Novel Dry Spinning Process of Natural Macromolecules for Sustainable Fiber Material -1- Proof of the Concept Using Silk Fibroin.

Researchers around the world are developing technologies to minimize carbon dioxide emissions or carbon neutrality in various fields. In this study, the dry spinning of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) was achieved as a proof of concept for a process using ionic liquids as dissolution aids and plasticizers in developing natural polymeric materials. A dry spinning equipment system combining a stainless-steel syringe and a brushless motor was built to generate fiber compacts from a dope of silk fibroin obtained by degumming silkworm silk cocoons and ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([HMIM][Cl]) according to a general method.

In Situ Surface-Initiated Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization Utilizing the Nonvolatile Nature of Ionic Liquids: A First Attempt.

In this paper, in situ surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) based on both an open and a coated system, without using volatile reagents, was developed to overcome the limited usage of ATRP due to the necessity of sealing. Nonvolatile ionic liquid (IL)-type components were used, specifically ,-diethyl--(2-methacryloylethyl)--methylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide as the polymerizable monomer and -diethylmethyl(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide as the polymerization solvent. In the experiment, the reversible-deactivation radical polymerization characteristics are properly ensured in nonvolatile ATRP solution coated on silicon wafer as thin liquid film, to form concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs).

Activin E Controls Energy Homeostasis in Both Brown and White Adipose Tissues as a Hepatokine.

Brown adipocyte activation or beige adipocyte emergence in white adipose tissue (WAT) increases energy expenditure, leading to a reduction in body fat mass and improved glucose metabolism. We found that activin E functions as a hepatokine that enhances thermogenesis in response to cold exposure through beige adipocyte emergence in inguinal WAT (ingWAT). Hepatic activin E overexpression activated thermogenesis through Ucp1 upregulation in ingWAT and other adipose tissues including interscapular brown adipose tissue and mesenteric WAT.

Extracts of black and brown rice powders improve hepatic lipid accumulation via the activation of PPARα in obese and diabetic model mice.

Rice powder extract (RPE) from black and brown rice (Oryza sativa L. indica) improves hepatic lipid accumulation in obese and diabetic model mice via peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation. RPE showed PPARα agonistic activity which did not differ between black and brown RPE despite a higher anthocyanin content in black RPE.

Lgr4 controls specialization of female gonads in mice.

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (Lgr4) is a type of membrane receptor with a seven-transmembrane structure. LGR4 is homologous to gonadotropin receptors, such as follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (Fshr) and luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (Lhcgr). Recently, it has been reported that Lgr4 is a membrane receptor for R-spondin ligands, which mediate Wnt/beta-catenin signaling.

Can Edman degradation be used for quantification? Isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and the long-term stability of 20 phenylthiohydantoin-amino acids.

Edman degradation is a well-known method for obtaining amino acid (AA) sequences from a peptide by means of sequential reactions that release the N-terminal AAs from the peptide as a phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) derivative. Because of unexpected loss during the reaction and handling, there are few reports of use of this reaction for quantification. This manuscript describes the development of isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for 20 PTH-AA derivatives, and long-term stability testing of PTH-AAs to ensure quantitative quality in the reaction.

Combining [13C6]-phenylisothiocyanate and the Edman degradation reaction: a possible breakthrough for absolute quantitative proteomics together with protein identification.

This manuscript describes the results of a preliminary experiment performed as 'proof of concept' of a novel approach to absolute quantitation of proteins without the use of standard proteins. Absolute quantitation remains a challenging issue in the proteomics field. Therefore, we propose a combination of [(13)C(6)]-phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) and the Edman degradation reaction as a possible breakthrough.