Search results for "Biosynthesis"
showing 10 items of 523 documents
Gut microbiota steroid sexual dimorphism and its impact on gonadal steroids: influences of obesity and menopausal status
2020
[Background]: Gonadal steroid hormones have been suggested as the underlying mechanism responsible for the sexual dimorphism observed in metabolic diseases. Animal studies have also evidenced a causal role of the gut microbiome and metabolic health. However, the role of sexual dimorphism in the gut microbiota and the potential role of the microbiome in influencing sex steroid hormones and shaping sexually dimorphic susceptibility to disease have been largely overlooked. Although there is some evidence of sex-specific differences in the gut microbiota diversity, composition, and functionality, the results are inconsistent. Importantly, most of these studies have not taken into account the go…
Roles of sedentary aging and lifelong physical activity in exchange of glutathione across exercising human skeletal muscle.
2014
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important signaling molecules with regulatory functions, and in young and adult organisms, the formation of ROS is increased during skeletal muscle contractions. However, ROS can be deleterious to cells when not sufficiently counterbalanced by the antioxidant system. Aging is associated with accumulation of oxidative damage to lipids, DNA, and proteins. Given the pro-oxidant effect of skeletal muscle contractions, this effect of age could be a result of excessive ROS formation. We evaluated the effect of acute exercise on changes in blood redox state across the leg of young (23±1 years) and older (66±2 years) sedentary humans by measuring the whole blood co…
The Drosophila Cystoblast Differentiation Factor, benign gonial cell neoplasm, Is Related to DExH-box Proteins and Interacts Genetically With bag-of-…
2000
Abstract Selection of asymmetric cell fates can involve both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Previously we have identified the bag-of-marbles (bam) gene as an intrinsic factor for cystoblast fate in Drosophila germline cells and shown that it requires active product from the benign gonial cell neoplasm (bgcn) gene. Here we present the cloning and characterization of bgcn. The predicted Bgcn protein is related to the DExH-box family of RNA-dependent helicases but lacks critical residues for ATPase and helicase functions. Expression of the bgcn gene is extremely limited in ovaries but, significantly, bgcn mRNA is expressed in a very limited number of germline cells, including the stem cells.…
mRNA levels for α-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase and fibrillar collagens in immobilized rat skeletal muscle
1999
There is evidence that immobilization causes a decrease in total collagen synthesis in skeletal muscle within a few days. In this study, early immobilization effects on the expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH) and the main fibrillar collagens at mRNA and protein levels were investigated in rat skeletal muscle. The right hindlimb was immobilized in full plantar flexion for 1, 3, and 7 days. Steady-state mRNAs for α- and β-subunits of PH and type I and III procollagen, PH activity, and collagen content were measured in gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles. Type I and III procollagen mRNAs were also measured in soleus and tibialis anterior muscles. The mRNA level for the PH α-subunit decreas…
Molecular cloning and characterization of the cDNA encoding the rat liver gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase
1999
Carnitine biosynthesis from lysine and methionine involves five enzymatic reactions. gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBH; EC 1.14. 11.1) is the last enzyme of this pathway. It catalyzes the reaction of hydroxylation of gamma-butyrobetaine to carnitine. The cDNA encoding this enzyme has been isolated and characterized. The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1161 bp encoding a protein of 387 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 44.5 kDa. The sequence of the cDNA showed an important homology with the human cDNA recently isolated. Northern analysis showed gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase expression in the liver and in some extend in the testis and the epididymis. During this stud…
Co-adaptation of pheromone production and behavioural responses in Drosophila melanogaster males
1999
0016-6723 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; In Drosophila melanogaster, male courtship behaviour is genetically controlled and is influenced by sex pheromones. 7-tricosene (7-T) induces a dose-dependent inhibition of male-male courtship, whereas 7,11-dienes stimulate male courtship of females. There is a geographical quantitative variation in the production of two predominant male hydrocarbons, 7-T and 7-pentacosene (7-P). We have previously found that 7-P, the main hydrocarbon from males of West African strains, stimulates males that mainly produce 7-T. Using both 'natural' and genetically engineered strains, we find that genetic factors coding for low levels of 7-P…
Production, regeneration and biochemical precursors of the major components of the defensive secretion of Eurycotis floridana (Dictyoptera, polyzoste…
2000
0965-1748 (Print) Journal Article; The defensive secretion of the cockroach Eurycotis floridana contains three main components, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenol and (E)-2-hexenoic acid, which represented about 98% of the organic phase. The quantity of the aldehyde, alcohol, and acid present in the defensive secretion increased rapidly for 60 days from the imaginal moult. Following artificial discharge, the males were able to regenerate their initial volume of secretion over a 30 day period. To investigate the possible routes of biosynthesis of the three components, E. floridana was injected with 14C-labeled fatty acids and acetate, and the incorporation of 14C into the three components were qua…
Genetic elimination of known pheromones reveals the fundamental chemical bases of mating and isolation in Drosophila
1999
Overexpression of the UAS-tra transgene in Drosophila melanogaster females led to the complete elimination of their cuticular pheromones. According to current models of Drosophila behavior, these flies should induce no courtship. In fact, they are still attractive to conspecific males. Three classes of stimuli are shown to induce courtship, with different effects on male behavior: ( i ) known pheromones produced by control females, ( ii ) stimuli produced by living control and transgenic flies, and ( iii ) as-yet-undetermined pheromones present on both control and transgenic flies. Only the latter class of pheromones are required for mating. They appear to represent a layer of ancestral at…
Studies on the Biosynthesis of Microsomal Membrane Proteins. Site of Synthesis and Mode of Insertion of Cytochrome b5, Cytochrome b5 Reductase, Cytoc…
1982
The site of synthesis and mechanism of insertion into membranes of several microsomal polypeptides was studied using translation system programmed in vitro with polysomes or with mRNA extracted from free and membrane-bound rat liver polysomes. Primary translation products of cytochrome b5, NADH: cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase, NADPH: cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase and epoxide hydrolase were isolated by specific immunoprecipitation and compared with the mature proteins. The following observations were made: 1 While cytochrome b5 and NADH: cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase are synthesized in free polysomes, NADPH: cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase and epoxide hydrolase are made in membrane-bound poly…
The invariant chains of mouse class II antigens: biochemical properties and molecular relationship
1984
The proteins p40 (Mr = 40 000), p32 (Mr = 32 000), p28 (Mr = 28 000), p20 (Mr = 20 000) and p10 (Mr = 10 000) are described which occur in noncovalent association with the polymorphic alpha, beta heterodimer of class II antigens. They were investigated with respect to their molecular characteristics and their mutual structural relationship. p32, the predominant species of this group corresponds to the invariant chain gamma (Ii). In contrast to the polymorphic subunits alpha and beta, proteins p40, p28, p20 and p10 migrated like gamma in electrophoretically constant positions, when class II molecules of different subregions and different alleles were assessed by two-dimensional gel electroph…