Project description:Adipose tissue is a major target of GH action. GH stimulates lipolysis and reduces fat mass. The molecular mechanism underlying cellular and metabolic effects of GH in adipose tissue is not well understood. The aim of this study is to identify GH-responsive genes that regulate lipid metabolism in adipose tissue. Eight men with GH deficiency underwent measurement of plasma free fatty acid (FFA), whole body lipid oxidation and fat biopsies before and after one month of GH treatment (0.5mg/day). Gene expression profiling was performed using Agilent 44K G4112F arrays utilising a two-colour design. Differentially expressed genes were identified using an empirical Bayes, moderate t-test, with a false discovery rate of < 5%. Genes involved in GH receptor signalling, lipolysis, triglyceride biosynthesis, adipocyte differentiation and function were analysed. Target genes were validated by quantitative RT-PCR. GH increased circulating IGF-I and FFA and stimulated fat oxidation. A total of 246 genes were differentially expressed, of which 135 were up-regulated and 111 down-regulated. GH enhanced adipose tissue expression of IGF-I and SOCS3. It did not change expression of key enzymes governing lipolysis, but differentially regulated genes promoting diacylglycerol syntheses. GH repressed hydroxysteroid (11-beta) dehydrogenase 1, which activates local cortisol production, and genes encoding components of extracellular matrix that regulate inflammation. GH induced concordant change in circulating IGF-I and expression in adipose tissue. GH stimulation of lipolysis is mediated at a translational and/or post-translational level. GH suppressed genes encoding local factors regulating adipocyte differentiation, function and inflammation.
Project description:BackgroundThe importance of the accessory enzymes such as α-L-arabinofuranosidases (AFases) in synergistic interactions within cellulolytic mixtures has introduced a paradigm shift in the search for hydrolytic enzymes. The aim of this study was to characterize novel AFase genes encoding enzymes with differing temperature optima and thermostabilities for use in hydrolytic cocktails.ResultsThree fosmids, pFos-H4, E3 and D3 were selected from the cloned metagenome of high temperature compost, expressed in Escherichia coli and subsequently purified to homogeneity from cell lysate. All the AFases were clustered within the GH51 AFase family and shared a homo-hexameric structure. Both AFase-E3 and H4 showed optimal activity at 60 °C while AFase-D3 had unique properties as it showed optimal activity at 25 °C as well as the ability to maintain substantial activity at temperatures as high as 90 °C. However, AFase-E3 was the most thermostable amongst the three AFases showing full activity even at 70 °C. The maximum activity was observed at a pH profile between pH 4.0-6.0 for all three AFases with optimal activity for AFase H4, D3 and E3 at pH 5.0, 4.5 and 4.0, respectively. All the AFases showed KM range between 0.31 mM and 0.43 mM, Kcat range between 131 s- 1 and 219 s- 1 and the specific activity for AFase-H4, AFases-E3 and was 143, 228 and 175 U/mg, respectively. AFases-E3 and D3 displayed activities against pNP-β-L-arabinopyranoside and pNP-β-L-mannopyranoside respectively, and both hydrolysed pNP-β-D-glucopyranoside.ConclusionAll three AFases displayed different biochemical characteristics despite all showing conserved overall structural similarity with typical domains of AFases belonging to GH51 family. The hydrolysis of cellobiose by a GH51 family AFase is demonstrated for the first time in this study.
Project description:The ?-glucosidase encoded by the td2f2 gene was isolated from a compost microbial metagenomic library by functional screening. The protein was identified to be a member of the glycoside hydrolase family 1 and was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and biochemically characterized. The recombinant ?-glucosidase, Td2F2, exhibited enzymatic activity with ?-glycosidic substrates, with preferences for glucose, fucose, and galactose. Hydrolysis occurred at the nonreducing end and in an exo manner. The order of catalytic efficiency for glucodisaccharides and cellooligosaccharides was sophorose > cellotetraose > cellotriose > laminaribiose > cellobiose > cellopentaose > gentiobiose, respectively. Intriguingly, the p-nitrophenyl-?-D-glucopyranoside hydrolysis activity of Td2F2 was activated by various monosaccharides and sugar alcohols. At a D-glucose concentration of 1000 mM, enzyme activity was 6.7-fold higher than that observed in the absence of D-glucose. With 31.3 mM D-glucose, Td2F2 catalyzed transglycosylation to generate sophorose, laminaribiose, cellobiose, and gentiobiose. Transglycosylation products were detected under all activated conditions, suggesting that the activity enhancement induced by monosaccharides and sugar alcohols may be due to the transglycosylation activity of the enzyme. These results show that Td2F2 obtained from a compost microbial metagenome may be a potent candidate for industrial applications.
Project description:Enzymatic depolymerization of recalcitrant polysaccharides plays a key role in accessing the renewable energy stored within lignocellulosic biomass, and natural biodiversities may be explored to discover microbial enzymes that have evolved to conquer this task in various environments. Here, a metagenome from a thermophilic microbial community was mined to yield a novel, thermostable cellulase, named mgCel6A, with activity on an industrial cellulosic substrate (sulfite-pulped Norway spruce) and a glucomannanase side activity. The enzyme consists of a glycoside hydrolase family 6 catalytic domain (GH6) and a family 2 carbohydrate binding module (CBM2) that are connected by a linker rich in prolines and threonines. MgCel6A exhibited maximum activity at 85°C and pH 5.0 on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), but in prolonged incubations with the industrial substrate, the highest yields were obtained at 60°C, pH 6.0. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated a Tm(app) of 76°C. Both functional data and the crystal structure, solved at 1.88 Å resolution, indicate that mgCel6A is an endoglucanase. Comparative studies with a truncated variant of the enzyme showed that the CBM increases substrate binding, while not affecting thermal stability. Importantly, at higher substrate concentrations the full-length enzyme was outperformed by the catalytic domain alone, underpinning previous suggestions that CBMs may be less useful in high-consistency bioprocessing.
Project description:A novel esterase, EstCS1, was isolated from a compost metagenomics library. The EstCS1 protein, which consists of 309 amino acid residues with an anticipated molecular mass of 34 kDa, showed high amino acid sequence identities to predicted esterases and alpha/beta hydrolases (59%) from some cultured bacteria and to predicted lipases/esterases from uncultured bacteria. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that the EstCS1 belongs to the hormone-sensitive lipase family of lipolytic enzyme classification and contains a catalytic triad including Ser155-Asp255-His285. The Ser155 residue of the catalytic triad in the EstCS1 was located in the consensus active-site motif, GXSXG. Besides, a conserved HGGG motif placed in an oxyanion hole of the hormone-sensitive lipase family was discovered, too. The EstCS1 demonstrated the highest activity toward p-nitrophenyl propionate (C3) and caproate (C6) and was normally stable up to 60°C with optimal activity at 50°C. In addition, an optimal activity was observed at pH 8, and the EstCS1 possessed its stability within the pH range between 5 and 10. Interestingly, EstCS1 had an outstanding stability in up to 30% (v/v) organic solvents and activity over 50% in the presence of 50% (v/v) acetone, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and N,N-dimethylformamide. The EstCS1 hydrolyzed sterically hindered tertiary alcohol esters of t-butyl acetate and linalyl acetate. Considering the properties, such as the moderate thermostability, stability against organic solvents, and activity toward esters of tertiary alcohols, the EstCS1 will be worthwhile to be used for organic synthesis and related industrial applications.
Project description:Objective Circulating plasma miRNAs have been increasingly studied in the field of pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET) research. Our aim was to discover circulating plasma miRNAs species associated with growth hormone (GH) secreting PitNETs and assess how the plasma levels of discovered miRNA candidates are impacted by SSA therapy and whether there is a difference in their levels between GH secreting PitNETs and other PitNET types. Methods miRNA candidates were discovered using the whole miRNA sequencing approach and differential expression analysis. Selected miRNAs were then analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results Whole miRNA sequencing discovered a total of 19 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in GH secreting PitNET patients' plasma 24 hours after surgery and 19 DEMs between GH secreting PitNET patients’ plasma and non-functioning (NF) PitNET patients’ plasma. Seven miRNAs were selected for further testing of which miR-625-5p, miR-503-5p miR-181a-2-3p and miR-130b-3p showed a significant downregulation in plasma after 1 month of SSA treatment. miR-181a-5p and mir-625-5p were also found to be significantly downregulated in plasma of GH secreting PitNET patients vs. NF PitNET patients. Conclusions Our study suggests that expression of plasma miRNAs miR-625-5p, miR-503-5p miR-181a-2-3p and miR-130b-3p in GH secreting PitNETs is affected by SSA treatment. Additionally, miR-625-5p and miR-181a-5p can distinguish GH secreting PitNETs from other PitNET types warranting further research on these miRNAs for treatment efficacy.
Project description:Using an oligonucleotide-based microarray analysis to study the expression of special genes in tbx5 morphants, we demonstrated that GH and some GH-related genes were markedly downregulated.
Project description:We generated h-hepatocyte chimeric mice with livers that were predominantly repopulated with h-hepatocytes in a h-growth hormone (GH)-deficient state. Using microarray profiles, comparison between h-hepatocytes from h-GH-treated and untreated mice identified 14 GH-up-regulated and four GH-down-regulated genes, including IGF-1, SOCS2, NNMT, IGFLS, P4AH1, SLC16A1, and SRD5A1, and FADS1 and AKR1B10, respectively.