scholarly journals An optimized acetylcholine sensor for monitoring in vivo cholinergic activity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao Jing ◽  
Yuexuan Li ◽  
Jianzhi Zeng ◽  
Pengcheng Huang ◽  
Miguel Skirzewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Function ◽  
Single Trial ◽  
Ach Release ◽  
Cholinergic Activity ◽  
Multiple Regions ◽  
Mice Brain

The ability to directly measure acetylcholine (ACh) release is an essential first step towards understanding its physiological function. Here we optimized the GRABACh (GPCR-Activation–Based-ACh) sensor with significantly improved sensitivity and minimal downstream coupling. Using this sensor, we measured in-vivo cholinergic activity in both Drosophila and mice, revealing compartmental ACh signals in fly olfactory center and single-trial ACh dynamics in multiple regions of the mice brain under a variety of different behaviors

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of the mazEF Toxin-Antitoxin System in the Pathogenic Bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Wonho Choi ◽  
Yoshihiro Yamaguchi ◽  
Ji-Young Park ◽  
Sang-Hyun Park ◽  
Hyeok-Won Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agrobacterium Tumefaciens ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Cell Growth Inhibition ◽  
The Right

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a pathogen of various plants which transfers its own DNA (T-DNA) to the host plants. It is used for producing genetically modified plants with this ability. To control T-DNA transfer to the right place, toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems of A. tumefaciens were used to control the target site of transfer without any unintentional targeting. Here, we describe a toxin-antitoxin system, Atu0939 (mazE-at) and Atu0940 (mazF-at), in the chromosome of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The toxin in the TA system has 33.3% identity and 45.5% similarity with MazF in Escherichia coli. The expression of MazF-at caused cell growth inhibition, while cells with MazF-at co-expressed with MazE-at grew normally. In vivo and in vitro assays revealed that MazF-at inhibited protein synthesis by decreasing the cellular mRNA stability. Moreover, the catalytic residue of MazF-at was determined to be the 24th glutamic acid using site-directed mutagenesis. From the results, we concluded that MazF-at is a type II toxin-antitoxin system and a ribosome-independent endoribonuclease. Here, we characterized a TA system in A. tumefaciens whose understanding might help to find its physiological function and to develop further applications.

scholarly journals Regulation of rat magnocellular neurosecretory system by D-aspartate: evidence for biological role(s) of a naturally occurring free D-amino acid in mammals

2000 ◽  
Vol 167 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wang ◽  
H Wolosker ◽  
J Pevsner ◽  
SH Snyder ◽  
DJ Selkoe
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Neurosecretory System ◽  
Milk Ejection ◽  
Magnocellular Neurons ◽  
Rat Hypothalamus ◽  
Naturally Occurring

Little evidence is available for the physiological function of D-amino acids in species other than bacteria. Here we demonstrate that naturally occurring freed -aspartate (D-Asp) is present in all magnocellular neurons of rat hypothalamus. The levels of this naturally occurring D-amino acid were elevated during lactation and returned to normal thereafter in the magnocellular neurosecretory system, which produces oxytocin, a hormone responsible for milk ejection during lactation. Intraperitoneal injections of D-Asp reproducibly increased oxytocin gene expression and decreased the concentration of circulating oxytocin in vivo. Similar changes were observed in the vasopressin system. These results provide evidence for the role(s) of naturally occurring free D-Asp in mammalian physiology. The findings argue against the conventional concept that only L-stereoisomers of amino acids are functional in higher species.

scholarly journals Direct biologically based biosensing of dynamic physiological function

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. H2006-H2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Christini ◽  
Jeff Walden ◽  
Jay M. Edelberg
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Physiological Activity ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Excitable Tissue ◽  
Alternative Approach

Dynamic regulation of biological systems requires real-time assessment of relevant physiological needs. Biosensors, which transduce biological actions or reactions into signals amenable to processing, are well suited for such monitoring. Typically, in vivo biosensors approximate physiological function via the measurement of surrogate signals. The alternative approach presented here would be to use biologically based biosensors for the direct measurement of physiological activity via functional integration of relevant governing inputs. We show that an implanted excitable-tissue biosensor (excitable cardiac tissue) can be used as a real-time, integrated bioprocessor to analyze the complex inputs regulating a dynamic physiological variable (heart rate). This approach offers the potential for long-term biologically tuned quantification of endogenous physiological function.

scholarly journals Generation and Characterization of Smac/DIABLO-Deficient Mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 3509-3517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi Okada ◽  
Woong-Kyung Suh ◽  
Jianping Jin ◽  
Minna Woo ◽  
Chunying Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Function ◽  
Es Cells ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Caspase Activation ◽  
Proapoptotic Protein ◽  
Apoptosis Proteins ◽  
Deficient Mice

ABSTRACT The mitochondrial proapoptotic protein Smac/DIABLO has recently been shown to potentiate apoptosis by counteracting the antiapoptotic function of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). In response to apoptotic stimuli, Smac is released into the cytosol and promotes caspase activation by binding to IAPs, thereby blocking their function. These observations have suggested that Smac is a new regulator of apoptosis. To better understand the physiological function of Smac in normal cells, we generated Smac-deficient (Smac−/− ) mice by using homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Smac−/− mice were viable, grew, and matured normally and did not show any histological abnormalities. Although the cleavage in vitro of procaspase-3 was inhibited in lysates of Smac−/− cells, all types of cultured Smac−/− cells tested responded normally to all apoptotic stimuli applied. There were also no detectable differences in Fas-mediated apoptosis in the liver in vivo. Our data strongly suggest the existence of a redundant molecule or molecules capable of compensating for a loss of Smac function.

scholarly journals Antagonistic interaction between Ezh2 and Arid1a coordinates root patterning and development via Cdkn2a in mouse molars

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjun Jing ◽  
Jifan Feng ◽  
Jingyuan Li ◽  
Xia Han ◽  
Jinzhi He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Root Development ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Tooth Root ◽  
Tooth Regeneration ◽  
Jaw Bones ◽  
Antagonistic Interaction ◽  
Tooth Type ◽  
Epigenetic Regulators

Patterning is a critical step during organogenesis and is closely associated with the physiological function of organs. Tooth root shapes are finely tuned to provide precise occlusal support to facilitate the function of each tooth type. However, the mechanism regulating tooth root patterning and development is largely unknown. In this study, we provide the first in vivo evidence demonstrating that Ezh2 in the dental mesenchyme determines patterning and furcation formation during dental root development in mouse molars. Mechanistically, an antagonistic interaction between epigenetic regulators Ezh2 and Arid1a controls Cdkn2a expression in the dental mesenchyme to regulate dental root patterning and development. These findings indicate the importance of balanced epigenetic regulation in determining the tooth root pattern and the integration of roots with the jaw bones to achieve physiological function. Collectively, our study provides important clues about the regulation of organogenesis and has general implications for tooth regeneration in the future.

scholarly journals Effect of the Modifications on the Physicochemical and Biological Properties of β-Glucan—A Critical Review

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongjie Yuan ◽  
Ping Lan ◽  
Yan He ◽  
Chengliang Li ◽  
Xia Ma
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Triple Helix ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Enzymatic Modification ◽  
Anti Oxidant

β-Glucan exhibits many biological activities and functions such as stimulation of the immune system and anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-infective, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, cholesterol-lowering, radio protective, and wound healing effects. It has a wide variety of uses in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries as well as in food processing units. However, due to its dense triple helix structure, formed by the interaction of polyhydroxy groups in the β-d-glucan molecule, it features poor solubility, which not only constrains its applications, but also inhibits its physiological function in vivo. One aim is to expand the applications for modified β-glucan with potential to prevent disease, various therapeutic purposes and as health-improving ingredients in functional foods and cosmetics. This review introduces the major modification methods required to understand the bioactivity of β-glucan and critically provides a literature survey on the structural features of this molecule and reported biological activity. We also discuss a new method to create novel opportunities to exploit maximally various properties of β-glucan, namely ultrasound-assisted enzymatic modification.

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