Loss of glucose-stimulated β-cell Nr4a1 expression impairs insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis.

A central aspect of type 2 diabetes is decreased functional β-cell mass. The orphan nuclear receptor Nr4a1 is critical for fuel utilization, but little is known regarding its regulation and function in the β-cell. Nr4a1 expression is decreased in type 2 diabetes rodent β-cells and type 2 diabetes patient islets.

CEBPA Overexpression Enhances β-Cell Proliferation and Survival.

A commonality between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is the decline in functional β-cell mass. The transcription factor Nkx6.1 regulates β-cell development and is integral for proper β-cell function.

Diversity and conservation of the genome architecture of phages infecting the Alphaproteobacteria.

This study reports the results of the largest analysis of genome sequences from phages that infect the Alphaproteobacteria class of bacterial hosts. We analyzed over 100 whole genome sequences of phages to construct dotplots, categorize them into genetically distinct clusters, generate a bootstrapped phylogenetic tree, compute protein orthologs, and predict packaging strategies. We determined that the phage sequences primarily cluster by the bacterial host family, phage morphotype, and genome size.

Cocoa extract exerts sex-specific anti-diabetic effects in an aggressive type-2 diabetes model: A pilot study.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Cocoa may slow T2D development and progression. This study employed male and female BTBR.

Potential of Phenolic Compounds and Their Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites to Reduce TMA Formation: Application of an Fermentation High-Throughput Screening Model.

Trimethylamine -oxide (TMAO) is a pro-atherosclerotic product of dietary choline metabolism generated by a microbiome-host axis. The first step in this pathway is the enzymatic metabolism of choline to trimethylamine (TMA) by the gut microbiota. This reaction could be targeted to reduce atherosclerosis risk.

Identification of direct transcriptional targets of NFATC2 that promote β cell proliferation.

The transcription factor NFATC2 induces β cell proliferation in mouse and human islets. However, the genomic targets that mediate these effects have not been identified. We expressed active forms of Nfatc2 and Nfatc1 in human islets.

Function of Nr4a Orphan Nuclear Receptors in Proliferation, Apoptosis and Fuel Utilization Across Tissues.

The Nr4a family of nuclear hormone receptors is composed of three members-Nr4a1/Nur77, Nr4a2/Nurr1 and Nr4a3/Nor1. While currently defined as ligandless, these transcription factors have been shown to regulate varied processes across a host of tissues. Of particular interest, the Nr4a family impinge, in a tissue dependent fashion, on cellular proliferation, apoptosis and fuel utilization.

Genome Sequences of Nine Erwinia amylovora Bacteriophages.

Erwinia amylovora is a plant pathogen belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, a family containing many plant and animal pathogens. Herein, we announce nine genome sequences of E. amylovora bacteriophages isolated from infected apple trees along the Wasatch Front in Utah.

Common gut microbial metabolites of dietary flavonoids exert potent protective activities in β-cells and skeletal muscle cells.

Flavonoids are dietary compounds with potential anti-diabetes activities. Many flavonoids have poor bioavailability and thus low circulating concentrations. Unabsorbed flavonoids are metabolized by the gut microbiota to smaller metabolites, which are more bioavailable than their precursors.