Astrocytic ß-catenin signaling via TCF7L2 regulates synapse development and social behavior.

The Wnt/ß-catenin pathway contains multiple high-confidence risk genes that are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. However, its ubiquitous roles across brain cell types and developmental stages have made it challenging to define its impact on neural circuit development and behavior. Here, we show that TCF7L2, which is a key transcriptional effector of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, plays a cell-autonomous role in postnatal astrocyte maturation and impacts adult social behavior. TCF7L2 was the dominant Wnt effector that was expressed in both mouse and human astrocytes, with a peak during astrocyte maturation. The conditional knockout of Tcf7l2 in postnatal astrocytes led to an enlargement of astrocytes with defective tiling and gap junction coupling. These mice also exhibited an increase in the number of cortical excitatory and inhibitory synapses and a marked increase in social interaction by adulthood. These data reveal an astrocytic role for developmental Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in restricting excitatory synapse numbers and regulating adult social behavior.

Brain size, gut size and cognitive abilities: the energy trade-offs tested in artificial selection experiment.

The enlarged brains of homeotherms bring behavioural advantages, but also incur high energy expenditures. The 'expensive brain' (EB) hypothesis posits that the energetic costs of the enlarged brain and the resulting increased cognitive abilities (CA) were met by either increased energy turnover or reduced allocation to other expensive organs, such as the gut. We tested the EB hypothesis by analysing correlated responses to selection in an experimental evolution model system, which comprises line types of laboratory mice selected for high or low basal metabolic rate (BMR), maximum (VO2max) metabolic rates and random-bred (unselected) lines. The traits are implicated in the evolution of homeothermy, having been pre-requisites for the encephalization and exceptional CA of mammals, including humans. High-BMR mice had bigger guts, but not brains, than mice of other line types. Yet, they were superior in the cognitive tasks carried out in both reward and avoidance learning contexts and had higher neuronal plasticity (indexed as the long-term potentiation) than their counterparts. Our data indicate that the evolutionary increase of CA in mammals was initially associated with increased BMR and brain plasticity. It was also fuelled by an enlarged gut, which was not traded off for brain size.

Expression of GPD1 and SIP18 genes during rehydration in active dry industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae cider-making yeast strains (ADY).

In this study we determined the influence of different sugar concentration in media, time of rehydration and type of strain on relative expression level of GPD1 and SIP18 genes of active dry cider-making yeast strains, followed by the assessment of the impact of rehydration on the fermentation process. High expression of SIP18 at the beginning of rehydration was shown to be due to high transcription of the gene during the drying process. High sugar concentrations of media initiated transcription of the GPD1 gene and triggered the cellular glycerol biosynthesis pathway in examined strains. Rehydration time and type of strain showed to have no statistically significant impact on the course of the fermentation; RT qPCR results depended mainly on the time of rehydration and sugar concentration of the medium. This is the first attempt to confront rehydration time and molecular mechanisms acting upon rehydration with the course of the fermentation process.

The Effect of a Newly Developed Oat-Banana Fermented Beverage with a Beta-glucan Additive on ldhL Gene Expression in Streptococcus thermophilus TKM3 KKP 2030p.

The number of people who cannot consume dairy products due to intolerance or allergies to food components is increasing. Consumers are increasingly searching for alternative, nondairy beverages which have an advantageous effect on the body and which stimulate gut microflora. Previous studies have shown that Streptococcus thermophilus TKM3 KKP 2030p can be an efficient starter culture for the fermentation of plant material and can also ensure an acceptable sensory profile and a high number of lactic acid bacteria during 4 week cold storage. The aim of this study was to determine the relative gene expression of the L-lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldhL) in selected strain using the RT qPCR technique at particular time points. The gene expression experiments were conducted in laboratory broth (LABm) and fruit-cereal (OBPromOat) matrix with a beta-glucan additive. Levels of gene relative expression in the selected strain in these two media were correlated with the amount of L-lactate produced. The results showed that the plant matrix stimulated stronger ldhL gene expression in the first 4 h of the experiment (although the synthesis of L-lactate was less than in laboratory broth). This study broadens existing knowledge of the transcriptional mechanisms which arise from the adaptation of the analyzed strain to different habitats during L-lactate synthesis. This could contribute to the development of new alternative food products for people who show intolerance to milk proteins or lactose.

Intra-strains diversity of expression of polymorphic PKS4 gene in comparison in zearalenone production by Fusarium graminearum during in vitro cultivation.

Filamentous fungi belonging to the Fusarium genus are responsible for large economic losses due to their high pathogenicity and toxigenicity. Fusarium sp. may produce variety of mycotoxins, one of them is zearalenone (ZEA). The presence of the PKS4 gene shows the possibility of zearalenone biosynthesis by Fusarium sp. In this study, in four Fusarium graminearum and one Fusarium poae strains the presence of PKS4 genes and ZEA concentrations were determined. The presence of the PKS4 gene was confirmed by classical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in three of four strains of F. graminearum. One strain with no PKS4 gene detected was found while still producing ZEA. In the present study, a real-time PCR assay has been successfully performed for the relative expression of Fusarium strains based on new designed primers targeting the PKS4 gene involved in ZEA biosynthesis. Result shows that P56/4 strain of F. graminearum has the highest mRNA level, in the range of 12, what correlates to the high production of this mycotoxin. In this study, a real-time PCR assay has been successfully developed for the prediction of the production of ZEA by F. graminearum strains by PCR real-time techniques based on primers targeting the gene, PKS4, involved in ZEA biosynthesis. The special significance was pointed to occurring genes polymorphism.

The sequence diversity and expression among genes of the folic acid biosynthesis pathway in industrial Saccharomyces strains.

Folic acid is an important vitamin in human nutrition and its deficiency in pregnant women's diets results in neural tube defects and other neurological damage to the fetus. Additionally, DNA synthesis, cell division and intestinal absorption are inhibited in case of adults. Since this discovery, governments and health organizations worldwide have made recommendations concerning folic acid supplementation of food for women planning to become pregnant. In many countries this has led to the introduction of fortifications, where synthetic folic acid is added to flour. It is known that Saccharomyces strains (brewing and bakers' yeast) are one of the main producers of folic acid and they can be used as a natural source of this vitamin. Proper selection of the most efficient strains may enhance the folate content in bread, fermented vegetables, dairy products and beer by 100% and may be used in the food industry. The objective of this study was to select the optimal producing yeast strain by determining the differences in nucleotide sequences in the FOL2, FOL3 and DFR1 genes of folic acid biosynthesis pathway. The Multitemperature Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (MSSCP) method and further nucleotide sequencing for selected strains were applied to indicate SNPs in selected gene fragments. The RT qPCR technique was also applied to examine relative expression of the FOL3 gene. Furthermore, this is the first time ever that industrial yeast strains were analysed regarding genes of the folic acid biosynthesis pathway. It was observed that a correlation exists between the folic acid amount produced by industrial yeast strains and changes in the nucleotide sequence of adequate genes. The most significant changes occur in the DFR1 gene, mostly in the first part, which causes major protein structure modifications in KKP 232, KKP 222 and KKP 277 strains. Our study shows that the large amount of SNP contributes to impairment of the selected enzymes and S. cerevisiae and S. pastorianus produce reduced amounts of the investigated metabolite. The results obtained here yield a list of genetically stable yeast strains which can be implemented as a starter culture in the food industry.