Selective and stable elimination of endosymbionts from multiple-infected whitefly Bemisia tabaci by feeding on a cotton plant cultured in antibiotic solutions.

The maternally heritable endosymbiont provides many ecosystem functions. Antibiotic elimination of a specific symbiont and establishment of experimental host lines lacking certain symbionts enable the roles of a given symbiont to be explored. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) in China harbors obligate symbiont Portiera infecting each individual, as well as facultative symbionts, such as Hamiltonella, Rickettsia and Cardinium, with co-infections occurring relatively frequently.

The novel roles of circular RNAs in metabolic organs.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) with a covalently closed loop structure which was different with linear RNAs, recently re-merged as novel regulator and exerted function in multiple biological processes. Through deep RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology coupled with bioinformatic analyses, a number of circRNAs has been identified. Moreover, circRNAs exhibit tissue- and development-specific expression indicating their potential biological significance.

Adipocyte Long-Noncoding RNA Transcriptome Analysis of Obese Mice Identified , Which Regulates Leptin.

Obesity induces profound transcriptome changes in adipocytes, and recent evidence suggests that long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in this process. We performed a comprehensive transcriptome study by RNA sequencing in adipocytes isolated from interscapular brown, inguinal, and epididymal white adipose tissue in diet-induced obese mice. The analysis revealed a set of obesity-dysregulated lncRNAs, many of which exhibit dynamic changes in the fed versus fasted state, potentially serving as novel molecular markers of adipose energy status.

Downregulation of β1,4-galactosyltransferase 5 improves insulin resistance by promoting adipocyte commitment and reducing inflammation.

Protein glycosylation is an important post-translational modification. Aberrant glycosylation has been implicated in many diseases because of associated changes in protein distribution and biological function. We showed that the expression of β1, 4-galactosyltransferase 5 (B4GalT5) was positively correlated with diabetes and obesity.

Dynamic transcriptome changes during adipose tissue energy expenditure reveal critical roles for long noncoding RNA regulators.

Enhancing brown fat activity and promoting white fat browning are attractive therapeutic strategies for treating obesity and associated metabolic disorders. To provide a comprehensive picture of the gene regulatory network in these processes, we conducted a series of transcriptome studies by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantified the mRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) changes during white fat browning (chronic cold exposure, beta-adrenergic agonist treatment, and intense exercise) and brown fat activation or inactivation (acute cold exposure or thermoneutrality, respectively). mRNA-lncRNA coexpression networks revealed dynamically regulated lncRNAs to be largely embedded in nutrient and energy metabolism pathways.

Variability in development of the striped rice borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), due to instar number and last instar duration.

The striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker), is an important insect pest of rice which shows substantial variation in developmental duration among individuals. This variation is currently poorly characterized but it is important from a control perspective because pesticides can only target early sensitive instars. It is unclear whether there are key stages that determine the length of developmental duration of individuals and/or whether variation in instar number contributes to this variation.

Transition and Transversion Mutations Are Biased towards GC in Transposons of Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Transposons are often regulated by their hosts, and as a result, there are transposons with several mutations within their host organisms. To gain insight into the patterns of the variations, nucleotide substitutions and indels of transposons were analysed in Chilo suppressalis Walker. The CsuPLE1.

Cloning of Two Acetylcholinesterase Genes and Analysis of Point Mutations Putatively Associated with Triazophos Resistance in Chilo auricilius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the target of organophosphate (OP) and carbamate insecticides. Mutations in the AChE gene (ace) leading to decreased insecticide susceptibility is the main resistance mechanism in insects. In this study, two Chilo auricilius acetylcholinesterase genes, designated as Caace1 and Caace2, were cloned using RT-PCR and RACE.

Upregulation of miR-125b by estrogen protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver in female mice.

Background & Aims: Due to the protective effect of estrogen against hepatic fat accumulation, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in premenopausal women is lower than that in men at the same age and in postmenopausal women. Our study was to further elucidate an underlying mechanism by which estrogen prevents NAFLD from miRNA perspective in female mice.

Methods: miRNA expression was evaluated by TaqMan miRNA assay.

Molecular characterization of the piggyBac-like element, a candidate marker for phylogenetic research of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) in China.

Background: Transposable elements (TEs, transposons) are mobile genetic DNA sequences. TEs can insert copies of themselves into new genomic locations and they have the capacity to multiply. Therefore, TEs have been crucial in the shaping of hosts' current genomes.

Suv39h1 mediates AP-2α-dependent inhibition of C/EBPα expression during adipogenesis.

Previous studies have shown that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) plays a very important role during adipocyte terminal differentiation and that AP-2α (activator protein 2α) acts as a repressor to delay the expression of C/EBPα. However, the mechanisms by which AP-2α prevents the expression of C/EBPα are not fully understood. Here, we present evidence that Suv39h1, a histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9)-specific trimethyltransferase, and G9a, a euchromatic methyltransferase, both interact with AP-2α and enhance AP-2α-mediated transcriptional repression of C/EBPα.

p300-dependent acetylation of activating transcription factor 5 enhances C/EBPβ transactivation of C/EBPα during 3T3-L1 differentiation.

Adipogenesis is a multistep process by which 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiate into mature adipocytes through mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) and terminal differentiation. The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is an important transcription factor that takes part in both of these processes. C/EBPβ not only transactivates C/EBPα and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which cause 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to enter terminal adipocyte differentiation, but also is required to activate cell cycle genes necessary for MCE.

G9a is transactivated by C/EBPβ to facilitate mitotic clonal expansion during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation.

In 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation, the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β (C/EBPβ) is an important early transcription factor that activates cell cycle genes during mitotic clonal expansion (MCE), sequentially activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and C/EBPα during terminal differentiation. Although C/EBPβ acquires its DNA binding activity via dual phosphorylation at about 12-16 h postinduction, the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα is not induced until 36-72 h. The delayed expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα ensures the progression of MCE, but the mechanism responsible for the delay remains elusive.

MicroRNA-140 promotes adipocyte lineage commitment of C3H10T1/2 pluripotent stem cells via targeting osteopetrosis-associated transmembrane protein 1.

BMP4 has been shown to induce C3H10T1/2 pluripotent stem cells to commit to adipocyte lineage. In addition to several proteins identified, microRNAs also play a critical role in the process. In this study, we identified microRNA-140 (miR-140) as a direct downstream component of the BMP4 signaling pathway during the commitment of C3H10T1/2 cells to adipocyte lineage.

[Comparison of expressions of nitricoxide synthase between mandibular distraction osteogenesis and split osteotomy osteogenesis].

Objective: To compare the expression of nitricoxide synthase (NOS) in the osteogenesis tissues of gradual distraction and split osteotomy, and investigate molecular biology mechanism.

Methods: Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into gradual distraction group, high split osteotomy group and control group. A batch of 4 animals in each of the first 2 groups were sacrificed respectively on the 1st day, 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks after operation.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of two general odorant binding proteins from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

In the Lepidoptera, odorant signals are thought to be mediated by general odorant binding proteins (GOBPs) in the sensillar lymph surrounding the olfactory receptors. We describe the identification and characterization of two new cDNAs encoding GOBPs from the antennae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), a species for which no GOBPs have been identified to date.