The hepatokine FGF21 is crucial for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonist-induced amelioration of metabolic disorders in obese mice.

Obesity causes excess fat accumulation in white adipose tissues (WAT) and also in other insulin-responsive organs such as the skeletal muscle, increasing the risk for insulin resistance, which can lead to obesity-related metabolic disorders. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) is a master regulator of fatty acid oxidation whose activator is known to improve hyperlipidemia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PPARα activator-mediated reduction in adiposity and improvement of metabolic disorders are largely unknown. In this study we investigated the effects of PPARα agonist (fenofibrate) on glucose metabolism dysfunction in obese mice. Fenofibrate treatment reduced adiposity and attenuated obesity-induced dysfunctions of glucose metabolism in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. However, fenofibrate treatment did not improve glucose metabolism in lipodystrophic A-Zip/F1 mice, suggesting that adipose tissue is important for the fenofibrate-mediated amelioration of glucose metabolism, although skeletal muscle actions could not be completely excluded. Moreover, we investigated the role of the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which regulates energy metabolism in adipose tissue. In WAT of WT mice, but not of FGF21-deficient mice, fenofibrate enhanced the expression of genes related to brown adipocyte functions, such as Ucp1, Pgc1a, and Cpt1b Fenofibrate increased energy expenditure and attenuated obesity, whole body insulin resistance, and adipocyte dysfunctions in WAT in high-fat-diet-fed WT mice but not in FGF21-deficient mice. These findings indicate that FGF21 is crucial for the fenofibrate-mediated improvement of whole body glucose metabolism in obese mice via the amelioration of WAT dysfunctions.

An ABC transporter involved in the control of streptomycin production in Streptomyces griseus.

We screened for a gene that inhibits streptomycin production in Streptomyces griseus when it is introduced on a high-copy-number plasmid pIJ702, and obtained a plasmid pKM545. The introduction of pKM545 abolished streptomycin production on all media tested including YMP-sugar and Nutrient broth. S1 protection analysis demonstrated that the introduction of this plasmid downregulated the transcriptional activity of the promoter preceding strR, the pathway-specific transcriptional regulator for streptomycin biosynthesis. The 2.8-kb BamHI fragment cloned onto pKM545 contained two coding sequences SGR_5442 and 5443. These coding sequences and the two downstream ones (SGR_5444 and 5445) constituted a possible operon structure designated to be rspABCD (regulation of streptomycin production). RspB and RspC exhibited a marked similarity with an ATP-binding domain and a membrane-associating domain of an ABC-2 type transporter, respectively, suggesting that the Rsp proteins comprise a membrane exporter. The gene cluster consisting of the rsp operon and the upstream divergent small coding sequence (SGR_5441) was widely distributed to Streptomyces genome. An rspB mutant of S. griseus produced 3-fold streptomycin of the parental strain in YMP liquid medium. The evidence implies that the Rsp translocator is involved in the export of a substance that specifies the expression level of streptomycin biosynthesis genes in S. griseus.

Metabolomics reveal 1-palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine production by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α.

PPARα is well known as a master regulator of lipid metabolism. PPARα activation enhances fatty acid oxidation and decreases the levels of circulating and cellular lipids in obese diabetic patients. Although PPARα target genes are widely known, little is known about the alteration of plasma and liver metabolites during PPARα activation. Here, we report that metabolome analysis-implicated upregulation of many plasma lysoGP species during bezafibrate (PPARα agonist) treatment. In particular, 1-palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine [LPC(16:0)] is increased by bezafibrate treatment in both plasma and liver. In mouse primary hepatocytes, the secretion of LPC(16:0) increased on PPARα activation, and this effect was attenuated by PPARα antagonist treatment. We demonstrated that Pla2g7 gene expression levels in the murine hepatocytes were increased by PPARα activation, and the secretion of LPC(16:0) was suppressed by Pla2g7 siRNA treatment. Interestingly, LPC(16:0) activates PPARα and induces the expression of PPARα target genes in hepatocytes. Furthermore, we showed that LPC(16:0) has the ability to recover glucose uptake in adipocytes induced insulin resistance. These results reveal that LPC(16:0) is induced by PPARα activation in hepatocytes; LPC(16:0) contributes to the upregulation of PPARα target genes in hepatocytes and the recovery of glucose uptake in insulin-resistant adipocytes.

Is estrogen effective for full-thickness cutaneous wound healing in young male mice?

The aim of this study is to show the effects of estrogen upon its topical application on the wound healing process in young male mice. Fifty-six male mice aged 7 weeks old were divided into 4 groups: sham operation, castration, estrogen treatment after sham operation, and estrogen treatment after castration. Wound healing was observed daily until day 14 after wounding. Specimens were harvested on days 3, 7, 10, and 14, and stained to evaluate reepithelialization, inflammation, contraction, and collagenaccumulation. Wound healing periods of all groups were almost the same, although the concentration of serum estrogen in the estrogen-applied mice was very high, and that in the nonapplied groups was low. The numbers of macrophages in the castrated, estrogen-treated after sham operation, and estrogen-treated after castration groups were significantly decreased compared with that in the sham group in the inflammatory phase; however, the ratio of wound area in these groups did not decrease, and other histological data did not reveal any effects of estrogen. These results indicate that estrogen may show limited effectiveness for full-thickness cutaneous wound healing in young male mice, and decreased inflammation may not always be associated with decreased wound area. .

Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and construction of an SSR-based linkage map in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.).

In order to develop simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in Italian ryegrass, we constructed a genomic library enriched for (CA)n-containing SSR repeats. A total of 1,544 clones were sequenced, of which 1,044 (67.6%) contained SSR motifs, and 395 unique clones were chosen for primer design. Three hundred and fifty-seven of these clones amplified products of the expected size in both parents of a two-way pseudo-testcross F(1) mapping population, and 260 primer pairs detected genetic polymorphism in the F(1) population. Genetic loci detected by a total of 218 primer pairs were assigned to locations on seven linkage groups, representing the seven chromosomes of the haploid Italian ryegrass karyotype. The SSR markers covered 887.8 cM of the female map and 795.8 cM of the male map. The average distance between two flanking SSR markers was 3.2 cM. The SSR markers developed in this study will be useful in cultivar discrimination, linkage analysis, and marker-assisted selection of Italian ryegrass and closely related species.

Isolation, characterization and mapping of simple sequence repeat markers in zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.).

The genus Zoysia consists of 16 species that are naturally distributed on sea coasts and grasslands around the Pacific. Of these, Zoysia japonica, Zoysia matrella, and Zoysia tenuifolia are grown extensively as turfgrasses, and Z. japonica is also used as forage grass in Japan and other countries in East Asia. To develop simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.), we used four SSR-enriched genomic libraries to isolate 1,163 unique SSR clones. All four libraries contained a high percentage of perfect clones, ranging from 67.1 to 96.0%, and compound clones occurred with higher frequencies in libraries A (28.6%) and D (11.6%). From these clones, we developed 1,044 SSR markers when we tested all 1,163 SSR primer pairs. Using all 1,044 SSR markers, we tested one screening panel consisting of eight Zoysia clones for testing PCR amplifications, from which five unrelated clones, among the eight, were used for polymorphism assessment, and found that the polymorphic information content ranged from 0 (monomorphic loci) to 0.88. Of the 1,044 SSR markers, 170 were segregated in our mapping population and we mapped 161 on existing amplified fragment length polymorphism-based linkage groups, using this mapping population. These SSR markers will provide an ideal marker system to assist with gene targeting, quantitative trait locus mapping, variety or species identification, and marker-assisted selection in Zoysia species.

Development of EST-derived CAPS and AFLP markers linked to a gene for resistance to ryegrass blast (Pyricularia sp.) in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.).

Ryegrass blast, also called gray leaf spot, is caused by the fungus Pyricularia sp. It is one of the most serious diseases of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in Japan. We analyzed segregation of resistance in an F(1) population from a cross between a resistant and a susceptible cultivar. The disease severity distribution in the F(1) population suggested that resistance was controlled by a major gene (Lm Pi1). Analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphisms with bulked segregant analysis identified several markers tightly linked to Lm Pi1. To identify other markers linked to Lm Pi1, we used expressed sequence tag-cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (EST-CAPS) markers mapped in a reference population of Italian ryegrass. Of the 30 EST-CAPS markers screened, one marker, p 56, flanking the Lm Pi1 locus was found. The restriction pattern of p 56 amplification showed a unique fragment corresponding to the resistant allele at the Lm Pi1 locus. A linkage map constructed from the reference population showed that the Lm Pi1 locus was located in linkage group 5 of Italian ryegrass. Genotype results obtained from resistant and susceptible cultivars indicate that the p 56 marker is useful for introduction of the Lm Pi1 gene into susceptible germ plasm in order to develop ryegrass cultivars with enhanced resistance to ryegrass blast.

A two-generation reproductive toxicity study of diethyl phthalate (DEP) in rats.

A two-generation reproductive toxicity study was performed to evaluate the effects of diethyl phthalate on parental reproductive performance, including features of the endocrine system and development and growth of offspring at dietary dose levels of 0, 600, 3000 and 15000 ppm. In F0 and F1 parents, no treatment-related adverse effects were observed in clinical findings, body weights, food consumption, reproductive parameters, and gross or histopathological findings in any treated group. Increased liver weights and enhanced activities of metabolic enzymes were observed in F0 males at 15000 ppm. F0 males also exhibited an increase in the content of CYP3A2, a cytochrome P450 isozyme, at 15000 ppm, and a decrease in the levels of serum testosterone at 3000 and 15000 ppm, suggesting sex steroid metabolism might be changed. However, these were not considered adverse effects because the degree of change was too slight to affect the reproductive capability to produce progeny. Body weight gains before weaning were inhibited in F1 and F2 pups and vaginal opening was slightly delayed in F1 females at 15000 ppm. No changes were observed in the reproductive performance. Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) from this study is considered to be 15000 ppm for parental animals, and 3000 ppm for development and growth of the pups.

Construction of a high-density linkage map of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) using restriction fragment length polymorphism, amplified fragment length polymorphism, and telomeric repeat associated sequence markers.

To construct a high-density molecular linkage map of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam), we used a two-way pseudo-testcross F1 population consisting of 82 individuals to analyze three types of markers: restriction fragment length polymorphism markers, which we detected by using genomic probes from Italian ryegrass as well as heterologous anchor probes from other species belonging to the Poaceae family, amplified fragment length polymorphism markers, which we detected by using PstI/MseI primer combinations, and telomeric repeat associated sequence markers. Of the restriction fragment length polymorphism probes that we generated from a PstI genomic library, 74% (239 of 323) of randomly selected probes detected hybridization patterns consistent with single-copy or low-copy genetic locus status in the screening. The 385 (mostly restriction fragment length polymorphism) markers that we selected from the 1226 original markers were grouped into seven linkage groups. The maps cover 1244.4 cM, with an average of 3.7 cM between markers. This information will prove useful for gene targeting, quantitative trait loci mapping, and marker-assisted selection in Italian ryegrass.