Polymorphism of the pig-implantation protein 3 (preis3) gene and its association with litter size traits

The pre-implantation protein 3 (prei3), which might play a role in pre-implantation embryogenesis, is one of the promising candidate genes for litter size traits in pigs. In this study, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP: T802G) in intron 6 of the pig prei3 gene was detected and a genotyping assay for this SNP was developed. An association study for this SNP with litter size was performed in two independent populations. One population consisted of crossbred sows derived from Landrace, Large White, Chinese Tongcheng and/or Chinese Meishan (Line DIV). The other population constituted of crossbred animals derived from Chinese Qingping and Duroc (QD). Statistical analysis demonstrated that, in first parity, 2.65 more piglets were born and 3.82 more piglets were born alive in sows in Line DIV with genotype TT than with genotype GG. For second and subsequent litters, in both the DIV and QD lines there were significant differences in the number of piglets born alive between TG and GG sows, with the TG sows producing more piglets born alive than the GG sows. These results suggest that the prei3 SNP is significantly associated with litter size in the two populations studied, and could be useful in selection for increasing litter size in pigs. Further investigations on more pig populations with large sample sizes are needed to confirm this. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 36(3) 2006: 209-21

Molecular layer-by-layer re-stacking of MoS2–In2Se3 by electrostatic means: assembly of a new layered photocatalyst

2D-layered transition metal chalcogenides are useful semiconductors for a wide range of opto-electronic applications. Their similarity as layered structures offers exciting possibility to modify their electronic properties by creating new heterojunction assemblies from layer-by-layer restacking of individual monolayer sheets, however, the lack of specific interaction between these layers could induce phase segregation. Here, we employed a chemical method using n-BuLi to exfoliate MoS2 and In2Se3 into their monolayer-containing colloids in solution. The bulky Se atoms can be selectively leached from In2Se3 during Li treatment which gives positively charged surface monolayers in neutral pH whereas the strong polarization of Mo–S with moderate S leaching gives a negatively charged surface. Specific interlayer electrostatic attraction during their selective assembly gives a controllable atomic AB-type of layer stacking as supported by EXAFS, STEM with super-EDX mapping, TAS/TRPL and DFT calculations. Using this simple but inexpensive bottom-up solution method, a new photocatalyst assembled from layers for photo water splitting can be tailor-made with high activity

Protective effect of stromal Dickkopf-3 in prostate cancer: opposing roles for TGFBI and ECM-1

Aberrant transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) signaling is a hallmark of the stromal microenvironment in cancer. Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3), shown to inhibit TGF-β signaling, is downregulated in prostate cancer and upregulated in the stroma in benign prostatic hyperplasia, but the function of stromal Dkk-3 is unclear. Here we show that DKK3 silencing in WPMY-1 prostate stromal cells increases TGF-β signaling activity and that stromal cellconditioned media inhibit prostate cancer cell invasion in a Dkk-3-dependent manner. DKK3 silencing increased the level of the cell-adhesion regulator TGF-β–induced protein (TGFBI) in stromal and epithelial cell-conditioned media, and recombinant TGFBI increased prostate cancer cell invasion. Reduced expression of Dkk-3 in patient tumors was associated with increased expression of TGFBI. DKK3 silencing reduced the level of extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM-1) in prostate stromal cell-conditioned media but increased it in epithelial cell-conditioned media, and recombinant ECM-1 inhibited TGFBI-induced prostate cancer cell invasion. Increased ECM1 and DKK3 mRNA expression in prostate tumors was associated with increased relapse-free survival. These observations are consistent with a model in which the loss of Dkk-3 in prostate cancer leads to increased secretion of TGFBI and ECM-1, which have tumor-promoting and tumor-protective roles, respectively. Determining how the balance between the opposing roles of extracellular factors influences prostate carcinogenesis will be key to developing therapies that target the tumor microenvironment

Multivalency-Driven Formation of Te-Based Monolayer Materials: A Combined First-Principles and Experimental study

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A-6G and A-20C Polymorphisms in the Angiotensinogen Promoter and Hypertension Risk in Chinese: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies in Chinese populations have evaluated the association between the A-6G and A-20C polymorphisms in the promoter region of angiotensinogen gene and hypertension. However, the results remain conflicting. We carried out a meta-analysis for these associations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Case-control studies in Chinese and English publications were identified by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, Wanfang, CBM, and VIP databases. The random-effects model was applied for dichotomous outcomes to combine the results of the individual studies. We finally selected 24 studies containing 5932 hypertensive patients and 5231 normotensive controls. Overall, we found significant association between the A-6G polymorphism and the decreased risk of hypertension in the dominant genetic model (AA+AG vs. GG: P=0.001, OR=0.71, 95%CI 0.57-0.87, P(heterogeneity)=0.96). The A-20C polymorphism was significantly associated with the increased risk for hypertension in the allele comparison (C vs. A: P=0.03, OR=1.14, 95%CI 1.02-1.27, P(heterogeneity)=0.92) and recessive genetic model (CC vs. CA+AA: P=0.005, OR=1.71, 95%CI 1.18-2.48, P(heterogeneity)=0.99). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant association was also found among Han Chinese for both A-6G and A-20C polymorphisms. A borderline significantly decreased risk of hypertension between A-6G and Chinese Mongolian was seen in the allele comparison (A vs. G: P=0.05, OR=0.79, 95%CI 0.62-1.00, P(heterogeneity)=0.84). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis indicated significant association between angiotensinogen promoter polymorphisms and hypertension in the Chinese populations, especially in Han Chinese