Glu–Phe from onion (Allium Cepa L.) attenuates lipogenesis in hepatocytes

A Glu–Phe (EF) was isolated from onion (Allium cepa L. cv. Sunpower). The chemical structure of EF was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization–mass (ESI?MS) spectroscopy. We showed that EF reduced lipid accumulation in mouse hepatocytes by inhibiting the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP–1c) and its lipogenic target genes. We also found that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was required for the inhibitory effect of EF on lipid accumulation in mouse hepatocytes. Furthermore, EF was qualified in nine onion cultivars by selective multiple reaction-monitoring detection of liquid chromatography–ESI?MS. These results suggest that EF could contribute to the beneficial effect of onion supplement in maintaining hepatic lipid homeostasis.     

Activation of glucose transport during simulated ischemia in H9c2 cardiac myoblasts is mediated by protein kinase C isoforms

Glucose transport into cells may be regulated by a variety of conditions, including ischemia. We investigated whether some enzymes frequently involved in the metabolic adaptation to ischemia are also required for glucose transport activation. Ischemia was simulated by incubating during 3 h H9c2 cardiomyoblasts in a serum- and glucose-free medium in hypoxia. Under these conditions 2-deoxy-d-[2,6-³H]-glucose uptake was increased (57% above control levels, p < 0.0001) consistently with GLUT1 and GLUT4 translocation to sarcolemma. Tyrosine kinases inhibition via tyrphostin had no effect on glucose transport up-regulation induced by simulated ischemia. On the other hand, chelerythrine, a broad range inhibitor of protein kinase C isoforms, and rottlerin, an inhibitor of protein kinase C delta, completely prevented the stimulation of the transport rate. A lower activation of hexose uptake (19%, p < 0.001) followed also treatment with Gö6976, an inhibitor of conventional protein kinases C. Finally, PD98059-mediated inhibition of the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, a downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), only partially reduced the activation of glucose transport induced by simulated ischemia (31%, p < 0.01), while SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, did not exert any effect. These results indicate that stimulation of protein kinase C delta is strongly related to the up-regulation of glucose transport induced by simulated ischemia in cultured cardiomyoblasts and that conventional protein kinases C and ERK 1/2 are partially involved in the signalling pathways mediating this process.     

Thioredoxin can influence gene expression by affecting gyrase activity

The expression of many genes of facultatively photosynthetic bacteria of the genus Rhodobacter is controlled by the oxygen tension. Among these are the genes of the puf and puc operons, which encode proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus. Previous results revealed that thioredoxins are involved in the regulated expression of these operons, but it remained unsolved as to the mechanisms by which thioredoxins affect puf and puc expression. Here we show that reduced TrxA of Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides and oxidized TrxC of R.capsulatus interact with DNA gyrase and alter its DNA supercoiling activity. While TrxA enhances supercoiling, TrxC exerts a negative effect on this activity. Furthermore, inhibition of gyrase activity strongly reduces puf and puc expression. Our results reveal a new signaling pathway by which oxygen can affect the expression of bacterial genes.     

Dephosphorylation of cofilin is regulated through Ras and requires the combined activities of the Ras-effectors MEK and PI3K

Remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton is crucial for a multitude of cellular functions including cell movement, intracellular transport as well as signal transduction and gene expression processes. Cofilin has been identified as a key mediator of actin reorganization. Its activity is regulated via reversible phosphorylation of ser-3. In a variety of cell types stimulation through particular surface receptors fastly induces the dephosphorylation/activation of cofilin. Yet, the signal transduction cascades linking receptor stimulation with cofilin activation have not been identified so far. Here we show that the GTPase Ras acts as a central regulator of the cofilin dephosphorylation pathway. Thus, stimulation of Ras through platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or transient expression of activated Ras-proteins induces the dephosphorylation of cofilin. Importantly, the cooperation of two Ras-initiated signaling pathways is required to induce cofilin dephosphorylation: a Ras-Raf-MAPkinase/Erk-kinase (MEK)- and a Ras-phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-effector cascade.     

Synthesis, complete characterization, and enantioselective electrokinetic separation of functionalized ruthenium complex enantiomers

Electrokinetic chromatography was employed to separate the enantiomers of two novel functionalized ruthenium(II) complexes with different polypyridyl coordination spheres. The use of anionic carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral mobile phase additive resulted in maximum efficiency and resolution for the enantiomer separation of both transition metal complexes. The syntheses of the [4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]-bis(2,2'-bipyridine)rethenium(II)-bis(tetrafluoroborate) and [4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]-bis(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bypyridine)ruthenium(II)-bis(tetrafluoroborate) complexes and their complete characterization by means of two-dimensional (1)H and (13)C[(1)H] NMR techniques ((1)H-(1)H COSY and (1)H-(13)C HMQC) as well as elemental analyses and MALDI-TOFMS are described in detail. The functionalized complexes can be used as building blocks for further reactions with polymers, biopolymers, surfaces and nanoparticles.     

Development of a gene-based radiation hybrid map of chicken Chromosome 7 and comparison to human and mouse

To validate the ChickRH6 whole-genome radiation hybrid (WGRH) panel, we constructed a map of chicken Chromosome 7 based on 19 microsatellite markers from the genetic map and 76 ESTs (expressed sequence tags), whose efficient targeted development was made possible by using the ICCARE software. This high-density radiation hybrid (RH) map of a chicken macrochromosome gives us indications on characteristics of ChickRH6. The potential resolution of the panel is 325 kb and the practical resolution of our framework map is 1.3 Mb. Based on these results, a complete framework map of the chicken genome would comprise 1000 markers. The marker order is in good agreement with the genetic map and comparison with the human and mouse sequence maps revealed a number of internal rearrangements.     

Purine nucleosides support the neurite outgrowth of primary rat cerebellar granule cells after hypoxia

Mammalian neurons require a constant supply of oxygen to maintain adequate cellular functions and survival. Following sustained hypoxia during ischemic events in brain, the energy status of neurons and glia is compromised, which may subsequently lead to cell death by apoptosis and necrosis. Concomitant with energy depletion is the formation of the purine nucleoside adenosine, a powerful endogenous neuroprotectant. In this paper the effect of chemical hypoxia on cell survival and neurite outgrowth of primary cerebellar granule cells was investigated. Rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, induced a 30.4 +/- 3.6% loss of viable cells and a 35.0 +/- 4.4% loss of neurite formation of cerebellar granule cells, which was partially restored by the addition of purine nucleosides adenosine, inosine and guanosine. Inosine had the most striking effect of 37.7 +/- 2.9% rescue of viability and 71.2 +/- 18.4% rescue of neurite outgrowth. Data confirm the suggested role of purine nucleosides for the neuronal regeneration of primary brain cells following hypoxic insult.