Signatures of de-domestication in autochthonous pig breeds and of domestication in wild boar populations from MC1R and NR6A1 allele distribution

Autochthonous pig breeds are usually reared in extensive or semi-extensive production systems that might facilitate contact with wild boars and, thus, reciprocal genetic exchanges. In this study, we analysed variants in the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene (which cause different coat colour phenotypes) and in the nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) gene (associated with increased vertebral number) in 712 pigs of 12 local pig breeds raised in Italy (Apulo-Calabrese, Casertana, Cinta Senese, Mora Romagnola, Nero Siciliano and Sarda) and south-eastern European countries (Krskopolje from Slovenia, Black Slavonian and Turopolje from Croatia, Mangalitsa and Moravka from Serbia and East Balkan Swine from Bulgaria) and compared the data with the genetic variability at these loci investigated in 229 wild boars from populations spread in the same macro-geographic areas. None of the autochthonous pig breeds or wild boar populations were fixed for one allele at both loci. Domestic and wild-type alleles at these two genes were present in both domestic and wild populations. Findings of the distribution of MC1R alleles might be useful for tracing back the complex genetic history of autochthonous breeds. Altogether, these results indirectly demonstrate that bidirectional introgression of wild and domestic alleles is derived and affected by the human and naturally driven evolutionary forces that are shaping the Sus scrofa genome: autochthonous breeds are experiencing a sort of 'de-domestication' process, and wild resources are challenged by a 'domestication' drift. Both need to be further investigated and managed

A modification of a method for phytic acid determination

Several different methods for the determination of phytic acid which do not require sophisticated equipment are currently in use. These methods have been developed to measure the phytic acid content of a variety of materials, such as plant tissues, food stuffs and soils. The aim of the work was to modify the supernatant difference, macro-method developed by Erdman and Thompson(1) for the determination of the phytic acid content in soybeans and soybean protein products. A micro-method was developed for easier and faster phytic acid determination The advantages of the micro-method over the macro-method are the smaller amounts of sample and smaller amount of the necessary reagents required, as well as the duration of the analysis;. By replacing the long filtration procedure with short centrifugation step the duration of the analysis is reduced from 14 to 8 h. The phytic acid content in Hodgson var. soybeans was determined using both methods. The obtained results showed a high degree of compliance. Due to its advantages, the micro-method appeared to be more successful. The micro-method was also tested and found suitable for the determination of the phytic acid content of soy protein isolates

Study of the covalently immobilized amyloglucosidase on macroporous polymer by mathematical modeling of the pH optima

BACKGROUND: A totally new approach has been applied for mathematical modeling of the enzyme activity/pH relationship, for quantification and distribution of enzyme activity in and out of carrier pores. This is a very simple and elegant method for determination of the distribution of enzyme molecules on the surface and inside the particles, simply through measurement of enzyme activity at different pH values. RESULTS: Amyloglucosidase (AG) from Aspergillus niger was covalently immobilized onto poly(GMA-co-EGDMA) by the glutaraldehyde and periodate methods. Mathematical modeling of the pH optima for two types of covalently immobilized AG resulted in higher enzyme amounts on the surface within periodate immobilizate (67%) in comparison with glutaraldehyde immobilizate (53%). These values are modified to 64.25% for periodate immobilizate and 49.95% for glutaraldehyde immobilizate when diffusion effects are taken into account. CONCLUSION: The mathematical model applied enabled observation of the difference between the two types of coupling agents and different immobilization procedures throughout quantification of the immobilized enzyme on the matrix surface and inside pores

Optimization and kinetic modeling of waste lard methanolysis in a continuous reciprocating plate reactor

Continuous biodiesel production from a waste pig-roasting lard, methanol and KOH was carried out in a reciprocating plate reactor (RPR) using a factorial design containing three process factors, namely methanol/lard molar ratio, catalyst loading, and normalized height of the reactor. The main goals were to optimize the influential process factors with respect to biodiesel purity using the response surface methodology and to model the kinetics of the transesterification reaction in order to describe the change of triacylglycerols (TAG) and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) concentrations along the RPR height. The first-order rate law was proved for both the reaction and the mass transfer. The model of the changing reaction mechanism and mass transfer of TAG was also applicable. Both kinetic models agreed with the experimental concentrations of TAG and FAME determined along the RPR height

Etude d'échange de solvant sur des composés demi- sandwich du Ru(II) et sur Rh24+

Hippocampal structural changes associated with diabetes-related cognitive impairments are well described, but their molecular background remained vague. We examined whether/how diabetes alters molecular basis of energy metabolism in hippocampus readily after diabetes onset, with special emphasis on its redox-sensitivity. To induce diabetes, adult Mill Hill hybrid hooded rats received a single alloxan dose (120 mg/kg). Both non-diabetic and diabetic groups were further divided in two subgroups receiving (i) or not (ii) superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimic, [Mn(II)(pyane)Cl-2] for 7 days, i.p. Treatment of the diabetic animals started after blood glucose level >= 12 mM. Diabetes decreased protein levels of oxidative phosphorylation components: complex III and ATP synthase. In contrast, protein amounts of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha - the key regulator of energy metabolism in stress conditions, were higher in diabetic animals. Treatment with SOD mimic restored/increased the levels of oxidative phosphorylation components and returned hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha to control level, while diabetes-induced up-regulation of glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was additionally stimulated. To conclude, our results provide insight into the earliest molecular changes of energy-producing pathways in diabetes that may account for structural/functional disturbance of hippocampus, seen during disease progression. Also, data suggest [Mn(II)(pyane)Cl-2] as potential therapeutic agent in cutting-edge approaches to threat this widespread metabolic disorder. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia [173054, 173055

The effects of superoxide dismutase mimic on energy metabolism in hippocampus of diabetic rats

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The effects of superoxide dismutase mimic on energy metabolism in hippocampus of diabetic rats

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Manganese (II) pentaazamacrocyclic SOD mimic improves functional status of human sperm mitochondria: involvement of iNO

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Manganese (II) pentaazamacrocyclic SOD mimic improves functional status of human sperm mitochondria: involvement of iNO

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