家蚕表皮蛋白基因的生物信息学分析

家蚕的表皮蛋白(cuticular protein)是家蚕重要的结构蛋白,与几丁质一同作为家蚕表皮的重要组成部分。运用生物信息学的方法对家蚕表皮蛋白进行了广泛分析。通过保守的基序检索家蚕基因组,得到163条候选的表皮蛋白序列,包括RR、Tweedle、CPF&CPFL等家族,并且发现具有确定的保守基序的表皮蛋白基因在染色体上都是以串联集群形式分布。氨基酸组成分析表明,这些表皮蛋白富含甘氨酸、丙氨酸、亮氨酸、组氨酸等。运用Sig-nalP server预测这部分蛋白质有85%都具有信号肽。进化分析显示,负选择是家蚕表皮蛋白基因进化的主要驱动力。采用TFSEARCH等在线服务软件分析发现,在70%含有RR基序的家蚕表皮蛋白基因的核心启动子区具有通用的TATAAA序列。     

Effects of oocyte-derived growth factors on the growth of porcine oocytes and oocyte–cumulus cell complexes in vitro

During oocyte growth and follicle development, oocytes closely communicate with cumulus cells. We examined the effects of oocyte-derived growth factors, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), on the growth and acquisition of meiotic competence of porcine oocytes collected from early antral follicles (1.2–1.5 mm). First, we confirmed that GDF9 and BMP15 mRNAs were expressed almost exclusively in the oocytes. Oocyte–cumulus cell complexes (OCCs) collected from early antral follicles were cultured in growth medium supplemented with 0–100 ng/ml of GDF9 or BMP15 for 5 days. GDF9 dose-dependently increased the OCC diameter, while BMP15 did not. GDF9 and BMP15 had no significant effects on oocyte growth (P > 0.05). When OCCs that had been cultured with 50 and 100 ng/ml BMP15 were subjected to a subsequent maturation culture, they expanded fully by gonadotropic stimulation and 49% and 61% of oocytes matured to metaphase II (MII), respectively. In contrast, GDF9 did not promote cumulus expansion, and < 10% of oocytes matured to MII. Based on the difference in cumulus expansion, we compared the expression of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNAs in cumulus cells. The level of LHCGR mRNA was increased in cumulus cells of the BMP15 group, although there were no significant differences in FSHR mRNA levels among the groups. These results suggest that GDF9 promotes the growth of OCCs and that BMP15 promotes LHCGR mRNA expression in cumulus cells during oocyte growth culture, which may contribute to cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation.     

The effect of different food types and rations on the liver and muscle of cod (Gadus morhua L.)

In a short time feeding experiment it was shown that the liver weight of cod was significantly reduced in prawn-fed cod compared to sand-eel-fed cod. The dry weight and the protein content of the muscle were not significantly reduced. It is concluded that short time energy deprivation of cod primarily affects the liver. The results futher support the view that the food type and ration of cod can produce anomalous effects in field studies of e.g. parasite induced liver weight decrease in cod.     

Characterisation of transthyretin and retinol-binding protein in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in concentrations of vitamin A, transthyretin (TTR) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in dogs. RBP was detected using ELISA, and both RBP and TTR by Western blot analysis after separation on SDS-PAGE. Vitamin A was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RBP and TTR as well as vitamin A were detected in all samples but at substantially lower concentrations in CSF compared to plasma. RBP in dog plasma showed a similar molecular mass to that of humans, whereas canine TTR had a lower molecular mass. Comparison between plasma and CSF showed that both RBP and TTR were of lower molecular mass in CSF. In CSF, RBP and retinol were present at 10-100-fold lower concentrations compared to plasma. Retinyl esters were present only in minute amounts in 5/17 samples. In conclusion, the CSF of dogs compared to humans is significantly different in terms of both quality and quantity of transport proteins for vitamin A.     

An investigation into reduced milk production following dietary alteration on an Irish dairy farm

A nutritional evaluation of an Irish dairy herd indicated gross overfeeding of late lactation cows, over-conditioning of cows at parturition and a high rate of body condition loss in early lactation. Metabolisable-energy based nutritional modelling software was used to guide recommended dietary changes to prevent excessive condition gain in late lactation. Immediately following the implementation of the changes there was an unexpected reduction in performance affecting both milk yield and protein concentration. An investigation into the poor performance revealed underestimation of peak milk yield; over-estimation of maize silage quality; a large difference in the concentrate being fed compared to the concentrate recommended, and failure of the blend of concentrate ingredients to maintain the intended proportions in the in-parlour feeding system. The estimated maximum cumulative effect of these errors was to cause undersupply of energy and protein in the recommended diet of 16% and 3% respectively to cows in early lactation. Use of a net-energy nutritional model would have indicated a requirement for a higher energy supply in this case. This report highlights the challenges in obtaining accurate on-farm data for use in dairy cow nutritional models.     

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the non-structural 3A and 3B protein-coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus subtype A Iran 05

The A Iran 05 foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) subtype was detected in Iran during 2005 and has proven to be highly virulent. This study was undertaken to focus on molecular and phylogenetic analysis of 3A and 3B coding-regions in the A Iran 05 field isolate. To assess the genetic relatedness of A Iran 05 isolate the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the 3AB region of type A FMDV isolates were compared with twenty previously described type A FMDV isolates. The phylogenetic tree based on the 672 bp 3AB gene sequences of type A FMDV from thirteen different locations clustered them into five distinct lineages. The A Iran 05 isolate clustered in lineage A along with four type A variants and was closely matched with viruses isolated in Turkey and Pakistan during 2005~2006. The number of protein sequence differences exhibited by each of the isolates revealed that A Iran 05 isolate contains three amino acid substitutions at positions 47 and 119 of 3A and 27 of the 3B coding region. The nucleotide identity between A Iran 05 and the other four isolates of lineage A was estimated to be 98%.     

Effect of Estradiol-17β on protein synthesis and degradation rates in fused bovine satellite cell cultures

Although androgenic and estrogenic steroids are widely used to enhance muscle growth and increase feed efficiency in feedlot cattle, their mechanism of action is not well understood. Further, in vivo studies indicate that estradiol (E2) affects muscle protein synthesis and/or degradation, but in vitro results are inconsistent. We have examined the effects of E2 treatment on protein synthesis and degradation rates in fused bovine satellite cell (BSC) cultures. Additionally, to learn more about the mechanisms involved in E2-enhanced muscle growth, we have examined the effects of compounds that interfere with binding of E2 or insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 to their respective receptors on E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis and degradation rates in BSC cultures. Treatment of fused BSC cultures with E2 results in a concentration-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in protein synthesis rate and a decrease (P < 0.05) in protein degradation rate. The pure estrogen antagonist ICI 182 780 suppresses (P < 0.05) E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis and degradation in fused BSC cultures. The G-protein coupled receptor (GPR)-30 agonist G1 does not affect either synthesis or degradation rate, which establishes that GPR30 does not play a role in E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis or degradation. JB1, a competitive inhibitor of IGF-1 binding to the Type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR-1), suppresses (P < 0.05) E2-induced alterations in protein synthesis and degradation. In summary, our data show that E2 treatment directly alters both protein synthesis and degradation rates in fused BSC cultures via mechanisms involving both the classical estrogen receptor (ER) and IGFR-1.     

消化道上皮细胞中乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白含量的变化

利用兔抗鸡乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白血清,以不连续活性-PAGE电泳技术和间接ELISA方法,对不同日龄、健康和患球虫病鸡消化道不同部位乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白含量进行了检测。结果表明,2日龄鸡嗉囊部位产生乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白成分,D450nm值为0.181;1日龄鸡小肠部位产生乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白成分,D450nm值为0.168;5日龄乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白成分达到稳定,D450nm值分别为0.200和0.123。健康鸡体内嗉囊与小肠部位乳酸杆菌黏附配体蛋白含量比患球虫病鸡明显增多,D450nm值分别为：嗉囊,0.143和0.132;小肠,0.148和0.134。