Coupling of lipolysis and de novo lipogenesis in brown, beige, and white adipose tissues during chronic ß3-adrenergic receptor activation.

Chronic activation of ß3-adrenergic receptors (ß3-ARs) expands the catabolic activity of both brown and white adipose tissue by engaging uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-dependent and UCP1-independent processes. The present work examined de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and TG/glycerol dynamics in classic brown, subcutaneous "beige," and classic white adipose tissues during sustained ß3-AR activation by CL 316,243 (CL) and also addressed the contribution of TG hydrolysis to these dynamics. CL treatment for 7 days dramatically increased DNL and TG turnover similarly in all adipose depots, despite great differences in UCP1 abundance. Increased lipid turnover was accompanied by the simultaneous upregulation of genes involved in FAS, glycerol metabolism, and FA oxidation. Inducible, adipocyte-specific deletion of adipose TG lipase (ATGL), the rate-limiting enzyme for lipolysis, demonstrates that TG hydrolysis is required for CL-induced increases in DNL, TG turnover, and mitochondrial electron transport in all depots. Interestingly, the effect of ATGL deletion on induction of specific genes involved in FA oxidation and synthesis varied among fat depots. Overall, these studies indicate that FAS and FA oxidation are tightly coupled in adipose tissues during chronic adrenergic activation, and this effect critically depends on the activity of adipocyte ATGL.

The Flora Compositions of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and the Differential Expression of nifH Gene in Pennisetum giganteum z.x.lin Roots.

The flora compositions of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in roots of Pennisetum giganteum z.x.lin at different growth stages and the expression and copy number of nitrogen-fixing gene nifH were studied by Illumina Miseq second-generation sequencing technology and qRT-PCR. The results showed that there were more than 40,000~50,000 effective sequences in 5 samples from the roots of P. giganteum, with Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria as the dominant nitrogen-fixing bacteria based on the OTU species annotations for each sample and Bradyrhizobium as the core bacterial genera. The relative expression and quantitative change of nifH gene in roots of P. giganteum at different growth stages were consistent with the changes in the flora compositions of nitrogen-fixing microbia. Both revealed a changing trend with an initial increase and a sequential decrease, as well as changing order as jointing stage>maturation stage>tillering stage>seedling stage>dying stage. The relative expression and copy number of nifH gene were different in different growth stages, and the difference among groups basically reached a significant level (p < 0.05). The relative expression and copy number of nifH gene at the jointing stage were the highest, and the 2-△△CT value was 4.43 folds higher than that at the seedling stage, with a copy number of 1.32 × 107/g. While at the dying stage, it was the lowest, and the 2-△△CT value was 0.67 folds, with a copy number of 0.31 × 107/g.

Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability at the Xq28 and the A/G heterozygosity of the QM gene are associated with ovarian cancer.

The QM gene is located at Xq28 of the X chromosome. QM may act as a tumor suppressor and may also participate in the 60S ribosomal subunit assembly. We studied loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) of microsatellite markers DXS15A, DXS1107, WI12360 and WI9327 for the Xq28 region in 29 ovarian cancer biopsies. The results showed that the LOH frequencies were 18.2%, 30%, 26.3% and 20.8% for WI12360, WI9327, DXS1107 and DXS15A, respectively, whereas the MSI rates were 18.2%, 50.0%, 31.6% and 12.5%, respectively. All tumors showed LOH or MSI for at least one of these markers. Sequencing the QM cDNA did not identify any mutation other than the adenine (A)/guanine (G) replacement at the 605th nucleotide which changes the coding from serine to asparagine. In 17 (58.6%) of the 29 tumors, both A and G types of QM mRNA were detected, indicating that the QM was A/G heterozygous and escaped X-inactivation. However, cDNA and genomic DNA sequencing revealed that the adjacent normal tissues showed the A/G heterozygosity in only 3 of the 17 cases, while in the remaining 14 cases, four had no more adjacent tissue available and ten revealed either G or A at the 605th nt, indicating an A/G point mutation in these tumors. The allele distribution was 32.8% for the A and 67.2% for the G type QM gene. The frequencies of A/A, G/G and A/G homo- or hetero-zygosity were 3.5%, 37.9% and 58.6%, respectively in cancer tissues but they were 26.1%, 52.2% and 21.7%, respectively in the adjacent tissues, indicating a higher heterozygous rate in cancer (58.6% vs 21.7%, p < 0.01). These results suggest that high frequencies of LOH and MSI at the Xq28 and of the A/G heterozygosity at the 605th nt of the QM gene may be associated with ovarian cancer.

Soybean seed lustre phenotype and surface protein cosegregate and map to linkage group E.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds vary in their surface properties. The lustre, or glossiness, of seeds has been classified into several different phenotypes. Soybean seeds that have a dull lustre or moderate bloom (B) may also have abundant seed surface protein, namely, an abundance of the hydrophobic protein from soybean (HPS). The seed surface protein HPS is an allergen (Gly m 1) that causes asthma in persons allergic to soybean dust. In this study, seed lustre and surface protein content are compared among 71 different soybean cultivars and lines. Dull-seeded phenotypes usually possessed abundant surface protein in comparison to shiny-seeded types, although exceptions were observed. An F2 population of 82 individuals from a cross of OX281 (dull lustre, abundant HPS) and Mukden (shiny lustre, trace amounts of HPS) provided a basis for inheritance studies and genetic mapping analysis. Results indicate that dull seed lustre (B) and surface protein (Hps) loci are dominant Mendelian traits that cosegregate and map to soybean linkage group E. Molecular markers were used to construct a genetic map of 28 cM encompassing B and Hps. Two different molecular markers cosegregated with each of the loci. This study provides additional evidence that Hps may play a role in the adhesion of endocarp tissues to the seed, and offers new methods of selection for seed lustre and surface protein composition in soybean.