Accuracy of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in equine in vivo-recovered and in vitro-produced blastocysts.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis has great potential in the horse, but information on evaluation of equine embryo biopsy samples is limited. Blastocysts were biopsied using a Piezo drill and methods for whole-genome amplification (WGA) investigated. Results for 33 genetic loci were then compared between biopsy samples from in vitro-produced (IVP) and in vivo-recovered (VIV) blastocysts.

Prevalence of alphas1-casein genotypes in American dairy goats.

Widespread genotyping of US dairy goat breeds for casein variants has not been reported, even though the genetic data could be of use in selective breeding programs. For instance, variability in the content of protein and solids in goat milk is attributed to allelic differences in the goat alpha(s1)-casein gene. Concentrations of alpha(s1)-casein in goat milk are positively correlated with milk components and coagulation properties.

An international parentage and identification panel for the domestic cat (Felis catus).

Seventeen commercial and research laboratories participated in two comparison tests under the auspices of the International Society for Animal Genetics to develop an internationally tested, microsatellite-based parentage and identification panel for the domestic cat (Felis catus). Genetic marker selection was based on the polymorphism information content and allele ranges from seven random-bred populations (n = 261) from the USA, Europe and Brazil and eight breeds (n = 200) from the USA. Nineteen microsatellite markers were included in the comparison test and genotyped across the samples.

NAPP2, a peroxisomal membrane protein, is also a transcriptional corepressor.

Nuclear factor-erythroid number 2 (NF-E2) is a positive regulatory, DNA binding transcription factor for gene expression in erythroid and megakaryocytic cells. To further understand the mechanisms of NF-E2 function, we used expression cloning to identify coregulators interacting with the erythroid-specific subunit of NF-E2, p45. We have isolated a protein, NAPP2, which contains an aspartic-acid- and glutamic-acid-rich region and a nuclear localization signal.

Loading of DNA-binding factors to an erythroid enhancer.

The HS-40 enhancer is the major cis-acting regulatory element responsible for the developmental stage- and erythroid lineage-specific expression of the human alpha-like globin genes, the embryonic zeta and the adult alpha2/alpha/1. A model has been proposed in which competitive factor binding at one of the HS-40 motifs, 3'-NA, modulates the capability of HS-40 to activate the embryonic zeta-globin promoter. Furthermore, this modulation was thought to be mediated through configurational changes of the HS-40 enhanceosome during development.