Development and disease-specific regulation of RNA splicing in cardiovascular system.

Alternative splicing is a complex gene regulatory process that distinguishes itself from canonical splicing by rearranging the introns and exons of an immature pre-mRNA transcript. This process plays a vital role in enhancing transcriptomic and proteomic diversity from the genome. Alternative splicing has emerged as a pivotal mechanism governing complex biological processes during both heart development and the development of cardiovascular diseases. Multiple alternative splicing factors are involved in a synergistic or antagonistic manner in the regulation of important genes in relevant physiological processes. Notably, circular RNAs have only recently garnered attention for their tissue-specific expression patterns and regulatory functions. This resurgence of interest has prompted a reevaluation of the topic. Here, we provide an overview of our current understanding of alternative splicing mechanisms and the regulatory roles of alternative splicing factors in cardiovascular development and pathological process of different cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, heart failure and atherosclerosis.

Beef Steer Performance on Irrigated Monoculture Legume Pastures Compared with Grass- and Concentrate-Fed Steers.

Fall- or spring-born steers grazed monoculture irrigated birdsfoot trefoil (BFT; Lotus corniculatus L.) or cicer milkvetch (CMV; Astragalus cicer L.) pastures for approximately 12 weeks for 3 years and were compared with steers on concentrate diets. In the 3rd year, an irrigated meadow bromegrass (MBG; Bromus biebersteinii Roem. and Schult.) pasture treatment was added for further comparison. Steer average daily gain (ADG) was 1.31, 0.94, 0.83 and 0.69 kg d−1 on concentrate, 'Norcen' BFT, 'Oberhaunstadter' BFT, and 'Monarch' CMV diets, respectively; ADG on grass pastures was 0.43 kg d−1. The ADG on the concentrate diet was greater than ADG on legume or grass pastures, ADG was greater on BFT than CMV in every year (p < 0.03), and ADG on BFT was greater than ADG on grass (p < 0.03). The rate constant of gas production of an in vitro rumen fermentation demonstrated a slower rate of microbial digestion for CMV than for BFT. The elevated ADG on BFT pastures may be due to greater non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) concentration and reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration combined with condensed tannins that protect proteins in the rumen but do not impede protein digestion in the abomasum and intestines.