Retargeting of heterologous enzymes results in improved β-carotene synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Aims: Carotenoids are a class of hydrophobic substances that are important as food and feed colorants and as antioxidants. The pathway for β-carotene synthesis has been expressed in various yeast species, albeit with rather low yields and titers. The inefficient conversion of phytoene to lycopene is often regarded as a bottleneck in the pathway.

Lung Fibrosis Is Linked to Increased Endothelial Cell Activation and Dysfunctional Vascular Barrier Integrity.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) can be a fatal disease characterized by progressive lung scarring. It is still poorly understood how the pulmonary endothelium is involved in the disease pathogenesis. Differences of the pulmonary vasculature between patients and donors were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and single-cell RNA sequencing.

Accelerated high-throughput imaging and phenotyping system for small organisms.

Studying the complex web of interactions in biological communities requires large multifactorial experiments with sufficient statistical power. Automation tools reduce the time and labor associated with setup, data collection, and analysis in experiments that untangle these webs. We developed tools for high-throughput experimentation (HTE) in duckweeds, small aquatic plants that are amenable to autonomous experimental preparation and image-based phenotyping.

Effect of reduced water intake on ovarian reserve, leptin immunoexpression and impact of leptin on the in vitro culture of sheep secondary follicles.

This study evaluated the effect of reduced water intake on survival, apoptosis and immunoexpression of leptin in sheep preantral follicles, activation of primordial follicles, serum levels of leptin, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), and in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes antral follicles, as well evaluated the effects of leptin on in vitro culture of secondary follicles isolated these animals. Ewes (n = 32) were divided into four groups: water ad libitum (Control - 100%), 80%; 60% and 40% of ad libitum intake. Blood was collected to determine, leptin, E2 and P4, before and after experiment.

The endothelium in lung fibrosis: a core signaling hub in disease pathogenesis?

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive chronic lung disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and structural destruction, associated with a severe 5-year mortality rate. The onset of the disease is thought to be triggered by chronic damage to the alveolar epithelium. Since the pulmonary endothelium is an important component of the alveolar-capillary niche, it is also affected by the initial injury.

Protective effect of gallic acid on doxorubicin-induced ovarian toxicity in mouse.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the protective effects of gallic acid against doxorubicin-induced ovarian toxicity in mice, and to verify the possible involvement of PI3K and mTOR signaling pathway members (PTEN, Akt, FOXO3a and rpS6) in the gallic acid protective actions. Mice were pretreated with NaCl (0.15 M, p.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced damage in mouse ovarian tissue via suppressing inflammation, apoptosis, and expression of phosphorylated Akt, FOXO3a and rpS6.

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) against ovarian toxicity in cyclophosphamide-treated mice and to verify the possible involvement of phosphorylated Akt, FOXO3a and rpS6 in the EGCG actions. Mice received saline solution (i.p.

Immunolocalization of melatonin receptor type 1 in the sheep ovary and involvement of the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway in the effects of melatonin on survival and in vitro activation of primordial follicles.

This study characterized the expression of melatonin receptor type 1 (MT ) protein in sheep ovaries, evaluated melatonin effects on primordial follicle survival and development after in vitro culture of ovarian tissue and verified the possible involvement of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/forkhead box O3a (PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a) pathway in the melatonin actions. Ovine ovarian fragments were cultured in α-modified minimum essential medium alone (α-MEM ) or supplemented with 100, 500, or 1000 pg/ml melatonin for 7 days. PI3K inhibition was performed through pretreatment of ovarian fragments with LY294002.

Feeding behavior of post-weaned crossbred steers supplemented in the dry season of the year.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of grazing steers supplemented in the dry season of the year. Thirty-two castrated crossbred (½ Holstein-Zebu) steers with an average initial weight of 378 ± 7.54 kg, aged 14 months, were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with eight replicates.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 promotes activation of cat primordial follicles.

This study evaluated the effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) on the morphology, primordial follicle activation and growth after culture of domestic cat ovarian tissue. Ovaries ( = 12) from prepubertal domestic cats were collected and fragmented. One fragment was fixed for histological analysis (fresh control).

Phenotypic and mutational spectrum of ROR2-related Robinow syndrome.

Robinow syndrome is characterized by a triad of craniofacial dysmorphisms, disproportionate-limb short stature, and genital hypoplasia. A significant degree of phenotypic variability seems to correlate with different genes/loci. Disturbances of the noncanonical WNT-pathway have been identified as the main cause of the syndrome.

Nanoplastic State and Fate in Aquatic Environments: Multiscale Modeling.

We now know that nanoplastics can harm aquatic organisms, but understanding ecological risk starts with understanding fate. We coupled population balance and fugacity models to predict the conditions under which nanoplastics remain as single particles, aggregate, or sediment and to predict their capacity to concentrate organic pollutants. We carried out simulations across a broad range of nanoplastic concentrations, particle sizes, and particle-particle interactions under a range of salinity and organic matter conditions.

Rumen fermentation and metabolic profile of rams fed with diets amended cottonseed cake.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the addition of increasing cottonseed cake contents in the diet. The diets were composed of corn silage (500 g kg) and concentrate feed (500 g kg) on a dry matter (DM) basis. The treatments consisted of the substitution of 0, 140, 280, and 420 g kg soybean meal to cottonseed cake in the DM of concentrate feed.

Melatonin Attenuates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Primordial Follicle Loss by Interaction with MT Receptor and Modulation of PTEN/Akt/FOXO3a Proteins in the Mouse Ovary.

This study evaluated the protective effect of melatonin before cyclophosphamide administration on ovarian function and its potential mechanism in a mouse model. Two studies were performed. In the first, mice were pretreated with melatonin (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg body weight, i.

Rutin promotes activation and reduces apoptosis of primordial follicles by regulating Akt phosphorylation after in vitro culture of ovine ovarian tissue.

The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of different concentrations of rutin on primordial follicle survival and development after in vitro culture of sheep ovarian tissue, and to verify the possible involvement of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway in the rutin actions. Ovarian fragments were fixed for histological analysis (fresh control) or cultured in α-minimum essential medium alone (α-MEM: control medium) or in α-MEMsupplemented with different concentrations of rutin (0.1; 1 or 10 μg/mL) for 7 days.

Microplastics shift impacts of climate change on a plant-microbe mutualism: Temperature, CO, and tire wear particles.

Anthropogenic stressors can affect individual species and alter species interactions. Moreover, species interactions or the presence of multiple stressors can modify the stressor effects, yet most work focuses on single stressors and single species. Plant-microbe interactions are a class of species interactions on which ecosystems and agricultural systems depend, yet may be affected by multiple global change stressors.

Base oil recovery from waste lubricant oil by polar solvent extraction intensified by ultrasound.

This paper proposes a greener approach to the intensification of base oil recovery for truck engines (32,500 km of use) using ethanol, propan-2-ol, 2-methylpropan-1-ol, and butan-1-ol as solvents for the extraction of base oil, combining mechanical stirring (220 rpm) and ultrasound (25 °C, 24 kHz, and 400 W). The results indicated that the recovery yields of the base oil, using the mechanical stirring and ultrasound (MS-US) system, for ethanol, propan-2-ol, 2-methylpropan-1-ol, and butan-1-ol were approximately 3.1, 25.

Gallic acid promotes the in vitro development of sheep secondary isolated follicles involving the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of addition of gallic acid as the single antioxidant to the base medium for in vitro culture of sheep secondary follicles and if the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is involved in the action of gallic acid. Secondary follicles were isolated and cultured for 12 days in α-MEM supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA), insulin, glutamine, hypoxanthine, transferrin, selenium, and ascorbic acid (control medium: α-MEM) or in α-MEM supplemented with BSA, insulin, glutamine, hypoxanthine and different concentrations of gallic acid (25, 50 or 100 μM), thus replacing transferrin, selenium and ascorbic acid in the medium. Follicle morphology, glutathione (GSH), and mitochondrial activity, and meiotic resumption were evaluated.

Leptin decreases apoptosis and promotes the activation of primordial follicles through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway in cultured ovine ovarian tissue.

This study evaluated the effects of leptin on primordial follicle survival and activation after in vitro culture of ovine ovarian tissue and if leptin acts through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway. Ovarian fragments were fixed for histology (fresh control) or cultured for 7 days in control medium (α-MEM+) alone or supplemented with leptin (1, 5, 10, 25 or 50 ng/ml). Follicle morphology, activation and apoptosis were analyzed.

Involvement of Phosphorylated Akt and FOXO3a in the Effects of Growth and Differentiation Factor-9 (GDF-9) on Inhibition of Follicular Apoptosis and Induction of Granulosa Cell Proliferation After In Vitro Culture of Sheep Ovarian Tissue.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) on the morphology, activation, apoptosis, and granulosa cell proliferation of ovine preantral follicles cultured within ovarian tissue slices and to verify whether GDF-9 could influence follicular activation through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/forkhead box O3a (PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a) pathway. Ovine ovarian fragments were cultured in α-MEM or α-MEM with GDF-9 (1, 50, 100, 200, or 400 ng/ml) for 7 days. Apoptosis and cell proliferation were analyzed.

Involvement of PTEN and FOXO3a Proteins in the Protective Activity of Protocatechuic Acid Against Cisplatin-Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Mice.

The present study evaluated the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) after cisplatin-induced ovarian toxicity in mice and if PTEN and FOXO3a proteins are involved in PCA action. The mice were divided into five experimental groups (five animals per group) and treated once a day for 3 days as follows: (1) the control group was pretreated with oral administration (o.p.

Rutin prevents cisplatin-induced ovarian damage via antioxidant activity and regulation of PTEN and FOXO3a phosphorylation in mouse model.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the protective effects of rutin during cisplatin-induced ovarian toxicity in mice and to verify the possible involvement of the phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN)/Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) pathway in the rutin actions. Mice received saline solution (control, 0.15 M, i.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) reduces apoptosis of preantral follicles through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway after in vitro culture of sheep ovarian tissue.

The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of different concentrations of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the primordial follicle survival and development after in vitro culture of ovarian tissue, and to verify the possible involvement of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway in the EGCG actions in the sheep ovary. Ovarian fragments were fixed for histological analysis (fresh control) or cultured in α-minimum essential medium alone (α-MEM: control medium) or with different concentrations of EGCG (0.01; 0.

Biological Responses to Climate Change and Nanoplastics Are Altered in Concert: Full-Factor Screening Reveals Effects of Multiple Stressors on Primary Producers.

While the combined presence of global climate change and nanosized plastic particle (i.e., nanoplastic) pollution is clear, the potential for interactions between climate-change-shifting environmental parameters and nanoplastics is largely unknown.

Melatonin improves development, mitochondrial function and promotes the meiotic resumption of sheep oocytes from in vitro grown secondary follicles.

The aim of this study was to evaluate follicular survival and development of ovine isolated secondary follicles cultured in medium containing fixed or sequential concentrations of melatonin and further oocyte maturation. Isolated secondary follicles were cultured for 18 days in α-MEM alone (control) or with different concentrations of melatonin (100, 500 or 1000 pg/mL) or sequential concentrations of melatonin (Mel Seq: Day 6 = 100; Day 12 = 500; Day 18 = 1000 pg/mL). The percentages of morphologically normal follicles and antral cavity formation increased significantly in 1000 pg/mL melatonin compared to the other treatments.