Adipokines: inflammation and the pleiotropic role of white adipose tissue

I had been working on the endocrine and signalling role of white adipose tissue (WAT) since 1994 following the identification of the ob (Lep) gene(1), this after some 15 years investigating the physiological role of brown adipose tissue. The ob gene, a mutation in which it is responsible for the profound obesity of ob/ob (Lepob/Lepob) mice, is expressed primarily in white adipocytes and encodes the pleiotropic hormone leptin. The discovery of this adipocyte hormone had wide-ranging implications, including that white fat has multiple functions that far transcend the traditional picture of a simple lipid storage organ.

Identification of QTLs and Putative Candidate Gene Involved in Rhizome Enlargement of Asian lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera)

Lotus (Nelumbo) is perennial aquatic plant with nutritional, pharmacological, and ornamental significance. Rhizome is an underground lotus stem that act as a storage organ and as a reproductive tissue for asexual production. The enlargement of lotus rhizome is an important adaptive strategy for surviving the cold winter. The aims of this study were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for rhizome enlargement traits including rhizome enlargement index (REI) and number of enlarged rhizome (NER), and to uncover candidate genes associated with these phenotypic traits. A high-density genetic linkage map was constructed, consisting of 2,935 markers binned from 236,840 SNPs. A total of 14 significant QTLs were detected for REI and NER, which explained 6.67–22.28% of trait variance. Three QTL regions were repeatedly identified in at least two years, and a major QTL, designated cqREI-LG2, with a rhizome-enlargement effect and about 20% of the phenotypic contribution was identified across the three climatic years. A candidate NnBEL6 gene located within the confidence interval of cqREI-LG2 was considered to be putatively involved in lotus rhizome enlargement. The expression of NnBEL6 was exclusively induced by rhizome swelling. Sequence comparison of NnBEL6 among lotus varieties revealed a functional Indel site in its promoter that likely initiates the rhizome enlargement process. Transgenic potato assay was used to confirm the role of NnBEL6 in inducing tuberization. The successful identification QTLs and functional validation of NnBEL6 gene reported in this study will enrich our knowledge on the genetic basis of rhizome enlargement in lotus.

Accumulation of selected metals and concentration of macroelements in liver and kidney tissues of sympatric golden jackal (Canis aureus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Somogy County, Hungary

This study examined the concentrations of Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the liver and kidney samples of golden jackals (n = 163) and red foxes (n = 64). Additionally, we studied how sex affected element concentration in both species, and in the case of golden jackals, how concentration levels were affected by age.Liver was the most important storage organ for Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, while kidney for Cd and Na in jackals and foxes.We found no sex-related differences in concentration of any of the selected elements in fox samples. In jackals, the mean concentrations of Al, Mn, and Zn were significantly higher in kidneys of males, while Zn and Cu had higher concentrations in female livers. Our results suggest bioaccumulation processes do not occur in mesocarnivores.Lead and Cd concentrations fell within ranges accepted as normal for canine species and were below toxic levels in the organs of the examined species. Concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn were far below the toxic levels in both organs of both species, with a slight sign of deficiency of Fe, Mn, and Zn in jackal and fox kidneys. In comparison with toxicity levels and results from other European study sites, the current study demonstrated that species living in the examined area of Somogy County, Hungary, are generally exposed to low levels of environmental contamination.

Tuber and Tuberous Root Development

Root and tuber crops have been an important part of human nutrition since the early days of humanity, providing us with essential carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. Today, they are especially important in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where they help to feed an ever-growing population. Early induction and storage organ size are important agricultural traits, as they determine yield over time. During potato tuberization, environmental and metabolic status are sensed, ensuring proper timing of tuberization mediated by phloem-mobile signals. Coordinated cellular restructuring and expansion growth, as well as controlled storage metabolism in the tuber, are executed. This review summarizes our current understanding of potato tuber development and highlights similarities and differences to important tuberous root crop species like sweetpotato and cassava. Finally, we point out knowledge gaps that need to be filled before a complete picture of storage organ development can emerge. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Plant Biology, Volume 72 is May 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Carbohydrate storage in herbs: the forgotten functional dimension of the plant economic spectrum

Background and Aims Although the plant economic spectrum seeks to explain resource allocation strategies, carbohydrate storage is often omitted. Belowground storage organs are the centre of herb perennation, yet little is known about the role of their turnover, anatomy, and carbohydrate storage in relation to the aboveground economic spectrum. Methods We collected aboveground traits associated with the economic spectrum, storage organ turnover traits, storage organ inner structure traits, and storage carbohydrate concentrations for approximately eighty temperate meadow species. Key Results The suites of belowground traits were largely independent from one another, but there was significant correlation between the aboveground traits with both inner structure and storage carbohydrates. Anatomical traits diverged according to leaf nitrogen concentration on one side and vessel area and dry matter content on the other; carbohydrates separated along leaf nitrogen and plant height. Conclusions Contrary to our expectations, aboveground traits and not storage organ turnover were correlated with anatomy and storage carbohydrates. Belowground traits associated with the aboveground economic spectrum also did not fall clearly within the fast-slow economic continuum, thus indicating the presence of a more complicated economic space. Our study implies that the generally over-looked role of storage within the plant economic spectrum represents an important dimension of plant strategy.

Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ

Background Sperm storage plays a key role in the reproductive success of many sexually-reproducing organisms, and the capacity of long-term sperm storage varies across species. While there are theoretical explanations for why such variation exists, to date there are no controlled empirical tests of the reproductive consequences of additional long-term sperm storage. While Dipterans ancestrally have three long-term sperm organs, known as the spermathecae, Drosophila contain only two. Results We identified a candidate gene, which we call spermathreecae (sp3), in which a disruption cause the development of three functional spermathecae rather than the usual two in Drosophila. We used this disruption to test the reproductive consequences of having an additional long-term sperm storage organ. Compared to females with two spermathecae, females with three spermathecae store a greater total number of sperm and can produce offspring a greater length of time. However, they did not produce a greater total number of offspring. Conclusions Thus, additional long-term sperm storage in insects may increase female fitness through extending the range of conditions where she produces offspring, or through increasing the quality of offspring via enhanced local sperm competition at fertilization.