A previous genome scan that was conducted in Spanish Churra sheep identified a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) for milk protein percentage (PP) on chromosome 3 (OAR3), between markers KD103 and OARVH34. The aim of this study was to replicate these results and to refine the mapped position of this QTL. To accomplish this goal, we analysed 14 new half-sib families of Spanish Churra she...

A bioinformatics investigation of four insect species with annotated genome sequences identified a family of genes encoding chitin deacetylase (CDA)-like proteins, with five to nine members depending on the species. CDAs (EC 3.5.1.41) are chitin-modifying enzymes that deacetylate the beta-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine homopolymer. Partial deacetylation forms a heteropolysaccharide that also co...

Relaxin family peptide receptors (RXFP, nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on [18, 81]) may be divided into two pairs, RXFP1/2 and RXFP3/4. Endogenous agonists at these are heterodimeric hormones structurally related to insulin: relaxin-1, relaxin, relaxin-3 (also known INSL7), insulin-like 3 (INSL3) INSL5. Species homologues of relaxin have distinct pharmacology interacts wit...

Relaxin family peptide receptors (RXFP, nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on [23, 119]) may be divided into two pairs, RXFP1/2 and RXFP3/4. Endogenous agonists at these are heterodimeric hormones structurally related to insulin: relaxin-1, relaxin, relaxin-3 (also known INSL7), insulin-like 3 (INSL3) INSL5. Species homologues of relaxin have distinct pharmacology interacts wi...

Boar taint is characterized by an unpleasant taste or odor in intact male pigs and is primarily attributed to increased concentrations of androstenone and skatole and to a lesser extent by increased indole. The boar taint compounds skatole and indole are produced by gut bacteria, metabolized in the liver, and stored in the fat tissue. Androstenone, on the other hand, is synthesized in the testi...

We present the results from a damped Lyα survey of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Data Release 3. We have discovered over 500 new damped Lyα systems at z > 2.2 and the complete statistical sample for z > 1.6 has more than 600 damped Lyα galaxies. We measure the H I column density distribution fHI(N,X) and its zeroth and first moments (the incidence lDLA and gas mass-density Ω DLA g of damped Lyα...

Endocytosis of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and associated channels contributes to desensitization and adaptation of a variety of signaling cascades. In Drosophila melanogaster, the main light-sensing rhodopsin (Rh1; encoded by ninaE) and the downstream ion channel, transient receptor potential like (TRPL), are endocytosed in response to light, but the mechanism is unclear. By using an R...

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the largest cause of mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). CVD in ESRD is not explained by classical CVD risk factors such as HDL cholesterol mass levels making functional alterations of lipoproteins conceivable. HDL functions in atheroprotection by promoting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), comprising cholesterol efflux from ma...