Identification of SNPs in MITF associated with beak color of duck

Introduction: Beak color—a pigment-related trait—is an important feature of duck breeds. Recently, little research has addressed genetic mechanism of the beak colors in poultry, whereas the process and the regulation factors of melanin deposition have been well described.Methods: To investigate the genetic mechanism of beak colors, we conducted an integrated analysis of genomic selection signatures to identify a candidate site associated with beak color. For this, we used black-billed (Yiyang I meat duck synthetic line H1, H2, H3&HF) and yellow-billed ducks (Cherry Valley ducks and white feather Putian black duck). Quantitative real-time PCR and genotyping approaches were used to verify the function of the candidate site.Results: We identified 3,895 windows containing 509 genes. After GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, nine genes were selected. Ultimately, MITF was selected by comparing the genomic differentiation (FST). After loci information selection, 41 extreme significantly different loci were selected, which are all located in intron regions of MITF and are in almost complete linkage disequilibrium. Subsequently, the site ASM874695v1:10:g.17814522T > A in MITF was selected as the marker site. Furthermore, we found that MITF expression is significantly higher in black-beaked ducks than in yellow-beaked ducks of the F2 generation (p < 0.01). After genotyping, most yellow-billed individuals are found with homozygous variant; at the same time, there are no birds with homozygous variant in black-billed populations, while the birds with homozygous and heterozygous variant share the same proportion.Conclusion:MITF plays a very critical role in the melanogenesis and melanin deposition of duck beaks, which can effectively affect the beak color. The MITF site, ASM874695v1:10:g.17814522T > A could be selected as a marker site for the duck beak color phenotype

Left Ventricular Aneurysm Repair: Off-pump Linear Plication versus On-pump Patch Plasty

Abstract Objective: The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of simplified linear plication and classic patch plasty in patients with left ventricular aneurysm (LVA). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 282 patients undergoing LVA repair between 2006 and 2016. After propensity score matching, 45 pairs of patients receiving LVA surgery were divided into either a patch group (on-pump endoventricular patch plasty) or a plication group (off-pump linear plication). Then, their early surgical outcomes and long-term survival were compared in two matched groups. Results: The heart function improvement at discharge was similar in the two matched groups, while patients in the patch group more commonly suffered from low cardiac output syndrome (P=0.042) with higher proportion of intra-aortic balloon pumping assistance (P=0.034) than patients in the plication group. Compared with patients in the patch group, the patients in the plication group had shorter recovery times, regarding to mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.001, respectively). No significant difference was found in the long-term survival (P=0.62). Conclusions: Off-pump linear plication presented acceptable results in terms of early outcomes and long-term survival. For high-risk patients, the simplified LVA repair technique may be an option

Design of a 324 MHz 200 kW CW Waveguide-to-Coaxial Adaptor for Radio Frequency Quadrupole Microwave System

A 324 MHz 200 kW waveguide-to-coaxial adaptor has been designed and fabricated for a microwave coupler in a radio frequency quadrupole system. Optimization of the adaptor is performed by the numerical study and experimental test. High-power measurements show that the reflection coefficient of the adaptor is less than −30 dB at the RFQ operating frequency, and there is no breakdown in the 228 kW pulse test. The measurement results are consistent with the simulation results, indicating that the adaptor has good high-power transmission performance. This work provides theoretical and experimental bases for a rectangular-to-coaxial adaptor design, especially in high-power steady-state operation

Overexpression of MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E Enhances Salt Tolerance in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by Stabilizing Antioxidant Activity and Regulating Ion Homeostasis

Rare cold-inducible 2 (RCI2) genes from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are part of a multigene family whose members respond to a variety of abiotic stresses by regulating ion homeostasis and stabilizing membranes. In this study, salt, alkali, and ABA treatments were used to induce MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E expression in alfalfa, but the response time and the expression intensity of the MsRCI2D,-E genes were different under specific treatments. The expression intensity of the MsRCI2D gene was the highest in salt- and alkali-stressed leaves, while the MsRCI2E gene more rapidly responded to salt and ABA treatment. In addition to differences in gene expression, MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E differ in their subcellular localization. Akin to MtRCI2D from Medicago truncatula, MsRCI2D is also localized in the cell membrane, while MsRCI2E is different from MtRCI2E, localized in the cell membrane and the inner membrane. This difference might be related to an extra 20 amino acids in the C-terminal tail of MsRCI2E. We investigated the function of MsRCI2D and MsRCI2E proteins in alfalfa by generating transgenic alfalfa chimeras. Compared with the MsRCI2E-overexpressing chimera, under high-salinity stress (200 mmol&middot;L&minus;1 NaCl), the MsRCI2D-overexpressing chimera exhibited a better phenotype, manifested as a higher chlorophyll content and a lower MDA content. After salt treatment, the enzyme activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and GR in MsRCI2D- and -E-overexpressing roots were significantly higher than those in the control. In addition, after salt stress, the Na+ content in MsRCI2D- and -E-transformed roots was lower than that in the control; K+ was higher than that in the control; and the Na+/K+ ratio was lower than that in the control. Correspondingly, H+-ATPase, SOS1, and NHX1 genes were significantly up-regulated, and the HKT gene was significantly down-regulated after 6 h of salt treatment. MsRCI2D was also found to regulate the expression of the MsRCI2B and MsRCI2E genes, and the MsRCI2E gene could alter the expression of the MsRCI2A, MsRCI2B, and MsRCI2D genes. MsRCI2D- and -E-overexpressing alfalfa was found to have higher salt tolerance, manifested as improved activity of antioxidant enzymes, reduced content of reactive oxygen species, and sustained Na+ and K+ ion balance by regulating the expression of the H+-ATPase, SOS1, NHX1, HKT, and MsRCI2 genes

Expression of VEGF and neural repair after alprostadil treatment in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury

Background: Vasoactive drug alprostadil improves microcirculation and can be effective in treating disorders of peripheral nerves. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to have protective action in cerebral ischemia, disorders of spinal cord, and also peripheral nerves. However, the mechanism of action of VEGF in peripheral nerve injuries is uncertain. Objectives: To study the effect of application of alprostadil on the pathological and functional repair of crush nerve injuries and also the expression of VEGF. Materials and Methods: Rat sciatic nerves were crushed by pincers to establish the model of crush injury. All of the 400 sprague dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into: Control; saline; saline + VEGF-antibody; alprostadil; and alprostadil + VEGF antibody groups. The SPSS 11.5 software was used for statistical analysis. The expression of VEGF in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), following crush injury to sciatic nerves, was studied by reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, electromicroscope, and electrophysiology. The effects of alprostadil on expression of VEGF, repair of neural pathology, and recovery of neural function were also evaluated. Results: We found that VEGF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was significantly increased in alprostadil and alprostadil + VEGF-antibody groups, compared to the saline and saline + VEGF antibody groups. The number of VEGF-positive neurons was significantly increased in the alprostadil group, compared to the saline, saline + VEGF antibody, and alprostadil + VEGF antibody groups. Besides, addition of this drug also caused less pathological changes in DRGs, better improvement of nerve conduction velocities of sciatic nerves, and more increase of toe spaces of right hind limbs of rats. Conclusions: The vasoactive agent alprostadil may reduce the pathological lesion of peripheral nerves and improve the rehabilitation of the neural function, which may relate to upregulation of the expression of VEGF, following crush injury to the peripheral nerves

Symbiotic System Establishment between Piriformospora indica and Glycine max and Its Effects on the Antioxidant Activity and Ion-Transporter-Related Gene Expression in Soybean under Salt Stress

The utilization of symbiosis with beneficial microorganisms has considerable potential for increasing growth and resistance under abiotic stress. The endophytic root fungus Piriformospora indica has been shown to improve plant growth under salt and drought stress in diverse plant species, while there have been few reports of the interaction of P. indica with soybean under salt stress. In this study, the symbiotic system of P. indica and soybean (Glycine&nbsp;max L.) was established, and the effect of P. indica on soybean growth and salt tolerance was investigated. The colonized and non-colonized soybeans were subjected to salt stress (200 mmol/L NaCl), and the impairments in chlorophyll and increasing relative conductivity that can be caused by salt stress were alleviated in the P. indica-colonized plants. The accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide anion (O2&minus;) were lower than that in non-colonized plants under salt treatment, whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased by P. indica colonization, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR). Importantly, without salt treatment, the Na+ concentration was lower, and the K+ concentration was higher in the roots compared with non-colonized plants. Differential expressions of ion transporter genes were found in soybean roots after P. indica colonization. The P. indica colonization positively regulated the transcription level of PM H+-ATPase, SOS1, and SOS2. The study shows that P. indica enhances the growth and salt tolerance of soybean, providing a strategy for the agricultural production of soybean plants in saline-alkali soils

Study on changing disciplinarian of beak colors in ducks and the regulation network based on transcriptome sequencing

ABSTRACT: Beak color in ducks is a primary characteristic of local breeds and genetic resources. Among them, black beaks, a rare packaging trait of high-quality duck products, have attracted much attention. In this study, Runzhou White Created ducks (black beak) and white-feathered Putian black ducks (yellow beak) were used to construct the F2 generation resource population to study the changing discipline of beak color combined with the beak color statistics of gray-beaked ducklings of Runzhou White Created ducks. Subsequently, transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify genetic markers related to beak color. To explore the rules of beak color change and its regulatory network, trends, and trend analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis（WGCNA）were performed. The screening results were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A large difference was observed between the beak colors of birds from the F1 generation at 0 and 42 d of age. The F2 generation results show that nearly half of the black-beaked ducklings become green-beaked; the proportion of black spots for gray- and patterned-beaked ducklings increases with age, with most becoming green-beaked. Moreover, the beak color darkened from the first day, and the gray color value decreased significantly from the second day. Transcriptome sequencing indicated that TYR was differentially expressed between black and yellow beaks at 4 to 6 wk of age, and trend and WGCNA analyses showed that EDNRB signaling pathway genes and MITF were highly expressed in the first week, and TYR, TYRP1, and DCT were highly expressed at 4 to 6 wk of age. Therefore, there is melanin synthesis and deposition after hatching for gray- and patterned-beaked ducklings, while the yellow pigment might be deposited in the epidermis of beaks for black-beaked ducklings. The EDNRB signaling pathway is probably involved in early melanosome maturation and melanin formation in duck beaks, and genes such as TYR can maintain the black-beak phenotype