Genetic polymorphisms and protein structures in growth hormone,growth hormone receptor,ghrelin, insulin-like growth factor 1 and leptin in Mehraban sheep

The somatotropic axis, the control system for growth hormone (GH) secretion and its endogenous factors involved in the regulation of metabolism and energy partitioning, has promising potentials for producing economically valuable traits in farm animals. Here we investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the genes of factors involved in the somatotropic axis for growth hormone (GH1), growth hormone receptor (GHR), ghrelin (GHRL), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) and leptin (LEP), using polymerase chain reaction–single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) and DNA sequencing methods in 452 individual Mehraban sheep. A nonradioactive method to allow SSCP detection was used for genomic DNA and PCR amplification of six fragments: exons 4 and 5 of GH1; exon 10 of GH receptor (GHR); exon 1 of ghrelin (GHRL); exon 1 of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and exon 3 of leptin (LEP). Polymorphisms were detected in five of the six PCR products. Two electrophoretic patterns were detected for GH1 exon 4. Five conformational patterns were detected for GH1 exon 5 and LEP exon 3, and three for IGF-I exon 1. Only GHR and GHRL were monomorphic. Changes in protein structures due to variable SNPs were also analyzed. The results suggest that Mehraban sheep, a major breed that is important for the animal industry in Middle East countries, has high genetic variability, opening interesting prospects for future selection programs and preservation strategies.     

A CRYGC gene mutation associated with autosomal dominant pulverulent cataract

Purpose

To describe at molecular level a family with pulverulent congenital cataract associated with a CRYGC gene mutation.

Methods

One family with several affected members with pulverulent congenital cataract and 230 healthy controls were examined. Genomic DNA from leukocytes was isolated to analyze the CRYGA-D cluster, CX46, CX50 and MIP genes through high-resolution melting curve and DNA sequencing.

Results

DNA sequencing in the affected members revealed the c.143G>A mutation (p.R48H) in exon 2 of the CRYGC gene; 230 healthy controls and ten healthy relatives were also analyzed and none of them showed the c.143G>A mutation. No other polymorphisms or mutations were found to be present.

Conclusion

In the present study, we described a family with pulverulent congenital cataract that segregated the c.143G>A mutation (p.R48H) in the CRYGC gene. A few mutations have been described in the CRYGC gene in autosomal dominant cataract, none of them with pulverulent cataract making clear the clinical heterogeneity of congenital cataract. This mutation has been associated with the phenotype of congenital cataract but also is considered an SNP in the NCBI data base. Our data and previous report suggest that p.R48H could be a disease-causing mutation and not an SNP.     

A fast approximate method of identifying paths of allosteric communication in proteins

Fluctuations of the distance between a pair of residues i and j may be correlated with the fluctuations of the distance between another pair k and l. In this case, information may be transmitted among these four residues. Allosteric activity is postulated to proceed through such correlated paths. In this short communication a fast method for calculating correlations among all possible pairs ij and kl leading to a pathway of correlated residues of a protein is proposed. The method is based on the alpha carbon centered Gaussian Network Model. The model is applied to Glutamine Amidotransferase and pathways of allosteric activity are identified and compared with literature. Proteins 2013; 81:1097–1101. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Rhizospheric NO affects N uptake and metabolism in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings depending on soil N availability and N source

We investigated the interaction of rhizospheric nitric oxide (NO) concentration (i.e. low, ambient or high) and soil nitrogen (N) availability (i.e. low or high) with organic and inorganic N uptake by fine roots of Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings by ¹⁵N feeding experiments under controlled conditions. N metabolites in fine roots were analysed to link N uptake to N nutrition. NO affected N uptake depending on N source and soil N availability. The suppression of nitrate uptake in the presence of ammonium and glutamine was overruled by high NO. The effects of NO on N uptake with increasing N availability showed different patterns: (1) increasing N uptake regardless of NO concentration (i.e. ammonium); (2) increasing N uptake only with high NO concentration (i.e. nitrate and arginine); and (3) decreasing N uptake (i.e. glutamine). At low N availability and high NO nitrate accumulated in the roots indicating insufficient substrates for nitrate reduction or its storage in root vacuoles. Individual amino acid concentrations were negatively affected with increasing NO (i.e. asparagine and glutamine with low N availability, serine and proline with high N availability). In conclusion, this study provides first evidence that NO affects N uptake and metabolism in a conifer.     

Flame retardant finishing of cotton fabric based on synergistic compounds containing boron and nitrogen

Boric acid and compound containing nitrogen, 2,4,6-tri[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethyl-ammonium)propyl]-1,3,5-triazine chloride (Tri-HTAC) were used to finish cotton fabric. The flame retardant properties of the finished cotton fabrics and the synergetic effects of boron and nitrogen elements were investigated and evaluated by limited oxygen index (LOI) method. The mechanism of cross-linking reaction among cotton fiber, Tri-HTAC, and boric acid was discussed by FTIR and element analysis. The thermal stability and surface morphology of the finished cotton fabrics were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The finishing system of the mixture containing boron and nitrogen showed excellent synergistic flame retardancy for cotton fabric. The cotton fabric finished with mixture system had excellent flame retardancy. The LOI value of the treated cotton fabric increased over 27.5. Tri-HTAC could form covalent bonds with cellulose fiber and boric acid. The flame retardant cotton fabric showed a slight decrease in tensile strength and whiteness. The surface morphology of flame retardant cotton fiber was smooth.     

How does the metabolism of tumour cells differ from that of normal cells

Tumour cells thrive in environments that would be hostile to their normal cell counterparts. Survival depends on the selection of cell lines that harbour modifications of both, gene regulation that shifts the balance between the cell cycle and apoptosis and those that involve the plasticity of the metabolic machinery. With regards to metabolism, the selected phenotypes usually display enhanced anaerobic glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen, the so-called Warburg effect, and anabolic pathways that provide precursors for the synthesis of lipids, proteins and DNA. The review will discuss the original ideas of Otto Warburg and how they initially led to the notion that mitochondria of tumour cells were dysfunctional. Data will be presented to show that not only the organelles are viable and respiring, but that they are key players in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Likewise, interconnecting pathways that stand out in the tumour phenotype and that require intact mitochondria such as glutaminolysis will be addressed. Furthermore, comments will be made as to how the peculiarities of the biochemistry of tumour cells renders them amenable to new forms of treatment by highlighting possible targets for inhibitors. In this respect, a case study describing the effect of a metabolite analogue, the alkylating agent 3BP (3-bromopyruvate), on glycolytic enzyme targets will be presented.     

Long-term calorie restriction has minimal impact on brain metabolite and fatty acid profiles in aged rats on a Western-style diet

The effect of long-term calorie restriction (CR) on metabolites, fatty acid profiles and energy substrate transporter expression in the brain was assessed in aged rats. Three groups of male Sprague–Dawley rats were studied: (i) a 2 month old ad libitum-fed (2AL group), (ii) a 19 month old ad libitum-fed (19AL group), and (iii) a 19 month old group subjected to 40% CR from the age of 7.5 to 19 months (19CR group). The diet contained high sucrose and low n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) so as to imitate a Western-style diet. High resolution magic angle spinning-¹H NMR showed an effect of aging on brain cortex metabolites compared to 2AL rats, the largest differences being for myo-inositol (+251% and +181%), lactate (+203% and +188%), β-hydroxybutyrate (+176% and +618%) and choline (+148% and +120%), in 19AL and 19 CR rats, respectively. However, brain metabolites did not differ between the 19AL and 19CR groups. Cortex fatty acid profiles showed that n-3 PUFA were 35–47% lower but monounsaturated fatty acids were 40–52% higher in 19AL and 19CR rats compared to 2AL rats. Brain microvessel glucose transporter (GLUT1) was 68% higher in 19AL rats than in 2AL rats, while the monocarboxylate transporter, MCT1, was 61% lower in 19CR rats compared to 19AL rats. We conclude that on a high-sucrose, low n-3 PUFA diet, the brain of aged AL rats had higher metabolites and microvessel GLUT1 expression compared to 2AL rats. However, long-term CR in aged rats did not markedly change brain metabolite or fatty acid profile, but did reduce brain microvessel MCT1 expression.     

低温胁迫后抗寒茶树品种‘紫阳圆叶’的基因差异表达分析

采用DDRT—PCR技术,对低温（4℃）胁迫处理不同时间（0、8、12、24和48h）后茶树[Camellia sinensis（Linn．）O．Ktze．]抗寒品种‘紫阳圆叶’（‘Ziyangyuanye’）叶片中差异表达的基因进行分离和测序,并采用半定量RT-PCR对差异表达基因的表达特性进行了比较。结果表明：有12个引物对扩增出有明显差异的cDNA片段,其中3个片段是与抗寒性相关的差异片段,分别被命名为Csgsf．Cscafl和Cscaf2,碱基数分别为217、316和232bp。比对结果显示：Cscaf与茶树品种‘安吉白茶’（‘Anjibaicha’）和‘龙井43’（‘Longjing43’）的谷氨酰胺合成酶基因的同源性分别为96％和91％,与菜豆（Phaseolus vulgaris Linn．）、蒺藜苜蓿（Medicago truncatula Gaertn．）、油棕（ElaeisguineensisJacq．）、西洋参（Panax quinquefolius Linn．）和水稻（Oryza sativa Linn．）等植物的谷氨酰胺合成酶的基因序列同源性均达到90％以上,因此,Cscafl应为茶树谷氨酰胺合成酶基因片段;Cscaf2与干旱胁迫条件下茶树表达的cDNA的同源性为100％,为茶树应答干旱和低温胁迫的基因片段;Cscafl未检索出同源序列,推测其为与冷胁迫相关的未知基因片段。半定量RT—PCR分析结果表明：Cscafl和Cscafl在低温胁迫的初始期即开始表达且表达量随低温胁迫时间延长逐渐下调;而Cscaf2的表达量随低温胁迫时间延长逐渐上调并在胁迫48h后达到最大,3个片段的表达特性均与差异扩增结果相符。     

复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒辅助治疗痰瘀互结型类风湿关节炎的临床效果观察

目的:评价复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒治疗活动期类风湿关节炎痰瘀互结证的临床有效性和安全性。方法:选择2013年2月～2015年5月在上海光华中西医结合医院类风关内科门诊及住院的活动性痰瘀互结型类风湿关节炎患者63例,按治疗方式分为对照组33例和中西医结合治疗组30例,对照组采用西医治疗(甲氨蝶呤+青霉胺),治疗组采用中西医结合治疗(复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒+甲氨蝶呤+青霉胺)。治疗12周后,比较两组患者的临床疗效及各项观察指标的改善情况。结果:治疗后,两组患者晨僵持续时间、关节肿胀数、关节压痛数、中医症候积分、血沉(ESR)、血清CRP水平,疼痛VAS评分、患者总体状态自我VAS评分及DAS28评分均较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),且治疗组患者的上述各项指标均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗期间,两组患者均未出现严重不良反应而中断治疗的情况,监测肝肾功能指标均未发现明显异常。结论:复方雷公藤逐痛颗粒辅助治疗痰瘀互结型类风湿关节炎的临床疗效确切,明显优于单用西医治疗,其有助于增强西医治疗对患者临床症状的缓解效果,提高患者的生活质量,且用药安全。     

复方丹参注射液联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿喘息性支气管炎的效果及对炎性因子的影响

目的:探讨复方丹参注射液联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿喘息性支气管炎的效果及对炎性因子的影响。方法:选取2015年6月～2018年6月我院收治的喘息性支气管炎患儿300例,采用随机数字表法将患儿分为两组,每组各150例。对照组在常规治疗的基础上给予阿奇霉素注射液治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上联合应用复方丹参注射液治疗。比较两组的临床治疗效果,临床症状缓解时间及住院时间,治疗前后两组血清白介素(Interleukin, IL)-6、IL-8和肿瘤坏死因子-α(Tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α)水平的变化情况及不良反应发生情况和复发率。结果:治疗后,观察组治疗总有效率显著高于对照组(93.33%VS.85.33%, P0.05);观察组喘息缓解时间、咳嗽缓解时间、哮鸣音消失时间、体温恢复时间及住院时间均显著短于对照组(P0.05);两组治疗后血清IL-6、IL-8和TNF-α水平均较治疗前显著下降,且观察组更低(P0.05);两组不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组的复发率显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:复方丹参注射液联合阿奇霉素可快速缓解喘息性支气管炎患儿的临床症状、体征并缩短住院时间,提高临床治疗效果,且复发率低,安全性较高,这可能与其可显著降低患儿血清IL-6、IL-8和TNF-α水平有关。