scholarly journals The C50 carotenoid bacterioruberin regulates membrane fluidity in pink-pigmented Arthrobacter species

2021 ◽  
Vol 204 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Flegler ◽  
André Lipski

AbstractCarotenoids have several crucial biological functions and are part of the cold adaptation mechanism of some bacteria. Some pink-pigmented Arthrobacter species produce the rare C50 carotenoid bacterioruberin, whose function in these bacteria is unclear and is found mainly in halophilic archaea. Strains Arthrobacter agilis DSM 20550T and Arthrobacter bussei DSM 109896T show an increased bacterioruberin content if growth temperature is reduced from 30 down to 10 °C. In vivo anisotropy measurements with trimethylammonium-diphenylhexatriene showed increased membrane fluidity and a broadening phase transition with increased bacterioruberin content in the membrane at low-temperature growth. Suppression of bacterioruberin synthesis at 10 °C using sodium chloride confirmed the function of bacterioruberin in modulating membrane fluidity. Increased bacterioruberin content also correlated with increased cell resistance to freeze–thaw stress. These findings confirmed the adaptive function of bacterioruberin for growth at low temperatures for pink-pigmented Arthrobacter species.

Diabetes ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Flier ◽  
K. L. Minaker ◽  
L. Landsberg ◽  
J. B. Young ◽  
J. Pallotta ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (13) ◽  
pp. 4252-4264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu Wang ◽  
Kaikai Zhang ◽  
Lina Meng ◽  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Yanan Song ◽  
...  

SAM and HD domain-containing protein 1 (SAMHD1) is a host factor that restricts reverse transcription of lentiviruses such as HIV in myeloid cells and resting T cells through its dNTP triphosphohydrolase (dNTPase) activity. Lentiviruses counteract this restriction by expressing the accessory protein Vpx or Vpr, which targets SAMHD1 for proteasomal degradation. SAMHD1 is conserved among mammals, and the feline and bovine SAMHD1 proteins (fSAM and bSAM) restrict lentiviruses by reducing cellular dNTP concentrations. However, the functional regions of fSAM and bSAM that are required for their biological functions are not well-characterized. Here, to establish alternative models to investigate SAMHD1 in vivo, we studied the restriction profile of fSAM and bSAM against different primate lentiviruses. We found that both fSAM and bSAM strongly restrict primate lentiviruses and that Vpx induces the proteasomal degradation of both fSAM and bSAM. Further investigation identified one and five amino acid sites in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of fSAM and bSAM, respectively, that are required for Vpx-mediated degradation. We also found that the CTD of bSAM is directly involved in mediating bSAM's antiviral activity by regulating dNTPase activity, whereas the CTD of fSAM is not. Our results suggest that the CTDs of fSAM and bSAM have important roles in their antiviral functions. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanism of fSAM- and bSAM-mediated viral restriction and might inform strategies for improving HIV animal models.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1033
Author(s):  
Ji Hwan Lee ◽  
Sullim Lee ◽  
Quynh Nhu Nguyen ◽  
Hung Manh Phung ◽  
Myoung-Sook Shin ◽  
...  

Estrogen replacement therapy is a treatment to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Many studies suggest that natural bioactive ingredients from plants resemble estrogen in structure and biological functions and can relieve symptoms of menopause. The fruit of V. rotundifolia, called “Man HyungJa” in Korean, is a traditional medicine used to treat headache, migraine, eye pain, neuralgia, and premenstrual syndrome in Korea and China. The aim of the present study was to confirm that V. rotundifolia fruit extract (VFE) exerts biological functions similar to those of estrogen in menopausal syndrome. We investigated its in vitro effects on MCF-7 cells and in vivo estrogen-like effects on weight gain and uterine contraction in ovariectomized rats. Using the polar extract, the active constituents of VFE (artemetin, vitexicarpin, hesperidin, luteolin, vitexin, and vanillic acid) with estrogen-like activity were identified in MCF-7 cells. In animal experiments, the efficacy of VFE in ameliorating body weight gain was similar to that of estrogen, as evidenced from improvements in uterine atrophy. Vitexin and vitexicarpin are suggested as the active constituents of V. rotundifolia fruits.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. C270-C276 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Tongyai ◽  
Y. Rayssiguier ◽  
C. Motta ◽  
E. Gueux ◽  
P. Maurois ◽  
...  

The erythrocyte membrane was investigated in weanling male rats pair fed with magnesium-deficient and control diets for 8 days. Fluorescence polarization studies revealed a 15% increase in the fluidity of membranes from deficient rats. A similar increase in the fluidity of liposomes indicated that protein was not involved. The change was associated with decreased osmotic fragility of intact erythrocytes; the cells lost their biconcavity and had a flattened appearance with surface irregularities. Analysis of the membranes showed decreased amounts of magnesium, cholesterol, and sphingomyelin in the deficient group. The reduced ratios of cholesterol to phospholipid and sphingomyelin to phosphatidylcholine were consistent with the increased fluidity. Addition of physiological amounts of magnesium to the medium rigidified membranes incubated in tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane buffer, and this was prevented by the presence of EDTA. Cross-incubation experiments with erythrocyte ghosts and plasma from the two groups of rats showed that magnesium-deficient plasma increased the fluidity of control ghosts and control plasma rigidified ghosts from magnesium-deficient rats. Addition of sufficient magnesium chloride to raise the magnesium content of deficient plasma to normal had no significant effect. These results show that the increased fluidity of the erythrocyte membrane in magnesium deficiency is due to physicochemical exchange with the plasma. Although magnesium can directly influence membrane fluidity, the change during its deficiency in vivo is mainly mediated indirectly via disturbances in lipid metabolism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Chen ◽  
Yaqin Wang ◽  
Feiya Yang ◽  
Adili Keranmu ◽  
Qingxin Zhao ◽  
...  

An increasing number of studies have shown that circRNAs are closely related to the carcinogenesis and development of prostate cancer (PCa). However, little is known about the effect of the biological functions of circRNAs on the enzalutamide resistance of PCa. Through bioinformatic analysis and experiments, we investigated the expression pattern of circRNAs in enzalutamide-resistant PCa cells. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of circRAB3IP, and plasmids that knock down or overexpress circRAB3IP were used to evaluate its effect on the enzalutamide sensitivity of PCa cells. Mechanistically, we explored the potential regulatory effects of eIF4A3 and LEF1 on the biogenesis of circRAB3IP. Our in vivo and in vitro data indicated that increased expression of circRAB3IP was found in enzalutamide-resistant PCa, and knockdown of circRAB3IP significantly enhanced enzalutamide sensitivity in PCa cells. However, upregulation of circRAB3IP resulted in the opposite effects. Further mechanistic research demonstrated that circRAB3IP could regulate the expression of serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) by serving as a sponge that directly targets miR-133a-3p/miR-133b. Then, we showed that circRAB3IP partially exerted its biological functions via SGK1 signaling. Furthermore, we discovered that eIF4A3 and LEF1 might increase circRAB3IP expression in PCa.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuangui Sheng ◽  
Bo Wu ◽  
Lele Li ◽  
Yuliang Zhao

Background: Imaging of RNA in vivo is of great significance for elucidating their biological functions, revealing mechanisms behind disease, and for further diagnosis and treatment. Over the past decade, a variety of DNA-based molecular imaging techniques have been developed for RNA imaging in living cells. Nevertheless, non-invasive imaging of RNA in animals is still limited. Methods: An overview of the literature involving RNA imaging in vivo based on the integration of DNA probes with nanotechnology has been reviewed. Results: Attributed to DNA’s designability of sequences and specificity of recognition, molecular beacon, strand displacement and hybridization chain reaction would confer quick, efficient and specific response to target RNA. Multifunctional nanomaterials provide powerful support for the intracellular delivery of such DNA probes with spatiotemporal control over their sensing function, thereby achieving RNA imaging in vivo. Conclusion: Merging DNA probes with nanotechnology has gained substantial prospects for RNA imaging in vivo, which not only helps us to better elucidate biological functions of RNA, but also provides valuable information for further disease diagnosis and treatment.


2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 8433-8436 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Fadl ◽  
J. Sha ◽  
G. R. Klimpel ◽  
J. P. Olano ◽  
C. L. Galindo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We constructed Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium double-knockout mutants in which either the lipoprotein A (lppA) or the lipoprotein B (lppB) gene was deleted from an msbB-negative background strain by marker exchange mutagenesis. These mutants were highly attenuated when tested with in vitro and in vivo models of Salmonella pathogenesis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document