Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha (ACACA), the major regulatory enzyme of fatty acid biosynthesis, catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. We have sequenced 5.5 kb of the goat ACACA cDNA in 18 individuals. The translated cDNA sequence encodes 1,832 AA and shares a high AA identity (99%) with the ovine and bovine ACACA orthologous sequences. One silent single nucleotide polymorphism was identified at exon 45 (C5493T). The genotyping of this polymorphism in 4 goat breeds, Murciano-Granadina, Teramana, Majorera, and Malagueña, showed that it was segregating in all 4 breeds at variable frequencies. In addition, a mixed animal model was used to evaluate the association of C5493T genotypes with milk traits. Results from this study show that the C5493T mutation was suggestively associated with fat yield, lactose content, and somatic cell count.

The effects of the caprine α s1-casein (CSN1S1) polymorphisms on milk quality and cheese yield have been widely studied in French and Italian goat breeds. Much less is known about the consequences of κ-casein (CSN3) genotype on the technological and coagulation properties of goat milk. In the current study, we have performed an association analysis between polymorphisms at the goat CSN1S1 and CSN3 genes and milk coagulation (rennet coagulation time, curdling rate and curd firmness) and technological (time to cutting of curd and cheese yield) properties. In this analysis, we have included 193 records from 74 Murciano-Granadina goats (with genotypes constituted by different combinations of alleles B, E and F of the gene CSN1S1 and alleles A and B of the gene CSN3) distributed in three herds, which were collected bimonthly during a whole lactation. Data analysis, using a linear mixed model for repeated observations, revealed significant associations between CSN1S1 genotypes and the rate of the curdling process. In this way, milk from EE goats had a significantly higher curdling rate than milk from BB individuals (P<0·05). Contrary to previous experiments performed in French breeds, cheese yield was not significantly different in BB, EE and EF goats. Moreover, we have shown that CSN3 genotype has a significant effect on the rennet coagulation time (BB>AB, P<0·05) but not on cheese yield. No interaction between the CSN1S1 and CSN3 genotypes was observed.

INTRODUCCIÓNLa esclerosis múltiple (EM) se define como una enfermedad progresiva que cursa con la aparición de lesiones inflamatorias focales (placas) en la sustancia blanca cerebral, en las que lo más llamativo es la pér-dida de mielina (desmielinización), con preservación relativa de los axones en la fase precoz, aunque puede estar muy afectada en las fases finales 1 .Hemos efectuado una búsqueda en las bases de datos MEDLINE por términos médicos MeSH (rev i s i o n e s , estudios y guías de práctica clínica) y COCHRANE L i b r a ry por medio de las palabras clave: Multiple scl erosis, optic neuritis, diagnosis , pre g n a n c y, interfe ro n , t re a t m e n t . Lo completamos con información recog i d a en páginas web de la Asociación americana de Esclerosis Múltiple (http://www. n m s s . o rg / i n d ex.html), de la Fundación Esclerosis Múltiple (http://www. s v t . e s / f e m / ) RESUMEN

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a glycoprotein that plays a central role in plasma triglyceride metabolism by hydrolyzing triglyceride-rich chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins. The activity of milk LPL has been shown to differ among several goat breeds, suggesting the existence of a genetic polymorphism influencing the functional properties of this enzyme. We have characterized the complete coding sequence of the goat LPL gene in 18 individuals belonging to 3 breeds. The coding region of the goat LPL cDNA was 1,437 bp long and encoded a protein of 478 amino acids. Moreover, we have identified 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) including a G50C missense mutation, which involved a Ser-->Thr amino acid replacement at position 17 of the signal peptide, and a C2094T substitution in the 3' untranslated region. A univariate mixed model was used to evaluate the association between LPL genotypes and milk production and composition in 130 Murciano-Granadina goats. The G50C SNP was suggestively associated with milk fat content and tended to affect the milk dry weight basis. The C2094T SNP was not associated with any of the measured traits.

This paper reports a study carried out to determine the effect of post-filter-drying moisture uptake on the repeatability of NIR spectroscopy analyses of ewe milk using the dry-extract system for infrared (DESIR). The study assessed the spectral repeatability of the method and the effect of moisture uptake on that repeatability, using graphical representations and root mean squared (RMS) error between spectra, as well as multivariate Mahalanobis distances (GH values) and predicted constituent values (protein, fat and dry matter). The spectral repeatability of this method of dried milk analysis using glass-fibre filters was very high, both spectrally per se [RMS MEAN = 3.914 µlog (1/R) and STD = 4.126 µlog (1/R)] and in terms of NIR spectroscopy prediction of chemical components and of the Mahalanobis distance.Using a single filter per milk sample is thus considered sufficient to guarantee the required accuracy and precision of the DESIR method.Differences between spectra due to the presence or absence of air exposure [STD = 6446 µlog (1/R)] were greater than the method repeatability error. Predictions of protein, fat and dry matter were significantly higher for air-exposed filters, due to moisture uptake; the increase in GH values for air-exposed filters was highly significant, suggesting that milk samples to be analysed using the DESIR method should be stored in a desiccator after drying and before NIR analysis and not left exposed to air.