Influence of crossbreeding on meat goat doe fitness when comparing Boer F1 with base breeds in the Southeastern United States.

Understanding fitness level among various breeds is essential for sustainable meat goat production. Research on the relative fitness of Boer F1 does and straightbred base breed has been limited. Meat goat does of various genotypes (Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Boer × Kiko reciprocal F1 crosses, and Boer × Spanish reciprocal F1 crosses) were studied to evaluate breed effects on doe fitness traits and the expression of heterosis over 7 production years.

The serum glycoprotein fetuin-A promotes Lewis lung carcinoma tumorigenesis via adhesive-dependent and adhesive-independent mechanisms.

Fetuin-A is a serum glycoprotein in the cystatin family associated with the regulation of soft tissue calcification. We tested the role of systemic fetuin in tumor cell growth and metastasis by injecting Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells into fetuin-A null and their wild-type (WT) littermate control C57BL/6 mice via the tail vein, s.c.

Alpha 2-HS glycoprotein (fetuin-A) modulates murine skin tumorigenesis.

Fetuin, a major serum glycoprotein secreted by the liver, has been shown to play a role in bone development, calcium homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. In an earlier study, we demonstrated that bovine fetuin can bind to the plasma membrane of squamous and spindle-cell carcinoma cells. To test our hypothesis that fetuin plays a causal role in skin tumorigenesis, fetuin-A null and wild-type mice were challenged using a two-stage chemically-induced carcinogenesis protocol with DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenzo(a)anthracene) as the initiator, followed by twice weekly treatments with the tumor promoter TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate).

Molecular cloning and identification of a putative PKC epsilon cDNA from Limulus polyphemus brain.

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of enzymes is broadly distributed and has been implicated in a diverse array of cellular functions. Recent evidence supporting PKC involvement in the regulation of the Limulus choline cotransporter prompted us to clone PKC from a Limulus central nervous system (CNS) cDNA library. An Aplysia californica calcium independent PKC (Apl II) cDNA probe was used to screen the library and 5' RACE SMART PCR was used to obtain the full-length sequence.

Interactions of alpha2-HS-glycoprotein (fetuin) with MMP-3 and murine squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Alpha2-HS glycoprotein (fetuin) is a major plasma glycoprotein predominantly synthesized by the liver. We have previously demonstrated that human fetuin produced by hepatocellular carcinoma cells can activate the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9 (gelatinase-B). Stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) is over-expressed in murine skin tumors and is associated with a metastatic cell phenotype.