The Bryozoan Cauloramphus magnus (Cheilostomata: Calloporidae) in Northern Japan Includes Multiple, Co-occurring Cryptic Species.

The cheilostome bryozoan Cauloramphus magnus is common in the rocky intertidal habitat from southeastern Alaska to northern Japan. We examined its phylogeography by analyzing 576 bp of the mitochondrial COI (cox1) gene sequenced for 298 colonies from 16 localities in northern Japan. A maximum-likelihood phylogeny detected three main clades (A, B, C). Clades A and B occurred throughout the study area but differed in frequency, haplotype diversity, and haplotype distribution; each resolved into three divergent subclades (AI-III, BI-III). Clade A shared none among 15 haplotypes between the Pacific and Sea of Japan sides of Hokkaido. In contrast, Clade B (29 haplotypes) was thrice as common as Clade A among samples, with haplotype B28 common on both sides. Divergent Clade C (nine haplotypes) was detected only at Rumoi. K2P divergences of 12.3-28.3% among Clades A-C suggest these are distinct biological species, a conclusion supported by different inferred evolutionary histories. A bPTP species delimitation analysis indicated nine phylogenetic species among the sequences included in our phylogeny (AI-III, BI-III, C, and one specimen each from Alaska and the Commander Islands), with K2P divergences of 3.9-6.5% among subclades in A or B. Statistical and principal components analyses suggested weak morphological differentiation between Clades A + B and C, although overlapping ranges of measurements preclude identification to clade; these three clades are morphologically cryptic. For taxonomy, we suggest retaining the name C. magnus for lineages within this species complex across its range, followed by a clade designation, if known.

A combination of exercise and calorie restriction improves the development of obesity-related type 2 diabetes mellitus in KKAy mice.

We observed that exercise and calorie restriction reduced the body weight and blood glucose levels, concurrently improving insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in obese/diabetic model KKAy mice. Analysis of gene expression in the skeletal muscle showed enhanced mRNA levels of GLUT4 (glucose uptake), ATGL (lipolytic enzyme), and slow-twitch myosin heavy chain, which may contribute to the antiobesity and antidiabetic effects.

Global Distribution and Variation of the Invasive Cheilostome Bryozoan Cribrilina mutabilis.

Viable populations of the cheilostome bryozoan Cribrilina mutabilis Ito, Onishi & Dick exist in the NW Pacific (Russian Far East and northern Japan), NE Atlantic (Scandinavia and Scotland), and NW Atlantic (Maine, USA). The first NE and NW Atlantic records are from Norway (2008) and Casco Bay, Maine, USA (2018), respectively, indicating a relatively recent introduction to the region. Mitochondrial COI gene sequences from North Atlantic populations (Sweden, Norway, and Maine) showed two haplotypes differing by one substitution, but differed from two haplotypes from Akkeshi, northern Japan, by 6-8 substitutions. North Atlantic populations differed morphologically from the Akkeshi population in that some zooids formed a suboral projection, and frontal zooids were more common. While C. mutabilis in northern Japan has been found only on natural or artificial eelgrass (Zostera marina), across its range it has been found on several species of algae, plastic panels and strips, several species of Zostera, and mollusc shells. Similar frequencies of heteromorphic zooids with differing degree of frontal wall calcification, i.e., R (rib)-, I (intermediate)-, and S (shield)-type zooids, in colonies on eelgrass at comparable times of the season and across populations suggest an innate response to seasonal environmental fluctuations, although zooid frequencies were different on non-eelgrass substrates. The increase in trans-Arctic shipping along the Northern Sea Route in recent decades, and previous documentation of C. mutabilis on ship hulls in the Sea of Japan, indicate a clear mechanism for anthropogenic introduction from the Far East to Europe in recent decades.

Screening dataset of food components that enhance transcriptional activity of PGC1-beta.

PGC-1ß is a transcriptional co-activator of nuclear receptors, which acts to increase energy expenditure. PGC-1ß fused to GAL4 DNA-binding domain transfected in HEK293T cells showed a reporter luciferase activity. We screened food-derived and natural compounds using a reporter assay system to measure the transcriptional activity of PGC-1ß. We found that soy-derived isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, and several resveratrols activated PGC-1ß, see "Genistein, daidzein, and resveratrols stimulate PGC-1ß-mediated gene expression" [1]. The list of 166 compounds and their reporter activity is shown here.

Effects of long-term physical exercise on skeletal muscles in senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8).

We examined the effect of long-term exercise on the prevention of sarcopenia using a senescence-accelerated-prone mice (SAMP8) model. Mice were housed in a wheel cage for 25 weeks to increase voluntary exercise. At week 23, endurance running capacity was examined using a treadmill. In a treadmill running test, the wheel cage group had increased endurance running capacity, which suggests that aging-related loss of muscle function was recovered by long-term exercise. Mice were sacrificed and microarray analysis revealed that genes involved in protein synthesis and degradation were upregulated in the skeletal muscles of the wheel cage group, suggesting accelerated protein turnover. Total body and adipose tissue weights decreased following the use of the wheel cage. Thus, long-term, spontaneous physical exercise may assist in recovering from aging-related sarcopenia (loss of muscle function) and obesity.

Genistein, daidzein, and resveratrols stimulate PGC-1ß-mediated gene expression.

PGC-1ß is a transcriptional co-activator of nuclear receptors such as the estrogen receptor-related receptor (ERR). Transgenic overexpression of PGC-1ß in mice increases energy expenditure and suppresses high-fat diet-induced obesity. In this study, we screened various food-derived and natural compounds using a reporter assay system to measure the transcriptional activity of PGC-1ß. Soy-derived isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, and several resveratrols activated PGC-1ß. Genistein, daidzein, and trans-oxyresveratrol activated ERR-responsive element-mediated reporter activity in the presence of PGC-1ß. Stable overexpression of PGC-1ß in C2C12 myoblasts increased the expression of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), an important enzyme in fatty acid ß-oxidation. Genistein and daidzein increased MCAD mRNA levels and mitochondrial content in PGC-1ß-expressing C2C12 cells. These compounds activated ERR/PGC-1ß complex-mediated gene expression, and our findings may be a practical foundation for developing functional foods targeting obesity.

Vitamin D Attenuates FOXO1-Target Atrophy Gene Expression in C2C12 Muscle Cells.

Vitamin D is known to be effective for the prevention of muscle atrophy, such as age-related sarcopenia. However, vitamin D action in skeletal muscle tissue and muscle cells is largely unknown. We previously found that a transcription factor, FOXO1 gene expression, was induced in various muscle atrophy conditions causing muscle atrophy by upregulating atrophy-related genes, including atrogin 1 (ubiquitin ligase) and cathepsin L (lysosomal proteinase). In this study, we found that vitamin D inhibited FOXO1-mediated transcriptional activity in a reporter gene assay. Moreover, vitamin D suppressed the glucocorticoid-induced gene expression of atrogin 1 and cathepsin L in C2C12 myoblasts. Thus, vitamin D may prevent muscle atrophy via the FOXO1-mediated pathway in muscle cells.

Deletion of the transcriptional coactivator PGC1α in skeletal muscles is associated with reduced expression of genes related to oxidative muscle function.

The expression of the transcriptional coactivator PGC1α is increased in skeletal muscles during exercise. Previously, we showed that increased PGC1α leads to prolonged exercise performance (the duration for which running can be continued) and, at the same time, increases the expression of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism-related enzymes and genes that are involved in supplying substrates for the TCA cycle. We recently created mice with PGC1α knockout specifically in the skeletal muscles (PGC1α KO mice), which show decreased mitochondrial content. In this study, global gene expression (microarray) analysis was performed in the skeletal muscles of PGC1α KO mice compared with that of wild-type control mice. As a result, decreased expression of genes involved in the TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and BCAA metabolism were observed. Compared with previously obtained microarray data on PGC1α-overexpressing transgenic mice, each gene showed the completely opposite direction of expression change. Bioinformatic analysis of the promoter region of genes with decreased expression in PGC1α KO mice predicted the involvement of several transcription factors, including a nuclear receptor, ERR, in their regulation. As PGC1α KO microarray data in this study show opposing findings to the PGC1α transgenic data, a loss-of-function experiment, as well as a gain-of-function experiment, revealed PGC1α's function in the oxidative energy metabolism of skeletal muscles.

Cribrilina mutabilis n. sp., an Eelgrass-Associated Bryozoan (Gymnolaemata: Cheilostomata) with Large Variationin Zooid Morphology Related to Life History.

We describe the cribrimorph cheilostome bryozoan Cribrilina mutabilis n. sp., which we detected as an epibiont on eelgrass (Zostera marina) at Akkeshi, Hokkaido, northern Japan. This species shows three distinct zooid types during summer: the R (rib), I (intermediate), and S (shield) types. Evidence indicates that zooids commit to development as a given type, rather than transform from one type to another with age. Differences in the frontal spinocyst among the types appear to be mediated by a simple developmental mechanism, acceleration or retardation in the production of lateral costal fusions as the costae elongate during ontogeny. Colonies of all three types were identical, or nearly so, in partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene (555-631 bp), suggesting that they represent a single species. Zooid types varied temporally in overall frequency in the population: colonies contained nearly exclusively R-type zooids in mid-June; predominantly I-type, or both R- and I-type, zooids in mid-July; and I-type, S-type, or both I- and S-type zooids (interspersed or in discrete bands) in mid- to late August. Reproduction occurred throughout the season, but peaked in July, with only R- and I-type zooids reproducing. Reproductive zooids bear a vestigial compound (tripartite) ooecium and brood internally; S-type zooids, first appearing in August, were non-reproductive, which suggests that they may serve as an overwintering stage. As this species is easily accessible, common, and simple in form, it is potentially useful as a model system for studying polyphenism at multiple levels (zooid, colony, and population) in the context of life-history adaptations.