Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a family of antioxidant proteins that reduce peroxide levels by using reducing agents such as thioredoxin. These proteins were characterized to have a number of cellular functions, including cell proliferation and differentiation and protection of specific proteins from oxidative damage. However, the physiological roles of the peroxiredoxins have not been determined. To clarify the physiological relevance of this protein type, we generated a mouse model deficient in Prx II, which is abundantly expressed in all types of cells. The Prx II ؊/؊ mice were healthy in appearance and fertile. However, they had splenomegaly caused by the congestion of red pulp with hemosiderin accumulation. Heinz bodies were detected in their peripheral blood, and morphologically abnormal cells were elevated in the dense red blood cell (RBC) fractions, which contained markedly higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Prx II ؊/؊ mice had significantly decreased hematocrit levels, but increased reticulocyte counts and erythropoietin levels, indicative of a compensatory action to maintain hematologic homeostasis in the mice. In addition, a labeling experiment with the thiol-modifying reagent biotinylated iodoacetamide (BIAM) in Prx II ؊/؊ mice revealed that a variety of RBC proteins were highly oxidized.

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Lactoferrin, which exhibits antibacterial activity to protect infants from infectious disease, is a major component of colostrum and milk. Lactoferrin was purified from the colostrum of Korean Native goat, and the cDNA from the mammary gland mRNA of the animal was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of the lactoferrin gene of Korean Native goat was found to differ in 15 sites from that of the goat lactoferrin gene reported earlier. This difference in nucleotide sequence resulted in six amino acid substitutions: five in the N-lobe and one in the C-lobe. The antibacterial activity of Korean Native goat lactoferrin was found to be greater than that of Sannen goat lactoferrin.

Adipocytes are differentiated from preadipocytes and have large capacity for storing fats inside cells. In cattle, intramuscular fat (IMF) content is one of the major determinants for meat quality and also highly affects market prices, especially in Japan and Korea. In order to profiling differentially expressed genes between intramuscular fibroblast-like cells (preadipocytes) and their differentiated adipocytes, we have established intramuscular fibroblast-like cells from M. longissimus thoracis in Korean cattle (Hanwoo). The differentially expressed genes were selected by comparing these two types of cells ug thecommercially available 23kese two types of cells ug theco. The results indan ced that 206 arecomelements were differentially expressed. Of these, 67 and 94 ks wn genes were up and d wn regulaced, respectively, in adipocytes ug ng both 2-fold difference and Welch's t-test as the cut-off points. The differentially expressed genes identified in this study can be used as good markers for improving meat quality traits with further verification of their biological functions, especially IMF contents in cattle.

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