Tyrosinase is encoded by the Tyr (c or albino) locus and is the key enzyme in pigment biosynthesis. Loss of function of this enzyme caused by gene mutation results in albinism. Most cases of albinism are caused by mis...Tyrosinase is encoded by the Tyr (c or albino) locus and is the key enzyme in pigment biosynthesis. Loss of function of this enzyme caused by gene mutation results in albinism. Most cases of albinism are caused by missense mutations of tyrosinase. Albino mutations in Tyr have been identified in various animals, including human, mouse, rat, rabbit, cattle, cat, and ferret, but not in gerbil. We created two new gerbil strains: MON/Num/a (inbred agouti phenotype) and MON/Num/c (albino phenotype). Here, we report that four nucleotide substitutions in the Tyr gene caused two missense mutations in amino acids in the albino gerbil: a G-to-A mutation at position 204 in exon 1 caused R77H, and A-to-G at position 1392 and G-to-T at position 1393 in exon 5 caused Q473R. The substitution at position 1408 in exon 5 was silent. These missense mutations are conserved in all albino phenotypes we tested. Therefore, we suggest that these mutations are responsible for albinism in gerbil.展开更多
Animal immunity is usually impaired in obesity.We know little about the effect of being overweight or obese on the immune function of wild rodents.The present study is aimed to test the hypothesis that immunity is sup...Animal immunity is usually impaired in obesity.We know little about the effect of being overweight or obese on the immune function of wild rodents.The present study is aimed to test the hypothesis that immunity is suppressed in overweight Mongolian gerbils(Meriones unguiculatus).In the study,16 overweight(body mass:90.8-127.6 g)and 16 lean gerbils(body mass:60.5-77.7 g)were randomly selected from a total of 174 male gerbils(body mass range:55.8-144.7 g).Half of the overweight and lean males were injected with sterile saline;the others were immunochallenged(IC)with phytohaemagglutinin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin to assess cellular and humoral immunity,respectively.Body fat mass,wet and dry spleen mass,leukocyte counts,blood glucose levels and serum leptin levels were significantly higher in the overweight gerbils than in the lean gerbils.However,phytohemagglutinin response indicative of cellular immunity and immunoglobulin G concentrations was significantly lower in the IC overweight gerbils than in the IC lean gerbils.These results indicate that cellular and humoral immunity are impaired in the overweight gerbils.Excessive body fat mass,higher leukocyte counts and serum leptin levels imply that overweight gerbils are in a low grade inflammatory state.展开更多
文摘Tyrosinase is encoded by the Tyr (c or albino) locus and is the key enzyme in pigment biosynthesis. Loss of function of this enzyme caused by gene mutation results in albinism. Most cases of albinism are caused by missense mutations of tyrosinase. Albino mutations in Tyr have been identified in various animals, including human, mouse, rat, rabbit, cattle, cat, and ferret, but not in gerbil. We created two new gerbil strains: MON/Num/a (inbred agouti phenotype) and MON/Num/c (albino phenotype). Here, we report that four nucleotide substitutions in the Tyr gene caused two missense mutations in amino acids in the albino gerbil: a G-to-A mutation at position 204 in exon 1 caused R77H, and A-to-G at position 1392 and G-to-T at position 1393 in exon 5 caused Q473R. The substitution at position 1408 in exon 5 was silent. These missense mutations are conserved in all albino phenotypes we tested. Therefore, we suggest that these mutations are responsible for albinism in gerbil.
基金This study was supported by grants to DHW from the National Science and Technology Ministry Project(No.2007BC109103)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30625009).
文摘Animal immunity is usually impaired in obesity.We know little about the effect of being overweight or obese on the immune function of wild rodents.The present study is aimed to test the hypothesis that immunity is suppressed in overweight Mongolian gerbils(Meriones unguiculatus).In the study,16 overweight(body mass:90.8-127.6 g)and 16 lean gerbils(body mass:60.5-77.7 g)were randomly selected from a total of 174 male gerbils(body mass range:55.8-144.7 g).Half of the overweight and lean males were injected with sterile saline;the others were immunochallenged(IC)with phytohaemagglutinin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin to assess cellular and humoral immunity,respectively.Body fat mass,wet and dry spleen mass,leukocyte counts,blood glucose levels and serum leptin levels were significantly higher in the overweight gerbils than in the lean gerbils.However,phytohemagglutinin response indicative of cellular immunity and immunoglobulin G concentrations was significantly lower in the IC overweight gerbils than in the IC lean gerbils.These results indicate that cellular and humoral immunity are impaired in the overweight gerbils.Excessive body fat mass,higher leukocyte counts and serum leptin levels imply that overweight gerbils are in a low grade inflammatory state.
