The Role of Transposable Elements in Sexual Development.

Up to 50% of most mammalian genomes are made up of transposable elements (TEs) that have the potential to mobilize around the genome. Despite this prevalence, research on TEs is only beginning to gain traction within the field of neuroscience. While TEs have long been regarded as "junk" or parasitic DNA, it has become evident that they are adaptive DNA and RNA regulatory elements. In addition to their vital role in normal development, TEs can also interact with steroid receptors, which are key elements to sexual development. In this review, we provide an overview of the involvement of TEs in processes related to sexual development- from TE activity in the germline to TE accumulation in sex chromosomes. Moreover, we highlight sex differences in TE activity and their regulation of genes related to sexual development. Finally, we speculate on the epigenetic mechanisms that may govern TEs' role in sexual development. In this context, we emphasize the need to further the understanding of sexual development through the lens of TEs including in a variety of organs at different developmental stages, their molecular networks, and evolution.

Glutamate in Male and Female Sexual Behavior: Receptors, Transporters, and Steroid Independence.

The survival of animal species predicates on the success of sexual reproduction. Neurotransmitters play an integral role in the expression of these sexual behaviors in the brain. Here, we review the role of glutamate in sexual behavior in rodents and non-rodent species for both males and females. These encompass the release of glutamate and correlations with glutamate receptor expression during sexual behavior. We then present the effects of glutamate on sexual behavior, as well as the effects of antagonists and agonists on different glutamate transporters and receptors. Following that, we discuss the potential role of glutamate on steroid-independent sexual behavior. Finally, we demonstrate the interaction of glutamate with other neurotransmitters to impact sexual behavior. These sexual behavior studies are crucial in the development of novel treatments of sexual dysfunction and in furthering our understanding of the complexity of sexual diversity. In the past decade, we have witnessed the burgeoning of novel techniques to study and manipulate neuron activity, to decode molecular events at the single-cell level, and to analyze behavioral data. They pose exciting avenues to gain further insight into future sexual behavior research. Taken together, this work conveys the essential role of glutamate in sexual behavior.

The relationship of red meat with cancer: Effects of thermal processing and related physiological mechanisms.

Red meat is consumed globally and plays an important role in the Western diet. Its consumption is however linked with various types of diseases. This review focuses on the relationship of red meat with cancer, its dependency on the thermal processing methodology and the subsequent physiological effects. The epidemiological evidence is discussed, followed by introduction of the species that were hypothesized to contribute to these carcinogenic effects including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), N-nitroso compounds (NOCs), heme iron, and macromolecular oxidation products. Their carcinogenic mechanisms were then addressed with further emphasis on the involvement of inflammation and oxidative stress. The thermal processing dependency of the carcinogen generation and the partially elucidated carcinogenic mechanism both represent doorways of opportunities available for the scientific manipulation of their impact after human consumption, to minimize the cancer risks associated with red meat.

The impact of beef steak thermal processing on lipid oxidation and postprandial inflammation related responses.

Oxidised lipid species, their bioavailability and impact on inflammatory responses from cooked beef steak are poorly characterised. Oxidised lipid species from pan-fried (PF) and sous-vide (SV) thermally processed beef were determined with UHPLC-ESI/MS. Twenty-three lipid oxidation products increased with thermal processing and differences between the PF and SV steaks were measured. Fifteen oxidised lipids were measured in post-meal plasma after a cross-over randomised clinical study. Postprandial plasma inflammatory markers tended to remain lower following the SV meal than the PF meal. High levels of conjugated dienes were measured in the HDL fraction, suggesting that the protective effect of HDL may extend to the reverse-transport of oxidised lipid species. Oxidised lipids in a single meal may influence postprandial oxidative stress and inflammation. Further studies are required to examine the lipid oxidative responses to increased dietary oxidative lipid load, including the reverse transport activity of HDL.

Withdrawn: MicroRNAs as potential regulators of docosahexaenoic acid benefits in Alzheimer's disease.

Withdrawal: We regret that it has become necessary to withdraw this article published online ahead of print on the 14th March 2015 in Nutritional Neuroscience. At the time of publication, the author of this paper was no longer a registered student at the the University of Auckland and the paper was published without the University's permission. The Editor and publisher acted in good faith on the basis of the information available at the time of acceptance and remain committed to the highest ethical and scientific standards in the peer review and publication of submissions.

Post- harvest consideration factors for microRNA research in cellular, tissue, serum and plasma samples.

MicroRNA plays important regulatory roles on the genetic network which provides researchers with valuable novel mechanistic directions and perspectives for applications in a wide variety of fields. Despite pertinent insight gained from messenger RNA, microRNAs possess distinct biochemical properties that emphasize the need for independent research to be conducted that addresses specifically microRNA handling. This review provides a brief summary on the various factors at post-sample harvesting stages with focus on microRNA from cellular, tissue, plasma and serum samples. It incorporates an up-to-date discussion on the isolation methods, quality control, profiling methods and other post-harvesting factors in microRNA research.