Enigmatic effect of cellular ATP on fatty acid biosynthesis. Stimulation by moderate decrease and inhibition by increase of cellular ATP

Synergistic survival-related effects of larval exposure to an aquatic pollutant and food stress get stronger during and especially after metamorphosis and shape fitness of terrestrial adults

To improve the ecological risk assessment of aquatic pollutants it is needed to study their effects not only in the aquatic larval stage, but also in the terrestrial adult stage of the many animals with a complex life cycle. This remains understudied, especially with regard to interactive effects between aquatic pollutants and natural abiotic stressors. We studied effects of exposure to the pesticide DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) and how these were modulated by limited food availability in the aquatic larvae, and the possible delayed effects in the terrestrial adults of the damselfly Lestes viridis. Our results revealed that DNP and low food each had large negative effects on the life history, behaviour and to a lesser extent on the physiology of not only the larvae, but also the adults. Food limitation magnified the negative effects of DNP as seen by a strong decline in larval survival, metamorphosis success and adult lifespan. Notably, the synergism between the aquatic pollutant and food limitation for survival-related traits was stronger in the non-exposed adults than in the exposed larvae, likely because metamorphosis is stressful itself. Our results highlight that identifying effects of aquatic pollutants and synergisms with natural abiotic stressors, not only in the aquatic larval but also in the terrestrial adult stage, is crucial to fully assess the ecological impact of aquatic pollutants and to reveal the impact on the receiving terrestrial ecosystem through a changed aquatic-terrestrial subsidy.

Colorectal keratins: Integrating nutrition, metabolism and colorectal health

The colon mucosa is lined with crypts of circa 300 cells, forming a continuous barrier whose roles include absorption of water, recovery of metabolic energy sources (notably short chain fatty acids), secretion of a protective mucus barrier, and physiological signalling. There is high turnover and replenishment of cells in the mucosa, disruption of this may lead to bowel pathologies including cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Keratins have been implicated in the processes of cell death, epithelial integrity, response to inflammation and as a result are often described as guardians of the colonic epithelium. Keratin proteins carry extensive post-translational modifications, the cofactors for kinases, acetyl transferases and other modification-regulating enzymes are themselves products of metabolism. A cluster of studies has begun to reveal a bidirectional relationship between keratin form and function and metabolism. In this paper we hypothesise a mechanistic interaction between keratins and metabolism is governed through regulation of post-translational modifications and may contribute significantly to the normal functioning of the colon, placing keratins at the centre of a nutrition-metabolism-health triangle.

Purinergic signalling in the liver in health and disease

Purinergic signalling is involved in both the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver. Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, stellate cells and cholangiocytes all express purinoceptor subtypes activated by adenosine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, uridine 5'-triphosphate or UDP. Purinoceptors mediate bile secretion, glycogen and lipid metabolism and indirectly release of insulin. Mechanical stress results in release of ATP from hepatocytes and Kupffer cells and ATP is also released as a cotransmitter with noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves supplying the liver. Ecto-nucleotidases play important roles in the signalling process. Changes in purinergic signalling occur in vascular injury, inflammation, insulin resistance, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, diabetes, hepatitis, liver regeneration following injury or transplantation and cancer. Purinergic therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these pathologies are being explored.

Alteration of mitochondrial efficiency affects oxidative balance, development and growth in frog (Rana temporaria) tadpoles

Mitochondria are known to play a central role in life history processes, being the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which promote oxidative constraint. Surprisingly, although the main role of the mitochondria is to produce ATP, the plasticity of mitochondrial ATP generation has received little attention in life history studies. Yet, mitochondrial energy transduction represents the physiological link between environmental resources and energy allocated to animal performance. Studying both facets of mitochondrial functioning (ATP and ROS production) would allow better understanding of the proximate mechanisms underlying life history. We have experimentally modulated the mitochondrial capacity to generate ROS and ATP during larval development of Rana temporaria tadpoles, via chronic exposure (34 days) to a mitochondrial uncoupler (2,4-dinitrophenol, dNP). The aim was to better understand the impact of mitochondrial uncoupling on both responses in terms of oxidative balance, energy input (oxygen and feeding consumption) and energy output (growth and development of the tadpole). Exposure to 2,4-dNP reduced mitochondrial ROS generation, total antioxidant defences and oxidative damage in treated tadpoles compared with controls. Despite the beneficial effect of dNP on oxidative status, development and growth rates of treated tadpoles were lower than those in the control group. Treatment of tadpoles with 2,4-dNP promoted a mild mitochondrial uncoupling and enhanced metabolic rate. These tadpoles did not increase their food consumption, and thus failed to compensate for the energy loss elicited by the decrease in the efficiency of ATP production. These data suggest that the cost of ATP production, rather than the oxidative balance, is the parameter that constrains growth/development of tadpoles, highlighting the central role of energy transduction in larval performance.

Link between high-affinity adenosine concentrative nucleoside transporter-2 (CNT2) and energy metabolism in intestinal and liver parenchymal cells

Concentrative nucleoside transporter 2 (CNT2) is a high-affinity adenosine transporter that may play physiological roles beyond nucleoside salvage. Previous reports relate CNT2 function to modulation of purinergic signaling and energy metabolism in intestinal and liver parenchymal cells (Duflot et al., 2004, Mol Cell Biol 24:2710-2719; Aymerich et al., 2006, J Cell Sci 119:1612-1621). In the present study, to further examine the link between CNT2 and energy metabolism, CNT2 protein partners were identified using the bacterial two-hybrid and GST pull-down approaches. The N-terminal segment of CNT2 was used as bait, since proteins lacking this domain display impaired plasma membrane insertion and intracellular retention. Glucose-regulated protein 58 (GRP58) was identified as a potential rCNT2 partner in pull-down experiments. Two-hybrid screening performed against a liver human cDNA library led to the identification of aldolase B as another hCNT2 partner. Aldolase B-RFP and endogenous GRP58 separately co-localized with CNT2 in HeLa cells transfected with YFPrCNT2. CNT2 interaction with GRP58 was validated using co-immunoprecipitation experiments. In HeLa cells, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency increased upon fructose addition, consistent with a transient interaction between aldolase B and the transporter. The physiological basis for in vivo interactions was derived from experiments in which GRP58 was inhibited or overexpressed and aldolase B activity stimulated towards glycolysis. GRP58 appeared to be a negative effector of CNT2 function, whereas aldolase B flux modulated CNT2 activity via a mechanism involving acquisition of higher affinity for its substrates. These findings support the theory that CNT2 plays roles other than salvage and establishes links with energy metabolism.