Monoclinic guanidinoacetate methyltransferase and gadolinium ion-binding characteristics

Association analysis of transcriptome and quasi-targeted metabolomics reveals the regulation mechanism underlying broiler muscle tissue development at different levels of dietary guanidinoacetic acid

The development and characteristics of muscle fibers in broilers are critical determinants that influence their growth performance, as well as serve as essential prerequisites for the production of high-quality chicken meat. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is a crucial endogenous substance in animal creatine synthesis, and its utilization as a feed additive has been demonstrated the capabilities to enhance animal performance, optimize muscle yield, and augment carcass quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the regulation and molecular mechanism underlying muscle development in broilers at different levels of GAA via multiple omics analysis. The 90 Cobb broilers, aged 1 day, were randomly allocated into three treatments consisting of five replicates of six chickens each. The control group was provided with a basal diet, while the Normal GAA and High GAA groups received a basal diet supplemented with 1.2 g/kg and 3.6 g/kg of GAA, respectively. After a feeding period of 42 days, the pectoralis muscles were collected for histomorphological observation, transcriptome and metabolomic analysis. The results demonstrated that the addition of 1.2 g/kg GAA in the diet led to an augmentation in muscle fiber diameter and up-regulation of IGF1, IHH, ASB2, and ANKRD2 gene expression. However, a high dose of 3.6 g/kg GAA in the diet potentially reversed the beneficial effects on chicken breast development by excessively activating the TGF-β signaling pathway and reducing nucleotide metabolite content. These findings would provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing the performance and meat quality of broilers by incorporating GAA as a feed additive.

Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in broiler chickens fed on corn-soybean diets affects performance in the finisher period and energy metabolites in breast muscle independent of diet nutrient density

(1) Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the single immediate endogenous precursor of creatine (Cr). It was hypothesised that dietary GAA would have different effects on performance and energy metabolites in breast muscle depending on the nutrient density (ND) of corn-soybean-based diets. (2) A total of 540 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were allocated to 9 dietary treatments with 6 replicates (10 birds each) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three levels of ND (low, 2800; medium, 2950 and high, 3100 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg; and with the other nutrients being constant relative to ME) and supplemented with three levels of GAA (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg) in a 42-d feeding trial. (3) In the starter and grower periods, increasing levels of ND improved body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), with the exception of ADFI in the starter period. GAA supplementation did not affect performance characteristics. All performance indicators responded markedly to increasing ND in the finisher period, whereas the highest GAA level reduced ADFI compared to the unsupplemented control (156 vs. 162 g/d) and concomitantly FCR (1.81 vs. 1.93). No interactive effects were noted for any performance trait. The high ND diet resulted in more breast meat yield on d42, associated with higher fat content and darker colour compared to the other ND levels. The GAA supplementation did not affect carcass and breast traits. At the end of the experiment, Cr was elevated when feeding GAA at 1.2 g/kg (5455 vs. 4338 mg/kg fresh muscle). (4) To conclude, ND had a substantial effect on performance and carcass traits, whereas any effect of GAA was limited to FCR in the finisher period and independent of diet ND level.

Crystal structures of NodS N-methyltransferase from Bradyrhizobium japonicum in ligand-free form and as SAH complex

NodS is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent N-methyltransferase that is involved in the biosynthesis of Nod factor (NF) in rhizobia, which are bacterial symbionts of legume plants. NF is a modified chitooligosaccharide (COS) signal molecule that is recognized by the legume host, where it initiates symbiotic processes leading to atmospheric nitrogen fixation. We report the crystal structure of recombinant NodS protein from Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which infects lupine and serradella legumes. Two crystal forms--ligand-free NodS and NodS in complex with S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, which is a by-product of the methylation reaction--were obtained, and their structures were refined to resolutions of 2.43 Å and 1.85 Å, respectively. Although the overall fold (consisting of a seven-stranded β-sheet flanked by layers of helices) is similar to those of other SAM-dependent methyltransferases, NodS has specific features reflecting the unique character of its oligosaccharide substrate. In particular, the N-terminal helix and its connecting loop get ordered upon SAM binding, thereby closing the methyl donor cavity and shaping a long surface canyon that is clearly the binding site for the acceptor molecule. Comparison of the two structural forms of NodS suggests that there are also other conformational changes taking place upon the binding of the donor substrate. As an enzyme that methylates a COS substrate, NodS is the first example among all SAM-dependent methyltransferases to have its three-dimensional structure elucidated. Gaining insight about how NodS binds its donor and acceptor substrates helps to better understand the mechanism of NodS activity and the basis of its functional difference in various rhizobia.

Gadolinium toxicity: epidermis thickness measurement by magnetic resonance imaging at 500 MHz

PURPOSE

Regional epidermal thickening and hair follicle width measurement by delayed gadolinium contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may assess the contrast agent gadolinium toxicity on mice skin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Delayed contrast in vivo MRI was performed in mice. Six mice skin samples were removed and exposed to a gadolinium contrast agent at different times after 2, 4, 6 and 8 h. The relaxation constants of each skin structure were measured. The thickness of the epidermis and hair follicle on follow-up ex vivo delayed-contrast MRI served as an index of gadolinium toxicity on the skin.

RESULTS

In vivo MRI by fast low-angle shot imaging technique showed distinct skin layers. High-resolution gradient echo T1-weighted and multislice multiecho proton density-weighted MRI intensities in the epidermis and hair follicle showed a positive correlation with delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI hyperintensities (Pearson's correlation coefficient r(2)=0.81, P<0.0001) in the excised mice skin tissues. Delayed contrast-enhanced mice skin MRI after 2-4 h showed epidermis swelling and hair follicle regions with a size measurement accuracy of 65%, a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 25%, a positive predictive value of 65% and a negative predictive value of 65%. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves by MRI were 0.92-0.94 for hair and epidermis as good discriminators. MRI visualized distinct relaxation constants of the epidermis, sebaceous gland, skin papillary and reticular dermis layers and hair follicle.

CONCLUSION

Gadolinium contrast-enhanced MRI may visualize the thickening of the epidermis wall and hair follicle as an index of viable mice skin. Gadolinium enhanced the MRI visibility of skin structures. Gadolinium treatment showed skin toxicity as epidermis thickening the first time due to the undesirable use of high concentrations of gadolinium in microimaging.