Cloning and Protein Structure Analysis of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α Gene in Yak

In this study,hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) gene was cloned from yak spleen by RT-PCR,and it was divided into two sections for amplification.The sequence and protein structure were analyzed using related bioinformatics tools.The length of the coding region was 2 472 bp,which encoded 823 amino acids.Its molecule mass was 92.13 ku,and PI was 5.09.It displayed as a hydrophilic protein,whose secondary structure was mainly composed of random coil and α-helix.It had 69 phosphorylation sites and 4 N-glycosylation sites.Phylogenetic tree displayed that Maiwa yak,Bos grunniens,Bos mutus and Bos taurus gathered into one cluster.Maiwa yak HIF-1α gene was successfully cloned in this study,it provided a viable reference for further study of genetic characteristics of HIF-1α.     

非奇异H-矩阵的判定

运用矩阵分析方法,讨论了非奇异H-矩阵的判定问题,得到两个非奇异H-矩阵新的判定准则,并以数值例子说明判定方法的有效性.     

不同日龄滩羊皮肤组织化学特征比较

为比较2、35日龄滩羊皮肤毛囊的发育特点与血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor，VEGF）和血管内皮生长因子受体2（vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2，VEGFR2）的分布特征，探究出生后滩羊被毛生长发育的变化特点，试验应用常规HE染色及改良Masson胶原纤维染色、Gomori银氨法染色、磷钨酸染色等特殊染色观察2与35日龄滩羊皮肤组织结构特点；应用免疫组织化学法结合免疫荧光染色法观察VEGF及VEGFR2在2与35日龄滩羊皮肤组织中的分布定位，并用IPP图像分析软件进行定量分析。结果显示：与2日龄滩羊皮肤组织比较，35日龄滩羊表皮与真皮间界限更加清晰，毛囊结构发育完整；毛囊密度显著降低（P<0.05）；胶原纤维与弹性纤维含量增加，形成网格状分布。免疫组化及免疫荧光结果显示，VEGF及VEGFR2在滩羊皮肤表皮及毛囊外根鞘、皮脂腺上均有表达。统计表明，VEGF及VEGFR2在2日龄滩羊皮肤组织中的表达量均显著高于35日龄（P<0.05）。综合上述结果，滩羊毛囊发育过程中，胶原纤维和弹性纤维增加明显；VEGF与VEGFR2通路在毛囊角质形成中起直接调节作用。     

成年牦牛皮肤中血管与神经的组织学观察及HIF-1α在皮肤中的表达

本研究旨在探讨牦牛不同部位皮肤内血管和神经的分布情况,及检测低氧诱导因子-1α（HIF-1α）在不同部位皮肤上的定位及相对表达量,探究牦牛皮肤对高原低氧环境的适应机制。采用HE、Masson’s三色和Verhoeff VG染色法,对成年牦牛皮肤内血管和神经结构进行观察与分析;采用免疫组织化学、实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白免疫印迹法,对HIF-1α的mRNA和蛋白在成年牦牛皮肤组织中表达与分布进行研究。结果表明,颈部血管与神经密度最高,前臂部和小腿部次之,跖部最低,部位间差异显著（P<0.05）。HIF-1α主要表达在表皮层、毛囊的上皮根鞘、皮脂腺、汗腺、血管、神经;颈部、前臂部和小腿部强阳性表达,跖部阳性表达。HIF-1α mRNA的相对表达量跖部明显低于其他部位（P<0.05）,其他三个部位两两比较差异不显著（P>0.05）。HIF-1α蛋白相对表达量颈部最高,跖部最低,差异显著（P<0.05）。研究结果提示,成年牦牛不同部位皮肤内不同血管和神经形态结构相似,密度从颈部到前肢再到后肢差异显著。HIF-1α的差异性表达进一步说明皮肤在牦牛适应低氧环境中发挥作用。     

AR regulates porcine immature Sertoli cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a

Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium which directly contact with germ cells. Sertoli cells exhibit polarized alignment at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules to maintain the microenvironment for growth and development of germ cells, and therefore play a crucial role in spermatogenesis. Androgens exert their action through androgen receptor (AR) and AR signalling in the testis is essential for maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood–testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation. In the present study, we demonstrated that AR gene could promote the proliferation of immature porcine Sertoli cells (ST cells) and the cell cycle procession, and accelerate the transition from G1 phase into S phase in ST cells. Meanwhile, miR-124a could affect the proliferation and cell cycle procession of ST cells by targeting 3′-UTR of AR gene. Furthermore, AR bound to the RNF4 via AR DNA-binding domain (DBD) and we verified that RNF4 was necessary for AR to regulate the growth of ST cells. Above all, this study suggests that AR regulates ST cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a, which may help us to further understand the function of AR in spermatogenesis.     

The influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F2α on decorin and the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells of bovine placenta at early-mid pregnancy—Part II

One of the most important processes determining the proper course of gestation and its physiological termination in cows is the adhesion of epithelial cells allowing for direct contact of maternal and foetal parts of the placenta. Throughout pregnancy, placental cells are under strict hormonal control, which among others regulates the concentration and activity of specific proteins participating in the extracellular matrix remodelling of foetal membranes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α on the adhesion of epithelial cells at early-mid pregnancy in cows. Additionally, the impact of selected hormones on anti-adhesive properties of decorin was evaluated. Caruncular epithelial cells were isolated from healthy cows during pregnancy, immediately after slaughter. Primary cell cultures derived from the 2nd and 4th month of gestation were used in the experiments. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay. The adhesion of cells to fibronectin was measured spectrophotometrically. The activity of metalloproteinases was confirmed by the metalloproteinase assay. Progesterone (10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) and prostaglandin F_2α (10^–4_, 10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) increased the viability of bovine caruncular epithelial cells in the 2nd month of pregnancy. The treatment with prostaglandin F_2α significantly reduced the number of adherent cells from the 2nd month of gestation at the doses of 10^–4 and 10^–5 mol/L. Both progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α were shown to have an effect of decorin resulting in both a decrease in metalloproteinase activity and an increase in adhesion of cells to fibronectin.     

Toll-like receptor signaling is changed in ovine lymph node during early pregnancy

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) participate in regulation of adaptive immune responses, and lymph nodes play key roles in the initiation of immune responses. There is a tolerance to the allogenic fetus during pregnancy, but it is unclear that expression of TLR signaling is in ovine lymph node during early pregnancy. In this study, lymph nodes were sampled from day 16 of nonpregnant ewes and days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnant ewes, and the expressions of TLR family (TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5 and TLR9), adaptor proteins, including myeloid differentiation primary-response protein 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), and interleukin-1-receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1), were analyzed through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analysis. The results showed that mRNA and protein levels of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TRAF6, and MyD88 were upregulated in the maternal lymph node, but TLR5, TLR9, and IRAK1 were downregulated during early pregnancy. In addition, MyD88 protein was located in the subcapsular sinus and lymph sinuses. Therefore, it is suggested that early pregnancy induces changes in TLR signaling in maternal lymph node, which may be involved in regulation of maternal immune responses in sheep.     

噬菌体Bp7尾丝蛋白gp37的原核表达与鉴定

为了研究噬菌体尾丝蛋白gp37在识别宿主菌大肠埃希菌K12过程中的作用,PCR扩增获得gp37基因C端1 161bp序列,以EGFP为荧光标签,构建重组表达质粒pET-28a-EGFP-gp37,在大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中IPTG诱导表达重组蛋白EGFP-gp37,亲和层析纯化蛋白。SDS-PAGE及Western blot检测结果表明,重组蛋白EGFP-gp37在大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)为可溶性表达,表达量占菌体总蛋白量的23%。EGFP-gp37融合蛋白与大肠埃希菌K12相互作用,激光共聚焦显微镜检测结果显示,尾丝蛋白gp37能够吸附到宿主菌K12表面,表明尾丝蛋白gp37参与宿主菌受体的识别和吸附过程。     

Polymorphism in promoter region of growth hormone receptor is associated with potential production capacity of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in pre‐pubertal Holstein heifers

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is one of the important factors for growth, milk production and reproductive functions and mainly released from the liver in response to growth hormone (GH) via GH receptor (GHR) in cattle. Recently, some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the bovine GHR gene. Some GHR‐SNPs were shown to be related to plasma IGF‐1 concentration in cattle. Hence, the capacity to IGF‐1 production in the liver might be affected by GHR‐SNP and associated with performance in the future. This study examined whether GHR‐SNP is associated with IGF‐1 production in the liver of pre‐pubertal heifers. In 71 Holstein calves, blood samples for genomic DNA extraction were obtained immediately after birth. To genotype the GHR‐SNPs in the promoter region, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were digested with restriction enzyme NsiI (cutting sites: AA, AG and GG). All heifers at 4 months of age were intramuscularly injected with 0.4 mg oestradiol benzoate. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein just before (0 h) and 24 h after injection. The number of AA, AG and GG at the NsiI site was 0, 17 and 54 respectively. In AG and GG, plasma GH concentrations were higher pre‐injection than 24 h post‐injection (p < 0.01). Moreover, plasma GH concentrations in AG post‐injection were higher than in GG (p < 0.05). In contrast, the GG genotype exhibited higher plasma IGF‐1 concentrations in pre‐injection than post‐injection (p < 0.01), although oestradiol did not change IGF‐1 concentration in the AG genotype. We conclude that the GG polymorphism in the promoter region of GHR is associated with a higher potential capacity of IGF‐1 production in the liver of cattle.