Integrative Molecular Phenotyping
INTEGRATIVE MOLECULAR
PHENOTYPING
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY

PubMed

Antihyperglycemic, Antidiabetic, and Antioxidant Effects of Garcinia pedunculata in Rats.

Thu, 14/12/2017 - 13:09
Related Articles Antihyperglycemic, Antidiabetic, and Antioxidant Effects of Garcinia pedunculata in Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:2979760 Authors: Ali MY, Paul S, Tanvir EM, Hossen MS, Rumpa NN, Saha M, Bhoumik NC, Aminul Islam M, Hossain MS, Alam N, Gan SH, Khalil MI Abstract The antihyperglycemic, antidiabetic, and antioxidant potentials of the methanolic extract of Garcinia pedunculata (GP) fruit in rats were investigated. The acute antihyperglycemic effect of different doses of GP was studied in normal male Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection in another cohort of male Wistar rats and they showed significantly higher blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, altered lipid profiles, and lower insulin levels compared to nondiabetic control animals. There were increased lipid peroxidation and reduced levels of cellular antioxidant enzymes in different tissues of diabetic rats. However, oral administration of GP extracts, especially the highest dose (1000 mg/kg), significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia (42%); elevated insulin levels (165%); decreased HbA1c (29.4%); restored lipid levels (reduction in TG by 25%, TC by 15%, and LDL-C by 75% and increase in HDL-C by 4%), liver and renal function markers, and lipid peroxidation (reduction by 52% in the liver, 39% in the kidney, 44% in the heart, and 46% in the pancreas); and stimulated tissue antioxidant enzymes to near normalcy. Overall, the findings suggest that GP fruit is effective against hyperglycemia and could be used in the treatment of diabetes and its complications and other oxidative stress-mediated pathological conditions. PMID: 29234381 [PubMed]

From Discovery to Translation: Characterization of C-Mannosyltryptophan and Pseudouridine as Markers of Kidney Function.

Thu, 14/12/2017 - 13:09
Related Articles From Discovery to Translation: Characterization of C-Mannosyltryptophan and Pseudouridine as Markers of Kidney Function. Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 12;7(1):17400 Authors: Sekula P, Dettmer K, Vogl FC, Gronwald W, Ellmann L, Mohney RP, Eckardt KU, Suhre K, Kastenmüller G, Oefner PJ, Köttgen A Abstract Using a non-targeted metabolomics platform, we recently identified C-mannosyltryptophan and pseudouridine as non-traditional kidney function markers. The aims of this study were to obtain absolute concentrations of both metabolites in blood and urine from individuals with and without CKD to provide reference ranges and to assess their fractional excretions (FE), and to assess the agreement with their non-targeted counterparts. In individuals without/with CKD, mean plasma and urine concentrations for C-mannosyltryptophan were 0.26/0.72 µmol/L and 3.39/4.30 µmol/mmol creatinine, respectively. The respective concentrations for pseudouridine were 2.89/5.67 µmol/L and 39.7/33.9 µmol/mmol creatinine. Median (25th, 75th percentiles) FEs were 70.8% (65.6%, 77.8%) for C-mannosyltryptophan and 76.0% (68.6%, 82.4%) for pseudouridine, indicating partial net reabsorption. Association analyses validated reported associations between single metabolites and eGFR. Targeted measurements of both metabolites agreed well with the non-targeted measurements, especially in urine. Agreement for composite nephrological measures FE and urinary metabolite-to-creatinine ratio was lower, but could be improved by replacing non-targeted creatinine measurements with a standard clinical creatinine test. In summary, targeted quantification and additional characterization in relevant populations are necessary steps in the translation of non-traditional biomarkers in nephrology from non-targeted discovery to clinical application. PMID: 29234020 [PubMed - in process]

N- and O-glycosylation analysis of human C1-inhibitor reveals extensive mucin-type O-glycosylation.

Thu, 14/12/2017 - 13:09
Related Articles N- and O-glycosylation analysis of human C1-inhibitor reveals extensive mucin-type O-glycosylation. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2017 Dec 12;: Authors: Stavenhagen K, Kayili HM, Holst S, Koeleman C, Engel R, Wouters D, Zeerleder S, Salih B, Wuhrer M Abstract Human C1-inhibitor (C1-Inh) is a serine protease inhibitor and the major regulator of the contact activation pathway as well as the classical and lectin complement pathways. It is known to be a highly glycosylated plasma glycoprotein. However, both the structural features and biological role of C1-Inh glycosylation are largely unknown. Here, we performed for the first time an in-depth site-specific N- and O-glycosylation analysis of C1-Inh combining various mass spectrometric approaches, including C18-porous graphitized carbon (PGC)-LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS applying stepping-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron-transfer dissociation (ETD). Various proteases were applied, partly in combination with PNGase F and exoglycosidase treatment, in order to analyze the (glyco)peptides. The analysis revealed an extensively O-glycosylated N-terminal region. Five novel and five known O-glycosylation sites were identified, carrying mainly core1-type O-glycans. In addition, we detected a heavily O-glycosylated portion spanning from Thr82-Ser121 with up to 16 O-glycans attached. Likewise, all known six N-glycosylation sites were covered and confirmed by this site-specific glycosylation analysis. The glycoforms were in accordance with results on released N-glycans by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS. The comprehensive characterization of C1-Inh glycosylation described in this study will form the basis for further functional studies on the role of these glycan modifications. PMID: 29233911 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Metabolomics analysis of alloxan-induced diabetes in mice using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS after Crassostrea gigas polysaccharide treatment.

Thu, 14/12/2017 - 13:09
Related Articles Metabolomics analysis of alloxan-induced diabetes in mice using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS after Crassostrea gigas polysaccharide treatment. Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Dec 09;: Authors: Zhao G, Hou X, Li X, Qu M, Tong C, Li W Abstract Diabetes has become a global and serious health issues which causes a variety of complications. This study aims to explore the hypoglycemic effect of Crassostrea gigas polysaccharide (CGPS) and the dynamic changes in the the endogenous small molecule metabolites of urine from normal group, model group and CGPS high dose group by metabolomic approach (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). In our study, the CGPS treatment could reduce the fasting blood glucose levels and recover the triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and glycosylated serum protein (GSP) levels in serum of diabetic mice. Urine samples in normal group, model group and CGPS high dose group were dispersed in the PLS-DA score plots. Nineteen metabolites in urine such as L-carnitine, hippuric acid, pantothenate and ornithine were selected as potential therapeutic biomarkers and related metabolic pathways of CGPS for treating diabetes. They were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and purine metabolism. These data suggested that CGPS has antidiabetic activity and urine metabolites provided new understanding of CGPS for treating diabetes and its complications. PMID: 29233709 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

HPLC-Based Metabolomic Analysis of Normal and Inflamed Gut.

Thu, 14/12/2017 - 13:09
Related Articles HPLC-Based Metabolomic Analysis of Normal and Inflamed Gut. Methods Mol Biol. 2016;1422:63-75 Authors: Kao DJ, Lanis JM, Alexeev E, Kominsky DJ Abstract The idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are multifactorial chronic conditions that result in numerous perturbations of metabolism in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Thus, methodologies for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of small molecule metabolites in mucosal tissues are important for further elucidation of mechanisms driving inflammation and the metabolic consequences of inflammation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a ubiquitous analytical technique that can be adapted for both targeted and non-targeted metabolomic analysis. Here, protocols for reversed-phase (RP) HPLC-based methods using two different detection modalities are presented. Ultraviolet detection is used for the analysis of adenine nucleotide metabolites, whereas electrochemical detection is used for the analysis of multiple amino acid metabolites. These methodologies provide platforms for further characterization of the metabolic changes that occur during gastrointestinal inflammation. PMID: 27246023 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Proteomic and metabolomic changes driven by elevating myocardial creatine suggest novel metabolic feedback mechanisms.

Thu, 14/12/2017 - 13:09
Related Articles Proteomic and metabolomic changes driven by elevating myocardial creatine suggest novel metabolic feedback mechanisms. Amino Acids. 2016 Aug;48(8):1969-81 Authors: Zervou S, Yin X, Nabeebaccus AA, O'Brien BA, Cross RL, McAndrew DJ, Atkinson RA, Eykyn TR, Mayr M, Neubauer S, Lygate CA Abstract Mice over-expressing the creatine transporter have elevated myocardial creatine levels [Cr] and are protected against ischaemia/reperfusion injury via improved energy reserve. However, mice with very high [Cr] develop cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. To investigate these contrasting effects, we applied a non-biased hypothesis-generating approach to quantify global protein and metabolite changes in the LV of mice stratified for [Cr] levels: wildtype, moderately elevated, and high [Cr] (65-85; 100-135; 160-250 nmol/mg protein, respectively). Male mice received an echocardiogram at 7 weeks of age with tissue harvested at 8 weeks. RV was used for [Cr] quantification by HPLC to select LV tissue for subsequent analysis. Two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis identified differentially expressed proteins, which were manually picked and trypsin digested for nano-LC-MS/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed efficient group separation (ANOVA P ≤ 0.05) and peptide sequences were identified by mouse database (UniProt 201203) using Mascot. A total of 27 unique proteins were found to be differentially expressed between normal and high [Cr], with proteins showing [Cr]-dependent differential expression, chosen for confirmation, e.g. α-crystallin B, a heat shock protein implicated in cardio-protection and myozenin-2, which could contribute to the hypertrophic phenotype. Nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR at 700 MHz) identified multiple strong correlations between [Cr] and key cardiac metabolites. For example, positive correlations with α-glucose (r² = 0.45; P = 0.002), acetyl-carnitine (r² = 0.50; P = 0.001), glutamine (r² = 0.59; P = 0.0002); and negative correlations with taurine (r² = 0.74; P < 0.0001), fumarate (r² = 0.45; P = 0.003), aspartate (r² = 0.59; P = 0.0002), alanine (r² = 0.66; P < 0.0001) and phosphocholine (r² = 0.60; P = 0.0002). These findings suggest wide-ranging and hitherto unexpected adaptations in substrate utilisation and energy metabolism with a general pattern of impaired energy generating pathways in mice with very high creatine levels. PMID: 27143170 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

metabolomics; +24 new citations

Wed, 13/12/2017 - 15:45
24 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2017/12/13PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +24 new citations

Wed, 13/12/2017 - 12:44
24 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2017/12/13PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +16 new citations

Tue, 12/12/2017 - 15:29
16 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2017/12/12PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Residual Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events in Relation to Reductions in Very-Low-Density Lipoproteins.

Mon, 11/12/2017 - 14:28
Residual Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Events in Relation to Reductions in Very-Low-Density Lipoproteins. J Am Heart Assoc. 2017 Dec 09;6(12): Authors: Lawler PR, Akinkuolie AO, Harada P, Glynn RJ, Chasman DI, Ridker PM, Mora S Abstract BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether pharmacological reductions in very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), and their component triglyceride and cholesterol could reduce residual risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events among individuals in whom low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been adequately lowered. We examined whether individuals with greater on-statin reductions in VLDL-related measures-beyond reductions in LDL-C-were at further reduced risk of ASCVD. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 9423 participants in the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention) trial (NCT00239681), at baseline and on statin we measured standard lipids, 400-MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-measured VLDL particle subclasses (small, medium, and large VLDL lipoprotein particle concentration), and total VLDL cholesterol mass. Compared with individuals allocated to placebo, we examined risk of incident ASCVD (N=211) among statin-allocated participants who achieved minimal (<median) or greater (≥median) marker reductions using adjusted Cox models. On-statin changes in VLDL-related markers were only modestly correlated (Spearman r≤0.29) with change in LDL-C. On-statin median LDL-C was 54 mg/dL and triglyceride was 101 mg/dL. Dose-response reductions in ASCVD risk were observed for greater reductions in LDL-C, VLDL cholesterol mass, and small VLDL lipoprotein particle concentration; the latter 2 remained significant after incremental adjustment for change in LDL-C (P≤0.006). Conversely, there was no further risk reduction with greater reductions in triglycerides or large/medium VLDL lipoprotein particle concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological reduction in small, cholesterol-enriched, triglyceride-depleted VLDL was associated with reduction in ASCVD risk. Chemically measured triglycerides may not sufficiently capture risk related to VLDL pathways. These findings also support broader profiling of lipid and lipoprotein changes in response to statins as prognostic markers of individual benefit, supporting more precision-medicine, individualized approaches to cardiovascular risk reduction. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00239681. PMID: 29223956 [PubMed - in process]

A metabolomics strategy to assess the combined toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs).

Mon, 11/12/2017 - 14:28
A metabolomics strategy to assess the combined toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Environ Pollut. 2017 Dec 07;234:572-580 Authors: Wang F, Zhang H, Geng N, Ren X, Zhang B, Gong Y, Chen J Abstract The combined toxicity of mixed chemicals is usually evaluated according to several specific endpoints, and other potentially toxic effects are disregarded. In this study, we provided a metabolomics strategy to achieve a comprehensive understanding of toxicological interactions between mixed chemicals on metabolism. The metabolic changes were quantified by a pseudotargeted analysis, and the types of combined effects were quantitatively discriminated according to the calculation of metabolic effect level index (MELI). The metabolomics strategy was used to assess the combined effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) on the metabolism of human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Our data suggested that exposure to a combination of PAHs and SCCPs at human internal exposure levels could result in an additive effect on the overall metabolism, whereas diverse joint effects were observed on various metabolic pathways. The combined exposure could induce a synergistic up-regulation of phospholipid metabolism, an additive up-regulation of fatty acid metabolism, an additive down-regulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis, and an antagonistic effect on purine metabolism. SCCPs in the mixture acted as the primary driver for the acceleration of phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism. Lipid metabolism disorder caused by exposure to a combination of PAHs and SCCPs should be an important concern for human health. PMID: 29223814 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Isolated mangiferin and naringenin exert antidiabetic effect via PPARγ/GLUT4 dual agonistic action with strong metabolic regulation.

Mon, 11/12/2017 - 14:28
Isolated mangiferin and naringenin exert antidiabetic effect via PPARγ/GLUT4 dual agonistic action with strong metabolic regulation. Chem Biol Interact. 2017 Dec 06;: Authors: Singh AK, Raj V, Keshari AK, Rai A, Kumar P, Rawat A, Maity B, Kumar D, Prakash A, De A, Samanta A, Bhattacharya B, Saha S Abstract In this study, we isolated two compounds from the leaves of Salacia oblonga (SA1, mangiferin and SA2, naringenin), and their structures were confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. SA1 and SA2 were orally administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at 50 and 100 mg/kg daily for 15 days. Blood glucose level, serum lipid profile, oxidative stress parameters, histopathology, docking, molecular parameters, and NMR-based metabolic perturbation studies were performed to investigate the pharmacological activities of SA1 and SA2. Results suggested that both compounds reduced blood glucose level, restored body weight, and normalized lipid concentrations in the serum and oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver and pancreas. In addition, the docking study on several diabetes-associated targets revealed that both compounds had a strong binding affinity towards peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). Further real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed to confirm the gene and protein expression levels of PPARγ and GLUT4 in the pancreatic tissues. Data obtained from the molecular studies showed that both compounds exhibited antidiabetic effects through dual activation of PPARγ/GLUT4 signaling pathways. Finally, the NMR-based metabolic studies showed that both compounds normalized the diabetogenic metabolites in the serum. Altogether, we concluded that SA1 and SA2 might be potential antidiabetic lead compounds for future drug development. PMID: 29223569 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Caffeine - rich infusion from Cola nitida (kola nut) inhibits major carbohydrate catabolic enzymes; abates redox imbalance; and modulates oxidative dysregulated metabolic pathways and metabolites in Fe2+-induced hepatic toxicity.

Mon, 11/12/2017 - 14:28
Caffeine - rich infusion from Cola nitida (kola nut) inhibits major carbohydrate catabolic enzymes; abates redox imbalance; and modulates oxidative dysregulated metabolic pathways and metabolites in Fe2+-induced hepatic toxicity. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 Dec 06;: Authors: Erukainure OL, Oyebode OA, Sokhela MK, Koorbanally NA, Islam MS Abstract The antioxidative and antidiabetic effects and toxicity of caffeine-rich infusion of Cola nitida were investigated using in vitro, ex vivo and in silico models. C. nitida was infused in boiling water and allowed to cool before concentrating at <50°C. HPLC analysis of the infusion revealed a caffeine content of 80.08%. The infusion showed potent in vitro antioxidant activity by significantly (p<0.05) scavenging 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). It significantly (p<0.05) inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities. Treatment of Fe2+ induced oxidative hepatic tissues with the infusion led to increase Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and glutathione (GSH) level as well as decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level. FTIR spectroscopy of hepatic metabolite revealed restoration of oxidative-induced depleted functional groups by the infusion. LC-MS analysis of the metabolite also revealed restoration of most depleted metabolites with concomitant generation of 4-O-Methylgallic, (-)-Epicatechin sulfate, L-Arginine, L-tyrosine, Citric acid and Decanoic acid in infusion-treated tissues. Pathway analysis of the identified metabolites revealed the presence of 21 metabolic pathways involved in normal hepatic tissues, 12 in oxidative injured tissues and 17 in the treated tissues. Treatment with the infusion restored 4 metabolic pathways common to the normal tissue and further activated 4 additional pathways. Prediction of oral toxicity of caffeine showed it to belong to class 3, with a LD50 of 127mg/kg. Its toxicity target was predicted as Adenosine Receptor A2a. It was also predicted to be an inhibitor of CYP1A2. These results suggest the antioxidative and antidiabetic properties of C. nitida infusion, with caffeine as the major constituent. PMID: 29223552 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Left-Ventricular Assist Device Impact on Aortic Valve Mechanics, Proteomics and Ultrastructure.

Mon, 11/12/2017 - 14:28
Left-Ventricular Assist Device Impact on Aortic Valve Mechanics, Proteomics and Ultrastructure. Ann Thorac Surg. 2017 Dec 06;: Authors: Stephens EH, Han J, Trawick EA, Di Martino ES, Akkiraju H, Brown LM, Connell JP, Grande-Allen KJ, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Takayama H Abstract BACKGROUND: Aortic regurgitation is a prevalent, detrimental complication of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The altered hemodynamics of LVADs results in aortic valves (AVs) having distinct mechanical stimulation. Our hypothesis was that the altered AV hemodynamics modulates the valve cells and matrix, resulting in changes in valvular mechanical properties that then can lead to regurgitation. METHODS: AVs were collected from 16 LVAD and 6 non-LVAD patients at time of heart transplant. Standard demographic and preoperative data were collected and comparisons between the two groups were calculated using standard statistical methods. Samples were analyzed using biaxial mechanical tensile testing, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, and transmission electron microscopy to assess ultrastructure. RESULTS: The maximum circumferential leaflet strain in LVAD patients was less than in non-LVAD patients (0.35 ± 0.10MPa versus 0.52 ± 0.18 MPa, p = 0.03) with a trend of reduced radial strain (p = 0.06) and a tendency for the radial strain to decrease with increasing LVAD duration (p = 0.063). Numerous proteins associated with actin and myosin, immune signaling and oxidative stress, and transforming growth factor β were increased in LVAD patients. Ultrastructural analysis showed a trend of increased fiber diameter in LVAD patients (46.2 ± 7.2 nm versus 45.1 ± 6.9 nm, p = 0.10), but no difference in fiber density. CONCLUSIONS: AVs in LVAD patients showed decreased compliance and increased expression of numerous proteins related to valve activation and injury compared to non-LVAD patients. Further knowledge of AV changes leading to regurgitation in LVAD patients and the pathways by which they occur may provide an opportunity for interventions to prevent and/or reverse this detrimental complication. PMID: 29223417 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Metabolic Model Reconstruction and Analysis of an Artificial Microbial Ecosystem.

Sun, 10/12/2017 - 13:37
Related Articles Metabolic Model Reconstruction and Analysis of an Artificial Microbial Ecosystem. Methods Mol Biol. 2018;1716:219-238 Authors: Ye C, Xu N, Chen X, Liu L Abstract Microbial communities are widespread in the environment, and to isolate and identify species or to determine relations among microorganisms, some 'omics methods like metagenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have been used. When combined with various 'omics data, models known as artificial microbial ecosystems (AME) are powerful methods that can make functional predictions about microbial communities. Reconstruction of an AME model is the first step for model analysis. Many techniques have been applied to the construction of AME models, e.g., the compartmentalization approach, community objectives method, and dynamic analysis approach. Of these approaches, species compartmentalization is the most relevant to genetics. Besides, some algorithms have been developed for the analysis of AME models. In this chapter, we present a general protocol for the use of the species compartmentalization method to reconstruct a model of microbial communities. Then, the analysis of an AME is discussed. PMID: 29222756 [PubMed - in process]

Tail domain of the Aspergillus fumigatus class V myosin orchestrates septal localization and hyphal growth.

Sun, 10/12/2017 - 13:37
Related Articles Tail domain of the Aspergillus fumigatus class V myosin orchestrates septal localization and hyphal growth. J Cell Sci. 2017 Dec 08;: Authors: Renshaw H, Vargas-Muñiz JM, Juvvadi PR, Richards AD, Waitt G, Soderblom EJ, Moseley MA, Steinbach WJ Abstract Myosins are critical motor proteins that contribute to the secretory pathway, polarized growth, and cytokinesis. The globular tail domains of class V myosins have been shown to be important for cargo binding and actin cable organization. Additionally, phosphorylation plays a role in class V myosin cargo choice. Our previous studies on the class V myosin, MyoE, in the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus confirmed its requirement for normal morphology and virulence. However, the domains and molecular mechanisms governing MyoE's function remain unknown. Here, by analyzing tail mutants we demonstrate that the tail is required for radial growth, conidiation, septation frequency, and MyoE localization at the septum. Furthermore, MyoE is phosphorylated at multiple residues in vivo; however, alanine substitution mutants revealed that no single phosphorylated residue was critical. Importantly, in the absence of the phosphatase calcineurin, an additional residue was phosphorylated in its tail domain. Mutation of this tail residue led to mislocalization of MyoE from the septa. This work reveals the importance of the MyoE tail domain and its phosphorylation/dephosphorylation in the growth and morphology of A. fumigatus. PMID: 29222113 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Plasma protein profiling of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas as potential precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer.

Sun, 10/12/2017 - 13:37
Related Articles Plasma protein profiling of patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas as potential precursor lesions of pancreatic cancer. Clin Chim Acta. 2017 Dec 05;: Authors: Ilies M, Sappa PK, Iuga CA, Loghin F, Salazar MG, Weiss FU, Beyer G, Lerch MM, Völker U, Mayerle J, Hammer E Abstract Efforts for the early diagnosis of the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have recently been driven to one of the precursor lesions, namely intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN). Only a few studies have focused on IPMN molecular biology and its overall progression to cancer. Therefore, IPMN lacks comprehensive characterization which makes its clinical management controversial. In this study, we characterized plasma proteins in the presence of IPMNs in comparison to healthy controls, chronic pancreatitis, and PDAC by a proteomics approach using data-independent acquisition based mass spectrometry. We describe several protein sets that could aid IPMN diagnosis, but also differentiation of IPMN from healthy controls, as well as from benign and malignant diseases. Among all, high levels of carbonic anhydrases and hemoglobins were characteristic for the IPMN group. By employing ELISA based quantification we validated our results for human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1). We consider IPMN management directed towards an early potential cancer development a crucial opportunity before PDAC initiation and thus its early detection and cure. PMID: 29221926 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Yale school of public health symposium on lifetime exposures and human health: the exposome; summary and future reflections.

Sun, 10/12/2017 - 13:37
Related Articles Yale school of public health symposium on lifetime exposures and human health: the exposome; summary and future reflections. Hum Genomics. 2017 Dec 08;11(1):32 Authors: Johnson CH, Athersuch TJ, Collman GW, Dhungana S, Grant DF, Jones DP, Patel CJ, Vasiliou V Abstract The exposome is defined as "the totality of environmental exposures encountered from birth to death" and was developed to address the need for comprehensive environmental exposure assessment to better understand disease etiology. Due to the complexity of the exposome, significant efforts have been made to develop technologies for longitudinal, internal and external exposure monitoring, and bioinformatics to integrate and analyze datasets generated. Our objectives were to bring together leaders in the field of exposomics, at a recent Symposium on "Lifetime Exposures and Human Health: The Exposome," held at Yale School of Public Health. Our aim was to highlight the most recent technological advancements for measurement of the exposome, bioinformatics development, current limitations, and future needs in environmental health. In the discussions, an emphasis was placed on moving away from a one-chemical one-health outcome model toward a new paradigm of monitoring the totality of exposures that individuals may experience over their lifetime. This is critical to better understand the underlying biological impact on human health, particularly during windows of susceptibility. Recent advancements in metabolomics and bioinformatics are driving the field forward in biomonitoring and understanding the biological impact, and the technological and logistical challenges involved in the analyses were highlighted. In conclusion, further developments and support are needed for large-scale biomonitoring and management of big data, standardization for exposure and data analyses, bioinformatics tools for co-exposure or mixture analyses, and methods for data sharing. PMID: 29221465 [PubMed - in process]

Physiological effects caused by microcystin-producing and non-microcystin producing Microcystis aeruginosa on medaka fish: A proteomic and metabolomic study on liver.

Sat, 09/12/2017 - 13:23
Physiological effects caused by microcystin-producing and non-microcystin producing Microcystis aeruginosa on medaka fish: A proteomic and metabolomic study on liver. Environ Pollut. 2017 Dec 05;234:523-537 Authors: Le Manach S, Sotton B, Huet H, Duval C, Paris A, Marie A, Yépremian C, Catherine A, Mathéron L, Vinh J, Edery M, Marie B Abstract Cyanobacterial blooms have become a common phenomenon in eutrophic freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Microcystis is an important bloom-forming and toxin-producing genus in continental aquatic ecosystems, which poses a potential risk to Human populations as well as on aquatic organisms. Microcystis is known to produce along with various bioactive peptides, the microcystins (MCs) that have attracted more attention notably due to their high hepatotoxicity. To better understand the effects of cyanobacterial blooms on fish, medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) were sub-chronically exposed to either non-MC-producing or MC-producing living strains and, for this latter, to its subsequent MC-extract of Microcystis aeruginosa. Toxicological effects on liver have been evaluated through the combined approach of histopathology and 'omics' (i.e. proteomics and metabolomics). All treatments induce sex-dependent effects at both cellular and molecular levels. Moreover, the modalities of exposure appear to induce differential responses as the direct exposure to the cyanobacterial strains induce more acute effects than the MC-extract treatment. Our histopathological observations indicate that both non-MC-producing and MC-producing strains induce cellular impairments. Both proteomic and metabolomic analyses exhibit various biological disruptions in the liver of females and males exposed to strain and extract treatments. These results support the hypothesis that M. aeruginosa is able to produce bioactive peptides, other than MCs, which can induce toxicological effects in fish liver. Moreover, they highlight the importance of considering cyanobacterial cells as a whole to assess the realistic environmental risk of cyanobacteria on fish. PMID: 29220784 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Fully Automated Pipetting Sorting System for Different Morphological Phenotypes of Zebrafish Embryos.

Sat, 09/12/2017 - 13:23
Fully Automated Pipetting Sorting System for Different Morphological Phenotypes of Zebrafish Embryos. SLAS Technol. 2017 Dec 01;:2472630317745780 Authors: Breitwieser H, Dickmeis T, Vogt M, Ferg M, Pylatiuk C Abstract Systems biology methods, such as transcriptomics and metabolomics, require large numbers of small model organisms, such as zebrafish embryos. Manual separation of mutant embryos from wild-type embryos is a tedious and time-consuming task that is prone to errors, especially if there are variable phenotypes of a mutant. Here we describe a zebrafish embryo sorting system with two cameras and image processing based on template-matching algorithms. In order to evaluate the system, zebrafish rx3 mutants that lack eyes due to a patterning defect in brain development were separated from their wild-type siblings. These mutants show glucocorticoid deficiency due to pituitary defects and serve as a model for human secondary adrenal insufficiencies. We show that the variable phenotypes of the mutant embryos can be safely distinguished from phenotypic wild-type zebrafish embryos and sorted from one petri dish into another petri dish or into a 96-well microtiter plate. On average, classification of a zebrafish embryo takes approximately 1 s, with a sensitivity and specificity of 87% to 95%, respectively. Other morphological phenotypes may be classified and sorted using similar techniques. PMID: 29220613 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pages