scholarly journals Different combinations of serotonin receptors regulate predatory and bacterial feeding behaviors in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuuki Ishita ◽  
Takahiro Chihara ◽  
Misako Okumura
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Serotonin Receptors ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Tooth Movement ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Pristionchus Pacificus ◽  
Knockout Mutants ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Feeding behavior is one of the most fundamental behaviors in animals, and regulation of this behavior is critical for proper food intake. The nematode Pristionchus pacificus exhibits dimorphism in feeding behavior, bacterial feeding and predatory feeding on other nematodes, and the latter behavior is assumed to be an evolutionarily novel behavior. Both types of feeding behavior are modulated by serotonin; however, the downstream mechanism that modulates these behaviors is still to be clarified. Here, we focused on serotonin receptors and examined their expression patterns in P. pacificus. We also generated knockout mutants of the serotonin receptors using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and examined feeding behaviors. We found that Ppa-ser-5 mutants and the Ppa-ser-1; Ppa-ser-7 double mutant decreased predation. Detailed observation of the pharyngeal movement revealed that the Ppa-ser-1; Ppa-ser-7 double mutant reduces tooth movement, which is required for efficient predatory feeding. Conversely, Ppa-ser-7 and Ppa-mod-1 mutants decreased bacterial feeding. This study revealed that specific combinations of serotonin receptors are essential for the modulation of these distinct feeding behaviors, providing insight into the evolution of neural pathways to regulate novel feeding behavior.

Associations Between Parent–Child Communication and Connectedness, Parent Feeding Behavior, and Child Body Mass in Pre-Adolescent Children

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina D Lowe ◽  
Mark A Lott ◽  
Chad D Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Parent Child Communication ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
Parent Feeding ◽  
Parent Child

Abstract Objective  This study evaluated associations between parent–child connectedness and communication, parent feeding behaviors (restriction, pressure to eat, and monitoring), and age- and sex-standardized child body mass index (zBMI) in a sample of pre-adolescent children aged 8–12 years. Methods  A community sample of three hundred and eight child–parent dyads completed measures of communication and connectedness. Parents completed a feeding behavior measure and children were weighed and their height was measured. We examined whether parental feeding behaviors and parent–child communication and connectedness predicted child zBMI and whether parental feeding behaviors moderated the association between parent–child communication and connectedness and child zBMI. Results  Feeding restriction was positively associated with zBMI, while both pressure to eat and food monitoring exhibited negative associations with zBMI. Child-reported communication was inversely associated with zBMI and parental pressure to eat moderated this association such that lower pressure to eat predicted a stronger association between communication and zBMI. Conclusions  These findings are consistent with previous research suggesting that parent feeding strategies and parent–child communication are important contributors to child weight status. This study also provides preliminary evidence suggesting that adaptive parent–child communication is associated with lower body mass when parents avoid pressuring their child to eat. Our study provides an important extension of this body of research into middle childhood, a relatively understudied developmental stage.

Fluorescent protein expression in temperature tolerant and susceptible reef-building corals

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Exequiel Gabriel S. Dizon ◽  
Jeric P. Da-Anoy ◽  
Melissa S. Roth ◽  
Cecilia Conaco
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Variable Expression ◽  
Acropora Digitifera ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are reported to play an important role as photoprotectants and antioxidants in corals subjected to stressful conditions. Identifying the various FP genes expressed and FP gene expression patterns under stress in diverse coral species can provide insight into FP function. In this study, we identified 16 putative FP homologues from the transcriptomes of corals with varying susceptibility to elevated temperature, including Acropora digitifera, Favites colemani, Montipora digitata and Seriatopora caliendrum. Each coral expressed a different complement of FP transcripts, which were predicted to have distinct spectral properties. The most diverse and abundant repertoire of FP transcripts, including at least 6 green FPs, were expressed in the temperature-tolerant coral, F. colemani. In comparison, the other corals expressed fewer FP types. Specific FP transcripts exhibited variable expression profiles in coral fragments subjected to 32 ± 1 °C (treatment) or 28 ± 1 °C (control) for up to 72 h, suggesting that distinct FPs may have different roles. Further studies on the expression of the proteins encoded by these FP transcripts, their fluorescence activity, tissue localization, and possible antioxidant properties, are needed to reveal their contribution to thermal stress tolerance in certain species of corals.

Discovery and Characterization of Differentially Expressed Soybean MiRNAs and Their Targets During Soybean Mosaic Virus Infection Unveils Novel Insight Into Soybean-SMV Interaction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bowen Li ◽  
Adhimoolam Karthikeyan ◽  
Liqun Wang ◽  
Jinlong Yin ◽  
Tongtong Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Soybean Mosaic Virus ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Defense Responses ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Functional Annotations ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Background: Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the most devastating pathogen of soybean. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs (21-24 nucleotides) and play important roles in regulating defense responses against pathogens. However, miRNA's response to SMV in soybean is not as well documented. Result: In this study, we analyzed 18 miRNA libraries, including three biological replicates from two soybean lines (Resistant and susceptible lines to SMV strain SC3 selected from the near-isogenic lines of Qihuang No. 1× Nannong1138-2) after virus infection at three different time intervals (0 dpi, 7 dpi, and 14 dpi). A total of 1,092 miRNAs, including 608 known miRNAs and 484 novel miRNAs were detected. Differential expression analyses identified the miRNAs responded during soybean-SMV interaction. Then, miRNAs potential target genes were predicted via data mining, and functional annotation was done by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Eventually, the expression patterns of several miRNAs validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis are consistent with sequencing results. Conclusion: We have identified a large number of miRNAs and their target genes and also functional annotations. Our study provides additional information on soybean miRNAs and an insight into the role of miRNAs during SMV-infection in soybean.

scholarly journals Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthases in Orthodontic Tooth Movement

2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorrin Nilforoushan ◽  
Morris Frank Manolson
Keyword(s):  
Tooth Movement ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Orthodontic Tooth Movement ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Free Zone ◽  
Maxillary Molars ◽  
Pdl Cells ◽  
No Signaling ◽  
Nos Isoforms ◽  
Nnos Expression

Abstract Objective: To investigate differential expression of NOS isoforms in periodontal ligament (PDL) and bone in tension and pressure sides using a rat model of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry with NOS isoform (iNOS, eNOS, and nNOS) antibodies was performed on horizontal sections of the first maxillary molars subjected to 3 and 24 hours of OTM. The PDL and adjacent osteocytes of the distopalatal root at pressure and tension areas were analyzed for expression of these proteins. The contralateral molar served as a control. Results were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and with two-way ANOVA. Results: Expression of all isoforms was increased in the tension side. iNOS and nNOS expression in the pressure side with cell-free zone was decreased but in the pressure side without cell-free zone was increased. The number of eNOS-positive cells did not change, but the intensity of the staining was visibly increased in the tension side. Duration of OTM changed only the pattern of nNOS expression. Osteocyte NOS expression did not change significantly in response to OTM. Conclusions: All NOS isoforms are involved in OTM with different expression patterns between tension and pressure sides, with nNOS being more involved in early OTM events. NOS expression did not change in osteocytes, suggesting that PDL cells rather than osteocytes are the mechanosensors in early OTM events with regard to NO signaling.

Overlapping functions of the myogenic bHLH genes MRF4 and MyoD revealed in double mutant mice

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (13) ◽  
pp. 2349-2358 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Rawls ◽  
M.R. Valdez ◽  
W. Zhang ◽  
J. Richardson ◽  
W.H. Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Muscle Development ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Mutant Mice ◽  
Myoblast Differentiation ◽  
Bhlh Genes ◽  
Bhlh Factors

The myogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes - MyoD, Myf5, myogenin and MRF4 - exhibit distinct, but overlapping expression patterns during development of the skeletal muscle lineage and loss-of-function mutations in these genes result in different effects on muscle development. MyoD and Myf5 have been shown to act early in the myogenic lineage to establish myoblast identity, whereas myogenin acts later to control myoblast differentiation. In mice lacking myogenin, there is a severe deficiency of skeletal muscle, but some residual muscle fibers are present in mutant mice at birth. Mice lacking MRF4 are viable and have skeletal muscle, but they upregulate myogenin expression, which could potentially compensate for the absence of MRF4. Previous studies in which Myf5 and MRF4 null mutations were combined suggested that these genes do not share overlapping myogenic functions in vivo. To determine whether the functions of MRF4 might overlap with those of myogenin or MyoD, we generated double mutant mice lacking MRF4 and either myogenin or MyoD. MRF4/myogenin double mutant mice contained a comparable number of residual muscle fibers to mice lacking myogenin alone and myoblasts from those double mutant mice formed differentiated multinucleated myotubes in vitro as efficiently as wild-type myoblasts, indicating that neither myogenin nor MRF4 is absolutely essential for myoblast differentiation. Whereas mice lacking either MRF4 or MyoD were viable and did not show defects in muscle development, MRF4/MyoD double mutants displayed a severe muscle deficiency similar to that in myogenin mutants. Myogenin was expressed in MRF4/MyoD double mutants, indicating that myogenin is insufficient to support normal myogenesis in vivo. These results reveal unanticipated compensatory roles for MRF4 and MyoD in the muscle differentiation pathway and suggest that a threshold level of myogenic bHLH factors is required to activate muscle structural genes, with this level normally being achieved by combinations of multiple myogenic bHLH factors.

Caregivers’ Feeding Behavior, Children's Eating Behavior, and Weight Status among Children of Preschool Age in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yuan ◽  
Xun Jiang ◽  
Tongyu Zhu ◽  
Yuhai Zhang ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Weight Concerns ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Childhood overweight and obesity have become significant public health challenges worldwide. This study aimed to explore whether caregivers’ feeding behavior and children’s eating behavior were associated with the weight status of preschool children in China.Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 912 caregivers of preschool children from April to July 2016. Caregivers’ feeding behaviors were assessed by the Chinese Preschooler’s Caregiver Feeding Behavior Scale (CPCFBS). Children’s eating behaviors were evaluated using the Chinese Preschooler’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CPEBQ). After controlling for demographic characteristics, multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between caregivers’ feeding behavior, children's eating behavior, and children's body mass index (BMI). Results The results showed that weight concerns on the part of caregivers (β=0.53) and food responsiveness on the part of children (β=0.93) were positively correlated with children’s BMI, whereas caregivers’ responsibility for feeding (β=-0.68) and children’s external eating (β=-0.53) were negatively correlated with BMI. Among caregiver feeding behaviors, weight concerns (OR=4.54, P<0.001) and behavior-restricted feeding (OR=0.29, P<0.001) were positively correlated with children’s BMI. A child’s food responsiveness (OR=4.04, P<0.001) was also positively correlated with his/her BMI, while the child’s satiety responsiveness (OR=0.42, P<0.001) and emotional eating habits (OR=0.56, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with overweight/obesity status. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that children’s eating behavior and caregivers’ feeding behavior were associated with weight status among preschool children in China. Behavior interventions on caregivers as well as their children may prevent or reduce weight problems in preschool children. Trial registration This study was not a clinical experiment.

scholarly journals Yellow Fever Virus Down-Regulates mRNA Expression of SOCS1 in the Initial Phase of Infection in Human Cell Lines

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
Michael B. Yakass ◽  
David Franco ◽  
Osbourne Quaye
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Yellow Fever ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Fever Virus ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Interferon Β ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Insight Into

Flaviviruses are constantly evolving diverse immune evasion strategies, and the exploitation of the functions of suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) and protein inhibitors of activated STATs (PIAS) to favour virus replication has been described for Dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses but not for yellow fever virus (YFV), which is still of global importance despite the existence of an effective vaccine. Some mechanisms that YFV employs to evade host immune defence has been reported, but the expression patterns of SOCS and PIAS in infected cells is yet to be determined. Here, we show that SOCS1 is down-regulated early in YFV-infected HeLa and HEK 293T cells, while SOCS3 and SOCS5 are not significantly altered, and PIAS mRNA expression appears to follow a rise-dip pattern akin to circadian-controlled genes. We also demonstrate that YFV evades interferon-β application to produce comparable viral titres. This report provides initial insight into the in vitro expression dynamics of SOCS and PIAS upon YFV infection and a basis for further investigation into SOCS/PIAS expression and how these modulate the immune response in animal models.

scholarly journals The Conserved Effector UvHrip1 Interacts with OsHGW and Infection of Ustilaginoidea virens Regulates Defense- and Heading Date-Related Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3376
Author(s):  
Songhong Wei ◽  
Yingling Wang ◽  
Jianming Zhou ◽  
Shibo Xiang ◽  
Wenxian Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Heading Date ◽  
Ustilaginoidea Virens ◽  
Bifc Assay ◽  
Gfp Fusion Protein ◽  
False Smut ◽  
Insight Into

Ustilaginoidea virens, which causes rice false smut (RFS), is one of the most detrimental rice fungal diseases and poses a severe threat to rice production and quality. Effectors in U. virens often act as a group of essential virulence factors that play crucial roles in the interaction between host and the pathogen. Thus, the functions of individual effectors in U. virens need to be further explored. Here, we demonstrated a small secreted hypersensitive response-inducing protein (hrip), named UvHrip1, which was highly conserved in U. virens isolates. UvHrip1 was also proven to suppress necrosis-like defense symptoms in N. benthamiana induced by the oomycete elicitor INF1. The localization of UvHrip1 was mainly in the nuclei and cytoplasm via monitoring the UvHrip1-GFP fusion protein in rice cells. Furthermore, Y2H and BiFC assay demonstrated that UvHrip1 interacted with OsHGW, which is a critical regulator in heading date and grain weight signaling pathways in rice. Expression patterns of defense- and heading date-related genes, OsPR1#051 and OsMYB21, were down-regulated over U. virens infection in rice. Collectively, our data provide a theory for gaining an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the UvHrip1 virulence function.

scholarly journals CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 and ATAF2 differentially suppress cytochrome P450-mediated brassinosteroid inactivation

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 970-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Peng ◽  
Michael M Neff
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Cytochrome P450s ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Null Mutant ◽  
Plant Growth And Development ◽  
Protein Levels

Abstract Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of steroid hormones regulating plant growth and development. Since BRs do not undergo transport among plant tissues, their metabolism is tightly regulated by transcription factors (TFs) and feedback loops. BAS1 (CYP734A1, formerly CYP72B1) and SOB7 (CYP72C1) are two BR-inactivating cytochrome P450s identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. We previously found that a TF ATAF2 (ANAC081) suppresses BAS1 and SOB7 expression by binding to the Evening Element (EE) and CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1)-binding site (CBS) on their promoters. Both the EE and CBS are known binding targets of the circadian regulatory protein CCA1. Here, we confirm that CCA1 binds the EE and CBS motifs on BAS1 and SOB7 promoters, respectively. Elevated accumulations of BAS1 and SOB7 transcripts in the CCA1 null mutant cca1-1 indicate that CCA1 is a repressor of their expression. When compared with either cca1-1 or the ATAF2 null mutant ataf2-2, the cca1-1 ataf2-2 double mutant shows higher SOB7 transcript accumulations and a stronger BR-insensitive phenotype of hypocotyl elongation in white light. CCA1 interacts with ATAF2 at both DNA–protein and protein–protein levels. ATAF2, BAS1, and SOB7 are all circadian regulated with distinct expression patterns. These results demonstrate that CCA1 and ATAF2 differentially suppress BAS1- and SOB7-mediated BR inactivation.

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