Article
Biology
Josefine Just, Mara Laslo, Ye Jin Lee, Michael Yarnell, Zhuofan Zhang, David R. Angelini
Summary: Sexual dimorphism is common in animals, and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster provides a complete model of sex determination. The interaction between female doublesex (dsx) and intersex (ix) proteins activates female development, while the male-specific behavior is promoted by the fruitless (fru) transcription factor. The genetics of sex determination have been studied in a few other insects, but some questions about the ancestral state remain unclear. By studying the hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus, researchers found that dsx prevents ix phenotypes and dimorphic traits in all sexes. Both ix and fru genes are expressed in females and males, affecting the genitalia and distinct dimorphic structures in different sexes. These findings reveal distinct roles for ix and fru in Oncopeltus fasciatus and demonstrate diverse developmental mechanisms in sexually dimorphic structures.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Soo Yeon Lee, Hanseul Kweon, Hyojin Kang, Eunjoon Kim
Summary: Chd8(+/N2373K) mice display autistic-like behaviors in juvenile and adult males, but not in females. In contrast, Chd8(+/S62X) mice show behavioral deficits in juvenile males and both adult males and females, indicating age-differential sexually dimorphic behaviors. Excitatory synaptic transmission is suppressed and enhanced in male and female Chd8(+/S62X) juveniles, respectively, but similarly enhanced in adult male and female mutants. ASD-like transcriptomic changes are stronger in newborn and juvenile (but not adult) Chd8(+/S62X) males, while in newborn and adult (not juvenile) Chd8(+/S62X) females. These findings suggest age-differential sexual dimorphisms in Chd8(+/S62X) mice at synaptic and transcriptomic levels, in addition to behavioral level.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Rebecca L. Wilson, Kendal K. Stephens, Kristin Lampe, Helen N. Jones
Summary: The study found that restricted diet led to growth restriction in fetuses, with higher inflammatory marker mRNA expression in the fetal brains of females compared to males. Sex-specific differences in mRNA expression in fetal brains with FGR could impact potential survival bias and contribute to the development of treatments for obstetric diseases.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Xin She, Shuchun Sun, Brooke J. Damon, Cherice N. Hill, Matthew C. Coombs, Feng Wei, Michael K. Lecholop, Martin B. Steed, Thierry H. Bacro, Elizabeth H. Slate, Naiquan Zheng, Janice S. Lee, Hai Yao
Summary: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders disproportionately affect females, with female to male prevalence varying from 3:1 to 8:1. Sexual dimorphisms in masticatory muscle attachment morphometry and their correlation with craniofacial size play critical roles in subject-specific TMJ biomechanics, impacting TMJ contact forces and joint loading during static biting. Further investigation on sex-specific differences in the TMJ mechanical environment is needed to understand mechanical fatigue of TMJ discs associated with TMJ disorders.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Li-Fei Luo, Zi-Sheng Xu, Eman Abdelwareth Baioumy Elsayed Elgazzar, Hang Du, Dan-Yang Li, Xiao-Yun Zhou, Ze-Xia Gao
Summary: Misgurnus anguillicaudatus exhibits both sexual size dimorphism and polyploid size dimorphism. This study found that differences in energy metabolism and steroid hormone synthesis levels may play a key role in the growth dimorphisms observed. Fast-growing individuals (tetraploids, females) showed higher energy metabolism levels and lower abilities in steroid hormone synthesis and fatty acid degradation compared to slow-growing individuals (diploids, males). The differential gene expression analysis between different ploidy levels and sexes revealed potential regulatory genes involved in glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism pathways. This suggests that metabolic differences may contribute to the growth dimorphisms observed in Misgurnus anguillicaudatus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marilene Demasi, Ohara Augusto, Etelvino J. H. Bechara, Renata N. Bicev, Fernanda M. Cerqueira, Fernanda M. da Cunha, Ana Denicola, Fernando Gomes, Sayuri Miyamoto, Luis E. S. Netto, Lia M. Randall, Cassius V. Stevani, Leonor Thomson
Summary: Research on protein oxidation began in 1980, exploring the impact of oxidative modifications on protein function and cellular homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that not all oxidative modifications result in damage, but can also alter protein structure and function. Understanding the effects of protein oxidation on human pathological conditions is clinically significant.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Alfonso Varela-Lopez, Laura Vera-Ramirez, Francesca Giampieri, Maria D. Navarro-Hortal, Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernandez, Maurizio Battino, Jose L. Quiles
Summary: Evidence shows that lipid metabolism and signaling play important roles in cancer cell biology, with dietary lipids affecting tumor growth, especially in the case of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Mitochondria has been recognized to play a key role in cancer, but the mechanisms of PUFA action are still not fully clarified.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Mikhail V. Golikov, Birke Bartosch, Olga A. Smirnova, Olga N. Ivanova, Alexander V. Ivanov
Summary: Viral infections have gained increased attention due to the emergence of novel zoonotic coronaviruses and the monkeypox virus. Research on viruses heavily relies on mammalian cell lines, but the traditional culture media used for these cells may have significant impacts on cell growth, phenotype, and metabolism. Recently, new culture media resembling human blood plasma have been developed in the field of biochemistry and metabolomics, and their potential role in viral replication and pathogenesis should be explored.
Article
Zoology
Katsuyuki Hamasaki, Shigeki Dan
Summary: The study revealed that male and female Petrolisthes japonicus exhibit different sexual size dimorphisms during the breeding season and nonbreeding season, with females investing more energy in pleon growth and males investing more energy in cheliped growth during the breeding season. In the nonbreeding season, both males and females conserve energy by reducing the size of their pleons and chelipeds.
ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helmut Sies
Summary: The spatiotemporal control of redox signaling in cells relies on continuous fine-tuning, with molecules like H2O2 playing a key role. Oxidative eustress operates within a specific physiological range, and is managed through both short-term and long-term homeostatic mechanisms to respond to stress.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
In-Gyun Lee, Bong-Jin Lee
Summary: Bacteria, like humans, face various stresses during their lifetime, such as oxidative stress, caused by cellular metabolism and environmental factors, which can damage cellular macromolecules and hinder normal cell growth. In response to such stress, bacteria have developed protective strategies including changing gene expression patterns to convert harmful oxidants into harmless products. Furthermore, structural biology and biochemical studies have revealed how bacterial redox sensor proteins recognize cellular redox states and regulate downstream signaling pathways.
Article
Ecology
Hanyu Li, Wenke He, Tonghang Wang, Chong Cui, Jie Zhang, Xiaohong Chen
Summary: The study reveals that the large green cascade frogs (Odorrana graminea) exhibit significant sexual size dimorphism, with females being nearly twice the size of males. Through transcriptome analysis, it is found that the sex-differentially expressed genes are mainly related to energy metabolism and steroid hormone synthesis, which may be the main driving force behind the sexual size dimorphism of O. graminea. In addition, potential EST-SSR markers and loci for population genetics research are also identified.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virginie Grouthier, Melissa Y. Y. Moey, Estelle Gandjbakhch, Xavier Waintraub, Christian Funck-Brentano, Anne Bachelot, Joe-Elie Salem
Summary: Gender, sex hormone levels, and ion channel abnormalities significantly influence the cardiac QT interval and the risk for ventricular arrhythmias, while manipulation of sex hormone levels can also affect these factors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Branden Cahill, Samuel Poelker-Wells, Jonathan F. Prather, Yun Li
Summary: Depression is a mood disorder with a range of symptoms, and epigenetic research plays a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of this complex disorder. Differences in epigenetic modifications between sexes may impact behavioral symptoms in depression.
FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Renato S. Gaspar, Santiago Mansilla, Victor A. Vieira, Ludmila B. da Silva, Jonathan M. Gibbins, Laura Castro, Andres Trostchansky, Antonio Marcus de A. Paes
Summary: The study demonstrates that CxxCpep can target and inhibit PECPDI, reducing the redox response in platelets mediated by the collagen receptor GPVI and decreasing platelet aggregation. This finding provides a potential template for the development of new antiplatelet compounds.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
