VLDL hydrolysis by LPL activates PPAR-α through generation of unbound fatty acids

Recent evidence suggests that lipoproteins serve as circulating reservoirs of peroxisomal proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) ligands that are accessible through lipolysis. The present study was conducted to determine the biochemical basis of PPAR-α activation by lipolysis products and their contribution to PPAR-α function in vivo. PPAR-α activation was measured in bovine aortic endothelial cells following treatment with human plasma, VLDL lipolysis products, or oleic acid. While plasma failed to activate PPAR-α, oleic acid performed similarly to VLDL lipolysis products. Therefore, fatty acids are likely to be the PPAR-α ligands generated by VLDL lipolysis. Indeed, unbound fatty acid concentration determined PPAR-α activation regardless of fatty acid source, with PPAR-α activation occurring only at unbound fatty acid concentrations that are unachievable under physiological conditions without lipase action. In mice, a synthetic lipase inhibitor (poloxamer-407) attenuated fasting-induced changes in expression of PPAR-α target genes. Apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII), an endogenous inhibitor of lipoprotein and hepatic lipase, regulated access to the lipoprotein pool of PPAR-α ligands, because addition of exogenous apoCIII inhibited, and removal of endogenous apoCIII potentiated, lipolytic PPAR-α activation. These data suggest that the PPAR-α response is generated by unbound fatty acids released locally by lipase activity and not by circulating plasma fatty acids.     

Exposure of Dunaliella salina to Low Temperature Mimics the High Light-Induced Accumulation of Carotenoids and the Carotenoid Binding Protein (Cbr)

We report that growth of Dunaliella salina at either 13°C/150µmol m^–2s^–1 or 30°C/2,500 µmol m^–2s^–1 results in the accumulation of comparable levels ofcarotenoids and the zeaxanthin-binding protein, Cbr. We concludethat carotenoid and Cbr abundance in this green alga respondto changes in PSII ‘excitation pressure’ ratherthan to high light per se. (Received September 19, 1996; Accepted November 20, 1996)     

Water Flow in Wheat Seedlings after Small Water Deficits

Cultures of Scenedesmus obliquus when grown heterotrophically for 10 or 30 days without addition of fresh medium showed 85 and 98% loss of their photosynthetic capacity respectively. This loss in photosynthetic capacity was accompanied by an increase in quantum requirement. No major changes in the pigment amounts or types were detected which would explain the decay in photosynthetic capacity. Partial reactions mediated by photosystem II or I showed a more or less constant decay over a period of 30 days. Photosystem II reactions appeared less stable than those of photosystem I, decaying by 95% as compared with 70%, over this time period. The results of comparative studies on aged cells for their potential of cytochrome f photooxidation, fluorescence kinetics, 520 nm absorbance change and the variable influence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone on the photosynthetic capacity of such cells, suggest that it is the inherent ability of the cells to photooxidize plastohydroquinone which is affected primarily. In addition, secondary changes were noted in the activity of reactions on the water-splitting side of photosystem II and in the P700 — plastocyanin — cytochrome f complex.     

Thidiazuron-induced regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinacea purpurea</Emphasis> L.: Micropropagation in solid and liquid culture systems

The goals of this study were to investigate thidiazuron (TDZ)-induced morphogenesis of Echinacea purpurea L. and to assess the possibility of developing a liquid-based protocol for rapid micropropagation. Callus development and root organogenesis were observed on leaf explants cultured on media containing 2,4-dicholorophenoxyacetic acid or dicamba, but no plantlets were regenerated. Addition of TDZ to the culture medium as the sole growth regulator resulted in the production of regenerable callus cultures. The highest rate of regeneration was observed for explants cultured on medium with TDZ at 2.5 μM or higher. Tissue derived from 1.0 μM TDZ treatments was used to initiate liquid cultures. All liquid treatments produced a similar number of regenerants but significantly more healthy plants were obtained from cultures grown in the presence of 0.1 and 1.0 μM TDZ. This TDZ-based micropropagation system is the first liquid, large-scale propagation protocol developed for the mass production of E. purpurea plants.     

Evolutionary changes in symbiont community structure in ticks

Ecological specialization to restricted diet niches is driven by obligate, and often maternally inherited, symbionts in many arthropod lineages. These heritable symbionts typically form evolutionarily stable associations with arthropods that can last for millions of years. Ticks were recently found to harbour such an obligate symbiont, Coxiella‐LE, that synthesizes B vitamins and cofactors not obtained in sufficient quantities from blood diet. In this study, the examination of 81 tick species shows that some Coxiella‐LE symbioses are evolutionarily stable with an ancient acquisition followed by codiversification as observed in ticks belonging to the Rhipicephalus genus. However, many other Coxiella‐LE symbioses are characterized by low evolutionary stability with frequent host shifts and extinction events. Further examination revealed the presence of nine other genera of maternally inherited bacteria in ticks. Although these nine symbionts were primarily thought to be facultative, their distribution among tick species rather suggests that at least four may have independently replaced Coxiella‐LE and likely represent alternative obligate symbionts. Phylogenetic evidence otherwise indicates that cocladogenesis is globally rare in these symbioses as most originate via horizontal transfer of an existing symbiont between unrelated tick species. As a result, the structure of these symbiont communities is not fixed and stable across the tick phylogeny. Most importantly, the symbiont communities commonly reach high levels of diversity with up to six unrelated maternally inherited bacteria coexisting within host species. We further conjecture that interactions among coexisting symbionts are pivotal drivers of community structure both among and within tick species.     

利用双重PCR技术研究长爪沙鼠的微卫星结构

目的为了建立快速检测长爪沙鼠群体遗传多样性的方法及获得Z：ZCLA长爪沙鼠封闭群现用微卫星位点的结构。方法利用17个微卫星位点（9个来自长爪沙鼠,8个来自大小鼠）进行了PCR反应体系及反应条件的优化,组合了6组双重PCR及两个复合式点样,用上述8个组合对普通级Z：ZCLA长爪沙鼠封闭群43、444、5三个世代核心群各100只种鼠进行遗传检测。结果三个世代的300只种鼠的检测结果表明,9个长爪沙鼠位点均为微卫星,其中7个位点为完全型的微卫星,1个为复合型,1个为不完全型,多态性主要表现在核心序列的重复;来自大小鼠的8个微卫星位点,有7个在Z：ZCLA长爪沙鼠核心群中得到有效扩增,只有3个位点在三个世代中均有出现,对测序结果分析后发现,其核心序列均为小卫星。结论来自长爪沙鼠的位点,无论结构还是遗传方式均符合微卫星遗传标记的特点,可用作检测长爪沙鼠的群体遗传多样性。     

Norlignans from Pouzolzia occidentalis

Two structurally interesting new norlignans named 2-hydroxy-4-[4-hydroxyphenyl-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)]-3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran (1) (pouzolignan A), and 1,4-dihydroxy-3-[4-hydroxyphenyl-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)]-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)butane (2) (pouzolignan B), were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of the methanol extract of Pouzolzia occidentalis. Compound 3, the methyl ether of 1, most likely an artifact, was also isolated. The overall structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated largely by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data.     

Influence of Genetic Background and Tissue Types on Global DNA Methylation Patterns

Recent studies have shown a genetic influence on gene expression variation, chromatin, and DNA methylation. However, the effects of genetic background and tissue types on DNA methylation at the genome-wide level have not been characterized extensively. To study the effect of genetic background and tissue types on global DNA methylation, we performed DNA methylation analysis using the Affymetrix 500K SNP array on tumor, adjacent normal tissue, and blood DNA from 30 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The use of multiple tissues from 30 individuals allowed us to evaluate variation of DNA methylation states across tissues and individuals. Our results demonstrate that blood and esophageal tissues shared similar DNA methylation patterns within the same individual, suggesting an influence of genetic background on DNA methylation. Furthermore, we showed that tissue types are important contributors of DNA methylation states.     

Dendritic cell dysfunction in cancer: a mechanism for immunosuppression

Several reports have demonstrated that tumours are not intrinsically resistant to the immune response. However, neoplasias commonly fail to initiate and maintain adequate immunity. A number of factors have been implicated in causing the failure, including aberrant antigen processing by tumour cells, anergy or deletion of T cells, and recruitment of inhibitory/regulatory cell types. It has been suggested that dysfunction of dendritic cells (DC) induced by the tumour is one of the critical mechanisms to escape immune surveillance. As a minor subset of leucocytes, DC are the key APC for initiating immune responses. DC are poised at the boundaries of the periphery and the inner tissues, sampling antigens of diverse origin. Following their encounter with antigen or danger signals, DC migrate to lymph nodes, where they activate effector cells essential for tumour clearance. Although the DC system is highly heterogeneous, the differentiation and function of DC populations is largely regulated by exogenous factors. Malignancies appear to exploit this by producing a plethora of immunosuppressive factors capable of affecting DC, thus exerting systemic effects on immune function. This review examines recent findings on the effects of tumour-derived factors inducing DC dysfunction and in particular examines the findings on alteration of DC differentiation, maturation and longevity as a potent mechanism for immune suppression in cancer.