Search results for "amino-acids"

Costs and Benefits of Experimentally Induced Changes in the Allocation of Growth versus Immune Function under Differential Exposure to Ectoparasites

2010

Background Ecological immunology has focused on the costs of investment in immunocompetence. However, understanding optimal resource allocation to immune defence requires also identification of its benefits, which are likely to occur only when parasites are abundant. Methodology We manipulated the abundance of parasitic hen fleas in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nests, and supplemented their hosts, the nestlings, with methionine (a sulphur amino acid enhancing cell-mediated immunity) during day 3–6. We found a significant interaction between these two experimental factors on the development of immune defences and growth rates. Only in parasitized nests did methionine supplementation boost …

Direct Sensing of Nutrients via a LAT1-like Transporter in Drosophila Insulin-Producing Cells

2016

Summary Dietary leucine has been suspected to play an important role in insulin release, a hormone that controls satiety and metabolism. The mechanism by which insulin-producing cells (IPCs) sense leucine and regulate insulin secretion is still poorly understood. In Drosophila, insulin-like peptides (DILP2 and DILP5) are produced by brain IPCs and are released in the hemolymph after leucine ingestion. Using Ca2+-imaging and ex vivo cultured larval brains, we demonstrate that IPCs can directly sense extracellular leucine levels via minidiscs (MND), a leucine transporter. MND knockdown in IPCs abolished leucine-dependent changes, including loss of DILP2 and DILP5 in IPC bodies, consistent wit…

Diastereoselective synthesis of 6-functionalized 4-aryl-1,3-oxazinan-2-ones and their application in the synthesis of 3-aryl-1,3-aminoalcohols and 6-…

2010

Abstract Halocyclocarbamation of benzyl N -(1-phenyl-3-butenyl)carbamates afforded 6-functionalized 4-aryl-1,3-oxazinan-2-ones with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity depending on the N -substituent. Importantly, in contrast to reported cyclocarbamations of homoallylic carbamates, which are generally trans -diastereoselective, cyclization of N -unsubstituted Cbz-protected homoallylamines led to cis -1,3-oxazinan-2-ones, predominantly. The use of N -benzylated and in situ prepared N -silylated derivatives resulted however in trans -selectivity. Transition states are proposed to explain the stereochemical influence of the N -substituent on the cyclocarbamations. The functionalized 1,3…

The synthesis of fluorinated heteroaromatic compounds. Part 2. Five-membered rings with two heteroatoms. A review

2007

INHIBITION OF FATTY ACID DESATURASES INDrosophila melanogasterLARVAE BLOCKS FEEDING AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESSION

2016

International audience; Fatty acid desaturases are metabolic setscrews. To study their systemic impact on growth in Drosophila melanogaster, we inhibited fatty acid desaturases using the inhibitor CAY10566. As expected, the amount of desaturated lipids is reduced in larvae fed with CAY10566. These animals cease feeding soon after hatching, and their growth is strongly attenuated. A starvation program is not launched, but the expression of distinct metabolic genes is activated, possibly to mobilize storage material. Without attaining the normal size, inhibitor-fed larvae molt to the next stage indicating that the steroid hormone ecdysone triggers molting correctly. Nevertheless, after moltin…

Xylo-Oligosaccharides in Prevention of Hepatic Steatosis and Adipose Tissue Inflammation: Associating Taxonomic and Metabolomic Patterns in Fecal Mic…

2021

We have shown that prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) increased beneficial gut microbiota (GM) and prevented high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis, but the mechanisms associated with these effects are not clear. We studied whether XOS affects adipose tissue inflammation and insulin signaling, and whether the GM and fecal metabolome explain associated patterns. XOS was supplemented or not with high (HFD) or low (LFD) fat diet for 12 weeks in male Wistar rats (n = 10/group). Previously analyzed GM and fecal metabolites were biclustered to reduce data dimensionality and identify interpretable groups of co-occurring genera and metabolites. Based on our findings, biclustering provides a use…

Arginase activity in the blood of patients with visceral leishmaniasis and HIV infection.

2013

Background Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease associated with high mortality. The most important foci of visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia are in the Northwest and are predominantly associated with high rates of HIV co-infection. Co-infection of visceral leishmaniasis patients with HIV results in higher mortality, treatment failure and relapse. We have previously shown that arginase, an enzyme associated with immunosuppression, was increased in patients with visceral leishmaniasis and in HIV seropositive patients; further our results showed that high arginase activity is a marker of disease severity. Here, we tested the hypothesis that increased arginase activities associated wi…

Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

2020

Treating sarcopenia in older individuals remains a challenge, and nutritional interventions present promising approaches in individuals that perform limited physical exercise. We assessed the efficacy of leucine administration to evaluate whether the regular intake of this essential amino acid can improve muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance and respiratory muscle function in institutionalized older individuals. The study was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind design in fifty participants aged 65 and over (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03831399). The participants were randomized to a parallel group intervention of 13 weeks&rsquo

Temperature-controlled release by changes in the secondary structure of peptides anchored onto mesoporous silica supports

2014

Changes in the conformation of a peptide anchored onto the external surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been used to design novel temperature-controlled delivery systems.

Shipborne measurements of Antarctic submicron organic aerosols: an NMR perspective linking multiple sources and bioregions

2020

Special issue Marine organic matter: from biological production in the ocean toorganic aerosol particles and marine clouds (ACP/OS inter-journalSI).-- 15 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, supplement https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-4193-2020