Myostatin knockout using zinc-finger nucleases promotes proliferation of ovine primary satellite cells in vitro.

Myostatin (MSTN) has previously been shown to negatively regulate the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle cells. Satellite cells are quiescent muscle stem cells that promote muscle growth and repair. Because the mechanism of MSTN in the biology of satellite cells is not well understood, this study was conducted to generate MSTN mono-allelic knockout satellite cells using the zinc-finger nuclease mRNA (MSTN-KO ZFN mRNA) and also to investigate the effect of this disruption on the proliferation and differentiation of sheep primary satellite cells (PSCs).

Delta-6 desaturase from borage converts linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid in HEK293 cells.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3 n6) is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid of the omega-6 family and is found to be effective in prevention and/or treatment of various health problems. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of increasing γ-linolenic acid contents in mammalian cells using the delta-6 gene from Borago officinalis. The borage Δ6-desaturase gene (sDelta-6) was codon-optimized and introduced into HEK293 cells by lipofectin transfection.

Phenotypic and genetic diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated in India active against Spodoptera litura.

Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from different agroclimatic regions of India were found to harbor cry1 family genes. Of 831 strains 18 that were found to produce 130- and 68-kDa mol wt proteins in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacry1amide gel electrophoresis were subjected to bioassay against second instar larvae of Spodoptera litura. According to the time response curve, while the highest toxic activity against S.