Hepatocyte-Specific Phgdh-Deficient Mice Culminate in Mild Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Enhanced Vulnerability to Protein Starvation.

l-Serine (Ser) is synthesized de novo from 3-phosphoglycerate via the phosphorylated pathway committed by phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh). A previous study reported that feeding a protein-free diet increased the enzymatic activity of Phgdh in the liver and enhanced Ser synthesis in the rat liver. However, the nutritional and physiological functions of Ser synthesis in the liver remain unclear. To clarify the physiological significance of de novo Ser synthesis in the liver, we generated liver hepatocyte-specific Phgdh KO (LKO) mice using an albumin-Cre driver. The LKO mice exhibited a significant gain in body weight compared to Floxed controls at 23 weeks of age and impaired systemic glucose metabolism, which was accompanied by diminished insulin/IGF signaling. Although LKO mice had no apparent defects in steatosis, the molecular signatures of inflammation and stress responses were evident in the liver of LKO mice. Moreover, LKO mice were more vulnerable to protein starvation than the Floxed mice. These observations demonstrate that Phgdh-dependent de novo Ser synthesis in liver hepatocytes contributes to the maintenance of systemic glucose tolerance, suppression of inflammatory response, and resistance to protein starvation.

Enhanced vulnerability to oxidative stress and induction of inflammatory gene expression in 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase-deficient fibroblasts.

l-Serine (l-Ser) is a necessary precursor for the synthesis of proteins, lipids, glycine, cysteine, d-serine, and tetrahydrofolate metabolites. Low l-Ser availability activates stress responses and cell death; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. l-Ser is synthesized de novo from 3-phosphoglycerate with 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) catalyzing the first reaction step. Here, we show that l-Ser depletion raises intracellular H2O2 levels and enhances vulnerability to oxidative stress in Phgdh-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. These changes were associated with reduced total glutathione levels. Moreover, levels of the inflammatory markers thioredoxin-interacting protein and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 were upregulated under l-Ser-depleted conditions; this was suppressed by the addition of N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Thus, intracellular l-Ser deficiency triggers an inflammatory response via increased oxidative stress, and de novo l-Ser synthesis suppresses oxidative stress damage and inflammation when the external l-Ser supply is restricted.

Soy peptide ingestion augments the synthesis and metabolism of noradrenaline in the mouse brain.

To examine whether edible peptide intake affects neurotransmitter metabolism in the brain, we evaluated the effect of peptides derived from soy proteins or fish collagen on free amino acids and monoamines in the mouse brain. Ingestion of soy peptides led to markedly higher levels of tyrosine, a catecholamine precursor, in the serum, and cerebral cortex compared to those following ingestion of vehicle alone or collagen peptides. Soy peptide ingestion also effectively increased 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and normetanephrine, the principal metabolites of noradrenaline, in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and brainstem, whereas collagen peptides did not exert such effects. Further, soy peptide ingestion led to a significant increase in noradrenaline itself in the brainstem, where noradrenergic neurons are present. Noradrenergic turnover was also markedly stimulated in these regions after soy peptide ingestion. These in vivo observations suggest that soy peptide ingestion can maintain and promote the synthesis and metabolism of noradrenaline in the brain.

The Dipeptides Ile-Tyr and Ser-Tyr Exert Distinct Effects on Catecholamine Metabolism in the Mouse Brainstem.

Catecholamine synthesis and transmission in the brain are influenced by the availability of Tyr in the body. In this study, we compared the effects of oral administration of Tyr-containing dipeptides Ile-Tyr, Ser-Tyr, and Tyr-Pro with Tyr alone on catecholamine metabolism in the mouse brainstem. Among these dipeptides, Ile-Tyr administration led to increases in dopamine, the dopamine metabolites homovanillic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, compared to administration of Ser-Tyr, Tyr-Pro, or Tyr alone. In comparison, administration of Ser-Tyr induced significantly increasing noradrenaline turnover, while Tyr-Pro administration suppressed dopamine turnover. Therefore, oral administration of Ile-Tyr, Ser-Tyr, and Tyr-Pro differentially affected metabolism of dopamine and noradrenaline. These observations strongly suggest that Tyr-containing dipeptides exert distinct effects on catecholamine metabolism in the brainstem when ingested orally.

Orally administrated dipeptide Ser-Tyr efficiently stimulates noradrenergic turnover in the mouse brain.

In this study, we examined the effect of orally administrated dipeptides containing Tyr (Y) on the metabolism of catecholamines in mouse brains. We found that among eight synthetic dipeptides whose sequences are present frequently in soy proteins, Ser-Tyr (SY), Ile-Tyr, and Tyr-Pro had the highest apparent permeability coefficients in monolayers of human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. When administrated orally, SY markedly increased tyrosine content in the cerebral cortex compared to the vehicle control, Ile-Tyr, Tyr-Pro, and Y alone. The oral administration of SY more effectively increased 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol, the principal metabolite of noradrenaline, in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus than did Ile-Tyr, Tyr-Pro, or Y alone. Central noradrenergic turnover was also markedly stimulated by SY administration. These in vivo observations strongly suggest that SY is more potent in boosting central catecholamine transmission, particularly the noradrenergic system, than Y alone or other dipeptides that include Y.

Rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of various fluorine-containing alkynes--novel synthesis of multi-substituted fluoroalkylated aromatic compounds.

Treatment of various fluorinated internal alkynes with 10 mol% of RhCl(3).H(2)O and 30 mol% of i-Pr(2)NEt in toluene at the reflux temperature for 18 h gave the corresponding trimerization products as an isomeric mixture in high yields. Cycloaddition using 1.0 equiv. of fluorinated alkynes and 2.0 equiv. of non-fluorinated alkynes under the same reaction conditions as in the trimerization led to mono- and bis-fluoroalkylated benzene derivatives in high yields, together with small amounts of trimerization products. The reaction of fluorine-containing bispropargyl ether with non-fluorinated alkynes took place smoothly to afford the corresponding bicyclic molecules in good to high yields.

Remarkable access to fluoroalkylated trisubstituted alkenes via highly stereoselective cobalt-catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction of fluoroalkylated alkynes.

Hydrosilylation reaction of various fluoroalkylated alkynes with Et(3)SiH in the presence of a catalytic amount of Co(2)(CO)(8) was investigated. The hydrosilylation of the alkynes having fluoroalkyl and aryl groups took place smoothly with good regioselectivity (ca. 80:20). In sharp contrast, the reaction of the alkynes having a fluoroalkyl group and a benzyl-type substituent, or various propargyl alcohols gave the corresponding vinylsilanes in an excellent regio- and stereoselective manner. Treatment of the vinylsilanes with various aldehydes in the presence of Zn(OTf)(2) and TBAF afforded the coupling products in good yields.