Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Cold Chain”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,423 records · Page 79Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Differential expression within the LOX gene family in ripening kiwifruit.

Real-time quantitative PCR was used to study lipoxygenase (LOX) gene expression patterns in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa [A. Chev.] C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson var. deliciosa cv. Hayward) during fruit ripening, and in response to ethylene and low temperature during post-harvest storage. Six LOX genes were identified and cloned from a kiwifruit EST database. All were expressed in vegetative tissues and in the fruit. Expression of AdLox1 and AdLox5 increased markedly as fruit developed to the climacteric stage and were up-regulated by ethylene treatment, following a similar pattern to LOX enzyme activity. By contrast, AdLox2, AdLox3, and AdLox4 transcripts were negatively associated with ethylene accumulation, and ethylene application enhanced the decline in transcript levels. Transcripts of AdLox6 declined with fruit ripening. The fruit showed no ripening changes at low temperature, where transcripts of AdLox1 and AdLox6 were slightly induced about 72 h after harvest, suggesting an adaptive response to low temperature. Transient expression of the ethylene-responsive AdLox1 gene in tobacco leaves led to significant degradation of chlorophyll and promoted tissue senescence, whereas AdLox2 had no such effect. The results showed that the six LOX genes were differentially regulated during kiwifruit ripening and senescence, forming two groups, one active in ripening and responsive to ethylene and the other more constitutively expressed. The possible roles of individual LOX isoforms in kiwifruit are discussed.

Actinidia↗
PubMed1998

Clustered organization and transcriptional analysis of a family of five csp genes of Lactococcus lactis MG1363.

A family of genes encoding cold-shock proteins, named cspA, cspB, cspC, cspD and cspE, was cloned and sequenced from Lactococcus lactis MG1363. The genes cspA and cspB and the genes cspC and cspD are located in tandem repeats, an organization of csp genes that has never been encountered before. The five genes encode small (7.1-7.6 kDa) proteins with high mutual sequence identities (up to 85%) and high identities (about 45-65%) with the major cold-shock proteins from Escherichia coli (CspA) and Bacillus subtilis (CspB). Northern-blot analysis revealed single transcripts of about 300 nucleotides for each csp gene and showed that cspA, cspB, cspC and cspD mRNA levels were strongly increased upon cold shock to 10 degrees C (about 10-, 40-, 10- and 30-fold compared to 30 degrees C, respectively), whereas the cspE mRNA level was not increased. The expression of the cold-induced csp genes was highest in the 6-8 h lag phase after cold shock. A differential expression in time, in which cspA and cspC were maximally expressed at 2 h and cspB and cspD at 4 h after cold shock, was observed. The -35 and -10 regions of the five promoters were identified and transcriptional start sites were mapped in each case by primer extension at different temperatures which confirmed that regulation takes place at the transcriptional level. Significant differences were observed between the 5'-untranslated leader regions of the four cold-induced csp genes and the corresponding region of the non-cold-induced cspE gene.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2002

Transcript levels of rbcR1, ntcA, and rbcL/S genes in cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 are downregulated in response to cold and osmotic stress.

Using differential display, we identified the Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase transcriptional regulator (rbcR1) gene, a member of the LysR family of positive transcription factors. The rbcR1 transcript and its putative target gene ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL/S) were repressed by cold (20 degrees C) and osmotic (sucrose and salt) stress. Cold stress also induced a transient downregulation of the Anabaena 7120 ntcA transcriptional regulator. Expression of the ntcA gene, however, returned to normal levels 2 h after initiation of cold stress and increased significantly above normal levels 24 h after growth at 20 degrees C. The early decline in the expression of the ntcA, rbcR1, and rbcL/S transcripts appears to be part of the Anabaena 7120 global adaptation response to stress. The substantial increase in the ntcA gene expression 24 h following cold stress suggests that Anabaena 7120 experiences substantial nitrogen limitation under these conditions. These data suggest that in response to stress, Anabaena 7120 decreases its metabolic activity through regulation of the CO(2) fixation machinery while enhancing its nitrogen assimilation by inducing the expression of the nitrogen global transcriptional regulator, NtcA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Angiotensinogen gene knockout delays and attenuates cold-induced hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to assess our hypothesis that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is responsible for cold-induced hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Two groups of wild-type (WT) mice and 2 groups of angiotensinogen gene knockout (Agt-KO) mice (6 per group) were used. After blood pressures (BP) of the four groups were measured 3 times at room temperature (25 degrees C), 1 WT and 1 Agt-KO group were exposed to cold (5 degrees C). The remaining groups were kept at 25 degrees C. BP of the cold-exposed WT group increased significantly in 1 week of cold exposure and rose gradually to 168+/-7 mm Hg by week 5, whereas the BP of the Agt-KO group did not increase until week 3. The cold-induced increase in BP (DeltaBP) was decreased significantly in the Agt-KO mice (19+/-3 mm Hg) compared with that of the WT mice (61+/-5 mm Hg) by 5 weeks of exposure to cold. Both WT and Agt-KO groups had cardiac hypertrophy in cold to the same extent. Agt-KO caused a significant increase in nitric oxide (NO) production. Thus, the RAS may inhibit NO formation. Chronic cold exposure decreased NO production, which may be mediated partially by activation of the RAS. These results strongly support that the RAS plays a critical role in the development of cold-induced hypertension but not cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, the role of the RAS in cold-induced hypertension may be mediated in part by its inhibition on NO production. The findings also reveal the possible relation between the RAS and NO in cardiovascular regulation.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1983

Serological demonstration of an allogeneic Ia.7 antigen on the cell surface of SJL/J-derived reticulum cell sarcomas.

The reticulum cell sarcomas (RCS) of SJL/J mice are of particular interest since they readily induce the proliferation of syngeneic T-lymphocytes. Previous cellular studies examined the antigens on the RCS which stimulated this response and suggested that the tumor expressed allogeneic I-region-associated (Ia) antigens normally associated with the E alpha:E beta molecular complex (S. M. Wilbur and B. J. Bonavida, Exp. Med., 153: 501-513, 1981). These particular Ia glycoproteins are not expressed on normal SJL/J cells due to a defect in the E alpha polypeptide synthetic pathway. However, the E beta subunit is synthesized normally by these animals but remains intracellular. The SJL/J-derived RCS may circumvent this defect in E alpha subunit biosynthesis. The aberrant synthesis of this polypeptide is thought to allow membrane presentation of an intact pseudoallogeneic Ia glycoprotein which utilized the normally dormant E beta s polypeptide. In the present study, two monoclonal antibodies directed against the Ia.7 specificity of the E alpha chain (13/18, 14-4-4S) were used to examine more directly the expression of this polypeptide on the tumor. Surprisingly, neither antibody was effective against the RCS in a direct complement-mediated cytolysis assay. Nevertheless, the tumor was found to specifically adsorb lytic activity of both the monoclonal antibodies. In addition, both a cold-cell competition assay and indirect immunofluorescence corroborated the data and indicated that the RCS does express detectable levels of the Ia.7 antigen. Normal spleen cells and lipopolysaccharide B-derived blasts from SJL/J mice were found in all experiments to be devoid of any specific reactivity with these monoclonal antibodies. In addition, continued in vivo passage of transplantable RCS was found to cause down-modulation of the Ia.7 specificities on these tumors. Newer RCS transplantable lines, however, expressed demonstrable levels of this alloantigen in both cellular and serological assays. The observed down-modulation could explain the difficulties encountered in defining this specificity on long-term transplantable RCS. In conclusion, the present serological study corroborates the early cell-binding data. An Ia.7 antigen is shown to be expressed on the RCS, yet this specificity could not be detected on normal SJL/J cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1955

Optical rotation and helical polypeptide chain configuration in collagen and gelatin.

The optical rotation phenomena exhibited by a citrate-extracted fraction of ichthyocol (from carp swim bladder), as well as by the parent gelatin derived therefrom, have been studied. Dispersion data for all cases follow a single-term Drude equation, but the variations with state are adequately expressed by simple reference to changes in [alpha](D) as follows:- 1. The native collagen fraction, dispersed in 0.15 M citrate buffer at pH 3.7 in the cold (11 degrees C.), yields a high negative specific rotation, [alpha](D), near -350 degrees . 2. During equilibration at 40 degrees C., which causes conversion to a monodisperse parent gelatin, the rotation drops to about -110 degrees . 3. Gelation at 2 degrees C. results in a partial regain of rotation to around -290 degrees . This mutarotation is reversible, depending on temperature. 4. In the range 0.02 to 0.28 per cent the native ichthyocol and the warm gelatin solutions show little concentration dependence, but with the cold gelatin solutions the specific rotation increases with concentration. Gelatin films formed by cold evaporation yield high specific rotation (ca. -620 degrees ), but those formed by hot evaporation retain low optical activity. 5. Since this same collagen-gelatin system has been investigated physicochemically, it is possible to relate molecular changes to the observed variations in optical rotation. Conclusions are similar to those of Robinson (1953), who studied other gelatins: high negative rotation is believed related to a native collagen polypeptide configuration, herein specified as helical (from x-ray diffraction considerations) and destroyed by heating. The possible roles of intermolecular interactions and of prevalent pyrrolidine constituents in influencing the helical configuration and optical activity are discussed.

Collagen↗
PubMed1988

Differential scanning calorimetric study of the thermotropic phase behavior of a polymerizable, tubule-forming lipid.

A comparative study of the polymorphism exhibited by the polymerizable, tubule-forming phospholipid 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (DC23PC) and its saturated analog 1,2-ditricosanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DTPC) in aqueous suspension is reported. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as freeze-fracture electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, have been used to study the influence on phase behavior of rigid diacetylene groups in the fatty acyl chains of a phosphatidylcholine. DTPC large multilamellar vesicle (MLV) and small unilamellar vesicle (SUV) suspensions were found to retain liposome morphology after chain crystallization had occurred. In marked contrast, diacetylenic DC23PC suspensions do not maintain liposomal morphology in converting to the low temperature phase. Large MLVs of DC23PC with outer diameters in excess of 1 micron convert to a gel phase with cylindrical or tubular morphology at 38 degrees C, just a few degrees below the lipid's chain melting temperature (TM(H), i.e. temperature of an endothermic event observed during a heating scan) of 43.1 degrees C. Unlike the large MLVs, small MLVs or SUVs of DC23PC, with diameters of 0.4 +/- 0.3 micron and 0.04 +/- 0.02 micron, respectively, exhibit metastability in the liquid-crystalline state for several tens of degrees below the chain melting temperature prior to converting to a gel phase which, by electron microscopy, manifests itself as extended multilamellar sheets. Raman data collected at TM(H) -40 degrees C demonstrate that the gel state formed by DC23PC is very highly ordered relative to that of DTPC, suggesting that special chain packing requirements are responsible for the novel phase behavior of DC23PC.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1983

Demonstration of a minor hemoglobin with modified alpha chains and additional modified hemoglobins in normal and diabetic adults.

We have attempted to separate various hemoglobins in 10 normal and 11 diabetic persons by Bio-Rex 70 chromatography at 4 degrees C with an exponentially increasing sodium phosphate gradient. Minor hemoglobins, namely AIa1, AIa2, AIb1, AIb2, AIb3, AIc, AId1, AId2 and AId3, have been separated and eluted in that order. Most of these minor hemoglobins were newly observed and could not be detected by the previous chromatographic techniques. On the basis of colorimetric assay protein-bound ketoamine was present in all the minor hemoglobins, which was confirmed by chromatographic separation of hemoglobins after reduction with NaB3H4. All the minor hemoglobins, with the exception of Hb AIa1, HbIa2, and Hb AIb1, showed a 2-fold increase in the diabetic patients. Hb AIc (5.0% in normals; 9.0% in diabetics) and Hb AId3 (1.9% in normals; 3.2% in diabetics) were present in the largest amounts. Both Hb AId3 and Hb Ao showed a decrease in oxygen affinity in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, whereas Hb AIc showed no effect. Separation of globin chains by cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH 8.6 showed that the cathodal mobility of the alpha chains of Hb AId3 was slower than those of Hb Ao. Glycosylation of Hb with [14C]glucose followed by separation of hemoglobins by two Bio-Rex 70 chromatographic methods indicated that the minor Hb formed by glycosylation of the alpha-chain amino-terminus was separated from Hb Ao, while the minor hemoglobins formed by the glycosylation of epsilon-NH2 groups chromatographed with Hb Ao.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗
PubMed2003

Degradation of specific polyunsaturated fatty acids in red blood cells stored at -20 degrees C proceeds faster in patients with schizophrenia when compared with healthy controls.

Deficits in red blood cell (RBC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been extensively reported in schizophrenia although reports are inconsistent. A possible explanation for this inconsistency is varying storage conditions of blood samples prior to analysis, especially freezer storage temperature. We conducted a prospective investigation of fatty acid degradation rates in RBCs from healthy control subjects when samples from each individual were stored at both -20 degrees C or -70 degrees C. Differences were detected between storage conditions. A second prospective study was conducted to investigate the effect of differential storage conditions on RBC membrane fatty acids from schizophrenic patients. We found that storage at -20 degrees C was associated with reduced levels of PUFAs. Comparison of decay rates suggest that schizophrenics decay approximately twice as rapidly as controls. Furthermore, this phenomenon appears to be specific for the longer chain PUFAs suggesting that an enzymatic process may be responsible, e.g. elevated phospholipase A(2) activity, as opposed to simple chemical oxidation.

Blood Preservation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physical properties, crystallization, and spherulite growth of linear and 3-arm poly(L-lactide)s.

The physical properties, crystallization, and spherulite growth behavior and mechanism of linear and 3-arm poly(L-lactide) [i.e., poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA)] have been investigated using absolute molecular weight as a molecular index. The branching reduces the chain mobility of PLLA and must be excluded from the crystalline regions. The former factor gives the higher glass transition temperature (T(g)) and starting temperature for thermal degradation (T(d,S)) of 3-arm PLLA compared with those of linear PLLA. On the other hand, both the former and the latter factors lead to the higher cold crystallization temperature (T(cc)), the longer induction period for spherulite growth (t(i)), the lower melting temperature (T(m)), crystallinitiy (X(c)), and radius growth rate of the spherulties (G) for the 3-arm PLLA compared with those for the linear PLLA. The G of 3-arm PLLA showed the vague dependence on number-average molecular weight (M(n)), probably because the branching effect was balanced with the molecular weight effect. At the M(n) exceeding critical values, the linear and 3-arm PLLA crystallize in regime II or regime III kinetics, depending on crystallization temperature (T(c)). In contrast, at the M(n) below critical values, the linear and 3-arm PLLA crystallize according solely to regime III and regime II kinetics, respectively, for all the T(c).

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed2005

The effect of advection on the nutrient reservoir in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre.

Though critically important in sustaining the ocean's biological pump, the cycling of nutrients in the subtropical gyres is poorly understood. The supply of nutrients to the sunlit surface layer of the ocean has traditionally been attributed solely to vertical processes. However, horizontal advection may also be important in establishing the availability of nutrients. Here we show that the production and advection of North Atlantic Subtropical Mode Water introduces spatial and temporal variability in the subsurface nutrient reservoir beneath the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. As the mode water is formed, its nutrients are depleted by biological utilization. When the depleted water mass is exported to the gyre, it injects a wedge of low-nutrient water into the upper layers of the ocean. Contrary to intuition, cold winters that promote deep convective mixing and vigorous mode water formation may diminish downstream primary productivity by altering the subsurface delivery of nutrients.

Atlantic Ocean↗
PubMed2003

Size makes a difference.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate status and trends in portion size of foods rich in fat and/or added sugars during the past decades, and to bring portion size into perspective in its role in obesity and dietary guidelines in Denmark. DATA SOURCES: Information about portion sizes of low-fat and full-fat food items was obtained from a 4-day weighed food record (Study 1). Trends in portion sizes of commercial foods were examined by gathering information from major food manufacturers and fast food chains (Study 2). Data on intakes and sales of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and confectionery were obtained through nation-wide dietary surveys and official sales statistics (Study 3). RESULTS: Study 1: Subjects ate and drank significantly more when they chose low-fat food and meal items (milk used as a drink, sauce and sliced cold meat), compared with their counterparts who chose food and meal items with a higher fat content. As a result, almost the same amounts of energy and fat were consumed both ways, with the exception of sliced cold meat (energy and fat) and milk (fat). Study 2: Portion sizes of commercial energy-dense foods and beverages, and fast food meals rich in fat and/or added sugars, seem to have increased over time, and in particular in the last 10 years. Study 3: The development in portion sizes of commercial foods has been paralleled by a sharp increase of more than 50% in the sales of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and confectionery like sweets, chocolate and ice creams since the 1970s. CONCLUSIONS: Larger portion sizes of foods low in fat and commercial energy-dense foods and beverages could be important factors in maintaining a high energy intake, causing over-consumption and enhancing the prevalence of obesity in the population. In light of this development, portion size ought to take central place in dietary guidelines and public campaigns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Myosin subfragment-1 isoforms having different heavy chain structures from fast skeletal muscle of thermally acclimated carp.

Three heavy chain isoforms of chymotryptic myosin subfragment-1 (S1) with different molecular sizes of 96 kDa (H1), 94 kDa (H2), and 92 kDa (H3), were detected in the fast skeletal muscle from thermally acclimated carp. In total, six S1 isoforms were present, including two S1 isoforms for each heavy chain due to associated A1 and A2 light chains. H1 heavy chain was dominant in the 10 degrees C-acclimated carp and responsible for high acto-S1 Mg(2+)-ATPase activity and low thermostability. In contrast, H3 heavy chain predominating in the 30 degrees C-acclimated carp showed low acto-S1 Mg(2+)-ATPase activity and high thermostability. H2 heavy chain was found in the 10- and 20 degrees C-acclimated fish. H3 heavy chain featured three tryptic fragments with normal molecular masses of 25, 50, and 20 kDa in order from the N-terminus. However, H1 heavy chain contained an unusual, longer "20 kDa" peptide whose molecular size was estimated to be about 23 kDa.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2004

Heterosis in the freezing tolerance of crosses between two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions (Columbia-0 and C24) that show differences in non-acclimated and acclimated freezing tolerance.

Heterosis is broadly defined as the increased vigour of hybrids in comparison to their parents. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a significant heterosis effect on leaf-freezing tolerance was observed in the F(1) generation of a cross between the accessions Columbia-0 (Col) and C24. Parental Col plants were significantly more freezing-tolerant than C24 plants in both the acclimated and non-acclimated (NA) states. Mid-parent heterosis was observed in the F(1) plants, both in the basic tolerance of non-adapted plants and in freezing tolerance after cold acclimation. Best-parent heterosis, on the other hand, was only found after cold acclimation. The heterosis effect was reduced in the F(2) populations such that only mid-parent heterosis was evident. The leaf content of soluble sugars (fructose (Fru), glucose (Glc), sucrose (Suc) and raffinose (Raf)) increased dramatically in the F(1) plants after cold acclimation as compared to the parental lines. The content of proline (Pro), however, was only moderately increased in the F(1) plants under the same conditions. Correlation analyses showed that only Raf content was consistently related to leaf-freezing tolerance in both the acclimated and NA states. A quantification of mRNA levels in leaves of parental and F(1) lines using quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed no clear indication for an involvement of the investigated genes (CBF (C-repeat binding factor)1, CBF2, (cold-regulated protein (COR) 6.6, COR15a, COR15b, COR47 and COR78) in the heterosis effect.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2005

Recombination within sympatric cryptic species of the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.

Metarhizium anisopliae is an insect pathogenic fungus with a worldwide distribution. It is being developed and used as a biocontrol agent against a wide range of insect pests but relatively little is known of the life history of this fungus. We tested hypotheses concerning reproductive isolation and recombination in a sample of heat-active (ability to grow at 37 degrees C) and cold-active (ability to grow at 8 degrees C) sympatrically occurring isolates of M. anisopliae from Ontario, Canada by assaying nucleotide sequence variation at six polymorphic loci: the internally transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat, and portions of calmodulin (CAL), chitin synthase (CHS), subtilisin-like protease (PR1), neutral trehalase (NTL) and actin (ACT)-encoding genes. The most parsimonious trees constructed showed a topology consistent with the heat-active and cold-active isolates as two monophyletic groups. We then applied Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) to the genealogical trees and concluded that the transition from concordance among branches to incongruity among branches delimited two species of M. anisopliae within Ontario. The GCPSR of two species was supported by intraspecific incongruity within each species when tested using the Partition Homogeneity test, indicating recombination. The GCPSR of two species also corresponded to the heat-active and cold-active groups. As the groups are morphologically indistinguishable we applied the term 'cryptic species'. Therefore, the sympatrically occurring heat-active and cold-active isolates represent different cryptic species with a history of recombination among isolates within each species.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed2002

Temperature- and surfactant-induced membrane modifications that alter Listeria monocytogenes nisin sensitivity by different mechanisms.

Nisin interacts with target membranes in four sequential steps: binding, insertion, aggregation, and pore formation. Alterations in membrane composition might influence any of these steps. We hypothesized that cold temperatures (10 degrees C) and surfactant (0.1% Tween 20) in the growth medium would influence Listeria monocytogenes membrane lipid composition, membrane fluidity, and, as a result, sensitivity to nisin. Compared to the membranes of cells grown at 30 degrees C, those of L. monocytogenes grown at 10 degrees C had increased amounts of shorter, branched-chain fatty acids, increased fluidity (as measured by fluorescence anisotropy), and increased nisin sensitivity. When 0.1% Tween 20 was included in the medium and the cells were cultured at 30 degrees C, there were complex changes in lipid composition. They did not influence membrane fluidity but nonetheless increased nisin sensitivity. Further investigation found that these cells had an increased ability to bind radioactively labeled nisin. This suggests that the modification of the surfactant-adapted cell membrane increased nisin sensitivity at the binding step and demonstrates that each of the four steps can contribute to nisin sensitivity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1985

Regulation of energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue.

The endocrinological and biochemical mechanisms controlling energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue at the cellular as well as at the total tissue levels are briefly reviewed. Thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue is principally controlled by the activity of hormone-sensitive lipases that represent the 'flux-generating' step in the stimulus-calorigenesis sequence. Long chain fatty acids are the physiological messengers regulating mitochondrial respiration. Agents stimulating brown adipocyte lipolysis (catecholamines, glucagon, methylxanthines) also stimulate respiration, and conversely, agents inhibiting lipolysis (adrenergic antagonists, insulin, prostaglandins) also inhibit respiration. This indicates that lipolysis and respiration are functionally coupled in brown adipose tissue. On the other hand, brown adipose tissue thermogenic capacity increases during cold acclimation or adaptation to hyperphagia. Brown adipocyte proliferation and differentiation from precursor cells (interstitial cells and brown preadipocytes) represent the fundamental phenomena explaining the increase capacity of cold acclimated and/or hyperphagic animals for responding calorigenically to catecholamines. Physiological situations associated with a stimulation of energy expenditure and a negative energy balance (cold acclimation, exercise training, caffeine consumption) generally induce a stimulation of adipocyte proliferation in brown adipose tissue that is accompanied by a simultaneous inhibition of cell proliferation in white adipose tissue. The physiological significance of these metabolic adaptations is to modulate the capacity of homeothermic animals for energy expenditure in accordance with energy requirements.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1994

Cold adaptation of proteins. Purification, characterization, and sequence of the heat-labile subtilisin from the antarctic psychrophile Bacillus TA41.

The gene of subtilisin S41, an alkaline protease secreted by the psychrophile Bacillus TA41, encodes for a preproenzyme of 419 amino acids residues. The nucleotide sequence and NH2- and COOH-terminal amino acid sequencing of the purified enzyme indicate that the mature subtilisin S41 is composed of 309 residues with a predicted M(r) = 31,224. Subtilisin S41 shares most of its properties with mesophilic subtilisins (structure of the precursor, 52% amino acid sequence identity, alkaline pH optimum, broad specificity, Ca2+ binding) but is characterized by a higher specific activity on macromolecular substrate, by a shift of the optimum of activity toward low temperatures, and by a low thermal stability. The enzyme also differs by an acidic pI (5.3) and the presence of one disulfide bond. It is proposed that the psychrophilic enzyme possesses a more flexible molecular structure when compared to mesophilic and thermophilic subtilases in order to compensate for the reduction of reaction rates at low temperatures. The model of subtilisin S41 indeed reveals several features able to induce a more flexible, heat-labile conformation: the occurrence of four extended surface loops, a very hydrophilic surface through 11 extra Asp residues, and the lack of several salt bridges and aromatic-aromatic interactions. The low affinity of the Ca1 calcium binding site (Kd(app) = 10(-6) M), resulting possibly from one chelating side chain substitution and the stacking of Gly residues, also reflect a less compact conformation. The difference of free energy of stabilization between subtilisin S41 and a mesophilic subtilisin suggests that the balance of exo- and endothermically formed weak bonds is critical for the enzyme flexibility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗