Contribution of insulin to the ascorbate recycling system in the chicken liver

The effect of insulin on the ascorbate recycling system in the chicken liver was examined. First, insulin was injected subcutaneously into the chicken, and liver glutathione‐dependent dehydroascorbate reductase (GSH‐DHAR) activity was determined. Insulin increased liver GSH‐DHAR activity, but did not affect plasma and liver ascorbate concentration. Dehydroascorbate increased plasma and liver ascorbate levels, and liver GSH‐DHAR activity. However, distinct changes in plasma insulin level were not observed by dehydroascorbate injection. In addition, reduction of external dehydroascorbate in cultured chicken hepatocytes could not be observed in an insulin‐deprived culture, although the cells reduced external dehydroascorbate in a serum‐free culture with insulin. We concluded that insulin affects the ascorbate recycling system as an essential factor in the chicken liver.     

Expression of the tobacco β-1,3-glucanase gene, PR-2d, following induction of SAR with Peronospora tabacina

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is induced following inoculation of Peronospora tabacina sporangia into the stems of Nicotiana tabacum plants highly susceptible to the pathogen. Previous results have shown that accumulation of acidic β-1,3-glucanases (PR-2's) following induction of SAR by P. tabacina may contribute to resistance to P. tabacina. We showed that up-regulation of the PR-2 gene, PR-2d, following stem inoculation with P. tabacina, is associated with SAR. Studies using plants transformed with GUS constructs containing the full length promoter from PR-2d or promoter deletions, provided evidence that a previously characterized regulatory element that is involved in response to salicylic acid (SA), may be involved in regulation of PR-2d following induction of SAR with P. tabacina. This work provides evidence that regulation of PR-2 genes during P. tabacina-induced SAR may be similar to regulation of these genes during infection of N-gene tobacco by TMV or following exogenous application of SA, and provides further support for the role of SA in regulation of genes during P. tabacina-induced SAR.     

西安荷斯坦奶牛群5个基因座位遗传多态性的PCR-RFLP分析

应用PCR-RFLP方法对西安荷斯坦牛的κ-en、β-lg、β-lg5′侧翼区、CSN1S2、IGFBP-3共5个基因座位进行了多态性分析。结果表明，在西安荷斯坦牛群中，没有发现携带CSN1S2^P等位基因的个体，其多态信息含量为0。κ-en基因座位呈现低度多态(PIC=0．2366)，β-lg、β-lg5′侧翼区、IGFBP-3基因座位的多态信息含量分别为0．3168、0．3689、0．4439，均呈现中度多态。κ-en、β-lg、β-lg5′侧翼区、IGFBP-3、CSNIS2基因座位的杂合度和DNA多态度分别为0．2742、0．3947、0．4879、0．4891、0和0．0255、0．0116、0．0333、0．0112、0。而且，在西安荷斯坦牛群中，κ-en、β-lg、β-lg5′侧翼区、IGFBP-3共4个基因座位均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态，CSN1S2基因座位处于纯合状态。     

亚洲璃眼蜱唾液腺一新功能基因的克隆与测序

HaB1是亚洲璃眼蜱雌成蜱唾液腺差异表达基因文库中的一个片段,根据其序列设计引物HaB1-GSP1和HaB1-GSP2,以唾液腺总RNA为模板,RACE法扩增获得HaB1的未知3′-末端。测定该末端序列,进行序列拼接,设计全长引物5-′CCAGTCCGAAGGAAGGGCG-3′和5-′TCTC-CGGGCACGTGAAGTGTC-3′。以cDNA第一链为模板,扩增获得基因全长。经核查表明,该基因为一新基因(登录号AY803896)。     

HBV/HAV复合抗原基因在CHO细胞中的表达

为探讨HBV／HAV复合疫苗的可行性，利用DNA重组技术将HBsAg与HAW复合多表位抗原基因VPX进行融合，插入到真核表达质粒pVAX1多克隆位点，构建成核酸表达疫苗pVAX1／SVPX，将其转染CHO细胞。转染细胞培养48h后，进行RTPCR、Western-blot、ELISA分析，结果表明HBV／HAV复合抗原基因SVPX能够在CHO细胞内转录、表达，融合蛋白具有HBV和HAV抗原的特性。     

0～3周龄北京鸭氨基酸理想模式的研究

依据扣除法原理，根据现有氨基酸需要量标准和目前的研究结果规划出一种氨基酸模式，依次将模式中赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、色氨酸、苏氨酸、异亮氨酸扣除20％，而非扣除的氨基酸量保持不变，来确定扣除某一种氨基酸后对育雏期北京鸭生产性能和血液生化指标的影响，确定出理想的氨基酸比例。试验共设6个处理组，为6种氨基酸模式，每个处理设4个重复。结果表明：北京鸭育雏期氨基酸理想模式为赖氨酸：蛋氨酸：色氨酸：苏氨酸：异亮氨酸=100：42：22：38：48。     

核酸疫苗研究进展(下)

Sato等报道，在质粒载体上引入大肠杆菌Amp^ 抗性基因(内含有6核苷酸片段的ISS免疫增强序列)，真皮免疫小鼠后ISS增强CTL和Th1细胞的免疫反应。有人提出利用含有病毒免疫原性基因的基因大片段进行基因免疫，以弥补单基因免疫活性的不足。将协同因子如IL-2、IL-12、TCA等的表达质粒与抗原表达质粒混合注射可使Th1型细胞免疫增强，而GMcsf能明显加强体液免疫，     

Canine GM2‐Gangliosidosis Sandhoff Disease Associated with a 3‐Base Pair Deletion in the HEXB Gene

Background

GM2‐gangliosidosis is a fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease (LSD) caused by deficiency of either β‐hexosaminidase A (Hex‐A) and β‐hexosaminidase B (Hex‐B) together, or the GM2 activator protein. Clinical signs can be variable and are not pathognomonic for the specific, causal deficiency.

Objectives

To characterize the phenotype and genotype of GM2‐gangliosidosis disease in an affected dog.

Animals

One affected Shiba Inu and a clinically healthy dog.

Methods

Clinical and neurologic evaluation, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assays of lysosomal enzyme activities, and sequencing of all coding regions of HEXA, HEXB, and GM2A genes.

Results

A 14‐month‐old, female Shiba Inu presented with clinical signs resembling GM2‐gangliosidosis in humans and GM1‐gangliosidosis in the Shiba Inu. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the dog's brain indicated neurodegenerative disease, and evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) identified storage granules in leukocytes. Lysosomal enzyme assays of plasma and leukocytes showed deficiencies of Hex‐A and Hex‐B activities in both tissues. Genetic analysis identified a homozygous, 3‐base pair deletion in the HEXB gene (c.618‐620delCCT).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Clinical, biochemical, and molecular features are characterized in a Shiba Inu with GM2‐gangliosidosis. The deletion of 3 adjacent base pairs in HEXB predicts the loss of a leucine residue at amino acid position 207 (p.Leu207del) supporting the hypothesis that GM2‐gangliosidosis seen in this dog is the Sandhoff type. Because GM1‐gangliosidosis also exists in this breed with almost identical clinical signs, genetic testing for both GM1‐ and GM2‐gangliosidosis should be considered to make a definitive diagnosis.