Current Protein and Peptide Science - Volume 18, Issue 6, 2017

Dietary protein is the main source of the body needed protein for animals. A great number of domestic animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chicken and other species are raised in the world to supply meat, milk and eggs that contain high quality of protein for human consumption. Domestic animals consume a great amount of feeds and water and excrete a large amount of faeces and urine. The conversion rate of Read More

Biogenic amines in the gastrointestinal tract are important metabolites of dietary protein and amino acids with the help of gut digestive enzymes and microbes, which play a crucial role in the regulation of intestinal functions, including digestion, absorption, and local immunity. However, high concentrations of biogenic amines can induce adverse reactions and are harmful to animal's health. Therefore, it is crucial to have a cle Read More

Gastrointestinal homeostasis is a dynamic balance under the interaction between the host, GI tract, nutrition and energy metabolism. Glucose is the main energy source in living cells. Thus, glucose metabolic disorders can impair normal cellular function and endanger organisms’ health. Diseases that are associated with glucose metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other metabolic syndromes are in fact Read More

Research efforts focusing on metabolic diseases have established a close conjunction between glucolipid abnormalities and nuclear receptors, a large superfamily of receptors including classic peroxisome proliferation-activated receptors (PPARs), liver X receptors (LXRs), farnesoid X receptors (FXRs) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) together with burgeoning retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors (RORs) an Read More

AMP-activated protein kianse (AMPK) is a master sensor of cellular energy levels and a crucial regulator of nutrient metabolism such as the synthesis of fatty acids, glucose and protein as well as their oxidation to CO2 and water . Thus, AMPK signaling has important implications for fat deposition and glucose homeostasis in animals and humans. Much experimental and clinical evidence show that AMPK is a key therapeu Read More

Myogenic stem cells are composed of satellite cells, multipotential muscle-derived stem cells and bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells. They are multipotential stem cells that can differentiate into different cell lineages. Usually, they have the ability to commit to myogenesis, adipogenesis, and osteogenesis, which is important for the tissue growth and regeneration and even the cure of diseases. Signal proteins are major memb Read More

Pork is one of the most economical sources of animal protein for human consumption. Meat quality is an important economic trait for the swine industry, which is primarily determined by prenatal muscle development and postnatal growth. Identification of the molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle development is a key priority. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that have emerged a Read More

New fat cells originate from a preexisting population of undifferentiated progenitor cells named preadipocytes. The process in which preadipocytes proliferate and differentiate into mature adipocytes under certain circumstances is called adipogenesis. In the past decade, many epigenetic factors have been shown to be pivotal for the appropriate timing of adipogenesis. A large number of coregulators at critical gene promo Read More

Type 2 diabetes has become a global public health problem affecting approximately 380 million people throughout the world. It can cause many complications and lead to greater mortality. At present, there is no available medicine for effectively preventing diabetes. L-arginine, a functional amino acid, the precursor of nitric oxide, plays a crucial role in maintenance, reproduction, growth, anti-aging and immunity for animals Read More

Glucose and lipid are the major energy sources, and pivotal components of organic metabolism in mammals. Inappropriate diet directly influences the metabolic rate, and can alter the body’s homeostasis. The underlying changes in energy storage and utilization would manifest as metabolic syndrome including obesity and high blood pressure, and high blood glucose, which are predisposing factors that significantly increase t Read More

Clinical observations support the postulate that chronic low-grade inflammation underlies metabolic diseases and inflammatory mediators can trigger some metabolic diseases. In disorder condition, what is the first one: metabolic diseases cause inflammation or conversely? This “chicken or egg” type question was hard to answer. However, instead of focusing on this difficult issue, we should ask another challenging question: Read More

X-box binding protein1 (XBP1) especially exerts its fundamental effects in the cellular organelle endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via affecting three trans-membrane stress sensor proteins: PKRlike ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1) and activating transcription factor 6(ATF6). At the center of XBP1’s broad effects is its remarkable metabolic housekeeper function. XBP1 decreased glucose dysfunction via funneling Read More

Protein is an important yet the most expensive dietary component for farm ruminant animals. Understanding the mechanism behind protein utilization in animals for maintenance and milk production is critical for raising animals efficiently. Once the protein has been ingested, it undergoes various transformations in the gut before it is absorbed into blood and its precursors are harnessed by the mammary gland for milk prot Read More