Zebrafish Class 1 Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Proteins: PITPβ and Double Cone Cell Outer Segment Integrity in Retina

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) in yeast coordinate lipid metabolism with the activities of specific membrane trafficking pathways. The structurally unrelated metazoan-specific PITPs (mPITPs), on the other hand, are an under-investigated class of proteins. It remains unclear what biological activities mPITPs discharge, and the mechanisms by which these proteins function are also not understood. The soluble class 1 mPITPs include the PITPα and PITPβ isoforms. Of these, the β-isoforms are particularly poorly characterized. Herein, we report the use of zebrafish as a model vertebrate for the study of class 1 mPITP biological function. Zebrafish express PITPα and PITPβ-isoforms (Pitpna and Pitpnb, respectively) and a novel PITPβ-like isoform (Pitpng). Pitpnb expression is particularly robust in double cone cells of the zebrafish retina. Morpholino-mediated protein knockdown experiments demonstrate Pitpnb activity is primarily required for biogenesis/maintenance of the double cone photoreceptor cell outer segments in the developing retina. By contrast, Pitpna activity is essential for successful navigation of early developmental programs. This study reports the initial description of the zebrafish class 1 mPITP family, and the first analysis of PITPβ function in a vertebrate

Role of Gender in Predicting Determinant of Financial Risk Tolerance

This research was conducted to determine whether the determinants of financial risk tolerance varied by gender or whether the same factors influenced the risk-taking capacities of both genders. This study utilised personality types (Type-A and Type-B), financial literacy, and six demographic parameters, including marital status, age, education, income, occupation, and the number of dependents, as independent variables, and gender as a dividing variable. In order to conduct this study, information was gathered from 671 investors. The financial risk tolerance of male investors was determined by six out of eight independent factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, income, occupation, and the number of dependents). However, just four factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, and income) have a substantial impact on the financial risk tolerance of female investors

Role of Gender in Predicting Determinant of Financial Risk Tolerance

This research was conducted to determine whether the determinants of financial risk tolerance varied by gender or whether the same factors influenced the risk-taking capacities of both genders. This study utilised personality types (Type-A and Type-B), financial literacy, and six demographic parameters, including marital status, age, education, income, occupation, and the number of dependents, as independent variables, and gender as a dividing variable. In order to conduct this study, information was gathered from 671 investors. The financial risk tolerance of male investors was determined by six out of eight independent factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, income, occupation, and the number of dependents). However, just four factors (personality type, financial literacy, marital status, and income) have a substantial impact on the financial risk tolerance of female investors

PITPs as targets for selectively interfering with phosphoinositide signaling in cells

Sec14-like phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) integrate diverse territories of intracellular lipid metabolism with stimulated phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate production and are discriminating portals for interrogating phosphoinositide signaling. Yet, neither Sec14-like PITPs nor PITPs in general have been exploited as targets for chemical inhibition for such purposes. Herein, we validate what is to our knowledge the first small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) of the yeast PITP Sec14. These SMIs are nitrophenyl(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)methanones (NPPMs) and are effective inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. We further establish that Sec14 is the sole essential NPPM target in yeast and that NPPMs exhibit exquisite targeting specificities for Sec14 (relative to related Sec14-like PITPs), propose a mechanism for how NPPMs exert their inhibitory effects and demonstrate that NPPMs exhibit exquisite pathway selectivity in inhibiting phosphoinositide signaling in cells. These data deliver proof of concept that PITP-directed SMIs offer new and generally applicable avenues for intervening with phosphoinositide signaling pathways with selectivities superior to those afforded by contemporary lipid kinase–directed strategies