Effect of exercise on serum concentration of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in Thoroughbreds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentrations in response to exercise in horses. ANIMALS: 15 horses in experiment 1 and 27 horses in experiment 2. PROCEDURES: In experiment 1, 15 Thoroughbreds free of orthopedic disease underwent a standardized exercise protocol. Running velocity and heart rate (HR) were recorded, and blood samples were collected immediately before (baseline) and 1, 5, and 24 hours after a single episode of exercise. In experiment 2, 27 horses underwent 9 stages of a training program in which each stage consisted of 4 to 8 consecutive daily workouts followed by a rest day. Blood samples were collected immediately before the first and final daily workouts in each stage. Serum COMP concentrations were measured via inhibition ELISA with a monoclonal antibody (14G4) against equine COMP. RESULTS: In experiment 1, mean serum COMP concentration was significantly higher than baseline 1 and 5 hours after exercise and returned to baseline concentrations 24 hours after exercise. Mean serum baseline COMP concentration increased as the velocity of running at maximum HR and at an HR of 200 beats/min increased, being significantly higher during the third and fourth exercise tests than during the first. In experiment 2, mean baseline COMP concentration at the final workout of each stage was significantly higher than that at the first workout, beginning with stage 3. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum COMP concentrations changed significantly in response to exercise. Exercise may enhance movement of COMP into the circulation as well as change the basal turnover rate of COMP.     

两种灯笼果生物学特性观察

通过对外地种和本地种两种灯笼果相关性状的观测,发现将东北的灯笼果引种到海南能够正常生长,并从多方面详细描述了本地种和外地种灯笼果在海南栽培的性状表现。     

脱落酸对香蕉幼苗抗寒性的影响

分别用不同浓度的脱落酸(ABA)溶液喷洒香蕉幼苗后,模拟自然降温过程进行冷胁迫处理,发现不同浓度的ABA均不同程度地提高香蕉幼苗冷胁迫期间叶片SOD活性及MDA、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,降低细胞质泄漏,减缓叶绿素降解,减少叶片萎蔫面积和死亡率,从而缓解了低温对香蕉幼苗的冷伤害程度,其中以浓度为20mg/L的ABA保护效应最明显。     

杧果MADS-box基因保守区片段的克隆与序列分析

为从杧果中克隆新的MADS-box基因,利用MADS-box转录因子的保守特征设计简并引物,应用RT-PCR从杧果花序中成功分离出14条MADS-box基因cDNA片段。片段长度在138~147bp之间,推导的氨基酸序列与已知的杧果MADS-box基因的同源性为65.2%~82.6%。用推导的氨基酸序列与已知的杧果和拟南芥MADS-box基因进行系统发育分析,可将这些片段归入MADS-box的不同亚家族中。表明杧果花序中存在多种MADS-box转录因子,参与杧果花器官的发育及开花时间的调节。     

Phospholipase Cζ (PLCζ) versus postacrosomal sheath WW domain‐binding protein (PAWP): Which molecule will survive as a sperm factor?

During mammalian fertilization, sperm is fused with the oocyte's membrane, triggering the resumption of meiosis from the metaphase II arrest, the extrusion of the second polar body, and the exocytosis of cortical granules; these events are collectively called 'oocyte activation.' In all species studied to date, the transient rise in the cytosolic level of calcium (in particular, the repeated calcium increases called 'calcium oscillations' in mammals) is required for these events. Researchers have focused on identifying the factor(s) that can induce calcium oscillations during fertilization. Sperm‐specific phospholipase C, i.e., PLC zeta (PLCζ), is a strong candidate of the factor(s), and several research groups using different species obtained evidence that PLCζ is a sperm factor that can induce calcium oscillations during fertilization. However, postacrosomal sheath Tryptophan‐Tryptophan (WW)—domain‐binding protein (PAWP) was recently shown to have a pivotal role in inducing calcium oscillations in some species. In this review, we focus on PLCζ and PAWP as sperm factors, and we discuss this controversy: Which of these two molecules survives as a sperm factor?     

Factors affecting fertilization and embryonic development during intracytoplasmic sperm injection in pigs

In intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique, a sperm was injected into ooplasm directly using a glass pipette. The fertilization physiology in ICSI is considered quite different from that of the natural fertilization. The different mechanisms for fertilization may be the causes of various results in ICSI. In this paper, we focus on the state of sperm membranes, nuclear or DNA integrity during ICSI procedure and discuss the influence of these factors on fertilization and embryonic development. We also introduce some examples in application of ICSI for new technologies in pigs.     

A sorting platform determines the order of protein secretion in bacterial type III systems

Bacterial type III protein secretion systems deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic cells in order to modulate cellular processes. Central to the function of these protein-delivery machines is their ability to recognize and secrete substrates in a defined order. Here, we describe a mechanism by which a type III secretion system from the bacterial enteropathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium can sort its substrates before secretion. This mechanism involves a cytoplasmic sorting platform that is sequentially loaded with the appropriate secreted proteins. The sequential loading of this platform, facilitated by customized chaperones, ensures the hierarchy in type III protein secretion. Given the presence of these machines in many important pathogens, these findings can serve as the bases for the development of novel antimicrobial strategies.     

Three-dimensional structure of Hayabusa samples: origin and evolution of Itokawa regolith

Regolith particles on the asteroid Itokawa were recovered by the Hayabusa mission. Their three-dimensional (3D) structure and other properties, revealed by x-ray microtomography, provide information on regolith formation. Modal abundances of minerals, bulk density (3.4 grams per cubic centimeter), and the 3D textures indicate that the particles represent a mixture of equilibrated and less-equilibrated LL chondrite materials. Evidence for melting was not seen on any of the particles. Some particles have rounded edges. Overall, the particles' size and shape are different from those seen in particles from the lunar regolith. These features suggest that meteoroid impacts on the asteroid surface primarily form much of the regolith particle, and that seismic-induced grain motion in the smooth terrain abrades them over time.     

国内外肉牛遗传评估体系概况

种公牛的选育是肉牛育种工作的核心。传统选育肉用种公牛需要经过后裔测定进行选择,其优点是准确性高,但存在周期长、屠宰和肉质性状难以收集、成本高等问题,致其选择效率低。自2001年全基因组选择概念提出后,该技术迅速成为动植物育种领域研究的热点。利用全基因组选择进行肉用种公牛的选育,进行早期选择从而大幅度缩短世代间隔,可以提高繁殖性状等低遗传力性状的选择准确性,加快遗传进展,并大大降低育种成本。2014年,美国安格斯协会开始应用全基因组选择技术,其他欧美发达国家也陆续使用,肉牛育种进入基因组时代。中国自2017年开始使用全基因组选择技术选择青年肉用种公牛,并于2020年在全国范围内使用该技术进行基因组遗传评估。本文综述了国内外肉牛遗传评估现状,以期为我国肉牛育种工作提供参考和借鉴。     

活性炭与大孔树脂对美洲大蠊脱脂膏的脱色效果比较(英文)

[目的]探讨活性炭及大孔树脂两种脱色工艺对美洲大蠊脱脂膏的脱色效果,对比两种脱色工艺的优缺点。[方法]美洲大蠊脱脂膏用活性炭和大孔树脂脱色后,进行冷冻干燥得到固体脱色物,然后通过考察收得率、脱色率、蛋白保留率及脱色的操作过程,比较两种脱色工艺的有缺点。[结果]两种方法均能用于脱色。从收得率及蛋白保留率看,大孔树脂优于活性炭;从脱色率及操作过程看,活性炭脱色优于大孔树脂。[结论]该研究结果表明,若试验所需成分以蛋白为主,可采用大孔树脂脱色;若所需成分不是以蛋白为主,则可采用活性炭脱色。