The NnaR orphan response regulator is essential for the utilization of nitrate and nitrite as sole nitrogen sources in mycobacteria.

Nitrogen is an essential component of biological molecules and an indispensable microelement required for the growth of cells. Nitrogen metabolism of Mycobacterium smegmatis is regulated by a number of transcription factors, with the glnR gene product playing a major role. Under nitrogen-depletion conditions, GlnR controls the expression of many genes involved in nitrogen assimilation, including the msmeg_0432 gene encoding NnaR, the homologue of a nitrite/nitrate transport regulator from Streptomyces coelicolor.

Ethanolic Extract of Folium Sennae Mediates the Glucose Uptake of L6 Cells by GLUT4 and Ca.

In today's world, diabetes mellitus (DM) is on the rise, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is characterized by insulin resistance. T2DM has high morbidity, and therapies with natural products have attracted much attention in the recent past. In this paper, we aimed to study the hypoglycemic effect and the mechanism of an ethanolic extract of Folium Sennae (FSE) on L6 cells.

Placenta-specific 9, a putative secretory protein, induces G2/M arrest and inhibits the proliferation of human embryonic hepatic cells.

Placenta-specific 9 () is a putative secreted protein that was first discovered in the context of embryogenesis. The expression pattern of during embryogenesis, together with the results of recent reports, suggest that may play a role in the liver development. The present study was conducted to investigate the secretory characteristics of and its potential role in liver cell physiology.

Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 Signaling: Protective and Pathogenic Roles on Streptococcal Toxic-Shock-Like Syndrome Caused by .

infections can cause septic shock, which is referred to as streptococcal toxic-shock-like syndrome (STSLS). The disease is characterized by a severe inflammatory response, multiple organ failure, and high mortality. However, no superantigen that is responsible for toxic shock syndrome was detected in , indicating that the mechanism underlying STSLS is different and remains to be elucidated.

Malassezia ecology, pathophysiology, and treatment.

Malassezia are lipid dependent basidiomycetous yeasts that inhabit the skin and mucosa of humans and other warm-blooded animals, and are a major component of the skin microbiome. They occur as skin commensals, but are also associated with various skin disorders and bloodstream infections. The genus currently comprises 17 species and has recently been assigned its own class, Malasseziomycetes.

Polygonum aviculare L. extract and quercetin attenuate contraction in airway smooth muscle.

Because of the serious side effects of the currently used bronchodilators, new compounds with similar functions must be developed. We screened several herbs and found that Polygonum aviculare L. contains ingredients that inhibit the precontraction of mouse and human airway smooth muscle (ASM).

E2F1 Suppresses Oxidative Metabolism and Endothelial Differentiation of Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells.

Rationale: The majority of current cardiovascular cell therapy trials use bone marrow progenitor cells (BM PCs) and achieve only modest efficacy; the limited potential of these cells to differentiate into endothelial-lineage cells is one of the major barriers to the success of this promising therapy. We have previously reported that the E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) is a repressor of revascularization after ischemic injury.

Objective: We sought to define the role of E2F1 in the regulation of BM PC function.

Chloroform Extract of L. Relaxes Mouse Airway Smooth Muscle.

L. belongs to the Asteraceae family, which is indigenous to China. It has valuable pharmacological properties, such as antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.

Puerarin Enhances Ca2+ Reuptake and Ca2+ Content of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in Murine Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes via Upregulation of SERCA2a.

Background/aims: The embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ES-CMs) serve as potential sources for cardiac regenerative therapy. However, the immature sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function of ES-CMs prevents its application. In this report, we examined the effect of puerarin, an isoflavone compound, on SR function of murine ES-CMs.

PdtaS Deficiency Affects Resistance of Mycobacteria to Ribosome Targeting Antibiotics.

Two-component regulatory systems (TCSSs) are key regulatory elements responsible for the adaptation of bacteria to environmental stresses. A classical TCSS is typically comprised of a sensory histidine kinase and a corresponding response regulator. Here, we used homologous recombination to construct a mutant defective in the synthesis of cytosolic histidine kinase PdtaS (Msmeg_1918).

Host-microbe interactions: Malassezia and human skin.

The skin is our first line of defense, protecting us from invasion and evaporation. Its variable structure, changing geography, and complex immune repertoire provide a vast interface for our cutaneous microbial community. Skin is inhabited by many thousands of microbes, but this review focuses on the dominant eukaryote, Malassezia, and its host interaction.

Distinct Effects of Ca Sparks on Cerebral Artery and Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Tone in Mice and Humans.

The effects of Ca sparks on cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) tone, as well as the underlying mechanisms, are not clear. In this investigation, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of the distinct effects of Ca sparks on cerebral artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) and airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) tone. In CASMCs, owing to the functional loss of Ca-activated Cl (Clca) channels, Ca sparks activated large-conductance Ca-activated K channels (BKs), resulting in a decreases in tone against a spontaneous depolarization-caused high tone in the resting state.

Nuciferine Relaxes Tracheal Rings via the Blockade of VDLCC and NSCC Channels.

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of nuciferine (a main aporphine alkaloid of lotus leaf extract), which can induce relaxation in contracted tracheal rings. Under Ca-free and 2 mM Ca conditions, we found that nuciferine had no effect on the resting muscle tone of tracheal rings. In contrast, nuciferine relaxed high K-contracted mouse tracheal rings in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited both Ca influx and voltage-dependent L-type Ca channel currents induced by high K.

Hypertonic saline inhibits airway smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting Ca sensitization.

The effects of hypertonic solution on airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. We found that hypertonic saline (HS) inhibited acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction of ASM from the mouse trachea and human bronchi. In single mouse ASM cells (ASMCs), ACh induced an increase in intracellular Ca that was further enhanced by 5% NaCl, indicating that the HS-induced inhibition of ASM contraction was not mediated by a decrease in cytosolic Ca .

Chloroquine inhibits Ca permeable ion channels-mediated Ca signaling in primary B lymphocytes.

Background: Chloroquine, a bitter tastant, inhibits Ca signaling, resulting in suppression of B cell activation; however, the inhibitory mechanism remains unclear.

Results: In this study, thapsigargin (TG), but not caffeine, induced sustained intracellular Ca increases in mouse splenic primary B lymphocytes, which were markedly inhibited by chloroquine. Under Ca-free conditions, TG elicited transient Ca increases, which additionally elevated upon the restoration of 2 mM Ca.

Relaxing Effect of TSU-68, an Antiangiogenic Agent, on Mouse Airway Smooth Muscle.

Background/aims: Recently, some small-molecule compounds that were designed for cancer therapy have acquired new roles in the treatment of pulmonary diseases. However, drug screening aimed at abnormal muscle contraction is still limited. TSU-68 is a potent, orally administered, small-molecule agent that can reduce the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced Ca2+ increase in endothelial cells.

Compartmentation of Mitochondrial and Oxidative Metabolism in Growing Hair Follicles: A Ring of Fire.

Little is known about the energetics of growing hair follicles, particularly in the mitochondrially abundant bulb. Here, mitochondrial and oxidative metabolism was visualized by multiphoton and light sheet microscopy in cultured bovine hair follicles and plucked human hairs. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ), cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and secretory granules were assessed with parameter-indicating fluorophores.

Nelumbo nucifera leaves extracts inhibit mouse airway smooth muscle contraction.

Background: Alkaloids extracted from lotus leaves (AELL) can relax vascular smooth muscle. However, whether AELL has a similar relaxant role on airway smooth muscle (ASM) remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the relaxant property of AELL on ASM and the underlying mechanism.

The influence of AccD5 on AccD6 carboxyltransferase essentiality in pathogenic and non-pathogenic Mycobacterium.

Malonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) is a crucial extender unit for the synthesis of mycolic and other fatty acids in mycobacteria, generated in a reaction catalyzed by acetyl-CoA carboxylase. We previously reported on the essentiality of accD6 encoding the functional acetyl-CoA carboxylase subunit in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Strikingly, the homologous gene in the fast-growing, non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis - (accD6) appeared to be dispensable, and its deletion did not influence the cell lipid content.

Doping and drug testing: Anti-doping work must be transparent and adhere to good scientific practices to ensure public trust.

Controversial decisions to ban athletes and the Russian doping scandal have raised doubts about the reliability of doping controls in professional sports. To ensure fairness and due process, doping tests must be transparent and adhere to the best scientific standards. [Image: see text]

Mice lacking myotubularin-related protein 14 show accelerated high-fat diet-induced lipid accumulation and inflammation.

The phosphoinositide phosphatase, myotubularin-related protein 14 (MTMR14), has been reported to play an important role in the regulation of muscle performance, autophagy, and aging in mice. We previously showed that MTMR14-knockout (KO) mice gain weight earlier than their wild-type (WT) littermates even on a normal chow diet (NCD), suggesting that this gene might also be involved in regulating metabolism. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of MTMR14 deficiency on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, lipid accumulation, metabolic disorders, and inflammation in WT and MTMR14-KO mice fed with NCD or HFD.

A Functional Role for Antibodies in Tuberculosis.

While a third of the world carries the burden of tuberculosis, disease control has been hindered by a lack of tools, including a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic and a protective vaccine. In many infectious diseases, antibodies (Abs) are powerful biomarkers and important immune mediators. However, in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, a discriminatory or protective role for humoral immunity remains unclear.

Large-Scale microRNA Expression Profiling Identifies Putative Retinal miRNA-mRNA Signaling Pathways Underlying Form-Deprivation Myopia in Mice.

Development of myopia is associated with large-scale changes in ocular tissue gene expression. Although differential expression of coding genes underlying development of myopia has been a subject of intense investigation, the role of non-coding genes such as microRNAs in the development of myopia is largely unknown. In this study, we explored myopia-associated miRNA expression profiles in the retina and sclera of C57Bl/6J mice with experimentally induced myopia using microarray technology.