Cloning and expression of neuron-specific enolase in the corpus luteum of dairy goats

Molecular Cloning, Expression Pattern and Genotypic Effects on Glucoraphanin Biosynthetic Related Genes in Chinese Kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra Bailey)

Glucoraphanin is a plant secondary metabolite that is involved in plant defense and imparts health-promoting properties to cruciferous vegetables. In this study, three genes involved in glucoraphanin metabolism, branched-chain aminotransferase 4 (BCAT4), methylthioalkylmalate synthase 1 (MAM1) and dihomomethionine N-hydroxylase (CYP79F1), were cloned from Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra Bailey). Sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis identified these genes and confirmed the evolutionary status of Chinese kale. The transcript levels of BCAT4, MAM1 and CYP79F1 were higher in cotyledon, leaf and stem compared with flower and silique. BCAT4, MAM1 and CYP79F1 were expressed throughout leaf development with lower transcript levels during the younger stages. Glucoraphanin content varied extensively among different varieties, which ranged from 0.25 to 2.73 µmol·g(-1) DW (dry weight). Expression levels of BCAT4 and MAM1 were high at vegetative-reproductive transition phase, while CYP79F1 was expressed high at reproductive phase. BCAT4, MAM1 and CYP79F1 were expressed significantly high in genotypes with high glucoraphanin content. All the results provided a better understanding of the roles of BCAT4, MAM1 and CYP79F1 in the glucoraphanin biosynthesis of Chinese kale.

Plasma Levels of the Cerebral Biomarker, Neuron-Specific Enolase, are Elevated During Pregnancy in Women Developing Preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is considered to be a peripheral biomarker of central nervous system injury. The aim of this study was to compare levels of NSE throughout pregnancy, in healthy pregnant women and in women developing preeclampsia.

METHODS

A nested case-control study within a longitudinal study cohort was performed. Four hundred sixty nine healthy pregnant women were enrolled, and plasma samples were collected at gestational weeks 10, 25, 28, 33, and 37. Levels of NSE were analyzed in 16 women with preeclampsia and 36 controls throughout pregnancy with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

In gestational week 37, women who developed preeclampsia had significantly higher plasma levels of NSE than healthy pregnant controls (P < .001). The levels of NSE did not change between gestational weeks 10 and 37 in women who developed preeclampsia, but the levels decreased significantly in healthy pregnant controls (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In pregnant women developing preeclampsia, the levels of NSE remained high throughout pregnancy, whereas in healthy women, these tended to decline over time, especially at the 2 last time points. The result might be confounded in early pregnancy by extracerebral sources of NSE, such as the corpus luteum. Findings need to be confirmed in a larger prospective study.