The physiology of lipid storage and use in reptiles

Lipid metabolism is central to understanding whole‐animal energetics. Reptiles store most excess energy in lipid form, mobilise those lipids when needed to meet energetic demands, and invest lipids in eggs to provide the primary source of energy to developing embryos. Here, I review the mechanisms by which non‐avian reptiles store, transport, and use lipids. Many aspects of lipid absorption, transport, and storage appear to be similar to birds, including the hepatic synthesis of lipids from glucose substrates, the transport of triglycerides in lipoproteins, and the storage of lipids in adipose tissue, although adipose tissue in non‐avian reptiles is usually concentrated in abdominal fat bodies or the tail. Seasonal changes in fat stores suggest that lipid storage is primarily for reproduction in most species, rather than for maintenance during aphagic periods. The effects of fasting on plasma lipid metabolites can differ from mammals and birds due to the ability of non‐avian reptiles to reduce their metabolism drastically during extended fasts. The effect of fasting on levels of plasma ketones is species specific: β‐hydroxybutyrate concentration may rise or fall during fasting. I also describe the process by which the bulk of lipids are deposited into oocytes during vitellogenesis. Although this process is sometimes ascribed to vitellogenin‐based transport in reptiles, the majority of lipid deposition occurs via triglycerides packaged in very‐low‐density lipoproteins (VLDLs), based on physiological, histological, biochemical, comparative, and genomic evidence. I also discuss the evidence for non‐avian reptiles using ‘yolk‐targeted’ VLDLs during vitellogenesis. The major physiological states – feeding, fasting, and vitellogenesis – have different effects on plasma lipid metabolites, and I discuss the possibilities and potential problems of using plasma metabolites to diagnose feeding condition in non‐avian reptiles.     

A report describing the effect of di-2-pyridyl ligand architecture on the coordination properties with gold(III)

In an effort to develop novel gold-based chemotherapies, gold(III) coordination complexes possessing a series of di-2-pyridyl ligands were targeted as synthetic products. It was found that di-2-pyridyl ligands linked by different groups exhibited varying coordination to gold(III). Di-2-pyridyl sulfide (DPS) exhibited bidentate binding to gold(III), and formed a complex ion with a gold tetrachloride counter ion {[(DPS)AuCl₂]AuCl₄; compound 3}; di-2-pyridyl ether (DPO) formed a neutral monodentate coordination complex with gold(III) {[(DPO)(AuCl₃)]; compound 4}; and attempts to make a gold(III) complex with di-2-pyridyl ketone (DPK) were unsuccessful, as a complex ion possessing the protonated ligand and a gold tetrachloride anion was isolated {[HDPK][AuCl₄]; compound 5}. Compounds 3-5 were structurally characterized using X-ray crystallography, which confirmed the different coordination environments around the gold(III) metal centers.     

Absolute Configuration of Oplopanone Derivatives From Serphidium stenocephalum: ECD Spectra of Acyclic Ketones With Front‐Octant Contributions

The electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of two sesquiterpenoids ( 1 and 2 ) related to oplopanone, obtained from a methanolic extract of the plant Serphidium stenocephalum (Artemisia stenocephala), were measured and reproduced by means of time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, establishing their absolute configuration. The application of ketone octant rule for carbonyl n‐π* ECD band to compounds 1 and 2 , which include an acyclic carbonyl group, was critically assessed. The peculiar oplopanone skeleton makes a straightforward application of the octant rule impossible, because of the uncertainty related to the shape of the so‐called third nodal surface separating front and back octants. The various group contributions to the carbonyl n‐π* ECD band were estimated with TDDFT calculations on selected molecular models obtained by consecutive dissections from 1 . Chirality 26:39–43, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Role of long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetases in the regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism in interleukin 1β-stimulated rat fibroblasts

Acyl coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family members (ACSLs) are a family of enzymes that convert long-chain free fatty acids into their acyl-CoAs and play an important role in fatty acid metabolism. Here we show the role of ACSL isozymes in interleukin (IL)-1β-induced arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in rat fibroblastic 3Y1 cells. Treatment of 3Y1 cells with triacsin C, an ACSL inhibitor, markedly enhanced the IL-1β-induced prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous Acsl4 expression increased significantly the release of AA metabolites, including PGE₂, PGD₂, and PGF_2α, compared with replicated control cells, whereas knockdown of Acsl1 expression reduced the IL-1β-induced release of AA metabolites. Experiments with double knockdown of Acsl4 and intracellular phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) isozymes revealed that cytosolic PLA₂α, but not calcium-independent PLA₂s, is involved in the Acsl4 knockdown-enhanced PG biosynthesis. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of cellular phospholipids bearing AA showed that the levels of some, if not all, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol species in Acsl4 knockdown cells were decreased after IL-1β stimulation, while those in control cells were not so obviously decreased. In Acsl1 knockdown cells, the levels of some AA-bearing PC species were reduced even in the unstimulated condition. Collectively, these results suggest that Acsl isozymes play distinct roles in the control of AA remodeling in rat fibroblasts: Acsl4 acts as the first step of enzyme for AA remodeling following IL-1β stimulation, and Acsl1 is involved in the maintenance of some AA-containing PC species.     

利用免疫组织化学及蛋白质组学对树莓提取物抑制大鼠肝癌机制的研究

目的：探讨树莓预防大鼠原发性肝癌增殖抑制和凋亡诱导作用,寻找树莓预防大鼠原发性肝癌的特异性蛋白质靶点。方法：利用二乙基亚硝胺（DEN）建立大鼠原发性肝癌动物模型;通过免疫组织化学方法研究树莓提取物对于大鼠原发性肝癌的预防效果和形态学变化,利用蛋白质组学研究树莓预防大鼠原发性肝癌的特异性蛋白质靶点。结果：树莓提取物能抑制PCNAJVEGF的表达,抑制细胞增殖,并诱导细胞凋亡。蛋白质组学差异分析表明：成瘤组大鼠血清在蛋白质峰2597．93M／Z,4513．88M／Z上与高剂量树莓干预组大鼠血清具有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。结论：树莓提取物可以抑制肝癌细胞PCNA的表达,从而抑制肝癌细胞的增殖;还可以诱导肝癌细胞凋亡;蛋白质峰2597．93M／Z及4513．88M／Z所表达蛋白为其特异性作用靶点。     

Effects of diabetes and insulin on ketone bodies metabolism in heart

This work investigates the effect of alloxan-induced short-term diabetes (24 h) on D-3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism at physiological and non-physiological concentrations of the ketone body in the isolated non-working perfused rat heart. Also the effect of insulin (2 mU.ml⁻¹) on D-3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism was investigated in hearts from normal and diabetic rats. The rates of D-3-hydroxybutyrate utilization and oxidation and of acetoacetate production were proportional to D-3-hydroxybutyrate concentration. The utilization of D-3-hydroxybutyrate showed saturation kinetics in hearts from normal and diabetic rats, in the presence and absence of insulin. Acute short-term diabetes augmented D-3-hydroxybutyrate utilization and oxidation at 1.25 and 2.5 mM DL-3-HB, with no significant effect at higher concentrations, but increased acetoacetate production at all investigated concentrations. In hearts from normal rats, insulin enhanced D-3-hydroxybutyrate utilization and oxidation at 2.5, 5, and 10 mM DL-3-HB, but no effect was observed at the lowest (1.25 mM) and highest (16 mM) DL-3-HB concentrations. Insulin had no effect on D-3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism in hearts from diabetic rats. No significant effect of insulin on the rate of acetoacetate production in normal and diabetic states was observed.     

Ketone body utilization drives tumor growth and metastasis

We have previously proposed that catabolic fibroblasts generate mitochondrial fuels (such as ketone bodies) to promote the anabolic growth of human cancer cells and their metastasic dissemination. We have termed this new paradigm “two-compartment tumor metabolism.” Here, we further tested this hypothesis by using a genetic approach. For this purpose, we generated hTERT-immortalized fibroblasts overexpressing the rate-limiting enzymes that promote ketone body production, namely BDH1 and HMGCS2. Similarly, we generated MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells overexpressing the key enzyme(s) that allow ketone body re-utilization, OXCT1/2 and ACAT1/2. Interestingly, our results directly show that ketogenic fibroblasts are catabolic and undergo autophagy, with a loss of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) protein expression. Moreover, ketogenic fibroblasts increase the mitochondrial mass and growth of adjacent breast cancer cells. However, most importantly, ketogenic fibroblasts also effectively promote tumor growth, without a significant increase in tumor angiogenesis. Finally, MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing the enzyme(s) required for ketone re-utilization show dramatic increases in tumor growth and metastatic capacity. Our data provide the necessary genetic evidence that ketone body production and re-utilization drive tumor progression and metastasis. As such, ketone inhibitors should be designed as novel therapeutics to effectively treat advanced cancer patients, with tumor recurrence and metastatic disease. In summary, ketone bodies behave as onco-metabolites, and we directly show that the enzymes HMGCS2, ACAT1/2 and OXCT1/2 are bona fide metabolic oncogenes.     

Narrow-bore liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with simultaneous radioactivity monitoring for partially characterizing the biliary metabolites of an arginine fluoroalkyl ketone analog of d-MePhe-Pro-Arg, a potent thrombin inhibitor

Characterizing components eluting from a HPLC column is enhanced when multiple detectors are incorporated in-line. The performance of a system consisting of a combination of two detectors - electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (and tandem mass spectrometry) and radioactivity monitoring, following gradient separation with a 250×2.1mm I.D. (Vydac Protein and Peptide C₁₈, 5 μm, 300 Å) column - is evaluated with respect to chromatographic integrity and detection. The HPLC effluent was split (8:1) and a post-column make-up solvent was added to flow directed towards the radioactivity detector containing a solid glass cell. Trifluoracetic acid (0.1%) was added to the make-up flow solvent to prevent silanol interactions from degrading the profile displayed in the ¹⁴C trace. A ¹⁴C chromatographic peak representing 550 dpm was detected with signal-to-noise ratio of 3. This system was used for rapidly characterizing the biliary metabolites of an arginine fluoroalkyl ketone analog of d-MePhe-Pro-Arg, a potent thrombin inhibitor currently being evaluated as a drug candidate. These metabolites are shown to comprise of mono- and dihydroxylated drug as well as a reduced ketone form of the drug. Combining the radioactivity monitor in-line with the mass spectrometer ensured that all of the major metabolites (as evident from the ¹⁴C profile) were characterized by mass spectrometry.     

Activation of guinea-pig and bovine neutrophil NADPH oxidase by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) is a potent stimulant of superoxide generation in guinea-pig peritoneal and bovine blood neutrophils. The dependence of DCCD-elicited respiratory burst on the compositon of the medium was investigated. At 37°C, the superoxide generation was short-lived and a rapid losses of enzymatic activity was observed; at 0°C, the activity could be preserved for hours. Superoxide generation by whole cells was accompanied by exocytic degranulation. Prolonged incubation with DCCD at 37°C resulted also in a progressive loss of cellular integrity evidenced by the release of a fraction of lactate dehydrogenase. K_m values of the particulate NADPH oxidase isolated from DCCD-triggered guinea-pig and bovine cells were 31.7 and 50.0 μM, respectively. Cells pre-equilibrated with the potential sensitive dye Di-S-C₃-(5) exhibited changes in the transmembrane potential upon stimulation. Stimulation with DCCD resulted also in the release of membrane-associated calcium, indicated by quenching of the fluorescence of chlortetracyclineloaded neutrophils. Both effects were observed also in human neutrophils which did not generate superoxide upon exposure to DCCD. The mechanism of DCCD-induced responses is discussed.