Phylogenetic differences in content and intensity of periodic proteins

Many proteins exhibit sequence periodicity, often correlated with a visible structural periodicity. The statistical significance of such periodicity can be assessed by means of a chi-square-based test, with significance thresholds being calculated from shuffled sequences. Comparison of the complete proteomes of 45 species reveals striking differences in the proportion of periodic proteins and the intensity of the most significant periodicities. Eukaryotes tend to have a higher proportion of periodic proteins than eubacteria, which in turn tend to have more than archaea. The intensity of periodicity in the most periodic proteins is also greatest in eukaryotes. By contrast, the relatively small group of periodic proteins in archaea also tend to be weakly periodic compared to those of eukaryotes and eubacteria. Exceptions to this general rule are found in those prokaryotes with multicellular life-cycle phases, e.g. Methanosarcina sps. or Anabaena sps., which have more periodicities than prokaryotes in general, and in unicellular eukaryotes, which have fewer than multicellular eukaryotes. The distribution of significantly periodic proteins in eukaryotes is over a wide range of period lengths, whereas prokaryotic proteins typically have a more limited set of period lengths. This is further investigated by repeating the analysis on the NRL-3D database of proteins of solved structure. Some short range periodicities are explicable in terms of basic secondary structure, e.g. alpha helices, while middle range periodicities are frequently found to consist of known short Pfam domains, e.g. leucine-rich repeats, tetratricopeptides or armadillo domains. However, not all can be explained in this way

Inheritance patterns of coat colouration and horn number in Jacob sheep.

The allele for black coat colour is dominant relative to the allele for lilac in Jacob sheep and is affected by a single gene locus. The percentage of this colouration, as opposed to white fleece, across the body has a heritability value of 0.255. The mode of inheritance for horn number in these animals is less clear, with neither the trait for 2 horns, nor for 4 horns being totally dominant, based on crosses of 2 x 2-horned parents and 4 x 4-horned parents; although in these examples the majority of lambs had the same number of horns as their parents. However, when one parent had 2 horns and the other had 4 horns, the gender of the 4-horned parent appeared to influence the frequency of 4-horned offspring; 77% of lambs born to a 4-horned dam being 4-horned, but only 50% when the 4-horned parent was the sire. These data suggest evidence for sex-limiting factors being involved in determining the number of horns in this breed

Factors affecting the development of laryngeal chondritis in sheep.

Historic data (from 2005 to 2011) were collected and analysed from four flocks of pedigree Texel sheep in Ceredigion, West Wales and were used to investigate a range of factors associated with death due to laryngeal chondritis (n=82) relative to all animals (n=2826) removed from the flocks, either due to death from other causes or as part of routine animal husbandry (e.g. sale of livestock to other farms, or for meat). Deaths from laryngeal chondritis were observed in both sexes, but males had a higher incidence, particularly early in life. Cases were reported throughout the year, with examples observed in all months of the year, although there was a pattern of seasonal variation associated with age/sex of affected animals. Generally males tended to be affected throughout the year, with little variation in numbers on a month-to-month basis, whilst females were more likely to be affected either later in the year around the time coinciding with puberty (in the case of ewe lambs) or in the second quarter of the year, shortly after weaning (in the case of adult ewes). Animals with laryngeal chondritis had a heavier ultrasound scanning weight at around 20 weeks, although the weight of animals at other times had no effect. It was also noted that the depth of muscle and fat depth at 20 weeks had no effect on susceptibility. Maternal and/or nursing effects were observed. Ewes with affected lambs had a statistically higher mean pre-tupping body condition score than the others ewes in the flock, meaning that there may be some form of epigenetic role played in predisposing an animal to developing the condition later in life. The number of littermates had no effect, with no significant difference between those born as singletons, twins or triplets. However the rearing status of animals did have an effect, with animals reared as singletons having a higher incidence rate than those reared as pairs

Effect of seasonal diet composition changes on the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract contents of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber).

The goal of the study was to compare chemical and physical parameters of the content of various gastrointestinal (GI) tract segments of adult beavers and to relate the obtained results to seasonal changes in the composition of natural diet. The study was conducted on 36 adult beavers originated from the natural environment that were captured in winter, summer and autumn. The obtained results demonstrated that pH, redox potential (Eh), dry matter (DM), short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and distribution of food particles varied along the beaver GI tract during the year. The lowest value of pH was observed in stomach whereas the highest in the small intestine and cecum. The reverse pattern of changes was found for the value of redox potential. The research indicated that anaerobic conditions were predominant in the cecum and so contributed to development of microbial population. Also, the increase in the SCFA contents in the cecum and colon indicated that beavers belong both to hindgut fermenters as well as to the mixed moderate type animals. In summary, the obtained results indicated that seasonal changes in the diet composition affected physical and chemical parameters as well as microbial activity of the GI tract of beaver

Interbreed variation in craniometrical parameters in sheep.

This work is the first investigation to compare craniometrical parameters between different breeds of sheep. Nine breeds or cross-breeds of sheep were studied, with all measurements being carried out on live animals at times of routine animal husbandry. Although a number of the variables were not significantly different between breeds, examples of interbreed differences were found. This was true for both individual measurements of lengths and widths, as well as for indices derived by pair-wise comparisons of individual widths or lengths. In some cases differences indicated that the cross-bred lambs shared a greater similarity to one of the parental breeds relative to the other parental breed; e.g. the width between the ears relative to the length from the nuchal crest to the rostral aspect of the upper lip, where Texel x Wiltshire cross lambs had ratios more similar to the maternal Wiltshire than they had to the paternal Texel line. In other examples the cross-breeds had values which were intermediate between the two parental lines; e.g. the width at the rostral aspect of the diastema relative to the length from the nuchal crest to the rostral aspect of the upper lip, where Texel x Wiltshire cross lambs had ratios intermediate between the maternal Wiltshire and the paternal Texel lines. For one of the ratio values (the length from the nuchal crest to the rostral aspect of the upper lip, relative to the width at the caudal aspect of the diastema) it was particularly interesting to note that this was a trait where the male Suffolk x Brecknock Hill Cheviot cross lambs were more similar to the Suffolks (i.e. the paternal line), but the females cross lambs were more similar to the Brecknock Hill Cheviots (i.e. the maternal line). It is anticipated that this work will provide implications for using craniometrical parameters as a future husbandry tool

Effect of dietary changes on the bacteriophage population in the rumen of sheep

Item does not contain fulltext4th Symposium on Gut Microbiology, 21 juni 200

Inheritance Patterns of Coat Colouration and Horn Number in Jacob Sheep

The allele for black coat colour is dominant relative to the allele for lilac in Jacob sheep and is affected by a single gene locus. The percentage of this colouration, as opposed to white fleece, across the body has a heritability value of 0.255. The mode of inheritance for horn number in these animals is less clear, with neither the trait for 2 horns, nor for 4 horns being totally dominant, based on crosses of 2 x 2-horned parents and 4 x 4-horned parents; although in these examples the majority of lambs had the same number of horns as their parents. However, when one parent had 2 horns and the other had 4 horns, the gender of the 4-horned parent appeared to influence the frequency of 4-horned offspring; 77% of lambs born to a 4-horned dam being 4-horned, but only 50% when the 4-horned parent was the sire. These data suggest evidence for sex-limiting factors being involved in determining the number of horns in this breed

Untersuchung von Pansen-Ciliaten (Litostomatea, Entodiniomorphida, Vestibulifera) mittels Fluoreszenz–in situ-Hybridisierung (FISH)

Item does not contain fulltex

Rapid identification of rumen protozoa by restriction analysis of amplified 18S rRNA gene

Contains fulltext : 57886.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)A rapid method has been developed for molecular identification of rumen ciliates without the need for cultivation. Total DNA was isolated from single protozoal cells by the Chelex method and nearly complete protozoal 18S rRNA genes were amplified and subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. On the basis of restriction patterns generated a molecular key was elaborated allowing identification of protozoa solely by a molecular technique without prior knowledge of morphology. No differences were observed between identical species originating from different animals or geographic locations, or between morphological variants of the same species. The ARDREA analysis described here provides a rapid and convenient way for identification and diversity studies of rumen protozoa

Mechanisms Governing Increased Behavioural Reactivity Associated with High-Starch Diets

No abstract available