Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analyses and Phylogenetic Relationships Among Two Nigerian Goat Breeds and the South African Kalahari Red

The first hypervariable (HV1) region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of two popular Nigerian goat breeds: West African Dwarf (WAD) (n = 35) and Red Sokoto (RS) (n = 37) and one exotic breed: Kalahari Red (KR) (n = 38) imported from South Africa were sequenced to investigate sequence diversity, genetic structure, origin, and demographic history of the populations. A total of 68 polymorphic sites were found in 110 sequences that grouped into 68 haplotypes. Average haplotype and nucleotide diversities for all breeds were 0.982 ± 0.005 and 0.02350 ± 0.00213, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two mtDNA lineages (A and B). Lineage A was predominant and included all haplotypes from WAD and RS and 5 out of 11 haplotypes of KR goats. The remaining haplotypes (6 Amills M, Ramírez O, Tomàs A, et al. Mitochondrial DNA diversity and origins of South and Central American goats. Animal Genetics 2009; 40(3): 315–322.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) of KR belong to lineage B. The analysis of molecular variance revealed a high-within breed genetic variance of 82.4% and a low-between breed genetic variance of 17.6%. The three breeds clustered with Capra aegagrus as their wild ancestor. Mismatch distribution analysis showed that WAD, RS and haplogroup A have experienced population expansion events. The study has revealed very high diversity within the three breeds which are not strongly separated from each other based on mtDNA analysis. The information obtained on the genetic structure of the breeds will be useful in planning improvement and conservation programs for the local populations.     

新扬州鸡DNA指纹J带与生产性能的相关性研究

以EAV(禽内原性反转录病毒片段)为探针,EcoRI为限制性内切酶,对新扬州鸡DNA指纹图谱进行了的研究。结果表明：DNA指纹J带在新扬州鸡上存在,并对新扬州鸡早期增重具有减效效应,可作为新扬州鸡早期增重的遗传标记进行标记辅助选择。     

Oxidative stress response induced in an atrazine phytoremediating plant: Physiological responses of Pennisetum glaucum to high atrazine concentrations

This research presented here, for the first time, elucidates the responses of several antioxidants in Pennisetum leaves exposed to varying concentrations of atrazine (0–200 mgkg^?1). Pennisetum has been reported to be resistant to atrazine; however, its physiological response to high concentrations (≥50 mgkg^?1) of atrazine is not well documented. The contents of reduced (AsA) and oxidized (DHA) ascorbate increased significantly with increase in atrazine concentration and exposure time; but the increase was more evident under higher (50 and 100 mgkg^?1) atrazine concentrations. Increase in atrazine concentration to 200 mgkg^?1 significantly decreased AsA, but increased DHA content, throughout the experiment. Seedlings treated with 200 mgkg^?1 atrazine showed significantly lowest reduced glutathione (GSH) content, while oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was not significantly affected, after 68 d. Seedlings treated with 100 mgkg^?1 atrazine showed increased glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity after 48 d and 68 d, while treatment with 200 mgkg^?1 atrazine significantly increased glutathione reductase (GR) after 58 d. This result suggests that Pennisetum may tolerate lower atrazine concentrations. However, higher concentrations (≥50 mg kg^?1), which could have longer residency period in the soil, could induce more physiological damage to the plant.     

AMPK and SIRT1 activation contribute to inhibition of neuroinflammation by thymoquinone in BV2 microglia

Pyrazole moiety represents an important category of heterocyclic compound in pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. The novel 1-aryl-3, 5-bis (het) aryl pyrazole derivatives were synthesized with complementary regioselectivity. The chemical structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral analysis. The chemical entities were screened in various cancer cell lines to assess their cell viability activity. Results showed that the compound 3-(1-(4-bromophenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridine (5d) possessed maximum cytotoxic effect against breast cancer and leukemic cells. The cytotoxicity was confirmed by live–dead cell assay and cell cycle analysis. Mitochondrial membrane potential, Annexin V-FITC staining, DNA fragmentation, Hoechst staining, and western blot assays revealed the ability of compound 5d to induce cell death by activating apoptosis in cancer cells. Thus, the present study demonstrates that compound 5d could be an attractive chemical entity for the development of small molecule inhibitors for treatment of leukemia and breast cancer.     

Central nervous system depressant activity of Russelia equisetiformis.

The central nervous system depressant activity of the crude methanol extract (REC) and fractions (RE1, RE2, and RE3) of Russelia equisetiformis were evaluated in mice using the following models: amphetamine-induced stereotypy, picrotoxin-induced convulsion and phenobarbitone sleeping time. At 200-400 mg/kg, REC significantly increased phenobarbitone-sleeping time [P < 0.05] in a dose- dependent manner and also reduced the sleep latency significantly [P < 0.05]. The fractions, at doses 1.5 mg/kg for RE1 and 20 mg/kg for RE2 and RE3 also significantly prolonged Phenobarbitone sleeping time and sleep latency [P < 0.05]. Picrotoxin-induced convulsion was not prevented by 100-400 mg/kg of REC but this dose range significantly prolonged seizure latency. A significant reduction [P < 0.05] in amphetamine-induced stereotype behavior was observed with 200 mg/kg REC, but there was no protection against amphetamine-induced mortality. The results of this study suggest that Russelia equisetiformis methanol extract possesses central nervous system depressant activities.     

Tiliroside,a dietary glycosidic flavonoid,inhibits TRAF-6/NF-κB/p38-mediated neuroinflammation in activated BV2 microglia

Background

Tiliroside is a dietary glycosidic flavonoid which has shown in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of tiliroside on neuroinflammation in BV2 microglia, and to identify its molecular targets of anti-neuroinflammatory action.

Methods

BV2 cells were stimulated with LPS + IFNγ in the presence or absence of tiliroside. TNFα, IL-6, nitrite and PGE₂ production was determined with ELISA, Griess assay and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. iNOS, COX-2, phospho-p65, phospho-IκBα, phospho-IKKα, phospho-p38, phospho-MK2, phosopho-MKK3/6 and TRAF-6 were determined by western blot analysis. NF-κB activity was also investigated using a reporter gene assay in HEK293 cells. LPS-induced microglia ROS production was tested using the DCFDA method, while HO-1 and Nrf2 activation was determined with western blot.

Results

Tiliroside significantly suppressed TNFα, IL-6, nitrite and PGE₂ production, as well as iNOS and COX-2 protein expression from LPS + IFNγ-activated BV2 microglia. Further mechanistic studies showed that tiliroside inhibited neuroinflammation by targeting important steps in the NF-κB and p38 signalling in LPS + IFNγ-activated BV2 cells. This compound also inhibited LPS-induced TRAF-6 protein expression in BV2 cells. Antioxidant activity of tiliroside in BV2 cells was demonstrated through attenuation of LPS + IFNγ-induced ROS production and activation of HO-1/Nrf2 antioxidant system.

Conclusions

Tiliroside inhibits neuroinflammation in BV2 microglia through a mechanism involving TRAF-6-mediated activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK signalling pathways. These activities are possibly due, in part, to the antioxidant property of this compound.

General Significance

Tiliroside is a potential novel natural compound for inhibiting neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disorders.