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1. Frataxin controls ketone body metabolism through regulation of OXCT1

   https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac142  

   Dong, Yi NA ; Mesaros, Clementina ; Xu, Peining ; Mercado-Ayón, Elizabeth ; Halawani, Sarah ; Ngaba, Lucie Vanessa ; Warren, Nathan ; Sleiman, Patrick ; Rodden, Layne N. ; Schadt, Kimberly A. ; et al ( July 2022 , PNAS Nexus)

   Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease caused by the deficiency of mitochondrial protein frataxin, which plays a crucial role in iron–sulphur cluster formation and ATP production. The cellular function of frataxin is not entirely known. Here, we demonstrate that frataxin controls ketone body metabolism through regulation of 3-Oxoacid CoA-Transferase 1 (OXCT1), a rate limiting enzyme catalyzing the conversion of ketone bodies to acetoacetyl-CoA that is then fed into the Krebs cycle. Biochemical studies show a physical interaction between frataxin and OXCT1 both in vivo and in vitro. Frataxin overexpression also increases OXCT1 protein levels in human skin fibroblasts while frataxin deficiency decreases OXCT1 in multiple cell types including cerebellum and skeletal muscle both acutely and chronically, suggesting that frataxin directly regulates OXCT1. This regulation is mediated by frataxin-dependent suppression of ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS)-dependent OXCT1 degradation. Concomitantly, plasma ketone bodies are significantly elevated in frataxin deficient knock-in/knockout (KIKO) mice with no change in the levels of other enzymes involved in ketone body production. In addition, ketone bodies fail to be metabolized to acetyl-CoA accompanied by increased succinyl-CoA in vitro in frataxin deficient cells, suggesting that ketone body elevation is caused by frataxin-dependent reduction of OXCT1 leading to deficits in tissue utilization of ketone bodies. Considering the potential role of metabolic abnormalities and deficiency of ATP production in FRDA, our results suggest a new role for frataxin in ketone body metabolism and also suggest modulation of OXCT1 may be a potential therapeutic approach for FRDA.

    

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2. Decomposition of Luminescent Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds in Simulated Body Fluid

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.4c00154  

   Martinez-Pallares, Fabian ; Herrera, Manuel ; Graeve, Olivia A ( May 2024 , ACS Applied Bio Materials)

   We present a luminescence study investigating the dissolution of rare-earth-doped hydroxyapatite scaffolds in simulated body fluid (SBF), aiming to assess the luminescence stability of Tb-, Ce-, and Eu-doped scaffolds over time. Our findings reveal a consistent decrease in luminescence emission intensity across all samples over a four-week period in which the scaffolds were immersed in the SBF. In addition, energy-dispersive spectroscopy confirms a decrease in rare-earth ion concentration in the scaffolds with respect to time, whereas fluorescence spectroscopy shows the presence of rare-earth ions in the SBF, indicating the partial dissolution of the scaffolds over time. The use of rare-earth ions as luminescence markers provides insights into the mechanisms of apatite formation in hydroxyapatites. Thus, these scaffolds may find wider use in regenerative medicine, particularly in targeted drug delivery systems, where their luminescent properties have the potential to noninvasively track drug release. 

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3. The evolution of gene regulation on sex chromosomes

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2022.04.004  

   Shaw, Daniel E. ; White, Michael A. ( August 2022 , Trends in Genetics)
4. Ecological Drivers of Carnivoran Body Shape Evolution

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   Law, Chris J. ( September 2021 , The American Naturalist)
5. BODY SHAPE METRICS AND ORGANISMAL EVOLUTION

   https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1982.tb05463.x  

   Cherry, Lorraine M. ; Case, Susan M. ; Kunkel, Joseph G. ; Wyles, Jeff S. ; Wilson, Allan C. ( September 1982 , Evolution)