Type VII and XVII Collagen mRNA Expressions in Regenerated Epidermal Laminae in Chronic Equine Laminitis

To confirm ability forming the basement membrane of the regenerated laminar epidermis (rLE) in chronic laminitis, expression of type VII and type XVII collagen mRNAs in the rLE was studied applying sequences of two type of murine collagens. On northern blot analysis, complement DNA (cDNA) probes adjusted from the murine type VII and type XVII collagen could hybridize with the equine mRNAs, and each signal was detected as single-bands at approximately 9.5 kb and 5.6 kb, respectively. Contrasting with the expression level of equine glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenease mRNA, the band of type VII collagen mRNA in laminitis was stronger than normal, but the type XVII collagen mRNA in laminitis was less than normal. By in situ hybridization, positive signals in response to the murine type VII and type XVII collagen mRNA probes could be detected in the equine laminitic rLE region. From these results, it is concluded that the keratinocytes constructing the rLE in chronic stage of laminitis can express type VII and type XVII collagen mRNAs and these expression patterns were different from the normal.     

Microbiota analysis of Caspian Sea yogurt, a ropy fermented milk circulated in Japan

We analyzed the microbiota of domestic ropy fermented milk, Caspian Sea yogurt (or 'kasupikai yohguruto' in Japanese), circulated in Japan. We collected six varieties from five localities. Lactococcus ( L) lactis ssp. cremoris was isolated from all samples as the dominant strain at levels of 10⁸−10⁹ CFU/g. We show this strain produces an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) that causes the unique characteristic viscosity of the product. From analysis of the RAPD pattern of 60 bacterial isolates from the six samples, we found that 59 strains from a total of 60 isolates were identical and produced this viscosity. Furthermore, PFGE analysis of representative strains from each sample indicated that the isolates could be classified into four subgroups. This suggests these L. lactis ssp. cremoris strains found in Caspian Sea yogurt may have been slightly mutated during subculture in Japan. In addition, Lactobacillus (L.) sakei ssp. sakei were isolated from three samples; L. plantarum , Gluconoacetobacter sacchari and Acetobacter aceti were isolated from two samples; and L. paracasei , L. kefiri , Leuconostoc ( Leu. ) mesenteroides were isolated from one sample.     

Comparison of spatiotemporal patterns in reproduction of the kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus between two regions having different geographic conditions in Kyushu, southern Japan

ABSTRACT:   The Yatsushiro Sea and Shibushi Bay are, respectively, located on the western and south-eastern coast of Kyushu, southern Japan. The Yatsushiro Sea is a shallow semi-enclosed inland sea, whereas Shibushi Bay is an open-type bay with a deep and wide mouth facing the open sea. The size at sexual maturity and spatiotemporal patterns of reproduction of the kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus (Decapoda, Penaeidae) were examined and compared between these two regions. In the Yatsushiro Sea, the size at sexual maturity was estimated to be 131 mm body length. However, the estimated size at sexual maturity was considerably larger (154 mm) in Shibushi Bay. The spawning season of M. japonicus was estimated to continue from April to September in the Yatsushiro Sea, whereas it was estimated to be longer in Shibushi Bay, from March to November. It is believed that the warm water temperature due to the strong effect of the Kuroshio Current prolonged the spawning season of M. japonicus in Shibushi Bay. The spawning grounds were estimated to be in areas deeper than 10 m in the Yatsushiro Sea and deeper than 20 m in Shibushi Bay. In Shibushi Bay, body size distribution of mature females was considered to be less affected by water depth in comparison with the Yatsushiro Sea, although older mature females larger than 200 mm body length also spawned outside of the bay.     

Relationship between adipose maturity and fatty acid composition in various adipose tissues of Japanese Black,Holstein and Crossbred (F1) steers

The amount of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) is intimately related to adipose softness, melting point (MP) and flavor in beef. Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) is a main gene involved in MUFA synthesis. Mature adipose tends to be highly saturated, whereas immature or maturing adipose is highly unsaturated when chronologically based, so the degree of non‐saturation can be an index of adipose maturity. In this study, three different adipose tissues (coelomic (CL), perirenal (PR), and subcutaneous (SC)) from three beef breeds with differing slaughter ages (Japanese Black (29.5 months), Holstein (20.1 month), and F1 crossbreed (25.6 months)) were examined to: (i) determine adipose maturity level as indexed by MUFA %; and (ii) determine SCD and other lipogenic gene messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in relation to unsaturated fatty acid content. Fatty acid composition was significantly different between adipose tissues (P < 0.05). MUFA amount was high in the following order: SC > CL > PR. This pattern corresponded to SCD mRNA expression profile showing higher expression in SC than CL and PR. However, Japanese black cattle are an exception with CL adipose containing similar UFA % as SC adipose, yet having the lowest SCD mRNA expression level among all adipose tissues tested. Therefore, SCD mRNA expression and MUFA % appear to be directly related; however, differences in SCD mRNA expression among three adipose tissues may reflect differences in the fat development characteristics affected by chronological age of the cattle breeds.     

Allelopathic potential of K21, selected as a promising allelopathic rice

The agronomic characteristics of a newly bred potent allelopathic rice, K21, including morphological appearance, resembled its female parent, Dongjinbyeo, except for 8 days' earlier heading and 9 cm shorter plant height. The water extract of K21 showed a greater inhibitory effect on the shoot and root growth of barnyardgrass than its female parent, but less than the male parent, Kouketsumochi. At the highest extract concentration of 5.0%, the inhibitory effect of K21 on the shoot growth of barnyardgrass was ≈ 64%, similar to its male parent. The dry weight of the barnyardgrass shoot was reduced by 13.0% when grown with K21 and 30.2% when grown with its male parent. There was no inhibitory effect on the shoot dry weight of barnyardgrass when grown with the female parent. The activity of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase in K21 was ≈ 1.8-fold higher than that of the female parent, but significantly lower than that of the male parent. The ρ-coumaric acid content in K21 was ≈ 60% higher than that of the female parent, but it was about half of the male parent. The total amount of phenolic compounds in K21 was ≈ 11.5% higher than in the female parent, but about half of the male parent. The results obtained suggest that the newly bred K21 contains desirable allelopathic traits derived from the male parent, Kouketsumochi, and acceptable agronomic traits from its female parent, Dongjinbyeo.     

柑橘凤蝶滞育期间糖类物质和脂肪含量变化

为系统了解柑橘凤蝶(Papilio xuthus L.)滞育特性,利用蒽酮比色法和重量法,测定了滞育蛹在滞育期间不同时期海藻糖、糖原和脂肪含量.结果表明,整个滞育期间,海藻糖含量在11.9033～41.8243 mg/g,糖原含量在17.6807～36.652 mg/g,脂肪含量在18.257～32.1995 mg/g,变化幅度较大,分析表明,不同时期海藻糖、糖原和脂肪含量差异显著.海藻糖和糖原代谢与气温和滞育发育阶段有关.海藻糖、糖原和脂肪含量变化表明,三者一方面作为能量物质参与滞育期间能量代谢,另一方面则作为贮备物质参与滞育解除后各项生命活动.滞育初期存在海藻糖、糖原和脂肪积累.滞育期间海藻糖与糖原之间可能存在相互转化.柑橘凤蝶可能为除糖原积累型和海藻糖积累型外的另一种糖醇积累型,但不排除主要是通过能量的大量消耗来提高抗寒性,或两者兼而有之.     

水稻RIL群体高密度遗传图谱的构建及苗期耐热性QTL定位

【目的】 随着全球气候变暖,高温严重威胁粮食安全,发掘耐热基因资源是培育耐高温新品种和消除高温危害最直接的绿色生态途径,也是阐明耐热生理生化和分子遗传机理的基础。【方法】 构建苗期耐热性鉴定评价方法,以热敏感品种周南稻和强耐热品种赣早籼58号杂交衍生的重组自交系（recombinant inbred lines,RIL）群体为研究材料,利用高通量测序技术对亲本和RIL群体进行全基因组测序;依据171个家系的基因型数据,利用滑动窗口法将SNP信息转换成Bin基因型,预测染色体上的重组断点,构建RIL群体高密度BinMap遗传图谱,结合耐热表型数据,运用QTL IciMapping软件完备复合区间ICIM的作图方法,进行高温胁迫下幼苗存活率和耐热等级QTL分析。【结果】 构建了一张包含3 321个Bin标记高密度遗传图谱,各染色体Bin标记数为159—400个,标记间平均物理距离为106 kb;利用逐步高温胁迫方式鉴定亲本和RIL家系幼苗耐热表型,高温胁迫下,幼苗存活率和耐热等级存在极显著负相关性,且幼苗存活率与籼型基因频率存在显著正相关性,籼型基因频率越高,耐热性越好,RIL群体表型性状呈现双峰连续分布,苗期耐热性可能受少数几个主效QTL调控;共检测到12个苗期耐热性相关的QTL,其中,调控幼苗存活率和耐热等级的QTL分别有8和4个,幼苗存活率和耐热等级相关QTL存在遗传重叠现象,形成调控耐热性的主效QTL簇qHTS2、qHTS7和qHTS8,三者在调控苗期高温抗逆中具有重要作用,其中,qHTS7为新发现主效QTL,对增强苗期耐热性具有较强的功效。【结论】 构建了一张包含3 321个Bin标记的高密度分子遗传图谱,解析了耐热品种赣早籼58号苗期耐热基因,鉴定出3个苗期耐热调控关键QTL簇,发掘了一个新主效QTL簇qHTS7,基于高密度遗传图谱高效获取目标区段及候选基因,筛选出8个苗期耐热性调控的关键目标基因。