Strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type isolated in China between 1953 and 1960 show close similarity to strains of the Africa/Australia cluster

In this study, six Chinese strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type (MmmSC) isolated between 1953-1960 were analysed and their molecular characteristics compared to those of the African PG1 and Afade strains, the European C305 and 138/5 strains and the closely related caprine M. mycoides subsp.mycoides large colony type Y-goat strain. PCR amplification of long DNA fragments showed that the six Chinese strains, the PG1 strain and the Y-goat strain, just like Afade, did not have the 8.84 kb deletion characteristic of the European strains C305 and 138/5. In comparison, the lppB gene sequence of the six MmmSC Chinese strains was found to be 99% homologous to that of PG1and Afade, but <93% homologous to the Y-goat sequence. The anti-rLppB antiserum reacted with PG1, Y-goat and the six Chinese strains at 67 kDa sites in Western blot, indicating that the lppB gene and its encoding protein exist in the Chinese strains. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of MmmSC strains from various regions confirmed that the Chinese strains were identical to the African and Australian cluster. This finding was further supported by the outcome of selective primer amplification. Based on these results, it is suggested that CBPP in China may have originated from Australia.     

Improvement of texture properties and flavor of frozen dough by carrot (Daucus carota) antifreeze protein supplementation

The effects of concentrated carrot protein (CCP) containing 15.4% (w/w) carrot (Daucus carota) antifreeze protein on texture properties of frozen dough and volatile compounds of crumb were studied. CCP supplementation lowered the freezable water content of the dough, resulting in some beneficial effects including holding loaf volume steadily and making the dough softer and steadier during frozen storage. Furthermore, SPME-GC-MS analysis showed CCP supplementation did not give any negative influences on volatile compounds of crumb and gave a pleasant aroma felt like Michelia alba DC from trans-caryophyllene simultaneously. Combining our previous results that CCP supplementation improves the fermentation capacity of the frozen dough, CCP could be used as a beneficial additive for frozen dough processing.     

Efficient multistep photoinitiated electron transfer in a molecular pentad

A synthetic five-part molecular device has been prepared that uses a multistep electron transfer strategy similar to that of photosynthetic organisms to capture light energy and convert it to chemical potential in the form of long-lived charge separation. It consists of two covalently linked porphyrin moieties, one containing a zinc ion (P(Zn)) and the other present as the free base (P). The metailated porphyrin bears a carotenoid polyene (C) and the other a diquinone species (Q(A)-Q(B)). Excitation of the free-base porphyrin in a chloroform solution of the pentad yields an initial charge-separated state, C-P(Zn)-P(.+).-Q(A)(-)-Q(B), with a quantum yield of 0.85. Subsequent electron transfer steps lead to a final charge-separated state, C(.+)-P(Zn)-P-Q(A)-Q(B)(.-), which is formed with an overall quantum yield of 0.83 and has a lifetime of 55 microseconds. Irradiation of the free-base form of the pentad, C-P-P-Q(A)-Q(B), gives a similar charge-separated state with a lower quantum yield (0.15 in dichloromethane), although the lifetime is increased to approximately 340 microseconds. The artificial photosynthetic system preserves a significant fraction ( approximately 1.0 electron volt) of the initial excitation energy (1.9 electron volts) in the long-lived, charge-separated state.     

Cytochrome P450 enzymes mediated by DNA methylation is involved in deoxynivalenol-induced hepatoxicity in piglets

Deoxynivalenol(DON) is an inevitable contaminant in animal feed and can lead to liver damage, then decreasing appetite and causing growth retardation in piglets. Although many molecular mechanisms are related to hepatoxicity caused by DON, few studies have been done on cytochrome P450(CYP450)enzymes and DNA methylation. To explore the role of CYP450 enzymes and DNA methylation in DONinduced liver injury, male piglets were fed a control diet, or diet containing 1.0 or 3.0 mg/kg DON for4 weeks. DO...     

Maternal pyrimidine nucleoside supplementation regulates fatty acid,amino acid and glucose metabolism of neonatal piglets

Pyrimidine nucleosides(PN) are abundant in mammalian milk and mainly involved in glycogen deposition and lipid metabolism. To investigate the effects of maternal supplementation with pyrimidine nucleoside on glucose, fatty acids(FAs), and amino acids(AAs) metabolism in neonatal piglets. Forty pregnant sows were randomly assigned into the control(CON) group(fed a basal diet, n = 20) or the PN group(fed a basal diet supplemented with PN at 150 g/t, n = 20). Litter size, born alive and birth litter...     

MRCKα is a novel regulator of prolactin-induced lactogenesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Myotonic dystrophy-related Cdc42-binding kinase alpha(MRCKα) is an integral component of signaling pathways controlling vital cellular processes, including cytoskeletal reorganization, cell proliferation and cell survival. In this study, we investigated the physiological role of MRCKα in milk protein and fat production in dairy cows, which requires a dynamic and strict organization of the cytoskeletal network in bovine mammary epithelial cells(BMEC). Within a selection of 9 Holstein cows, we fou...     

An updated method for the isolation and culture of primary calf hepatocytes

Primary hepatocytes are commonly used during in vitro studies, but care must be taken with isolation and culture of the cells to ensure their viability. In this study, hepatocytes were isolated from the liver (caudate process) of a newborn calf by the collagenase perfusion and digestion method. The trypan blue exclusion method was used to determine total cell number and the survival rate of hepatocytes, while hepatocyte function was assessed by measuring lactate dehydrogenase, albumin and urea in culture medium supernatants at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168 h. Results showed that the number of viable cells/g of liver (wet weight) averaged 1.12×10(7) cells/g, with an average hepatocyte viability of 85.7% (range 83-92%). After 48 h of culture, the hepatocytes solidly adhered to the well culture plate and were spread in an epithelioid shape, with clear cell boundaries between the cells and biliary ductule-like structures formed which persisted for up to 10 days. Hepatocyte function was optimal at 72 h after isolation and culture. This simple and economical procedure for the isolation and culture of viable cells may be useful for in vitro bovine hepatocyte studies.     

Individual and interactive influences of elevated air temperature and soil drought at the flowering and boll-forming stage on cottonseed yield and nutritional quality

As the main byproduct of cotton production,cottonseed yields edible vegetable oil,ruminant feed,and industrial products.We evaluated the individual and interactive effects of elevated air temperature and soil drought on cottonseed yield and nutritional quality using two cotton cultivars,Sumian 15(heat-susceptible)and PHY370 WR(heat-tolerant).The experiment was conducted under three levels of soil relative water content(SRWC):(75±5)%,(60±5)%and(45±5)%and two temperature regimes:ambient temperature(AT,31.0/26.4℃,mean daytime/night temperature)and elevated temperature(ET,33.4/28.9℃).Cottonseed yield,boll number,seed number,and single-seed weight were lower under combined ET and SRWC(45±5)%than either individual stress or combined stresses in comparison with the control treatment(SRWC(75±5)%under AT).Drought tended to increase oil content and reduce protein content,whereas ET showed almost the opposite effects.Under the combination of ET and soil drought,oil content was still higher than under control,although ET weakened the beneficial effects of drought.For protein,ET offset the negative impacts of mild drought on protein content,but protein content was not increased under SRWC(45±5)%.Each stress or combined stress reduced oil and protein yields under all treatments,owing to declines in cottonseed yields.The combined stress reduced unsaturated fatty acid(UFA)/saturated fatty acid(SFA)and essential amino acid(EAA)/non-essential amino acid(NAA).Compared with PHY370 WR,the sensitivity of Sumian 15 to the combined factors was evidenced in the following ways:(1)seed yield,yield components,oil and protein yields were decreased more for Sumian 15 than PHY370 WR compared with the control treatment;(2)the combined stresses caused lower oil content,UFA,and UFA/SFA in Sumian 15 than PHY370 WR;(3)interaction effects of the combined factors on protein content and EAA/NAA were detected only in Sumian 15.     

Small bilaterian fossils from 40 to 55 million years before the cambrian

Ten phosphatized specimens of a small (<180 micrometers) animal displaying clear bilaterian features have been recovered from the Doushantuo Formation, China, dating from 40 to 55 million years before the Cambrian. Seen in sections, this animal (Vernanimalcula guizhouena gen. et sp. nov.) had paired coeloms extending the length of the gut; paired external pits that could be sense organs; bilateral, anterior-posterior organization; a ventrally directed anterior mouth with thick walled pharynx; and a triploblastic structure. The structural complexity is that of an adult rather than a larval form. These fossils provide the first evidence confirming the phylogenetic inference that Bilateria arose well before the Cambrian.     

Effects of Interaction of Soil Moisture and Organic Matter on Powdery Mildew Disease and Growth of Heracleum moellendorffii Hance

Taking annual Heracl'eum moellendorffii Hance as the material, this research studied the epidemic dynamics of H. moellendorffii Hance powdery mildew and plant growth by using the interactive methods of soil moisture and soil organic matter. The results showed that the interaction of higher soil moisture content (60％-80％) and soil organic matter content (75-100 g · kg-1) had few diseases, dosease index and area under disease progression curve (AUDPC) compared with those of other treatments, thus could effectivley control powdery mildew disease. Moreover, higher soil moisture and organic matter content increased the yield, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, vitamin C and coumarin in H. moellendorffii Hance.