Fatty acid profile of hind leg muscle in female and male nutria (Myocastor coypus Mol.), fed green forage diet

The study describes the profile of fatty acids in hind leg muscle of 18 female and 12 male nutria reared on an extensive system farm in eastern Poland with a diet based on fresh forage. When compared to results from nutrias from an intensive production system from the literature, the forage-fed animals had lower proportions of saturated fatty acids, and higher proportions of n3-fatty acids in their muscle tissue; in particular, n6:n3-fatty acid ratios were lower (2.6–3.0) in forage-fed animals compared to intensively reared animals (16.8–28.9). These findings underline that using forage-based diets is feasible in nutrias, and an economic way to improve the fatty acid composition of their meat

IRSp53 links the enterohemorrhagic E. coli effectors Tir and EspFU for actin pedestal formation

Actin pedestal formation by pathogenic E. coli requires signaling by the bacterial intimin receptor Tir, which induces host cell actin polymerization mediated by N-WASP and the Arp2/3 complex. Whereas canonical enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) recruit these actin regulators through tyrosine kinase signaling cascades, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 employ the bacterial effector EspF(U) (TccP), a potent N-WASP activator. Here, we show that IRSp53 family members, key regulators of membrane and actin dynamics, directly interact with both Tir and EspF(U). IRSp53 colocalizes with EspF(U) and N-WASP in actin pedestals. In addition, targeting of IRSp53 is independent of EspF(U) and N-WASP but requires Tir residues 454-463, previously shown to be essential for EspF(U)-dependent actin assembly. Genetic and functional loss of IRSp53 abrogates actin assembly mediated by EHEC. Collectively, these data indentify IRSp53 family proteins as the missing host cell factors linking bacterial Tir and EspF(U) in EHEC pedestal formation

Bioresponsive pseudoGlucosinolates (psGSLs) release Isothiocyanates (ITCs) in the Presence of Nitroreductases

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are secondary metabolites produced as part of an herbivore defence system in plants of the order Brassicales. GSLs release isothiocyanates (ITCs) upon activation by the myrosinase. Beyond their herbivore feeding deterrent properties, these ITCs have multiple interesting bioactivities. However, their release is limited by the presence of myrosinase. Here, we report the concept of pseudoglucosinolates (psGSLs) hijacking the natural release mechanism of GSLs for the release of ITCs and adapting it to nitroreductase as triggering enzymes. We provide the proof-of-concept for nitroreductase-responsive psGSLs and demonstrate their potential for peptide labelling and ITC-prodrug approaches