Relationship between iron-limited growth and energy limitation during phased cultivation of Candida utilis

The yeast Candida utilis was continuously synchronized by the phasing technique (6 h doubling time) with either iron or nitrogen as the limiting nutrient. Iron limitations resulted in decreased molar growth yields with respect to the carbon substrates and ammonia and in increased specific rates of oxygen uptake. Relatively low energy-charge values were maintained by the iron-limited culture. All these taken together seemed to indicate that the growth of the yeast under iron limitation was also limited by metabolically available energy. Consideralbe amounts of ethyl acetate were produced by the yeast under phased cultivation when the growth was limited by iron but not by nitrogen. In vitro studies using cell-free extracts showed that the substrates for ethyl acetate synthesis were acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA) and ethanol. Under iron-limited growth acetyl CoA seemed to be diverted to ethyl acetate formation rather than being oxidized through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The possibility of energy limitation under iron-limited growth being brought about by the reduced capacity of the yeast to oxidize acetyl CoA through the TCA cycle is considered.     

Relationship between intracellular pH and energy metabolism in dog brain as measured by 31P-NMR

The relationships between pHi (intracellular pH) and phosphate compounds were evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in normo-, hypo-, and hypercapnia, obtained by changing fractional inspired concentration of CO2 in dogs anesthetized with 0.75% isoflurane and 66% N2O. Phosphocreatine (PCr) fell by 2.02 mM and Pi (inorganic phosphate) rose by 1.92 mM due to pHi shift from 7.10 to 6.83 during hypercapnia. The stoichiometric coefficient was 1.05 (r2 = 0.78) on log PCr/Cr against pHi, showing minimum change of ADP/ATP and equilibrium of creatine kinase in the pH range of 6.7 to 7.25. [ADP] varied from 21.6 +/- 4.1 microM in control (pHi = 7.10) to 26.8 +/- 6.3 microM in hypercapnia (pHi = 6.83) and 24.0 +/- 6.8 microM in hypocapnia (pHi = 7.17). ATP/ADP X Pi decreased from 66.4 +/- 17.1 mM-1 during normocapnia to 25.8 +/- 6.3 mM-1 in hypercapnia. The ADP values are near the in vitro Km; thus ADP is the main controller. The velocity of oxidative metabolism (V) in relation to its maximum (Vmax) as calculated by a steady-state Michaelis-Menten formulation is approximately 50% in normocapnia. In acidosis (pH 6.7) and alkalosis (pH 7.25), V/Vmax is 10% higher than the normocapnic brain. This increase of V/Vmax is required to maintain cellular homeostasis of energy metabolism in the face of either inhibition at extremes of pH or higher ATPase activity.     

Relationship between biomass energy and economic growth in transition countries: panel ARDL approach

In this study, we have investigated the co‐integration and causality relationship between the biomass energy consumption and economic growth in the transition countries by the Panel Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method and Pedroni co‐integration analysis for 1990–2011. Analysed countries are gathered under two groups. For Groups 1 and 2, Pedroni panel co‐integration test and ARDL bound test results show that biomass energy consumption and economic growth are co‐integrated. Fully modified ordinary least squares results suggested that biomass energy consumption has positive effect on the economic growth.     

Differences in energy metabolism between trypanosomatidae

Although various members of the family Trypanosomatidae generate energy in a similar way, fundamental differences also exist and are not always recognized. In this review, Louis Tielens and Jaap Van Hellemond discuss the known differences in carbohydrate metabolism among trypanosomatids, and especially compare Leishmania with trypanosomatids such as Trypanosoma brucei and Phytomonas spp. Special attention will be paid to differences in end-products of carbohydrate degradation, to differences in anaerobic capacities between the various trypanosomatids and to the components of their respiratory chains, including the presence or absence of a plant-like alternative oxidase. Furthermore, evidence will be discussed which indicates that the succinate produced by trypanosomatids is formed mainly via an oxidative pathway and not via reduction of fumarate, a process known to occur in parasitic helminths.     

Relationship between secondary metabolism and fungal development.

Filamentous fungi are unique organisms-rivaled only by actinomycetes and plants-in producing a wide range of natural products called secondary metabolites. These compounds are very diverse in structure and perform functions that are not always known. However, most secondary metabolites are produced after the fungus has completed its initial growth phase and is beginning a stage of development represented by the formation of spores. In this review, we describe secondary metabolites produced by fungi that act as sporogenic factors to influence fungal development, are required for spore viability, or are produced at a time in the life cycle that coincides with development. We describe environmental and genetic factors that can influence the production of secondary metabolites. In the case of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, we review the only described work that genetically links the sporulation of this fungus to the production of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin through a shared G-protein signaling pathway.     

Regulation of hepatic energy metabolism by epidermal growth factor

Employing the non-recirculating perfused rat liver preparation, we have investigated the regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis, and metabolic fluxes through the tricarboxylic acid cycle and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase reaction by epidermal growth factor (EGF) which mimics the actions of both insulin and Ca(2+)-mobilizing hormones (e.g. vasopressin). As monitored by the rate of 14CO2 production from [2-14C]pyruvate (0.5 mM), EGF (10 nM) transiently stimulated the activity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. EGF also transiently stimulated hepatic gluconeogenesis from pyruvate. The transient stimulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and gluconeogenesis were accompanied by an increase in perfusate Ca2+ content indicating that EGF also altered hepatic Ca2+ fluxes. EGF-elicited stimulation of gluconeogenesis was, at least in part, the result of a transient (50%) inhibition of pyruvate kinase activity. Likewise, EGF-mediated stimulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle activity can, in part, be attributed to EGF-elicited stimulation of metabolic flux through the mitochondrial, Ca(2+)-sensitive, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase reaction. The regulation of hepatic metabolism by EGF appears to be the manifestation of alteration in cellular Ca2+ content since in experiments performed under conditions known to abolish the ability of EGF to alter cytosolic free-Ca2+ concentrations, i.e. in livers of pertussis-toxin-treated rats, EGF did not alter either perfusate Ca2+ content or any of the metabolic parameters monitored. Additionally, experiments involving pulsatile infusion of either EGF or phenylephrine into livers demonstrated that, unlike the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor, homologous desensitization of the EGF receptor occurs. Such a homologous desensitization of the EGF receptor can explain the transient nature of EGF-elicited stimulation of various metabolic processes. Since protein kinase C activation by EGF can lead to receptor desensitization, experiments were performed with phorbol esters which either activate or do not alter protein kinase C activity. While the inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate did not modulate the hepatic actions of EGF, activation of protein kinase C by 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (70 nM) abolished the ability of EGF to stimulate gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and metabolic flux through the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex.     

Correlations between heparan sulfate metabolism and hepatoma growth

A rat hepatoma cell line (Gershenson et al., Science, 170:859-861, 1970) contains a dynamic steady-state pool of free heparan sulfate (HS) chains in the nucleus that increases in amount when growing cells reach confluence (Fedarko and Conrad, J. Cell Biol., 102:587-599, 1986). In logarithmically growing cells labeled with 35SO4(2-) steady-state levels of [35SO4]HS in the nucleus are altered by a variety of culture conditions. Rapidly dividing cells (doubling time = 18-22 h) growing under optimized conditions had steady-state levels of nuclear HS within the range of 40-50 pmol 35SO4 in nuclear HS/10(6) cells. The steady-state levels of nuclear HS were lowered by several changes in culture conditions, including 1) additions of 1 mM p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside, 0.25-0.5 mM (+)-catechin, 0.5 ng/ml transforming growth factor beta, 20 ng/ml phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP, or 1 mM inositol-2-PO4; 2) decreased levels of D-glucose; or 3) deletions of serum, insulin, or inositol. In all cases lowering of the nuclear HS level was accompanied by an increase in the cell doubling times, suggesting a correlation in which nuclear HS levels must be optimized for maximal growth rates. When cells cultured under optimal growth conditions reached confluence, the level of nuclear HS increased threefold and the cells stopped dividing. The same culture conditions that lowered the steady-state levels of HS in the logarithmically growing cells prevented this rise in the nuclear HS as the cells reached confluence and resulted in loss of contact inhibition and overgrowth of the confluent cultures. These observations suggest a second correlation in which elevated nuclear HS levels are found when cell growth is inhibited at confluence; prevention of this rise results in continued growth. Consistent with this correlation between elevated nuclear HS and reduced growth rates, it was observed that addition of either 0.5 microgram/ml hydrocortisone or 0.05 microgram/ml retinoic acid to the culture medium of logarithmically growing cultures resulted in increases in steady-state levels of nuclear HS that were accompanied by increased cell doubling times. The two agents that increased the levels of nuclear HS in logarithmically growing cultures had little effect on levels of nuclear HS in confluent cells or on contact inhibition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Incubation temperature affects growth and energy metabolism in blue tit nestlings

Because the maintenance of proper developmental temperatures during avian incubation is costly to parents, embryos of many species experience pronounced variation in incubation temperature. However, the effects of such temperature variation on nestling development remain relatively unexplored. To investigate this, we artificially incubated wild blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus L.) clutches at 35.0°, 36.5°, or 38.0°C for two-thirds of the incubation period. We returned clutches to their original nests before hatching and subsequently recorded nestling growth and resting metabolic rate. The length of the incubation period decreased with temperature, whereas hatching success increased. Nestlings from the lowest incubation temperature group had shorter tarsus lengths at 2 weeks of age, but body mass and wing length were not affected by temperature. In addition, nestlings from the lowest temperature group had a significantly higher resting metabolic rate compared with mid- and high-temperature nestlings, which may partly explain observed size differences between the groups. These findings suggest that nest microclimate can influence nestling phenotype, but whether observed differences carry over to later life-history stages remains unknown.     

Ghrelin与内分泌代谢异常

Ghrelin是近年来新发现的一种小分子活性肽, 主要由胃底的X/A 样细胞分泌,是生长激素促分泌物受体(GHS-R)的内源性配体.Ghrelin及其受体也可表达于肠道、胰腺、肾脏、性腺、胎盘、甲状腺、肾上腺、下丘脑、垂体等多种内分泌组织或器官.研究表明,ghrelin与糖代谢、甲状腺疾病、肥胖、多囊卵巢综合征等多种内分泌代谢疾患有关.本文将就ghrelin与内分泌代谢异常的关系的研究进展作简要介绍.     

Relationship between tryptophan metabolism and the state of melaninogensis]

In studying the excretion of tryptophan and the activity of tryptophan pyrrholase of the liver in black and albino rabbits it was revealed that the kinurenine, kinurenic and xanthurenic acids, 3-hydroxykinurenin, anthranylic acid and 5-hydroxyindolylactic acid levels in the urine collected before the L-tryptophane loading differed in these animals. No 3-hydroxyanthranylic acid was found in the initial urine of these rabbits. A sharp intensification of excretion of all the tryptophane metabolites studied followed the administration of L-tryptophane to albino rabbits, and a harper elevation of kinurenic and xanthurenic acid excretion--to black rabbits. In comparison with black rabbits, the tryptophan pyrrholase of the liver of albino rabbits reached to the L-tryptophan administration more intensively.     

Relationship between photosynthetic and respiratory carbon metabolism in freshwater phytoplankton

Measurements of algal carbon metabolism in the light and the dark were conducted in (1) short-term (3-h) light and dark incubations, (2) a diel (24-h) experiment, and (3) a longer-term (4-d) carbon accumulation experiment to examine the relationship between photosynthetic rates, photosynthetic carbon metabolism in the light, and respiration and carbon metabolism in the ensuing dark period in natural assemblages of freshwater phytoplankton. High rates of photosynthesis and polysaccharide synthesis in the light were followed by high rates of respiration and polysaccharide utilization in the dark. Polysaccharide was the major respiratory substrate in the dark, and small molecular weight metabolites, lipids, and protein were less important sources of metabolic energy. The protein pool accumulated carbon during dark incubations, but more slowly than during active photosynthesis in the light. Because the intracellular macromolecular pools turn over at very different rates (polysaccharide > protein and lipid), patterns of short-term photosynthetic carbon metabolism are not necessarily indicative of the biochemical composition of the phytoplankton.     

矿物电子能量协同微生物胞外电子传递与生长代谢

微生物的电子传递过程在生命进化和生物地球化学循环中发挥着关键作用。近年来,随着微生物电子传递研究的深入开展,微生物纳米导线、导电生物被膜及种间电子传递等多种新型的微生物胞外电子传递机制不断被发现,微生物电子传递的距离也从纳米级拓展至厘米级。这些微生物的长距离电子传递过程环环相扣、相互协同,从而构成长距离电子传递网络,并在物质循环和能量转化中共同发挥作用。微生物长距离电子传递网络的结构功能及其调控机制已成为多个学科共同关注的焦点。本文以电子传递的距离为主线,对不同尺度的微生物长距离电子传递过程及网络研究的新进展进行综述,包括纳米尺度的电子传递网络（周质空间和外膜表层）、微米至毫米尺度的电子传递网络（纳米导线、细胞间电子和导电生物被膜）、厘米尺度的电子传递网络（电缆细菌）等,并分析了该研究现存的主要问题和下一步的发展方向,以期为进一步推进微生物长距离电子传递网络理论和应用研究提供科学参考。