The effects of fatty acids on phosphoinositide synthesis and myo-inositol accumulation in exocrine pancreas

The effects of arachidonic acid (20:4) on phosphoinositide turnover were examined in rat pancreatic acinar cells prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol. Arachidonic acid (50 microM) increased the accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, but not that of [3H]inositol monophosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate, or [3H]inositol trisphosphate. By contrast, 10 microM carbamoylcholine increased the accumulation of all four compounds. A combination of arachidonic acid plus carbamoylcholine caused a selective and marked accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, which was abolished by 10 mM LiCl. Arachidonic acid (10-100 microM) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into phosphoinositides and markedly depressed carbamoylcholine-induced increases in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into inositol phospholipids. Several other unsaturated and saturated fatty acids failed to elicit a synergistic response with carbamoylcholine in stimulating myo-[3H]inositol accumulation and did not retard the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into phosphoinositides. The fact that eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5), but not arachidic acid (20:0), mimicked the depressant effect of arachidonate on phosphoinositide labeling suggests that the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid, rather than chain length, is important for inhibition of phosphoinositide synthesis. The arachidonate-induced decrease in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation was accompanied by a reduction in the steady state level of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The mass of arachidonic acid liberated in response to carbamoylcholine was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the time course of stimulated arachidonate accumulation paralleled that of inositol phosphate accumulation and amylase release. These observations suggest that in exocrine pancreas, endogenous arachidonic acid serves as a negative feedback regulator of phosphoinositide turnover.     

Prostaglandin E2 and alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists inhibit the pentose phosphate shunt in pancreatic islets

Glucose utilization in isolated pancreatic islets of the rat was inhibited by prostaglandin (PG) E2 and the alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, to a similar extent; other prostaglandins did not affect glucose utilization. Islet oxidation of [1-14C]glucose and [6-14C]glucose demonstrated that the pentose phosphate shunt was inhibited by PGE2 and clonidine. Pertussis toxin antagonizes the effects of clonidine and PGE2 on total glucose utilization and pentose phosphate shunt activity. The results suggest that PGE2 and alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists may regulate glucose metabolism through similar transduction mechanisms, and that a guanine nucleotide binding regulatory (G) protein modulates certain metabolic effects of prostaglandins and adrenergic agonists.     

Glucose metabolism, second messengers and insulin secretion

Insulin secretion from beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the endocrine pancreas is regulated by glucose, glucose metabolites, metabolic intermediates such as ATP, acetyl CoA and reduced pyridine nucleotides, and classical second messengers. Receptor responses transduced by guanine nucleotide binding proteins modulate metabolic activity, the generation of second messengers, and cell depolarization during stimulus-response coupling in the beta cell. This review will consider insulin secretion as regulated by glucose metabolic pathways and second messengers.     

Radioimmunoassay measurement of ACTH-facilitated PGE2 and PGF2alpha release from isolated cat adrenocortical cells.

Prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis by trypsin-dispersed cat adrenocortical cells was studied by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Parallel assays of incubation media using PGF2alpha and PGF1alpha antisera established that PGF2alpha is the primary PGF released by feline cortical cells. Following the reduction of PGE to PGF with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) these same two antisera were also used to identify PGE2 as the primary PGE released. RIA using a PGE antiserum confirmed the presence of PGE in the incubation medium. Steroidogenic concentrations of ACTH (50-250muU) enhanced PGE and PGF release, and indomethacin suppressed the ACTH-facilitated release. These studies provide additional evidence for ACTH-induced PG synthesis by feline cortical cells, and support the hypothesis that PGs play some role in the steroidogenic action of ACTH.     

Biodeterioration of Mayan buildings at uxmal and tulum,Mexico

Uxmal and Tulum are two important Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula. The buildings are mainly composed of limestone and grey/black discoloration is seen on exposed walls and copious greenish biofilms on inner walls. The principal microorganisms detected on interior walls at both Uxmal and Tulum were cyanobacteria; heterotrophic bacteria and filamentous fungi were also present. A dark‐pigmented mitosporic fungus and Bacillus cereus, both isolated from Uxmal, were shown to be acidogenic in laboratory cultures. Cyanobacteria belonging to rock‐degrading genera Synechocystis and Gloeocapsa were identified at both sites. Surface analysis previously showed that calcium ions were present in the biofilms on buildings at Uxmal and Tulum, suggesting the deposition of biosolubilized stone. Apart from their potential to degrade the substrate, the coccoid cyanobacteria supply organic nutrients for bacteria and fungi, which can produce organic acids, further increasing stone degradation.     

Expression and Cellular Localization of a Modified Type 1 Ryanodine Receptor and L-Type Channel Proteins in Non-Muscle Cells

Functional and molecular biological evidence exists for the expression of ryanodine receptors in non-muscle cells. In the present study, RT-PCR and 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA 5'-end (5'-RACE analysis) provided evidence for the presence of a type 1 ryanodine receptor/Ca2+ channel (RyR1) in diverse cell types. In parotid gland-derived 3-9 (epithelial) cells, the 3'-end 1589 nucleotide sequence for a rat RyR shared 99% homology with rat brain RyR1. Expression of this RyR mRNA sequence in exocrine acinar cells, endocrine cells, and liver in addition to skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle, suggests wide tissue distribution of the RyR1. Positive identification of a 5'-end sequence was made for RyR1 mRNA in rat skeletal muscle and brain, but not in parotid cells, pancreatic islets, insulinoma cells, or liver. These data suggest that a modified RyR1 is present in exocrine and endocrine cells, and liver. Western blot analysis showed L-type Ca2+ channel-related proteins in parotid acinar cells, which were of comparable size to those identified in skeletal and cardiac muscle, and in brain. Immunocytochemistry carried out on intact parotid acini demonstrated that the dihydropyridine receptor was preferentially co-localized with the IP3 receptor in the apical membranes. From these data we conclude that certain non-muscle cells express a modified RyR1 and L-type Ca2+ channel proteins. These receptor/channels may play a role in Ca2+ signaling involving store-operated Ca2+ influx via receptor-mediated channels.     

Terrigenous sediment-dominated reef platform infilling: an unexpected precursor to reef island formation and a test of the reef platform size–island age model in the Pacific

Low-lying coral reef islands are considered highly vulnerable to climate change, necessitating an improved understanding of when and why they form, and how the timing of formation varies within and among regions. Several testable models have been proposed that explain inter-regional variability as a function of sea-level history and, more recently, a reef platform size model has been proposed from the Maldives (central Indian Ocean) to explain intra-regional (intra-atoll) variability. Here we present chronostratigraphic data from Pipon Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), enabling us to test the applicability of existing regional island evolution models, and the platform size control hypothesis in a Pacific context. We show that reef platform infilling occurred rapidly (~4–5 mm yr⁻¹) under a “bucket-fill” type scenario. Unusually, this infilling was dominated by terrigenous sedimentation, with platform filling and subsequent reef flat formation complete by ~5000 calibrated years BP (cal BP). Reef flat exposure as sea levels slowly fell post highstand facilitated a shift towards intertidal and subaerial-dominated sedimentation. Our data suggest, however, a lag of ~1500 yr before island initiation (at ~3200 cal BP), i.e. later than that reported from smaller and more evolutionarily mature reef platforms in the region. Our data thus support: (1) the hypothesis that platform size acts to influence the timing of platform filling and subsequent island development at intra-regional scales; and (2) the hypothesis that the low wooded islands of the northern GBR conform to a model of island formation above an elevated reef flat under falling sea levels.

     

Genetic Admixture in the Culturally Unique Peranakan Chinese Population in Southeast Asia

The Peranakan Chinese are culturally unique descendants of immigrants from China who settled in the Malay Archipelago ∼300–500 years ago. Today, among large communities in Southeast Asia, the Peranakans have preserved Chinese traditions with strong influence from the local indigenous Malays. Yet, whether or to what extent genetic admixture co-occurred with the cultural mixture has been a topic of ongoing debate. We performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on 177 Singapore (SG) Peranakans and analyzed the data jointly with WGS data of Asian and European populations. We estimated that Peranakan Chinese inherited ∼5.62% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.76–6.49%) Malay ancestry, much higher than that in SG Chinese (1.08%, 0.65–1.51%), southern Chinese (0.86%, 0.50–1.23%), and northern Chinese (0.25%, 0.18–0.32%). A sex-biased admixture history, in which the Malay ancestry was contributed primarily by females, was supported by X chromosomal variants, and mitochondrial (MT) and Y haplogroups. Finally, we identified an ancient admixture event shared by Peranakan Chinese and SG Chinese ∼1,612 (95% CI: 1,345–1,923) years ago, coinciding with the settlement history of Han Chinese in southern China, apart from the recent admixture event with Malays unique to Peranakan Chinese ∼190 (159–213) years ago. These findings greatly advance our understanding of the dispersal history of Chinese and their interaction with indigenous populations in Southeast Asia.     

Methylated DNA/RNA in Body Fluids as Biomarkers for Lung Cancer

DNA/RNA methylation plays an important role in lung cancer initiation and progression. Liquid biopsy makes use of cells, nucleotides and proteins released from tumor cells into body fluids to help with cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Methylation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has gained increasing attention as biomarkers for lung cancer. Here we briefly introduce the biological basis and detection method of ctDNA methylation, and review various applications of methylated DNA in body fluids in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and treatment prediction. We also discuss the emerging role of RNA methylation as biomarkers for cancer.     

Alpha 2-adrenergic inhibition of pancreatic islet glucose utilization is mediated by an inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein

The rate of glucose utilization in isolated pancreatic islets of the rat was inhibited by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine and epinephrine. Yohimbine reversed the inhibition. alpha 1 or beta-adrenoceptor agonists had little or no effect on glucose utilization. Stimulation of muscarinic receptors by carbamylcholine reversed the effect of clonidine. Pertussis toxin blocked the effect of clonidine on glucose utilization, and potentiated the response to carbamylcholine. 8-Bromo-cAMP did not affect glucose utilization in the presence of clonidine. Thus, alpha 2-adrenoceptors negatively modulate glucose utilization, and the effect is mediated by an inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, but not by cAMP.