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ABSTRACT: The feasibility of using the pig parotid secretory protein promoter to drive the β-glucanase transgene expression in mouse parotid glands was examined in this study. The parotid gland-specific vector expressing β-glucanase gene (GLU, from Paenibacillus polymyxa CP7) was constructed. Transgenic mice were produced by the pronuclear microinjection. Both PCR and Southern blot analysis showed that the mice carried the β-glucanase gene and the β-glucanase gene could be stably inherited. Furthermore, RT-PCR and northern blot analysis indicated that it was specifically expressed in the parotid. The β-glucanase activity in the saliva was found to be 0.18 U/mL. After feeding a diet containing 2 % β-glucan, the average daily gain of transgenic was significantly higher than non-transgenic mice. The crude protein and crude fat concentration in faeces of transgenic mice were significantly reduced compared with that of the non-transgenic mice. These results suggest that the successful expression of foreign β-glucanase in the animal parotid would offer a promising biological approach to reduce the anti-nutritional effect of β-glucans in feed.
Transgenic Research 01/2013; · 2.75 Impact Factor
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Xin-Ling Fang, Gang Shu,
Jian-Jian Yu,
Li-Na Wang,
Jing Yang,
Qing-Jie Zeng,
Xiao Cheng,
Zhi-Qi Zhang,
Song-Bo Wang,
Ping Gao,
Xiao-Tong Zhu,
Qian-Yun Xi,
Yong-Liang Zhang,
Qing-Yan Jiang
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ABSTRACT: Serotonin (5-HT) is a central inhibitor of food intake in mammals. Thus far, the intracellular mechanisms for the effect of serotonin on appetite regulation remain unclear. It has been recently demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the hypothalamus are a crucial integrative target for the regulation of food intake. To investigate the role of ROS in the serotonin-induced anorexigenic effects, conscious mice were treated with 5-HT alone or combination with Trolox (a ROS scavenger) or Apocynin (an NADPH oxidase inhibitor) by acute intracerebroventricular injection. Both Trolox and Apocynin reversed the anorexigenic action of 5-HT and the 5-HT-induced hypothalamic ROS elevation. The mRNA and protein expression levels of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) were dramatically increased after ICV injection with 5-HT. The anorexigenic action of 5-HT was accompanied by markedly elevated hypothalamic MDA levels and GSH-Px activity, while the SOD activity was decreased. Moreover, 5-HT significantly increased the mRNA expression of UCP-2 but reduced the levels of UCP-3. Both Trolox and Apocynin could block the 5-HT-induced changes in UCP-2 and UCP-3 gene expression. Our study demonstrates for the first time that the anorexigenic effect of 5-HT is mediated by the generation of ROS in the hypothalamus through an NADPH oxidase-dependent pathway.
PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(1):e53142. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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Kaifan Yu, Gang Shu,
Fangfang Yuan,
Xiaotong Zhu,
Ping Gao,
Songbo Wang,
Lina Wang,
Qianyun Xi,
Shouquan Zhang,
Yongliang Zhang,
Yan Li,
Tongshan Wu,
Li Yuan,
Qingyan Jiang
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ABSTRACT: Fat and lean pig breeds show obvious differences in meat quality characteristics including the fatty acid composition of muscle. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these phenotypes differences remains unknown. This study compared meat quality traits between Lantang (a Chinese indigenous breed) and Landrace (a typical lean breed). The Lantang pigs showed higher L* values and intramuscular fat content, lower pH(45min), pH(24h) and shear force in longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle than Landrace (P < 0.05). Fatty acid analysis demonstrated the lower monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and higher polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) percentage in Lantang LD than that in Landrace LD (P < 0.05). To further identify candidate genes for fatty acid composition, the transcriptome of LD muscle from the two breeds were measured by microarrays. There were 586 transcripts differentially expressed, of which 267 transcripts were highly expressed in Lantang pigs. After the validation by real-time quantitative PCR, 13 genes were determined as candidate genes for fatty acid composition of muscle, including Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD). Then, a SCD over-expression plasmid was transfected into C2C12 cells to reveal the effect of SCD on the fatty acid composition in vitro. The results showed that SCD over-expression significantly increased PUFA proportion, while reduced that of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in C2C12 cells (P < 0.05). In summary, this study compared the differences of fatty acid composition and transcriptome in two breeds differing in meat quality, and further identified the novel role of SCD in the regulation of PUFA deposition.
International journal of biological sciences 01/2013; 9(1):108-18. · 2.70 Impact Factor
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Rui-Song Ye,
Qian-Yun Xi,
Qien Qi,
Xiao Cheng,
Ting Chen,
Hongyi Li,
Sanpha Kallon, Gang Shu,
Song-Bo Wang,
Qing-Yan Jiang,
Yong-Liang Zhang
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ABSTRACT: Hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a major regulator of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in gonadotrope cell in the anterior pituitary gland. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that control gene expression by imperfect binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of mRNA at the post-transcriptional level. It has been proven that miRNAs play an important role in hormone response and/or regulation. However, little is known about miRNAs in the regulation of FSH secretion. In this study, primary anterior pituitary cells were treated with 100 nM GnRH. The supernatant of pituitary cell was collected for FSH determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 3 hours and 6 hours post GnRH treatment respectively. Results revealed that GnRH significantly promoted FSH secretion at 3 h and 6 h post-treatment by 1.40-fold and 1.80-fold, respectively. FSHβ mRNA at 6 h post GnRH treatment significantly increased by 1.60-fold. At 6 hours, cells were collected for miRNA expression profile analysis using MiRCURY LNA Array and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Consequently, 21 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated miRNAs were identified, and qPCR verification of 10 randomly selected miRNAs showed a strong correlation with microarray results. Chromosome location analysis indicated that 8 miRNAs were mapped to chromosome 12 and 4 miRNAs to chromosome X. Target and pathway analysis showed that some miRNAs may be associated with GnRH regulation pathways. In addition, In-depth analysis indicated that 10 up-regulated and 3 down-regulated miRNAs probably target FSHβ mRNA 3'-UTR directly, including miR-361-3p, a highly conserved X-linked miRNA. Most importantly, functional experimental results showed that miR-361-3p was involved in FSH secretion regulation, and up-regulated miR-361-3p expression inhibited FSH secretion, while down-regulated miR-361-3p expression promoted FSH secretion in pig pituitary cell model. These differentially expressed miRNAs resolved in this study provide the first guide for post-transcriptional regulation of pituitary gonadotrope FSH secretion in pig, as well as in other mammals.
PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(2):e57156. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The main purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of α-linolenic acid (ALA) on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system of porcine primary hepatocytes with or without growth hormone (GH) or insulin and the potential role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and -γ (PPARα/γ) pathway. We found that 1 μM ALA increased IGF-I secretion from hepatocytes at 48 and 72 h. Expression of hepatocytes IGF-I, IGF-II, GH receptor (GHR), insulin receptor (IR), IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), and IGFBP4 mRNAs was up-regulated by ALA treatment. GH (15 nM) alone or co-treated with ALA increased hepatocytes IGF-I secretion and the expression of GHR and IGFBP1 mRNAs, but down-regulated IGFBP5 mRNA compared with appropriate control across ALA. GH also enhanced the ALA-induced increase in the transcript levels of IGF-II and GHR, but tended to attenuate that of IGFBP4. Insulin (1 μM) alone or co-treated with ALA improved IGF-I secretion and the expression of IGFBP3 mRNA, but decreased IGFBP1 mRNA versus appropriate control across ALA. Insulin also up-regulated the expression of GHR, IR, IGFBP3, and IGFBP4 mRNAs, and tended to prevent the transcript levels of IGF-I and IGFBP4 improved by ALA. Both PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone and its antagonist GW9662 could elevated the IGF-I secretion in dose-dependent manner but they had no interaction with ALA. However, GW7647, a PPARα agonist, increased IGF-I secretion dose-dependently, but the antagonist GW6471 was without effect. Moreover, GW6471 prevented the IGF-I promoting effect of ALA. This suggests that the IGF-I promoting effect of ALA may be mediated by the PPARα pathway.
Molecular Biology Reports 10/2012; · 2.93 Impact Factor
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Songbo Wang,
Paul Khondowe,
Shengfeng Chen,
Jianjian Yu, Gang Shu,
Xiaotong Zhu,
Lina Wang,
Ping Gao,
Qianyun Xi,
Yongliang Zhang,
Qingyan Jiang
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ABSTRACT: Feed intake control is vital to ensuring optimal nutrition and achieving full potential for growth and development in poultry. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of L-leucine, L-glutamate, L-tryptophan and L-arginine on feed intake and the mRNA expression levels of hypothalamic Neuropeptide involved in feed intake regulation in broiler chicks. Leucine, glutamate, tryptophan or arginine was intra-cerebroventricularly (ICV) administrated to 4d-old broiler chicks respectively and the feed intake were recorded at various time points. Quantitative PCR was performed to determine the hypothalamic mRNA expression levels of Neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti related protein (AgRP), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF). Our results showed that ICV administration of L-leucine (0.15 or 1.5 mumol) significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed intake up to 2 h post-administration period and elevated both hypothalamic NPY and AgRP mRNA expression levels. In contrast, ICV administration of L-glutamate (1.6 mumol) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased feed intake 0.25, 0.5 and 2 h post-injection, and increased hypothalamic CRF and MC4R mRNA expression levels. Meanwhile, both L-tryptophan (10 or 100 mug) and L-arginine (20 or 200 mug) had no significant effect on feed intake. These findings suggested that L-leucine and L-glutamate could act within the hypothalamus to influence food intake, and that both orexigenic and anorexigenic Neuropeptide genes might contribute directly to these effects.
Journal of animal science and biotechnology. 08/2012; 3(1):27.
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Hong-Yi Li,
Qian-Yun Xi,
Yuan-Yan Xiong,
Xiao-Long Liu,
Xiao Cheng, Gang Shu,
Song-Bo Wang,
Li-Na Wang,
Ping Gao,
Xiao-Tong Zhu,
Qing-Yan Jiang,
Li Yuan,
Yong-Liang Zhang
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ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of small regulatory RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Although an increasing number of porcine miRNAs recently have been identified, research has yet to identify the full repertoire of miRNAs in pig skeletal and adipose tissues and their differences between breeds. We extracted small RNA from skeletal muscle and adipose tissues of Landrace and Lantang pigs, and the expression of a total of 184 known porcine miRNAs (113 from Solexa sequencing and 171 from miRNA chip hybridization) as well as 521 novel miRNA candidates was detected. Moreover, 20 miRNAs were selected randomly from the 184 miRNAs and analysed by quantitative real-time PCR to confirm the aforementioned results. In the skeletal muscle tissues, 21 miRNAs were up-regulated in Lantang and another 33 were highly expressed in Landrace pigs. In the adipose tissues, 25 miRNAs were down-regulated in Lantang and another 23 were lowly expressed in Landrace pigs. miRNA divergence between tissues was also detected in this study. Ten miRNAs were highly expressed in the skeletal muscle tissue in comparison with adipose tissue, and another 10 miRNAs exhibited the opposite expression profile. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of the miRNAs in muscle and adipose tissues, the 10 miRNAs with the most divergent expression profiles were functionally categorized using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. Most of the miRNAs strongly corresponded to myogenesis and adipogenesis processes. In addition, 84 of the 521 miRNA candidates were potentially porcine-specific miRNAs. This study adds new valuable information to comparative miRNA profiles of skeletal muscle and adipose tissues in porcine species. The great diversity of miRNA composition and expression levels both between breeds and between tissues suggests that a complex regulatory network exists in porcine subcutaneous fat development.
Animal Genetics 02/2012; 43(6):704-13. · 2.40 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: One hundred and twenty pigs were used to evaluate the effects of different dietary lysine levels on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, and abundance of cationic amino acid transporter messenger RNA (mRNA) in the small intestine of finishing pigs. Pigs received a low lysine diet (LL, 0.60% lysine), moderate lysine diet (ML, 0.80% lysine) or a high lysine diet (HL, 1.00% lysine) for 28 days. A digestion test was carried out during the third week. Although the apparent nutrient digestibility in pigs fed experimental diets were different (P < 0.05) and the highest when pigs were fed ML diet, diets did not change the growth performance. In the duodenum, mRNA abundance of PepT-1, as detected by real-time RT-PCR, was reduced in the LL diet (P < 0.05). A greater abundance of b(0,+) AT and PepT-1 mRNA was associated with the ML diet (P < 0.05) in the jejunum and ileum, respectively. In the ileum, the HL diet had a lower abundance of CAT-1 mRNA compared with other diets. These results showed that the finishing pigs would gain better nutrient digestibility when the dietary lysine content was 0.80%, and dietary lysine levels influenced the expression of cationic amino acid transporter mRNA in the small intestine of finishing pigs.
Animal Science Journal 02/2012; 83(2):148-55. · 0.86 Impact Factor
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Yongliang Zhang,
Qianyun Xi,
Jinghua Ding,
Weiguang Cai,
Fanmin Meng,
Junyun Zhou,
Hongyi Li,
Qingyan Jiang, Gang Shu,
Songbo Wang,
Xiaotong Zhu,
Ping Gao,
Zhenfang Wu
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ABSTRACT: Sperm-mediated gene transfer can be a very efficient method to produce transgenic pigs, however, the results from different laboratories had not been widely repeated. Genomic integration of transgene by injection of pseudotyped lentivirus to the perivitelline space has been proved to be a reliable route to generate transgenic animals. To test whether transgene in the lentivirus can be delivered by sperm, we studied incubation of pseudotyped lentiviruses and sperm before insemination. After incubation with pig spermatozoa, 62±3 lentiviral particles were detected per 100 sperm cells using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The association of lentivirus with sperm was further confirmed by electron microscopy. The sperm incubated with lentiviral particles were artificially inseminated into pigs. Of the 59 piglets born from inseminated 5 sows, 6 piglets (10.17%) carried the transgene based on the PCR identification. Foreign gene and EGFP was successfully detected in ear tissue biopsies from two PCR-positive pigs, revealed via in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Offspring of one PCR-positive boar with normal sows showed PCR-positive. Two PCR-positive founders and offsprings of PCR-positive boar were further identified by Southern-blot analysis, out of which the two founders and two offsprings were positive in Southern blotting, strongly indicating integration of foreign gene into genome. The results indicate that incubation of sperm with pseudotyped lentiviruses can incorporated with sperm-mediated gene transfer to produce transgenic pigs with improved efficiency.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(4):e35335. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Here, for the first time, we evaluate the hypothesis that the proliferative abilities of satellite cells (SCs) isolated from Lantang (indigenous Chinese pigs) and Landrace pigs, which differ in muscle characteristics, are different. SCs were isolated from the longissimus dorsi muscle of neonatal Lantang and Landrace pigs. Proliferative ability was estimated by the count and proliferative activity of viable cells using a hemocytometer and MTT assay at different time points after seeding, respectively. Cell cycle information was detected by flow cytometry. Results showed that there was a greater (P<0.05) number of SCs in Lantang pigs compared with Landrace pigs after 72 h of culture. The percentage of cell population in S phase and G(2)/M phases in Lantang pigs were higher (P<0.05), while in G(0)/G(1) phase was lower (P<0.05) in comparison with the Landrace pigs. The mRNA abundances of MyoD, Myf5, myogenin and Pax7 in SCs from Lantang pigs were higher (P<0.05), while those of myostatin, Smad3 and genes in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway (with the exception of 4EBP1) were lower (P<0.05) than the Landrace pigs. Protein levels of MyoD, myogenin, myostatin, S6K, phosphorylated mTOR and phosphorylated eIF4E were consistent with the corresponding mRNA abundance. Collectively, these findings suggested that SCs in the two breeds present different proliferative abilities, and the proliferative potential of SCs in Lantang pigs is higher than in Landrace pigs.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(3):e32537. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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Z-F Luo,
X-L Fang, G Shu,
S-B Wang,
X-T Zhu,
P Gao,
L-L Chen,
C-Y Chen,
Q-Y Xi,
Y-L Zhang,
Q-Y Jiang
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ABSTRACT: Sorbic acid (SA) is a PUFA with a conjugated double bond. The conjugated fatty acids, including CLA, are multifunctional bioactive fatty acids with the ability to improve growth performance. The effect of SA on pig growth performance was examined to determine its mechanism of action. The ADG, ADFI, and serum IGF-I concentration were examined, as were IGF-I secretion and IGF system gene expression in hepatocytes. Two hundred forty 21-d-old Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire weaned piglets (6.86 ± 0.02 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 3 pens of 20 piglets (10 female and 10 male). The 4 groups of piglets were kept in a temperature-controlled room (26 to 28 °C), and feed and water were provided to the pigs ad libitum. Weanling piglets were fed diets that included 0, 0.5, 2, or 4 g of SA/kg for 42 d. The diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg of SA improved (P < 0.05) ADG, BW, and G:F, whereas supplementation with all 3 SA doses increased (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F at 21 to 42 d of age. The greatest concentration of plasma triglycerides was observed (P < 0.05) in the 4 g/kg of SA group. The SA increased (0.5 g of SA/kg, P > 0.05; 1 g of SA/kg, P < 0.05; and 2 g of SA/kg, P < 0.05, respectively) plasma total serum protein and globulin concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. It was noted that the smallest SA treatment dose (0.5 g/kg) dramatically increased (P < 0.05) serum IGF-I concentration but decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of blood urea N and cortisol. The SA increased (P < 0.05) IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), and PPARα gene mRNA expression and IGF-I secretion, but not (P > 0.05) IGFBP or PPARγ mRNA expression, in pig primary hepatocytes. These results indicate that SA improves growth performance by regulating IGF system gene expression and hormone secretion.
Journal of Animal Science 03/2011; 89(8):2356-64. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The immunostimulatory effects of orally administered Panax ginseng root or its polysaccharides (GSP) in white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, were investigated in this study. Shrimp were fed a diet containing 0.4 g kg⁻¹ GSP over a period of 84 days, during which the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and expressions of cytosolic superoxide dismutase (cyt-SOD), CAT, GSH-Px, and peroxiredoxin (Prx) genes were determined in various tissues of the shrimp. Results showed that the shrimp fed the GSP diet had significantly increased ACP and AKP activities in the gills. The GSP-fed shrimp also displayed significantly increased T-SOD and GSH-Px activities in the gills and hepatopancreas of the shrimp; meanwhile there was enhanced CAT activity in the gills, but decreased MDA content in the gills, hepatopancreas and muscle. The mRNA expressions of cyt-SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and Prx were significantly elevated in the gills and hepatopancreas of the shrimp fed the GSP diet for 84 days, compared with that of the control. Therefore, GSP can be used as an immunostimulant for shrimp through dietary administration to increase immune enzyme activity and modify expression of immune genes in shrimp.
Fish & Shellfish Immunology 02/2011; 30(2):495-500. · 3.32 Impact Factor
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Hongyi Li,
Qianyun Xi,
Yuanyan Xiong,
Xiao Cheng,
Qien Qi,
Lin Yang, Gang Shu,
Songbo Wang,
Lina Wang,
Ping Gao,
Xiaotong Zhu,
Qingyan Jiang,
Yongliang Zhang,
Li Yuan
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ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of small RNAs that regulate expressions of most genes. miRNAs play important roles in the pituitary, the "master" endocrine organ.However, we still don't know which role miRNAs play in the development of pituitary tissue or how much they contribute to the pituitary function. By applying a combination of microarray analysis and Solexa sequencing, we detected a total of 450 miRNAs in the porcine pituitary. Verification with RT-PCR showed a high degree of confidence for the obtained data. According to the current miRBase release17.0, the detected miRNAs included 169 known porcine miRNAs, 163 conserved miRNAs not yet identified in the pig, and 12 potentially new miRNAs not yet identified in any species, three of which were revealed using Northern blot. The pituitary might contain about 80.17% miRNA types belonging to the animal. Analysis of 10 highly expressed miRNAs with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) indicated that the enriched miRNAs were involved not only in the development of the organ but also in a variety of inter-cell and inner cell processes or pathways that are involved in the function of the organ. We have revealed the existence of a large number of porcine miRNAs as well as some potentially new miRNAs and established for the first time a comprehensive miRNA expression profile of the pituitary. The pituitary gland contains unexpectedly many miRNA types and miRNA actions are involved in important processes for both the development and function of the organ.
PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(9):e24883. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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Guixuan Zhou,
Songbo Wang,
Zhonggang Wang,
Xiaotong Zhu, Gang Shu,
Weiyi Liao,
Kaifan Yu,
Ping Gao,
Qianyun Xi,
Xiuqi Wang,
Yongliang Zhang,
Li Yuan,
Qingyan Jiang
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ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare the differences of gene expression profiles between intramuscular and subcutaneous adipocytes originated from the isolated preadipocytes in vitro. Cytosolic triglyceride determination indicated that subcutaneous adipocytes accumulated more lipid than intramuscular adipocytes did at the late stage of differentiation. Microarray assay revealed that 172 probes representing 133 genes were differentially expressed, among which 46 genes were highly expressed in intramuscular adipocytes and the other 87 genes were highly expressed in subcutaneous adipocytes. Real-time PCR confirmed that genes related to lipid metabolism, such as LPL, FABP4, FABP5 and OSBPL10, were predominantly expressed in subcutaneous adipocytes, whereas BMP4 and BMP7 were highly expressed in intramuscular adipocytes. The results indicated that the accumulation of lipid mass in subcutaneous adipocytes might be due to the highly expressed genes related to lipid metabolism, and the high levels of BMP4 and BMP7 in intramuscular adipocytes suggested that BMPs might be involved in the differentiation of intramuscular adipocytes.
Meat Science 10/2010; 86(2):440-50. · 2.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Fatty acid transport protein-1 (FATP-1) is one of the important transporter proteins involved in fatty acid transmembrane transport and fat deposition. To study the relationship between FATP-1 mRNA expression and fat deposition, chicken (Gallus gallus) FATP-1 sequence was first cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Tissue samples of chest muscle, leg muscle, subcutaneous fat, and abdominal fat were collected from six male and six female broilers each, at 22 days, 29 days, and 42 days, respectively. The tissue specificity and ontogenesis expression pattern of the FATP-1 mRNA of yellow-feathered broilers was studied by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the fat deposition laws in different tissues were also compared. A 2,488 bp cDNA sequence of chicken FATP-1 was cloned by RACE (GenBank accession no. DQ352834), including 547 bp 3' end untranslated region (URT) and 1,941 bp open reading frame (ORF). Chicken FATP-1 encoded 646 amino acid residues, which shared 83.9% and 83.0% identity with those of human and rat, respectively. The results of quantitative PCR demonstrated a constant FATP-1 mRNA expression level in the chest muscle and subcutaneous fat of both male and female broilers at three stages, whereas the expression level of the FATP-1 mRNA in the leg muscle at 42 days was significantly higher than that at 22 days or 29 days. In the abdominal fat of male broilers, the gene expression significantly increased with age, whereas the female broilers showed a dramatic downregulation of FATP-1 expression in abdominal fat at 42 days. This suggested a typical tissue- and gender-specific expression pattern of chicken FATP-1, mediating the specific process of fatty acid transport or utilization in muscle and adipose tissues.
Journal of Genetics and Genomics 07/2008; 35(6):327-33. · 1.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Obestatin, a novel 23 amino acid amidated peptide encoded by the same gene with ghrelin, was initially reported to reduce food intake, body weight gain, gastric emptying and suppress intestinal motility through an interaction with the orphan receptor GPR39. However, recently reports have shown that above findings had been questioned by several groups. Further studies explained that obestatin was involved in inhibiting thirst and anxiety, improving memory, regulating sleep, affecting cell proliferation, and increasing the secretion of pancreatic juice enzymes. We also identified that obestatin could stimulate piglet liver and adipose cell proliferation, and inhibit the secretion of IGF-I. According to the controversy over the effects and the cognate ligand of obestatin, here we provide the latest review on the structure, distribution and physiological functions of obestatin.
Peptides 05/2008; 29(4):639-45. · 2.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the cell differentiation and the expression profiles of PPARy and C/EBPalpha mRNA, the rat preadipocytes were cultured after dispersed by enzymolysis of collagenase type I and the cell shape were observed under the microscope. The MTT method was adopted to determine the growth curve. The expression levels of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha mRNA were also detected by relative quantitative RT-PCR. The growth of preadipocytes demonstrated an S-shaped or sigmoid curve. The PPARgamma mRNA in rat preadipocytes showed rather low transcript at day 3, but its expression level markedly increased by 2.5 fold at day 5 and remained at a higher level till day 9. Similarly, the expression level of C/EBPalpha mRNA in rat preadipocytes could hardly be detected at day 3 and dramatically increased at day 7. There was a 2.3 fold increase of C/EBPalpha mRNA expression level at day 7 compared with that at day 5. In a conclusion, this study suggested that both the initiating and maintaining of differentiation process were regulated by PPARgamma, while C/EBPalpha was likely to participate in the maintaining of differentiation process only.
Journal of Molecular Cell Biology 09/2007; 40(4):272-5.
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ABSTRACT: We report here the ontogenic changes in mRNA expression of chicken ghrelin (cGhrelin) and its receptor (cGHS-R1a) and the effects of fasting and refeeding on cGhrelin and cGHS-R1a mRNAs expression in 30-day-old broiler chickens. The level of cGhrelin mRNA in the proventriculus was low from embryo--day 15 (E15) to E19, but dramatically increased at post-hatching-day 2 (P2), then remained constant until P30 and followed by a significant decrease at P44 when there was a diet transition at P31 and thereafter. The decreased level was reversed at P58. Hypothalamic cGhrelin mRNA and proventriculus and hepatic cGHS-R1a mRNA were significantly increased at P30. The cGhrelin mRNA level in the proventriculus significantly increased in response to either 12-h or 36-h fasting but did not decrease after subsequent 12-h refeeding. The level of cGHS-R1a mRNA in the proventriculus was significantly upregulated in response to a 12-h fast but not to a 36-h fast and returned to the control level upon 12-h refeeding. Interestingly, it was apparent that the mRNA levels of both cGhrelin and cGHS-R1a in the liver were upregulated in response to fasting in a time-dependent manner and returned to the control level with subsequent refeeding. These results suggest that the expression pattern of ghrelin and its receptor mRNAs distinctly change in tissues depending on ontogenic stages and feeding states in poultry.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology 09/2007; 147(4):893-902. · 2.23 Impact Factor
