A peptide encoded by a transcript annotated as long noncoding RNA enhances SERCA activity in muscle.

Muscle contraction depends on release of Ca(2+) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and reuptake by the Ca(2+)adenosine triphosphatase SERCA. We discovered a putative muscle-specific long noncoding RNA that encodes a peptide of 34 amino acids and that we named dwarf open reading frame (DWORF). DWORF localizes to the SR membrane, where it enhances SERCA activity by displacing the SERCA inhibitors, phospholamban, sarcolipin, and myoregulin.

Muscle as a "mediator" of systemic metabolism.

Skeletal and cardiac muscles play key roles in the regulation of systemic energy homeostasis and display remarkable plasticity in their metabolic responses to caloric availability and physical activity. In this Perspective we discuss recent studies highlighting transcriptional mechanisms that govern systemic metabolism by striated muscles. We focus on the participation of the Mediator complex in this process, and suggest that tissue-specific regulation of Mediator subunits impacts metabolic homeostasis.

Higher natriuretic peptide levels associate with a favorable adipose tissue distribution profile.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the association between natriuretic peptides and body fat distribution in a multiethnic cohort.

Background: Natriuretic peptides stimulate lipolysis, reduce weight gain, and promote adipocyte browning in animal models, but data are lacking in humans.

Methods: A total of 2,619 participants without heart failure in the Dallas Heart Study underwent measurements of 1) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); and 2) body fat distribution by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging.

A distinct region of the murine IFN-gamma promoter is hypomethylated from early T cell development through mature naive and Th1 cell differentiation, but is hypermethylated in Th2 cells.

Reports on the status of DNA methylation of the IFN-gamma gene during T cell development in human and mouse have presented somewhat contradictory results. In this study we demonstrate in the mouse that methylation of the IFN-gamma promoter inhibits its transcriptional activity, and define a small hypomethylated region in T cells that correlates with transcription. The IFN-gamma promoter was also hypomethylated in NK cells, but not in B cells or nonhemopoietic tissues.