New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Die Rolle des Glucosinolat-Myrosinase Systems bei der Interaktion von Brassicaceae mit der Rübsenblattwespe Athalia rosae (L.)

Brassicaceae and a few related plant families are characterized by possession of the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. Glucosinolates are amino-acid derived allelochemicals which are hydrolysed upon tissue damage by myrosinase enzymes to produce various degradation products which can be toxic for generalist insects. The larvae of the crucifer-specialist Athalia rosae, the turnip sawfly, sequester glucosinolates into their haemolymph. The role of the glucosinolate-myrosinase system for the interaction of the turnip sawfly with Brassicaceae was examined in this study from two different perspectives: variation within individual plants and between plant species. The plant responses to the feeding by herbivores and the short-term effects this induction had on insect behaviour were investigated in white mustard. Furthermore, plants can use multiple defences. Hence correlations of glucosinolates and myrosinase activities with other defences and nutritional quality and their long-term effects on the development of the insects were investigated in seven different plant species.Die Brassicaceen und einige nah verwandte Pflanzenfamilien zeichnen sich durch den Besitz des Glucosinolat-Myrosinase Systems aus. Glucosinolate sind von Aminosäuren abgeleitete Allelochemikalien, die nach Gewebezerstörung von Myrosinaseenzymen hydrolysiert werden. Die entstehenden Abbauprodukte wirken auf generalistische Insekten toxisch. Larven der auf Brassicaceen spezialisierten Rübsenblattwespe, Athalia rosae, sequestrieren Glucosinolate in ihre Hämolymphe. In der vorliegenden Studie wird die Rolle des Glucosinolat-Myrosinase Systems für die Interaktion von Brassicaceen mit der Rübsenblattwespe aus zwei unterschiedlichen Perspektiven untersucht: Variationen innerhalb einzelner Pflanzen und zwischen verschiedenen Pflanzenarten. Die pflanzliche Antwort innnerhalb einzelner Individuen auf Herbivorenfraß und deren kurzzeitige Auswirkungen auf das Insektenverhalten wurden am Weißen Senf untersucht. Des Weiteren nutzen Pflanzen multiple Abwehrmethoden. Daher wurden Korrelationen des Glucosinolat-Myrosinase Systems mit anderen Abwehrmethoden und mit dem Nährstoffgehalt der Pflanzen sowie deren langfristige Effekte auf die Entwicklung der Insekten an sieben verschiedenen Pflanzenarten untersucht

Specificity of induction responses in Sinapis alba L.: Plant growth and development

Plant defenses are expected to be negatively correlated with plant growth, development and reproduction. In a recent study, we investigated the specificity of induction responses of chemical defenses in the Brassicaceae Sinapis alba.1 It was shown that glucosinolate levels and myrosinase activities increased to different degrees after 24-hours-feeding by a specialist or generalist herbivore or mechanical wounding. Here, we present the specific influences of these treatments on organ biomasses which were recorded as a measure of growth. Directly after the treatments, organ biomasses were reduced locally and systemically by herbivore feeding, but not by mechanical wounding compared to control plants. Induction of glucosinolates, which increased in all treatments, is thus not necessarily expressed as cost in terms of reduced growth in S. alba. No significant long-term differences in plant development between herbivore treated and control plants were found. Thus, tissue loss and increased investments in chemical defenses could be compensated over time, but compensation patterns depended on the inducing agent. Furthermore, herbivore treatments resulted in an increased mechanical defense, measured as abaxial trichome densities. Plants respond highly dynamic with regard to defense and growth allocation and due to different inductors

Specificity of induction responses in *Sinapis alba* L. and their effects on a specialist herbivore

Travers-Martin N, Müller C. Specificity of induction responses in *Sinapis alba* L. and their effects on a specialist herbivore. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY. 2007;33(8):1582-1597

Revised determination of free and complexed myrosinase activities in plant extracts

Travers-Martin N, Kuhlmann F, Müller C. Revised determination of free and complexed myrosinase activities in plant extracts. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY. 2008;46(4):506-516.The enzyme myrosinase (thioglucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.147, formerly EC 3.2.3.1) catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucosinolates after tissue damage in plants of the order Brassicales. The various myrosinase isoforms occur either as free soluble dimers or as insoluble complexes. We propose a reliable method for determination of both soluble and insoluble myrosinase activity concentrations in partially purified plant extracts. The procedure requires the removal of endogenous glucosinolates through ion-exchange columns previous to enzyme measurements. Myrosinase activity was assayed in continuous mode by photometric quantification of the released glucose using glucose-oxidase with peroxidase and colorimetric indicators. The measurement of the colored product at 492 nm has a favorable signal to noise ratio both in clear extract solutions (free dinners) and in turbid pellet suspensions (insoluble complexes). No interferences by ascorbic acid were found in continuous analyses. With the recommended sample preparation methods and assay conditions potential activities in damaged plant tissues can be characterized which are involved in plant defense mechanisms. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved