Physiology

Neuronal activity requires a large amount of ATP, leading to a rapid collapse of brain function when aerobic respiration fails. Here, we summarize how rhythmic motor circuits in the brainstem of adult frogs, which normally have high metabolic demands, transform to produce proper output during severe hypoxia associated with emergence from hibernation. We suggest that general principles underlying plasticity in brain bioenergetics may be uncovered by studying non-mammalian models that face extreme environments, yielding new insights to combat neurological disorders involving dysfunctional energy metabolism...

The purpose of this review is to highlight transformative advances that have been made in the field of biomolecular condensates with special emphasis on condensate material properties, physiology, and kinases, using the With-No-Lysine (WNK) Kinases as a prototypical example. To convey how WNK kinases illustrate important concepts for biomolecular condensates, we start with a brief history, focus on defining features of biomolecular condensates, and delve into some examples of how condensates are implicated in cellular physiology (and pathophysiology)...

Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the responses of cells, tissues, and organs to organismal death. Examining the survival mechanisms influenced by metabolism and environment, this research has the potential to transform regenerative medicine, redefine legal death, and provide insights into life's physiological limits, paralleling inquiries in embryogenesis.

Whether it is the dramatic suffocating sensation from a heat wave in the summer or the positive reinforcement arising from a hot drink on a cold day; we can certainly agree that our thermal environment underlies our daily rhythms of sensation. Extensive research has focused on deciphering the central circuits responsible for conveying the impact of thermogenesis on mammalian behavior. Here, we revise the recent literature responsible for defining the behavioral correlates that arise from thermogenic fluctuations in mammals...

Astrocytes are no longer considered as passive support cells. In the hypothalamus, these glial cells actively participate in the control of appetite, energy expenditure and the processes leading to obesity and its secondary complications. Here we briefly review studies supporting this conclusion and the advances made in understanding the underlying mechanisms.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder caused by a deleterious mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Given that the CFTR protein is a chloride channel expressed on a variety of cells throughout the human body, mutations in this gene impact several organs, particularly the lungs. For this very reason, research regarding CF disease and CFTR function has historically focused on the lung airway epithelium. Nevertheless, it has been discovered more than two decades ago that CFTR is also expressed and functional on endothelial cells...

Cell membrane tension affects and is affected by many fundamental cellular processes, yet it is poorly understood. Recent experiments show that membrane tension can propagate at vastly different speeds in different cell types, reflecting physiological adaptations. Here we briefly review the current knowledge about membrane tension gradients, membrane flows, and their physiological context.

Bees are the most important insect pollinators of the crops humans grow, and Apis mellifera , the Western honey bee, is the most commonly managed species for this purpose. In addition to providing agricultural services, the complex biology of honey bees has been the subject of scientific study since the 18th century, and the intricate behaviors of honey bees and ants - fellow Hymenopterans - inspired much sociobiological inquest. Unfortunately, honey bees are constantly exposed to parasites, pathogens, and xenobiotics, all of which pose threats to their health...

Circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior sync organisms to external environmental cycles. Here, circadian oscillation in intracellular chloride in central pacemaker neurons of the fly, Drosophila melanogaster , is reviewed. Intracellular chloride links SLC12 cation-coupled chloride transporter function with kinase signaling and the regulation of inwardly rectifying potassium channels.

The prevalence of obesity continues to rise in both the adolescent and adult, in parallel obesity is strongly associated with the increased incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), heart failure, certain types of cancer, and all-cause mortality. In relation to obesity, many pharmacological approaches of the past have tried and failed to combat the rising obesity epidemic, particularly due to insufficient efficacy or unacceptable side-effects. But while the history of anti-obesity medication is plagued by failures and disappointments, we have witnessed over the last 10 years substantial progress, particularly in regard to biochemically optimized agonists at the receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and unimolecular co-agonists at the receptors for GLP-1 and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)...

The application of single cell molecular profiling coupled with spatial technologies has enabled charting cellular heterogeneity in reference tissues and in disease. This new wave of molecular data has highlighted the expected diversity of single cell dynamics upon shared external queues and spatial organizations. However, little is known about the relationship between single cell heterogeneity and the emergence and maintenance of robust multicellular processes in developed tissues and its role in (patho)physiology...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The discovery of insulin approximately a century ago greatly improved the management of diabetes, including many of its life-threatening acute complications like ketoacidosis. This breakthrough saved many lives and extended the healthy lifespan of many patients with diabetes. However, there is still a negative perception of ketone bodies stemming from ketoacidosis. Originally, ketone bodies were thought of as a vital source of energy during fasting and exercise. Furthermore, in recent years, research on calorie restriction and its potential impact on extending healthy lifespans, as well as studies on ketone bodies, have gradually led to a reevaluation of the significance of ketone bodies in promoting longevity...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The Burmese python, one of the world's largest snakes, has reached celebrity status for its dramatic physiological responses associated with digestion of enormous meals. The meals elicit a rapid gain of mass and function of most visceral organs, particularly the small intestine. There is also a manyfold elevation of oxygen consumption that demands the heart to deliver more oxygen. It therefore made intuitive sense when it was reported that the postprandial response entailed a 40% growth of heart mass that could accommodate a rise in stroke volume...

Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death hallmarked by excessive lipid peroxidation, is implicated in various (patho)physiological contexts. During ferroptosis, lipid peroxidation leads to a diverse change in membrane properties and the dysregulation of ion homeostasis via the cation channels, ultimately resulting in plasma membrane rupture. This review illuminates cellular membrane dynamics and cation handling in ferroptosis regulation.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

White and brown adipose tissues (WAT and BAT) regulate fatty acid metabolism and control lipid fluxes to other organs. Dysfunction of these key metabolic processes contributes to organ insulin resistance and inflammation leading to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Metabolic tracer combined with molecular imaging methods are powerful tools for the investigation of these pathogenic mechanisms. Herein, I review some of the positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods combined with stable isotopic metabolic tracers to investigate fatty acid and energy metabolism, focusing on human WAT and BAT metabolism...

The heart, once considered a mere pump, is now recognized as a multifunctional metabolic and endocrine organ. Its function is tightly regulated by various metabolic processes, at the same time that serves as an endocrine organ, secreting bioactive molecules that impact systemic metabolism. In recent years, research has shed light on the intricate interplay between the heart and other metabolic organs, such as adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle. The metabolic flexibility of the heart and its ability to switch between different energy substrates play a crucial role in maintaining cardiac function and overall metabolic homeostasis...