A gene expression estimator of intramuscular fat percentage for use in both cattle and sheep

Abstract

BackgroundThe expression of genes encoding proteins involved in triacyglyceride and fatty acid synthesis and storage in cattle muscle are correlated with intramuscular fat (IMF)%. Are the same genes also correlated with IMF% in sheep muscle, and can the same set of genes be used to estimate IMF% in both species?ResultsThe correlation between gene expression (microarray) and IMF% in the longissimus muscle (LM) of twenty sheep was calculated. An integrated analysis of this dataset with an equivalent cattle correlation dataset and a cattle differential expression dataset was undertaken. A total of 30 genes were identified to be strongly correlated with IMF% in both cattle and sheep. The overlap of genes was highly significant, 8 of the 13 genes in the TAG gene set and 8 of the 13 genes in the FA gene set were in the top 100 and 500 genes respectively most correlated with IMF% in sheep, P-value = 0. Of the 30 genes, CIDEA, THRSP, ACSM1, DGAT2 and FABP4 had the highest average rank in both species. Using the data from two small groups of Brahman cattle (control and Hormone growth promotant-treated [known to decrease IMF% in muscle]) and 22 animals in total, the utility of a direct measure and different estimators of IMF% (ultrasound and gene expression) to differentiate between the two groups were examined. Directly measured IMF% and IMF% estimated from ultrasound scanning could not discriminate between the two groups. However, using gene expression to estimate IMF% discriminated between the two groups. Increasing the number of genes used to estimate IMF% from one to five significantly increased the discrimination power; but increasing the number of genes to 15 resulted in little further improvement.ConclusionWe have demonstrated the utility of a comparative approach to identify robust estimators of IMF% in the LM in cattle and sheep. We have also demonstrated a number of approaches (potentially applicable to much smaller groups of animals than conventional methods) to using gene expression to rank animals for IMF% within a single farm/treatment, or to estimate differences in IMF% between two farms/treatments.

Association of genetic variations in the ACLY gene with growth traits in Chinese beef cattle

“…The ACLY gene, which encodes ATP citrate lyase and is associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle, might help to sustain the lipogenic process (Graugnard et al, 2010). In addition, the expression of ACLY has been strongly correlated with intramuscular fat in sheep and cattle (Guo et al, 2014). Davoli et al (2014) investigated two SNPs in the porcine ACLY gene and found significant associations between polymorphisms and the productive traits average daily gain, ham weight, and back fat thickness.…”

“…Several investigations have focused on ACLY polymorphisms and their association with growth and carcass quality traits in pig (Muñoz et al, 2013;Davoli et al, 2014). In addition, the expression of ACLY is associated with intramuscular fat percentage in sheep (Guo et al, 2014). However, studies investigating the association of polymorphisms with growth traits in beef cattle in northwest China are limited.…”

Gene Expression Profiles of Aralkylamine N-Acetyltransferase, B-cell Translocation Gene-2 and Fatty Acid Synthase in Pasture-based Primiparous Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cows Supplemented with Crude Degummed Canola Oil

“…Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone that plays a role in reproductive functions in mammals [33], particularly in the growth and maturation of oocytes in the ovary and steroidogenesis in the granulosa cells via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway [10,34]. Melatonin is also essential for the function of the circadian clock that influences activity and sleep [31,35]. The mechanism by which melatonin regulates reproduction has been reported to be through the control of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin inhibiting hormone (GnIH) receptors primarily found in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to release gonadotropin hormones [11,33,36].…”

Quantitative Trait Locus and Association Studies affecting Meat Colors in Chicken : Review

“…G0S2 유전자는 다른 연구에서 소의 지방산 축적 과 지방산 대사에 관련성을 보이는 후보유전자로 보고된바 있다 (Zhao et al, 2012;Guo et al, 2014 (Nadaf et al, 2007) (Table 1). GGA2에서 는 119∼153, 380.3 cM 영역에서 2개의 QTL이 확인되었고, 이 중에서 380.3 cM 영역의 QTL은 sex-specific한 suggestive QTL로 확인되었다 (Wright et al, 2006;Nadaf et al, 2007) (Table 1).…”