Peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation is not essential for virulence of Candida albicans

Phagocytic cells form the first line of defense against infections by the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Recent in vitro gene expression data suggest that upon phagocytosis by macrophages, C. albicans reprograms its metabolism to convert fatty acids into glucose by inducing the enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle and fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway. Here, we asked whether fatty acid beta-oxidation, a metabolic pathway localized to peroxisomes, is essential for fungal virulence by constructing two C. albicans double deletion strains: a pex5Delta/pex5Delta mutant, which is disturbed in the import of most peroxisomal enzymes, and a fox2Delta/fox2Delta mutant, which lacks the second enzyme of the beta-oxidation pathway. Both mutant strains had strongly reduced beta-oxidation activity and, accordingly, were unable to grow on media with fatty acids as a sole carbon source. Surprisingly, only the fox2Delta/fox2Delta mutant, and not the pex5Delta/pex5Delta mutant, displayed strong growth defects on nonfermentable carbon sources other than fatty acids (e.g., acetate, ethanol, or lactate) and showed attenuated virulence in a mouse model for systemic candidiasis. The degree of virulence attenuation of the fox2Delta/fox2Delta mutant was comparable to that of the icl1Delta/icl1Delta mutant, which lacks a functional glyoxylate cycle and also fails to grow on nonfermentable carbon sources. Together, our data suggest that peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation is not essential for virulence of C. albicans, implying that the attenuated virulence of the fox2Delta/fox2Delta mutant is largely due to a dysfunctional glyoxylate cycle.     

Oregano essential oil as an inhibitor of higher fatty acid oxidation

Inhibition of the oxidation of fatty acids methyl esters by oregano essential oil was studied using capillary gas chromatography. A mixture of fatty acids which contained saturated, mono-, di-, and polyunsaturated acids with 16–24 carbon atoms was extracted from mice brain. Changes in the composition of esters in hexane solutions both in the presence of oregano essential oil and without it were examined during their autooxidation in light for 1 year. It was found that the oxidation rate of unsaturated fatty acids increases with increasing degree of their unsaturation. Oregano essential oil inhibited the oxidation process. Antioxidant activity of the oil increased with increase of its concentration. It was shown that carvacrol and thymol are the main antioxidant components of oregano oil.     

Unsaturated fatty acid but not ergosterol is essential for high ethanol production in Saccharomyces

Summary The membrane lipid composition of Saccharomyces was manipulated by growing cells anaerobically with or without ergosterol and unsaturated fatty acid. Cells low in ergosterol but enriched in unsaturated fatty acid residues on membrane phospholipids produced high concentrations, 13–15.5% w/v, of ethanol at substrate conversion efficiencies of around 90%.     

Glucose is essential for the initiation of fatty acid oxidation in ATP-depleted cultured ventricular myocytes

Cultured cardiac myocytes were depleted of ATP by incubation with oligomycin (1 mg/ml). Then the ability of the cells to oxidize various substrates and to restore ATP levels was studied. Following ATP depletion, the cells were found to be able to oxidize glucose given alone, but not palmitate. However, with both substrates, palmitate was oxidized in the presence of glucose and ATP recovery was enhanced. Pyruvate had a minor effect on palmitate oxidation, while acetate given alone was oxidized, but did not enhance cellular ATP content. These results show that glucose is essential for restoration of mitochondrial function and the coupling between oxidation and ATP synthesis.     

Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein is essential for efficient brown adipose tissue fatty acid oxidation and cold tolerance

Brown adipose tissue has a central role in thermogenesis to maintain body temperature through energy dissipation in small mammals and has recently been verified to function in adult humans as well. Here, we demonstrate that the heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, FABP3, is essential for cold tolerance and efficient fatty acid oxidation in mouse brown adipose tissue, despite the abundant expression of adipose-type fatty acid-binding protein, FABP4 (also known as aP2). Fabp3(-/-) mice exhibit extreme cold sensitivity despite induction of uncoupling and oxidative genes and hydrolysis of brown adipose tissue lipid stores. However, using FABP3 gain- and loss-of-function approaches in brown adipocytes, we detected a correlation between FABP3 levels and the utilization of exogenous fatty acids. Thus, Fabp3(-/-) brown adipocytes fail to oxidize exogenously supplied fatty acids, whereas enhanced Fabp3 expression promotes more efficient oxidation. These results suggest that FABP3 levels are a determinant of fatty acid oxidation efficiency by brown adipose tissue and that FABP3 represents a potential target for modulation of energy dissipation.     

Caspase enzyme activity is not essential for apoptosis during thymocyte development

Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, are critical mediators of apoptosis. To address the importance of caspases in thymocyte development, we have generated transgenic mice that express the baculovirus protein p35, a viral caspase inhibitor, specifically in the thymus. p35 expression inhibited Fas (CD95)-, CD3-, or peptide-induced caspase activity in vitro and conferred resistance to Fas-induced apoptosis. However, p35 did not block specific peptide-induced negative selection in OT1 and HY TCR transgenic mouse models. Even the potent pharmacological caspase inhibitor zVAD-FMK (benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl-ketone) could not prevent peptide-induced deletion of OT1 thymocytes, although it improved basal thymocyte survival in vitro. Moreover, the developmental block observed in rag1-/- thymocytes, which lack pre-TCR signaling, was also not rescued by p35 expression. These results indicate that caspase-independent signal transduction pathways can mediate thymocyte death during normal T cell development.     

CD36, but not GPR120, is required for efficient fatty acid utilization during endurance exercise

Fatty acids (FA) are an important energy source during exercise. In addition to its role as an energy supply for skeletal muscle, FA may activate signaling pathways that regulate gene expression. FA translocase/cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and G protein-coupled receptor GPR120 are long-chain FA receptors. In this study, we investigated the impact of CD36 or GPR120 deletion on energy metabolism during exercise. CD36 has been reported to facilitate cellular transport and oxidation of FA during endurance exercise. We show that CD36 deletion decreased exogenous FA oxidation during exercise, using a combination of ¹³C-labeled FA oxidation measurement and indirect calorimetry. In contrast, GPR120 deletion had no observable effect on energy metabolism during exercise. Our results further substantiate that CD36-mediated FA transport plays an essential role in efficient FA oxidation during exercise.     

Metabolic habituation following repeated resting cold-water immersion is not apparent during low-intensity cold-water exercise.

This project examined the effects of repeated, resting cold-water immersion on metabolic heat production and core temperature defence during subsequent rest and exercising immersions. Seven males undertook 15 days of cold-water adaptation, immersed to the fourth intercostal space, with cold-water stress tests (CWST) on days 1, 8 and 15 (18.1 SD 0.1 degree C: 60 min seated, followed by 30 min cycling (1 W.kg-1)), and 90-min resting immersions (18.4 SD 0.4 degree C) on each of the intervening days. Adaptation elicited an habituated thermogenic response during the rest phase of CWST3 beyond 20 min, compared to CWST1 (P < 0.05), with oxygen consumption averaging 11.15 (+/- 0.25) ml.kg-1.min-1 and 8.61 (+/- 0.90) ml.kg-1.min-1 by 50 min, for CWST1 and CWST3, respectively. During exercise, this metabolic blunting was only apparent over the first 10-min period (60-70 min). No significant differences were observed during either the rest or exercise phases of the CWSTs for oesophageal temperature (Tes). While repeated cold-water exposures produced an habituated-thermogenic response, for an equivalent drop in Tes during rest, neither this response, nor an elevated thermogenesis, were apparent during subsequent cold-water exercise.     

Glutamate-41 of Vibrio harveyi acyl carrier protein is essential for fatty acid synthase but not acyl-ACP synthetase activity

Bacterial acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a small, acidic, and highly conserved protein that supplies acyl groups for biosynthesis of a variety of lipid products. Recent modelling studies predict that residues primarily in helix II of Escherichia coli ACP (Glu-41, Ala-45) are involved in its interaction with the condensing enzyme FabH of fatty acid synthase. Using recombinant Vibrio harveyi ACP as a template for site-directed mutagenesis, we have shown that an acidic residue at position 41 is essential for V. harveyi fatty acid synthase (but not acyl-ACP synthetase) activity. In contrast, various replacements of Ala-45 were tolerated by both enzymes. None of the mutations introduced dramatic structural changes based on circular dichroism and native gel electrophoresis. These results confirm that Glu-41 of ACP is a critical residue for fatty acid synthase, but not for all enzymes that utilize ACP as a substrate.     

The potential for mitochondrial fat oxidation in human skeletal muscle influences whole body fat oxidation during low-intensity exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate fatty acid (FA) oxidation in isolated mitochondrial vesicles (mit) and its relation to training status, fiber type composition, and whole body FA oxidation. Trained (Vo(2 peak) 60.7 +/- 1.6, n = 8) and untrained subjects (39.5 +/- 2.0 ml.min(-1).kg(-1), n = 5) cycled at 40, 80, and 120 W, and whole body relative FA oxidation was assessed from respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Mit were isolated from muscle biopsies, and maximal ADP stimulated respiration was measured with carbohydrate-derived substrate [pyruvate + malate (Pyr)] and FA-derived substrate [palmitoyl-l-carnitine + malate (PC)]. Fiber type composition was determined from analysis of myosin heavy-chain (MHC) composition. The rate of mit oxidation was lower with PC than with Pyr, and the ratio between PC and Pyr oxidation (MFO) varied greatly between subjects (49-93%). MFO was significantly correlated to muscle fiber type distribution, i.e., %MHC I (r = 0.62, P = 0.03), but was not different between trained (62 +/- 5%) and untrained subjects (72 +/- 2%). MFO was correlated to RER during submaximal exercise at 80 (r = -0.62, P = 0.02) and 120 W (r = -0.71, P = 0.007) and interpolated 35% Vo(2 peak) (r = -0.74, P = 0.004). ADP sensitivity of mit respiration was significantly higher with PC than with Pyr. It is concluded that MFO is influenced by fiber type composition but not by training status. The inverse correlation between RER and MFO implies that intrinsic mit characteristics are of importance for whole body FA oxidation during low-intensity exercise. The higher ADP sensitivity with PC than that with Pyr may influence fuel utilization at low rate of respiration.     

Recombinant human interleukin-6 infusion during low-intensity exercise does not enhance whole body lipolysis or fat oxidation in humans

The present study examined the role of the cytokine IL-6 in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism during exercise in humans. Six well-trained males completed three trials of 120 min of cycle ergometry at 70% peak O(2) consumption (Vo(2 peak); MOD) and 40% Vo(2 peak) with (LOW + IL-6) and without (LOW) infusion of recombinant human (rh)IL-6. The dose of rhIL-6 during LOW + IL-6 elicited IL-6 concentration similar to those during MOD but without altering the circulating hormonal milieu seen in MOD. Palmitate rate of appearance (R(a)), rate of disappearance (R(d)), and oxidation were measured by means of a constant infusion of [U-(13)C]palmitate (0.015 micromol.kg(-1).min(-1), prime NaHCO(3), 1 micromol/kg). Palmitate R(a), R(d), and oxidation were not affected by rhIL-6 infusion, remaining similar to LOW at all times. Palmitate R(a) and oxidation were significantly greater in the MOD trial (P < 0.05) compared with the LOW + IL-6 and LOW trials. Our data show that a low dose of rhIL-6, administered during low-intensity exercise without altering the hormonal milieu, does not alter fatty acid metabolism. These data suggest that the increase in fatty acid utilization seen during exercise at moderate compared with low intensity is not mediated via alterations in plasma IL-6.     

Glutamine is not an essential amino acid for Sf-9 insect cells

Summary Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) insect cells are fully capable of growth and proliferation in a glutamine, glutamate and aspartate-free medium, provided that ammonium ions are supplied. S. frugiperda (Sf-21) and Mamestra brassicae cells (IZD-MB-0503) also grow in glutamine-free media but not Trichoplusia ni cells (BTI-TN 5B1-4). The yield of -galactosidase in Sf-9 cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus under glutamine-free conditions was even higher than the yield obtained in glutamine containing cultures.     

The intestinal fatty acid binding protein is not essential for dietary fat absorption in mice.

The intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) belongs to a family of 15 kDa clamshell-like proteins that are found in many different tissues. So far, nine types have been identified. Their primary structures are highly conserved between species but somewhat less so among the different types. The function of these proteins, many of which are highly expressed, is not well understood. Their ability to bind lipid ligands suggests a role in lipid metabolism, but direct evidence for this idea is still lacking. We tested the hypothesis that I-FABP serves an essential role in the assimilation of dietary fatty acids by disrupting its gene (Fabpi) in the mouse. We discovered that Fabpi-/- mice are viable, but they display alterations in body weight and are hyperinsulinemic. Male Fabpi-/- mice had elevated plasma triacylglycerols and weighed more regardless of the dietary fat content. In contrast, female Fabpi-/- mice gained less weight in response to a high-fat diet. The results clearly demonstrate that I-FABP is not essential for dietary fat absorption. We propose that I-FABP functions as a lipid-sensing component of energy homeostasis that alters body weight gain in a gender-specific fashion.     

Cell cycle activity during seed priming is not essential for germination advancement in tomato

Seed priming is a technique of controlled hydration and drying that results in more rapid gemination when the seeds are reimbibed. Advancement of radicle meristem cells into the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, increasing the percentage of nuclei having a 4C DNA content, has been reported to occur during priming. It has been suggested that the efficiency of priming is related to the accumulation of 4C nuclei in the radicle meristem, but the extent of cell cycle activity varied among different treatments and seed lots. A wide range of priming treatments across temperatures, water potentials and durations can be compared on a common basis using the hydrothermal priming time model. Flow cytometry was used to monitor cell cycle activity in a number of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seed lots during priming in relation to the accumulation of hydrothermal priming time and the subsequent germination rate response. In some seed lots, the percentage of 4C nuclei in the radicle meristems prior to emergence increased in proportion to accumulated hydrothermal priming time, while in other lots, no increase in nuclear DNA content was detected. All lots, however, demonstrated rapid radicle emergence following priming. Thus, replicative DNA synthesis in radicle meristem nuclei often occurred during seed priming, but an increase in the percentage of 4C nuclei was not essential for germination advancement.     

Hepatic alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors are not essential for the increase in R(a) during exercise in diabetes

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of direct hepatic adrenergic stimulation in the control of endogenous glucose production (R(a)) during moderate exercise in poorly controlled alloxan-diabetic dogs. Chronically catheterized and instrumented (flow probes on hepatic artery and portal vein) dogs were made diabetic by administration of alloxan. Each study consisted of a 120-min equilibration, 30-min basal, 150-min moderate exercise, 30-min recovery, and 30-min blockade test period. Either vehicle (control; n = 6) or alpha (phentolamine)- and beta (propranolol)-adrenergic blockers (HAB; n = 6) were infused in the portal vein. In both groups, epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) were infused in the portal vein during the blockade test period to create suprapharmacological levels at the liver. Isotopic ([3-(3)H]glucose, [U-(14)C]alanine) and arteriovenous difference methods were used to assess hepatic function. Arterial plasma glucose was similar in controls (345 +/- 24 mg/dl) and HAB (336 +/- 23 mg/dl) and was unchanged by exercise. Basal arterial insulin was 5 +/- 1 mU/ml in controls and 4 +/- 1 mU/ml in HAB and fell by approximately 50% during exercise in both groups. Basal arterial glucagon was similar in controls (56 +/- 10 pg/ml) and HAB (55 +/- 7 pg/ml) and rose similarly, by approximately 1.4-fold, with exercise in both groups. Despite greater arterial Epi and NE levels in HAB compared with controls during the basal and exercise periods, exercise-induced increases in catecholamines from basal were similar in both groups. Gluconeogenic conversion from alanine and lactate and the intrahepatic efficiency of this process were increased by twofold during exercise in both groups. R(a) rose similarly by 2.9 +/- 0.7 and 2.7 +/- 1.0 mg. kg(-1). min(-1) at time = 150 min during exercise in controls and HAB. During the blockade test period, arterial plasma glucose and R(a) rose to 454 +/- 43 mg/dl and 11.3 mg. kg(-1). min(-1) in controls, respectively, but were essentially unchanged in HAB. The attenuated response to the blockade test in HAB substantiates the effectiveness of the hepatic adrenergic blockade. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that direct hepatic adrenergic stimulation does not play a role in the stimulation of R(a) during exercise in poorly controlled diabetes.     

Protein kinase D1 is essential for contraction-induced glucose uptake but is not involved in fatty acid uptake into cardiomyocytes

Increased contraction enhances substrate uptake into cardiomyocytes via translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and the long chain fatty acid (LCFA) transporter CD36 from intracellular stores to the sarcolemma. Additionally, contraction activates the signaling enzymes AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and protein kinase D1 (PKD1). Although AMPK has been implicated in contraction-induced GLUT4 and CD36 translocation in cardiomyocytes, the precise role of PKD1 in these processes is not known. To study this, we triggered contractions in cardiomyocytes by electric field stimulation (EFS). First, the role of PKD1 in GLUT4 and CD36 translocation was defined. In PKD1 siRNA-treated cardiomyocytes as well as cardiomyocytes from PKD1 knock-out mice, EFS-induced translocation of GLUT4, but not CD36, was abolished. In AMPK siRNA-treated cardiomyocytes and cardiomyocytes from AMPKα2 knock-out mice, both GLUT4 and CD36 translocation were abrogated. Hence, unlike AMPK, PKD1 is selectively involved in glucose uptake. Second, we analyzed upstream factors in PKD1 activation. Cardiomyocyte contractions enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Using ROS scavengers, we found that PKD1 signaling and glucose uptake are more sensitive to changes in intracellular ROS than AMPK signaling or LCFA uptake. Furthermore, silencing of death-activated protein kinase (DAPK) abrogated EFS-induced GLUT4 but not CD36 translocation. Finally, possible links between PKD1 and AMPK signaling were investigated. PKD1 silencing did not affect AMPK activation. Reciprocally, AMPK silencing did not alter PKD1 activation. In conclusion, we present a novel contraction-induced ROS-DAPK-PKD1 pathway in cardiomyocytes. This pathway is activated separately from AMPK and mediates GLUT4 translocation/glucose uptake, but not CD36 translocation/LCFA uptake.     

Cholesterol is not an essential source of nutrition for Mycobacterium tuberculosis during infection

Rv1106c (hsd; 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) is required by Mycobacterium tuberculosis for growth on cholesterol as a sole carbon source, whereas Rv3409c is not. Mutation of Rv1106c does not reduce Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in infected macrophages or guinea pigs. We conclude that cholesterol is not required as a nutritional source during infection.     

AS160 phosphorylation is associated with activation of alpha2beta2gamma1- but not alpha2beta2gamma3-AMPK trimeric complex in skeletal muscle during exercise in humans

We investigated time- and intensity-dependent effects of exercise on phosphorylation of Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) in human skeletal muscle. Subjects performed cycle exercise for 90 min (67% VO2 peak, n=8), 20 min (80% VO2 peak, n=11), 2 min (110% of peak work rate, n=9), or 30 s (maximal sprint, n=10). Muscle biopsies were obtained before, during, and after exercise. In trial 1, AS160 phosphorylation increased at 60 min (60%, P=0.06) and further at 90 min of exercise (120%, P<0.05). alpha2beta2gamma3-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity increased significantly to a steady-state level after 30 min, whereas alpha2beta2gamma1-AMPK activity increased after 60 min of exercise with a further significant increase after 90 min. alpha2beta2gamma1-AMPK activity and AS160 phosphorylation correlated positively (r2=0.55). In exercise trials 2, 3, and 4, alpha2beta2gamma3-AMPK activity but neither AS160 phosphorylation nor alpha2beta2gamma1-AMPK activity increased. Akt Ser473 phosphorylation was unchanged in all trials, whereas Akt Thr308 phosphorylation increased significantly in trial 3 and 4 only. These results show that AS160 is phosphorylated in a time-dependent manner during moderate-intensity exercise and suggest that alpha2beta2gamma1- but not alpha2beta2gamma3-AMPK may act in a pathway responsible for exercise-induced AS160 phosphorylation. Furthermore, we show that AMPK complexes in skeletal muscle are activated differently depending on exercise intensity and duration.     

Regulation of plasma long-chain fatty acid oxidation in relation to uptake in human skeletal muscle during exercise

In the present study, we investigated possible sites of regulation of long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) oxidation in contracting human skeletal muscle. Leg plasma LCFA kinetics were determined in eight healthy men during bicycling (60 min, 65% peak oxygen uptake) with either high (H-FOX) or low (L-FOX) leg fat oxidation (H-FOX: 1,098 +/- 140; L-FOX: 494 +/- 84 micromol FA/min, P < 0.001), which was achieved by manipulating preexercise muscle glycogen (H-FOX: 197 +/- 21; L-FOX: 504 +/- 25 mmol/kg dry wt, P < 0.001). Several blood metabolites and hormones were kept nearly similar between trials by allocating a preexercise meal and infusing glucose intravenously during exercise. During exercise, leg plasma LCFA fractional extraction was identical between trials (H-FOX: 17.8 +/- 1.6; L-FOX: 18.2 +/- 1.8%, not significant), suggesting similar LCFA transport capacity in muscle. On the contrary, leg plasma LCFA oxidation was 99% higher in H-FOX than in L-FOX (421 +/- 47 vs. 212 +/- 37 micromol/min, P < 0.001). Probably due to the slightly higher (P < 0.01) plasma LCFA concentration in H-FOX than in L-FOX, leg plasma LCFA uptake was nonsignificantly (P = 0.17) higher (25%) in H-FOX than in L-FOX, yet the fraction of plasma LCFA uptake oxidized was 61% higher (P < 0.05) in H-FOX than in L-FOX. Accordingly, the muscle content of several lipid-binding proteins did not differ significantly between trials, although fatty acid translocase/CD36 and caveolin-1 were elevated (P < 0.05) by the high-intensity exercise and dietary manipulation allocated on the day before the experimental trial. The present data suggest that, in contracting human skeletal muscle with different fat oxidation rates achieved by manipulating preexercise glycogen content, transsarcolemmal transport is not limiting plasma LCFA oxidation. Rather, the latter seems to be limited by intracellular regulatory mechanisms.