Stbd1 stimulates AMPK signaling and alleviates insulin resistance in an in vitro hepatocyte model.

Starch-binding domain-containing protein 1 (Stbd1) is a glycogen-binding protein which localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and ER-mitochondria contact sites (ERMCs). The protein undergoes N-myristoylation, which is a major determinant of its subcellular targeting. Stbd1 has been implicated in the control of glucose homeostasis, as evidenced by the finding that mice with targeted inactivation of Stbd1 display insulin resistance associated with increased ERMCs in the liver.

Gluconeogenesis during development of the grass puffer (Takifugu niphobles).

During the development of teleost fish, the sole nutrient source is the egg yolk. The yolk consists mostly of proteins and lipids, with only trace amounts of carbohydrates such as glycogen and glucose. However, past evidence in some fishes showed transient increase in glucose during development, which may have supported the development of the embryos.

Expression of secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (scpp) genes in medaka during the formation and replacement of pharyngeal teeth.

Background: Analyses of tooth families and tooth-forming units in medaka with regard to tooth replacement cycles and the localization of odontogenic stem cell niches in the pharyngeal dentition clearly indicate that continuous tooth replacement is maintained. The secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (scpp) gene cluster is involved in the formation of mineralized tissues, such as dental and bone tissues, and the genes encoding multiple SCPPs are conserved in fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. In the present study, we examined the expression patterns of several scpp genes in the pharyngeal teeth of medaka to elucidate their roles during tooth formation and replacement.

Ultrastructural characteristics of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the early postnatal mouse optic nerve observed by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) arise from restricted regions of the central nervous system (CNS) and differentiate into myelin-forming cells after migration, but their ultrastructural characteristics have not been fully elucidated. This study examined the three-dimensional ultrastructure of OPCs in comparison with other glial cells in the early postnatal optic nerve by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. We examined 70 putative OPCs (pOPC) that were distinct from other glial cells according to established morphological criteria.

Liver glycogen phosphorylase is upregulated in glioblastoma and provides a metabolic vulnerability to high dose radiation.

Channelling of glucose via glycogen, known as the glycogen shunt, may play an important role in the metabolism of brain tumours, especially in hypoxic conditions. We aimed to dissect the role of glycogen degradation in glioblastoma (GBM) response to ionising radiation (IR). Knockdown of the glycogen phosphorylase liver isoform (PYGL), but not the brain isoform (PYGB), decreased clonogenic growth and survival of GBM cell lines and sensitised them to IR doses of 10-12 Gy.

Peripherally Administered Botulinum Toxin Type A Localizes Bilaterally in Trigeminal Ganglia of Animal Model.

Peripheral nerve injury leads to sensory ganglion hyperexcitation, which increases neurotransmitter release and neuropathic pain. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) regulates pain transmission by reducing neurotransmitter release, thereby attenuating neuropathic pain. Despite multiple studies on the use of BoNT/A for managing neuropathic pain in the orofacial region, its exact mechanism of transport remains unclear.

Dentin-Pulp Complex Tissue Regeneration via Three-Dimensional Cell Sheet Layering.

The dentin-pulp complex is a unique structure in teeth that contains both hard and soft tissues. Generally, deep caries and trauma cause damage to the dentin-pulp complex, and if left untreated, this damage will progress to irreversible pulpitis. The aim of this study was to fabricate a layered cell sheet composed of rat dental pulp (DP) cells and odontogenic differentiation of pulp (OD) cells and to investigate the ability to regenerate the dentin-pulp complex in a scaffold tooth.

Model-based analysis uncovers mutations altering autophagy selectivity in human cancer.

Autophagy can selectively target protein aggregates, pathogens, and dysfunctional organelles for the lysosomal degradation. Aberrant regulation of autophagy promotes tumorigenesis, while it is far less clear whether and how tumor-specific alterations result in autophagic aberrance. To form a link between aberrant autophagy selectivity and human cancer, we establish a computational pipeline and prioritize 222 potential LIR (LC3-interacting region) motif-associated mutations (LAMs) in 148 proteins.

Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor1, -2c, and -3c transcripts in mouse molars after tooth eruption.

A previous study suggested that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling plays an important role in dentin formation during tooth development. In this study, to examine dentin formation after tooth eruption involving secondary and tertiary dentin, we analyzed the expression patterns and expressing cells of Fgfr1, -2c, and -3c in mouse maxillary first molars (M). Since it is difficult to recover the mRNAs from mineralized tissues, we tested methods for extraction after fixation and decalcification of teeth.

Three-dimensional periodontal tissue regeneration using a bone-ligament complex cell sheet.

Periodontal tissue is a distinctive tissue structure composed three-dimensionally of cementum, periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone. Severe periodontal diseases cause fundamental problems for oral function and general health, and conventional dental treatments are insufficient for healing to healthy periodontal tissue. Cell sheet technology has been used in many tissue regenerations, including periodontal tissue, to transplant appropriate stem/progenitor cells for tissue regeneration of a target site as a uniform tissue.

Gluconeogenesis and glycogen metabolism during development of Pacific abalone, .

In lecithotrophic larvae, egg yolk nutrients are essential for development. Although yolk proteins and lipids are the major nutrient sources for most animal embryos and larvae, the contribution of carbohydrates to development has been less understood. In this study, we assessed glucose and glycogen metabolism in developing Pacific abalone, a marine gastropod mollusc caught and cultured in east Asia.

IL-10 and CXCL2 in trigeminal ganglia in neuropathic pain.

Many trigeminal neuropathic pain patients suffer severe chronic pain. The neuropathic pain might be related with cross-excitation of the neighboring neurons and satellite glial cells (SGCs) in the sensory ganglia and increasing the pain signals from the peripheral tissue to the central nervous system. We induced trigeminal neuropathic pain by infraorbital nerve constriction injury (IONC) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

CGRP Induces Differential Regulation of Cytokines from Satellite Glial Cells in Trigeminal Ganglia and Orofacial Nociception.

Neuron-glia interactions contribute to pain initiation and sustainment. Intra-ganglionic (IG) secretion of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) modulates pain transmission through neuron-glia signaling, contributing to various orofacial pain conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of satellite glial cells (SGC) in TG in causing cytokine-related orofacial nociception in response to IG administration of CGRP.

Anatomical status of the human palatopharyngeal sphincter and its functional implications.

Purpose: The transition muscle between the palatopharyngeus (PP) and the superior constrictor of the pharynx (SCP) encircles the pharyngeal isthmus from behind and is designated as the palatopharyngeal sphincter (PPS). The PPS is inferred to play important roles for velopharyngeal closure, but its existence remains controversial and its roles have been regarded as being played by the SCP. The present study aimed to clarify the anatomical status and functional implications of the PPS.

Mouse Stbd1 is -myristoylated and affects ER-mitochondria association and mitochondrial morphology.

Starch binding domain-containing protein 1 (Stbd1) is a carbohydrate-binding protein that has been proposed to be a selective autophagy receptor for glycogen. Here, we show that mouse Stbd1 is a transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein with the capacity to induce the formation of organized ER structures in HeLa cells. In addition to bulk ER, Stbd1 was found to localize to mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), which represent regions of close apposition between the ER and mitochondria.

Glycogen distribution in the microwave-fixed mouse brain reveals heterogeneous astrocytic patterns.

In the brain, glycogen metabolism has been implied in synaptic plasticity and learning, yet the distribution of this molecule has not been fully described. We investigated cerebral glycogen of the mouse by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using two monoclonal antibodies that have different affinities depending on the glycogen size. The use of focused microwave irradiation yielded well-defined glycogen immunoreactive signals compared with the conventional periodic acid-Schiff method.

An in situ hybridization study of Hyaluronan synthase (Has) mRNA in developing mouse molar and incisor tooth germs.

Hyaluronan (HA) is a major constituent molecule in most extracellular matrices and is synthesized by Hyaluronan synthase (Has). In the present study, we examined expression patterns of Has1, -2, -3 mRNA in developing mouse molar and incisor tooth germs from embryonic day (E) 11.5 to postnatal day (P) 7, focusing on Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) and the apical bud in particular.

Gross anatomical classification of the courses of the human lingual artery.

Purpose: There are many reports on the variation of origin site of the lingual artery branching from the external carotid artery. However, there are few reports systematically investigating the course of the lingual artery in detail from branching site to the body of tongue. The purpose of this study is to classify systematically the courses of the lingual artery including variations.

A murine monoclonal antibody to glycogen: characterization of epitope-fine specificity by saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy and its use in mycobacterial capsular α-glucan research.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a major pathogen responsible for 1.5 million deaths annually. This bacterium is characterized by a highly unusual and impermeable cell envelope, which plays a key role in mycobacterial survival and virulence.

Human muscle fibre type-specific regulation of AMPK and downstream targets by exercise.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a regulator of energy homeostasis during exercise. Studies suggest muscle fibre type-specific AMPK expression. However, fibre type-specific regulation of AMPK and downstream targets during exercise has not been demonstrated.

Accumulation of glycogen in axotomized adult rat facial motoneurons.

This study biochemically determined glycogen content in the axotomized facial nucleus of adult rats up to 35 days postinsult. The amounts of glycogen in the transected facial nucleus were significantly increased at 5 days postinsult, peaked at 7 days postinsult, and declined to the control levels at 21-35 days postinsult. Immunohistochemical analysis with antiglycogen antibody revealed that the quantity of glycogen granules in the axotomized facial nucleus was greater than that in the control nucleus at 7 days postinjury.

Human muscle fiber type-specific insulin signaling: impact of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Skeletal muscle is a heterogeneous tissue composed of different fiber types. Studies suggest that insulin-mediated glucose metabolism is different between muscle fiber types. We hypothesized that differences are due to fiber type-specific expression/regulation of insulin signaling elements and/or metabolic enzymes.