Two predicted α-helices within the prion-like domain of TIAR-1 play a crucial role in its association with stress granules in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Stress granules (SGs) are sites for mRNA storage, protection, and translation repression. TIA1 and TIAR1 are two RNA-binding proteins that are key players in SGs formation in mammals. TIA1/TIAR have a prion-like domain (PrD) in their C-terminal that promotes liquid-phase separation. Lack of any TIA1/TIAR has severe consequences in mice. However, it is not clear whether the failure to form proper SGs is the cause of any of these problems. We disrupted two predicted α-helices within the prion-like domain of the Caenohabditis elegans TIA1/TIAR homolog, TIAR-1, to test whether its association with SGs is important for the nematode. We found that tiar-1 PrD mutant animals continued to form TIAR-1 condensates under stress in the C. elegans gonad. Nonetheless, TIAR-1 condensates appeared fragile and disassembled quickly after stress. Apparently, the SGs continued to associate regularly as observed with CGH-1, an SG marker. Like tiar-1-knockout nematodes, tiar-1 PrD mutant animals exhibited fertility problems and a shorter lifespan. Notwithstanding this, tiar-1 PrD mutant nematodes were no sensitive to stress. Our data demonstrate that the predicted prion-like domain of TIAR-1 is important for its association with stress granules. Moreover, this domain may also play a significant role in various TIAR-1 functions unrelated to stress, such as fertility, embryogenesis and lifespan.

Detection of comorbidities and synchronous primary tumours via thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography and their influence on treatment outcome in dogs with soft tissue sarcomas, primary brain tumours and intranasal tumours.

Canine soft tissue sarcomas (STS), primary brain tumours and intranasal tumours are commonly treated with radiotherapy (RT). Given the low metastatic potential of these tumours, recommendations regarding imaging tests as staging are variable among institutions. The purpose of our study was to describe thoracic radiographic and abdominal ultrasonographic findings in dogs with these neoplasms and to investigate association of abnormal findings with alterations in recommended treatment. Medical records from 101 dogs, each having thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound performed as part of their staging, were reviewed. In 98 of 101 (97%), imaging abnormalities were detected, 27% of which were further investigated with fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy. Nine percent of the detected abnormalities were considered serious comorbidities that altered treatment recommendations, including 3 (3%) which were confirmed as synchronous primary neoplasms. These findings may influence recommendations regarding the decision to perform thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound prior to initiation of RT.

Effect of feeding gossypol in cottonseed meal on growth, semen quality, and spermatogenesis of yearling Holstein bulls.

Yearling Holstein bulls were fed a corn silage ration supplemented with either cottonseed meal with gossypol or soybean meal in two trials to evaluate the effect of feeding gossypol on reproductive characteristics. In Trial 1, roughage to concentrate ratio was 88:12 and was fed for 60 d. In Trial 2, roughage to concentrate ratio was 50:50 and was fed for 42 d. Cottonseed meal concentrate had 3.03 g total gossypol/kg DM. Cottonseed meal concentrate was fed to provide 6 and 30 mg total gossypol/kg BW per d in Trials 1 and 2. Ejaculates were collected twice weekly via artificial vagina and critiqued for quantity and quality before and after thawing and after postthaw incubation. Leptotene spermatocytes to Sertoli cell ratio in stage 1 tubules was used to evaluate spermatogenesis. Growth characteristics and tissue total gossypol concentrations were also evaluated. No gossypol was found in plasma taken before, during, or after Trial 1 or from body organs or plasma taken during or after Trial 2. No signs of gossypol toxicity were observed, and growth characteristics were similar on both rations. Gossypol in cottonseed meal fed at low to moderate concentrations was not deleterious to seminal quantity or quality, and spermatogenesis was unaffected by treatment.

Effect of serum sources and colostral whey on bovine semen quality and spermatozoa immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence.

Heifer, bull, fetal calf sera, and colostral whey were used to evaluate the influence of protein concentrations on percent progressive motility, head-to-head agglutination, acrosomal integrity, and immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence of bovine spermatozoa using ejaculates from 10 bulls. In the first experiment, 10% (vol/vol) addition of undiluted colostral whey resulted in the highest head-to-head agglutination, acrosomal integrity, and immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence. Ten percent (vol/vol) addition of whey diluted to a protein concentration equivalent to fetal calf serum produced significantly lower agglutination, acrosomal integrity, and immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence. Fetal calf serum was unable to produce agglutination and immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence of bovine spermatozoa. Heifer and bull sera produced similar responses for all seminal measurements. In Experiment 2, unheated whey and heifer serum resulted in higher response for all variables than heat inactivated whey and heifer serum. Whey treatment produced greater spermatozoal motility, agglutination, acrosomal integrity; and immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence than treatment with heifer serum. Spermatozoal immunofluorescence indicated antibodies in normal whey, bull, and heifer serum bound to spermatozoal membranes at the acrosomal region. Colostral whey was an effective source of agglutinin factor. Normal unheated whey and heifer serum did not cause sperm damage or immobilization.