after therapy with 10×10⁶ antigen +IL-2+IL-4-activated P14 CTLs. Similar therapeutic effectiveness of antigen +IL-2+IL-4-activated P14 CTLs against subcutaneously inoculated B16.gp33 melanoma cells was also found. There was significant reduction in P14 CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of B16.gp33-inoculated mice than in mice that did not receive B16.gp33 melanoma cells, indicating possible homing of P14 CD8+ T cells to the site of tumor growth or antigen-induced apoptotic cell death. These results may have implications in tumor therapy using CTLs grown ex vivo, especially during early stages of tumor formation. They also support the concept that the therapeutic effectiveness of CTLs can be governed by the cytokine context in which they are activated.     

Effect of sex,dietary glycerol or dietary fat during late fattening,on fatty acid composition and positional distribution of fatty acids within the triglyceride in pigs

The effect of sex, source of saturated fat (lard v. palm oil) and glycerol inclusion in the fattening diet on composition and fatty acid positional distribution in the triglyceride molecule was studied in pigs from 78 to 110 kg BW. Average daily gain and carcass characteristics, including ham and loin weight, were not affected by dietary treatment but sex affected backfat depth (P<0.01). A significant interaction between sex and glycerol inclusion was observed; dietary glycerol increased lean content in gilts but not in barrows (P<0.05 for the interaction). Individual and total saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations were greater in barrows than in gilts. In contrast, the concentration of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and of C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, C20:3n-9 and C20:4n-6 in the intramuscular fat (IMF) was higher (P<0.05) in gilts than in barrows. Sex did not affect total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) concentration in the IMF. The proportion of SFA in the subcutaneous fat (SF) was higher in barrows than in gilts (P<0.001). Within the individual SFA, sex affected only the concentrations of C14:0 and C16:0 (P<0.001). Dietary fat did not affect total SFA or PUFA concentrations of the IMF but the subcutaneous total MUFA concentration tended to be higher (P=0.079) in pigs fed lard than in pigs fed palm oil. Dietary glycerol increased total MUFA and C18:1n-9 concentration in the IMF and increased total MUFA and decreased C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3 and total PUFA concentrations in the SF. The data indicate that altering the fatty acid composition of the triglyceride molecule at the 2-position, by dietary intervention during the fattening phase, is very limited.     

降糖3号方对肥胖小鼠糖脂代谢及PI3K/AKT信号通路的影响

目的:观察降糖3号方对肥胖模型小鼠的体重、血糖、血清胰岛素含量、糖耐量、血脂等指标的影响,并探讨其对骨骼肌PI3K/AKT信号通路的影响。方法:8周龄C57BL/6J小鼠采用高脂喂养12周的方式诱导肥胖模型,将成模小鼠随机分为模型对照组,二甲双胍组,降糖3号方组,同时以正常饲料喂养的小鼠作为正常对照,进行为期8周的药物干预。每2周测量小鼠的体重、空腹血糖;第7周末进行口服葡萄糖耐量实验。实验结束后进行取材,检测糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、胰岛素(Insulin)、总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平,免疫印迹法检测骨骼肌组织PI3K、AKT、GLUT4等蛋白的表达。结果:降糖3号方能明显减轻肥胖小鼠的体重(P 0.05);能明显降低肥胖小鼠空腹血糖,使之恢复正常水平(P0.05);降糖3号方组小鼠糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、胰岛素(INS)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)等指标显著低于模型组(P 0.05),且能有效改善实验动物的糖耐量(P 0.05)。蛋白印迹法检测结果表明,与模型组相比,降糖3号方可上调PI3K、AKT、GLUT4等蛋白表达水平(P 0.05)。结论:降糖3号方能够有效减轻肥胖小鼠体重,改善糖脂代谢,降低胰岛素水平,其作用可能是通过激活PI3K/AKT信号通路来实现。     

Sucrose diet induced enzymatic and hormonal responses affecting carbohydrate, lipid and energy metabolism in two species differing in insulin availability: spiny and ob/ob mice

The low-insulin responding spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus), maintained on a 50% sucrose diet vs isocaloric regular diet, responded with an impressive increase in the activity of hepatic enzymes of glycolysis and lipogenesis and in hyperlipidemia. There was no hyperinsulinemia or hyperglycemia and spiny mice did not gain weight on sucrose due to loss of adipose tissue. Serum T3 levels rose 1.8 fold and the activity of the hepatic mitochondrial FAD-glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase became induced 2.6 fold representing the enhancement of multiple, T3-dependent, energy-consuming metabolic cycles. An increased TG lipolysis in adipose tissue was also observed. C57BL/6J ob/ob mice were markedly hyperinsulinemic and gained weight on sucrose almost as much as those on regular diet, without changes in serum glucose or insulin. Serum triglyceride level decreased, whereas liver triglycerides accumulated markedly. The extent of the increase in hepatic enzyme activities related to lipogenesis was much lower both in the ob/ob mice and their lean siblings, than in spiny mice, but the basal enzyme activities in ob/ob mice were remarkably elevated. Serum T3 level was also elevated already on the regular diet and rose only slightly on sucrose. Basal glycerol phosphate oxidase activity in ob/ob mice exceeded that in spiny mice and rose only marginally on sucrose. Adipose tissue lipolysis was not increased. Thus, sucrose diet by enhancing the T3 production appeared to activate protective mechanism against weight gain in normoinsulinemic spiny mice, whereas the full expression of these mechanisms appeared to be precluded by the hyperinsulinemia of ob/ob mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hypoglycemic effects of MDG-1, a polysaccharide derived from Ophiopogon japonicas, in the ob/ob mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Ophiopogon japonicus is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat diabetes mellitus. We investigate the anti-ischemic properties of a water-soluble β-d-fructan (MDG-1) from O. japonicus, and assess the antidiabetic effects of MDG-1. In the study, ob/ob mice were treated with 150 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg MDG-1 by gavage for 23 d. Blood glucose levels were measured regularly. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was preformed on day 21. The levels of insulin, total cholesterol and triglyceride in the serum were measured at the end of administration. The liver triglyceride content and tissue weights were also determined. Results show that MDG-1 (300 mg/kg) was demonstrated to exert acute and long-term hypoglycemic effects on fed blood glucose in ob/ob mice. However, only a marginal hypoglycemic effect on fasting blood glucose levels was observed. MDG-1 (300 mg/kg) improved oral glucose tolerance and reduced serum insulin levels and triglyceride content in the liver in ob/ob mice. Furthermore, a reduction in body weight gain and the weight of subcutaneous fat were observed following treatment with MDG-1 (150 mg/kg) compared with the control group. MDG-1 had no significant effects on the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, food intake and other adipose and organ tissues. These data suggest that MDG-1 exhibits hypoglycemic activity and reduces insulin resistance.     

Metabolic costs of amino acid and protein production in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is the most popular microorganism for the production of recombinant proteins and is gaining increasing importance for the production of low-molecular weight compounds such as amino acids. The metabolic cost associated with the production of amino acids and (recombinant) proteins from glucose, glycerol and acetate was determined using three different computational techniques to identify those amino acids that put the highest burden on the biosynthetic machinery of E. coli. Comparing the costs of individual amino acids, we find that methionine is the most expensive amino acid in terms of consumed mol of ATP per molecule produced, while leucine is the most expensive amino acid when taking into account the cellular abundances of amino acids. Moreover, we show that the biosynthesis of a large number of amino acids from glucose and particularly from glycerol provides a surplus of energy, which can be used to balance the high energetic cost of amino acid polymerization.