Comparative proteomic analysis of hypothalamus tissue from Huoyan geese between pre-laying period and laying period using an iTRAQ-based approach.

The hypothalamus plays a central role in controlling poultry endocrine and reproductive activities. So far there is limited information focused on the proteome profiles of the hypothalamus from geese during different stages of the egg-laying cycle. In order to identify proteins regulating the egg-laying process of Huoyan geese, we investigated the proteome profiles of the hypothalamus from Huoyan geese during the laying period and pre-laying period by applying an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic technology. A total number of 3,337 were identified and quantified, of which 18 were significantly up-regulated and 16 were significantly down-regulated. These differentially expressed proteins were subjected to bioinformatics analyses based on the Gene Ontology annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. Some of these were revealed to be involved in hormone and neurotransmitter secretion, exocytosis, calcium ion transport and synaptic transmission. Subsequently, excitatory amino acid transporter 2, complexin-1 and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, type 3 were confirmed at the messenger RNA level using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Then, the abundance change of these proteins was verified further using Western blotting analysis. These data may aid in elucidating the molecular mechanism of higher laying performance in Huoyan geese.

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of various solvents extracts of Abutilon theophrasti Medic. leaves.

This paper described the extraction procedure of six extracts from Abutilon theophrasti Medic. leaves and evaluated antioxidant and antibacterial activity of different extracts by hydroxyl radical, DPPH radical scavenging, broth micro-dilution and agar-well diffusion methods. The six extracts were prepared by the two extraction procedures: (I) water was the extraction solvent; (II) 90% alcohol extract was extracted by petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol in turn. Extract yields were 7.34%, 7.31%, 0.45%, 0.12%, 2.70% and 5.68% for extract I to VI. It was revealed that the various extracts had effective antibacterial activity against four test strains from Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus (ATCC 49619), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Salmonella (ATCC 01303); meanwhile, the six extracts demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, achieved by hydroxyl radical and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the bacterial species ranged from 2.21 to 539.46 mg/ml, diameter of inhibition zone ranged from 2.08 to 15.05mm. The scavenging •OH and DPPH• rates were 62.37% to 81.86% with the concentration 0.06 to 1.89mg/ml and 37.80% to 81.23% with the concentration 1.07 to 35.52mg/ml. According to the results, these extracts have antioxidant and antibacterial activity. In view of all the facts collectively, the six extracts will become natural and nontoxic antioxidant and antibacterial agent, and be applied in food and pharmaceutical industries for the prevention or treatment caused by microorganisms and free radicals.