Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felix Schilcher, Markus Thamm, Martin Strube-Bloss, Ricarda Scheiner
Summary: In honeybees, the biogenic amines octopamine and tyramine have opposing effects on sensory responses to light, with octopamine increasing receptor response and walking speed towards light sources while tyramine decreases them. These findings suggest that tyramine and octopamine act as functional opposites in processing responses to light.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luca Finetti, Jimena Leyria, Ian Orchard, Angela B. Lange
Summary: The study investigates the role of RpTAR1 in reproduction of female R. prolixus and finds that RpTAR1 is highly expressed in tissues associated with egg development. Knockdown of RpTAR1 leads to reduced egg production and increased protein accumulation in the fat body. However, it does not affect the hatching ratio of the eggs. Moreover, the study reveals a potential connection between RpTAR1, Vg synthesis, and the JH pathway.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Valterney L. Deus, Lais M. Resende, Eliete S. Bispo, Adriana S. Franca, Maria Beatriz A. Gloria
Summary: Cloning techniques have been used to improve the agronomic traits of nine fine cocoa varieties, resulting in variations in the concentrations of bioactive amines, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant potential of dark monoclonal chocolates. The chemometric models based on FTIR data provided satisfactory predictions for the concentrations of amines, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity, confirming the significant contribution of amines to the antioxidant potential of chocolates. The analytical method (DPPH vs. Rancimat) also affected the results of antioxidant activity in the chocolates.
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Beatriz del Rio, Maria Fernandez, Begona Redruello, Victor Ladero, Miguel A. Alvarez
Summary: Biogenic amines (BA) are molecules with biological functions that can accumulate at toxic concentrations in foods. Some microorganisms have been identified as responsible for their accumulation. Histamine, tyramine, and putrescine are the most commonly found BA at highest concentrations. Ingesting food with high BA concentrations can lead to intoxication. Additionally, there is synergy between different BA, emphasizing the need for regulation to protect consumer health.
Article
Oncology
Peyton High, Kendra S. Carmon
Summary: In recent years, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown great potential as anti-cancer therapeutic agents, and some have been approved for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are known therapeutic targets in various human diseases including cancer, have emerged as a promising target for ADCs. This review discusses the past and current therapeutic targeting of GPCRs and describes the use of ADCs as a therapeutic modality. Additionally, the status of preclinical and clinical GPCR-targeted ADCs is summarized, and the potential of GPCRs as novel targets for future ADC development is addressed.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Maria Schirone, Luigi Esposito, Federica D'Onofrio, Pierina Visciano, Maria Martuscelli, Dino Mastrocola, Antonello Paparella
Summary: This review analyzes the presence and role of biogenic amines in meat and meat products, as well as the effect of technological conditions. The provided data can be useful in developing solutions for controlling biogenic amines formation and protecting perishable products.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yali Huang, Honghong Yu, Shiling Lu, Liangjun Zou, Zonggui Tang, Tao Zeng, Juan Tang
Summary: The inclusion complexes of ferulic acid were found to significantly reduce tyramine accumulation in traditional smoked horsemeat sausages by inhibiting the growth and gene expression of Enterobacteriaceae, demonstrating antibacterial properties.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Marta Moniente, Laura Botello-Morte, Diego Garcia-Gonzalo, Raquel Virto, Rafael Pagan, Vicente Ferreira, Ignacio Ontanon
Summary: A method for the quantitative determination of four biogenic amines in different dairy products has been developed and applied to milk, yogurt, and kefir samples. Significant levels of biogenic amines were found in yogurt and kefir samples, with values reaching up to 79 mg/kg in kefir samples. While these levels are not a cause for concern for the general population, they are important to be known by individuals sensitive to biogenic amines.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lucas Kettner, Carina Braun, Ines Seitl, Eva Pross, Lutz Fischer
Summary: In this study, a putative diamine oxidase (DAO) from Yarrowia lipolytica was successfully recombinantly integrated into the genome of Y. lipolytica for production in a bioreactor, showing a 93-fold increase in specific DAO activity compared to the native production. The produced DAO-1 exhibited broad substrate selectivity, with tyramine, histamine, putrescine, and cadaverine being the favored substrates, making it a potentially valuable enzyme for biogenic amine degradation in the food industry.
JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Bubb, Anna-Sophia Lieselott Beyer, Pooja Dasgupta, Daniel Kaemmerer, Joerg Saenger, Katja Evert, Ralph M. Wirtz, Stefan Schulz, Amelie Lupp
Summary: GPER is widely expressed in human non-neoplastic and neoplastic tissues and a novel antibody has been developed to detect GPER-expressing tumors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Haoran Jiang, Daniella Galtes, Jialu Wang, Howard A. Rockman
Summary: This review explores the signaling pathways, dynamic structures, and physiological relevance of the three most important GPCR signaling effectors in the cardiovascular system: heterotrimeric G proteins, GPCR kinases (GRKs), and 8-arrestins. It summarizes their prominent roles in GPCR pharmacology before transitioning into less well-explored areas. The application of new technologies has contributed to an increasing understanding of GPCR structure and downstream effectors.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Estefania Moreno, Nil Casajuana-Martin, Michael Coyle, Baruc Campos Campos, Ewa Galaj, Claudia Llinas del Torrent, Arta Seyedian, William Rea, Ning-Sheng Cai, Alessandro Bonifazi, Benjamin Floran, Zheng-Xiong Xi, Xavier Guitart, Vicent Casado, Amy H. Newman, Christopher Bishop, Leonardo Pardo, Sergi Ferre
Summary: This study provides evidence that heteromerization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), specifically dopamine D1 and D3 receptors, can influence the pharmacological properties of selective ligands. In vivo experiments support the involvement of D1R-D3R heteromers in the development of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease, suggesting the potential of targeting GPCR heteromers for drug development.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juergen Einsiedel, Maximilian F. Schmidt, Harald Huebner, Peter Gmeiner
Summary: A broadly applicable synthesis method was developed for peptides incorporating mixed disulfides between cysteine and homocysteine and cysteamine. The method was successfully applied to pharmacologically relevant GPCR ligands and showed covalent binding to neurotensin receptor 1 in a radioligand depletion study.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Amanda Goncalves da Silva, Diego Leoni Franco, Libia Diniz Santos
Summary: Biogenic amines are organic compounds formed in foods and beverages through enzymatic reactions or microbial decarboxylation of amino acids, and can lead to health issues if consumed in excess over time. Tyramine, a common biogenic amine found in fermented foods, requires a fast, simple, and reliable detection method to ensure food safety.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bui San Thai, Ling Yeong Chia, Anh T. N. Nguyen, Chengxue Qin, Rebecca H. Ritchie, Dana S. Hutchinson, Andrew Kompa, Paul J. White, Lauren T. May
Summary: Heart failure remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current treatment options have limitations, leading to many patients progressing to advanced stages. Exploration of novel therapeutics targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has shown promise, but efficacy and unwanted effects remain as challenges.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Valerie Finke, Ricarda Scheiner, Martin Giurfa, Aurore Avargues-Weber
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between the honey bee's ability to learn a simple discrimination task and its ability to solve more complex tasks. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between the bees' performance in the simple discrimination task and their performance in both reversal learning and negative patterning tasks. This suggests that cognitive consistency is a distinct characteristic of bees across different learning paradigms, and further research is needed to determine if this is a common characteristic of insect brains.
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Gunther K. H. Zupanc, Wolfgang Roessler, Eric J. J. Warrant, Uwe Homberg, Kentaro Arikawa, Charlotte Helfrich-Foerster, Peter M. M. Narins, Andrea Megela Simmons
Summary: The Journal of Comparative Physiology A, which has a history of 99 years, has published influential papers in comparative physiology and related disciplines. The winners of the 2023 Editors' Choice Awards include papers on contact chemoreception in prey sensing by octopus and magnetic maps in animal navigation. The winners of the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards include papers on thermal homeostasis of honeybee colonies and a historical letter on Einstein and the honeybee by von Frisch.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Wolfgang Roessler, Robin Grob, Pauline N. Fleischmann
Summary: This review examines how Cataglyphis desert ants acquire spatial information and adjust their visual compass systems. The ants perform learning walks before transitioning from the dark nest to bright sunlight, using the Earth's magnetic field as a compass. Specific sky compass cues trigger neuronal plasticity in visual circuits, while passive light exposure induces changes in synaptic complexes upstream of the central complex. A multisensory circuit model is proposed to explain the structural neuroplasticity during learning walks.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Laura Degirmenci, Fabio Luiz Roge Ferreira, Adrian Vukosavljevic, Cornelia Heindl, Alexander Keller, Dietmar Geiger, Ricarda Scheiner
Summary: This study investigated the functions of three sugar receptors in honeybees through gene knockout, electrophysiology, and behavior tests. The results showed that AmGr1 can perceive multiple sugars, AmGr2 acts as a co-receptor of AmGr1, and AmGr3 is a specific fructose receptor. This study is the first to comprehensively examine sugar perception at the receptor level and in vivo in honeybees. The findings suggest that honeybees rely on two gustatory receptors to sense all relevant sugars.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Victoria C. C. Moris, Lars Podsiadlowski, Sebastian Martin, Jan Philip Oeyen, Alexander Donath, Malte Petersen, Jeanne Wilbrandt, Bernhard Misof, Daniel Liedtke, Markus Thamm, Ricarda Scheiner, Thomas Schmitt, Oliver Niehuis
Summary: This study reveals a group of genes in honey bees that play an important role in the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons, and the predicted functions of these genes are consistent with current knowledge of cuticular hydrocarbon metabolism.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Martin Gabel, Ricarda Scheiner, Ralph Buechler
Summary: Prolonged brood interruptions have a negative impact on the reproduction of Varroa destructor mites, leading to decreased reproductive rates and long-lasting effects even after the interruption is over.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonia Schuhmann, Ricarda Scheiner
Summary: The loss of pollinators has become increasingly evident in recent decades, and the intensive use of plant protection products is a significant contributing factor. The mixture of different products can pose a heightened risk to pollinators due to potential synergistic effects.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Jens Habenstein, Kornelia Gruebel, Keram Pfeiffer, Wolfgang Roessler
Summary: In this study, the honey bee cerebrum was anatomically and microscopically analyzed using immunolabeling and neuronal tract tracing techniques. A total of 35 neuropils and 25 fiber tracts were discovered. This brain atlas provides valuable information for studying multisensory integration in honey bees and comparative research.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lisa Rother, Robin Mueller, Erwin Kirschenmann, James J. J. Foster, Sinan Kaya-Zeeb, Markus Thamm, Keram Pfeiffer
Summary: The behavioural state of animals affects neuronal information processing. In insects, locomotion has been shown to change the response properties of visual interneurons, but its effect on photoreceptors is unknown. This study found that the visual processing speed of bumblebees significantly increased when they were walking, and this increase was accompanied by a rise in eye temperature. Artificially heating the head confirmed that the walking-induced temperature increase was responsible for the faster processing speed. Walking also accelerated the visual system to the equivalent of a 14-fold increase in light intensity. These findings suggest that the rise in temperature during walking accelerates the processing of visual information, which is advantageous for processing the increased information flow during locomotion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Wolfgang Roessler
Summary: This article provides a brief overview of the skills of Cataglyphis desert ants in multisensory learning and neuronal plasticity, focusing on their transition from the dark nest interior to performing first foraging trips. It highlights desert ants as experimental models for studying the neuronal mechanisms underlying behavioral development into successful navigators.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antonia Bachert, Ricarda Scheiner
Summary: Formic acid is used by ants as a weapon, but it is also exploited for recruitment and trail marking. The acid's repelling effect is used by mammals and birds to eliminate ectoparasites. Beekeepers use formic acid to control Varroa mites, which are destructive pests of honey bees. This study examines the effect of formic acid on the behavior and cognition of honey bees and finds that it improves learning performance in olfactory conditioning.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Biology
Felix Schilcher, Ricarda Scheiner
Summary: Honeybees have a clear division of labor and vitellogenin protein, along with nutrition and octopamine, plays a major role in regulating this division. However, the importance of juvenile hormone in this process is not as significant as previously thought.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Markus Thamm, Fabienne Reiss, Leon Sohl, Martin Gabel, Matthias Noll, Ricarda Scheiner
Summary: This study found that the cuticular microbiomes of solitary bees are more complex than those of social honeybees. The microbiome composition is similar among different honeybee subspecies, but subspecies adapted to warmer climates have different numbers of fungi and higher diversity. These results suggest that the cuticular microbiome of bees is influenced by visited plants, lifestyle, and climate, which is important for maintaining bee health under global change conditions.
Article
Entomology
Martin Gabel, Andreas Hoppe, Ricarda Scheiner, Joerg Obergfell, Ralph Buechler
Summary: Selecting honeybee strains resistant to Varroa destructor is a sustainable method for dealing with this major parasite. The traits of suppressed mite reproduction (SMR) and recapping of already sealed brood cells (REC) have shown promise for further selection.
FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)