Exploring the Rhizospheric Microbial Communities under Long-Term Precipitation Regime in Norway Spruce Seed Orchard.

The rhizosphere is the hotspot for microbial enzyme activities and contributes to carbon cycling. Precipitation is an important component of global climate change that can profoundly alter belowground microbial communities. However, the impact of precipitation on conifer rhizospheric microbial populations has not been investigated in detail.

Variation in mouse chemical signals is genetically controlled and environmentally modulated.

In most mammals and particularly in mice, chemical communication relies on the detection of ethologically relevant fitness-related cues from other individuals. In mice, urine is the primary source of these signals, so we employed proteomics and metabolomics to identify key components of chemical signalling. We show that there is a correspondence between urinary volatiles and proteins in the representation of genetic background, sex and environment in two house mouse subspecies Mus musculus musculus and M.

Perioral secretions enable complex social signaling in African mole-rats (genus Fukomys).

Subterranean common mole-rats of the genus Fukomys (family Bathyergidae) live in large, cooperatively-breeding families. Odor cues have been hypothesized to play an important role in mediating social behaviors in the underground ecotope, but only little is known about the role of olfactory signaling in burrowing mammals. Here we characterize the so far neglected perioral glands of Fukomys and other African mole-rats as an important source of olfactory social information.

Loss of hexokinase 1 sensitizes ovarian cancer to high-dose metformin.

Background: Hexokinases (HKs) are well-studied enzymes catalyzing the first step of glycolysis. However, non-canonical regulatory roles of HKs are still incompletely understood. Here, we hypothesized that HKs comprise one of the missing links between high-dose metformin and the inhibition of the respiratory chain in cancer.

Krill Oil Supplementation Reduces Exacerbated Hepatic Steatosis Induced by Thermoneutral Housing in Mice with Diet-Induced Obesity.

Preclinical evidence suggests that n-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (Omega-3) supplemented as phospholipids (PLs) may be more effective than triacylglycerols (TAGs) in reducing hepatic steatosis. To further test the ability of Omega-3 PLs to alleviate liver steatosis, we used a model of exacerbated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on high-fat feeding at thermoneutral temperature. Male C57BL/6N mice were fed for 24 weeks a lard-based diet given either alone (LHF) or supplemented with Omega-3 (30 mg/g diet) as PLs (krill oil; ω3PL) or TAGs (Epax 3000TG concentrate; ω3TG), which had a similar total content of EPA and DHA and their ratio.

Lipokine 5-PAHSA Is Regulated by Adipose Triglyceride Lipase and Primes Adipocytes for De Novo Lipogenesis in Mice.

Branched esters of palmitic acid and hydroxystearic acid (PAHSA) are anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic lipokines that connect glucose and lipid metabolism. We aimed to characterize involvement of the 5-PAHSA regioisomer in the adaptive metabolic response of white adipose tissue (WAT) to cold exposure (CE) in mice, exploring the cross talk between glucose utilization and lipid metabolism. CE promoted local production of 5- and 9-PAHSAs in WAT.

Omega-3 index in the Czech Republic: No difference between urban and rural populations.

Naturally occurring long-chain omega-3 PUFA such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 ω-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 ω-3) exert multiple effects on health, which are related to the intake of these lipids in the diet and correlate with the levels of omega-3 PUFA in the body. These levels are reflected by the omega-3 PUFA index, i.e.

Dietary saturated fatty acid type impacts obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction and plasma lipidomic signatures in mice.

Saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis, but scant work examines the impact of SFA type upon these outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that an obesogenic diet prepared with medium chain SFA (MCSFA), mostly as lauric acid-derived from coconut oil, reduces obesity-induced outcomes compared to obesogenic diets prepared with increasing amounts long chain SFA (LCSFA), primarily palmitic acid. Mice were fed (16 weeks) a control, low fat diet or obesogenic diets prepared with differing content of MCSFA or LCSFA in which polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; MUFA) were kept constant.

Lipidomic Impacts of an Obesogenic Diet Upon Lewis Lung Carcinoma in Mice.

Metabolic reprogramming of lipid metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. Consumption of a high-fat obesogenic diet enhances spontaneous metastasis using a Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model. In order to gain further insights into the mechanisms by which dietary fats impact cancer progression, we conducted a lipidomic analysis of primary tumors originated from LLC from mice fed with a standard AIN93G diet or a soybean oil-based high-fat diet (HFD).

Differential modulation of white adipose tissue endocannabinoid levels by n-3 fatty acids in obese mice and type 2 diabetic patients.

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) might regulate metabolism by lowering endocannabinoid levels. We examined time-dependent changes in adipose tissue levels of endocannabinoids as well as in parameters of glucose homeostasis induced by n-3 PUFA in dietary-obese mice, and compared these results with the effect of n-3 PUFA intervention in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) subjects. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 8, 16 or 24 weeks a high-fat diet alone (cHF) or supplemented with n-3 PUFA (cHF + F).

Selective enrichment of n-3 fatty acids in human plasma lipid motifs following intake of marine fish.

Plasma levels of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are associated with a reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic, age-related diseases like Alzheimer's disease. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that n-3 LCPUFA fatty acids in human plasma are incorporated into selective lipid species following intake of n-3 LCPUFA rich marine fish. To test this hypothesis, we performed lipidomic analysis on plasma samples from a clinical trial in which participants consumed increasing amounts of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Species Specificity of Aldehyde and Fatty Acid Profiles of Four Family Group Representatives within the Insect Infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera).

Reactive α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, including 4-oxoalk-2-enals, are known to be present in volatile secretions of numerous heteropteran insect species. Because the aldehydes are likely to originate from metabolism of fatty acids (FAs), the present study aimed to examine and compare the aldehyde and FA profiles of four model heteropteran species. The model species consisted of adult family group representatives within the infraorder Pentatomomorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): seed bug (Lygaeus equestris (Lygaeoidea)), dock leaf bug (Coreus marginatus (Coreoidea)), red firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus (Pyrrhocoroidea)), and European stink bug (Graphosoma lineatum (Pentatomoidea)).

Quantitation of isobaric phosphatidylcholine species in human plasma using a hybrid quadrupole linear ion-trap mass spectrometer.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) species in human plasma are used as biomarkers of disease. PC biomarkers are often limited by the inability to separate isobaric PCs. In this work, we developed a targeted shotgun approach for analysis of isobaric and isomeric PCs.

Regulation of Isoprenoid Pheromone Biosynthesis in Bumblebee Males.

Males of the closely related species Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum attract conspecific females by completely different marking pheromones. MP of B. terrestris and B.

Biosynthetic Studies of the Male Marking Pheromone in Bumblebees by Using Labelled Fatty Acids and Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography with Mass Detection.

Two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography (GC×GC) coupled with mass detection was used as a tool for biosynthetic studies of bumblebee pheromones. Prior to biosynthetic experiments, the chromatographic behaviour of isotopically modified esters in the GC×GC system as well as their behaviour in mass detection was studied. The male marking pheromones of Bombus lucorum, Bombus lapidarius and Bombus terrestris were investigated.

Antifungal effect of essential oil components against Aspergillus niger when loaded into silica mesoporous supports.

Background: Essential oil components (EOCs) are known for their antifungal properties; however, their high volatility limits their application as antimicrobial agents. Strategies used for controlling the volatility of EOCs include encapsulation or loading into porous materials. This study evaluated the in vitro antifungal activity of selected EOCs (carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and thymol) against the fungus Aspergillus niger when loaded into MCM-41 and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD).

The role of desaturases in the biosynthesis of marking pheromones in bumblebee males.

Bumblebee males (Hymenoptera) produce species-specific labial gland secretions called marking pheromones (MPs). MPs generally consist of terpenoids and fatty-acid-derived aliphatic compounds with various chain lengths predominantly containing one or no double bonds. The unsaturated fatty-acid-derived MP components were hypothesized to be produced by fatty acid desaturases (FADs) that exhibit diverse substrate specificities.

De novo biosynthesis of sexual pheromone in the labial gland of bumblebee males.

De novo biosynthesis of male sex pheromone from two bumblebee species (Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum) was studied by using in vitro incubations of labial glands (LGs) with radioactive [1,2-(14)C]acetate and deuterated [D(3)]acetate. The labeled substrate was incorporated into several types of compounds, such as terpenic alcohols, fatty acids, esters, and hydrocarbons. A similar incubation of [1,2-(14)C]acetate with fat bodies (FB) led to the formation of fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAG), and hydrocarbons.

Leg tendon glands in male bumblebees (Bombus terrestris): structure, secretion chemistry, and possible functions.

Among the large number of exocrine glands described in bees, the tarsal glands were thought to be the source of footprint scent marks. However, recent studies showed that the compounds used for marking by stingless bees are secreted by leg tendon instead of tarsal glands. Here, we report on the structure of leg tendon glands in males of Bombus terrestris, together with a description of the chemical composition of their secretions and respective changes of both during the males' lives.

Females of the bumblebee parasite, Aphomia sociella, excite males using a courtship pheromone.

Aphomia sociella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Galleriinae) is a parasitic moth of bumblebees. Behavioral experiments show that A. sociella females emit semiochemicals that influence male pre-mating behavior and serve as a courtship pheromone.

Profiling and characterization of volatile secretions from the European stink bug Graphosoma lineatum (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) by two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

An efficient method combining the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) sampling procedure and comprehensive two-dimensional gas-chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOF-MS) was established to study the volatile secretion components of stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). The combined power of this approach is illustrated by the identification of fifty-seven compounds in the secretion of a European stink-bug representative, Graphosoma lineatum. (E)-4-oxohex-2-enal and (E)-dec-2-enal were found to be the major components in the adult bug secretions followed by lower amounts of n-alkenal (C₅-C₁₂), n-alkenyl acetate (C₅-C₁₁), n-alkane (C₁₁-C₁₇) homologs, dienals and other compounds.

Chemical communication in termites: syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol as trail-following pheromone, syn-4,6-dimethylundecanal and (5E)-2,6,10-trimethylundeca-5,9-dienal as the respective male and female sex pheromones in Hodotermopsis sjoestedti (Isoptera, Archotermopsidae).

The trail-following pheromone and sex pheromones were investigated in the Indomalayan termite Hodotermopsis sjoestedti belonging to the new family Archotermopsidae. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the sternal gland secretion of pseudergates and trail-following bioassays demonstrated that the trail-following pheromone of H. sjoestedti was syn-4,6-dimethylundecan-1-ol, a new chemical structure for termite pheromones.

Nonadecadienone, a new termite trail-following pheromone identified in Glossotermes oculatus (Serritermitidae).

Within the multitude of chemical signals used by termites, the trail marking by means of pheromones is ubiquitous. Chemistry and biology of the trail-following communication have been described in more than 60 species from all families except for the Neotropical Serritermitidae. The chemical ecology of Serritermitidae is of special interest not only as a missing piece of knowledge on the diversity and evolution of isopteran pheromones but also because it may contribute to the debate on the phylogenetic position of this family, which is still unresolved.

Comparison of age-dependent quantitative changes in the male labial gland secretion of Bombus terrestris and Bombus lucorum.

Age-related changes of antennal-active components of male labial gland extracts were studied in two closely related bumblebee species, Bombus terrestris and B. lucorum. In B.