The expression of a ␤-defensin, the lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), in response to mastitis was investigated by real-time PCR of RNA from mastitic and control udder quarters. There was a positive relationship between somatic cell count in milk and LAP expression. In situ hybridization showed that LAP mRNA was expressed in epithelial cells of mastitic tissue. These results suggest that LAP plays a role in the innate immune response to mastitis.

1. The bovine ti-casein gene has been isolated as a series of overlapping I clones and shown to consist of five exons distributed over a total length of approximately 13 kb. Most of the mature protein-coding sequence is contained in a single large exon.2. Approximately 65% of the gene has been sequenced together with portions of the 5'-and 3'-flanking sequences. The immediate 5'-flanking sequence contains several motifs which are characteristic of upstream regions including a TATA box, a CAAT box, a sequence similar to that recognized by transcription factor AP-1 and a purine-rich sequence resembling that found upstream in all other lactoprotein genes. Other possible regulatory sequences are found upstream of exon 4.3. The organization of the K-casein gene, together with its upstream sequence, confirms previous conclusions that it is unrelated to the calcium-sensitive-casein gene familiy to which it is linked. Evidence is presented which supports a previous suggestion that ic-casein and the fibrinogens are evolutionarily related.4. Intron sequences contain several examples of the A family of the artiodactyl Alu-like repeated sequences, together with a single example of a C-family sequence. The remainders of the introns of the rc-casein gene, compared with the repeat elements and exons, are A + T-rich.5. Among the I clones isolated, representatives were found of the A and B genetic variants which can be distinguished by restriction-enzyme analysis. Several other examples of polymorphisms in the non-coding region were found.The caseins are the predominant proteins in the milk of most species. As well as being the main source of amino acids for the suckling infant, the caseins serve to raise the calcium and phosphate concentrations in milk to levels well in excess of the solubility product of calcium phosphate by forming loosely ordered aggregates, termed micelles, which sequester calcium phosphate. Bone formation in the young animal thus depends on the ability of casein to transport appropriate quantities of calcium phosphate in milk.In bovine milk more than 20 individual components can be resolved when whole casein is analyzed electrophoretically under dissociating conditions [I]. These result from posttranslational modification and genetic variation of four primary translation products which correspond to asl-, clS2-, pand k--caseins. The xsl-, xs2-and p-caseins are insoluble in the presence of calcium ion at the concentrations at which it occurs in milk and these caseins are referred to as the calciumsensitive caseins. In contrast, K-casein is insensitive to the presence of calcium and is referred to as the micelle stabilizer because it is essential for the formation of stable casein micelles [2]. Following ingestion, the caseins are immobilized in the stomach as a result of clot formation. This occurs when chymosin (rennin) or pepsin specifically cleaves a single PheMet bond in K-casein to form insoluble para-K-casein (105 residues) and a soluble macropeptide containing the C-termind 64 amino acid residues of ...

No abstract

Tin Flux, Crystal Structure, Magnetic Properties, Structural Relationships U Cr6P4 was prepared from a tin flux in two forms at low (a) and high (ß) temperatures (880 °C and 1000 °C), respectively. The crystal structures o f both m odifications were deter mined from single-crystal data. a-U C r6P4: P6m 2 (N o. 187), a = 698.5(3) pm, c = 350.8(1) pm, Z = 1, R = 0.052 for 18 variable parameters and 410 structure factors; /?-UCr6P4: Pmmn (N o. 59), a = 698.6(1) pm, b = 350.85(4) pm, c = 1196.1(2) pm, Z = 2, R = 0.047 for 21 variables and 656 structure factors. Although the lattice constants o f both m odifications are closely re lated, the two forms can be transformed into each other only by a very sluggish, reconstructive phase transformation. Nevertheless, both structures have very similar coordination polyhedra. The U atom s have 6 P neighbours in trigonal prismatic arrangement. H a lf o f the Cr atoms have tetrahedral, the other half square pyramidal P coordinations. As is typical for phosphides with high metal content, all metal atoms additionally have many metal neighbours. The P at oms are located in trigonal prisms o f metal atom s with two or three additional metal atoms outside the rectangular faces o f the prisms. Both m odifications o f UCr6P4 show relatively high, almost temperature independent paramagnetism, as is frequently observerd for intermetallic phases o f uranium.

No abstract