Distribution of Cu fraction in sediments using Suaeda heteroptera - Nereis succinea combination: A greenhouse study

A knowledge of the total amount of heavy metals is not enough to assess the environmental impact of polluted soils. Therefore, the determination of Cu fractions in sediment is important to evaluate its behavior in the environment and its mobilization capacity. The distribution of Cu (II) fractions in the sediment was studied in a laboratory simulation experiment. The results indicated that the distribution of Cu fractions was related to the concentration of Cu in sediments. In the Suaeda heteroptera group, the content of exchangeable and carbonate-bound were reducing, while the Fe-Mn oxide- and organic matter-bound were basically raising. In the Nereis succinea group, the content of Fe-Mn oxide- and organic matter-bound were from raising to reducing, and the residual was basically reducing with the increasing Cu concentrations. Generally speaking, the existence of N. succinea could enhance the uptake of Cu in the coastal sediment planted with S. heteroptera. When S. heteroptera and N. succinea in combination, effect of S. heteroptera and N. succinea on Cu fractions in sediments was significantly higher than the two working singly.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms,haplotypes and combined genotypes of lactoferrin gene and their associations with mastitis in Chinese Holstein cattle

Lactoferrin (Lf) is naturally produced by the mammary gland, having biological functions of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. To investigate whether the Lf gene is associated with mastitis in dairy cattle, a DNA sequencing approach was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene. Three previously reported SNPs in the 5′ flanking region and one novel SNP in exon1 of Lf gene were identified. A total of 353 individuals from Holstein cattle populations were genotyped for their SNPs using Created Restriction Site PCR (CRS-PCR) and PCR-RFLP methods. Twenty-two and nineteen combinations of three SNPs (g.3440T>G, g.3879_3880insG, and g.4432T>C) and another three SNPs (g.3429G>A, g.3440T>G, g.3879_3880insG) were observed, respectively. The result of haplotype analysis of four SNPs showed that fourteen different haplotypes were identified. Two major haplotypes (GECB and GECA) occurred with a frequency of 22.5 and 18.5% in the study population, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed no significant association between one single SNP of Lf gene and SCS, whereas significant associations between their combined genotypes of three SNPs, haplotype and SCS. Combined genotype EFCDBB and GGEFDD with the lowest SCS were favorable for the mastitis resistance. They may be used as a possible candidate for marker-assisted selection in dairy cattle breeding program.     

Correlation analysis between three novel SNPs of the Src gene in bovine and milk production traits

As an essential signaling modulator, Src gene appears to be necessary for increased expression of the prolactin receptor, normal downstream signaling, and alveolar cell organization. In this study, we detected the polymorphism of Src gene by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing methods in 985 individuals from three Chinese cattle breeds. Three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (g.14062C>T ss161151834, g.17302G>A ss161151835, g.18107T>C ss161151836) were detected. Least squares analysis showed that cows with g.14062C>T-CC genotypes and g.18107T>C-TT genotypes had the highest protein rate, while the cows with g.17302G>A-GG genotype had higher 305 d milk yield (p < 0.05), fat yield (p < 0.01) and protein yield (p < 0.01) than the ones with genotypes g.17302G>A-GA. These results revealed the statistical significant effects of three SNPs of the Src gene on the milk production traits in Chinese Holstein. In addition, based on the nine genotypes constructed from 27 combined haplotypes, the association analysis between combined haplotypes and milk production traits was carried out. Statistic results showed that the cows with combined haplotypes H2H4(CCGATT) had the highest fat rate and the highest protein rate and the cows with combined haplotypes H1H8(TCGATC) and H3H7(TCGGCC) had greater 305 d mild yield than H1H2(CCAATC)(P < 0.05). Our finding demonstrated that the Src gene possibly contributed to conducting association analysis and can be recognized as genetic marker in milk production traits and other performance for animal breeding and genetics.     

S-diclofenac protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in mice via ameliorating cardiac gap junction remodeling

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), as a novel gaseous mediator, plays important roles in mammalian cardiovascular tissues. In the present study, we investigated the cardioprotective effect of S-diclofenac (2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino] benzeneacetic acid 4-(3H-1,2,dithiol-3-thione-5-yl)phenyl ester), a novel H(2)S-releasing derivative of diclofenac, in a murine model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. After a single dose injection of doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, i.p.), male C57BL/6J mice were given daily treatment of S-diclofenac (25 and 50 μmol/kg, i.p.), diclofenac (25 and 50 μmol/kg, i.p.), NaHS (50 μmol/kg, i.p.), or same volume of vehicle. The cardioprotective effect of S-diclofenac was observed after 14 days. It showed that S-diclofenac, but not diclofenac, dose-dependently inhibited the doxorubicin-induced downregulation of cardiac gap junction proteins (connexin 43 and connexin 45) and thus reversed the remodeling of gap junctions in hearts. It also dose-dependently suppressed doxorubicin-induced activation of JNK in hearts. Furthermore, S-diclofenac produced a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effect in this model. As a result, S-diclofenac significantly attenuated doxorubicin-related cardiac injury and cardiac dysfunction, and improved the survival rate of mice with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. These effects of S-diclofenac were mimicked in large part by NaHS. Therefore, we propose that H(2)S released from S-diclofenac in vivo contributes to the protective effect in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. These data also provide evidence for a critical role of H(2)S in the pathogenesis of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.     

Molecular Cloning and Expression of a cDNA Encoding Lon Protease from rice (Oryza sativa)

The ATP-dependent Lon protease is a highly conserved enzyme that is present in archeae, eubacteria, and eukaryotes, and plays an important role in intracellular protein degradation. We have isolated a Lon protease gene, OsLon1, from Oryza sativa. The cDNA contained a 2,655 bp ORF. Comparative analysis showed that OsLon1 shared significant similarity with the previously reported Lon proteases from maize, Arabidopsis, human, and bacteria. Tissue expression pattern analysis revealed that OsLon1 was highly expressed in young leaves, mature leaves, and leaf sheaths but only weakly in young roots, mature roots, and young panicles. The OsLon1 gene was successfully expressed in E. coli and the detected protein size, about 120 kDa, matched the expected molecular mass of the His-tagged OsLon1 protein.     

Optimization of Vi capsular polysaccharide production during growth of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi Ty2 in a bioreactor

Vi capsular polysaccharide is synthesized during growth of Salmonella typhi Ty2 and is spontaneously released from the bacterial cells into the culture medium during culture. Vi production was dependent on cell growth and the greater the cell mass the greater the production of Vi. Using fed batch culture to optimize bacterial growth resulted is an increase in cell mass and consequently Vi production. The yield of Vi obtained in fed batch culture was 415 mg l⁻¹, which was over three times that, obtained in batch culture. A proportion of the Vi remained cell associated in the form of a capsule and at least part of this was released from the bacterial surface by sonication. The size of the Vi polysaccharide produced was consistently high and did not change during the different phases of bacterial growth. The synthesis of Vi was also dependent upon the media components and the fermentation conditions. The presence of high concentrations of glucose at the beginning of growth inhibited the production of Vi, particularly during the stationary phase. At a concentration of 400 mM sodium phosphate the synthesis of Vi was strongly inhibited.