A central role for C1q/TNF-related protein 13 (CTRP13) in modulating food intake and body weight.

C1q/TNF-related protein 13 (CTRP13), a hormone secreted by adipose tissue (adipokines), helps regulate glucose metabolism in peripheral tissues. We previously reported that CTRP13 expression is increased in obese and hyperphagic leptin-deficient mice, suggesting that it may modulate food intake and body weight. CTRP13 is also expressed in the brain, although its role in modulating whole-body energy balance remains unknown. Here, we show that CTRP13 is a novel anorexigenic factor in the mouse brain. Quantitative PCR demonstrated that food restriction downregulates Ctrp13 expression in mouse hypothalamus, while high-fat feeding upregulates expression. Central administration of recombinant CTRP13 suppressed food intake and reduced body weight in mice. Further, CTRP13 and the orexigenic neuropeptide agouti-related protein (AgRP) reciprocally regulate each other's expression in the hypothalamus: central delivery of CTRP13 suppressed Agrp expression, while delivery of AgRP increased Ctrp13 expression. Food restriction alone reduced Ctrp13 and increased orexigenic neuropeptide gene (Npy and Agrp) expression in the hypothalamus; in contrast, when food restriction was coupled to enhanced physical activity in an activity-based anorexia (ABA) mouse model, hypothalamic expression of both Ctrp13 and Agrp were upregulated. Taken together, these results suggest that CTRP13 and AgRP form a hypothalamic feedback loop to modulate food intake and that this neural circuit may be disrupted in an anorexic-like condition

Weak tradeoff between xylem safety and xylem-specific hydraulic efficiency across the world\u27s woody plant species.

The evolution of lignified xylem allowed for the efficient transport of water under tension, but also exposed the vascular network to the risk of gas emboli and the spread of gas between xylem conduits, thus impeding sap transport to the leaves. A well-known hypothesis proposes that the safety of xylem (its ability to resist embolism formation and spread) should trade off against xylem efficiency (its capacity to transport water). We tested this safety-efficiency hypothesis in branch xylem across 335 angiosperm and 89 gymnosperm species. Safety was considered at three levels: the xylem water potentials where 12%, 50% and 88% of maximal conductivity are lost. Although correlations between safety and efficiency were weak (r(2) \u3c 0.086), no species had high efficiency and high safety, supporting the idea for a safety-efficiency tradeoff. However, many species had low efficiency and low safety. Species with low efficiency and low safety were weakly associated (r(2) \u3c 0.02 in most cases) with higher wood density, lower leaf- to sapwood-area and shorter stature. There appears to be no persuasive explanation for the considerable number of species with both low efficiency and low safety. These species represent a real challenge for understanding the evolution of xylem

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Hypothalamic <i>CTRP13</i> expression increased in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD).

<p>Food was removed for 2 h before hypothalami were harvested from mice fed an HFD (n = 5) or from mice fed a standard chow diet (n = 4). mRNA levels were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. Data are means ± SEM,*<i>P</i><0.05.</p

Central administration of recombinant CTRP13 suppressed food intake and reduced body weight.

<p>A) Body weight, B) food intake, and C) respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured by CLAMS 24 h after ICV injection of recombinant CTRP13 (n = 8) or vehicle control (n = 7). D) Ambulatory activity levels over a 20-h period were also measured after ICV injection of CTRP13 (n = 8) relative to vehicle-injected (n = 7) mice. Data are means ± SEM,*<i>P</i><0.05.</p

Metabolic parameters and behavior associated with activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm.Activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm reduced circulating levels of CTRP13.

<p>Immunoblot of serum levels of CTRP13 in AL (n = 5), RW (n = 5), FR (n = 6), and ABA (n = 5) groups were quantified. CTRP13 serum levels were decreased in the RW, FR, and ABA groups relative to the AL group. Values shown are means ± SEM, *<i>P</i><0.05 vs. AL. (AL = <i>ad libitum</i> food access; RW = <i>ad libitum</i> food access and free access to a running wheel; FR = 2-h food access per day; ABA = 2-h food access per day and free access to a running wheel).</p

Reciprocal regulation of <i>Ctrp13</i> and <i>Agrp</i><i>Agrp</i> expression in the hypothalamus.

<p>A) Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure <i>Ctrp13</i> expression in mice hypothalami after ICV injection of AgRP (n = 6) or vehicle control (n = 7). B) Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure <i>Agrp</i> expression in mice hypothalami after ICV injection of CTRP13 (n = 6) or vehicle control (n = 7). Data are means ± SEM,*<i>P</i><0.05.</p

Comparison of behavior and metabolic profiles of mice ICV-injected with vehicle or CTRP13 and mice subjected to the activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm.

<p>A) Body weight, B) food intake, C) VO₂, D) VCO₂, E) respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and F) blood glucose were measured by CLAMS in ABA (n = 5), CTRP13-injected (n = 8), and vehicle-injected control (n = 7) mice. Data are means ± SEM,*<i>P</i><0.05.</p

Weak tradeoff between xylem safety and xylem-specific hydraulic efficiency across the world's woody plant species

* The evolution of lignified xylem allowed for the efficient transport of water under tension, but also exposed the vascular network to the risk of gas emboli and the spread of gas between xylem conduits, thus impeding sap transport to the leaves. A well-known hypothesis proposes that the safety of xylem (its ability to resist embolism formation and spread) should trade off against xylem efficiency (its capacity to transport water). * We tested this safety–efficiency hypothesis in branch xylem across 335 angiosperm and 89 gymnosperm species. Safety was considered at three levels: the xylem water potentials where 12%, 50% and 88% of maximal conductivity are lost. * Although correlations between safety and efficiency were weak (r2 < 0.086), no species had high efficiency and high safety, supporting the idea for a safety–efficiency tradeoff. However, many species had low efficiency and low safety. Species with low efficiency and low safety were weakly associated (r2 < 0.02 in most cases) with higher wood density, lower leaf- to sapwood-area and shorter stature. * There appears to be no persuasive explanation for the considerable number of species with both low efficiency and low safety. These species represent a real challenge for understanding the evolution of xylem.Fil: Gleason, Sean M.. Macquarie University. Department of Biological Sciences ; Australia. USDA-ARS. Water Management Research; Estados UnidosFil: Westoby, Mark. Macquarie University. Department of Biological Sciences; AustraliaFil: Jansen, Steven. Ulm University. Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology; AlemaniaFil: Choat, Brendan. Western Sydney University. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment; AustraliaFil: Hacke, Uwe G.. University of Alberta. Department of Renewable Resources; CanadáFil: Pratt, Robert B.. California State University. Department of Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Bhaskar, Radika. Haverford College. Department of Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Brodibb, Tim J.. University of Tasmania. School of Biological Sciences; AustraliaFil: Bucci, Sandra Janet. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Golfo San Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Golfo San Jorge. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "san Juan Bosco". Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia Golfo San Jorge; ArgentinaFil: Cao, Kun-Fang. Guangxi University. College of Forestry. Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources ; ChinaFil: Cochard, Hervé. Clermont Université. Université Blaise Pascal. UMR547 PIAF; Francia. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Delzon, Sylvain. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Domec, Jean-Christophe. Duke University, Durham. Nicholas School of the Environment; Estados Unidos. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Fan, Ze-Xin. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology; ChinaFil: Feild, Taylor S.. James Cook University. School of Marine and Tropical Biology; AustraliaFil: Jacobsen, Anna L.. California State University. Department of Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Johnson, Daniel M.. University of Idaho. Rangeland and Fire Sciences. Department of Forest; Estados UnidosFil: Lens, Frederic. Leiden University. Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Países BajosFil: Maherali, Hafiz. University of Guelph. Department of Integrative Biology; CanadáFil: Martínez-Viralta, Jordi. CREAF; España. Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats; EspañaFil: Mayr, Stefan. University of Innsbruck. Department of Botany; AustriaFil: McCulloh, Katherine A.. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Botany; Estados UnidosFil: Mencuccini, Maurizio. University of Edinburgh. School of GeoSciences; Reino Unido. Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats; EspañaFil: Mitchell, Patrick J.. CSIRO Land and Water Flagship; AustraliaFil: Morris, Hugh. Ulm University. Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology ; AlemaniaFil: Nardini, Andrea. Università Trieste. Dipartimento Scienze della Vita ; ItaliaFil: Pittermann, Jarmila. University of California. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Plavcová, Lenka. Ulm University. Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology; Alemania. University of Alberta. Department of Renewable Resources; CanadáFil: Schreiber, Stefan G.. University of Alberta. Department of Renewable Resources; CanadáFil: Sperry, John S.. University of Utah. Department of Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Wright, Ian J.. Macquarie University. Department of Biological Sciences; AustraliaFil: Zanne, Ami E.. George Washington University. Department of Biological Sciences; Estados Unido