bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The ropAe gene encodes a porin‐like protein involved in copper transit in Rhizobium etli CFN42
Authors: González‐Sánchez Antonio , Cubillas Ciro A. , Miranda Fabiola , Dávalos Araceli , García‐de los Santos Alejandro 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCopper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for all aerobic forms of life. Its oxidation states (Cu+/Cu2+) make this metal an important cofactor of enzymes catalyzing redox reactions in essential biological processes. In gram‐negative bacteria, Cu uptake is an unexplored component of a finely regulated trafficking network, mediated by protein–protein interactions that deliver Cu to target proteins and efflux surplus metal to avoid toxicity. Rhizobium etliCFN42 is a facultative symbiotic diazotroph that must ensure its appropriate Cu supply for living either free in the soil or as an intracellular symbiont of leguminous plants. In crop fields, rhizobia have to contend with copper‐based fungicides. A detailed deletion analysis of the pRet42e (505 kb) plasmid from an R. etli mutant with enhanced CuCl2 tolerance led us to the identification of the ropAe gene, predicted to encode an outer membrane protein (OMP) with a β–barrel channel structure that may be involved in Cu transport. In support of this hypothesis, the functional characterization of ropAe revealed that: (I) gene disruption increased copper tolerance of the mutant, and its complementation with the wild‐type gene restored its wild‐type copper sensitivity; (II) the ropAe gene maintains a low basal transcription level in copper overload, but is upregulated when copper is scarce; (III) disruption of ropAe in an actP (copA) mutant background, defective in copper efflux, partially reduced its copper sensitivity phenotype. Finally, BLASTP comparisons and a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis highlight the diversification of four RopA paralogs in members of the Rhizobiaceae family. Orthologs of RopAe are highly conserved in the Rhizobiales order, poorly conserved in other alpha proteobacteria and phylogenetically unrelated to characterized porins involved in Cu or Mn uptake.
A Novel Antihypertensive Peptide Identified in Thermolysin‐Digested Rice Bran
Authors: Shobako Naohisa , Ogawa Yutaro , Ishikado Atsushi , Harada Kayo , Kobayashi Etsuko , Suido Hirohisa , Kusakari Takashi , Maeda Mariko , Suwa Makoto , Matsumoto Motonobu , Kanamoto Ryuhei , Ohinata Kousaku 
Published: December 2017

ScopeHypertension is a risk factor for arteriosclerosis. In this study, we investigate the antihypertensive effect of protease‐digested rice bran in a spontaneously hypertension rat (SHR) model. We also purify a novel antihypertensive peptide from the digest.Methods and resultsThermolysin‐digested rice bran (TRB) is administered to SHRs for 4 weeks, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly using the tail‐cuff method. TRB shows an antihypertensive effect in a dose‐dependent manner. TRB also reduces angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity in lung tissue and serum troponin I levels. TRB is fractionated by HPLC and ACE‐inhibitory activity in the HPLC fractions is measured. Peptides LRA and YY are identified from the two fractions with the strongest ACE‐inhibitory activity. Amino acid sequence of these peptides are found in a vicilin‐like seed storage protein, and identified in rice bran protein using the peptide mass fingerprint method. We confirm that LRA and YY are cleaved by thermolysin digestion of a model synthetic peptide. Orally administered LRA (0.25 mg kg−1) or YY (0.5 mg kg−1) lowers the SBP of SHRs at 4 h after administration.ConclusionWe identify a novel, orally active antihypertensive peptide, LRA from the digest of rice bran protein.
Body Mass Index and Subjective Social Status: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study
Authors: Dhurandhar Emily J. , Pavela Gregory , Kaiser Kathryn A. , Dutton Gareth R. , Fontaine Kevin R. , Kim Daniel , Shikany James M. , Allison David B. , Lewis Cora E. 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveSubjective social status (SSS), or perceived social status, may explain, in part, the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity. The objective of this study was to test whether SSS mediates the relationship between two indicators of SES (income and education) and body mass index (BMI).MethodsA cross‐sectional, structural equation path analysis was applied to the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study (n = 2,624). The analysis tested whether SSS (MacArthur scale), education, and income were associated with BMI at the year 20 examination (adjusting for sex, age, and race), and it was hypothesized that the associations of education and income with BMI would be at least partly mediated by SSS.ResultsSSS had a significant direct effect on BMI (−0.21, P = 0.018). Education had a significant direct relationship with SSS (0.11, P < 0.001) and a small but significant indirect relationship with BMI through SSS (−0.02, P = 0.022). Although income did not have a significant direct relationship with BMI, it did have a significant indirect relationship through SSS (b = −0.05, P = 0.019).ConclusionsResults are consistent with the hypothesized model in which SSS partially mediates the relationship between SES indicators and BMI.
Sex Commonalities and Differences in Obesity‐Related Alterations in Intrinsic Brain Activity and Connectivity
Authors: Gupta Arpana , Mayer Emeran A. , Labus Jennifer S. , Bhatt Ravi R. , Ju Tiffany , Love Aubrey , Bal Amanat , Tillisch Kirsten , Naliboff Bruce , Sanmiguel Claudia P. , Kilpatrick Lisa A. 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveThis study aimed to characterize obesity‐related sex differences in the intrinsic activity and connectivity of the brain's reward networks.MethodsEighty‐six women (n = 43) and men (n = 43) completed a 10‐minute resting functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Sex differences and commonalities in BMI‐related frequency power distribution and reward seed‐based connectivity were investigated by using partial least squares analysis.ResultsFor whole‐brain activity in both men and women, increased BMI was associated with increased slow‐5 activity in the left globus pallidus (GP) and substantia nigra. In women only, increased BMI was associated with increased slow‐4 activity in the right GP and bilateral putamen. For seed‐based connectivity in women, increased BMI was associated with reduced slow‐5 connectivity between the left GP and putamen and the emotion and cortical regulation regions, but in men, increased BMI was associated with increased connectivity with the medial frontal cortex. In both men and women, increased BMI was associated with increased slow‐4 connectivity between the right GP and bilateral putamen and the emotion regulation and sensorimotor‐related regions.ConclusionsThe stronger relationship between increased BMI and decreased connectivity of core reward network components with cortical and emotion regulation regions in women may be related to the greater prevalence of emotional eating. The present findings suggest the importance of personalized treatments for obesity that consider the sex of the affected individual.
Tissue Sodium Content is Elevated in the Skin and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Women with Lipedema
Authors: Crescenzi Rachelle , Marton Adriana , Donahue Paula M.C. , Mahany Helen B. , Lants Sarah K. , Wang Ping , Beckman Joshua A. , Donahue Manus J. , Titze Jens 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that tissue sodium and adipose content are elevated in patients with lipedema; if confirmed, this could establish precedence for tissue sodium and adipose content representing a discriminatory biomarker for lipedema.MethodsParticipants with lipedema (n = 10) and control (n = 11) volunteers matched for biological sex, age, BMI, and calf circumference were scanned with 3.0‐T sodium and conventional proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Standardized tissue sodium content was quantified in the calf skin, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and muscle. Dixon MRI was employed to quantify tissue fat and water volumes of the calf. Nonparametric statistical tests were applied to compare regional sodium content and fat‐to‐water volume between groups (significance: two‐sided P ≤ 0.05).ResultsSkin (P = 0.01) and SAT (P = 0.04) sodium content were elevated in lipedema (skin: 14.9 ± 2.9 mmol/L; SAT: 11.9 ± 3.1 mmol/L) relative to control participants (skin: 11.9 ± 2.0 mmol/L; SAT: 9.4 ± 1.6 mmol/L). Relative fat‐to‐water volume in the calf was elevated in lipedema (1.2 ± 0.48 ratio) relative to control participants (0.63 ± 0.26 ratio; P < 0.001). Skin sodium content was directly correlated with fat‐to‐water volume (Spearman's rho = 0.54; P = 0.01).ConclusionsInternal metrics of tissue sodium and adipose content are elevated in patients with lipedema, potentially providing objective imaging‐based biomarkers for differentially diagnosing the under‐recognized condition of lipedema from obesity.
MiR‐27b‐3p Regulation in Browning of Human Visceral Adipose Related to Central Obesity
Authors: Yu Jing , Lv Yifan , Di Wenjuan , Liu Juan , Kong Xiaocen , Sheng Yunlu , Huang Min , Lv Shan , Qi Hanmei , Gao Mei , Liang Hui , Kim Sarah , Fu Zan , Zhou Hong , Ding Guoxian 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveGiven the rising prevalence of central obesity and the discovery that beige cells appear within white adipose tissue, strategies to enhance these energy‐expending adipocytes or “browning” within white adipose depots have become of therapeutic interest to combat obesity and its associated disorders. This study focused on, the role of microRNA (miRNA)‐27b‐3p in human visceral adipose tissue (VAT) browning.MethodsExpression of miR‐27b‐3p and UCP1 in VAT and serum of humans was measured. MiR‐27b‐3p was overexpressed or suppressed in human visceral stromal fraction cells to analyze the potential role of miR‐27b‐3p.ResultsUCP1 expression in human VAT decreased with elevated BMI and waist‐hip ratio, whereas expression of miR‐27b‐3p was found to correlate positively with BMI and waist‐hip ratio. High expression of miR‐27b‐3p was associated with reduced browning ability of human visceral adipocytes. Antagonism of miR‐27b‐3p led to the enhancement of browning ability in human visceral adipocytes.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the decreased browning ability of VAT from humans with obesity and the role of miR‐27b‐3p in regulating browning of human visceral adipocytes. They suggest that miR‐27b‐3p should be further explored as a potential target for the treatment of central obesity.
Improved mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with surface‐treated UHMWPE fibers
Authors: Li Weiwei , Huang Momo , Ma Renliang 
Published: December 2017

The surface treatment of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene fiber using potassium permanganate and the mechanical properties of its epoxy composites were studied. After treatment, many changes were happened in the fiber surface: more O‐containing groups (―OH, ―C═O, and ―C―O groups), drastically decreased contact angles with water and ethylene glycol, slightly increased melting point and crystallinity, and formed cracks. Different contents (0.1–0.5 wt%) ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene fibers/epoxy composites were prepared. The results indicated that the surface treatment decreased the tensile strength of epoxy composites, but increased the bending strength. When the fiber content was 0.3 wt%, the above properties reached the maximum. At the same fiber content, the interlaminar shear strength of the composites was increased by 26.6% up to the as‐received fiber composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the composites suggested the storage modulus and tanδ were decreased due to the surface treatment. Fractured surface analysis confirmed that the potassium permanganate treatment was effective in improving the interface interaction.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis in Candida albicans Using SILAC‐Based Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Kaneva Iliyana N. , Longworth Joseph , Sudbery Peter E. , Dickman Mark J. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractStable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) in conjunction with MS analysis is a sensitive and reliable technique for quantifying relative differences in protein abundance and posttranslational modifications between cell populations. We develop and utilise SILAC‐MS workflows for quantitative proteomics in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Arginine metabolism provides important cues for escaping host defences during pathogenesis, which limits the use of auxotrophs in Candida research. Our strategy eliminates the need for engineering arginine auxotrophs for SILAC experiments and allows the use of ARG4 as selectable marker during strain construction. Cells that are auxotrophic for lysine are successfully labelled with both lysine and arginine stable isotopes. We find that prototrophic C. albicans preferentially uses exogenous arginine and down‐regulates internal production, which allow it to achieve high incorporation rates. However, similar to other yeast, C. albicans is able to metabolise heavy arginine to heavy proline, which compromised the accuracy of protein quantification. A computational method is developed to correct for the incorporation of heavy proline. In addition, we utilise the developed SILAC labelling in C. albicans for the global quantitative proteomic analysis of a strain expressing a phosphatase‐dead mutant Cdc14PD.
Targeted On‐line SPE‐LC‐MS/MS Assay for the Quantitation of 12 Apolipoproteins from Human Blood
Authors: Dittrich Julia , Adam Melanie , Maas Hilke , Hecht Max , Reinicke Madlen , Ruhaak L. Renee , Cobbaert Christa , Engel Christoph , Wirkner Kerstin , Löffler Markus , Thiery Joachim , Ceglarek Uta 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLaborious sample pretreatment of biological samples represents the most limiting factor for the translation of targeted proteomics assays from research to clinical routine. An optimized method for the simultaneous quantitation of 12 major apolipoproteins (apos) combining on‐line SPE and fast LC‐MS/MS analysis in 6.5 min total run time was developed, reducing the manual sample pretreatment time of 3 μL serum or plasma by 60%. Within‐run and between‐day imprecisions below 10 and 15% (n = 10) and high recovery rates (94–131%) were obtained applying the high‐throughput setup. High‐quality porcine trypsin was used, which outperformed cost‐effective bovine trypsin regarding digestion efficiency. Comparisons with immunoassays and another LC‐MS/MS assay demonstrated good correlation (Pearson's R: 0.81–0.98). Further, requirements on sample quality concerning sampling, processing, and long‐term storage up to 1 year were investigated revealing significant influences of the applied sampling material and coagulant on quantitation results. Apo profiles of 1339 subjects of the LIFE‐Adult‐Study were associated with lifestyle and physiological parameters as well as establish parameters of lipid metabolism (e.g., triglycerides, cholesterol). Besides gender effects, most significant impact was seen regarding lipid‐lowering medication. In conclusion, this novel highly standardized, high‐throughput targeted proteomics assay utilizes a fast, simultaneous analysis of 12 apos from least sample amounts.
Importance of the RpoE Regulon in Maintaining the Lipid Bilayer during Antimicrobial Treatment with the Polycationic Agent, Chlorhexidine
Authors: Vidovic Sinisa , Medihala Prabhakara , Dynes James J. , Daida Prasad , Vujanovic Vladimir , Hitchcock Adam P. , Shetty Deeksha , Zhang Haixia , Brown David R. , Lawrence John R. , Korber Darren R. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe emergence of multidrug resistance in bacteria has reached alarming levels. To solve this growing problem, discovery of novel cellular targets or pathways important for antimicrobial resistance is urgently needed. In this study, we explored how the alternative sigma factor, RpoE, protects Escherichia coli O157 against the toxic effects of the polycationic antimicrobial agent, chlorhexidine (CHX). Susceptibility of this organism to CHX was found to directly correlate to the growth rate, with the faster replicating wild‐type being more susceptible to CHX than its more slowly replicating ΔrpoE O157 mutant. Once the wild‐type and rpoE mutant strains had undergone growth arrest (entered the stationary growth phase), their resistance to CHX became entirely dependent on the functionality of RpoE. The RpoE regulon plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the asymmetric lipid bilayer of E. coli, thereby preventing the intracellular accumulation of CHX. Finally, using a single‐cell, high‐resolution, synchrotron‐based approach, we discovered a subpopulation of the rpoE mutant strain with no detectable intracellular CHX, a predominant characteristic of the wild‐type CHX‐resistant population. This finding reveals a role of phenotypic heterogeneity in antimicrobial resistance.
Combining Phosphoproteomics Datasets and Literature Information to Reveal the Functional Connections in a Cell Phosphorylation Network
Authors: Sacco Francesca , Perfetto Livia , Cesareni Gianni 
Published: December 2017

AbstractProtein phosphorylation modulates many biological processes. However, the characterization of the complex regulatory circuits underlying cell response to external and internal stimuli is still limited by our inability to describe the phosphorylation network on a global scale. Modern MS‐based phosphoproteomics allows monitoring tens of thousands of phosphorylation sites in multiple conditions, making the approach ideal to explore signaling pathways mediated by phosphorylation. Here, we review recent advances in phosphoproteomics and discuss some of the computational approaches developed to facilitate extraction of signaling information from these datasets. Finally, this review focuses on approaches that integrate prior literature information with unbiased phosphoproteomics experiments.
Taxanes Hybrid Nanovectors: From Design to Physico‐Chemical Evaluation of Docetaxel and Paclitaxel Gold (III)‐PEGylated Complex Nanocarriers
Authors: Marguerit Gwendolyn , Moustaoui Hanane , Haddada Maroua Ben , Djaker Nadia , de la Chapelle Marc Lamy , Spadavecchia Jolanda 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study gives an original methodology to synthetize novel metallo‐drugs nanoparticles relevant for medicinal chemistry. Gold (HAuCl4) are complexes with antitumor compounds (paclitaxel (PTX); docetaxel (DTX)) and dicarboxylic acid‐terminated polyethylene‐glycol (PEG) that plays a role of surfactants. The proposed synthesis is fast and leads to hybrid‐metal nanoparticles (AuNPs) in which drug solubility is improved. The interactions between drugs (DTX, PTX), PEG diacid (PEG), and Au (III) ions to form hybrid nanocarriers called DTX IN PEG‐AuNPs and PTX IN PEG‐AuNPs, are characterized by various analytical techniques (Raman and UV–vis spectroscopies) and transmission electron microscopy. The efficient drugs release under pH conditions is also achieved and characterized showing an amazing reversible equilibrium between Au (III)‐complex‐drug and Au0NPs. For therapeutic purposes, such AuNPs are then decorated with the anti‐EGFR polyclonal antibodies, which specifically recognizes the hERG1 channel aberrantly expressed on the membrane of human lung cancer cells. This paper, through an original chemical approach, will occupy an important position in the field of nanomedicine, and hope that novel perspectives will be proposed for the development of high drug‐loading nanomedicines.
Structure and Stability of PEG‐ and Mixed PEG‐Layer‐Coated Nanoparticles at High Particle Concentrations Studied In Situ by Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering
Authors: Schulz Florian , Möller Johannes , Lehmkühler Felix , Smith Andrew J. , Vossmeyer Tobias , Lange Holger , Grübel Gerhard , Schroer Martin A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLigand‐layer structure and stability of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated with α‐methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)‐ω‐(11‐mercaptoundecanoate) (PEGMUA) layers and mixed layers of PEGMUA and 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) at high AuNP concentrations are studied in situ by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). The thickness of the ligand layer is modified by the molecular weight of the PEG‐ligands (2 and 5 kDa), and the PEG‐grafting density is decreased by coadsorption of MUA. The response of the conjugates to a pressure of up to 4 kbar is probed. The results indicate strongly hydrated PEG layers at high grafting densities. The stability of the mixed ligand‐layer conjugates is lower. This is most probably due to enhanced interparticle PEG–PEG interactions at lower grafting densities. The presented study demonstrates that a detailed structural characterization of polymer ligand layers in situ and in response to external stimuli is possible with SAXS.
A Macroscopically Relevant 3D‐Metrology Approach for Nanocatalysis Research
Authors: López‐Haro Miguel , Tinoco Miguel , Fernández‐Garcia Susana , Chen Xiaowei , Hungria Ana Belén , Cauqui Miguel Ángel , Calvino José Juan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractA 3D nanometrological approach, which considers as an unbiased validation criterion the quantitative match between values of properties determined by macroscopic characterization techniques and those determined from the nanoscopic results, is developed to unveil the details of complex nanocatalysts. This approach takes into account both the peculiar characteristics of this type of materials and the large influence of noise in the tilt series. It combines, in an optimized way, the latest experimental developments in high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy mode (HAADF‐STEM) tomography, such as batch tomography, image denoising by undecimated wavelet transforms, improved reconstructions by total variation minimization and a more efficient, user‐independent, segmentation scheme. To illustrate the use of this novel approach, the 3D structural characterization of a model nanocatalyst comprising gold nanoparticles dispersed on the surface of CeO2 nanocubes is performed, and the obtained results used to compute the values of different macroscopic chemical and textural properties. Comparison with values obtained by macroscopic characterization techniques match very closely those obtained by 3D nanometrology. Importantly, the new approach described in this work also illustrates a pipeline for nearly fully automated HAADF‐STEM tomography studies, guaranteeing reliable correlations between nanoscopic and macroscopic properties.
Understanding TGEV–ETEC Coinfection through the Lens of Proteomics: A Tale of Porcine Diarrhea
Authors: Arango Duque Guillermo , Acevedo Ospina Hamlet Adolfo 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPorcine diarrhea and gastroenteritis are major causes of piglet mortality that result in devastating economic losses to the industry. A plethora of pathogens can cause these diseases, with the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 (ETEC) being two of the most salient. In the December 2017 issue of Proteomics Clinical Aplications, Xia and colleagues used comparative proteomics to shed light on how these microbes interact to cause severe disease . The authors discovered that TGEV induces an epithelial‐mesenchymal transition‐like phenotype that augments cell adhesion proteins mediating the attachment of ETEC to intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, coinfection was found to modulate several host proteins that could bolster pathogen persistence. Importantly, the authors observed that ETEC suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by TGEV, which may in turn promote the long‐term survival of both microbes.