ATGL and CGI-58 are lipid droplet proteins of the hepatic stellate cell line HSC-T6

Lipid droplets (LDs) of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) contain large amounts of vitamin A [in the form of retinyl esters (REs)] as well as other neutral lipids such as TGs. During times of insufficient vitamin A availability, RE stores are mobilized to ensure a constant supply to the body. To date, little is known about the enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of neutral lipid esters, in particular of REs, in HSCs. In this study, we aimed to identify LD-associated neutral lipid hydrolases by a proteomic approach using the rat stellate cell line HSC-T6. First, we loaded cells with retinol and FAs to promote lipid synthesis and deposition within LDs. Then, LDs were isolated and lipid composition and the LD proteome were analyzed. Among other proteins, we found perilipin 2, adipose TG lipase (ATGL), and comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58), known and established LD proteins. Bioinformatic search of the LD proteome for α/β-hydrolase fold-containing proteins revealed no yet uncharacterized neutral lipid hydrolases. In in vitro activity assays, we show that rat (r)ATGL, coactivated by rat (r)CGI-58, efficiently hydrolyzes TGs and REs. These findings suggest that rATGL and rCGI-58 are LD-resident proteins in HSCs and participate in the mobilization of both REs and TGs.     

PCOS患者外周血白细胞计数变化的临床意义

目的:探讨多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者外周血白细胞计数和血脂代谢变化的临床意义。方法:随机抽取2012年1月~2014年1月期间来院就诊未经药物治疗的PCOS患者48例作为研究对象,将体重指数(BMI)≥23的患者26例作为PCOS超重组,将BMI23的22例患者作为PCOS体重正常组,选择同期来院就诊的非PCOS妇女20例作为对照组,所有患者均于月经期空腹静脉抽血3~4m L,检测患者的血浆C反应蛋白(CRP)、血常规及血脂代谢指标。结果:PCOS超重组的甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)、载脂蛋白B(Apo-B)、外周白细胞总数、淋巴细胞、中性粒细胞、单核细胞、嗜酸性细胞、CRP指标均较对照组、PCOS体重正常组高,而高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)、载脂蛋白A(Apo-A)水平较对照组、PCOS体重正常组低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);PCOS体重正常组淋巴细胞、CRP指标较对照组高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:慢性炎症是PCOS的主要病理表现,其中体重超重的PCOS患者主要表现为血脂代谢异常及白细胞升高,而体重正常的PCOS患者主要表现为淋巴细胞升高。     

TGFβ1真核表达载体对^60Coγ射线照射的人胚肺成纤维细胞的稳定转染方法研究

选择^60Coγ射线5Gy照射后第7天的人胚肺成纤维细胞（HELF）,采用聚阳离子脂质体LipofectAMINE介导的基因转染法将人TGFβ1正、反义基因表达载体pMAMneo-TGFβ1和pMAMeno-AntiTGFβ1转入HELF,转染细胞经G418抗性筛选出来。提取培养细胞的染色体DNA,用DAN斑点印迹分析表明,它们能与neo基因特异杂交。用neo基因特异的PCR引物能从转染细胞扩增出276bp的阳性片段,而未转染细胞则扩增阴性。     

Characterization of a Novel Intestinal Glycerol-3-phosphate Acyltransferase Pathway and Its Role in Lipid Homeostasis

Dietary triglycerides (TG) are absorbed by the enterocytes of the small intestine after luminal hydrolysis into monacylglycerol and fatty acids. Before secretion on chylomicrons, these lipids are reesterified into TG, primarily through the monoacylglycerol pathway. However, targeted deletion of the primary murine monoacylglycerol acyltransferase does not quantitatively affect lipid absorption, suggesting the existence of alternative pathways. Therefore, we investigated the role of the glycerol 3-phosphate pathway in dietary lipid absorption. The expression of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT3) was examined throughout the small intestine. To evaluate the role for GPAT3 in lipid absorption, mice harboring a disrupted GPAT3 gene (Gpat3^−/−) were subjected to an oral lipid challenge and fed a Western-type diet to characterize the role in lipid and cholesterol homeostasis. Additional mechanistic studies were performed in primary enterocytes. GPAT3 was abundantly expressed in the apical surface of enterocytes in the small intestine. After an oral lipid bolus, Gpat3^−/− mice exhibited attenuated plasma TG excursion and accumulated lipid in the enterocytes. Electron microscopy studies revealed a lack of lipids in the lamina propria and intercellular space in Gpat3^−/− mice. Gpat3^−/− enterocytes displayed a compensatory increase in the synthesis of phospholipid and cholesteryl ester. When fed a Western-type diet, hepatic TG and cholesteryl ester accumulation was significantly higher in Gpat3^−/− mice compared with the wild-type mice accompanied by elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, a marker of liver injury. Dysregulation of bile acid metabolism was also evident in Gpat3-null mice. These studies identify GPAT3 as a novel enzyme involved in intestinal lipid metabolism.     

Leaf wax n‐alkane patterns of six tropical montane tree species show species‐specific environmental response

It remains poorly understood how the composition of leaf wax n‐alkanes reflects the local environment. This knowledge gap inhibits the interpretation of plant responses to the environment at the community level and, by extension, inhibits the applicability of n‐alkane patterns as a proxy for past environments. Here, we studied the n‐alkane patterns of five Miconia species and one Guarea species, in the Ecuadorian Andes (653–3,507 m a.s.l.). We tested for species‐specific responses in the average chain length (ACL), the C₃₁/(C₃₁ + C₂₉) ratio (ratio), and individual odd n‐alkane chain lengths across an altitudinally driven environmental gradient (mean annual temperature, mean annual relative air humidity, and mean annual precipitation). We found significant correlations between the environmental gradients and species‐specific ACL and ratio, but with varying magnitude and direction. We found that the n‐alkane patterns are species‐specific at the individual chain length level, which could explain the high variance in metrics like ACL and ratio. Although we find species‐specific sensitivity and responses in leaf n‐alkanes, we also find a general decrease in “shorter” (<C₂₉) and an increase in “longer” (>C₃₁) chain lengths with the environmental gradients, most strongly with temperature, suggesting n‐alkanes are useful for reconstructing past environments.     

Extraction of lipids from mammalian liver using nontoxic solvents

A simple method for extracting and purifying lipids from rat liver in a single step using nontoxic solvents is described. The method consists of homogenizing the puliverized tissue with a mixture of tricholotrifluoroethane (Cl₂CF-CClF₂) and isopropyl alcohol ($\text{1 : 1,}\text{v}\text{v}$). Just enough water is added to the lipid extract to produce a biphasic system. Pure lipid extract is obtained by isolating the lower layer from the aqueous upper phase which contains the non-lipid materials. The described method compares favourably with that of Folch et al., both quantitatively and qualitatively. The solvent system used also has the advantage of being less toxic than the widely used chloroform/methanol system, which makes it safer for prolonged use. The new method is simple, efficient and reproducible.     

Voltage-dependent orientation of membrane proteins

In order to study the influence of electrostatic forces on the disposition of proteins in membranes, we have examined the interaction of a receptor protein and of a membrane-active peptide with black lipid membranes. In the first study we show that the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor can insert spontaneously into lipid bilayers from the aqueous medium. Under the influence of a trans-positive membrane potential, the receptor, a negatively charged protein, appears to change its disposition with respect to the membrane. In the second study we consider melittin, an amphipathic peptide containing a generally hydrophobic stretch of 19 amino acids followed by a cluster of four positively charged residues at the carboxy terminus. The hydrophobic region contains two positively charged residues. In response to trans-negative electrical potential, melittin appears to assume a transbilayer position. These findings indicate that electrostatic forces can influence the disposition, and perhaps the orientation, of membrane proteins. Given the inside-negative potential of most or all cells, we would expect transmembrane proteins to have clusters of positively charged residues adjacent to the cytoplasmic ends of their hydrophobic transmembrane segments, and clusters of negatively charged residues just to the extracytoplasmic side. This expectation has been borne out by examination of the few transmembrane proteins for which there is sufficient information on both sequence and orientation. Surface and dipole potentials may similarly affect the orientation of membrane proteins.     

ABSORPTION AND UTILIZATION OF IRRADIANCE BY CYANOBACTERIAL MATS IN TWO ICE-COVERED ANTARCTIC LAKES WITH CONTRASTING LIGHT CLIMATES

We investigated the under-ice light climate and the efficiency with which light was absorbed and utilized by benthic algal mats in Lakes Hoare and Vanda, two perennially ice-covered lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys area of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. The ice cover and water column of Lake Vanda were much more transparent than those of Lake Hoare (18% vs. 2% transmission though ice and attenuation coefficients for downwelling irradiance of 0.05 vs. 0.12 m ^{− 1}, respectively). In both lakes the under-ice spectra were dominated by blue-green wavelengths. The benthic flora under perennial ice covers of both lakes comprised thick mucilaginous mats, dominated by cyanobacteria. The mats were well suited to absorb the dominant blue-green wavelengths of the under-ice light, with phycoerythrin being present at high concentrations. The pigment systems of the benthic mats absorbed 30%–50% of the light that reached them, varying with depth and lake. There was a tendency for the percentage of absorption to increase as ambient irradiance decreased. The efficiency of utilization of absorbed irradiance was examined by constructing absorbed irradiance/oxygen evolution curves to estimate community quantum yield. Mats from 13 m in Lake Hoare showed the highest quantum yields, approaching 1 mol of carbon fixed for every 8 mol quanta absorbed under light-limiting conditions. Lake Vanda mats had lower quantum yields, but these increased with depth. Calculated in situ irradiance occasionally exceeded the measured saturating irradiance for oxygen evolution in both lakes, thus efficiency in situ was below the maximum at times. As in other environments, optimization strategies allowed efficient capture and utilization of the lower and middle ranges of experienced irradiance but led to a compromised capacity to use the highest irradiances encountered at each depth.     

氮肥、钙肥和盐处理在冬小麦融冻胁迫适应中的生理调控作用

采用盆栽法种植冬小麦(烟农19号),在出苗7d后分别用氮肥(60mmol/L NH4CO3)、钙肥(100 mmol/L CaCl2)和NaCl(100 mmol/L)处理,生长30 d后开始冻融处理(15℃,0℃,-15℃,0℃,15℃各处理3h).结果表明,在融冻和冻融胁迫过程中冬小麦叶片细胞膜透性变化和膜脂过氧化程度与温度变化呈显著负相关(R=-0.89**,R=-0.85**).与对照相比,经氮肥、钙肥和盐处理的冬小麦叶片细胞膜透性和丙二醛含量较低,而SOD、CAT和POD活力均较高,这表明施肥能降低细胞膜脂过氧化作用,提高细胞膜抗氧化能力.但不同肥料和盐处理在冬小麦融冻胁迫中对渗透调节物质的调节作用存在差异.施氮肥使冬小麦叶片脯氨酸和可溶性蛋白质含量分别高于对照44.3％和23.6％,可溶性糖含量低于对照(-17.3％);而钙肥和盐处理却使冬小麦叶片可溶性糖含量高于对照(57.5％和37.1％).研究表明,氮肥通过调节氮代谢提高脯氨酸和蛋白质含量,钙肥通过促进糖代谢提高可溶性糖含量.因此,冬季给冬小麦幼苗施一定的混合肥,不仅可促使植物细胞积累较多的渗透调节物质防止细胞结冰,激活体内保护酶系统防止细胞膜脂过氧化,而且施肥还可促使来年春季幼苗的快速返青健壮生长.通过合理施肥改善植物的代谢提高作物的抗融冻能力,这可能是目前投资少,见效快的有效途径.