Resolvin d1 and resolvin d2 govern local inflammatory tone in obese fat

The unprecedented increase in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related disorders is causally linked to a chronic state of low-grade inflammation in adipose tissue. Timely resolution of inflammation and return of this tissue to homeostasis are key to reducing obesity-induced metabolic dysfunctions. In this study, with inflamed adipose, we investigated the biosynthesis, conversion, and actions of Resolvins D1 (RvD1, 7S,8R,17S-trihydroxy-4Z,9E,11E,13Z,15E,19Z-docosahexaenoic acid) and D2 (RvD2, 7S,16R,17S-trihydroxy-4Z,8E,10Z,12E,14E,19Z-docosahexaenoic acid), potent anti-inflammatory and proresolving lipid mediators (LMs), and their ability to regulate monocyte interactions with adipocytes. Lipid mediator-metabololipidomics identified RvD1 and RvD2 from endogenous sources in human and mouse adipose tissues. We also identified proresolving receptors (i.e., ALX/FPR2, ChemR23, and GPR32) in these tissues. Compared with lean tissue, obese adipose showed a deficit of these endogenous anti-inflammatory signals. With inflamed obese adipose tissue, RvD1 and RvD2 each rescued impaired expression and secretion of adiponectin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner as well as decreasing proinflammatory adipokine production including leptin, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. RvD1 and RvD2 each reduced MCP-1 and leukotriene B(4)-stimulated monocyte adhesion to adipocytes and their transadipose migration. Adipose tissue rapidly converted both resolvins (Rvs) to novel oxo-Rvs. RvD2 was enzymatically converted to 7-oxo-RvD2 as its major metabolic route that retained adipose-directed RvD2 actions. These results indicate, in adipose, D-series Rvs (RvD1 and RvD2) are potent proresolving mediators that counteract both local adipokine production and monocyte accumulation in obesity-induced adipose inflammation.     

Telomerase Activity Is Sensitive to Subtle Perturbations of the TLC1 Pseudoknot 3′ Stem and Tertiary Structure

Pseudoknot formation in the core region of the telomerase RNA has been demonstrated to be important for telomerase activity in vertebrates, ciliates, and yeast. Characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase RNA (TLC1) pseudoknot identified tertiary structural interactions that are also important for telomerase activity, as previously observed for the Kluyveromyces lactis and human telomerase RNA pseudoknots. In addition, the contributions of backbone ribose 2′-OH groups in the pseudoknot to telomerase catalysis were investigated previously, using 2′-OH (ribose) to 2′-H (deoxyribose) or 2′-O-methyl substitutions in the stem 2 helix, and it was proposed that one or more 2′-OH groups from the stem 2 sequences at or near the triple helix participate in telomerase catalysis. Based on these studies and investigations of the structural and thermodynamic properties of the TLC1 RNA pseudoknot region, we have examined the structural and thermodynamic perturbations of the 2′-O-methyl and 2′-H substituted pseudoknots, using UV-monitored thermal denaturation, native gel electrophoresis, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate the presence of A-form helical geometry perturbations in the backbone sugar substituted pseudoknots, show a correlation between thermodynamic stability and telomerase activity, and are consistent with the identification of the U809 ribose 2′-OH as a potential contributor to telomerase activity.     

Injection of duck recombinant follistatin fusion protein into duck muscle tissues stimulates satellite cell proliferation and muscle fiber hypertrophy

Follistatin (FST) can inhibit the expression of myostatin, which is a predominant inhibitor of muscle development. The potential application of myostatin-based technology has been prompted in different ways in agriculture. We previously constructed an expression vector of duck FST and isolated the FST fusion protein. After the protein was purified and refolded, it was added to the medium of duck myoblasts cultured in vitro. The results show that the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide value of the myoblasts in the duck FST treatment group is higher than that in the control group, which indicates that the duck FST fusion protein exhibits the biological activities that can accelerate myoblast proliferation. To further investigate the roles of duck FST on muscle development, we injected the protein into the duck muscle tissues in vivo. The results show that both the duck muscle fiber cross-sectional area and the satellite cell activation frequency are influenced more in the FST treatment group than they are in the control group. In addition to these phenomena, expression of MyoD and Myf5 were increased, and the expression of myostatin was decreased. Together, these results suggest the potential for using duck FST fusion protein to inhibit myostatin activity and subsequently to enhance muscle growth in vivo. The mechanism by which FST regulates muscle development in the duck is similar to that in mammals and fishes.     

Thioredoxin-1 attenuates post-ischemic neuronal apoptosis via reducing oxidative/nitrative stress

Recent studies show that Thioredoxin (Trx) possesses a neuronal protective effect and that Trx inactivation is closely related to cerebral ischemia injury. Peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) formation may trigger oxidative/nitrative stress and represent a major cytotoxic effect in cerebral ischemia. The present study was conducted to validate whether treatment with recombinant human Trx-1 (rhTrx-1) would attenuate ONOO⁻ generation and oxidative/nitrative stress in focal transient cerebral ischemia. The results showed that intravenously administered rhTrx-1 (10 mg/kg) significantly improved neurological functions and reduced cerebral infarction and apoptotic cell death following cerebral ischemia. Neuronal ONOO⁻ formation was significantly attenuated after rhTrx-1 treatment. Moreover, rhTrx-1 resulted in a significant decrease in antioxidant capacity and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity in ischemic brain tissue. Furthermore, the suppression on ONOO⁻ formation by either rhTrx-1 or an ONOO⁻ scavenger uric acid reduced cerebral infarct size in mice subjected to cerebral ischemia. Peroxynitrite donor SIN-1 not only blocked the neuronal protection of rhTrx-1 but also markedly attenuated rhTrx-1-induced antioxidative/antinitrative effect. We concluded that rhTrx-1 exerts an antioxidative/antinitrative effect against cerebral ischemia injury by blocking ONOO⁻ and superoxide anion formation. These results provide the information that thioredoxin is much more likely to succeed as a therapeutic approach to diminish oxidative/nitrative stress-induced neuronal apoptotic cell death in the ischemic brain.     

Overexpression of a short human seipin/BSCL2 isoform in mouse adipose tissue results in mild lipodystrophy

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (BSCL2) is a recessive disorder characterized by an almost complete loss of adipose tissue, insulin resistance, and fatty liver. BSCL2 is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the BSCL2/seipin gene, which encodes seipin. The essential role for seipin in adipogenesis has recently been established both in vitro and in vivo. However, seipin is highly upregulated at later stages of adipocyte development, and its role in mature adipocytes remains to be elucidated. We therefore generated transgenic mice overexpressing a short isoform of human BSCL2 gene (encoding 398 amino acids) using the adipocyte-specific aP2 promoter. The transgenic mice produced ～150% more seipin than littermate controls in white adipose tissue. Surprisingly, the increased expression of seipin markedly reduced the mass of white adipose tissue and the size of adipocytes and lipid droplets. This may be due in part to elevated lipolysis rates in the transgenic mice. Moreover, there was a nearly 50% increase in the triacylglycerol content of transgenic liver. These results suggest that seipin promotes the differentiation of preadipocytes but may inhibit lipid storage in mature adipocytes.     

长江刀鲚产卵洄游群体的年龄结构及其生物学特征变化

溯江产卵洄游中的刀鲚是目前长江最为名贵的水产品之一。本文分析了2009年4~5月采自长江九段沙、靖江和芜湖3个江段的299尾洄游型刀鲚样本。结果显示,3个群体的体长范围为15.8~32.8(平均23.32?3.49)cm,18~24cm体长组占总数的52.51%。体重范围为11.83~143.8 (平均48.19?24.89) g,10~50g体重组占总数的59.53%。芜湖群体的体长和体重均显著小于九段沙和靖江群体(ANOVA, p=0.000<0.001)。299尾个体包括1~4龄4个年龄组,其中51.28%的九段沙个体和53.97%的靖江个体均为3龄;而多达85.26%的芜湖个体则为2龄。不论体长、体重还是年龄结构,已较上世纪70年代同江段渔获物有明显下降。结果还显示,研究样本的雌雄性比为1:1.57,九段沙、靖江和芜湖群体的性比分别为1:1.28、1:1.46和1:1.97,显示出沿长江往上性比逐渐增加的现象。3个群体的平均丰满度为0.35?0.049,但即使是在同龄组间,靖江群体的丰满度也显著高于芜湖和九段沙群体,这可作为大个体刀鲚在这一江段最名贵高价的一种解释。     

酿酒酵母在纤维素乙醇生产中对毒性化合物的耐受机理研究进展

利用木质纤维素生产燃料乙醇的过程中,前期预处理所产生的抑制剂会影响酵母的正常生长和后续的发酵过程。为减小抑制剂的影响所采取的一些脱毒策略往往造成糖的损失和生产成本的增加,这在实际生产与经济上是不可行的。因此,具有强的抑制剂耐受性的酿酒酵母菌株对于提高纤维素乙醇产率是十分重要的。近十年来,对于酿酒酵母胁迫耐受机制的研究取得了一些重要的进展,着重介绍目前酿酒酵母对抑制剂耐受机制的研究现状,包括一些关键性基因的表达及代谢通路过程分析等。同时也介绍一些应对抑制剂提高酵母发酵能力的措施。     

现代微生物识别技术在水产养殖环境研究中的应用

养殖环境的恶化已成为制约水产业健康发展的瓶颈。鉴于微生物在养殖水体中的重要作用,本文从技术角度对近年来发展起来的现代微生物分子识别技术进行了概括介绍,并综述了以核酸为靶分子和以微生物表面抗原为靶分子的两类微生物识别技术在水产养殖中的应用进展,为水产养殖环境的改善及其病害防治提供参考。