Use Of MAS Research Articles

Comparative gene and QTL mapping in aquaculture species

Mapping genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) is of fundamental and applied interest in aquaculture species. Such studies can pro- vide essential information about rates and patterns of evolutionary change and may pro- vide tools which can be used in marker-assist- ed selection (MAS; e.g., Groenen et al., 2000). Mapping typically involves producing divergent crosses and analyzing segregation patterns in the offspring of hybrids between the divergent crosses. The more divergent the cross is, the greater the potential for finding useful marker and trait differences that can be mapped. The basic goal of mapping is to understand the position of loci on chromo- somes and how the positions change during evolution. The applied goal of mapping is to understand the position of loci associated with phenotypic traits which could be important in breeding programs. Correspondingly, QTL mapping seeks to identify the number and location of loci associated with phenotypic traits (e.g., Mackay, 2001; Mauricio, 2001; Burt and Hocking, 2002; Erickson et al., 2004) while applied QTL studies seek to identify candidate genes or markers for use in MAS.

GTP-binding protein-independent potentiation by mastoparan of IL-1beta-induced nitric oxide release from insulin-secreting HIT-T15 cells.

Our recent data implicated small molecular weight G-proteins (e.g., H-Ras) in interleukin 1beta (IL 1beta)-induced metabolic dysfunction and apoptotic demise of the islet beta cell (Tannous et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2001; 62:1459-1468, Kowluru and Morgan, Biochem Pharmacol, 2002; 63:1027-1035, Chen et al. Biochem Pharmacol, 2003; 66:1681-1694). Recently, we have shown that mastoparan, a tetradecapeptide from wasp venom, has been shown to directly activate islet endogenous G-proteins and regulate islet function (Amin et al., Endocrinology 2003; 144: 4508-4518). Herein, we investigated potential contributory roles, if any, of mastoparan (Mas)-sensitive G-proteins in IL-induced nitric oxide (NO) release from insulin-secreting HIT-T15 cells. While, ineffective by itself, Mas significantly potentiated IL-induced NO release from HIT-T15 cells. Interestingly, Mas-17, an inactive analog of Mas, also potentiated IL-induced NO release, suggesting that the potentiating effect of Mas may not involve activation of specific G-proteins. Such potentiating effects on IL-induced NO release were also demonstrable in the presence of another polycationic compound, melittin. Together, these findings suggest that Mas-induced potentiation of IL-induced NO release may in part be due to its amphiphilic and polycationic nature. These data also warrant caution in the use of Mas to study its regulation of cellular function without the use of an appropriate negative control, such as Mas-17.

EXPANDED USES OF SURFACTANT THERAPY

There are few therapies for which the cumulative evidence of benefit is as much as that for surfactant therapy for RDS in premature infants. Exogenous surfactant therapy does seem to be beneficial for a number of non-RDS disorders. Although there are some trials supporting its use in MAS and ALI-ARDS, there are only a few small prospective, randomized, controlled trials supporting surfactant use in non-RDS disorders. Use of surfactant therapy for any disorder other than RDS must be considered "off the shelf" and experimental. Much work remains to be done to address the role of surfactant therapy in the myriad disorders discussed. Of import for each of the disorders is addressing the optimum type of surfactant to use, and the appropriate dose, method of delivery, and duration of treatment regimens.

Rearticulating Violence

Rearticulating Violence

Towards marker assisted selection in livestock.

In recent years, genomic tools have become available for most livestock species and are now being used routinely to map quantitative trait loci underlying the genetic variance for numerous economically important traits. Fine-mapping methods are being devised to refine the initially coarse map positions of the quantitative trait loci to the point required for marker assisted selection and, eventually, the positional cloning of the underlying genes. Mapping information on QTL is beginning to be used to increase genetic response by enhancing genetic variance, selection accuracy, selection intensity and by reducing the generation interval. Optimal use of MAS will require the development of more robust methods for the routine genotyping of preimplantation embryos for multiple markers.

Expression of the MAS proto-oncogene in the retinal pigment epithelium of the rhesus macaque.

The MAS proto-oncogene codes for a seven transmembrane protein which has been previously localized to specific regions of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the rat central nervous system. Because MAS has biological properties related to the growth and differentiation of cells of neuroectodermal origin, we investigated the distribution of MAS expression in the rhesus macaque retina by in situ hybridization. A 330 base pair (bp) segment of the human MAS sequence was subcloned and used to generate single-stranded cRNA probes for these studies. Our results demonstrated little, if any, positive signal over the neurons of the retina. The use of epi-polarization microscopy, however, revealed a distinct positive labelling of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. These studies suggest the use of MAS as a possible marker for the retinal pigment epithelium.

An Archean metamorphic core complex in the southern Slave Province: basement–cover structural relations between the Sleepy Dragon Complex and the Yellowknife Supergroup

Archean rocks in the Fenton Lake – Brown Lake area, southern Slave Province, are subdivided into two lithotectonic domains: a supracrustal domain, which consists mainly of the Archean Yellowknife Supergroup, and a gneiss–granite domain. The latter is composed of gneissic and metaigneous rocks of the Sleepy Dragon Complex, determined to be basement to the Yellowknife Supergroup, and granite plutons, including the 2641 ± 3.5 Ma Suse Lake granite and the 2583.5 ± 1 Ma Morose Granite. Volcanic rocks of the Cameron River Belt and greywacke–mudstone turbiditic metasedimentary rocks of the Burwash Formation constitute the supracrustal domain.A late Archean, amphibolite- to greenschist-facies, ductile to local brittle, high-strain zone separates the domains. Kinematic indicators demonstrate that the zone experienced two kinematically opposed episodes of displacement. The older episode involved pre- to synthermal peak thrusting of the supracrustal rocks over the gneiss–granite domain. Thrusting is kinematically and temporally consistent with late Archean, pre- to synthermal peak, regional contractional deformation. Structural and metamorphic relations and kinematic indicators suggest that thrusting and regional contraction were followed shortly by intrusion of the peraluminous Morose Granite and thereafter by a late syn- to post-thermal peak episode of extension, resulting in tectonic unroofing of the gneiss–granite domain.The sequential history of contraction and attendant regional metamorphism, granite intrusion, and, ultimately, extensional collapse, which is documented in the Archean rocks in the area, is a common feature of Phanerozoic collisional orogens. Moreover, the tectonic history of the gneiss–granite domain is broadly similar to the evolution of metamorphic core complexes in the North American Cordillera.