Draft Genome Sequence of Novosphingobium sp. Strain MBES04, Isolated from Sunken Wood from Suruga Bay, Japan.

This report describes the draft genome sequence of Novosphingobium sp. strain MBES04, isolated from sunken wood from Suruga Bay, Japan, which is capable of degrading a wide range of lignin-related aromatic monomers. The draft genome sequence contains 5,361,448 bp, with a G+C content of 65.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate are ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) are widely used anionic surfactants in household, industrial, and institutional cleaners. Although there are many reports of their toxic effects, few studies have focused on the pharmacological properties of these surfactants. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ is a transcriptional factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily.

Honokiol enhances adipocyte differentiation by potentiating insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Adipose tissue plays an essential role in energy homeostasis as a metabolic and endocrine organ. Accordingly, adipocytes are emerging as a major drug target for obesity and obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Dysfunction of enlarged adipocytes in obesity is involved in obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome.

Artepillin C, as a PPARγ ligand, enhances adipocyte differentiation and glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells.

The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ plays an important role in adipocyte differentiation. Its ligands, including thiazolidinediones, improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. We investigated the effects of artepillin C, an ingredient of Baccharis dracunculifolia, on adipogenesis and glucose uptake using 3T3-L1 cells.

Honokiol increases ABCA1 expression level by activating retinoid X receptor beta.

ABCA1, a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family, regulates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and reverses cholesterol transport. Its expression is upregulated mainly by the activation of the liver X receptor (LXR), retinoid X receptor (RXR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). To identify natural compounds that can upregulate ABCA1 expression, we developed a reporter assay using U251-MG (human glioma cell line) cells that stably express a human ABCA1 promoter-luciferase and performed a cell-based high-throughput screening of 118 natural compounds.