Identification of novel genes associated with exercise and calorie restriction effects in skeletal muscle.

Exercise and caloric restriction (CR) significantly increase longevity across a range of species and delay aging-related losses in organ function. Although both interventions enhance skeletal muscle function, the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations are unknown. We sought to identify genes regulated by CR and exercise in muscle, and investigate their relationship with muscle function.

Circulating plasma factors involved in rejuvenation.

Aging is defined as a time-dependent functional decline that occurs in many physiological systems. This decline is the primary risk factor for prominent human pathologies such as cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Aging and age-related diseases have multiple causes.

A subset of microRNAs in the Dlk1-Dio3 cluster regulates age-associated muscle atrophy by targeting Atrogin-1.

Background: The microRNAs (miRNAs) down-regulated in aged mouse skeletal muscle were mainly clustered within the delta-like homologue 1 and the type III iodothyronine deiodinase (Dlk1-Dio3) genomic region. Although clustered miRNAs are coexpressed and regulate multiple targets in a specific signalling pathway, the function of miRNAs in the Dlk1-Dio3 cluster in muscle aging is largely unknown. We aimed to ascertain whether these miRNAs play a common role to regulate age-related muscle atrophy.

Plasma proteomic profiling of young and old mice reveals cadherin-13 prevents age-related bone loss.

The blood exhibits a dynamic flux of proteins that are secreted by the tissues and cells of the body. To identify novel aging-related circulating proteins, we compared the plasma proteomic profiles of young and old mice using tandem mass spectrometry. The expression of 134 proteins differed between young and old mice.

Comparative molecular analysis of endurance exercise in vivo with electrically stimulated in vitro myotube contraction.

Exercise has positive effects on health and improves a variety of disease conditions. An in vitro model of exercise has been developed to better understand its molecular mechanisms. While various conditions have been used to mimic in vivo exercise, no specific conditions have matched a specific type of in vivo exercise.

Comprehensive miRNA Profiling of Skeletal Muscle and Serum in Induced and Normal Mouse Muscle Atrophy During Aging.

Age-associated loss of muscle mass and function is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly adults. Muscular atrophy can also be induced by disuse associated with long-term bed rest or disease. Although miRNAs regulate muscle growth, regeneration, and aging, their potential role in acute muscle atrophy is poorly understood.

Vasodilatory effects of cinnamic acid via the nitric oxide-cGMP-PKG pathway in rat thoracic aorta.

Cinnamic acid (CA) and its derivatives have a broad therapeutic spectrum that includes antimicrobial, antifungal, and antitumoral activities. However, the vasodilative effect of CA has not been demonstrated. The present study characterizes the vasodilative activity and the mechanism of CA in rat thoracic aorta.

AtCPL5, a novel Ser-2-specific RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain phosphatase, positively regulates ABA and drought responses in Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphatases regulate stress-responsive gene expression and plant development via the dephosphorylation of serine (Ser) residues of the CTD. Some of these phosphatases (CTD phosphatase-like 1 (CPL1) to CPL3) negatively regulate ABA and stress responses. Here, we isolated AtCPL5, a cDNA encoding a protein containing two CTD phosphatase domains (CPDs).

Arabidopsis SCP1-like small phosphatases differentially dephosphorylate RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain.

RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain (pol II CTD) phosphatases that can dephosphorylate both Ser2-PO(4) and Ser5-PO(4) of CTD have been identified in animals and yeasts, however, only Ser5-PO(4)-specific CTD phosphatases have been identified in plants. Among predicted Arabidopsis SCP1-like small phosphatases (SSP), SSP4, SSP4b, and SSP5 form a unique group with long N-terminal extensions. While SSPs' expression showed similar tissue-specificities, SSP4 and SSP4b were localized exclusively in the nuclei, whereas SSP5 accumulated in both nuclei and cytoplasm.

Functional characterization of pathogen-responsive protein AtDabb1 with an antifungal activity from Arabidopsis thaliana.

A plant antifungal protein was purified from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves by using a typical procedure consisting of anion exchange chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. We determined the amino acid sequence of the purified protein using MALDI-TOF/MS analysis, and found that the sequence matched that of a hypothetical Arabidopsis protein in GenBank (accession number NP_175547). We designated the protein as AtDabb1.

The Arabidopsis thaliana carboxyl-terminal domain phosphatase-like 2 regulates plant growth, stress and auxin responses.

More than 20 genes in the Arabidopsis genome encode proteins similar to phosphatases that act on the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. One of these CTD-phosphatase-like (CPL) proteins, CPL2, dephosphorylates CTD-Ser5-PO4 in an intact RNA polymerase II complex and contains a double-stranded (ds)-RNA-binding motif (DRM). Although the dsRNA-binding activity of CPL2 DRM has not been shown to date, T-DNA insertion mutants that express CPL2 variants lacking either a part of DRM (cpl2-1) or the entire DRM (cpl2-2) exhibited leaf expansion defects, early flowering, low fertility, and increased salt sensitivity.

Salt tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana requires maturation of N-glycosylated proteins in the Golgi apparatus.

Protein N-glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in the Golgi apparatus is an essential process in eukaryotic cells. Although the N-glycosylation pathway in the ER has been shown to regulate protein quality control, salt tolerance, and cellulose biosynthesis in plants, no biological roles have been linked functionally to N-glycan modifications that occur in the Golgi apparatus. Herein, we provide evidence that mutants defective in N-glycan maturation, such as complex glycan 1 (cgl1), are more salt-sensitive than wild type.

Molecular and functional characterization of monocot-specific Pex5p splicing variants, using OsPex5pL and OsPex5pS from rice (Oryza sativa).

We identified two alternatively spliced variants of the peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1) receptor protein Pex5ps in monocot (rice, wheat, and barley) but not in dicot (Arabidopsis and tobacco) plants. We characterized the molecular and functional differences between the rice (Oryza sativa) Pex5 splicing variants OsPex5pL and OsPex5pS. There is only a single-copy of OsPEX5 in the rice genome and RT-PCR analysis points to alternative splicing of the transcripts.