The cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) biosynthetic pathways branches off from the synthesis of fatty acids. Fatty acid elongases (ELOs) are enzymes catalyzing the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids and thereby contribute to the diversification of CHCs. Based on bioinformatics analyses we identified 20 ELO genes in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. RNA interference against these genes demonstrated that 9 NlELO genes were essential for the survival of N. lugens nymphs and adults. Indeed, knockdown of NlELOs 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 18 caused lethal phenotypes with a thin and wizened body and reduced lipids in the fat body. Surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy and CHC quantification indicated that knockdown of NlELOs 2, 3, 8 and 16 additionally resulted in a smooth body surface and a decrease in CHC amounts. Therefore, we speculate that long-chain CHCs are needed for CHC attachment to the cuticle surface. CHC deficiency, in turn, resulted in increased adhesion of water droplets and secreted honeydew to the animal surface and the inability of N. lugens to survive in paddy fields with varying humidity. Our present study provides an initial comprehensive analysis of ELO gene functions in an insect, and may serve to better understand the biology of CHCs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.03.005 | DOI Listing |
Diabetes Metab Res Rev
January 2025
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Aim: To synthesise the evidence from clinical trials and observational studies using omics techniques to investigate the impact of diet and lifestyle factors on metabolite profile in pregnancy, and in the prevention and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Materials And Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Ovid, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases in October 2023 and updated in September 2024. Inclusion criteria were randomised controlled trials (RCT) or non-RCTs in pregnant women with or without GDM, that measured diet and lifestyle factors, and which applied post-transcriptional omics approaches.
NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes
January 2025
A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) & Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS), Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Sebaceous free fatty acids are metabolized by multiple skin microbes into bioactive lipid mediators termed oxylipins. This study investigated correlations between skin oxylipins and microbes on the superficial skin of pre-pubescent children (N = 36) and adults (N = 100), including pre- (N = 25) and post-menopausal females (N = 25). Lipidomics and metagenomics revealed that Malassezia restricta positively correlated with the oxylipin 9,10-DiHOME on adult skin and negatively correlated with its precursor, 9,10-EpOME, on pre-pubescent skin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGut Microbes
December 2025
Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
The therapeutic benefits of opioids are compromised by the development of analgesic tolerance, which necessitates higher dosing for pain management thereby increasing the liability for drug dependence and addiction. Rodent models indicate opposing roles of the gut microbiota in tolerance: morphine-induced gut dysbiosis exacerbates tolerance, whereas probiotics ameliorate tolerance. Not all individuals develop tolerance, which could be influenced by differences in microbiota, and yet no study design has capitalized upon this natural variation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer Biol Ther
December 2025
Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Cell cycle dysregulation and the corresponding metabolic reprogramming play significant roles in tumor development and progression. CDK9, a kinase that regulates gene transcription and cell cycle, also induces oncogene transcription and abnormal cell cycle in AML cells. The function of CDK9 for gene regulation in AML cells requires further exploration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Biol
January 2025
School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Background: The rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, is the major paramphistome species infecting ruminants within Europe. Adult flukes reside within the rumen where they are in direct contact with a unique collection of microorganisms. Here, we report a 1.
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