The ability to store fat in the form of cytoplasmic triglyceride droplets is conserved from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to humans. Although much is known regarding the composition and catabolism of lipid droplets, the molecular components necessary for the biogenesis of lipid droplets have remained obscure. Here we report the characterization of a conserved gene family important for lipid droplet formation named fat-inducing transcript (FIT). FIT1 and FIT2 are endoplasmic reticulum resident membrane proteins that induce lipid droplet accumulation in cell culture and when expressed in mouse liver. shRNA silencing of FIT2 in 3T3-LI adipocytes prevents accumulation of lipid droplets, and depletion of FIT2 in zebrafish blocks diet-induced accumulation of lipid droplets in the intestine and liver, highlighting an important role for FIT2 in lipid droplet formation in vivo. Together these studies identify and characterize a conserved gene family that is important in the fundamental process of storing fat.adipocytes ͉ diabetes ͉ FIT ͉ obesity ͉ triglyceride T he ability to store energy in the form of triglyceride (TG) is conserved from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to humans. TGs are stored in the cytoplasm surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipid in distinct structures or organelles given numerous names, such as lipid particles, oil bodies, adiposomes, eicosasomes, and, more commonly, lipid droplets (1). Under normal physiological conditions, lipid droplets are involved in maintaining energy balance at the cellular and whole-organism levels. Yet under conditions of extreme lipid droplet acquisition, as in obesity, the risk for acquiring common debilitating diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is increased (2).Despite their central role in energy homeostasis, only recently have the composition and functions of many of the components of lipid droplets from S. cerevisiae, Drosophila, and mammalian cells been revealed. In general, lipid droplets are composed of a core of neutral lipids, primarily TGs, surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids and lipid droplet-associated proteins (3-7). In mammalian cells, the catabolism of lipid droplets is a highly regulated process involving hormonal signals, droplet-associated proteins, and lipases (8-10). Although much has been learned about the components and catabolism of lipid droplets, the molecular mechanism of lipid droplet biogenesis has remained unknown. The prevailing view is that lipid droplets are formed at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) because the ER is the site of TG biosynthesis, and lipid droplets are often observed in close association with the cytoplasmic face of the ER (11-13). A widely accepted model of lipid droplet biogenesis involves the formation of a core or lens of newly synthesized TG between the leaflets of the ER membrane that buds off with the cytoplasmic leaflet of the ER surrounding the neutral lipid core and acquires exchangeable cytosolic lipid droplet-associated proteins (14). However, this view was recently challenged by observatio...

Background: Medical care workers experienced unprecedented levels of workload and pressure since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about its exact impact on medical care workers and related factors in China. This study aims to identify the psychological impact of COVID-19 on medical care workers in China. Methods: From February 23 to March 5, 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 863 medical care workers from seven provinces in China using standard questionnaires measuring adverse psychological outcomes including Impact of Event Scale-6 (IES-6), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale(DASS)and related psychosocial factors like perceived threat, social support and coping strategies. Exploratory Factor analysis was performed to identify the dimensions of perceived threat by study participants. Multivariate regression was used to examine the determinants of adverse psychological outcomes. Results: Posttraumatic stress (PTS) were prevalent in this sample of health care professionals, and 40.2% indicated positive screens for significant posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The proportion of having mild to extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were 13.6, 13.9 and 8.6%, respectively. Perceived threat and passive coping strategies were positively correlated to PTS and DASS scores, while perceived social support and active coping strategies were negatively correlated to DASS scores. Nurses were more likely to be anxious than others among medical care workers during the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusions: Adverse psychological symptoms were prevalent among medical care workers in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Screening for adverse psychological outcomes and developing corresponding preventive measures would be beneficial in decreasing negative psychological outcomes.

Biodegradable and renewable UV-shielding films are highly demanded to meet the increasing sustainable requirement for the environment. Lignin as a natural broad UV blocker has gained considerable attention; however, the poor dispersibility within synthetic polymers limited its applications. Thus, a bioinspired melanin-like polydopamine thin layer was incorporated for the first time with lignin nanoparticle (LNP) in this effort, forming a UV-blocking core–shell lignin–melanin nanoparticle (LMNP) with higher compatibility and durability. Subsequently, LNP, LMNP, melanin nanoparticles (MNP), and a mix of LNP and MNP (MixNP) were compounded with poly­(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), to enhance the UV-barrier capability and photostability of PBAT films. The incorporated LMNPs were well distributed into PBAT, leading to improved tensile properties and thermal stability of the resulting films. All these films possessed remarkable UV-blocking capacity at NP concentration ranging from 0.5 to 5 wt %, blocking almost all of UV-A and more than 80% of UV-B light, while an appreciable optical transmittance could also be achieved. The PBAT–LMNP films displayed a high UV-shielding stability and the best retention in mechanical properties after UV exposure for 40 h. This work provides a very promising approach for fabricating biodegradable PBAT-based UV-blocking films for potential applications in agricultural or food packaging materials where the UV resistance is highly required.

Adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa (Acrp30, adiponectin, or AdipoQ) is a fat-derived secreted protein that circulates in plasma. Adipose tissue expression of Acrp30 is lower in insulin-resistant states and it is implicated in the regulation of in vivo insulin sensitivity. Here we have characterized the ability of PPARgamma agonists to modulate Acrp30 expression. After chronic treatment of obese-diabetic (db/db) mice with PPARgamma agonists (11 d), mean plasma Acrp30 protein levels increased (>3x). Similar effects were noted in a nongenetic type 2 diabetes model (fat-fed and low-dose streptozotocin-treated mice). In contrast, treatment of mice (db/db or fat-fed) with metformin or a PPARalpha agonist did not affect plasma Acrp30 protein levels. In a cohort of normal human subjects, 14-d treatment with rosiglitazone also produced a 130% increase in circulating Acrp30 levels vs. placebo. In addition, circulating Acrp30 levels were suppressed 5-fold in patients with severe insulin resistance in association with dominant-negative PPARgamma mutations. Thus, induction of adipose tissue Acrp30 expression and consequent increases in circulating Acrp30 levels represents a novel potential mechanism for PPARgamma-mediated enhancement of whole-body insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, Acrp30 is likely to be a biomarker of in vivo PPARgamma activation.