Article
Neurosciences
Shoko Nakamuta, Yoshio Yamamoto, Masao Miyazaki, Atsuhiro Sakuma, Masato Nikaido, Nobuaki Nakamuta
Summary: Lungfish have two distinct sensory epithelia in their olfactory organs, corresponding to the lamellar olfactory epithelium and primitive vomeronasal organ (VNO) found in teleosts and tetrapods, respectively. The expression of V1Rs, a type of olfactory receptor, in lungfish suggests an intermediate step in the segregation of V1R expression between the olfactory epithelium and VNO, reflecting the evolutionary position of lungfish between teleosts and amphibians.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniela Amelio, Filippo Garofalo
Summary: African lungfish undergo remarkable morphological and biochemical adjustments in the skin during aestivation, including reorganization of epidermal layers, decrease of mucous cells, regenerative processes, and changes in Heat Shock Proteins expression. Our findings suggest a protective role for these adjustments in response to the stressful conditions associated with aestivation.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Elska B. Kaczmarek, Samantha M. Gartner, Mark W. Westneat, Elizabeth L. Brainerd
Summary: The study found that the major cranial bones serve as valves or pumps during air breathing and suction feeding, controlling the pattern of fluid flow; both behaviors exhibit an anterior-to-posterior wave of expansion and compression; the pectoral girdle and cranial rib rotate consistently during air breathing and suction feeding, with the muscle between them shortening during buccal expansion.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Yunha Choi, Arum Oh, Yena Lee, Gu-Hwan Kim, Jin-Ho Choi, Han-Wook Yoo, Beom Hee Lee
Summary: CPS1 deficiency presents with the most severe clinical manifestations among urea cycle disorders, with a high proportion of missense mutations, and late-onset patients showing dramatic response to N-carbamylglutamate treatment.
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ruimiao Bai, ALing He, Jinzhen Guo, Zhankui Li, Xiping Yu, JunAn Zeng, Yang Mi, Lin Wang, Jingjing Zhang, Dong Yang
Summary: In this study, two pathogenic missense variants of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency (CPS1D) were identified using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in an Asian neonatal patient. The variants were predicted to be deleterious based on various bioinformatical analyses. This study expands the variant spectrum of the CPS1 gene and demonstrates the applicability of variants and related structural knowledge in the accurate diagnosis of CPS1D.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuen K. Ip, Charmaine W. Q. Leong, Mel Boo, Wai P. Wong, Siew H. Lam, Shit F. Chew
Summary: African lungfishes are highly ammonia-tolerant obligatory air-breathers. The study found that branchial vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (Vha) played a crucial role in regulating the acidification of the external medium in lungfishes. Furthermore, exposure to high ammonia concentrations resulted in increased expression and activity of Vha, enhancing its ability to acidify the external medium.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Muzi Zhang, Shidong Wang, Liying Sun, Lei Gan, Yanhong Lin, Jian Shao, Haibo Jiang, Ming Li
Summary: Fishes can adapt to environmental ammonia, and the study found that the CPS I mRNA was significantly up-regulated in liver and kidney tissues after acute ammonia stress. The RNA interference of CPS I led to changes in enzyme activities related to urea cycle and glutamine synthesis, suggesting a shift in ammonia detoxification strategies.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Khaa Hoo Ong, Yao-Yu Hsieh, Ding-Ping Sun, Steven Kuan-Hua Huang, Yu-Feng Tian, Chia-Ling Chou, Yow-Ling Shiue, Keva Joseph, I-Wei Chang
Summary: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) is more common in Eastern and Southeastern Asia than in Western countries. Through gene expression analysis, it has been found that CPS1 gene is significantly down-regulated in IHCC. The low expression of CPS1 in IHCC is associated with tumor progression and predicts poor clinical outcomes for patients.
Article
Biology
Samantha M. Gartner, Katrina R. Whitlow, J. D. Laurence-Chasen, Elska B. Kaczmarek, Michael C. Granatosky, Callum F. Ross, Mark W. Westneat
Summary: This study used XROMM to investigate the kinematics of cranial bones and muscles during feeding in West African lungfish. The results revealed the unique motion patterns of cranial elements and the contribution of muscle shortening to successful suction feeding.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weiqiang Jing, Chen Chen, Ganyu Wang, Maosen Han, Shouzhen Chen, Xin Jiang, Chongdeng Shi, Peng Sun, Zhenmei Yang, Benkang Shi, Xinyi Jiang
Summary: In this study, a perfusable nanoporter-encased hydrogel system was developed for combating ammonia toxicity in bladder cancer. The system involved the synthesis of a biomimetic fusogenic liposomalized nanoporter (FLNP) decorated with urea transporter-B (UT-B) for targeted delivery of urease and siRNA targeting CPS1 (siCPS1) to bladder tumor cells. A mussel-inspired hydrogel was fabricated for the immobilization of FLNP. The study showed that this hybrid system effectively induced urea transportation into tumor cells and boosted ammonia accumulation, leading to tumor cell apoptosis. Combined with a high-protein diet, the system enhanced tumor inhibition by increasing ammonia deposition in bladder cancer cells.
Article
Microbiology
Xunhui Zhuo, Kaige Du, Haojie Ding, Di Lou, Bin Zheng, Shaohong Lu
Summary: The study showed that a mutant with complete deletion of CPSII exhibited significantly reduced replication in vitro and decreased virulence in mice, leading to enhanced survival rates. This suggests that strains lacking the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway and salvage pathway may have potential as a live attenuated vaccine to prevent T. gondii infection.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Takahiro Hasumura, Keita Kinoshita, Yoshihiko Minegishi, Noriyasu Ota
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of tea catechins and low-dose ornithine in activating the urea cycle to reduce blood ammonia levels during exercise. The study used hepatocyte-like cells derived from human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to assess the effect of tea catechins combined with ornithine on urea cycle activity, and also conducted a human pilot study to validate the synergistic improvement in ammonia metabolism by tea catechins in combination with ornithine.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Nashwa El-Khazragy, Mohamed El Barbary, Hala Fouad, Abdallah Abdelgawad, Dina Rabie
Summary: The study found a significant association between CPS-I gene polymorphism and idiopathic PPHN in Egyptian neonates, especially the CPS-I A/C rs4399666 gene variant and lower serum NO levels. The presence of mutant CPS-I rs4399666, specifically the homozygous CC genotype, is frequently observed in the PPHN group and associated with a higher risk of PPHN.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Muzi Zhang, Penwei Song, Haibo Jiang, Ming Li
Summary: Fish are at high risk of ammonia exposure in aquaculture systems, which can lead to increased susceptibility to diseases. The study investigated the role of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) in regulating urea synthesis and nitric oxide synthesis in fish. The results showed a correlation between ASS expression and disease outbreak. The targeted regulation of ASS improved immune response in fish under ammonia stress.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lan Zhang, Yuling Zou, Yingying Lu, Zhijia Li, Feng Gao
Summary: CPS1 is the rate-limiting enzyme controlling the first reaction of the urea cycle, which is essential for converting toxic ammonia into non-toxic urea in mammals. Dysfunctions of CPS1 can lead to urea cycle disorder and nerve damage. Furthermore, CPS1 has been found to be involved in various human diseases, including cancers, making it a potential therapeutic target. However, the effects of small-molecule inhibitors of CPS1 in malignancies are yet to be experimentally confirmed.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leanne S. X. Teh, Jeslyn S. T. Poo, Mel Boo, Shit F. Chew, Yuen K. Ip
Summary: In the giant clam Tridacna squamosa, the outer mantle exhibited the highest transcript levels of symbiotic zooxanthellal GS1, indicating a high potential for urea degradation, which could provide essential substances for photosynthesis and amino acid synthesis in the symbionts. Light enhanced the protein abundance of Zoox-GS1 in both the outer and inner mantle, facilitating glutamine formation.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuen K. Ip, Mel Boo, Jeslyn S. T. Poo, Wai P. Wong, Shit F. Chew
Summary: The study reveals that PiT1-like in the kidney of giant clams can absorb and remove P-i taken up during illumination, while PiT1-like in the ctenidial epithelial cells and outer mantle may play a role in P-i sensing and translocation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mel Boo, Shit F. Chew, Yuen K. Ip
Summary: In the presence of light, the ctenidium of the fluted giant clam increases the uptake and transport of exogenous Ca2+ through the collaboration of NCX1-like and NKA with VGCC, enhancing the intracellular Na+ homeostasis.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Mel V. Boo, Shit F. Chew, Yuen K. Ip
Summary: Giant clams living in symbiosis with phototrophic dinoflagellates increase inorganic carbon uptake in order to support shell formation and photosynthesis. The Na+-HCO(3)(-) cotransporter may play a role in transporting cytoplasmic HCO3- across the basolateral membrane into the hemolymph.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Yuen K. Ip, Mel Boo, Miguel Mies, Shit F. Chew
Summary: The study found that after 30 days of exposure to darkness, giant clams showed significant changes in coloration and gene expression in the outer mantle. However, after returning to a normal photoperiod for just 11 days, the quantity of symbionts and coloration increased significantly, indicating that the giant clam-coccoid dinoflagellate holobiont is phototrophically plastic and particularly tolerant to bleaching.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mel Boo, Caryn Z. Pang, Shit F. Chew, Yuen K. Ip
Summary: Giant clams require increased transport of Ca2+ and HCO3- for shell formation. This study identified two proteins involved in HCO3- transport and found that their expression levels increased significantly in response to light, suggesting their role in light-enhanced uptake of HCO3-.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caryn Z. Pang, Mel Boo, Yuen K. Ip, Shit F. Chew
Summary: Research on giant clams reveals that dinoflagellates utilize AMT2 to absorb ammonia in photosynthesis, particularly with a stronger absorption capacity in dinoflagellates residing in the outer mantle, enhancing the assimilation process of ammonia.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Germaine C. Y. Teng, Mel V. Boo, Siew H. Lam, Caryn Z. Pang, Shit F. Chew, Yuen K. Ip
Summary: This study reports on the glycerol transport protein in the symbionts of giant clams and suggests potential differences in glycerol transport capabilities among different genetic types.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuen K. Ip, Charmaine W. Q. Leong, Mel Boo, Wai P. Wong, Siew H. Lam, Shit F. Chew
Summary: African lungfishes are highly ammonia-tolerant obligatory air-breathers. The study found that branchial vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (Vha) played a crucial role in regulating the acidification of the external medium in lungfishes. Furthermore, exposure to high ammonia concentrations resulted in increased expression and activity of Vha, enhancing its ability to acidify the external medium.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caryn Z. Pang, Yuen K. Ip, Shit F. Chew
Summary: This study used transcript levels of ammonia transporter in different genera of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates to estimate their potential of ammonia transport in the fluted giant clam. The results indicated that different phylotypes of Symbiodinium and Cladocopium have different potentials of ammonia transport, and Symbiodinium phylotypes might have higher potential of NO3- transport than ammonia transport. The study also revealed disparate potentials of ammonia transport among Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes residing in different organs of T. squamosa, suggesting functional diversity among these phylotypes.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Raagavi Mani, Mel Boo, Siow Y. Ng, Shit F. Chew, Yuen K. Ip
Summary: Giant clams harbor symbiotic dinoflagellates that possess their own carbon concentration mechanism and are influenced by light exposure. The study indicates that light enhances the gene and protein expression levels of the symbiotic dinoflagellates in the clam's outer mantle, and different species may vary in their ability to generate CO2.