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Miles JA, Davies TA, Hayman RD, Lorenzen G, Taylor J, Anjarwalla M, Allen SJR, Graham JWD, Taylor PC. A Case Study of Eukaryogenesis: The Evolution of Photoreception by Photolyase/Cryptochrome Proteins. J Mol Evol 2020; 88:662-673. [PMID: 32979052 PMCID: PMC7560933 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-020-09965-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryogenesis, the origin of the eukaryotes, is still poorly understood. Herein, we show how a detailed all-kingdom phylogenetic analysis overlaid with a map of key biochemical features can provide valuable clues. The photolyase/cryptochrome family of proteins are well known to repair DNA in response to potentially harmful effects of sunlight and to entrain circadian rhythms. Phylogenetic analysis of photolyase/cryptochrome protein sequences from a wide range of prokaryotes and eukaryotes points to a number of horizontal gene transfer events between ancestral bacteria and ancestral eukaryotes. Previous experimental research has characterised patterns of tryptophan residues in these proteins that are important for photoreception, specifically a tryptophan dyad, a canonical tryptophan triad, an alternative tryptophan triad, a tryptophan tetrad and an alternative tetrad. Our results suggest that the spread of the different triad and tetrad motifs across the kingdoms of life accompanied the putative horizontal gene transfers and is consistent with multiple bacterial contributions to eukaryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Miles
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Thomas A Davies
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Robert D Hayman
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Georgia Lorenzen
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Jamie Taylor
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Mubeena Anjarwalla
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sammie J R Allen
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - John W D Graham
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Paul C Taylor
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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Mei H, Guo S, Lu H, Pan Y, Mei W, Zhang B, Zhang J. Impact of parental weight status on children's body mass index in early life: evidence from a Chinese cohort. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e018755. [PMID: 29921677 PMCID: PMC6020987 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To understand whether parents' weight status before conception predicts body mass index (BMI) of their offspring in early life and the differences between the mother-child and father-child associations. DESIGN A birth cohort study. SETTING Conducted at the Community Health Service Centre in Shenyang, Wuhan and Guangzhou. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2220 live birth newborns were recruited randomly after consent of their parents, and 1178 were followed up until 2 years old. METHODS Parental demographics, maternal characteristics during pregnancy, children's anthropometric data and feeding patterns at 1 month old were collected. BMI was calculated and BMI Z-scores (BMI_Z) were generated by referring to WHO growth standard. Parental weight status was categorised into underweight, normal weight, and overweight and obese according to the Working Group of Obesity in China. General linear models and generalised linear models were used to assess the associations between parents and offspring. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes were descriptive data on child's sex-specific anthropometric variables. The secondary outcomes were BMI_Z and weight status of children at each time point. RESULTS No gender difference was observed in BMI_Z or overweight or obesity rates from birth to 24 months old, although boys were significantly heavier and had a greater length/height than girls (P<0.05). The overweight and obesity rates of children peaked at 12 months old. Maternal BMI/weight status had a significant but small effect on BMI_Z at birth, but not on the paternal side. The impact of parental BMI on child's BMI_Z after birth was similar at each follow-up. Offspring with underweight mothers tend to have reduced BMI_Z after birth while overweight/obese fathers had children with a greater BMI_Z. CONCLUSIONS Maternal weight status had small effect on both fetal and child growth after birth. Significant but mild paternal influence was only detected after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Mei
- Department of Maternal and Child Health Care, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Children’s Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Siyu Guo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health Care, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyan Lu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health Care, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunhong Pan
- Department of cardiology, Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenhua Mei
- Department of Information, Public Hospital Administration of Zhuhai Municipality, Zhuhai, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Wuhan Children’s Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianduan Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health Care, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Exclusive breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding reduce the risk of overweight in childhood: A nationwide longitudinal study in Korea. Obes Res Clin Pract 2018; 12:222-228. [PMID: 29396229 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Breastfeeding is generally known to reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity. However, the results are controversial between countries, and nationwide data are rare. This study assessed the relationship between breastfeeding types and overweight incidence using nationwide longitudinal data in Korea. METHODS We analysed 774,764 infants who participated in the longitudinal nationwide data from the Korea National Children's Health Examination 2007-2013. Childhood overweight was defined by a Z-score≥1.64 (95th centile) for infants under 24 months and Z-scores≥1.04 (85th centile) for children over 24 months. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyse the relationship between breastfeeding types and overweight incidence. RESULTS Infants who were exclusively breastfed at 4-6 months of age had the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HRs) for overweight of 0.78 (95% CI 0.77-0.79) and infants who were partially breastfed had the HRs for overweight of 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.98), which was lower compared to that of the exclusively formula fed group. Similar results were obtained for stratified analysis by boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS Exclusive and partial breastfeeding have preventive effect on childhood overweight in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage breastfeeding to prevent childhood obesity and its consequences in developed Asian countries.
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Sha T, Yan Y, Gao X, Xiang S, Zeng G, Liu S, He Q. Association between Sleep and Body Weight: A Panel Data Model Based on a Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort of Chinese Infants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E458. [PMID: 28441347 PMCID: PMC5451909 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14050458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The focus of this article is on sleep duration and sleep problems in infants and their association with body weight. A retrospective birth cohort of 519 infants was enrolled in a community-based study conducted in Changsha, China. Infant weight and other health-related information were collected during regular standard checkups at the Community Health Service Centers when infants were 1, 3, 6, 8, and 12 months old. The sleep duration and sleep problems of infants were assessed by maternal self-reports. Panel data model was used to evaluate the association of sleep duration and sleep problems with infant body weight. Significant relevance between self-reported sleep duration and weight of infants has been reported in the literature tested by the fixed effects model (p < 0.01). However, this study indicated that sleep problems of infants had no effect on their weight (p = 0.151), after adjusting feeding patterns and socioeconomic factors of their families. This paper argues that, as a potentially modifiable risk factor, infant sleep duration deserves more attention from their parents and families in order to prevent and control overweight or obesity in infants as well as reducing the incidence of obesity in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Sha
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Yan Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Xiao Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Shiting Xiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Guangyu Zeng
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Shiping Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Qiong He
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China.
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Developmental origins of type 2 diabetes: a perspective from China. Eur J Clin Nutr 2017; 71:870-880. [PMID: 28378847 DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There has been a marked increase in the prevalence of diabetes in Asia, including China, over the last few decades. While the increased prevalence of diabetes has often been attributed to the nutritional transition associated with recent economic development, emerging data suggest that early-life exposures also play a major role in shaping developmental trajectories, and contributes to alter an individual's susceptibility to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Early-life exposures such as in utero exposure to undernutrition has been consistently linked with later risk of diabetes and obesity. Furthermore, in utero exposure to maternal hyperglycemia, maternal obesity and excess gestational weight gain are all linked with increased childhood obesity and later risk of diabetes. Emerging data have also highlighted the potential link between early-feeding practices, the role of one-carbon metabolism in metabolic programming and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with later risk of diabetes. These different developmental exposures may all be highly relevant to the current epidemic of diabetes in China. For example, the prevalence of gestational diabetes has increased markedly over the last two decades, and may contribute to the diabetes epidemic by driving macrosomia, childhood obesity and later risk of diabetes. In order to address the current burden of diabetes, a lifecourse perspective, incorporating multisectoral efforts from public health policy down to the individuals, will be needed. Several major initiatives have been launched in China as part of its national plans for NCD prevention and treatment, and the experience from these efforts would be invaluable.
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