GALNT2 as a novel modulator of adipogenesis and adipocyte insulin signaling

Background/objectives: A better understanding of adipose tissue biology is crucial to tackle insulin resistance and eventually coronary heart disease and diabetes, leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. GALNT2, a GalNAc-transferase, positively modulates insulin signaling in human liver cells by down-regulating ENPP1, an insulin signaling inhibitor. GALNT2 expression is increased in adipose tissue of obese as compared to that of non-obese individuals. Whether this association is secondary to a GALNT2-insulin sensitizing effect exerted also in adipocytes is unknown. We then investigated in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes the GALNT2 effect on adipogenesis, insulin signaling and expression levels of both Enpp1 and 72 adipogenesis-related genes. Methods: Stable over-expressing GALNT2 and GFP preadipocytes (T 0 ) were generated. Adipogenesis was induced with (R+) or without (R−) rosiglitazone and investigated after 15 days (T 15 ). Lipid accumulation (by Oil Red-O staining) and intracellular triglycerides (by fluorimetric assay) were measured. Lipid droplets (LD) measures were analyzed at confocal microscope. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR and insulin-induced insulin receptor (IR), IRS1, JNK and AKT phosphorylation by Western blot. Results: Lipid accumulation, triglycerides and LD measures progressively increased from T 0 to T 15 R- and furthermore to T 15 R+. Such increases were significantly higher in GALNT2 than in GFP cells so that, as compared to T 15 R+GFP, T 15 R- GALNT2 cells showed similar (intracellular lipid and triglycerides accumulation) or even higher (LD measures, p < 0.01) values. In GALNT2 preadipocytes, insulin-induced IR, IRS1 and AKT activation was higher than that in GFP cells. GALNT2 effect was totally abolished during adipocyte maturation and completely reversed at late stage maturation. Such GALNT2 effect trajectory was paralleled by coordinated changes in the expression of Enpp1 and adipocyte-maturation key genes. Conclusions: GALNT2 is a novel modulator of adipogenesis and related cellular phenotypes, thus becoming a potential target for tackling the obesity epidemics and its devastating sequelae

Chromatographic determination of 12 dyes in meat products by HPLC-UV-DIODE array detection

The use of food dyes in meat is regulated by the current European and non-European legislation, due to several food safety concerns. A reliable method for the quali-quantitative determination of 12 food dyes (Amaranth, Ponceau 4R, Carmine, Ponceau SX, Ponceau 3R, Allura Red AC, Carmoisine, Erythrosine, Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Sudan IV) in meat products, by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to UV diode array detection is presented. The extraction was accomplished by using acetonitrile, methanol, water, and ammonia, 50:40:9:1 (v/v/v/v) as the solvent and ultrasonic bath. The chromatographic separation was obtained with a C18 RP column eluted by a gradient of acetate buffer/acetonitrile. Good analytical performances characterized this method (Table 1), in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy and ruggedness. Both method precision (CV% range: 6%-15%) and recovery percentages (range: 86%-105%) resulted in compliance with Decision 2002/657/EC, and the expanded measurement uncertainties, estimated by a bottom-up approach, were in the range 6%-20%. All these results demonstrated that the procedure can be applied successfully for confirmation analyses of commercial meat products. •12 food dyes were determined in meat by new HPLC/UV-DAD method.•The analytical method was fully validated for accurate confirmation analyses.•Method accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity and ruggedness resulted satisfactory

Stable or plastic body shape? Emys orbicularis hatchlings-juveniles growth patterns under different ecological conditions

To test if habitat could shape shell features of freshwater turtles starting from birth, we tested hatchlings of Emys orbicularis, randomly chosen from four clutches of the same locality, under two treatments, stagnant (pond habitat) vs lotic (river habitat) water regimes. Due to mortality at the beginning of the experiment, we finally considered only two clutches. Turtle shells were characterized initially at hatching and then after one year of treatment by means of traditional and geometric morphometrics, and phenotypic trajectories analyses were conducted on both types of data. Carapace growth was isometric both in proportion and shape, while plastron showed an allometric pattern: length increased more than width, while the contour showed an expansion at the rear and a compression of the front. The hydrodynamic conditions during growth did not seem to affect the phenotypic trajectories of the shell proportions or the plastron. On the contrary, a significant effect was found on the phenotypic trajectory of the carapace: the size component (but not the angle one) was positively influenced by the "lentic" treatment, suggesting a different growth rate between the two environmental conditions

Stable or plastic body shape? Emys orbicularis hatchlings-juveniles growth patterns under different ecological conditions.

To test if habitat could shape shell features of freshwater turtles starting from birth, we tested hatchlings of Emys orbicularis, randomly chosen from four clutches of the same locality, under two treatments, firm (pond habitat) vs running (river habitat) water regimes. Due to mortality at the beginning of the experiment, we finally considered only two clutches. Turtle shells were characterized at hatch and after one year of treatment by means of traditional and geometric morphometrics and phenotypic trajectories analysis were conducted on both types of data. Carapace growth was isometric both in proportion and shape, while plastron showed an allometric pattern: length increased more than width while the contour showed an expansion of the rear part and a compression of the front one. The hydrodynamic conditions during growth did not seem to affect the phenotypic trajectories of shell proportions nor those of plastron. On the contrary a significant effect was found on the phenotypic trajectory of carapace: the size component (but not the angle one) was positively influenced by the “pond” treatment, suggesting a different growth rate between the two environmental conditions. Hypotheses on possible ecological constraints derived from habitat conditions are presented and discussed

Ecoconception des caves : réduction de la consommation d'énergie et intégration paysagère du traitement des effuents de cave avec le dispositif de lit planté de roseaux sur support de zéolithe Zeofito®

Le traitement aérobie des effuents vinicoles est majoritairement utilisé dans les caves. Au-delà des impératifs de performance d'épuration, avec les orientations de développement durable, le traitement doit intégrer plusieurs orientations : faible consommation d'énergie, limitation des boues, valorisation paysagère et de la biodiversité, limitation des nuisances olfactives et sonores, et éventuellement la réutilisation des effuents traités pour l'irrigation. Les dispositifs classiques de phyto-épuration sur lit de sable, qui permettent de traiter des effuents avec une DCO généralement inférieure à 2 g/l, imposent le plus souvent un bassin de stockage aéré conséquent, consommateur d'énergie, source éventuelle de nuisance olfactive, visuelle et sonore. Le procédé Zeofito®, qui équipe maintenant une centaine de caves dans différentes régions italiennes, accentue grâce au support de zéolithe, les mécanismes d'adsorption et de biodégradation. Ainsi, il est possible de réaliser un traitement direct ou éventuellement avec un petit bassin de stockage d'égalisation/aération, correspondant à quelques jours de rejet. La réutilisation de l'eau pour le dispositif de refroidissement de la cave ou l'irrigation des vignes est facilitée comparativement aux dispositifs classiques. Parallèlement au principe et aux performances, l'objectif de la communication est de présenter des installations représentatives de la diversité des caves

Dye use in fresh meat preparations and meat products: a survey by a validated method based on HPLC-UV-diode array detection as a contribution to risk assessment

The use of dyes in meats has to be monitored, due to food safety concerns. The presence of twelve dyes (Amaranth, Ponceau 4R, Carmine, Ponceau SX, Ponceau 3R, Allura Red AC, Carmoisine, Erythrosine, Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Sudan IV) in meat was investigated in 130 meat product and fresh meat preparation samples, and the dietary exposure was estimated. Carmine and Ponceau 4R were the identified dyes. Except for one sample of salami, they were regularly indicated on the label, and their concentrations were in the range 1.3-8.1 and 6.2-86.4 mg kg(-1) for Ponceau 4R and Carmine, respectively. Concerning fresh meat preparations, Carmine was detected in three samples, confirming that this dye is still used, although it is no longer authorised in these products. Regarding dietary exposure estimate, the daily intake from meat product consumption resulted lower than 1% of the ADI, both for Carmine and Ponceau 4R