Characterisation of a Desmosterol Reductase Involved in Phytosterol Dealkylation in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Most species of invertebrate animals cannot synthesise sterols de novo and many that feed on plants dealkylate phytosterols (mostly C29 and C28) yielding cholesterol (C27). The final step of this dealkylation pathway involves desmosterol reductase (DHCR24)-catalysed reduction of desmosterol to cholesterol. We now report the molecular characterisation in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, of such a desmosterol reductase involved in production of cholesterol from phytosterol, rather than in de novo synthesis of cholesterol. Phylogenomic analysis of putative desmosterol reductases revealed the occurrence of various clades that allowed for the identification of a strong reductase candidate gene in Bombyx mori (BGIBMGA 005735). Following PCR-based cloning of the cDNA (1.6 kb) and its heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisae, the recombinant protein catalysed reduction of desmosterol to cholesterol in an NADH- and FAD- dependent reaction

Indagini sperimentali su travi miste acciaio-calcestruzzo con connessioni a traliccio

The results and the interpretations of experi­mental investigations on composite beams with steel welded connections are reporte

Archaeological excavation at Pletz von Mozze, Luserna, Trentino, Italy. A case study for assessment of late bronze age metallurgical activities

In the last rwo years (2005-2006). the Archaeological Heritage Department of the Autonomous Province of Trento has started extensive archaeological investigations at a site called Pletz von Mezze. Unlike previous exploratory surveys. the research carried out involved extensive investigation, allowing recognition of the effective stratigraphic extent of the site and a large area dedicated to prehistoric metallurgical activities has been identified. The Luserna archaeometallurgical site may represent a case study for a Late Bronze Age smelting site. It is not directly related to the presence of ore nearby. Nonetheless the site shows extensive evidence of smelting activities and has been therefore selected as a test site. providing for close collaboration between archaeologists and archaeometallurgists during excavation. in an attempt to dynamically exchange data, analytical results and experience aud to allow full assessment of ancient metallurgical activities

The glaciological, stratigraphic, and isotopic contexts of the Great War site of Punta Linke (Ortles-Cevedale Group)

The recent period of retreat of alpine glaciers is characterised by a marked reduction in the thickness of the glaciers also at higher altitudes, where there are emerging not only large portions of the bedrock, but also trenches and military constructions of the "White War", as is happening in Punta Linke . After the end of the Great War, the military structures were abandoned and progressively covered by snow and ice, thus preserving climatic environmental information related to this site from the end of World War I to the present. During the archaeological excavation campaign conducted in 2010, samples of ice have been collected from different contexts, for analysis at the EuroCold Lab of the University of Milan-Bicocca. The glaciological context of Punta Linke (made by the Italian Glaciological Committee in collaboration with the Provincia di Trento - Soprintendenza per i Beni Librari, Archivistici e Archeologici - Settore Beni Archeologici) includes also the reconstruction of the areal and volumetric variations of the glacial area near the archeological site, starting from the Holocene glacial maximum (Little Ice Age, culminated around the half of the 19th Century). Four pillar were sampled in different stratigraphic context (bare glacier, eternal of structure, internal of structure, in the rock tube), and subsampled for visual stratigraphy, stable isotopes, chemistry and archive. A continuous thin sections (9x9 cm) from each pillar were done for provide visual stratigraphy by single and crossed polarised images; samples from 5 to 7 cm were done for the δD and δ18O stable isotopes measurements; samples from 5 to 10 cm were done for major ions measurements. For dating purpose an aliquot by the archive were used for 136Cs measurements. The results permit to evaluate the snow filling history of the military structures from the end of the War World I

Effects of rumen-protected polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on reproductive performance of Bos indicus beef cows

Five experiments evaluated the effects of rumen-protected PUFA supplementation on reproductive function of Bos indicus beef cows. In Exp. 1, 910 lactating primiparous Nelore cows were randomly assigned to receive 0.4 kg/d of a protein-mineral mix in addition to 0.1 kg/d of a rumen-inert PUFA source (PF) or 0.1 kg/d of kaolin (rumen-inert indigestible substance; control), from the beginning of estrus synchronization protocol (d -11) until 28 d after fixed-time AI (TAI; d 28). Cows supplemented with PF had greater (P = 0.04) pregnancy rates compared with control cows (51.2 vs. 39.6%). In Exp. 2, 818 lactating primiparous Nelore cows were assigned to the same TAI schedule from Exp. 1 and randomly allocated to receive 1) control from d -11 to 28, 2) PF from d -11 to 16 and control from d 17 to 28, or 3) PF from d -11 to 28. Cows receiving PF until d 28 had greater (P = 0.02) pregnancy rates compared with control cows and tended to have greater (P = 0.10) pregnancy rates compared with cows receiving PF until d 16 (42.9, 31.3, and 35.8%, respectively). In Exp. 3, 435 nulliparous and multiparous lactating B. indicus-crossbred cows were randomly assigned to receive control or PF from the end of synchronization protocol (d 0) until 21 d after fixed-time embryo transfer (d 28). Cows supplemented with PF had greater (P = 0.07) pregnancy rates compared with control cows (49.6 vs. 37.7%). In Exp. 4, 504 lactating multiparous Nelore cows were randomly assigned to receive PF or a similar supplement containing a rumen-protected SFA source (SF) for 28 d beginning after TAI. Cows supplemented with PF had greater (P = 0.02) pregnancy rates compared with SF cows (47.9 vs. 35.5%). In Exp. 5, 9 nonlactating, nonpregnant, ovariectomized Gir x Holstein cows inserted with an intravaginal progesterone (P(4))-releasing device were stratified by BW and BCS and divided into 3 squares. Squares were randomly assigned to receive control, PF, or a protein-mineral mix containing 0.2 kg/d of rumen-inert PUFA source (PF2), in a Latin square 3 x 3 design containing 3 periods of 14 d each. Cows supplemented with PF had greater (P = 0.03) mean serum P(4) concentrations compared with control and PF2 cows (1.81, 1.66, and 1.68 ng/mL, respectively). These results indicate that supplementing 0.1 kg/d of rumen-inert PUFA to beef cows, particularly after breeding, may be a method of enhancing their reproductive performance, perhaps by increasing circulating P(4) concentrations.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP