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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) in co-culture with in vitro-produced bovine embryos (IVPEs). The stability of five concentrations of MLVs (1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, and 2.0 mM) produced using ultrapure water or embryonic culture medium with 24 or 48 h of incubation at 38.5 °C with 5% CO2 was assessed. In addition, the toxicity of MLVs and their modulation of the lipid profile of the plasma membrane of IVPEs were evaluated after 48 h of co-culture. Both media allowed the production of MLVs. Incubation (24 and 48 h) did not impair the MLV structure but affected the average diameter. The rate of blastocyst production was not reduced, demonstrating the nontoxicity of the MLVs even at 2.0 mmol/L. The lipid profile of the embryos was different depending on the MLV concentration. In comparison with control embryos, embryos cultured with MLVs at 2.0 mmol/L had a higher relative abundance of six lipid ions (m/z 720.6, 754.9, 759.0, 779.1, 781.2, and 797.3). This study sheds light on a new culture system in which the MLV concentration could change the lipid profile of the embryonic cell membrane in a dose-dependent manner.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) in co-culture with in vitro-produced bovine embryos (IVPEs). The stability of five concentrations of MLVs (1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, and 2.0 mM) produced using ultrapure water or embryonic culture medium with 24 or 48 h of incubation at 38.5 °C with 5% CO2 was assessed. In addition, the toxicity of MLVs and their modulation of the lipid profile of the plasma membrane of IVPEs were evaluated after 48 h of co-culture. Both media allowed the production of MLVs. Incubation (24 and 48 h) did not impair the MLV structure but affected the average diameter. The rate of blastocyst production was not reduced, demonstrating the nontoxicity of the MLVs even at 2.0 mmol/L. The lipid profile of the embryos was different depending on the MLV concentration. In comparison with control embryos, embryos cultured with MLVs at 2.0 mmol/L had a higher relative abundance of six lipid ions (m/z 720.6, 754.9, 759.0, 779.1, 781.2, and 797.3). This study sheds light on a new culture system in which the MLV concentration could change the lipid profile of the embryonic cell membrane in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the cytosolic events of Wnt/β-catenin signaling (canonical Wnt signaling) pathway have been widely studied, only little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in Wnt binding to its receptors at the plasma membrane. Here, we reveal the influence of the immediate plasma membrane environment on the canonical Wnt-receptor interaction. While the receptors are distributed both in ordered and disordered environments, Wnt binding to its receptors selectively occurs in more ordered membrane environments which appear to cointernalize with the Wnt-receptor complex. Moreover, Wnt/β-catenin signaling is significantly reduced when the membrane order is disturbed by specific inhibitors of certain lipids that prefer to localize at the ordered environments. Similarly, a reduction in Wnt signaling activity is observed in Niemann-Pick Type C disease cells where trafficking of ordered membrane lipid components to the plasma membrane is genetically impaired. We thus conclude that ordered plasma membrane environments are essential for binding of canonical Wnts to their receptor complexes and downstream signaling activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heavy metals are major environmental pollutant when they present in high concentration in soil and have toxic effects on growth and development of plants. Industrial activities result in heavy metal pollution of large areas of land, which greatly affects natural vegetation. Understanding the mechanism of how plants combat heavy metals adverse effects is hence of great importance. Materials and Methods: Two different localities were chosen; one locality was in the vicinity of gypsum factory and the other one was 25 km away from the factory. Two Zygophyllum species (Z. album and Z. coccineum) were naturally grown in the studied areas. The effects of soil heavy metal stress on shoot heavy metal concentrations, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities and the root plasma membrane (PM) lipid composition were analyzed. Results: Heavy metal concentrations and Lipid peroxidation increased in the shoot of both species grown in the polluted area. The activities of ascorbate oxidase (ASO), guaiacal peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased whereas these of catalase (CAT) were decreased in both species under the polluted conditions. PM total lipids, phospholipids, glycolipids and sterols were decreased in Z. album and Z. coccineum as a result of the polluted soil. Heavy metal stress increased phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and decreased phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phophatidylglycerol (PG), with no significant change in phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the root PM of both species. Phosphatidylserine (PS) decreased in the PM of Z. album whereas it increased in the PM of Z. coccineum under the pollution conditions. Heavy metal stress changed the composition and concentration of fatty acids of the root PM, resulting in increased sat/unsat ratio of both species. Conclusion: the results suggest that efficient antioxidant machinery and favorable PM lipid homeostasis are important to enable Zygophyllum species to withstand the prevailing heavy metal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]