Phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2), an isozyme that catalyzes the first ATP-generating step in the glycolytic pathway, is encoded by an autosomal retrogene that is expressed only during spermatogenesis. It replaces the ubiquitously expressed phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) isozyme following repression of Pgk1 transcription by meiotic sex chromosome inactivation during meiotic prophase and by postmeiotic sex chromatin during spermiogenesis. The targeted disruption of Pgk2 by homologous recombination eliminates PGK activity in sperm and severely impairs male fertility, but does not block spermatogenesis. Mating behavior, reproductive organ weights (testis, excurrent ducts, and seminal vesicles), testis histology, sperm counts, and sperm ultrastructure were indistinguishable between Pgk2(-/-) and wild-type mice. However, sperm motility and ATP levels were markedly reduced in males lacking PGK2. These defects in sperm function were slightly less severe than observed in males lacking glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, spermatogenic (GAPDHS), the isozyme that catalyzes the step preceding PGK2 in the sperm glycolytic pathway. Unlike Gapdhs(-/-) males, the Pgk2(-/-) males also sired occasional pups. Alternative pathways that bypass the PGK step of glycolysis exist. We determined that one of these bypass enzymes, acylphosphatase, is active in mouse sperm, perhaps contributing to phenotypic differences between mice lacking GAPDHS or PGK2. This study determined that PGK2 is not required for the completion of spermatogenesis, but is essential for sperm motility and male fertility. In addition to confirming the importance of the glycolytic pathway for sperm function, distinctive phenotypic characteristics of Pgk2(-/-) mice may provide further insights into the regulation of sperm metabolism.

The cooling rates of 10(2) K/s, intermediate to those in lyophilization (1 K/min) and spray freeze-drying (SFD) (10(6) K/s), were sufficiently fast to produce sub-micron protein particles with surface areas of 31-73 m2/g, an order of magnitude higher than in lyophilization. In addition, the low surface area/volume ratio (32-45 cm(-1)) of the gas-liquid interface led to minimal protein adsorption and denaturation relative to SFD.

Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei are Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, responsible for the diseases glanders and melioidosis, respectively. Furthermore, there is currently no vaccine available against these Burkholderia species. In this study, we aimed to identify protective proteins against these pathogens. Immunization with recombinant B. mallei Hcp1 (type VI secreted/structural protein), BimA (autotransporter protein), BopA (type III secreted protein), and B. pseudomallei LolC (ABC transporter protein) generated significant protection against lethal inhaled B. mallei ATCC23344 and B. pseudomallei 1026b challenge. Immunization with BopA elicited the greatest protective activity, resulting in 100% and 60% survival against B. mallei and B. pseudomallei challenge, respectively. Moreover, sera from recovered mice demonstrated reactivity with the recombinant proteins. Dendritic cells stimulated with each of the different recombinant proteins showed distinct cytokine patterns. In addition, T cells from immunized mice produced IFN-γ following in vitro re-stimulation. These results indicated therefore that it was possible to elicit cross-protective immunity against both B. mallei and B. pseudomallei by vaccinating animals with one or more novel recombinant proteins identified in B. mallei.

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Electrophoretic patterns of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) in bony fishes provide strong evidence for a model of genetic control by two independent structural gene loci, most likely resulting from a gene duplication. This model is confirmed by a comparison of certain kinetic and molecular properties of the PGI homodimers (PGI-1 and PGI-2) isolated from extracts of the teleost A s t y a n a x mexicanus. In addition, in most higher teleosts examined, the PGI enzymes show a regular pattern of tissue distribution, with PGI-2 predominant in muscle, the heterodimer often strongest in the heart, and PGI-1 predominant in liver and other organs. An examination of 53 species of bony fishes belonging to 38 families indicates a widespread occurrence of duplicate PGI loci and an early origin of the gene duplication, perhaps in the Leptolepiformes. The apparent presence of three PGI loci in trout and goldfish exemplifies how new loci can be incorporated into the genome through polyploidization.