Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

牦牛MYL3基因的克隆及组织表达分析

【目的】研究牦牛MYL3基因的结构和表达特征,探究其生物学功能及影响牦牛肌肉生长发育的机制。【方法】以美仁牦牛cDNA为模板,PCR扩增MYL3基因编码区序列(CDS),利用MEGA11软件构建系统进化树,利用生物信息学软件对其编码蛋白进行分析。通过实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测MYL3基因在心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏（参照）、睾丸、肌肉和脂肪组织中的相对表达量。【结果】牦牛MYL3基因CDS区长600 bp,共编码199个氨基酸,存在1个碱基突变位点,位于第165位(A>T)。系统进化分析结果显示,牦牛与普通牛的亲缘关系最近,与单峰驼的亲缘关系最远。生物信息学分析结果显示,牦牛MYL3蛋白为不稳定的亲水性蛋白,无信号肽,不存在跨膜结构,主要存在于细胞质内,有8个磷酸化位点和2个N 糖基化位点,蛋白的二级结构以α-螺旋为主,主要与调控肌肉生长发育的相关蛋白相互作用。RT-qPCR结果表明,MYL3基因在心脏中的表达量最高,极显著高于其他组织;肌肉中次之,与除心脏外的其他组织存在极显著差异。【结论】MYL3基因可能与牦牛心脏发育有关,对肌肉的生长发育和肉质有一定影响。     

鸡myostatin基因的研究进展

肌肉生长抑制素(myostatin)为转化生长因子TGF-beta超家族成员之一。随着研究的深入,发现鸡与哺乳动物myostatin基因的功能特性存在一定差异。本文主要综述了鸡myostatin基因在鸡骨骼肌生长发育和胚胎发生中的表达和功能等方面的研究进展。同时,对鸡作为肌肉相关研究领域模式动物的优势,肉鸡、蛋鸡间骨骼肌巨大生长差异与myostatin基因的可能关系也进行了简单讨论。     

脂肪组织的内分泌功能及其与肌肉组织间的分子信号联系

脂肪组织不仅是机体储存能量的主要场所,还是一个活跃的内分泌器官;骨骼肌同样也具有分泌活性物质的功能,能表达、合成和分泌多种生物信号分子。这些活性因子与许多重要的生理、病理过程有密切的关系。对脂肪组织的内分泌功能及其与肌肉组织间的分子信号联系进行了综述。     

过表达MyBPC1对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化的影响

旨在探究肌球蛋白结合蛋白C1（myosin binding protein C1,MyBPC1）对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖与成肌分化的影响,为进一步研究MyBPC1在细胞分化和肌肉发育过程中的调控作用提供依据。本研究利用西门塔尔胎牛原代牛骨骼肌卫星细胞体外诱导成肌分化模型模拟牛骨骼肌的生长发育过程。采用qRT-PCR和Western blot检测MyBPC1的细胞时序表达谱。试验分为两组。在RNA水平每组4个重复,每个重复20 μL;在蛋白水平每组3个重复,每个重复15 μg。采用qRT-PCR和Western blot检测牛骨骼肌卫星细胞转染MyBPC1的过表达效果,并进一步检测细胞增殖期标志因子Pax7、Ki67以及细胞分化期标志因子MyHC、MyOG的表达变化情况,观察牛骨骼肌卫星细胞肌管形成状态。结果,MyBPC1在牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化前后表达水平存在极显著差异,牛骨骼肌卫星细胞诱导分化后MyBPC1的mRNA和蛋白表达量均极显著高于增殖期（P<0.01）。过表达MyBPC1后,细胞分化形成的肌管数量明显多于对照组,增殖标志因子Pax7的mRNA水平和蛋白表达水平无显著差异,分化标志因子MyHC的mRNA水平和蛋白表达水平极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）。过表达MyBPC1可以促进牛骨骼肌卫星细胞体外成肌分化,为进一步开展MyBPC1对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的调控机制奠定基础。     

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with visceral metastases in a White Carneau pigeon and literature review

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal tumors of smooth muscle origin and are reported occasionally in avian species. A 14-y-old male laboratory White Carneau pigeon (Columba livia) was presented for surgical excision of a cervical soft tissue mass. Ultrasonography with color flow Doppler imaging revealed multiple cavitations of mixed echogenicity within the mass and vascularization. Histologically, the dermis and subcutis were expanded by a densely cellular multinodular mass comprised of fusiform cells forming haphazardly arranged broad streams and short interwoven bundles, often surrounding blood vessels and variably sized cavitations. Neoplastic cells were strongly immunopositive for desmin and α–smooth muscle actin, and negative for pancytokeratin, S100, and von Willebrand factor. Based on histopathology and IHC findings, the cutaneous mass was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The pigeon died 312 d post-operatively. Postmortem examination revealed masses infiltrating the left and right pulmonary airways and one hepatic nodule, but no regrowth at the surgical site. Histologic and IHC evaluation of the pulmonary and hepatic masses were consistent with LMS, representing metastatic foci from the primary cutaneous LMS. Our case highlights the malignant behavior and histomorphologic features of cutaneous LMS in an avian species.     

肌肉发生相关长链非编码RNA研究进展

肌肉参与机体的运动、协调和体温调节等一系列生命活动,同时畜禽肌肉是人类重要的蛋白质来源。肌肉发生过程中的不同调控机制可引起肌肉发育的阶段性差异,而整个肌肉发育主要以两个时期（胚胎期和出生后）的发育状态体现。长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）是一类不具有蛋白编码能力且长度>200 nt的RNA分子。近年来,随着基因组学和分子生物学技术的高速发展,发现lncRNA广泛参与到肌肉发育的各个阶段,以多种作用机制调控肌肉的发育过程。作者介绍了肌肉的发育过程,综述了目前发现的与肌肉发育相关的lncRNAs及其作用机制,并阐述其在肌肉发育的不同阶段发挥的重要作用,为进一步研究肌肉发育相关lncRNAs提供了参考。     

Chemical and Thermal Properties of Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) Meat

Chemical compositions and thermal properties of cultured freshwater prawn meat (FPM) were studied. FPM contained 83.2% protein (dry basis), 62.7% of which was myofibrillar protein. Pepsin-soluble collagen (PSC) and insoluble collagen (ISC) contents were 0.63 and 0.32%, respectively. Both collagens were similar to type V collagen from porcine placenta. Glutamic acid/glutamine, arginine, aspartic acid/?asparagine, and lysine were abundant amino acids in FPM. Glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and aspartic acid/?asparagine were predominant in both collagens. FPM exhibited thermal transition temperatures (T_max) of 48.3 and 64.7°C, whereas T_max of PSC and ISC were 43.0 and 46.0°C, respectively. Textural changes in FPM during post-mortem storage on ice are plausibly dependent upon its compositional and thermal properties.