Impact of overweight and obesity in carotid intima-media thickness of portuguese adolescents

AIM

To measure carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in obese, overweight and normal-weight Portuguese adolescents, to evaluate the association between body weight early signs of atherosclerosis.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, enrolling 150 adolescents (50 normal weight, 50 overweight and 50 obese) with mean age of 12.9 years. All underwent clinical, analytical and carotid common artery ultrasonographic evaluation.

RESULTS

After adjusting for systolic blood pressure and plasma High-density lipoprotein, Low-density lipoprotein and Triglycerides levels, higher mean cIMT values were observed in both overweight and obese patients, when compared to normal-weight group. Moreover, adolescents with metabolic syndrome (MS) had greater cIMT [normal-weight: cIMT mean 0.418 mm (95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 0.399-0.437); overweight: 0.461 mm (95% CI: 0.444-0.477); obese: 0.472 mm (95% CI: 0.455-0.488); MS: 0.482 mm (95% CI: 0.444-0.520) p = 0.001]. When normal-weight and overweight adolescents were exclusively compared, differences in cIMT remained significant (p < 0.001). cIMT was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.439, p < 0.001), waist circumference (r = 0.301, p = 0.018) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.266, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown that cIMT is positively associated with BMI increase in adolescents, even in moderate overweight ranges, independent of age, gender, systolic blood pressure and plasma lipid concentrations.

Aerococcus viridans urinary tract infection in a pediatric patient with secondary pseudohypoaldosteronism

Aerococcus viridans is a catalase-negative gram-positive bacterium rarely found as human pathogen. Some cases of urinary tract infection (UTI) have been described in immunocompromised adults. In this article we describe a UTI case caused by this agent in a child with severe obstructive uropathy, clinically presented with secondary pseudohypoaldosteronism (SPHA). Although A. viridans is rarely associated with child infection, it can be responsible for life threatening conditions/ situations. To our knowledge, A. viridans UTI has never been reported in pediatric patients.

Correct targeting of proinsulin in protein storage vacuoles of transgenic soybean seeds

Soybean plants are promising bioreactors for the expression of biochemically complex proteins that cannot be produced in a safe and/or economically viable way in microorganisms, eukaryotic culture cells or secreted by transgenic animal glands. Soybeans present many desirable agronomic characteristics for high scale protein production, such as high productivity, short reproductive cycle, photoperiod sensitivity, and natural organs destined for protein accumulation in the seeds. The significant similarities between plant and human cells in terms of protein synthesis processes, folding, assembly, and post-translational processing are important for efficient accumulation of recombinant proteins. We obtained two transgenic lines using biolystics, incorporating the human proinsulin gene under control of the monocot tissue-specific promoter from sorghum gamma-kafirin seed storage protein gene and the alpha-coixin cotyledonary vacuolar signal peptide from Coix lacryma-jobi (Poaceae). Transgenic plants expressed the proinsulin gene and accumulated the polypeptide in mature seeds. Protein targeting to cotyledonary protein storage vacuoles was successfully achieved and confirmed with immunocytochemistry assays. The combination of different regulatory sequences was apparently responsible for high stability in protein accumulation, since human proinsulin was detected after seven years under room temperature storage conditions.

Psychological aspects of pre-symptomatic testing for Machado-Joseph disease and familial amyloid polyneuropathy type I

Machado-Joseph disease [MJD, also spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3)] and familial amyloid polyneuropathy type I (FAP-I or ATTR V30M) are neurodegenerative disorders, inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, which have a high prevalence in Portugal, probably due to a founder effect. MJD and FAP-I are late-onset diseases, with symptoms emerging usually during adulthood. CGPP, which is the national reference centre for these disorders, has a genetic lab that offers diagnostic, pre-symptomatic and prenatal testing and an outpatient clinic to counsel and follow relatives at risk for hereditary ataxias, FAP-I and Huntington disease (HD). The present work is a review of our 10-year experience with psychological counselling of individuals at risk for MJD and FAP-I. Persons at risk for FAP-I may show a better response to pre-symptomatic testing than those who are at risk for MJD and HD because of the availability of liver transplantation, which may improve their health and life expectancy. Psychological well-being and specific distress of MJD and FAP-I test applicants, before undergoing genetic testing (baseline level) and 3 to 6 months after disclosure of test results, have shown a low level of change, both in identified carriers and non-carriers. A major goal of psychological characterization of at-risk individuals for MJD and FAP-I is to determine the factors that influence the uptake of genetic testing.

Expression of a thioredoxin peroxidase in insulin-producing cells

The presence of thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx), also known as thiol specific antioxidant (TSA), was investigated in neonatal and adult rat islets, and in the beta-cell line HIT-T15. Western blotting of extracts from neonatal and adult pancreatic islets and from the tumoral cell line HIT-T15 revealed the presence of a 25 kDa protein that comigrated with purified yeast TPx. Endocrine pancreatic TPx accounted for approximately 0.01% of the total protein content. Treatment with H2O2 for 3 h increased the expression of TPx in HIT-T15 cells. The distribution of TPx throughout the islet cells was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Since pancreatic beta-cells possess a weak antioxidant enzyme defense system, especially with regard to hydrogen peroxidase-decomposing enzymes, the presence of a TPx analog in islets suggests that this enzyme may play a role in protecting pancreatic cells against reactive oxygen species.

Fastidian gum: the Xylella fastidiosa exopolysaccharide possibly involved in bacterial pathogenicity

The Gram-negative bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was the first plant pathogen to be completely sequenced. This species causes several economically important plant diseases, including citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC). Analysis of the genomic sequence of X. fastidiosa revealed a 12 kb DNA fragment containing an operon closely related to the gum operon of Xanthomonas campestris. The presence of all genes involved in the synthesis of sugar precursors, existence of exopolysaccharide (EPS) production regulators in the genome, and the absence of three of the X. campestris gum genes suggested that X. fastidiosa is able to synthesize an EPS different from that of xanthan gum. This novel EPS probably consists of polymerized tetrasaccharide repeating units assembled by the sequential addition of glucose-1-phosphate, glucose, mannose and glucuronic acid on a polyprenol phosphate carrier.

Insulin modulates leptin-induced STAT3 activation in rat hypothalamus

Insulin and leptin have overlapping effects in the control of energy homeostasis, but the molecular basis of this synergism is unknown. Insulin signals through a receptor tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates and activates the docking proteins IRSs (insulin receptor substrates), whereas the leptin receptor and its associated protein tyrosine kinase JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) mediate phosphorylation and activation of the transcription factor STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription). Here, we present evidence for the integration of leptin and insulin signals in the hypothalamus. Insulin induced JAK2 tyrosine phosphorylation, leptin receptor phosphorylation which, in the presence of leptin, augmented the interaction between STAT3 and this receptor. Insulin also increased the leptin-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 and its activation. These results indicate that insulin modulates the leptin signal transduction pathway, and may provide a molecular basis for the coordinated effects of insulin and leptin in feeding behavior and weight control.

Selectively labeling the heterologous protein in Escherichia coli for NMR studies: a strategy to speed up NMR spectroscopy

Nuclear magnetic resonance is an important tool for high-resolution structural studies of proteins. It demands high protein concentration and high purity; however, the expression of proteins at high levels often leads to protein aggregation and the protein purification step can correspond to a high percentage of the overall time in the structural determination process. In the present article we show that the step of sample optimization can be simplified by selective labeling the heterologous protein expressed in Escherichia coli by the use of rifampicin. Yeast thioredoxin and a coix transcription factor Opaque 2 leucine zipper (LZ) were used to show the effectiveness of the protocol. The (1)H/(15)N heteronuclear correlation two-dimensional NMR spectrum (HMQC) of the selective (15)N-labeled thioredoxin without any purification is remarkably similar to the spectrum of the purified protein. The method has high yields and a good (1)H/(15)N HMQC spectrum can be obtained with 50 ml of M9 growth medium. Opaque 2 LZ, a difficult protein due to the lower expression level and high hydrophobicity, was also probed. The (15)N-edited spectrum of Opaque 2 LZ showed only the resonances of the protein of heterologous expression (Opaque 2 LZ) while the (1)H spectrum shows several other resonances from other proteins of the cell lysate. The demand for a fast methodology for structural determination is increasing with the advent of genome/proteome projects. Selective labeling the heterologous protein can speed up NMR structural studies as well as NMR-based drug screening. This methodology is especially effective for difficult proteins such as hydrophobic transcription factors, membrane proteins, and others.

Regulation of lysine catabolism in higher plants

Lysine is an essential amino acid for mammals but its concentration in cereals, one of our main food sources, is low. Research over the past 40 years has unraveled many biochemical and molecular details of the aspartic acid pathway, which is the main route of lysine biosynthesis in plants. However, genetic manipulation of this pathway has not been successful at producing high-lysine seeds. This is because lysine, instead of being accumulated, is degraded via the saccharopine pathway. Recent work has increased our knowledge of this pathway, including both the enzymes involved and their regulation.

Regulation of lysine catabolism in higher plants

Lysine is an essential amino acid for mammals but its concentration in cereals, one of our main food sources, is low. Research over the past 40 years has unraveled many biochemical and molecular details of the aspartic acid pathway, which is the main route of lysine biosynthesis in plants. However, genetic manipulation of this pathway has not been successful at producing high-lysine seeds. This is because lysine, instead of being accumulated, is degraded via the saccharopine pathway. Recent work has increased our knowledge of this pathway, including both the enzymes involved and their regulation.

Molecular characterization of a new arcelin-5 gene

Arcelins are insecticidal proteins found in some wild accessions of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris. They are grouped in six allelic variants and arcelin-5 is the variant with the highest inhibitory effect on the development of Zabrotes subfasciatus larvae. Characterization of the protein and its genes resulted in the identification of three polypeptides and the isolation of two genes that encode the Arc5a and Arc5b polypeptides. Here we describe a new gene, Arc5-III. The protein it encodes has 81% amino acid identity with the derived amino acid sequences of Arc5-I and Arc5-II. The Arc5-III gene is highly expressed in developing seeds and at a much lower level in roots. Data obtained by a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, protein sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis support the conclusion that Arc5-III encodes a polypeptide present in Arc5c band. Using ion-exchange chromatography, three fractions containing arcelin-5 polypeptides were eluted by increasing the salt concentration. The three fractions contain various amounts of the three arc-5 polypeptides and inhibit the growth of Zabrotes subfasciatus larvae differentially, suggesting differences in insecticidal activity among the arcelin-5 isoforms.

The DapA gene encoding the lysine biosynthetic enzyme dihydrodipicolinate synthase from Coix lacryma-jobi: cloning, characterization, and expression analysis

Dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHPS) is the main enzyme of a specific branch of the aspartate pathway leading to lysine biosynthesis in higher plants. We have cloned and characterized the DHPS-encoding Dap)A gene from the maize-related grass Coix lacryiana-jobi. The DapA open reading frame is interrupted by two introns and encodes the 326 amino acid-long Coix DHPS protein, which is 95% identical to the maize DHPS protein. Coix DNA gel blot analysis with maize DHPS cDNA as a probe showed a single strongly hybridizing band along with faint bands. RNA gel blot analysis showed that DHPS transcripts are present in coleoptiles, embryos, endosperms, and roots but are almost undetectable in blades of young leaves of both Coix and maize. The 5'-flanking region of the DapA gene contains a TGACTC GCN4-like element located 372 bp upstream the putative translation start codon. Steady-state levels of DHPS mRNA were slightly reduced in the endosperms and embryos of the maize lysine-rich opaque2 mutants when compared with those in normal kernels. Selective binding assay with the maize Opaque2 protein (O2) showed that the GCN4-like element is not an O2 binding site, suggesting that the DHPS gene is not under the control of O2.

Plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein activity in mitochondria isolated from tomatoes at different stages of ripening

In the present study we have observed a higher state of coupling in respiring mitochondria isolated from green as compared to red tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill.). Green tomato mitochondria produced a membrane potential (deltapsi) high enough to phosphorylate ADP, whereas in red tomato mitochondria, BSA and ATP were required to restore deltapsi to the level of that obtained with green tomato mitochondria. This supports the notion that such uncoupling in red tomato mitochondria is mediated by a plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP; cf. Vercesi et al., 1995). Nevertheless, mitochondria from both green and red tomatoes exhibited an ATP-sensitive linoleic acid (LA)-induced deltapsi decrease providing evidence that PUMP is also present in green tomatoes. Indeed, proteoliposomes containing reconstituted green or red tomato PUMP showed LA uniport and LA-induced H+ transport. It is suggested that the higher concentration of free fatty acids (PUMP substrates) in red tomatoes could explain the lower coupling state in mitochondria isolated from these fruits.

The role of opaque2 in the control of lysine-degrading activities in developing maize endosperm

We have isolated a cDNA clone, designated ZLKRSDH, encoding the bifunctional enzyme lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH) from maize. The predicted polypeptide has an N-terminal LKR domain and a C-terminal SDH domain that are similar to the yeast LYS1 and LYS9 monofunctional proteins, respectively. The maize LKR/SDH protein is located in the cytoplasm of subaleurone endosperm cell layers. Transcripts and polypeptides as well as enzyme activities showed an upregulation and downregulation during endosperm development. The developmental expression of ZLKRSDH was examined in normal and opaque2 seeds. In the mutant endosperm, mRNA levels were reduced by >90%, with concomitant reductions in polypeptide levels and LKR/SDH activity. These results suggest that lysine levels in the endosperm are likely to be controlled at the transcriptional level by the Opaque2 transcription factor.

Identification of a DNA-binding factor that recognizes an alpha-coixin promoter and interacts with a Coix Opaque-2 like protein

Transient expression and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to investigate the cis elements and the DNA-binding proteins involved in the regulation of expression of a 22 kDa zein-like alpha-coixin gene. A set of unidirectional deletions was generated in a 962 bp fragment of the alpha-coixin promoter that had been previously fused to the reporter gene GUS. The constructs were assayed by transient expression in immature maize endosperm. There was no significant decrease in GUS activity as deletions progressed from -1084 to -238. However, deletion from -238 to -158, which partially deleted the O2c box, resulted in a dramatic decrease in GUS activity emphasizing the importance of the O2 box in the quantitative expression of the gene. The -238 promoter fragment interacted with Coix endosperm nuclear proteins to form 5 DNA-protein complexes, C1-C5, as detected by EMSA. The same retarded complexes were observed when the -158 promoter fragment was used in the binding reactions. Reactions with nuclear extracts isolated from Coix endosperms harvested from 6 to 35 days after pollination revealed that the 5 DNA-protein complexes that interact with the alpha-coixin promoter are differentially assembled during seed development. Deletion analysis carried out on the -238/ATG promoter fragment showed that a 35 bp region from -86 to -51 is essential for the formation of the complexes observed. When nuclear extracts were incubated with an antiserum raised against the maize Opaque-2 protein, the formation of 4 complexes, C1, C3, C4 and C5, was prevented indicating that an Opaque-2 like protein participates in the formation of those complexes. Complex C2 was not affected by the addition of the O2 antibody, suggesting the existence of a novel nuclear factor, CBF1, that binds to the promoter and makes protein-protein associations with other proteins present in Coix endosperm nuclei.