Siglecs are transmembrane sialoglycan binding proteins, most of which are expressed on leukocyte subsets and have inhibitory motifs that translate cell surface ligation into immune suppression. In humans, Siglec-8 on eosinophils, mast cells and basophils and Siglec-9 on neutrophils, monocytes and some T-cells, mediate immune cell death, inhibition of immune mediator release and/or enhancement of anti-inflammatory mediator release. Endogenous sialoglycan ligands in tissues, mostly uncharacterized, engage siglecs on leukocytes to inhibit inflammation. Glycan array analyses demonstrated that Siglec-8, Siglec-9 and their mouse counterparts Siglec-F and Siglec-E (respectively) have distinct glycan binding specificities, with Siglec-8 more structurally restricted. Since siglecs are involved in lung inflammation, we studied Siglec-8 and Siglec-9 ligands in human lungs and airways. Siglec-8 ligands are in tracheal submucosal glands and cartilage but not airway epithelium or connective tissues, whereas Siglec-9 ligands are broadly distributed. Mouse airways do not have Siglec-8 ligands, whereas Siglec-9 ligands are on airways of both species. Extraction of human airways and lung followed by electrophoretic resolution and siglec blotting revealed Siglec-8 ligands in extracts of human trachea and cultured tracheal gland cells, but not parenchyma or cultured airway epithelial cells whereas Siglec-9 ligands were extracted from all airway and lung tissues and cells tested. Siglec-8 and Siglec-9 ligands in airways appear to be high molecular weight O-linked sialoglycoproteins. These data reveal differential glycan specificities of Siglec-8, Siglec-9 and their mouse counterparts Siglec-F and Siglec-E, and the tissue distributions and molecular characteristics of Siglec-8 and Siglec-9 sialoglycan ligands on human airways and lungs.

Diphosphoinositol-pentakisphosphate (InsP7) and bis-diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP8) possess pyrophosphate bonds. InsP7 is formed from inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) by recently identified InsP6 kinases designated InsP6K1 and InsP6K2. We now report the identification, cloning, and characterization of a novel protein, GRAB (guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rab3A), which interacts with both InsP6K1 and Rab3A, a Ras-like GTPase that regulates synaptic vesicle exocytosis. GRAB is a physiologic GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) for Rab3A. Consistent with a role of Rab3A in synaptic vesicle exocytosis, GRAB regulates depolarization-induced release of dopamine from PC12 cells and nicotinic agonist-induced hGH release from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The association of InsP6K1 with GRAB fits with a role for InsP7 in vesicle exocytosis.

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Diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (InsP(7)) and bis-diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP(8)) contain energetic pyrophosphate groups, occur throughout animal and plant kingdoms, and are synthesized by a recently cloned family of inositol hexakisphosphate kinases (InsP(6)Ks). We report that these inositol pyrophosphates mediate homologous DNA recombination in yeast S. cerevisae. Hyperrecombination, caused by altered protein kinase C1 (PKC1), is lost in yeast with deletion of yeast InsP(6)K (yInsP(6)K) and can be restored selectively by catalytically active yeast or mammalian InsP(6)Ks. Inositol pyrophosphates are required for two forms of hyperrecombination that differ in mechanism, suggesting some generalities for actions of inositol pyrophosphates in recombination.

Scope Our aim was to investigate whether dietary wolfberry altered carotenoid metabolic gene expression and enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis in the retina of diabetic mice. Methods and Results Six-week-old male db/db and wild type mice were fed the control or wolfberry diets for 8 weeks. At study termination, liver and retinal tissues were collected for analysis by transmission electron microscopy, real-time PCR, immunoprecipitation, Western blot, and HPLC. Wolfberry elevated zeaxanthin and lutein levels in the liver and retinal tissues and stimulated expression of retinal scavenger receptor class B type I, glutathione S-transferase Pi 1, and β,β-carotene 9’,10’-oxygenase 2, and induced activation and nuclear enrichment of retinal AMP-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPKα2). Furthermore, wolfberry attenuated hypoxia and mitochondrial stress as demonstrated by declined expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and heat shock protein 60. Wolfberry enhanced retinal mitochondrial biogenesis in diabetic retinas as demonstrated by reversed mitochondrial dispersion in the retinal pigment epithelium, increased mitochondrial copy number, elevated citrate synthase activity, and up-regulated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator 1 α, nuclear respiratory factor 1, and mitochondrial transcription factor A. Conclusion Consumption of dietary wolfberry could be beneficial to retinoprotection through reversal of mitochondrial function in diabetic mice.

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Background Balanced activation and inhibition of the immune system ensures pathogen clearance while avoiding hyperinflammation. Siglecs, sialic acid binding proteins found on subsets of immune cells, often inhibit inflammation: Siglec-8 on eosinophils and Siglec-9 on neutrophils engage sialoglycan ligands on airways to diminish ongoing inflammation. The identities of human siglec ligands and their expression during inflammation are largely unknown. Objective The histological distribution, expression and molecular characteristics of siglec ligands were explored in healthy and inflamed human upper airways and in a cellular model of airway inflammation. Methods Normal and chronically inflamed upper airway tissues were stained for siglec ligands. The ligands were extracted from normal and inflamed tissues and from human Calu-3 cells for quantitative analysis by siglec blotting and isolation by siglec capture. Results Siglec-8 ligands were expressed on a subpopulation of submucosal gland cells of human inferior turbinate, whereas Siglec-9 ligands were expressed more broadly (submucosal glands, epithelium, connective tissue); both were significantly upregulated in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Human airway (Calu-3) cells expressed Siglec-9 ligands on mucin 5B under inflammatory control via the NF-κB pathway, and mucin 5B carried sialoglycan ligands of Siglec-9 on human upper airway tissue. Conclusion Inflammation results in upregulation of immune inhibitory Siglec-8 and Siglec-9 sialoglycan ligands on human airways. Siglec-9 ligands were upregulated via the NF-κB pathway resulting in their enhanced expression on mucin 5B. Siglec sialoglycan ligand expression in inflamed cells and tissues may contribute to the control of airway inflammation.

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a versatile technology to produce high-quality fuels and key building-block chemicals from syngas derived from nonpetroleum carbon resources such as coal, natural gas, shale gas, biomass, solid waste, and even CO2. However, the product selectivity of FTS is always limited by the Anderson–Schulz–Flory (ASF) distribution, and the key scientific problems including selectivity control, energy saving, and CO2 emission reduction still challenge the current FTS technology. Herein, we review recent significant progress in the field of FTS to obtain specific target products including fuels, olefins, aromatics, and higher alcohols with high selectivity. These achievements are enabled by developing highly efficient catalysts and a controlled reaction pathway based on an integrated process. The structural nature of catalytic active sites and established structure–performance relationships are clarified. Moreover, we specially focus on the carbon utilization efficiency, and the efforts to tune the preferential formation of value-added chemicals and strategies to reduce CO2 selectivity are summarized. The challenges and the perspectives for future FTS technology development with high carbon efficiency are also discussed.