FGF21 acts in the brain to drive macronutrient-specific changes in behavioral motivation and brain reward signaling.

Objective: Dietary protein restriction induces adaptive changes in food preference, increasing protein consumption over carbohydrates or fat. We investigated whether motivation and reward signaling underpin these preferences.

Methods And Results: In an operant task, protein-restricted male mice responded more for liquid protein rewards, but not carbohydrate, fat, or sweet rewards compared to non-restricted mice.

FGF21 acts in the brain to drive macronutrient-specific changes in behavioral motivation and brain reward signaling.

Dietary protein restriction induces adaptive changes in food preference, increasing protein consumption over carbohydrates or fat. We investigated whether motivation and reward signaling underpin these preferences. In an operant task, protein-restricted male mice responded more for liquid protein rewards, but not carbohydrate, fat, or sweet rewards compared to non-restricted mice.

FGF21 as a mediator of adaptive changes in food intake and macronutrient preference in response to protein restriction.

Free-feeding animals navigate complex nutritional landscapes in which food availability, cost, and nutritional value can vary markedly. Animals have thus developed neural mechanisms that enable the detection of nutrient restriction, and these mechanisms engage adaptive physiological and behavioral responses that limit or reverse this nutrient restriction. This review focuses specifically on dietary protein as an essential and independently defended nutrient.

A structural basis for the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a widespread environmental pollutant of the perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) class that is extremely resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation, leading to bioaccumulation. PFOA exposure has been linked to many health effects including endocrine disruption and metabolic dysregulation, but our understanding of the molecular mechanisms resulting in these outcomes remains incomplete. One target affected by PFOA is the ligand regulated nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) which plays a critical role in controlling metabolic homeostasis through regulating processes such as adipogenesis, glucose homeostasis, inflammation and osteogenesis.

Biochemical and characterization of glycosyltransferases from red sweet cherry ( L.) reveals their broad specificity toward phenolic substrates.

Polyphenolic compounds are a class of phytonutrients that play important roles in plants and contribute to human health when incorporated into our diet through fruit consumption. A large proportion occur as glycoconjugates but the enzymes responsible for their glycosylation are poorly characterized. Here, we report the biochemical and structural characterization of two glycosyltransferases from sweet cherry named UGT1 and UGT2.