Mitochondrial biogenesis in mammals: the role of endogenous nitric oxide

Nitric oxide was found to trigger mitochondrial biogenesis in cells as diverse as brown adipocytes and 3T3-L1, U937, and HeLa cells. This effect of nitric oxide was dependent on guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) and was mediated by the induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, the mitochondrial biogenesis induced by exposure to cold was markedly reduced in brown adipose tissue of endothelial nitric oxide synthase null-mutant (eNOS-/-) mice, which had a reduced metabolic rate and accelerated weight gain as compared to wild-type mice. Thus, a nitric oxide-cGMP-dependent pathway controls mitochondrial biogenesis and body energy balance.     

Relationship between biochemical markers and radiographic scores in the evaluation of the osteoarticular status of Warmblood stallions

Establishing the osteoarticular status of the horse is often performed by means of radiological screening of the animals. Widespread blood sampling could reveal to be an interesting alternative to this procedure which is time consuming and sometimes technically difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the radiological status of the horses and the levels of biochemical markers of cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. A specific radiological scoring and classification system was therefore developed and applied on 63 stallions presented for studbook admission. Additionally, groups of horses were established according to the occurrence of osteochondrosis, degenerative joint disease and distal interphalangeal joint effusion. Insulin growth factor-I, myeloperoxidases, Coll2-1 and Coll2-1NO₂ were used as blood markers. The combination of the blood parameters did not seem to correlate with the used scoring system. Coll2-1NO₂ levels however tended to increase with poorer radiological class and this could therefore potentially be a useful predictor of the osteoarticular status in the horse. Coll2-1 levels were significantly higher in the degenerative joint disease group. A high percentage of horses with distal interphalangeal joint effusion was present in this study and was associated with decreased IGF-I and increased Coll2-1 levels.     

Probiotic characteristics and aflatoxin B1 binding ability of Debaryomyces hansenii and Kazaschtania exigua from rainbow trout environment

The aim of this study was to evaluate probiotic properties and the aflatoxin B₁ adsorption ability of yeasts isolated from rainbow trout intestine and fish feed to assess their use in the formulation of feed additives. Growth at pH 2, bacterial pathogens inhibition, bacterial pathogens co‐aggregation, autoaggregation, homologous and heterologous inhibition against lactic acid bacteria were evaluated. Moreover, aflatoxin B₁ adsorption was tested. All strains were able to maintain viable (10⁷ cells/ml) at pH 2. All strains isolated from intestine were identified as Kazaschtania exigua, while strains isolated from feed were all identified as Debaryomyces hansenii. Kazaschtania exigua RC035 and RC037 showed the strongest antimicrobial activity while K. exigua RC037 and RC038 were the most efficient co‐aggregating bacterial pathogens. All strains exhibited strong autoaggregation. None of the tested yeast strains showed homologous inhibition towards other yeasts and heterologous inhibition towards lactic acid bacteria strains. Debaryomyces hansenii RC031 demonstrated aflatoxin B₁ adsorption capacity (21%). The results of the present study indicate that select strains of Kazaschtania exigua and D. hansenii showed potential to improve the health of rainbow trout by inhibiting pathogens and binding AFB₁ and their use as probiotics may improve the production of rainbow trout in aquaculture systems.     

A Glimpse at Siderophores Production by Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444

In this study, a strain of Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444 was cultivated in six different concentrations of iron (III). Cultures were extracted with organic solvents and analyzed using our dereplication strategy, based on the combined use of high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry and molecular networking. The analysis showed the presence of the siderophores’ family, named synechobactins, only in the zero iron (III) treatment culture. Seven unknown synechobactin variants were present in the extract, and their structures have been determined by a careful HRMS/MS analysis. This study unveils the capability of Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444 to produce a large array of siderophores and may be a suitable model organism for a sustainable scale-up exploitation of such bioactive molecules, for the bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems, as well as in drug discovery.