OBJECTIVES Invasive mould infections are associated with a high mortality rate and the emergence of MDR moulds is of particular concern. Calcineurin and its chaperone, the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), represent an important pathway for fungal virulence that can be targeted at different levels. We investigated the antifungal activity of compounds directly or indirectly targeting the Hsp90-calc...

We determined the effect of butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on rates of lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Prolonged treatment with butyrate (5 mM) increased the rate of lipolysis approximately 2-3-fold. Aminobutyric acid and acetate had little or no effect on lipolysis, however propionate stimulated lipolysis, suggesting that butyrate and propionate act through their shared acti...

We have constructed a stable cell line, human embryonal kidney 293M+, containing a lacZ reporter gene controlled by an in vitro methylated hormone-responsive enhancer. Methylation of the enhancer-promoter abolishes lacZ expression controlled by ponasterone A (an analogue of ecdysone). Ponasterone A-induced expression is restored by the short-chain fatty acids valeric > butyric > propionic > ace...