Depot-Specific Changes in Fat Metabolism with Aging in a Type 2 Diabetic Animal Model

Visceral fat accretion is a hallmark of aging and is associated with aging-induced metabolic dysfunction. PPARγ agonist was reported to improve insulin sensitivity by redistributing fat from visceral fat to subcutaneous fat. The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which aging affects adipose tissue remodeling in a type 2 diabetic animal model and through which PPARγ activation modulates aging-related fat tissue distribution. At the ages of 21, 31 and 43 weeks, OLETF rats as an animal model of type 2 diabetes were evaluated for aging-related effects on adipose tissue metabolism in subcutaneous and visceral fat depots. During aging, the ratio of visceral fat weight to subcutaneous fat weight (V/S ratio) increased. Aging significantly increased the mRNA expression of genes involved in lipogenesis such as lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid binding protein aP2, lipin 1, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1, which were more prominent in visceral fat than subcutaneous fat. The mRNA expression of adipose triglyceride lipase, which is involved in basal lipolysis and fatty acid recycling, was also increased, more in visceral fat compared to subcutaneous fat during aging. The mRNA levels of the genes associated with lipid oxidation were increased, whereas the mRNA levels of genes associated with energy expenditure showed no significant change during aging. PPARγ agonist treatment in OLETF rats resulted in fat redistribution with a decreasing V/S ratio and improved glucose intolerance. The genes involved in lipogenesis decreased in visceral fat of the PPARγ agonist-treated rats. During aging, fat distribution was changed by stimulating lipid uptake and esterification in visceral fat rather than subcutaneous fat, and by altering the lipid oxidation.     

Human Herpesvirus 8 Interferon Regulatory Factor-Mediated BH3-Only Protein Inhibition via Bid BH3-B Mimicry

Viral replication efficiency is in large part governed by the ability of viruses to counteract pro-apoptotic signals induced by infection of host cells. For HHV-8, viral interferon regulatory factor-1 (vIRF-1) contributes to this process in part via inhibitory interactions with BH3-only protein (BOP) Bim, recently identified as an interaction partner of vIRF-1. Here we recognize that the Bim-binding domain (BBD) of vIRF-1 resembles a region (BH3-B) of Bid, another BOP, which interacts intramolecularly with the functional BH3 domain of Bid to inhibit it pro-apoptotic activity. Indeed, vIRF-1 was found to target Bid in addition to Bim and to interact, via its BBD region, with the BH3 domain of each. In functional assays, BBD could substitute for BH3-B in the context of Bid, to suppress Bid-induced apoptosis in a BH3-binding-dependent manner, and vIRF-1 was able to protect transfected cells from apoptosis induced by Bid. While vIRF-1 can mediate nuclear sequestration of Bim, this was not the case for Bid, and inhibition of Bid and Bim by vIRF-1 could occur independently of nuclear localization of the viral protein. Consistent with this finding, direct BBD-dependent inactivation by vIRF-1 of Bid-induced mitochondrial permeabilization was demonstrable in vitro and isolated BBD sequences were also active in this assay. In addition to Bim and Bid BH3 domains, BH3s of BOPs Bik, Bmf, Hrk, and Noxa also were found to bind BBD, while those of both pro- and anti-apoptotic multi-BH domain Bcl-2 proteins were not. Finally, the significance of Bid to virus replication was demonstrated via Bid-depletion in HHV-8 infected cells, which enhanced virus production. Together, our data demonstrate and characterize BH3 targeting and associated inhibition of BOP pro-apoptotic activity by vIRF-1 via Bid BH3-B mimicry, identifying a novel mechanism of viral evasion from host cell defenses.     

How Are Local People Driving and Affected by Forest Cover Change? Opportunities for Local Participation in REDD+ Measurement,Reporting and Verification

Deforestation and forest degradation are complex and dynamic processes that vary from place to place. They are driven by multiple causes. Local communities are, to some extent, driving and also affected by some of these processes. Can their knowledge aid and add to place-specific assessment and monitoring of Deforestation and forest Degradation (DD) drivers? Our research was conducted in seven villages across three provinces of Indonesia (Papua, West Kalimantan and Central Java). Household surveys and focus group discussions were used to investigate how local community knowledge of DD drivers contributes to place-specific assessment and monitoring of DD drivers. We analyzed the link between drivers and local livelihoods to see how attempts to address deforestation and forest degradation might affect local communities and how this link might influence their participation in climate change mitigation measures such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and Measuring, Reporting and Verifying (MRV) activities. We found that local knowledge is fundamental to capturing the variety of drivers particularly in countries like Indonesia where forest and socio-economic conditions are diverse. Better understanding of drivers and their importance for local livelihoods will not only contribute to a more locally appropriate design of REDD+ and monitoring systems but will also foster local participation.     

Molecular database construction of rDNA and polyploidy identification by FISH on Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai

Numerous studies on Achyranthes japonica have been investigated on physiological and pharmacological interests, however, no information of molecular cytogenetic level has been introduced yet, which, in turn, it is very essential to construct the molecular database and polyploidy primarily for any further researches. In this study, full unit of 5S and partial unit of 45S rDNA including two ITS regions were analyzed with chromosomal loci of examined rRNA genes on mitotic chromosomes. From the sequence analysis of rDNA unit, only a few polymorphic sites revealed in both coding and non-coding regions of NTS, ITS 1 and 2 giving an idea that no inter-specific hybrids has been involved in A. japonica as highly conserved specie through the high evolutionary period. To identify the polyploidy of A. japonica which has been unclear due to the very small size and unspecific centromere, FISH analysis was carried out on mitotic chromosomes using analyzed 5S and pTa-71 for 45S rDNA. 2 loci of each 5S and 45S rDNA were confirmed on the short arm of different chromosomes which were assumed to be a pair of each rDNA by a very similar size. Thus, the analyzed sequence of rDNA with low polymorphic rates and the identified loci on a relative size chromosome suggest the polyploidy of A. japonica as highly conserved diploid specie.     

STIGMA OF SOLANUM TUBEROSUM CV SHEPODY: MORPHOLOGY,ULTRASTRUCTURE,AND SECRETION

The stigma of Solarium tuberosum L. cv Shepody has a bilobed papillate surface covered with a viscous secretion at anthesis. The secretion originates as osmiophilic droplets in the cytoplasm, accumulates in the intercellular space, and fills the base of the papillae, after lifting and rupturing the cuticular layer covering the stigma surface. Cytochemical evidence shows that the stigmatic secretion is lipidic in nature; it did not stain with the periodic acid-Schiffs reaction for carbohydrate or Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 for proteins, but did stain with Sudan black or Nile red, a fluorescence probe for lipids. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has revealed that the secretion contained three polypeptides that appeared to be 'indigenous' to the stigmatic secretion, and not contaminants. Comparative analyses of this and other proteins found in stigma secretions may provide clues to their possible roles in pollen grain adhesion and germination.     

Novel polyethylene glycol/levan aqueous two-phase system for protein partitioning

Biotechnology Techniques -