Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander Mordhorst, Priyavathi Dhandapani, Susann Matthes, Valentina Mosienko, Michael Rothe, Mihail Todiras, Julie Self, Wolf-Hagen Schunck, Anja Schutz, Michael Bader, Natalia Alenina
Summary: Serotonin synthesis involves the hydroxylation of tryptophan, with most vertebrates having two known enzymes for this step. However, even in animals lacking these two enzymes, there is still some serotonin production, suggesting the presence of a third enzyme. The study found evidence that phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) may act as a third tryptophan hydroxylase in mammals, contributing to serotonin levels in the blood and potentially serving as a local source of serotonin in organs where other TPHs are not expressed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alla B. Arefieva, Polina D. Komleva, Vladimir S. Naumenko, Nikita V. Khotskin, Alexander V. Kulikov
Summary: This study investigated the effects of the pharmacological chaperone BH4 on the mutant TPH2 enzyme. The results showed that although BH4 demonstrated chaperone effects in vitro, it was unable to increase the activity of mutant TPH2 in vivo.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shelley R. Winn, Sandra Dudley, Tanja Scherer, Nicole Rimann, Beat Thoeny, Sydney Boutros, Destine Krenik, Jacob Raber, Cary O. Harding
Summary: The study found that lifelong weekly pegvaliase treatment can prevent cognitive deficits associated with hyperphenylalaninemia in mice, particularly with significant improvements in overall growth of the mice with early treatment. However, cognitive deficits may reappear after discontinuation of treatment, especially when treatment is stopped in adulthood.
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Michaela Herz, Klaus Brehm
Summary: The study reveals the important role of serotonin in E. multilocularis development and proliferation, with evidence that serotonin is crucial for parasite integrity and survival. Serotonin also stimulates parasite metacestode development and proliferation, potentially contributing to parasite formation and growth in the liver.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina S. Evsiukova, Daria Bazovkina, Ekaterina Bazhenova, Elizabeth A. Kulikova, Alexander V. Kulikov
Summary: The mechanisms of resistance to antidepressant drugs remain a key and unresolved issue in psychopharmacology. Using zebrafish as a model organism, it was found that disruption of TPH2 function may lead to refractoriness to antidepressant treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zhenya Zhu, Xiaolong Chen, Shuang Chen, Chenmin Hu, Rui Guo, Yuhao Wu, Ziyu Liu, Xiaoli Shu, Mizu Jiang
Summary: In this study, the effects of GsMTx4 on 5-HT secretion in QGP-1 cells were explored. It was found that GsMTx4 increased 5-HT levels in QGP-1 cells and affected the expression of Piezo1/2 ion channels, TPH1 enzyme, and p38 signaling pathway. GsMTx4 also influenced mouse intestinal motility and blocked the response of QGP-1 cells to ultrasound.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Carolina Zambrano, Agne Kulyte, Juan Lujan, Belen Rivero-Gutierrez, Fermin Sanchez de Medina, Olga Martinez-Augustin, Mikael Ryden, Frank A. J. L. Scheer, Marta Garaulet
Summary: Habitual napping may disrupt circadian expression patterns of lipase E gene, resulting in impaired lipid mobilization and increased abdominal obesity in nappers.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina S. Evsiukova, Alla B. Arefieva, Ivan E. Sorokin, Alexander V. Kulikov
Summary: This study investigated the levels of serotonin and its main metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, as well as the activities of the key enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation in the brains of male and female turquoise killifish at different ages. The results showed that age had a significant effect on body mass, serotonin level, and enzyme activities in the killifish brain. The level of serotonin decreased with age, and there were age-related alterations in the activities of tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamine oxidase. These findings highlight the suitability of N. furzeri as a model organism for studying age-related changes in the serotonin system in the brain.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Sbrini, Sabrina I. Hanswijk, Paola Brivio, Anthonieke Middelman, Michael Bader, Fabio Fumagalli, Natalia Alenina, Judith R. Homberg, Francesca Calabrese
Summary: Peripheral serotonin levels have an influence on brain functions under basal and dynamic situations. The lack of peripheral serotonin can reduce anxiety-like behavior, as well as neuronal activation and the expression of brain plasticity-related genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Polyna D. Komleva, Ghofran Alhalabi, Arseniy E. Izyurov, Nikita V. Khotskin, Alexander V. Kulikov
Summary: This study investigates the effects of the TPH2 and Raly-Agouti gene mutations on body mass, behavior, and the 5-HT and melanocortin systems in the brain of mice. The mutations increase TPH2 enzyme activity and Agouti gene expression, but have no effect on 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels or the expression of other genes. The mutations have different effects on weight gain and depressive-like behavior, and when combined, cause hind limb dystonia in mice.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Kyoko Kajimoto, Chie Hisada, Suzuko Ochi, Eri Yoshikawa, Ayumi Suzuki, Hiroko Tsugane, Jiahe Zhang, Mitsuo Iinuma, Kin-ya Kubo, Kagaku Azuma
Summary: The study demonstrated that prenatal stress had negative effects on the behavior and brain pathways of mouse offspring, while maternal chewing behavior could alleviate these effects to some extent.
ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosanna Caputo, Vincent-Joseph Poirel, Etienne Challet, Johanna H. Meijer, Sylvie Raison
Summary: This study investigates the functioning of the serotonin system in diurnal rodents. The results show that the synthesis of serotonin in these animals is rhythmic and correlates with their behavioral phenotype.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Maggie Henry, Anna Kate Shoveller, Terri L. O'Sullivan, Lee Niel, Robert Friendship
Summary: Body lesions resulting from tail-biting and ear-biting can have negative effects on pig health and welfare. Tryptophan, an amino acid essential for protein deposition and serotonin synthesis, may play a role in aggression and abnormal behavior. Two studies were conducted to investigate the influence of dietary tryptophan levels on aggression and abnormal behavior in 8-week-old pigs. The results showed that increasing dietary tryptophan relative to large neutral amino acids can impact circulating plasma tryptophan and serotonin concentrations in pigs. However, no significant effects on body, tail and ear-biting behavior were observed under the conditions studied.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cezary Chojnacki, Tomasz Poplawski, Anita Gasiorowska, Jan Chojnacki, Janusz Blasiak
Summary: The levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA, as well as the number of EECs, were found to be higher in LC patients compared to healthy controls. Positive correlations were observed between the levels of serotonin and 5-HIAA, serotonin and EEC number, TPH1 mRNA and EEC number, as well as disease severity and 5-HIAA. Budesonide treatment reduced these levels and restored them to values similar to the control group.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xiping Zhu, Dan Xie, Qiong Zhu, Yufeng Li, Chun Cui
Summary: This study aimed to obtain three Trp-containing peptides from beta-lactoglobulin and investigate their effects on anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish. The anxiety-like behaviors of zebrafish were reduced after administration of beta-lactoglobulin Trp peptides. The treatment also enhanced 5-HT synthesis and validated the anti-anxiety effects of whey protein hydrolysate.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Heather K. Caldwell, Elizabeth A. Aulino, Karla M. Rodriguez, Shannah K. Witchey, Alexandra M. Yaw
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2017)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexandra M. Yaw, Robert W. Woodruff, Rebecca A. Prosser, J. David Glass
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Alexandra M. Yaw, Rebecca A. Prosser, Piet C. Jones, Benjamin J. Garcia, Daniel A. Jacobson, J. David Glass
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexandra M. Yaw, Thu V. Duong, Duong Nguyen, Hanne M. Hoffmann
Summary: Using PER2::Luciferase mice, researchers found that the phase relationships of reproductive tissues changed during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, accompanied by changes in PER2::LUC period in the SCN, uterus, and ovary.Progesterone was found to regulate Per2-luciferase expression and shorten PER2::LUC period in uterine tissue during pregnancy, suggesting a role of sex steroids in driving phase relationship adaptations. Despite changes in SCN PER2::LUC period during late pregnancy, onset of locomotor activity did not correlate with SCN or arcuate nucleus PER2::LUC period.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra M. Yaw, Autumn K. McLane-Svoboda, Hanne M. Hoffmann
Summary: Shiftwork, including exposure to light at night, has been associated with decreased health, including reproductive dysfunction. Rodent models of light shifts can provide insights into the physiological and hormonal responses to light shifts that may lead to reproductive disruption in human shift workers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Hanne M. Hoffmann, Jason D. Meadows, Joseph A. Breuer, Alexandra M. Yaw, Duong Nguyen, Karen J. Tonsfeldt, Austin Y. Chin, Brooke M. Devries, Crystal Trang, Haley J. Oosterhouse, Jessica Sora Lee, Jeffrey W. Doser, Michael R. Gorman, David K. Welsh, Pamela L. Mellon
Summary: The homeodomain transcription factors SIX3 and VAX1 play novel roles in neurons, being required for proper molecular circadian clock function, SCN rhythmic output, and female fertility.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexandra M. Yaw, J. David Glass, Rebecca A. Prosser, Heather K. Caldwell
Summary: It has been established that the damaging effects of drug abuse, such as cocaine, can extend to the offspring of the users. This study focuses on the effects of paternal cocaine use on the social behaviors of the first generation offspring. The results suggest that paternal cocaine use can alter social behaviors in male offspring, including increased investigation times and decreased anxiety-like behaviors, possibly through modulation of the oxytocin system.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sambit Roy, Aierken Abudu, Irving Salinas, Niharika Sinha, Holly Cline-Fedewa, Alexandra M. Yaw, Wenjie Qi, Todd A. Lydic, Diana L. Takahashi, Jon D. Hennebold, Hanne M. Hoffmann, Jianrong Wang, Aritro Sen
Summary: This study shows that chronic high androgen levels cause hepatic steatosis in a PCOS mouse model, and this phenotype can be rescued through hepatocyte-specific androgen receptor (AR)-knockout. The study also reveals that androgens can disrupt the hepatic timing system and affect the expression of metabolic genes and circadian genes.
