Nanofibrous PAN-PDMS Films-Based High-Performance Triboelectric Artificial Whisker for Self-Powered Obstacle Detection.

Avoiding collisions is a key necessity for any autonomous mobile robot, and obstacle mapping enables them to maneuver in an uncharted area. In this era of the Internet of Things, with the emerging need for a multitude of sensors, adopting self-powered technologies is more practically viable than batteries for powering the same. Herein, with the fabrication of a triboelectric artificial whisker (TAW), a self-powered obstacle detection is demonstrated via tactile perception. The mechanical contact with the obstacle gives rise to an electrical signal from the TAW owing to the embedded triboelectric sensor. In addition, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and polydimethylsiloxane film, which facilitates this self-powered artificial sensation, generates an output voltage of 720 V and current density of 5 mA m-2 with 1.7 W m-2 of maximum power delivery from a force of 10 N. The electro-spinning aided enhancement in contact area of the PAN is responsible for the remarkable improvement in the performance of the TENG, 3.4 times enhancement in power density, when compared to the nonsurface-modified ones. In addition, the TENG is able to charge commercial capacitors up to appreciable values and demonstrates powering different electronic gadgets such as calculators and thermometers.

In vitro antibacterial effects of combination of ciprofloxacin with compounds isolated from Streptomyces luteireticuli NIIST-D75.

Three phenazines, 1-methoxyphenazine (1), methyl-6-methoxyphenazine-1-carboxylate (2), 1,6-dimethoxyphenazine (4), and a 2,3-dimethoxy benzamide (3) were isolated from the Streptomyces luteireticuli NIIST-D75, and the antibacterial effects of compounds 1-3, each in combination with ciprofloxacin, were investigated. The in vitro antibacterial activity was assessed by microdilution, checkerboard, and time-kill assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi. According to the checkerboard assay results, each combination of compounds 1, 2 and 3 with ciprofloxacin resulted in a significantly lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.02-1.37 µg ml-1, suggesting synergistic combinations by fractional inhibitory concentration index, and displayed bactericidal activity in time-kill kinetics within 48 h. SEM analysis was carried out to determine the changes in morphology in S. aureus and E. coli during treatment with individual combination of ciprofloxacin and compounds (1-3), which revealed drastic changes in the cells such as dent formation, biofilm disruption, cell bursting, and doughnut-like formation, change in surface morphology in S. aureus, and cell elongation, cell burst with ruptured cell, and change in surface morphology in E. coli. Hep G2 cell viability was not affected by the compounds (1-3) that were tested for cytotoxicity up to 250 µM.

Modulating the Morphological Features of Hydrothermally Derived Nickel Cobaltite for Supercapacitor Application: Role of Precursor Anions.

Morphologically engineered porous electrodes show great promise in energy applications as they exhibit improved electrochemical activity owing to increased electrical conductivity, increased surface area, and a shorter path length for ion transport. Herein, the role of precursors (chlorides, acetates and nitrates) on the crystallinity and textural features of Nickel Cobaltite, obtained by the controlled precipitation through hydrothermal synthesis, is studied. The synthesis yielded urchin like structures with morphological variations in substructures based on the precursor anion types. The surface area values obtained for nickel cobaltite derived from the chloride (NCO-C), nitrate (NCO-N), and acetate precursors (NCO-A) were 30,110 and 115 m2 g-1 , confirming the influence of anions on the textural features. The time dependant electrolyte (2 M KOH) infiltration behaviour on the electrode surfaces based on contact angle measurements is invoked to correlate its morphological and textural attributes with the electrolyte transport kinetics. The electrochemical performances were derived from cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge discharge analysis and impedance measurements. The electrolyte infiltration studies established a dependence on the precursor anion. NCO-A facilitated faster electrolyte infiltration time of 7800 ms compared to 16200 ms and 54,000 ms for NCO-N and NCO-C electrodes, respectively. Furthermore, NCO-A exhibited a greater specific capacitance of 802 F g-1 than NCO-N (500 F g-1 ) and NCO-C (342 F g-1 ). The morphology modulation coupled with optimal porosity led to conducive pathways for reversible electrolyte infiltration resulting in increased capacitive contribution in NCO-A. The study revealed that the size of intercalating anions exercised a significant impact on the morphological and electrochemical features, signifying the importance of synthetic approaches in determining the functional properties of electrode materials.

Stakeholder Perspective of Handling the Deceased during the Nipah Virus Outbreak in Kerala, South India, 2018.

In any outbreak situation, a poor stakeholder response can impede the outbreak control and can have high economic and social cost. We conducted a qualitative study to understand stakeholder response in handling of the Nipah deceased persons during the outbreak of Nipah in Kerala, 2018. To understand the responses and to generate knowledge from the data, we used grounded theory approach for the study and conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussion. Mixed public response and swift state response emerged as the main themes in our study. Under the "mixed public response," three categories emerged, including anxiety and fear, conflicting religious beliefs, and humanitarian concern. Under the "swift state response," the categories emerged were critical resources and robust guidance. A collective effort involving the administration, local and religious groups, and a culturally acceptable scientific protocol proved to be good examples of gaining social acceptance. Kerala puts forth a model of efficient community engagement and communication to gain public support and acceptance in a fatal disease outbreak.

Modulation of bone turnover by Cissus quadrangularis after ovariectomy in rats.

In women, age-related bone loss is associated with increased risk of bone fracture. Existing therapies are associated with severe side effects; thus, there is a need to find alternative medicines with less or optimal side effects. Cissus quadrangularis (CQ), an Ayurvedic medicine used to enhance fracture healing, was tested for its bone protective properties and studied to discern the mechanism by which it is beneficial to bone. Female Sprague Dawley rats were either sham operated or ovariectomized and were fed CQ for 3 months. Several biochemical markers, cytokines and hormones were assayed. Femur, tibia and lumbar vertebrae were subjected to pQCT and µCT densitometry. MC3T3 cells were cultured, treated with CQ and used to analyze miRNA content and subjected to qPCR for gene expression analysis related to bone metabolism. CQO rats showed protected bone mass and microarchitecture of trabecular bone in the distal femoral metaphysis and the proximal tibial metaphysis. The lumbar vertebrae, however, showed no significant changes. Serum protein expression levels of P1NP increased and Trap5b and CTX levels decreased with in vivo CQ treatment. Some influence on the anti- and pro-inflammatory markers was also observed. Significantly high level of estradiol in the CQO rats was observed. In vitro expression of a few genes related to bone metabolism showed that osteocalcin increased significantly. The other genes-collagen I expression, SPP1, BMP2, DCAT1-decreased significantly. Certain miRNA that regulate bone turnover using the BMP pathway and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated by CQ. qPCR after acute treatment with CQ showed significantly increased levels of osteocalcin and decreased levels of Wnt/ß catenin antagonist DCAT1. Overall, CQ protected the microarchitecture of the long bones from ovariectomy-induced bone loss. This may be because of decreased inflammation and modulation through the BMP and Wnt signaling pathways. We conclude that CQ is a potential therapeutic agent to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis with no side effects.

Role of precursors on the photophysical properties of carbon nitride and its application for antibiotic degradation.

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of graphitic carbon nitride (C3N4) powders derived from the four different precursors melamine, cyanamide, thiourea, and urea for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic under sunlight irradiation. The powders were synthesized by employing the conventional thermal decomposition method. The synthesized powders were examined using different characterization tools for evaluating the photophysical properties. The degradation profile revealed that urea-derived C3N4 showed the highest activity while melamine-derived C3N4 showed the least activity. The TC degradation efficiency of the photocatalyst was found to be influenced more by the surface area values despite extended absorption by melamine in the visible light region. Stability tests on urea-derived C3N4 and others were checked by four runs of TC degradation under sunlight irradiation. The synthesized C3N4 powders also confirmed the dominance of urea-derived powders for cyclic stability.

Antifungal activity of violacein purified from a novel strain of Chromobacterium sp. NIIST (MTCC 5522).

A novel strain of Chromobacterium sp. NIIST (MTCC 5522) producing high level of purple blue bioactive compound violacein was isolated from clay mine acidic sediment. During 24 h aerobic incubation in modified Luria Bertani medium, around 0.6 g crude violacein was produced per gram of dry weight biomass. An inexpensive method for preparing crystalline, pure violacein from crude pigment was developed (12.8 mg violacein/L) and the pure compound was characterized by different spectrometric methods. The violacein prepared was found effective against a number of plant and human pathogenic fungi and yeast species such as Cryptococcus gastricus, Trichophyton rubrum, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium expansum, and Candida albicans. The best activity was recorded against Trichophyton rubrum (2 -g/ml), a human pathogen responsible for causing athlete-s foot infection. This is the first report of antifungal activity of purified violacein against pathogenic fungi and yeast.

Bifunctional lanthanum phosphate substrates as novel adsorbents and biocatalyst supports for perchlorate removal.

Porous lanthanum phosphate substrates, obtained by an environmentally benign colloidal forming process employing methyl cellulose, are reported here as excellent adsorbents of perchlorate with >98% efficiency and with 100% reusability. Additionally, the effectiveness of such substrates as biocatalyst supports that facilitate biofilm formation of perchlorate reducing microbes (Serratia marcescens NIIST 5) is also demonstrated for the first time. The adsorption of perchlorate ions is attributed to the pore structure of lanthanum phosphate substrate and the microbial attachment is primarily ascribed to its intrinsic hydrophobic property. Lanthanum phosphate thus emerges as a dual functional material that possesses an integrated adsorption/bioremediation property for the effective removal of ClO4(-) which is an increasingly important environmental contaminant.

Comparing DNA extraction methods for analysis of botanical materials found in anti-diabetic supplements.

A comparative performance evaluation of DNA extraction methods from anti-diabetic botanical supplements using various commercial kits was conducted, to determine which produces the best quality DNA suitable for PCR amplification, sequencing and species identification. All plant materials involved were of suboptimal quality showing various levels of degradation and therefore representing real conditions for testing herbal supplements. Eight different DNA extraction methods were used to isolate genomic DNA from 13 medicinal plant products. Two methods for evaluation, DNA concentration measurements that included absorbance ratios as well as PCR amplifiability, were used to determine quantity and quality of extracted DNA. We found that neither DNA concentrations nor commonly used UV absorbance ratio measurements at A(260)/A(280) between 1.7 and 1.9 are suitable for globally predicting PCR success in these plant samples, and that PCR amplifiablity itself was the best indicator of extracted product quality. However, our results suggest that A(260)/A(280) ratios below about 1.3 and above 2.3 indicated a DNA quality too poor to amplify. Therefore, A(260)/A(280) measurements are not useful to identify samples that likely will amplify but can be used to exclude samples that likely will not amplify reducing the cost for unnecessarily subjecting samples to PCR. The two Nucleospin(®) plant II kit extraction methods produced the most pure and amplifiable genomic DNA extracts. Our results suggest that there are clear, discernable differences between extraction methods for low quality plant samples in terms of producing contamination-free, high-quality genomic DNA to be used for further analysis.

Association of a serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with body mass index categories but not type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mexicans.

The serotonergic system has been hypothesized to contribute to the biological susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and body-mass index (BMI) categories. We investigate a possible association of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (L and S alleles) in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) with the development of T2DM and/or higher BMI by analyzing a sample of 138 individuals diagnosed with T2DM and 172 unrelated controls from the Mexican general population. In the total sample genotypes were distributed according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and S allele frequency was 0.58. There was no statistical association between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and the development of T2DM in this Mexican population sample (p = 0.12). Nevertheless, logistic regression analysis of the L allele and increased BMI disclosed an association, after adjusting for age, sex and T2DM (p = 0.02, OR 1.74, 95% CI: 1.079-2.808).

Association analyses of variants in the DIO2 gene with early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in Pima Indians.

BACKGROUND: The type 2 deiodinase gene (DIO2) encodes a deiodinase that converts the thyroid prohormone, thyroxine, to the biologically active triiodothyronine. Thyroid hormones regulate energy balance and may also influence glucose metabolism. Therefore, we hypothesized that variations in DIO2 could contribute to obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Pima Indians. METHODS: Sequencing of the DIO2 gene in DNA from 83 Pima Indians identified 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Several of these SNPs were in perfect genotypic concordance among the 83 samples that were sequenced, and all 12 could be divided into five linkage disequilibrium groups. One representative SNP from each group (Thr92Ala, rs225011, rs225015, rs6574549, and a rare 5' flanking SNP) was selected for further genotyping for association analyses. In this study, the five selected variants in DIO2, as described above, were genotyped in three groups of Pima Indians: (i) a case (n=150)/control (n=150) group for early-onset T2DM (onset age <25 years); (ii) a case (n=362)/control (n=127) group for obesity; (iii) a large (n=1,311, cases n=810/controls n=501) family-based group, of which 256 nondiabetic subjects had undergone detailed metabolic phenotyping. RESULTS: The Thr92Ala variant common in Pima Indians, rs225011, and rs225015 were modestly associated with early-onset T2DM (p=0.01-0.04) in the case-control study, but were not associated with obesity in the obesity case-control study, nor associated with T2DM (at any age) or body-mass index (BMI; as a quantitative trait) in the family-based analysis. Thr92Ala, rs225011, rs225015, and rs6574549 were also nominally associated with hepatic glucose output (p=0.02). rs6574549 was associated with fasting insulin (p=0.02), insulin action (p=0.04), and energy expenditure (p=0.02). None of these nominal associations remained statistically significant after corrections for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that variation in DIO2 may have a subtle role in altering metabolic processes that lead to early-onset T2DM, but this gene does not have a large impact on T2DM at older ages, nor does DIO2 influence BMI in the Pima Indian population.

Association study of candidate gene polymorphisms and obesity in a young Mexican-American population from South Texas.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity is increasingly a health problem and a risk factor for diabetes in young Mexican-American populations. Genetic association studies in older, mostly non-Hispanic populations have reported that polymorphisms in the candidate genes HSD11B1, CRP, ADIPOQ, PPARG, ANKK1, ABCC8 and SERPINF1 are associated with obesity or diabetes. We analyzed the polymorphisms rs846910, rs1205, rs1501299, rs1801282, rs1800497, rs757110 and rs1136287 in these candidate genes, for association with obesity and metabolic traits in a young Mexican-American population from south Texas. METHODS: Genotyping of the seven common SNPs were performed by allelic discrimination assays in 448 unrelated Mexican Americans (median age = 16 years) from south Texas. χ(2) tests and regression analyses using additive models were used for genetic association analyses adjusting for covariates; p values were corrected for multiple testing by permutation analyses. RESULTS: rs1800497 (ANKK1) shows association with waist circumference (p = 0.009) and retains the association (p = 0.03) after permutation testing. Analysis of metabolic quantitative traits shows that rs846910 (HSD11B1) was associated with HOMA-IR (p = 0.04) and triglycerides (p = 0.03), and rs1205 (CRP) with HOMA-IR (p = 0.03) and fasting glucose levels (p = 0.007). However, the quantitative traits associations are not maintained after permutation analysis. None of the other SNPs in this study showed associations with obesity or metabolic traits in this young Mexican-American population. CONCLUSIONS: We report a potential association between rs1800497 (linked to changes in brain dopamine receptor levels) and central obesity in a young Mexican-American population.

Metabolic gene expression changes in the hippocampus of obese epileptic male rats in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Chronically epileptic male adult rats in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), exhibited gross expansion of abdominal fat mass and significant weight gain several months after induction of status epilepticus (SE) when compared to control rats. We hypothesized that epileptogenesis can induce molecular changes in the hippocampus that may be associated with metabolism. We determined the expression levels of genes Hsd11b1, Nr3c1, Abcc8, Kcnj11, Mc4r, Npy, Lepr, Bdnf, and Drd2 that are involved in regulation of energy metabolism, in the hippocampus of age-matched control and chronic epileptic animals. Taqman-based quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the delta-delta cycle threshold (CT) methods were used for the gene expression assays. Gene expression of Hsd11b1 (cortisol generating enzyme) was significantly higher in epileptic versus control rats at 24h and 2 months, after induction of SE. Nr3c1 (glucocorticoid receptor) mRNA levels on the other hand were down-regulated at 24h, 10 days and 2 months, post SE. Abcc8 (Sur1; subunit of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel) was significantly down-regulated at 10 days post SE. Kcnj11 (Kir6.2; subunit of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel) was significantly up-regulated at 24h, 1 month and 2 months post SE. Thus, we demonstrated development of obesity and changes in the expression of metabolic genes in the hippocampus during epileptogenesis in male rats in the pilocarpine model of TLE.

Decreased expression of ATP6V1H in type 2 diabetes: a pilot report on the diabetes risk study in Mexican Americans.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies in mice and humans observed down-regulation of the gene expression of ATP6V1H associated with type 2 diabetes. This study identified prospectively changes in ATP6V1H expression before and after overt diabetes. METHODS: Expression of ATP6V1H in peripheral blood was compared pre and post development of diabetes in nine individuals. RESULTS: Considerable variation of ATP6V1H mRNA levels was observed between different individuals. However, within each individual the decrease in expression of ATP6V1H with the development of diabetes was highly statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: ATP6V1H may represent a critical molecular mechanism involved in the development of type 2 diabetes and its compilations through its important regulatory effect on vacuolar-ATPase activity.

Spermatotoxicity of a protein isolated from the root of Achyranthes aspera: a comparative study with gossypol.

BACKGROUND: A previous study showed that 50% ethanolic extracts of the roots of Achyranthes aspera possess spermatotoxic effects. STUDY DESIGN: A 58-kDa protein (Ap) was isolated, and its spermatotoxic effects were studied in comparison with gossypol. Ap (25 mg/kg body weight a day) and gossypol (40 mg/kg body weight a day) were administered orally to Swiss male albino mice for 35 days. Sperm motility, sperm count, sperm abnormality, toxicity markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the liver and serum, testicular activities of hydroxyl methyl glutaryl CoA reductase (HMG CoA reductase), 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17ß-HSD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, cholesterol level and serum testosterone were assayed. Spermicidal action of the proteolytic digests of Ap was also studied in vitro. RESULTS: Treated mice showed significant spermatotoxicity. Significant differences were also observed in the testicular activities of HMG CoA reductase, 3ß-HSD, 17ß-HSD and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and in the levels of cholesterol and serum testosterone. The nontoxic nature of Ap was indicated by the insignificant alterations in the activities of AST and ALT. Ap possessed spermicidal activity even after proteolysis. CONCLUSION: The 58-kDa protein isolated from A. aspera possesses spermatotoxic effects comparable to gossypol.

GEF1 is a ciliary Sec7 GEF of Tetrahymena thermophila.

Ciliary guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) potentially activate G proteins in intraflagellar transport (IFT) cargo release. Several classes of GEFs have been localized to cilia or basal bodies and shown to be functionally important in the prevention of ciliopathies, but ciliary Arl-type Sec 7 related GEFs have not been well characterized. Nair et al. [ 1999] identified a Paramecium ciliary Sec7 GEF, PSec7. In Tetrahymena, Gef1p (GEF1), tentatively identified by PSec7 antibody, possesses ciliary and nuclear targeting sequences and like PSec7 localizes to cilia and macronuclei. Upregulation of GEF1 RNA followed deciliation and subsequent ciliary regrowth. Corresponding to similar Psec7 domains, GEF1domains contain IQ-like motifs and putative PH domains, in addition to GBF/BIG canonical motifs. Genomic analysis identified two additional Tetrahymena GBF/BIG Sec7 family GEFs (GEF2, GEF3), which do not possess ciliary targeting sequences. GEF1 and GEF2 were HA modified to determine cellular localization. Cells transformed to produce appropriately truncated GEF1-HA showed localization to somatic and oral cilia, but not to macronuclei. Subtle defects in ciliary stability and function were detected. GEF2-HA localized near basal bodies but not to cilia. These results indicate that GEF1 is the resident Tetrahymena ciliary protein orthologous to PSec7. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Application of DNA microarray to the study of human adipose tissue/cells.

Adipose tissue is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active endocrine organ with multiple functions beyond its lipid storage capability. Various constituents of the tissue, such as mature adipocytes and stromal vascular cells, have distinct functions. For example, they express and secrete different kinds of bioactive molecules collectively called adipokines. Altered adipokine secretion patterns characterize obesity and insulin resistance, which are major risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The contribution of dysregulated adipokine expression to these diseases may be assembled from transcriptomic profiles of the tissue and/or its cellular constituents. The gene expression profiles may also complement genetic approaches to identify disease susceptibility genes. Here, we describe an application of gene expression profiling using DNA microarrays to study human adipose tissue, adipocytes, and stromal vascular cells.

Amyloid precursor protein expression is upregulated in adipocytes in obesity.

The aim of this study was to determine whether amyloid precursor protein (APP) is expressed in human adipose tissue, dysregulated in obesity, and related to insulin resistance and inflammation. APP expression was examined by microarray expression profiling of subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes (SAC) and cultured preadipocytes from obese and nonobese subjects. Quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) was performed to confirm differences in APP expression in SAC and to compare APP expression levels in adipose tissue, adipocytes, and stromal vascular cells (SVCs) from subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) specimens. Adipose tissue samples were also examined by western blot and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Microarray studies demonstrated that APP mRNA expression levels were higher in SAC (approximately 2.5-fold) and preadipocytes (approximately 1.4) from obese subjects. Real-time PCR confirmed increased APP expression in SAC in a separate group of obese compared with nonobese subjects (P=0.02). APP expression correlated to in vivo indices of insulin resistance independently of BMI and with the expression of proinflammatory genes, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (R=0.62, P=0.004), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) (R=0.60, P=0.005), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (R=0.71, P=0.0005). Full-length APP protein was detected in adipocytes by western blotting and APP and its cleavage peptides, Abeta40 and Abeta42, were observed in SAT and VAT by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. In summary, APP is highly expressed in adipose tissue, upregulated in obesity, and expression levels correlate with insulin resistance and adipocyte cytokine expression levels. These data suggest a possible role for APP and/or Abeta in the development of obesity-related insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation.

Differential expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) in preadipocytes/stromal vascular cells from nonobese nondiabetic versus obese nondiabetic Pima Indians.

Prior microarray studies comparing global gene expression patterns in preadipocytes/stromal vascular cells isolated from nonobese nondiabetic versus obese nondiabetic Pima Indians showed that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) is upregulated in obese subjects. The current study targeted analysis of nine additional MMP genes that cluster to a region on chromosome 11q22 that is linked to BMI and percent body fat. Differential-display PCR showed that MMP3 is downregulated in preadipocytes/stromal vascular cells from obese subjects, and real-time PCR showed that MMP3 expression levels are negatively correlated with percent body fat. To determine whether variants within MMP3 are responsible for its altered expression, MMP3 was sequenced, and seven representative variants were genotyped in 1,037 Pima subjects for association analyses. Two variants were associated with both BMI and type 2 diabetes, and two additional variants were associated with type 2 diabetes alone; however, none of these variants were associated with MMP3 expression levels. We propose that the MMP3 pathway is altered in human obesity, but this alteration may be the result of a combination of genetic variation within the MMP3 locus itself, as well as variation in additional factors, either primary or secondary to obesity, that regulate expression of the MMP3 gene.