Hang, H. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

Loss of STAT5 in adipocytes increases subcutaneous fat mass via sex-dependent and depot-specific pathways

The STAT (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription) family of transcription factors contributes to adipocyte development and function. STAT5A and STAT5B are induced during adipocyte differentiation and are primarily activated by growth hormone (GH). Studies in mice lacking adipocyte GH receptor or STAT5 support their roles in lipolysis-mediated reduction of adipose tissue mass. We have generated a mouse model lacking both STAT5 genes specifically in adipocytes (STAT5AKO). Notably, both sexes of STAT5AKO mice have increased inguinal adipose tissue without any changes in gonadal fat mass. However, both depots exhibit substantial differences in fat cell size. Study of STAT5AKO mice also have revealed that GHs ability to induce insulin resistance is dependent upon STAT5 in adipocytes, but its ability to reduce adipose tissue mass is STAT5 independent. Additional observations, which were not predicted, indicate that the causes and regulation of increased fat mass in STAT5AKO mice are sex- and depot-dependent.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Geometric and Topological Approaches to Shape Variation in Ginkgo Leaves

Leaf shape is a key plant trait that varies enormously. The diversity of leaf shape, and the range of applications for data on this trait, requires frequent methodological developments so that researchers have an up-to-date toolkit with which to quantify leaf shape. We generated a dataset of 468 leaves produced by Ginkgo biloba, and 24 fossil leaves produced by evolutionary relatives of extant Ginkgo. We quantified the shape of each leaf by developing a geometric method based on elastic curves and a topological method based on persistent homology. Our geometric method indicates that shape variation in our modern sample is dominated by leaf size, furrow depth, and the angle of the two lobes at the base of the leaf that is also related to leaf width. Our topological method indicates that shape variation in our modern sample is dominated by leaf size and furrow depth. We have applied both methods to modern and fossil material: the methods are complementary, identifying similar primary patterns of variation, but also revealing some different aspects of morphological variation. Our topological approach distinguishes long-shoot leaves from short-shoot leaves and both methods indicate that leaf shape influences or is at least related to leaf area.

plant biology↗