Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis on chicken extracelluar fatty acid binding protein gene and its associations with fattiness trait

Fattiness is an important parameter to estimate meat quality, which has high heritability. In this experiment, F2 chickens derived from Broilers crossing to Silky were used to study the effect of extracellular fatty acid binding protein (EX-FABP) gene on abdominal fat accumulation. 1.6 kb of the 5' region of the gene was amplified by six pairs of primers, and then single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by the technique of single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and then confirmed by sequencing. There were four nucleotides variations found, A-G at -1807, C-A at -1805, T-C at -1011 and a C insertion at -1000 respectively. The result of least square analysis suggests that the birds with BB genotype defined by the second pair of primer have a higher abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat percentage than the birds with the other genotypes (AA and AB). It implied that EX-FABP gene could be a candidate locus or linked to a major gene to significantly affect abdominal fat traits in chicken.     

Correlation Analysis Between Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism of Malate Dehydrogenase Gene 5′-Flanking Region and Growth and Body Composition Traits in Chicken

Malate dehydrogenase (MD) is a key enzyme that plays an important role in energy metabolism. It catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of L-malate to yield CO₂ and pyruvate, while simultaneously generating NADPH from NADP⁺. The NADPH generated can be utilized in de novo synthesis of palmitate, which is the precursor molecule for the formation of other long-chain fatty acids. And high levels of MD will also activate muscle development. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of MD gene on growth and body-composition traits in chicken. The eighth generation population of Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for its abdominal fat and Northeast Agricultural University F₂ resource population were used in the research. Polymorphisms were detected by DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP method was then developed to screen the population. A single mutation at the position of the 235 bp (Accession No. U49693) of MD 5′-flanking region was found. The correlation analysis between the polymorphism of the MD gene and growth and body composition traits was carried out using the appropriate statistic model. Least-square analysis showed that the BB genotype birds had much higher pectoralis major weight and percentage of pectoralis major than AA genotype birds (P<0.05). The abdominal fat weight, percentage of abdominal fat, the liver weight and percentage of liver weight of the AA genotype birds were much higher than those of BB genotype birds (P<0.05). These results indicate that MD gene is the major gene or is linked to the major gene that affects the growth and body composition traits in chicken.     

鸡MD基因5''''侧翼区多态性与鸡生长和体组成性状的相关研究

苹果酸脱氢酶(Malate Dehydrogenase,MD)是一种氧化还原性酶,参与体内多种能量代谢反应.它可以催化苹果酸氧化脱羧生成丙酮酸和CO2,并使NADP+还原成NADPH,NADPH是脂肪酸合成所必需的载体,棕榈酸可以利用生成的NADPH来合成长链脂肪酸,MD的活性与脂肪酸合成效率之间存在密切的相关,MD也参与体内骨骼肌、心肌的能量代谢,并对肌纤维的生长有一定的调节作用.根据鸡MD基因的5侧翼区序列设计一对引物,用直接测序的方法在侧翼区检测多态性位点,在235bp(GenBank登录号U49693)处发现一个SNP位点,此位点是一个限制性内切酶(SphⅠ酶)发生变化的位点.以东北农业大学高低脂双向选择系的第8世代肉鸡和东农F2资源群体为实验材料,用PCR-RFLP的方法进行基因型分析,建立适合的统计模型,进行基因型与生长和体组成性状的相关分析.结果表明在高低脂系第8世代肉鸡中AA基因型个体的腹脂重和腹脂率显著高于BB基因型个体(P＜0.05);BB基因型个体的大胸肌重和大胸肌率显著高于AA基因型个体(P＜0.05).在东农F2资源家系中BB基因型个体的大胸肌重和大胸肌率显著高于AA和AB基因型个体(P＜0.05);AA基因型个体的肝脏重和肝脏率显著高于BB基因型个体(P＜0.05).综上所述,MD基因可能是影响鸡生长和体组成性状的主效基因或与控制生长和体组成性状的主效基因相连锁.     

脂肪分化相关蛋白基因多态性与优质鸡屠宰性状和肌内脂肪含量的相关性研究

对脂肪分化相关蛋白(Adipocyte Differentiation-Related Protein, ADFP)基因的外显子进行SNPs 检测, 探讨其作为鸡脂肪性状候选基因的可能性。实验以四川省畜牧科学研究院和大恒家禽育种有限公司培育的优质肉鸡新品系为素材, 采用PCR-SSCP的方法进行SNPs 检测和基因型的分析。结果找到3个SNPs位点: 4 079位由A→T(位点A)、4 843位由C→T(位点B)和7 070位由A→G(位点C)。单位点基因型对屠宰性状的遗传效应分析表明, 位点A的基因型对腿肌率、腹脂重、腹脂率和肌内脂肪含量有显著性影响(P < 0.05), 位点B的基因型对活重和屠体重均有显著性影响(P < 0.05), 位点C的基因型对胸肌重和肌内脂肪含量有显著性影响(P < 0.05), 对胸肌率有极显著性影响(P < 0.01)。初步推断ADFP基因可能是影响鸡脂肪性状的主效基因或与主效基因连锁, 推测可以利用多态位点A和C对鸡腹脂重、腹脂率和肌内脂肪含量进行标记辅助选择。     

鸡瘦蛋白受体(OBR)基因内含子8单核苷酸多态性与体脂性状的相关研究

以东北农业大学高低脂双向选择系的第 6世代肉鸡为材料 ,鸡 7周龄时测定体重和腹脂重等屠体性状。根据鸡瘦蛋白受体基因内含子 8的序列 (GenBank登陆号 :AF2 2 2 783 )设计引物 ,用直接测序的方法检测多态性位点 ,用PCR SSCP的方法进行基因型分析 ,建立适合的统计模型对多态性位点产生的基因型与生长和体组成性状进行相关分析。结果表明 ,在第 50 0和 659位碱基同时发生了T—C、G—A突变。经最小二乘分析 ,3种基因型在腹脂重和腹脂率上差异显著 (P <0 0 5) ,BB型个体腹脂重和腹脂率显著高于AB型 (P <0 0 5) ,极显著地高于AA型个体 (P <0 0 1) ;3种基因型在肝重上差异显著 (P <0 0 5) ,且AA基因型个体的肝重显著低于AB和BB基因型个体。初步推断OBR基因可能是影响鸡脂肪性状的主效基因或与主效基因连锁 ,推测可以利用这个多态位点对鸡的体脂性状进行标记辅助选择     

The single nucleotide polymorphisms of the chicken myostatin gene are associated with skeletal muscle and adipose growth

Myostatin, a new member of the TGF-ß superfamily, is predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle cells and functions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth in animals. Recently, we have reported three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the chicken myostatin gene. Herein, we investigate the association of those SNPs with the production traits in a F₂ chicken line derived from Broilers crossing to Silky with the least square analysis. The results show that the BB and AA genotypes are strongly associated with abdominal fat weight (AFW), abdominal fat percentage (AFP), and birth weight (BW) (P < 0.05). Breast muscle percentage (BMP) of the AA type is higher than that of the AB type. The breast muscle weight and breast muscle percentages of F₂ individuals have significant difference between CC and DD genotypes (P < 0.05). Breast muscle weight (BMW) of EF birds is higher than that of EE birds (P < 0.05). In this report, we present the first genetic evidence to show that chicken myostatin not only plays an important role in controlling skeletal muscle growth and differentiation, but also may be involved in regulation of adipose growth in chicken.     

Comparative genome analysis with the human genome reveals chicken genes associated with fatness and body weight

The selection of meat-type chickens (broilers) for rapid growth has been accompanied by excessive fat deposition. In this study, we analysed 53 candidate genes that are associated with obesity and obesity-related traits in humans, for which we found chicken orthologues by BLAST searches. We have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with significant differences in allele frequencies between broilers and layers in each of the following six candidate genes: adrenergic, beta-2-, receptor, surface (ADRB2); melanocortin 5 receptor (MC5R); leptin receptor (LEPR), McKusick-Kaufman syndrome (MKKS), milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein (MFGE8) and adenylate kinase 1 (AK1). To examine associations with fatness and/or body weight, we used birds of extreme phenotypes in F(2) and backcross populations with varying levels of abdominal fat weight per cent (%AFW) and body weight. We then assessed the level of gene expression by real-time PCR. In two genes, ADRB2 and MFGE8, we found significant association with %AFW. The ADRB2 gene was found to have a significantly higher expression in the liver of lean chickens compared with those of the fat individuals. We believe that this approach can be applied for the identification of other quantitative genes.     

A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of Chicken Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase A Gene Associated with Fatness Traits

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACCα) is a major rate-limiting enzyme in the biogenesis of long-chain fatty acids. It can catalyze the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to form malonyl-CoA that plays a key role in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism. The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations of ACCα gene polymorphisms with chicken growth and body composition traits. The Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content and the Northeast Agricultural University F₂ Resource Population were used in the current study. Body weight and body composition traits were measured in the aforementioned two populations. A synonymous mutation was detected in the exon 19 region of ACCα gene, then polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was developed to genotype all the individuals derived from the aforementioned populations. Association analysis revealed that the polymorphism was associated with abdominal fat weight and percentage of abdominal fat in the two populations. The results suggested that ACCα gene could be a candidate locus or linked to a major gene that affects abdominal fat content in the chicken.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci affecting fatness and breast muscle weight in meat-type chicken lines divergently selected on abdominal fatness

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for abdominal fatness and breast muscle weight were investigated in a three-generation design performed by inter-crossing two experimental meat-type chicken lines that were divergently selected on abdominal fatness. A total of 585 F₂ male offspring from 5 F₁ sires and 38 F₁ dams were recorded at 8 weeks of age for live body, abdominal fat and breast muscle weights. One hundred-twenty nine microsatellite markers, evenly located throughout the genome and heterozygous for most of the F₁ sires, were used for genotyping the F₂ birds. In each sire family, those offspring exhibiting the most extreme values for each trait were genotyped. Multipoint QTL analyses using maximum likelihood methods were performed for abdominal fat and breast muscle weights, which were corrected for the effects of 8-week body weight, dam and hatching group. Isolated markers were assessed by analyses of variance. Two significant QTL were identified on chromosomes 1 and 5 with effects of about one within-family residual standard deviation. One breast muscle QTL was identified on GGA1 with an effect of 2.0 within-family residual standard deviation.     

Expression profiling of candidate genes for abdominal fat mass in domestic chicken Gallus gallus

The quantitative traits of mass and percentage of abdominal fat in chicken and various types of obesity in mammals are homologous and functionally similar. Therefore, the genes involved in obesity development in humans and laboratory rodents as well as those responsible for pig lard thickness could be involved in abdominal fat deposition in broilers. Expression of candidate genes FABP1, FABP2, FABP3, HMGA1, MC4R, PPARG, PPARGC1A, POMC and PTPN1 was studied in fat, liver, colon, muscle, hypophysis, and brain in chicken (broilers) using real-time PCR. Significant difference in the HMGA1 gene expression in the liver of broiler chicken with high (3.5 +/- 0.18%) and low (1.9 +/- 0.56%) abdominal fat concentration has been revealed. The expression of this gene was been shown to correlate with the amount (0.7, P < or = 0.01) and mass (0.7, P < or = 0.01) of abdominal fat. The PPARG gene expression in liver in the same chicken subsets was also significantly different. Correlation coefficients of the gene expression with the abdominal fat amount and mass were respectively 0.55 (P < or = 0.05) and 0.57 (P < or = 0.01). Based on these results, we suggest that the HMGA1 and PPARG genes are involved in abdominal fat deposition. The search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the HMGA and PPARG regulatory regions could facilitate identifying genetic markers for broiler breeding according to the mass and percentage of abdominal fat.     

The single nucleotide polymorphisms of the chicken myostatin gene are associated with skeletal muscle and adipose growth

Myostatin, a new member of the TGF-p superfamily, is predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle cells and functions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth in animals. Recently, we have reported three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the chicken my-ostatin gene. Herein, we investigate the association of those SNPs with the production traits in a F2 chicken line derived from Broilers crossing to Silky with the least square analysis. The results show that the BB and AA genotypes are strongly associated with abdominal fat weight (AFW), abdominal fat percentage (AFP), and birth weight (BW) (P < 0.05). Breast muscle percentage (BMP) of the AA type is higher than that of the AB type. The breast muscle weight and breast muscle percentages of F2 individuals have significant difference between CC and DD genotypes (P< 0.05). Breast muscle weight (BMW) of EF birds is higher than that of EE birds (P< 0.05). In this report, we present the first genetic evidence to show that chicken myostatin not o     

Polymorphism of Heart Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Gene Associatied with Fatness Traits in the Chicken

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) belong to a superfamily of lipid binding proteins that exhibit a high affinity for long chain fatty acids and appear to function in metabolism and intracellular transportation of lipids. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of heart (H)-FABP gene on chicken growth and body composition traits. The Northeast Agricultural University divergent broiler lines for abdominal fat and a broiler X silkie F₂ population were used in this study. Body weight and body composition traits were measured in the populations. Primers were designed according to the chicken H-FABP gene sequence. Polymorphisms between parental lines were detected by DNA sequencing. PCR-RFLP and PCR-fragment length polymorphism methods were developed to genotype the populations. The results showed that the H-FABP gene polymorphisms in the two populations were associated with abdominal fat percentage. It implied that H-FABP gene can be a candidate locus or linked to a major gene(s) that affects abdominal fat content in the chicken.     

鸡A-FABP基因多态性分析及其与脂肪性状的

以北京油鸡为试验材料,对A-FABP基因进行单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)检测和基因型与性状的关联分析。方差分析结果表明,不同基因型间腹脂率、皮脂厚、肌内脂肪含量差异极显著(P<0.01),体重在不同基因型间差异不显著(P >0.05)。由此推测,A-FABP可能为影响鸡脂肪代谢的主效基因或与主效基因相连锁。     

Differential expression of six genes and correlation with fatness traits in a unique broiler population

Previous results from genome wide association studies (GWASs) in chickens divergently selected for abdominal fat content of Northeast Agricultural University (NEAUHLF) showed that many single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants were associated with abdominal fat content. Of them, six top significant SNPs at the genome level were located within SRD5A3, SGCZ, DLC1, GBE1, GALNT9 and DNAJB6 genes. Here, expression levels of these six candidate genes were investigated in abdominal fat and liver tissue between fat and lean broilers from the 14th generation population of NEAUHLF. The results showed that expression levels of SRD5A3, SGCZ and DNAJB6 in the abdominal fat and SRD5A3, DLC1, GALNT9, DNAJB6 and GBE1 in the liver tissue differed significantly between the fat and lean birds, and were correlated with abdominal fat traits. The findings will provide important references for further function investigation of the six candidate genes involved in abdominal fat deposition in chickens.     

Identification of growth hormone DNA polymorphisms which respond to divergent selection for abdominal fat content in chickens

Summary Two strains of meat-type chickens which had been derived from the same genetic base, but were selected for high or low abdominal fat content, respectively, were analyzed for polymorphisms in the growth hormone gene (GH). A total of four DNA polymorphisms were identified, one at a SacI restriction site and three at MspI restriction sites. Restriction mapping indicated that all polymorphisms were in exons and/or introns and not in flanking regions of the gene. The incidence of GH polymorphisms was determined in 20 chickens from each strain and significant differences were observed for two of the four polymorphisms. Analysis by DNA fingerprinting using (CAC)₅ as a probe indicated that the inbreeding coefficient was 0.1 in both strains and that random genetic drift was minimal. Thus, the selection for abdominal fat appears to have affected the frequency of alleles of the growth hormone gene. Whether this is the direct consequence of an altered growth hormone gene on fat metabolism or reflects linkage to an allele of a neighbouring gene remains to be determined.     

Chicken lines divergent for low or high abdominal fat deposition: a relevant model to study the regulation of energy metabolism

Divergent selection of chickens for low or high abdominal fat (AF) but similar BW at 63 days of age was undertaken in 1977. The selection programme was conducted over seven successive generations. The difference between lines was then maintained constant at about twice the AF in the fat line as in the lean line. The aims of the first studies on these divergent chicken lines were to describe the growth, body composition and reproductive performance in young and adult birds. The lines were then used to improve the understanding of the relationship between fatness and energy and protein metabolism in the liver, muscle and adipose tissues, as well as the regulation of such metabolism at hormonal, gene and hypothalamic levels. The effects on muscle energy metabolism in relation to meat quality parameters were also described. This paper reviews the main results obtained with these lines.     

Polymorphisms of the interleukin-15 gene and their associations with fatness and muscle fiber traits in chickens

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine that has been proposed to modulate skeletal muscle and adipose tissue mass. In the present study, an F₂ resource population of Gushi chickens crossed with Anka broilers was used to investigate the genetic effects of the chicken IL-15 gene. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (g.31224G>A and g.31266T>G) were identified in exon 5 of the IL-15 gene by means of polymerase chain reaction?Crestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing. Associations between the two SNPs and chicken fatness and muscle fiber traits were determined using linkage disequilibrium, haplotype construction, and association analysis. Both of the SNPs were associated with abdominal fat weight, leg muscle fiber diameter, and leg muscle fiber density (p?<?0.05). Haplotypes of the two linked SNPs were associated with abdominal fat weight, fat thickness under the skin, and leg muscle fiber diameter (p?<?0.05). The results suggested that the IL-15 gene might be associated with the causative mutation or the quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling the fatness traits and muscle fiber traits in chickens.