Molecular cloning, characterization expression of P450c17-I and P450c17-II and their functions analysis during the reproductive cycle in males of barfin flounder (Verasper moseri).

P450c17, a key steroidogenic enzyme, plays important roles in the production of sex steroid and cortisol. In teleost, there are two types of P450c17, P450c17-I possessing 17α-hydroxylase and 17, 20-lyase activities, and P450c17-II only possessing 17α-hydroxylase activity. This work describes the molecular cloning of the cDNA encoding the barfin flounder (Verasper moseri) P450c17-I and P450c17-II by means of RT-PCR and 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) analyses and mRNA expression profiles analyzing by semiquantitative RT-PCR.

The physiology functions of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in reproduction cycle of ovoviviparous black rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli Hilgendorf.

This paper revealed the expression pattern of ERα in the ovoviviparous teleost, Sebastes schlegeli. In this paper, we isolated the cDNA encoding for estrogen receptor alpha of black rockfish (S. schlegeli) from its ovary, named as black rockfish ERα (brfERα).

Low plasma adiponectin as a potential biomarker for osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Objective: To examine whether plasma adiponectin level is correlated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH).

Methods: Blood adiponectin level in patients with nontraumatic ONFH (n = 120) was compared with a group of healthy subjects (n = 120). Patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA; n = 30) and traumatic ONFH (n = 45) were included as controls.

Cloning and expression of P450c17-I (17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) in brain and ovary during gonad development in Cynoglossus semilaevis.

Cytochrome P450c17 (CYP17, 17a-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) is a critical enzyme in the production of androgens and estrogens in vertebrates. A 2,469 bp full length cDNA of P450c17-I (CYP17A1) has been isolated from the ovary of half-smooth tongue sole, Cynoglossus semilaevis which encodes 509 amino acids. Additionally, a relatively shorter cDNA (1,742 bp), a likely result of polyadenylation, was also found.