Temporal Expression Pattern Of The Insulin-like Growth Factor Ii And Fibroblast Growth Factor Transcripts In Vian Embryogenesis

In this study, the abundance of IGF-II and bFGF transcripts was estimated in the chicken embryos using the competitive RT-PCR analysis. Significant enhancements in the abundance of IGF-II mRNA were observed at stages HH1 and 5, and a new accumulation in these levels was observed at stage HH18 in comparison to the basal levels. The abundance of bFGF mRNA increased significantly at stages HH18 and 20, followed by an upregulation in the expression of these transcripts at stage HH26. These findings provided important information about the temporal expression pattern of IGF-II and bFGF transcripts in the whole chicken embryos during in ovo development.515949955Bass, J., Oldham, J., Sharma, M., Kambadur, R., Growth factors controlling muscle development (1999) Dom. An. Endocrinol, 17, pp. 191-197Borja, A.J.M., Zeller, R., Meyers, C., Expression of alternatively spliced bFGF coding exons and antisense mRNAs during chicken embryogenesis (1993) Dev. 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Endocrinol, 102, pp. 283-287Denley, A., Cosgrove, L., Booker, G., Wallace, J., Forbes, B., Molecular interactions of the IGF system (2005) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev, 16, pp. 421-439Florini, J.R., Magri, K.A., Ewton, D.Z., James, P.L., Grindstaff, K., Rotwein, P., Spontaneous differentiation of skeletal myoblasts is dependent upon autocrine secretion of insulin-like growth factor-II (1991) J. Biol. Chem, 266, pp. 15917-15923Florini, J.R., Ewton, D.Z., Cooligan, S.A., Growth hormone and the insulin-like growth factor system in myogenesis (1996) Endocrine Rev, 1795, pp. 481-517Gabriel, J.E., Javiel, H.A., Alvares, L.A., Schmidt, G., Coutinho, L.L., In situ detection of the myogenic factor MyoD in whole chicken embryos (2000) Genet. Mol. Biol, 23, pp. 145-148Gabriel, J.E., Alvares, L.E., Gobet, M.C., de Paz, C.C.P., Packer, I.U., Macari, M., Coutinho, L.L., Expression of MyoD, myogenin, myostatin and Hsp70 transcripts in chicken embryos submitted to mild cold or heat (2003) J. 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CURSO DIÁRIO E SAZONAL DO POTENCIAL HÍDRICO FOLIAR DE MOGNO EM SISTEMAAGROFLORESTAL1

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o curso diário e sazonal do potencial hídrico foliar de mogno (Swietenia macrophylla King) (Meliaceae) em sistema agroflorestal (SAF). O experimento foi realizado em árvores de S. macrophylla plantadas num sistema agroflorestal instalado no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Manaus, AM. Avaliou-se o potencial hídrico foliar (Ψf) dos cursos diário e sazonal nos anos 2004 e 2005, por meio da utilização de bomba de pressão tipo Scholander. Os resultados indicaram que os valores do Ψf de S. macrophylla, de modo geral, foram superiores no início da manhã e no final da tarde, com redução acentuada ao meio-dia, e que, em relação à sazonalidade de precipitação, as menores taxas foram reportadas para a época menos chuvosa, variando de -26 bar em 2004 para -31bar em 2005. Verificou-se que o potencial hídrico de Swietenia macrophylla em sistema agroflorestal sofreu reduções significativas em razão dos baixos índices pluviométricos entre junho e outubro de 2005

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Standard-curve competitive RT-PCR quantification of myogenic regulatory factors in chicken embryos

The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most sensitive method used to evaluate gene expression. Although many advances have been made since quantitative RT-PCR was first described, few reports deal with the mathematical bases of this technique. The aim of the present study was to develop and standardize a competitive PCR method using standard-curves to quantify transcripts of the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD, Myf-5, Myogenin and MRF4 in chicken embryos. Competitor cDNA molecules were constructed for each gene under study using deletion primers, which were designed to maintain the anchorage sites for the primers used to amplify target cDNAs. Standard-curves were prepared by co-amplification of different amounts of target cDNA with a constant amount of competitor. The content of specific mRNAs in embryo cDNAs was determined after PCR with a known amount of competitor and comparison to standard-curves. Transcripts of the housekeeping ß-actin gene were measured to normalize the results. As predicted by the model, most of the standard-curves showed a slope close to 1, while intercepts varied depending on the relative efficiency of competitor amplification. The sensitivity of the RT-PCR method permitted the detection of as few as 60 MyoD/Myf-5 molecules per reaction but approximately 600 molecules of MRF4/Myogenin mRNAS were necessary to produce a measurable signal. A coefficient of variation of 6 to 19% was estimated for the different genes analyzed (6 to 9 repetitions). The competitive RT-PCR assay described here is sensitive, precise and allows quantification of up to 9 transcripts from a single cDNA sample

Temporal expression pattern of myostatin transcripts during chicken embryogenesis Padrão de expressão temporal de transcritos de miostatina durante a embriogênese da galinha

No presente estudo, estimou-se a abundância dos transcritos da miostatina foi estimada durante a embriogênese de galinha por análises de RT-PCR competitiva. Níveis basais de mRNA desse gene foram detectados até o estádio HH15, enquanto acúmulos significativos nesses níveis foram observados apenas no estádio HH24, seguido por redução na abundância desses transcritos a partir do estádio HH26. Tais descobertas preliminares proporcionam informações relevantes sobre a ativação do fator de crescimento miostatina durante o desenvolvimento in ovo de aves

Dact Genes Are Chordate Specific Regulators At The Intersection Of Wnt And Tgf-β Signaling Pathways

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Background: Dacts are multi-domain adaptor proteins. They have been implicated in Wnt and Tgfβ signaling and serve as a nodal point in regulating many cellular activities. Dact genes have so far only been identified in bony vertebrates. Also, the number of Dact genes in a given species, the number and roles of protein motifs and functional domains, and the overlap of gene expression domains are all not clear. To address these problems, we have taken an evolutionary approach, screening for Dact genes in the animal kingdom and establishing their phylogeny and the synteny of Dact loci. Furthermore, we performed a deep analysis of the various Dact protein motifs and compared the expression patterns of different Dacts. Results: Our study identified previously not recognized dact genes and showed that they evolved late in the deuterostome lineage. In gnathostomes, four Dact genes were generated by the two rounds of whole genome duplication in the vertebrate ancestor, with Dact1/3 and Dact2/4, respectively, arising from the two genes generated during the first genome duplication. In actinopterygians, a further dact4r gene arose from retrotranscription. The third genome duplication in the teleost ancestor, and subsequent gene loss in most gnathostome lineages left extant species with a subset of Dact genes. The distribution of functional domains suggests that the ancestral Dact function lied with Wnt signaling, and a role in Tgfβ signaling may have emerged with the Dact2/4 ancestor. Motif reduction, in particular in Dact4, suggests that this protein may counteract the function of the other Dacts. Dact genes were expressed in both distinct and overlapping domains, suggesting possible combinatorial function. Conclusions: The gnathostome Dact gene family comprises four members, derived from a chordate-specific ancestor. The ability to control Wnt signaling seems to be part of the ancestral repertoire of Dact functions, while the ability to inhibit Tgfβ signaling and to carry out specialized, ortholog-specific roles may have evolved later. The complement of Dact genes coexpressed in a tissue provides a complex way to fine-tune Wnt and Tgfβ signaling. 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H.J., Shao, Y., Wu, D., Mlodzik, M., Zheng, J., Direct binding of the PDZ domain of Dishevelled to a conserved internal sequence in the C-terminal region of Frizzled (2003) Mol Cell, 12 (5), pp. 1251-1260Zhang, L., Zhou, H., Su, Y., Sun, Z., Zhang, H., Zhang, L., Zhang, Y., Meng, A., Zebrafish Dpr2 inhibits mesoderm induction by promoting degradation of nodal receptors (2004) Science, 306 (5693), pp. 114-117Su, Y., Zhang, L., Gao, X., Meng, F., Wen, J., Zhou, H., Meng, A., Chen, Y.G., The evolutionally conserved activity of Dapper2 in antagonizing TGF-beta signaling (2007) FASEB J, 21 (3), pp. 682-690Suriben, R., Kivimae, S., Fisher, D.A., Moon, R.T., Cheyette, B.N., Posterior malformations in Dact1 mutant mice arise through misregulated Vangl2 at the primitive streak (2009) Nat Genet, 41 (9), pp. 977-985Kivimae, S., Yang, X.Y., Cheyette, B.N., All Dact (Dapper/Frodo) scaffold proteins dimerize and exhibit conserved interactions with Vangl, Dvl, and serine/threonine kinases (2011) BMC Biochem, 12, p. 33Meng, F., Cheng, X., Yang, L., Hou, N., Yang, X., Meng, A., Accelerated re-epithelialization in Dpr2-deficient mice is associated with enhanced response to TGFbeta signaling (2008) J Cell Sci, 121 (PART 17), pp. 2904-2912Park, J.I., Ji, H., Jun, S., Gu, D., Hikasa, H., Li, L., Sokol, S.Y., McCrea, P.D., Frodo links Dishevelled to the p120-catenin/Kaiso pathway: Distinct catenin subfamilies promote Wnt signals (2006) Dev Cell, 11 (5), pp. 683-695Gao, X., Wen, J., Zhang, L., Li, X., Ning, Y., Meng, A., Chen, Y.G., Dapper1 is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein that negatively modulates Wnt signaling in the nucleus (2008) J Biol Chem, 283 (51), pp. 35679-35688Hikasa, H., Sokol, S.Y., The involvement of Frodo in TCF-dependent signaling and neural tissue development (2004) Development, 131 (19), pp. 4725-4734Brott, B.K., Sokol, S.Y., A vertebrate homolog of the cell cycle regulator Dbf4 is an inhibitor of Wnt signaling required for heart development (2005) Dev Cell, 8 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Conservation Of Gene Linkage In Dispersed Vertebrate Nk Homeobox Clusters

Nk homeobox genes are important regulators of many different developmental processes including muscle, heart, central nervous system and sensory organ development. They are thought to have arisen as part of the ANTP megacluster, which also gave rise to Hox and ParaHox genes, and at least some NK genes remain tightly linked in all animals examined so far. The protostome-deuterostome ancestor probably contained a cluster of nine Nk genes: (Msx)-(Nk4/tinman)-(Nk3/ bagpipe)-(Lbx/ladybird)-(Tlx/c15)-(Nk7)-(Nk6/hgtx)-(Nk1/slouch)-(Nk5/Hmx). Of these genes, only NKX2.6-NKX3.1, LBX1-TLX1 and LBX2-TLX2 remain tightly linked in humans. However, it is currently unclear whether this is unique to the human genome as we do not know which of these Nk genes are clustered in other vertebrates. This makes it difficult to assess whether the remaining linkages are due to selective pressures or because chance rearrangements have "missed" certain genes. In this paper, we identify all of the paralogs of these ancestrally clustered NK genes in several distinct vertebrates. We demonstrate that tight linkages of Lbx1-Tlx1, Lbx2-Tlx2 and Nkx3.1-Nkx2.6 have been widely maintained in both the ray-finned and lobe-finned fish lineages. Moreover, the recently duplicated Hmx2-Hmx3 genes are also tightly linked. Finally, we show that Lbx1-Tlx1 and Hmx2-Hmx3 are flanked by highly conserved noncoding elements, suggesting that shared regulatory regions may have resulted in evolutionary pressure to maintain these linkages. Consistent with this, these pairs of genes have overlapping expression domains. 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