Functional Prediction of Hypothetical Transcription Factors of K-12 Based on Expression Data.

The repertoire of 304 DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) in K-12 has been described recently, with 196 TFs experimentally characterized and 108 proteins predicted by sequence comparisons. Based on 303 expression profile patterns retrieved from the Colombos database 12 clusters were identified, including hypothetical and experimentally characterized TFs, using a spectral clustering algorithm based on a 3NN graph built using 14 principal components that represent 65% of the variance of the expression data. In a posterior step, clusters were characterized in terms of their associated overrepresented functions, based on KEGG, Supfam annotations and Pfam assignments among other functional categories using an enrichment test, reinforcing the notion that the identified clusters are functionally similar among them.

Use of the RatLoft decreases pup mortality in lactating mice.

Lactating mice in laboratory conditions are thought to be under considerable stress. Dams may manifest this stress through a decrease in milk yield and/or increase in infanticide. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of access to an environmental enrichment device called the RatLoft on milk yield, circulating serotonin, and pup mortality using both wild-type mice and mice genetically deficient in tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1(-/-); the rate-limiting enzyme in the non-neuronal serotonin synthesis pathway).

Increasing serotonin concentrations alter calcium and energy metabolism in dairy cows.

A 4×4 Latin square design in which varied doses (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.

Serotonin regulates calcium homeostasis in lactation by epigenetic activation of hedgehog signaling.

Calcium homeostasis during lactation is critical for maternal and neonatal health. We previously showed that nonneuronal/peripheral serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] causes the lactating mammary gland to synthesize and secrete PTHrP in an acute fashion. Here, using a mouse model, we found that genetic inactivation of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in peripheral 5-HT synthesis, reduced circulating and mammary PTHrP expression, osteoclast activity, and maternal circulating calcium concentrations during the transition from pregnancy to lactation.