Familial Congenital Methemoglobinemia in Pomeranian Dogs Caused by a Missense Variant in the NADH‐Cytochrome B5 Reductase Gene

Background

In veterinary medicine, congenital methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is rare. It has been reported in several breeds of dogs, but little information is available about its etiology.

Objectives

To analyze the NADH‐cytochrome b5 reductase gene, CYB5R3, in a Pomeranian dog family with methemoglobinemia suspected to be caused by congenital b5R deficiency.

Animals

Three Pomeranian dogs from a family with methemoglobinemia were analyzed. Five healthy beagles and 5 nonrelated Pomeranian dogs without methemoglobinemia were used as controls.

Methods

Methemoglobin concentration, b5R activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were measured, and a turbidity index was used to evaluate Heinz body formation. The CYB5R3 genes of the affected dog and healthy dogs were analyzed by direct sequencing.

Results

Methemoglobin concentrations in erythrocytes of the affected dogs were remarkably higher than those of the control dogs. The b5R activity of the affected dogs was notably lower than that of the control dogs. DNA sequencing indicated that this Pomeranian family carried a CYB5R3 gene missense variant (ATC→CTC at codon 194) that resulted in the replacement of isoleucine (Ile) by leucine (Leu).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

This dog family had familial congenital methemoglobinemia caused by b5R deficiency, which resulted from a nonsynonymous variant in the CYB5R3 gene. This variation (c.580A>C) led to an amino acid substitution (p.Ile194Leu), and Ile194 was located in the proximal region of the NADH‐binding motif. Our data suggested that this variant in the canine CYB5R3 gene would affect function of the b5R in erythrocytes.     

Interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate,and boiling of barley on feed intake,the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and fermentation in the hindgut of Arabian mares

The interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate and the hydrothermal processing of barley in alleviating concentrate effects on intake, and hindgut fermentation in horses was tested. Six Arabian mares (4–10 years of age, 410 ± 35 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding sequence (FS) and type of barley (TB) on intake, and faecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), activities of α‐amylase (AA: EC 3.2.1.1), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase: EC 3.2.1.4), microcrystalline cellulase (MCCase: EC 3.2.1.91) and general filter paper degrading activity (FPD). Mares were offered a ration of air‐dried alfalfa and concentrate (70:30 as‐fed) in four subsequent periods of 14 days including 8 days of adaptation and 6 days of sampling. In each period and each meal, mares received concentrate either 30 min after (HC) or 30 min before (CH) alfalfa hay. Barley was either milled or boiled in water. Rectal samples were grabbed directly from rectum once per period. Mares subjected to CH had higher dry matter intakes than mares under HC regime. The acetate:propionate ratio (A:P ratio) in rectal content was higher with CH than HC. The AA activity was higher under CH than under HC. Mares fed boiled barley had lower rectal concentrations of VFA and propionate and a higher A:P ratio than mares fed milled barley. Furthermore, the rectal content showed a higher MCCase activity but a lower AA activity when mares were fed boiled compared with milled barley. Interactions between FS and TB were observed with respect to CMCase activity, and concentrations of propionate and valerate. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both, feeding concentrate before hay and boiling the barley, might improve the hindgut environment in Arabian mares, and that the two measures were mostly additive and sometimes even synergistic.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

玉米苗期耐碱性鉴定方法研究

在三叶一心期,用一定浓度梯度的Na2CO3溶液（5～25mmol&#183;L^-1）对玉米幼苗进行胁迫处理,观察其生长情况,7d后测定地上部分株高、鲜重、干重等生理指标。研究表明,各项生理指标均随Na2CO3溶液浓度的增加而降低,并在各碱浓度间、自交系间达极显著差异。综合苗情及各生理指标的变化,初步确定可以将25mmol&#183;L^-1 Na2CO3溶液作为玉米苗期耐碱性筛选的理想浓度,将该浓度下的苗情及株高、鲜重、干重及含水量变化率作为玉米苗期耐碱性筛选的鉴定指标。     

白菜型油菜srb多室性状的遗传分析与分子鉴定

油菜多室角果是一种高产相关性状,本研究对桑日白油菜(srb)多室性状的遗传调控机制进行研究。性状分析表明,该突变体具有稳定的多室角果表型,单株多室角果比例为94.7%～100.0%,每角果平均3.5个心皮。遗传上srb突变体中的多室性状受1对隐性核基因控制。比较测序分析发现, srb中BrCLV3基因的CLE motif中存在一种新的单核苷酸突变(C/G),可导致其保守结构域的第12位组氨酸突变为天冬氨酸,将该位点命名为Brclv3Asp12。利用SNP标记进行分离群体的鉴定,证实Brclv3Asp12中的C/G单核苷酸变异与多室表型共分离。转基因互补测验和体外多肽的处理试验进一步证实,该材料中控制多室性状位点Brclv3_Asp12突变导致了CLV3多肽活性的减弱,是形成多室角果性状的原因。本研究初步阐明了白菜型油菜srb多室性状形成的机制。     

芜菁Br14-3-3的克隆及其在非生物胁迫下的表达分析

克隆了‘津田芜菁’(Brassica rapa subsp. rapifera‘Tsuda’)通用调节因子14-3-3基因cDNA序列,命名为Br14-3-3(GenBank登录号为MK896872)。该基因全长1 113 bp,开放阅读框全长774 bp,编码含有257个氨基酸的多肽。荧光定量PCR分析Br14-3-3在‘津田芜菁’不同组织中及其在温度、脱水、渗透、ABA和无机盐等非生物胁迫下幼苗中的表达,结果表明该基因在‘津田芜菁’的花中表达量最高,幼苗中次之;低温抑制了Br14-3-3的表达,其他非生物胁迫可诱导该基因表达,暗示Br14-3-3在非生物胁迫应答中发挥功能。     

基于图像处理的水稻叶片三维可视化研究

介绍利用数字图像处理技术提取水稻叶片几何参数及边缘轮廓曲线的方法,分别利用三角网格化技术和贝塞尔曲线来描述叶片边缘信息,并对2种方法进行比较。通过二次生长曲线方程实现了水稻叶片的三维建模及可视化表达。     

水稻冠层三维结构模型的田间实验验证

在水稻株型设计系统(Rice Plant Type Design System,RPTDS)基础上,以冠层光分布为指标,利用改造后的非自然群体,通过田间实验和虚拟实验的比较研究,对RPTDS系统中水稻冠层三维模型的准确性进行了检验,结果表明,虚拟实验结果与田间实验结果虽然在数值上存在一定差异,但具有极显著的正向相关关系,同时,虚拟实验结果更能够有效反映冠层结构差异,冠层模型具有较高的准确性。说明RPTDS系统基本能够准确反映群体冠层结构和光分布态势。     

番茄ShARPC5抗白粉病功能分析

【目的】白粉病(powdery mildew)是番茄生产上的重要病害,严重影响番茄的产量。番茄基因组测序工作的完成为抗病基因挖掘提供了重要的信息资源。ARP2/3(actin-related protein 2 and 3)复合体是肌动蛋白微丝骨架动力学的主要调控因子,能够参与包括响应外界胁迫等多种细胞学过程。本研究通过对番茄ARPC5(actin-related protein C5)进行克隆和抗病功能验证,为番茄基因组信息完善、抗病机制解析和分子育种等方面打下基础。【方法】从番茄LA1777(Solanum habrochaites)cDNA中PCR扩增ShARPC5,使用DNAMAN 6.0进行多序列比对;MEGA 6.0构建系统发育树;应用在线工具ProtComp v. 9.0进行亚细胞定位预测。利用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)比较接种白粉菌(Oidium neolycopersici,On-Lz)后高感品种Moneymaker(MM)和高抗品种LA1777中番茄ARPC5的表达特征,分析白粉菌侵染与ARPC5表达的相关性。应用病毒诱导的基因沉默(virus-induc...     

重组GSTA3蛋白对福美双诱导的肉鸡TD中抗凋亡基因BAG-3表达的影响

【目的】肉鸡胫骨软骨发育不良(TD)是肉鸡常见的一种骨骼性疾病,研究重组GSTA3蛋白对福美双诱导的TD肉鸡软骨细胞中抗凋亡基因BAG-3表达的影响,为治疗TD提供新的思路和方法。【方法】将120羽1周龄肉雏鸡随机分为6组(编号为A、B、C、D、E、F组)。A、B、C组为基础日粮对照组,D、E、F组为添加福美双日粮诱导TD组。试验饲喂福美双2 d诱发TD,在添加福美双第1、3、5、7天,腿部肌肉注射重组鸡GSTA3蛋白和磷酸盐缓冲液,A组与D组注射(100μg·kg-1)磷酸盐缓冲液;B组与E组注射低剂量(100μg·kg-1)GSTA3;C组与F组注射高剂量(200μg·kg-1)GSTA3。试验历时23 d。添加福美双后1、2、4、6、10和15 d采集胫骨生长板。通过Real-time qPCR检测BAG-3基因的mRNA水平,利用免疫组化来检测BAG-3蛋白表达水平。【结果】Real-time qPCR结果显示,TD损伤修复期内,相比较于基础日粮对照组,福美双对照组肉鸡胫骨生长板中BAG-3mRNA的表达水平基本都显著上调(P<0.05);相比较于福美双对照组,E和F组在...