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No description available.

Lipids are important for the structural and physiological functions of neuronal cell membranes. Alterations in their lipid composition may result in membrane dysfunction and subsequent neuronal deficits that characterise various disorders. This study focused on profiling lipids of aged and LPS-treated rat brain and liver tissue with a view to explore the effect of atorvastatin in neuroinflammation, and examining lipid changes in different areas of rat brain of the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats, a genetic model of depression. Lipids and other analytes extracted from tissue samples were analysed with proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR), gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC/ESI-MS/MS). Changes in the lipid profiles suggested that brain and liver responded differently to ageing and LPS-induced neuroinflammation. In the aged animals, n-3 PUFA were reduced in the brain but were increased in the liver. However, following treatment with LPS, these effects were not observed. Nevertheless, in both models, brain concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids was increased while the liver was able to maintain its monounsaturated fatty acid concentration. Atorvastatin reversed the reduction in n-3 PUFA in the aged brain without reducing brain and liver concentration of cholesterol. These findings further highlight alterations in lipid metabolism in agerelated neuroinflammation and show that the anti-inflammatory actions of atorvastatin may include a modulation of fatty acid metabolism. When studying the FSL model, there were differences in the lipid profile of different brain areas of FSL rats compared to Sprague-Dawley controls. In all brain areas, arachidonic acid was increased in the FSL rats. Docosahexaenoic acid and ether lipids were reduced, while cholesterol and sphingolipids were increased in the hypothalamus of the FSL rats. Furthermore, total diacylglycerophospholipids were reduced in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus of the FSL rats. These results show differences in the lipid metabolism of the FSL rat brain and may be suggestive of changes occurring in the brain tissue in depression.

No description available.

No description available.

Escherichia coli survives in both nutrient rich nutrient-limited environments. As such, understanding the gene and protein level activity that occurs during stationary phase is considered an important aspect of bacterial survival. Escherichia coli has been studied for decades providing substantial insight into gene expression profiles in exponential phase and recently, during adaptation to stationary phase. This led to the discovery of RpoS as a growth phase-dependent sigma factor. Further studies indicated that there are many genes that are expressed in an RpoS-independent but stationary phase-specific manner. However, proteins represent the functional molecules of the cell. Additionally, protein expression does not always correlate with the corresponding gene expression patterns. Therefore, to obtain an in depth understanding of the proteins that play a role in long-term growth in E. coli, TMT- (Tandem Mass Tags) based quantitative proteomic analysis was performed to identify proteins that are preferentially expressed during prolonged starvation. We identified proteins that were both positively and negatively regulated by RpoS during stationary phase, such as GadA and TnaA, respectively. RpoS levels peaked during early stationary phase and declined thereafter. However, proteins that were RpoS-dependent continued to increase during prolonged stationary phase. Additionally, we identified proteins that were expressed in an RpoS-independent manner during stationary phase. This suggests that protein expression during early stationary phase is distinct from prolonged stationary phase. Furthermore, RpoS-independent proteins may also play an important role during long-term growth. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Escherichia coli adapts to shifts in nutrient availability using the alternative sigma factor RpoS which controls morphological and physiological changes. Although gene expression during growth has been extensively studied, comparable information regarding changes in protein abundance during prolonged incubation is not available. We employed a quantitative proteomics approach to identify proteins that are preferentially expressed during stationary phase in E. coli. We identified classes of proteins that are upregulated and downregulated by RpoS in addition to proteins regulated independently of RpoS. Global analysis of protein expression during growth can aid in understanding the adaptation of E. coli under starvation conditions.

No / Lipidomics aim to generate qualitative and quantitative information on different classes of lipids and their species, and when applied in conjunction with proteomic and genomic assays, facilitate the comprehensive study of lipid metabolism in cellular, organ or body systems. Advances in mass spectrometry have underpinned the expansion of lipidomic methodologies. Prostanoids are potent autacoids present in a plethora of cellular systems, known best for their intimate role in inflammation. Electrospray ionisation (ESI) allows the efficient ionisation of prostanoids in aqueous systems. ESI can be readily coupled to liquid chromatography (LC) followed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)-based detection, thus allowing the development of a potent and selective LC/ESI-MS/MS quantitative assays. The protocol we describe in this chapter outlines the steps we follow to a) extract prostanoids from solid or liquid samples, b) semi-purify the metabolites using solid phase extraction c) set-up the HPLC separation using reverse phase chromatography and d) set up the MS/MS assay using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The experimental details and notes presented here are based on the detailed protocols followed in our group

Yes / Sunburn is a commonly occurring acute inflammatory process, with dermal vasodilatation and leukocyte infiltration as central features. Ultraviolet (UV) B-induced hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids releases polyunsaturated fatty acids and their subsequent metabolism by cyclooxygenases (COX) and lipoxygenases (LOX) may produce potent eicosanoid mediators modulating different stages of the inflammation. Our objective was to identify candidate eicosanoids formed during the sunburn reaction in relation to its clinical and histological course. We exposed skin of healthy humans (n=32) to UVB and for 72h examined (i) expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids using LC/ESI-MS/MS and (ii) immunohistochemical expression of COX-2, 12-LOX, 15-LOX and leucocyte markers, while (iii) quantifying clinical erythema. We show that vasodilatory prostaglandins (PG)E2, PGF2¿ and PGE3 accompany the erythema in the first 24-48h, associated with increased COX-2 expression at 24h. Novel, potent leukocyte chemoattractants 11-, 12- and 8-monohydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (-HETE) are elevated from 4-72h, in association with peak dermal neutrophil influx at 24h, and increased dermal CD3+ lymphocytes and 12- and 15-LOX expression from 24-72h. Anti-inflammatory metabolite 15-HETE shows later expression, peaking at 72h. Sunburn is characterized by overlapping phases of increases in COX products followed by LOX products that may regulate subsequent events and ultimately its resolution. / The Wellcome Trust

Yes / The extensive use of mollusc shell as a versatile raw material is testament to its importance in prehistoric times. The consistent choice of certain species for different purposes, including the making of ornaments, is a direct representation of how humans viewed and exploited their environment. The necessary taxonomic information, however, is often impossible to obtain from objects that are small, heavily worked or degraded. Here we propose a novel biogeochemical approach to track the biological origin of prehistoric mollusc shell. We conducted an in-depth study of archaeological ornaments using microstructural, geochemical and biomolecular analyses, including ‘palaeoshellomics’, the first application of palaeoproteomics to mollusc shells (and indeed to any invertebrate calcified tissue). We reveal the consistent use of locally-sourced freshwater mother-of-pearl for the standardized manufacture of ‘double-buttons’. This craft is found throughout Europe between 4200–3800 BCE, highlighting the ornament-makers’ profound knowledge of the biogeosphere and the existence of cross-cultural traditions. / Ministry of Education, Universities and Research Young Researcher: European Commission PERG-GA-2010-26842: Leverhulme Trust: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique: Campus France, Universita` Italo-Francese PHC Galile´ programme

Pre-treatment with polyunsaturated fatty acids or bioactive lipid mediators has been shown to reduce neuronal injury in rodent models of focal ischaemia, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this neuroprotection are unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether systemic administration of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) leads to changes in the profile of mouse brain phospholipid and bioactive lipid mediators in both mouse brain and plasma within the previously determined neuroprotection time window. Mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) allowed us to detect and identify 47 phospholipids in mouse cerebral cortex, including several phospholipid species not previously reported in brain lipidomic studies. These included a phosphatidylethanolamine species with m/z 720 that has been associated with retinal stem cells. No widespread changes in cerebral cortex phospholipid composition were observed following intravenous ALA. Several significant changes in lipid mediators (P<0.05 with two-way ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett's t test) were detected in ALA-treated animals compared to untreated and vehicle-injected animals. Many of the affected lipid mediators are ligands for prostanoid receptors which have been demonstrated to play a role in the development of brain injury following cerebral ischaemia, implying that changes in bioactive lipid mediators or modulation of prostanoid receptors may occur following ALA pre-treatment in mice. This study illustrates the potential of advanced lipidomic analysis as a novel tool for neurochemists.