Physiology: does gut hormone PYY3-36 decrease food intake in rodents?

Batterham et al. report that the gut peptide hormone PYY3-36 decreases food intake and body-weight gain in rodents, a discovery that has been heralded as potentially offering a new therapy for obesity. However, we have been unable to replicate their results. Although the reasons for this discrepancy remain undetermined, an effective anti-obesity drug ultimately must produce its effects across a range of situations. The fact that the findings of Batterham et al. cannot easily be replicated calls into question the potential value of an anti-obesity approach that is based on administration of PYY3-36.     

Shoot control of root development and nodulation is mediated by a receptor-like kinase

In legumes, root nodule organogenesis is activated in response to morphogenic lipochitin oligosaccharides that are synthesized by bacteria, commonly known as rhizobia. Successful symbiotic interaction results in the formation of highly specialized organs called root nodules, which provide a unique environment for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In wild-type plants the number of nodules is regulated by a signalling mechanism integrating environmental and developmental cues to arrest most rhizobial infections within the susceptible zone of the root. Furthermore, a feedback mechanism controls the temporal and spatial susceptibility to infection of the root system. This mechanism is referred to as autoregulation of nodulation, as earlier nodulation events inhibit nodulation of younger root tissues. Lotus japonicus plants homozygous for a mutation in the hypernodulation aberrant root (har1) locus escape this regulation and form an excessive number of nodules. Here we report the molecular cloning and expression analysis of the HAR1 gene and the pea orthologue, Pisum sativum, SYM29. HAR1 encodes a putative serine/threonine receptor kinase, which is required for shoot-controlled regulation of root growth, nodule number, and for nitrate sensitivity of symbiotic development.     

藏药波棱瓜花质量标准的初步研究

对藏药波棱瓜花药材的质量标准进行初步研究.根据2010年版《中国药典》附录IX相关方法,对波棱瓜花药材的水分、总灰分、酸不溶性灰分、醇溶性浸出物进行测定;并对该药材的性状、显微特征进行描述;采用薄层色谱(TLC)法进行定性鉴别.初步明确了波棱瓜花药材性状、显微和薄层鉴别方法,并确立了波棱瓜花药材水分、总灰分、酸不溶性灰分、浸出物的限量.本研究为波棱瓜花的质量标准的的制定提供参考依据.