La Trobe University

About: La Trobe University is a education organization based out in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 13370 authors who have published 41291 publications receiving 1138269 citations. The organization is also known as: LaTrobe University & LTU.

Ketosis and appetite-mediating nutrients and hormones after weight loss

Abstract: Diet-induced weight loss is accompanied by compensatory changes, which increase appetite and encourage weight regain. There is some evidence that ketogenic diets suppress appetite. The objective is to examine the effect of ketosis on a number of circulating factors involved in appetite regulation, following diet-induced weight loss. Of 50 non-diabetic overweight or obese subjects who began the study, 39 completed an 8-week ketogenic very-low-energy diet (VLED), followed by 2 weeks of reintroduction of foods. Following weight loss, circulating concentrations of glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), leptin, gastrointestinal hormones and subjective ratings of appetite were compared when subjects were ketotic, and after refeeding. During the ketogenic VLED, subjects lost 13% of initial weight and fasting BHB increased from (mean±s.e.m.) 0.07±0.00 to 0.48±0.07 mmol/l (P<0.001). BHB fell to 0.19±0.03 mmol/l after 2 weeks of refeeding (P<0.001 compared with week 8). When participants were ketotic, the weight loss induced increase in ghrelin was suppressed. Glucose and NEFA were higher, and amylin, leptin and subjective ratings of appetite were lower at week 8 than after refeeding. The circulating concentrations of several hormones and nutrients which influence appetite were altered after weight loss induced by a ketogenic diet, compared with after refeeding. The increase in circulating ghrelin and subjective appetite which accompany dietary weight reduction were mitigated when weight-reduced participants were ketotic.

AtMYB103 regulates tapetum and trichome development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abstract: The AtMYB103 gene is a member of the R2R3 MYB gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Using the GUS reporter gene, AtMYB103 expression was found to be restricted to the tapetum of developing anthers. Employing RT-PCR and in situ hybridisation, we now show that AtMYB103 is also expressed in trichomes. GUS expression in trichomes was obtained by incorporating the coding and 3'-untranslated regions of AtMYB103 into the promoter-GUS constructs. Sense and antisense technologies were used to downregulate AtMYB103 expression. In transgenic lines with reduced AtMYB103 transcript levels, pollen, tapetum and trichome development were altered. The majority of the pollen grains were distorted in shape and had reduced or no cytoplasmic content. Tapetal degeneration occurred early, and large opaque bodies appeared in the tapetal cytoplasm. In transgenic plants, trichomes on cauline and rosette leaves produced additional branches. These overbranched trichomes contained more nuclear DNA than the wild-type trichomes. The results indicate that AtMYB103 is required for tapetal development and microsporogenesis, and negatively regulates trichome endoreduplication linked to the trichome branching.