We have examined the localization of the first two enzymes in the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolic pathway: the branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT) isozymes (mitochondrial BCATm and cytosolic BCATc) and the branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) enzyme complex. Antibodies specific for BCATm or BCATc were used to immunolocalize the respective isozymes in cryosections of...

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) overexpression and intestinal structure and digestive function in heat-stressed broilers. In total, 240 male broilers were injected intraperitoneally with l-(1)-glutamine (0.75 mg/kg of BW) or quercetin (5 mg/kg of BW). Twenty-four hours later, they were heat-stressed for 0, 2, 3, 5, and 10 h, ...

To test whether the improvements in digestive efficiency due to either wetting of the food or inclusion of enzymes are accompanied by the same changes in gut function, foods with a high content of wheat were fed to broiler chicks from 1-42 d old. Twenty-four birds were caged individually while a further sixty-four were in group pens in experiments of 2 x 2 factorial design with two levels of en...

Mannitol oxidase and polyol dehydrogenases are enzymes that convert polyalcohols into sugars. Mannitol oxidase was previously investigated in terrestrial snails and slugs, being also present in a few aquatic gastropods. However, the overall distribution of this enzyme in the Gastropoda was not known. Polyol dehydrogenases are also poorly studied in gastropods and other mollusks. In this study, ...

The pathogenesis of alcoholic pancreatitis is not fully understood. An increase in pancreatic digestive and lysosomal enzyme synthesis because of ethanol consumption could contribute to the development of pancreatic injury in alcoholics. This study aimed, firstly, to determine the effect of ethanol on the content and messenger RNA levels of pancreatic digestive enzymes and on the messenger RNA ...

The digestive tract of lepidopteran insects is unique given its highly alkaline pH. The adaptive plasticity of digestive enzymes in this environment is crucial to the highly-efficient nutritional absorption in Lepidoptera. However, little is known about the molecular adaptation of digestive enzymes to this environment. Here, we show that lepidopteran α-glucosidase, a pivotal digestive enzyme, d...

application of chemical pesticides has increased significantly worldwide and has raised serious concerns about environmental pollutions. one of the encouraging trends to minimize pesticide risk is production of resistant plants containing toxic proteins against insect pests. considering the importance of purification and characterization of digestive enzymes in the production of resistant plant...

Two enzymes having lactase activity are present in the equine small intestine. The first, the digestive enzyme, neutral beta-galactosidase, declines in activity from birth to three years, disappearing completely between 3 and 4 years of age. The other, the soluble lysosomal enzyme, acid beta-galactosidase, having affinity for lactose and a synthetic beta-galactoside, shows a decrease in activit...

Juvenile piracanjuba, Brycon orbignyanus, in the wild consume protein from both plant and animal sources. Digestion of protein in piracanjuba begins in the stomach with pepsin, at low pH, and is followed by hydrolysis at alkaline pH in the lumen of the intestine. The digestive system in piracanjuba was evaluated to characterize the enzymes responsible for the digestion of feed protein and their...

In Gryllus bimaculatus , more digestive enzymes (amylase, trypsin, aminopeptidase) are secreted in the caecum of fed crickets than in unfed crickets, but the enzymes are released continuously at a basal rate in unfed animals. The rate of synthesis of the enzymes appears to parallel their rate of release. Digestive enzymes are released in response to a specific ratio of nutrients, although a hig...