Molecular characterization of the apoptosis-related SH3RF1 and SH3RF2 genes and their association with exercise performance in Arabian horses

Abstract

BackgroundApoptosis plays an important role in the regulation of healthy tissue growth and development as well as in controlling the maintenance of homeostasis in exercising muscles. During an intensive physical effort, the regulation of cell death by apoptosis results in the replacement of unaccustomed muscle cells by new cells that are better suited to exercise. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of two genes (SH3FR1 and SH3RF2) that control apoptosis in muscle tissues during training periods characterized by different intensities. The gene expression levels were estimated using real-time PCR method in skeletal muscle biopsies collected from 15 Arabian horses (untrained, after an intense gallop phase, and at the end of the racing season). An association study was performed on 250 Arabian horses to assess the effect of the SH3RF2:c.796 T > C (p.Ser266Pro) variant on race performance traits in flat gallop-racing.ResultsA gene expression analysis confirmed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in the anti-apoptotic SH3RF2 (POSHER) gene during training periods that differed in intensity. The highest SH3RF2 expression level was detected in the muscles of untrained horses, whereas the lowest expression was identified at the end of the racing season in horses that were fully adapted to the exercise. A non-significant decrease in SH3RF1 gene expression following the training periods was observed. Moreover, a serine substitution by proline at amino acid position 266 (CC genotype) was negatively associated with the probability of winning races, the number of races in which a horse occurred and the financial value of the prizes. Horses with the TT genotype achieved the highest financial benefits, both for total winnings and for winnings per race in which the horses participated.ConclusionsThe present study showed the supposed regulation mechanism of exercise-induced apoptosis in horses at the molecular level. The identified SH3RF2: c.796 T > C missense variant was associated with selected racing performance traits, which is important information during the evaluation of horses’ exercise predisposition. The association results and frequencies of the CT and TT genotypes suggest the possibility of using SH3RF2 variant in selection to improve the racing performance of Arabian horses.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1567-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Genetics of Racing Performance in Arabian Horses

“…This observation confirmed that long-term training is recognized by the organism as a stress factor and that such inflammatory responses can have an important function in triggering downstream signalling pathways, which are critical to homeostasis maintenance [19]. Whole gene expression modification in blood and muscle has allowed the proposal of a panel of genes ( PK3CG , FOXO3 , SLC16A1 , ME3 , ACTN3 , PPARa , SH3RF2 , TPM3 , TNNC1 , TNNI3 , TGFBR1 , TGFBR2 , and FABP3 ) potentially associated with flat racing performance in Arabian horses; these genes are currently being studied for use as markers for selection [23, 24].…”

Endurance effort affected expression the Actinin 3 and Klotho different isoforms in Arabian horses

“…It's worth to mention that molecular network of ACTN3 gene showed the direct association with SH3RF2 gene, described as cell anti-apoptotic factor. The previous studies have shown a signi cant downregulation of SH3RF2 during intensive physical effort, concluding that apoptosis leads to replacing damaged muscle bers by new, better suited to exercise [15]. As both SH3RF2 and ACTN3 genes could be potentially used as genetic markers of endurance predispositions in horses, their in uence at the molecular level can be assumed and may constitute the basis for further research.…”

“…Moreover, some genes (such as SH3RH2, TNNI2) (Fig. 4) belonged to KL -ACTN3 molecular network were identi ed previously as related to sport phenotype in horses [15,7] and in other mammals [16].…”

The Blood and Muscle Expression Pattern of the Equine TCAP Gene during the Race Track Training of Arabian Horses

“…The RNA-Seq method is widely used in searching for genetic determinants of performance in horses [2,4,5]. The global gene expression comparison of tissues sampled in different points during the training of Arabian horses allows for the marking of potential genes that, further validated, may act as potential markers of a wide range of traits [6,7]. In the present manuscript, we performed exact transcript abundance analysis in a gene previously significantly deregulated in the results of RNA-Seq analysis, in a panel of muscle and whole blood samples, for the investigation of its potential as a marker.…”

“…These findings led to further investigation and evaluation of RNA-Seq-based single nucleotide polymorphisms, located within the most significant deregulated differential expressed genes (DEGs), as potential markers for racing abilities in Arabian horses. The genes included SH3RF2 (SH3 domain containing ring finger 2) [6], ACTN3 (actinin alpha-3) [7], and SLC16A6 (monocarboxylate transporter 7) [8,9]. The search for blood-based markers related to performance traits holds interest for many researchers.…”