Proteomic analysis reveals altered expression of proteins related to glutathione metabolism and apoptosis in the small intestine of zinc oxide-supplemented piglets.

Zinc is an important dietary factor that regulates intestinal amino acid and protein metabolism in animals. Recent work with the piglet, an established animal model for studying human infant nutrition, has shown that supplementing high levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) to the diet ameliorates weaning-associated intestinal injury and growth retardation. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown.

Emerging technologies for amino acid nutrition research in the post-genome era.

Amino acids (AA) are not only the building blocks of proteins but are also key regulators of metabolic pathways in cells. However, the mechanisms responsible for the effects of AA are largely unknown. With the completion of human and other mammalian genome projects, revolutionary technologies in life sciences characterized by high throughput, high efficiency, and rapid computation are now available for AA nutrition research.

Dietary arginine supplementation during early pregnancy enhances embryonic survival in rats.

Four experiments were conducted with 120 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats to determine effects of dietary arginine supplementation on embryonic survival. Rats were fed a nonpurified diet supplemented with 1.3% (wt:wt) L-arginine-HCl or 2.

Reference values for serum levels of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and its distribution characteristics in healthy Chinese children and newborns.

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of serum CETP levels in childhood.

Design And Methods: CETP was measured in 912 healthy children and 40 cord blood with an ELISA.

Results: CETP was skewed in children with a median of 2.

Dietary arginine supplementation affects microvascular development in the small intestine of early-weaned pigs.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary arginine levels on microvascular development of the small intestine in early-weaned pigs. Twenty-four crossbred pigs (5.0 +/- 0.

Gene expression is altered in piglet small intestine by weaning and dietary glutamine supplementation.

Dietary supplementation of glutamine prevents intestinal dysfunction and atrophy in weanling piglets, but the underlying mechanism(s) are largely unknown. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that weaning or glutamine may modulate expression of genes that are crucial for intestinal metabolism and function. In Expt.

Effect of surface decoration of CNTs on the interfacial interaction and microstructure of epoxy/MWNT nanocomposites.

Epoxy resin nanocomposites with different contents of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are prepared. The interaction between MWNTs and the epoxy resin matrix and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites are systematically investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and positron annihilation technology. FTIR spectra reveal that two kinds of hydrogen bonds exist at the interface for the nanocomposites modified by amine, one between the epoxy group on the side chain and the NH group, and the other between the epoxy group on the alicycle and the NH group.

Expression localization of Bmi1 in mice testis.

B cell-specific Moloney murine leukaemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi1), known as the first functional member of PcG (Polycomb Group) family, is supposed to be a key regulator of stem cell self-proliferation. In this study, we investigated its expression in testis and its impact on spermatogonia proliferation for better understanding of its role in spermatogenesis. Results showed that Bmi1 was expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia (A(s), A(pr) and A(al) spermatogonia).

Native, oxidized lipoprotein(a) and lipoprotein(a) immune complex in patients with active and inactive rheumatoid arthritis: plasma concentrations and relationship to inflammation.

Background: Several studies suggest that lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] act as acute phase reactant and be associated with early atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Oxidized Lp(a) [ox-Lp(a)] and Lp(a) immune complex (IC) concentrations both increased in patients with coronary heart disease. We investigated Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a)-IC concentrations in RA patients and to explore the relationships with inflammatory disease activity markers.

Intrauterine growth restriction affects the proteomes of the small intestine, liver, and skeletal muscle in newborn pigs.

Efficiency of nutrient utilization is high in neonates with normal birth weights but is reduced in those with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study was conducted with the piglet model and proteomics technology to test the hypothesis that IUGR affects expression of key proteins that regulate growth and development of the small intestine, liver, and muscle, the major organs involved in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of dietary nutrients.

2-DE and MS analysis of interactions between Lactobacillus fermentum I5007 and intestinal epithelial cells.

Lactobacillus is a probiotic commonly used for supplementation to human and animal diets. In this study, we used 2-DE and MS to analyze changes in the proteomes of Lactobacillus and intestinal epithelial cells in two model systems. The in vivo and in vitro models were involved the inoculation of Lactobacillus fermentum I5007 into the rabbit jejunum for 4 h and the culture of the bacterium with Caco-2 cells for 1 h, respectively.

Development of new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for oxidized lipoprotein(a) by using purified human oxidized lipoprotein(a) autoantibodies as capture antibody.

Background: Oxidized Lp(a) [ox-Lp(a)] has been reported to play more potent role than native Lp(a) in atherosclerosis. Ox-Lp(a), autoantibodies, and Lp(a) immune complexes have all been detected in vivo. Thus, the isolation of its autoantibodies and the investigation of ox-Lp(a) may provide a new means to explore the exact pathogenic role of ox-Lp(a).

CETP and oxidized LDL levels increase in dyslipidemic subjects.

Objectives: To explore the possible associations among cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), contents of lipids in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and in vivo oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL).

Design And Methods: CETP and Ox-LDL were both detected by ELISA. Their levels and the lipid contents of LDL were investigated in 200 subjects with various dyslipidaemias.

Effect of hypoalbuminemia on the increased serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein concentration in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Objectives: To examine the alteration of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mass with the regression of albumin level in childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS) in order to clarify the effect of albumin on CETP in NS.

Design And Methods: Serum concentrations of CETP, kidney parameters and lipid traits were determined in 110 children with idiopathic NS and 150 control subjects. Of the NS patients, 69 children with an active phase formed group 1, and 41 in remission formed group 2.

Proteomics and its role in nutrition research.

There are approximately 100,000 proteins in humans with various physiological functions. The complement of proteins in the organism as well as their interactions is defined as the proteome. Its analysis (proteomics) by highly specific, sensitive, and accurate MS has been made possible with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization or electrospray ionization of proteins and large peptides.

Comparative proteomic analysis of apoptosis induced by sodium selenite in human acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element possessing anticarcinogenic properties. Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) induced apoptosis in human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4 with dose and time dependency. In this study, proteomic techniques were used to study the apoptosis of NB4 cells induced by sodium selenite.

A proteome reference map and proteomic analysis of Bifidobacterium longum NCC2705.

A comprehensive proteomic study was carried out to identify and characterize proteins expressed by Bifidobacterium longum NCC2705. A total of 708 spots representing 369 protein entries were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS and/or ESI-MS/MS. Isoelectric point values estimated by gel electrophoresis matched closely with their predicted ones, although some discrepancies exist suggesting that post-translational protein modifications might be common in B.

Immunoproteomics of membrane proteins of Shigella flexneri 2a 2457T.

Aim: To screen the immunogenic membrane proteins of Shigella flexneri 2a 2457T.

Methods: The routine two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and Western blotting were combined to screen immunogenic proteins of S. flexneri 2a 2457T.

2-D reference map of Bacillus anthracis vaccine strain A16R proteins.

Bacillus anthracis has always been an important pathogen because it can cause lethal inhalational anthrax, and may be used as a bioweapon or by bioterrorists. In this study, a 2-DE reference map and database of B. anthracis A16R was constructed.

Immunoproteomics of outer membrane proteins and extracellular proteins of Shigella flexneri 2a 2457T.

Shigella flexneri 2a is an important pathogen causing bacillary dysentery in humans. In order to investigate any potential vaccine candidate proteins present in outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and extracellular proteins of S. flexneri 2a 2457T, we use the proteome mapping and database analyzing techniques.

[Development of multiplex reverse translation-polymerase chain reaction methods for detection of dengue virus type 1-4 and its application in clinical use].

Objective: To develop multiplex reverse translation-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for detection of dengue virus type 1-4.

Methods: Based on the genomes sequence analysis of dengue virus type 1-4, four-pair of primers were designed. The specificity of the primers was primarily tested by searching the GenBank DNA sequence database.

[Transfer of insecticidal protein gene from Bacillus thuringiensis into conventional maize inbred-line mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens].

Excellent inbred-lines of maize,340 and 4112, which were used largely in hybridized combination were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The immature embryos and their original calli were infected by A.tumefaciens LBA4404 containing plasmid pGBIL04.

Relationship between lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase and alpha-glucosidase in azoospermia seminal plasma.

Background: [corrected] To determine the correlation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase in semen.

Methods: We analyzed 68 seminal plasmas for lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase, L-PGDS was analyzed by ELISA. The semen donors were categorized in 3 groups: normal, obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

Lipoprotein (a) and its immune complexes in dyslipidemic subjects.

Objectives: To investigate plasma levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-circulating immune complexes (IC) in subjects with various dyslipidemias.

Methods: Plasma Lp(a), Lp(a)-IC, and LDL-IC levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in 198 subjects with various dyslipidemias and 34 control subjects.

Results: Hypertriglyceridemic subjects exhibited the lowest plasma Lp(a) levels, while hypercholesterolemic subjects exhibited the highest levels.