The effect of different growth conditions on dark and light carbon assimilation in Littorella uniflora

The effect of long-term exposure to different inorganic carbon, nutrient and light regimes on CAM activity and photosynthetic performance in the submerged aquatic plant, Littorella uniflora (L.) Aschers was investigated. The potential CAM activity of Littorella was highly plastic and was reduced upon exposure to low light intensities (43 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), high CO₂ concentrations (5.5 mM, pH 6.0) or low levels of inorganic nutrients, which caused a 25–80% decline in the potential maximum CAM activity relative to the activity in the control experiments (light: 450 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹; free CO₂: 1.5 mM). The CAM activity was regulated more by light than by CO₂, while nutrient levels only affected the activity to a minor extent. The minor effect of low nutrient regimes may be due to a general adaptation of isoetid species to low nutrient levels.
The photosynthetic capacity and CO₂ affinity was unaffected or increased by exposure to low CO₂, irrespective of nutrient levels. High CO₂, low nutrient and low light, however, reduced the capacity by 22–40% and the CO₂ affinity by 35-45%, relative to control.
The parallel effect of growth conditions on CAM activity and photosynthetic performance of Littorella suggest that light and dark carbon assimilation are interrelated and constitute an integrated part of the carbon assimilation physiology of the plant. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that CAM is a carbon-conserving mechanism in certain aquatic plants. The investment in the CAM enzyme system is beneficial to the plants during growth at high light and low CO₂ conditions.     

The accumulation and metabolism of amino acids by Biomphalaria glabrata, a freshwater pulmonate snail

Freshwater pulmonate snails (Biomphalaria glabrata), pre-treated under bacteriostatic conditions, were incubated in 10 ml of standard medium containing various U-¹⁴C-labelled amino acids at concentrations of 10 μM. Measurements of mass-specific accumulation rates (MSARs) based on HPLC and the accumulation of U-¹⁴C-labelled amino acids into snail tissues have shown unequivocally for the first time that freshwater snails achieved a net accumulation of all the amino acids tested, including aminoisobutyrate (AIB), aspartate, alanine and a mixture of 13 amino acids. There were no significant differences between the MSAR values determined by HPLC from those based on the use of radiolabelled amino acids, whereas MSAR values for control snails were negligible and significantly less. Incubation of snails in media containing radiolabelled aspartate and a mixture of amino acids showed that the accumulated amino acids were readily distributed through the snail’s tissues and then metabolized. The ecological and biochemical questions arising from the fact that freshwater snails are capable of net accumulation of exogenous amino acids at naturally occurring concentrations and subsequent metabolic conversion, contrary to widely held views, are addressed.     

Purification of Inulin Fructotransferase (DFA I-producing) from Arthrobacter MCI2493 and Production of DFA I from Inulin by the Enzyme

An extracellular enzyme that produces di-d-fructofuranose-2′, 1;2, 1′ dianhydride from inulin was purified from the culture broth cf Arthrobacter sp. MCI2493. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 40,000 by gel filtration and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 50°C. Using this purified enzyme, 100g/liter inulin was converted into 60 g/liter of DFA I, nystose, and 1-f-fructofuranosyl-nystose after incubation for 30 h.     

脂质代谢在乳腺癌发病中的作用

乳腺癌已经成为全球第一大癌症,其发病机制及治疗方法的探索越来越受到人们重视。脂质代谢异常是癌细胞中最突出的代谢改变之一,探索乳腺癌细胞中脂质代谢的改变,以寻找新的诊断指标和治疗靶点是至关重要的。本文从脂肪酸代谢、甘油三酯代谢、胆固醇代谢和脂质代谢信号通路4个方面介绍脂质代谢异常在乳腺癌中的研究进展,为靶向脂质代谢治疗乳腺癌提供新思路和新方法。     

Macrophage polarization state affects lipid composition and the channeling of exogenous fatty acids into endogenous lipid pools

Adipose-tissue-resident macrophages (ATMs) maintain metabolic homeostasis but also contribute to obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Central to these contrasting effects of ATMs on metabolic homeostasis is the interaction of macrophages with fatty acids. Fatty acid levels are increased within adipose tissue in various pathological and physiological conditions, but appear to initiate inflammatory responses only upon interaction with particular macrophage subsets within obese adipose tissue. The molecular basis underlying these divergent outcomes is likely due to phenotypic differences between ATM subsets, although how macrophage polarization state influences the metabolism of exogenous fatty acids is relatively unknown. Herein, using stable isotope-labeled and nonlabeled fatty acids in combination with mass spectrometry lipidomics, we show marked differences in the utilization of exogenous fatty acids within inflammatory macrophages (M1 macrophages) and macrophages involved in tissue homeostasis (M2 macrophages). Specifically, the accumulation of exogenous fatty acids within triacylglycerols and cholesterol esters is significantly higher in M1 macrophages, while there is an increased enrichment of exogenous fatty acids within glycerophospholipids, ether lipids, and sphingolipids in M2 macrophages. Finally, we show that functionally distinct ATM populations in vivo have distinct lipid compositions. Collectively, this study identifies new aspects of the metabolic reprogramming that occur in distinct macrophage polarization states. The channeling of exogenous fatty acids into particular lipid synthetic pathways may contribute to the sensitivity/resistance of macrophage subsets to the inflammatory effects of increased environmental fatty acid levels.     

Transformation of a CAM plant, the facultative halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

This study is the first to demonstrate that a foreign DNA can be delivered into cells of facultative halophyte crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This plant can be induced to change from C3 to CAM by drought and various stresses, and is a good model to study the environment stress on metabolism not only at whole plant but also at cell level. The β-glucuronidase (GUS) and kanamycin (Km) resistance genes were introduced into this plant. The average successful rate of transformation was about 54.5% with root tissue or 53.0% with hypocotyl tissue. Based on the resistance to Km, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection and GUS expression, transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens was successful for introducing foreign genes into M. crystallinum. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Metabolomics reveals an essential role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in bile acid homeostasis

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor that regulates fatty acid transport and metabolism. Previous studies revealed that PPARα can affect bile acid metabolism; however, the mechanism by which PPARα regulates bile acid homeostasis is not understood. In this study, an ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization qua dru pole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOFMS)-based metabolomics approach was used to profile metabolites in urine, serum, and bile of wild-type and Ppara-null mice following cholic acid (CA) dietary challenge. Metabolomic analysis showed that the levels of several serum bile acids, such as CA (25-fold) and taurocholic acid (16-fold), were significantly increased in CA-treated Ppara-null mice compared with CA-treated wild-type mice. Phospholipid homeostasis, as revealed by decreased serum lysophos phati dylcholine (LPC) 16:0 (1.6-fold) and LPC 18:0 (1.6-fold), and corticosterone metabolism noted by increased urinary excretion of 11β-hydroxy-3,20-dioxopregn-4-en-21-oic acid (20-fold) and 11β,20α-dihydroxy-3-oxo-pregn-4-en-21-oic acid (3.6-fold), were disrupted in CA-treated Ppara-null mice. The hepatic levels of mRNA encoding transporters Abcb11, Abcb4, Abca1, Abcg5, and Abcg8 were diminished in Ppara-null mice, leading to the accumulation of bile acids in the liver during the CA challenge. These observations revealed that PPARα is an essential regulator of bile acid biosynthesis, transport, and secretion.     

Effects of abscisic acid on CAM in Portulacaria afra

Water stress induces Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Portulacaria afra as manifested by day stomatal closure, organic acid fluctuation, and night CO₂ uptake. We now have evidence that abscisic acid treatment of leaves causes partial stomatal closure that is accompanied by the induction of CAM in a manner similar to water stress. There appears to be an inverse relationship between exogenous CO₂ uptake and decarboxylation of organic acids in that organic acids remain high during the day providing stomata are open. When stomata close, there is consumption of organic acids by decarboxylation. The hypothesis is that stomatal opening controls CAM in this species.This material is based upon work supported by the Science and Education Administration of the USDA under Competitive Grant No. 5901-0410-8-0018-0.     

Remnant lipoprotein particles are taken up into myocardium through VLDL receptor--a possible mechanism for cardiac fatty acid metabolism

The VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) receptor is a peripheral lipoprotein receptor expressing in fatty acid active tissues abundantly. In the Balb/c fasting mice, VLDL receptor as well as LPL (lipoprotein lipase), FAT (fatty acid translocase)/CD36, H-FABP (heart-type fatty acid-binding protein), ACS (acyl-CoA synthetase) and LCAD (long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase) expressions increased. An electron microscopic examination indicated the lipid droplets that accumulated in the hearts of fasting Balb/c mice. During the development of SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats, VLDL receptor, LPL, FAT/CD36, H-FABP, ACS, and LCAD mRNAs concomitantly increased with growth. However, PK (pyruvate kinase) mRNA expression was negligible. In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, VLDL receptor expression increased with days in culture. Oil red-O staining showed that cardiomyocytes after 7 days in culture (when the VLDL receptor protein is present) accumulated beta-migrating VLDL. Thereby, we showed that the cardiac VLDL receptor pathway for delivery of remnant lipoprotein particles might be part of a cardiac fatty acid metabolism.     

Gestational and hormonal regulation of human placental lipoprotein lipase

The fetal demand for FFA increases as gestation proceeds, and LPL represents one potential mechanism for increasing placental lipid transport. We examined LPL activity and protein expression in first trimester and term human placenta. The LPL activity was 3-fold higher in term (n = 7; P < 0.05) compared with first trimester (n = 6) placentas. The LPL expression appeared lower in microvillous membrane from first trimester (n = 2) compared with term (n = 2) placentas. We incubated isolated placental villous fragments with a variety of effectors [GW 1929, estradiol, insulin, cortisol, epinephrine, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha] for 1, 3, and 24 h to investigate potential regulatory mechanisms. Decreased LPL activity was observed after 24 h of incubation with estradiol (1 micro g/ml), insulin, cortisol, and IGF-1 (n = 12; P < 0.05). We observed an increase in LPL activity after 3 h of incubation with estradiol (20 ng/ml) or hyperglycemic medium plus insulin (n = 7; P < 0.05). To conclude, we suggest that the gestational increase in placental LPL activity represents an important mechanism to enhance placental FFA transport in late pregnancy. Hormonal regulation of placental LPL activity by insulin, cortisol, IGF-1, and estradiol may be involved in gestational changes and in alterations in LPL activity in pregnancies complicated by altered fetal growth.     

Glucose and amino acid metabolism in chick telencephalon slices: Changes with incubation conditions and animals' development

Glucose and amino acid metabolism in 1- and 30-day-old chick telencephalon slices was studied in two incubation media in the presence or in the absence of a continuous oxygenation. Medium 1 has a composition and a tonicity similar to cerebrospinal fluid, medium 2 is hypertonic and does not contain any K⁺ ions. The incorporation of glucose carbon into amino acids and the distribution of radioactivity between the different amino acids are close to the ones observed in the chick brain in vivo only when the slices are incubated in medium 1, with oxygen at 30 days and without oxygen for the 1-day-old chick. It also appears that if oxygenation is necessary for incubation of mature brain tissue in vitro, the absence of the medium oxygenation is more suitable for the study of glucose metabolism in 1-day-old chick brain slices.     

Metabolism of 2-amino-3-phosphono[3-14C]propionic acid in cell-free preparations of rat liver

Incubation of 2-amino-3-phosphono[3-¹⁴C]propionic acid with cell-free preparations of rat liver yielded labelled 3-phosphonopyruvic acid, 2-phosphonoacetaldehyde, 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid and acetaldehyde. No radioactivity was found in phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvic acid, alanine, and phosphonoacetic acid.When added to the cell-free preparations, 3-phosphonopyruvic acid trapped the radioactivity, resulting in decrease of incorporation of the radioactivity into 2-phosphonoacetaldehyde, 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid and acetaldehyde. Incorporation of the radioactivity into 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid and acetaldehyde was also decreased by 2-phosphonoacetaldehyde.Thus it appears that the main metabolic pathway of 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid is deamination to produce 3-phosphonopyruvic acid which is, in turn, converted to 2-phosphonoacetaldehyde by decarboxylation, followed by both dephosphonylation and amination of the aldehyde to give acetaldehyde and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid, respectively.     

细菌的应激反应和生理代谢与耐药性及其控制策略

抗菌药在医疗和畜牧生产中的滥用导致了细菌抗药性的产生,这个公共卫生问题引起了人们越来越多的关注。除了基因突变和获得形成的抗药性 (Resistance) 外,细菌在自然环境中遇到的各种压力会引发其产生应激反应,这不仅可以保护细菌免受这些压力的影响,还会改变细菌对抗菌药的耐药性 (Tolerance)。耐药性的产生必然会影响细菌的生理代谢,但是细菌可以通过调节自身代谢恢复对药物的敏感性。文中综述了近年来细菌应激反应和生理代谢与细菌耐药性之间的相关研究,以期采取更加有效的措施来控制细菌抗药性的发生和蔓延。     

Reduction in cytochrome P-450 enzyme expression is associated with repression of CAR (constitutive androstane receptor) and PXR (pregnane X receptor) in mouse liver during the acute phase response

Expression of P-450 (Cyp) enzymes is reduced in liver during the acute phase response, contributing to the decrease in bile acid levels and drug metabolism during infection. Nuclear hormone receptors CAR and PXR are key transactivators of Cyp2b and Cyp3a genes, respectively. Injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced the expected reduction in Cyp2b10 and Cyp3a mRNA levels in mouse liver. These decreases were associated with a marked reduction in CAR and PXR mRNA levels within 4 h following treatment. LPS-induced CAR and PXR repression were dose-dependent and sustained for at least 16 h. LPS treatment also reversed the up-regulation of Cyp3a in mice pre-treated with PXR ligand RU486. In addition, we observed a concomitant decrease in RXR (retinoid X receptor) mRNA levels, the obligatory partner of both CAR and PXR for high affinity binding to DNA. These findings represent one possible molecular mechanism underlying sepsis-induced repression of Cyp enzymes.     

果实品质形成的分子机理研究进展(综述)

本文综述果实发育过程中糖代谢和酸代谢的相关酶及其基因表达,并简要介绍果实成熟过程中色泽的形成。     

Biochemical pathways and mechanisms nitrogen, amino acid, and carbon metabolism

For both nitrogen and carbon metabolism there exist specific regulatory mechanisms to enable cells to assimilate a wide variety of nitrogen and carbon sources. Superimposed are regulatory circuits, the so called nitrogen and carbon catabolite regulation, to allow for selective use of “rich” sources first and “poor” sources later. Evidence points to the importance of specific regulatory mechanisms for short term adaptations, while generalized control circuits are used for long term modulation of nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Similarly a variety of regulatory mechanisms operate in amino acid metabolism. Modulation of enzyme activity and modulation of enzyme levels are the outstanding regulatory mechanisms. In prokaryotes, attenuation and repressor/operator control are predominant, besides a so called “metabolic control” which integrates amino acid metabolism into the overall nutritional status of the cells. In eukaryotic cells compartmentation of amino acid metabolites as well as of part of the pathways becomes an additional regulatory factor; pathway specific controls seem to be rare, but a complex regulatory network, the “general control of amino acid biosynthesis”, coordinates the synthesis of enzymes of a number of amino acid biosynthetic pathways.