Growth Performance, Carcass Quality, and Lipid Metabolism in Krškopolje Pigs and Modern Hybrid Pigs: Comparison of Genotypes and Evaluation of Dietary Protein Reduction.

This study compared the performance, meat quality and adipose tissue characteristics of Krškopolje pigs and modern hybrid pigs under identical rearing conditions, besides examining the effects of dietary protein reduction in both genotypes. A total of 29 pigs (14 Krškopolje and 15 hybrids) were assigned to litter into two dietary groups (high and low protein). The low-protein diet for hybrid pigs corresponded to the high-protein diet for Krškopolje pigs.

Effect of castration method on porcine skeletal muscle fiber traits and transcriptome profiles.

This study examined the effects of immunocastration and surgical castration on the histomorphometric and transcriptome traits of the porcine skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that the differences in duration of androgen deprivation resulting from different castration methods influence skeletal muscle biology in a muscle-specific manner. This was tested by analyzing samples of m.

Recent Computer-Aided Studies on Herbicides: A Short Review.

Current industrial herbicides have a negative impact on the environment and have widespread resistance, so computational studies on their properties, elimination, and overcoming resistance can be helpful. On the other hand, developing new herbicides, especially bioherbicides, is slow and costly. Therefore, computational studies that guide the design and search for new herbicides that exist in various plant sources, can alleviate the pain associated with the many obstacles.

Computational Modeling and Characterization of Peptides Derived from Nanobody Complementary-Determining Region 2 (CDR2) Targeting Active-State Conformation of the β-Adrenergic Receptor (βAR).

This study assessed the suitability of the complementarity-determining region 2 (CDR2) of the nanobody (Nb) as a template for the derivation of nanobody-derived peptides (NDPs) targeting active-state β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) conformation. Sequences of conformationally selective Nbs favoring the agonist-occupied βAR were initially analyzed by the informational spectrum method (ISM). The derived NDPs in complex with βAR were subjected to protein-peptide docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and metadynamics-based free-energy binding calculations.

Characterization of two distinct immortalized endothelial cell lines, EA.hy926 and HMEC-1, for in vitro studies: exploring the impact of calcium electroporation, Ca signaling and transcriptomic profiles.

Background: Disruption of Ca homeostasis after calcium electroporation (CaEP) in tumors has been shown to elicit an enhanced antitumor effect with varying impacts on healthy tissue, such as endothelium. Therefore, our study aimed to determine differences in Ca kinetics and gene expression involved in the regulation of Casignaling and homeostasis, as well as effects of CaEP on cytoskeleton and adherens junctions of the established endothelial cell lines EA.hy926 and HMEC-1.

Tff3 Deficiency Differentially Affects the Morphology of Male and Female Intestines in a Long-Term High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mouse Model.

Trefoil factor family protein 3 (Tff3) protects the gastrointestinal mucosa and has a complex mode of action in different tissues. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of Tff3 deficiency on intestinal tissues in a long-term high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed model. A novel congenic strain without additional metabolically relevant mutations (-/-/C57Bl6NCrl strain, male and female) was used.

Patterns of human and porcine gammaherpesvirus-encoded BILF1 receptor endocytosis.

Background: The viral G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) BILF1 encoded by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogene and immunoevasin and can downregulate MHC-I molecules at the surface of infected cells. MHC-I downregulation, which presumably occurs through co-internalization with EBV-BILF1, is preserved among BILF1 receptors, including the three BILF1 orthologs encoded by porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses (PLHV BILFs). This study aimed to understand the detailed mechanisms of BILF1 receptor constitutive internalization, to explore the translational potential of PLHV BILFs compared with EBV-BILF1.

Experimental Exposure to Bisphenol A Has Minimal Effects on Bone Tissue in Growing Rams-A Preliminary Study.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known synthetic compound that belongs to the group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Although bone tissue is a target for these compounds, studies on BPA-related effects on bone morphology in farm animals are limited. In this preliminary study, we investigated the effects of short-term dietary BPA exposure on femoral morphology, metabolism, mineral content, and biomechanical behavior in rams aged 9-12 months.

Tff3 Deficiency Protects against Hepatic Fat Accumulation after Prolonged High-Fat Diet.

Trefoil factor 3 (Tff3) protein is a small secretory protein expressed on various mucosal surfaces and is involved in proper mucosal function and recovery via various mechanisms, including immune response. However, Tff3 is also found in the bloodstream and in various other tissues, including the liver. Its complete attenuation was observed as the most prominent event in the early phase of diabetes in the polygenic Tally Ho mouse model of diabesity.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BILF1 Orthologues From Porcine Lymphotropic Herpesviruses Display Common Molecular Functionality.

Infection of immunosuppressed transplant patients with the human γ-herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), an often fatal complication. Immunosuppressed miniature pigs infected with γ-herpesvirus porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus 1 (PLHV1) develop a similar disease, identifying pigs as a potential preclinical model for PTLD in humans. BILF1 is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) encoded by EBV with constitutive activity linked to tumorigenesis and immunoevasive function downregulating MHC-I.

Effects of Bioinsecticidal Aegerolysin-Based Cytolytic Complexes on Non-Target Organisms.

Aegerolysin proteins ostreolysin A6 (OlyA6), pleurotolysin A2 (PlyA2) and erylysin A (EryA) produced by the mushroom genus bind strongly to an invertebrate-specific membrane sphingolipid, and together with a protein partner pleurotolysin B (PlyB), form transmembrane pore complexes. This pore formation is the basis for the selective insecticidal activity of aegerolysin/PlyB complexes against two economically important coleopteran pests: the Colorado potato beetle and the western corn rootworm. In this study, we evaluated the toxicities of these aegerolysin/PlyB complexes using feeding tests with two ecologically important non-target arthropod species: the woodlouse and the honey bee.

Effect of Olive Leaves or Marigold Petal Extract on Oxidative Stress, Gut Fermentative Activity, and Mucosa Morphology in Broiler Chickens Fed a Diet Rich in n-3 Polyunsaturated Fats.

An experiment in broilers was conducted to investigate the effect of olive () leaves and marigold () petal extract supplementation on oxidative stress, characteristics of intestinal contents, and on the morphology of the small intestine. Oxidative stress was induced by a n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids rich diet. 1-day-old male broiler chickens, Ross 308, were housed in a deep litter system.

The effect of immunocastration on adipose tissue deposition and composition in pigs.

Immunocastrated pigs (IC) exhibit intensive fat deposition after immunisation, but the underlying mechanisms of intensified fat metabolism and deposition are not yet fully understood. Moreover, there is also a lack of comparative studies performed on IC, entire males (EM) and surgical castrates (SC). The main objective of our research was, therefore, to characterise the adipose tissue from the quantitative, histo-morphological and biochemical perspectives in IC 5 weeks after their immunisation in comparison to EM and SC.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Gives Evidence for the Presence of Type 1 Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor (GnRH-R) in Subdomains of Lipid Rafts.

This study investigated the effect of type 1 gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) localization within lipid rafts on the properties of plasma membrane (PM) nanodomain structure. Confocal microscopy revealed colocalization of PM-localized GnRH-R with GM-enriched raft-like PM subdomains. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) of a membrane-partitioned spin probe was then used to study PM fluidity of immortalized pituitary gonadotrope cell line αT3-1 and HEK-293 cells stably expressing GnRH-R and compared it with their corresponding controls (αT4 and HEK-293 cells).

Adipose Tissue Gene Expression of Entire Male, Immunocastrated and Surgically Castrated Pigs.

Differences in adipose tissue deposition and properties between pig male sex categories, i.e., entire males (EM), immunocastrates (IC) and surgical castrates (SC) are relatively well-characterized, whereas the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood.

Methods for Studying Endocytotic Pathways of Herpesvirus Encoded G Protein-Coupled Receptors.

Endocytosis is a fundamental process involved in trafficking of various extracellular and transmembrane molecules from the cell surface to its interior. This enables cells to communicate and respond to external environments, maintain cellular homeostasis, and transduce signals. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a family of receptors with seven transmembrane alpha-helical domains (7TM receptors) expressed at the cell surface, where they regulate physiological and pathological cellular processes.

Bone tissue morphology of rat offspring lactationally exposed to polychlorinated biphenyl 169 and 155.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous, persistent, organic pollutants also considered endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Our study examined the effects of lactational exposure to nondioxin-like PCB-155 and/or dioxin-like PCB-169 on longitudinal femur growth at the distal epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) in young rats at three different ages [postnatal days (PNDs) 9, 22, and 42]. After delivery, lactating rats were divided into four groups (PCB-169, PCB-155, PCB-155 + 169, and control) and administered PCBs intraperitoneally.

Critical Impact of Different Conserved Endoplasmic Retention Motifs and Dopamine Receptor Interacting Proteins (DRIPs) on Intracellular Localization and Trafficking of the D Dopamine Receptor (D-R) Isoforms.

The type 2 dopamine receptor D (D-R), member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, exists in two isoforms, short (D-R) and long (D-R). They differ by an additional 29 amino acids (AA) in the third cytoplasmic loop (ICL3) of the D-R. These isoforms differ in their intracellular localization and trafficking functionality, as D-R possesses a larger intracellular pool, mostly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).