Intestinal DGAT1 deficiency reduces postprandial triglyceride and retinyl ester excursions by inhibiting chylomicron secretion and delaying gastric emptying

Acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) 1 catalyzes the final step of triglyceride (TG) synthesis. We show that acute administration of a DGAT1 inhibitor (DGAT1i) by oral gavage or genetic deletion of intestinal Dgat1 (intestine-Dgat1^−/−) markedly reduced postprandial plasma TG and retinyl ester excursions by inhibiting chylomicron secretion in mice. Loss of DGAT1 activity did not affect the efficiency of retinol esterification, but it did reduce TG and retinoid accumulation in the small intestine. In contrast, inhibition of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) reduced chylomicron secretion after oral fat/retinol loads, but with accumulation of dietary TG and retinoids in the small intestine. Lack of intestinal accumulation of TG and retinoids in DGAT1i-treated or intestine-Dgat1^−/− mice resulted, in part, from delayed gastric emptying associated with increased plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1. However, neither bypassing the stomach through duodenal oil injection nor inhibiting the receptor for GLP-1 normalized postprandial TG or retinyl esters excursions in the absence of DGAT1 activity. In summary, intestinal DGAT1 inhibition or deficiency acutely delayed gastric emptying and inhibited chylomicron secretion; however, the latter occurred when gastric emptying was normal or when lipid was administered directly into the small intestine. Long-term hepatic retinoid metabolism was not impacted by DGAT1 inhibition.     

PeakForce Tapping resolves individual microvilli on living cells

Microvilli are a common structure found on epithelial cells that increase the apical surface thus enhancing the transmembrane transport capacity and also serve as one of the cell's mechanosensors. These structures are composed of microfilaments and cytoplasm, covered by plasma membrane. Epithelial cell function is usually coupled to the density of microvilli and its individual size illustrated by diseases, in which microvilli degradation causes malabsorption and diarrhea. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been widely used to study the topography and morphology of living cells. Visualizing soft and flexible structures such as microvilli on the apical surface of a live cell has been very challenging because the native microvilli structures are displaced and deformed by the interaction with the probe. PeakForce Tapping® is an AFM imaging mode, which allows reducing tip–sample interactions in time (microseconds) and controlling force in the low pico‐Newton range. Data acquisition of this mode was optimized by using a newly developed PeakForce QNM‐Live Cell probe, having a short cantilever with a 17‐µm‐long tip that minimizes hydrodynamic effects between the cantilever and the sample surface. In this paper, we have demonstrated for the first time the visualization of the microvilli on living kidney cells with AFM using PeakForce Tapping. The structures observed display a force dependence representing either the whole microvilli or just the tips of the microvilli layer. Together, PeakForce Tapping allows force control in the low pico‐Newton range and enables the visualization of very soft and flexible structures on living cells under physiological conditions. © 2015 The Authors Journal of Molecular Recognition Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Spatiotemporal manipulation of auxin biosynthesis in cotton ovule epidermal cells enhances fiber yield and quality

The capacity of conventional breeding to simultaneously improve the yield and quality of cotton fiber is limited. The accumulation of the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in cotton fiber initials prompted us to investigate the effects of genetically engineering increased IAA levels in the ovule epidermis. Targeted expression of the IAA biosynthetic gene iaaM, driven by the promoter of the petunia MADS box gene Floral Binding protein 7 (FBP7), increased IAA levels in the epidermis of cotton ovules at the fiber initiation stage. This substantially increased the number of lint fibers, an effect that was confirmed in a 4-year field trial. The lint percentage of the transgenic cotton, an important component of fiber yield, was consistently higher in our transgenic plants than in nontransgenic controls, resulting in a >15% increase in lint yield. Fiber fineness was also notably improved.     

转基因作物非预期效应与自然变异的比较和鉴别

筛查转基因作物非预期效应遇到的最大难题是难以鉴别其非预期效应和自然变异.从转基因作物非预期效应与自然变异的发生机制、食用安全风险和遗传特性的比较分析阐述两者在发生机制及遗传特性方面的差异和特征,为设计减少自然变异干扰的非预期效应筛查模式和方案提供重要启示.     

A novel,major, and validated QTL for the effective tiller number located on chromosome arm 1BL in bread wheat

Plant Molecular Biology - A novel and major QTL for the effective tiller number was identified on chromosomal arm 1BL and validated in two genetic backgrounds The effective tiller number (ETN)...     

GPER促进乳腺癌相关成纤维细胞的有氧糖酵解

为探讨GPER基因的活化对人乳腺癌相关成纤维细胞(CAF)有氧糖酵解的影响,本研究构建GPERsi RNA慢病毒,转染CAF细胞,以构建GPER敲低的稳定细胞系;对照组(CAF-shNC)和GPER-shRNA慢病毒感染组(CAF-shGPER组),经嘌呤霉素筛选后,实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白印迹法检测GPER的m RNA及蛋白的表达;用GPER特异性激动剂G1 (1μmol/L)处理以上两组细胞,得到G1+CAF-shNC和G1+CAFsh GPER,应用蛋白印迹法分别检测以上4组细胞中GPER下游基因p-PKA和p-CREB的表达;采用实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白印迹法检测CREB糖酵解相关靶基因PDK4和LDHB的表达,应用葡萄糖、乳酸检测试剂盒检测4组细胞中葡萄糖消耗,乳酸生成情况。最终,成功构建GPER敲低的CAF稳定细胞系;GPER特异性激动剂G1可明显上调CAF-shNC组中GPER mRNA和蛋白水平;G1+CAF-shNC与CAF-shNC和G1+CAFsh GPER组相比,GPER下游基因PKA和CREB的磷酸化水平显著增加(p<0.05);CREB糖酵解相关靶基因PDK4和LDHB的mRNA和蛋白水平明显上调(p<0.05);葡萄糖消耗量和乳酸生成量明显增加(p<0.05)。由此可得,在人乳腺癌相关成纤维细胞中,GPER特异性激动剂G1活化GPER促进CAF的有氧糖酵解。     

Hydrogen gas inhalation ameliorates cardiac remodelling and fibrosis by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome in myocardial infarction rats

It is noteworthy that prolonged cardiac structural changes and excessive fibrosis caused by myocardial infarction (MI) seriously interfere with the treatment of heart failure in clinical practice. Currently, there are no effective and practical means of either prevention or treatment. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches are critical for the long-term quality of life of individuals with myocardial ischaemia. Herein, we aimed to explore the protective effect of H₂, a novel gas signal molecule with anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects, on cardiac remodelling and fibrosis in MI rats, and to explore its possible mechanism. First, we successfully established MI model rats, which were then exposed to H₂ inhalation with 2% concentration for 28 days (3 hours/day). The results showed that hydrogen gas can significantly improve cardiac function and reduce the area of cardiac fibrosis. In vitro experiments further proved that H₂ can reduce the hypoxia-induced damage to cardiomyocytes and alleviate angiotensin II-induced migration and activation of cardiac fibroblasts. In conclusion, herein, we illustrated for the first time that inhalation of H₂ ameliorates myocardial infarction-induced cardiac remodelling and fibrosis in MI rats and exert its protective effect mainly through inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.