Changing genes; losing lactase.

Diversity of bacterial lactase genes in intestinal contents of mice with antibiotics-induced diarrhea

AIM To investigate the diversity of bacterial lactase genes in the intestinal contents of mice with antibiotics-induced diarrhea. METHODS Following 2 d of adaptive feeding, 12 specific pathogen-free Kunming mice were randomly divided into the control group and model group. The mouse model of antibiotics-induced diarrhea was established by gastric perfusion with mixed antibiotics (23.33 mL·kg-...

Interaction between the homeodomain proteins Cdx2 and HNF1alpha mediates expression of the lactase-phlorizin hydrolase gene.

Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase is a brush-border enzyme which is specifically expressed in the small intestine where it hydrolyses lactose, the main carbohydrate found in milk. We have previously demonstrated in transgenic mice that the tissue-specific and developmental expression of lactase is controlled by a 1 kb upstream region of the pig lactase gene. Two homeodomain transcription factors, cau...

Lactase Persistence and Lipid Pathway Selection in the Maasai

The Maasai are a pastoral people in Kenya and Tanzania, whose traditional diet of milk, blood and meat is rich in lactose, fat and cholesterol. In spite of this, they have low levels of blood cholesterol, and seldom suffer from gallstones or cardiac diseases. Field studies in the 1970s suggested that the Maasai have a genetic adaptation for cholesterol homeostasis. Analysis of HapMap 3 data usi...

Polymorphism in the oxytocin promoter region in patients with lactase non-persistence is not related to symptoms

BACKGROUND Oxytocin and the oxytocin receptor have been demonstrated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and have been shown to exert physiological effects on gut motility. The role for oxytocin in the pathophysiology of GI complaints is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine genetic variations or polymorphism of oxytocin (OXT) and its receptor (OXTR) genes in patients with GI complaints ...

Effect of Activators and Inhibitors on Lactase Activities to Determine its Kinetic Model