FTO gene variants are associated with growth and carcass traits in cattle

An important aim in animal breeding is the improvement of growth and meat quality traits. Previous studies have demonstrated that genetic variants in the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene have a relatively large effect on human obesity as well as on body composition in rodents and, more recently, in livestock. Here, we examined the effects of the FTO gene variants on growth and carcass traits in the Slovenian population of Simmental (SS) and Brown (SB) cattle. To validate and identify new polymorphisms, we used sequencing, PCR‐RFLP analysis and TaqMan assays in the SS breed and FTO gene variants data from the Illumina BovineSNP50 v1 array for the SB breed. Sequencing of the eight samples of progeny‐tested SS sires detected 108 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine FTO gene. Statistical analyses between growth and carcass traits and 34 FTO polymorphisms revealed significant association of FTO variants with lean meat percentage in both breeds. Additionally, FTO SNPs analyzed in SS cattle were associated with fat percentage, bone weight and live weight at slaughter. The FTO gene can thus be regarded as a candidate gene for the marker‐assisted selection programs in our and possibly other populations of cattle. Future studies in cattle might reveal novel roles for the FTO gene in shaping carcass traits in livestock species as well as body composition control in other mammals.     

兔黑素皮质素受体4(MC4R)基因多态性及其与体重及屠体性状的关联研究

以哈尔滨白兔、天府黑兔、比利时兔、齐卡巨型兔以及加利福尼亚兔5个肉兔品种共220个个体为研究对象, 采用PCR-SSCP技术和克隆测序技术进行SNPs检测和基因型的分析。结果发现兔MC4R基因237位发生转换突变(A→G), 5个品种内的AA基因型和A等位基因频率均分别高于AG基因型和G等位基因, 而哈尔滨白兔、比利时兔以及齐卡巨型兔3个品种兔的AG基因型频率和G等位基因频率明显高于天府黑兔和加利福尼亚兔。单位点基因型与屠体性状、饲料转化率以及熟肉率的最小二乘分析表明; AG基因型与兔的体重、全净膛重以及饲料转化率有显著的关系(P<0.05), 而与熟肉率的关系不显著(P>0.05)。结果表明, MC4R基因可以作为影响和控制兔体重及屠体性状的候选基因。     

Association between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the bovine chemerin gene and carcass traits in Qinchuan cattle

Qinchuan is a red or yellow draft and beef breed in China. In order to identify a predictor of carcass traits on the basis of associations between carcass traits and gene polymorphism, variation in the bovine chemerin gene was investigated using PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism and DNA sequencing. An SNP of A868G located in exon 2 of the Bos taurus chemerin gene was detected in 716 samples of six breeds (Jiaxian red, Luxi, Nan yang, Qinchuan, Simmental and Luxi crossbred steers, and Xia'nan), all in China, and three genotypes (AA, AG and GG) were found. Based on the χ(2) test, the AA/AG/GG genotype frequencies of all six breeds were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. A possible association of A868G with some carcass traits was investigated in 106 Qinchuan cattle. Animals with the AG genotype were found to have significantly lower mean loin eye area and meat tenderness compared to those with the AA and GG genotypes. However, there was no significant association between any individual haplotype and backfat thickness, water holding capacity or marbling score. We suggest that A868G could be used as a molecular marker in marker-assisted selection for carcass traits.     

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。     

猪CAST基因多态性与肌纤维组织学特性及屠宰性状的相关性分析

采用3种限制性核酸内切酶对45头金皮(金华×皮特兰)F₂代猪钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白基因(CAST)的第6外显子和第7外显子之间的片段进行了PCR-RFLP分析, 结果显示在第6内含子内均检测到MspⅠ、HinfⅠ和RsaⅠ酶切多态性。根据酶切结果将CAST基因分为3种基因型(AACCEE、BBDDFF、ABCDEF), 其基因型频率分别为0.1778, 0.2222, 0.6000。对背最长肌做连续性石蜡切片, 分别采用苏木精-伊红和肌球蛋白重链免疫组织化学方法染色并拍照, ImageJ软件统计肌纤维横截面积、密度、直径及MHCⅠ型肌纤维的比例。采用SPSS程序分析了CAST不同基因型对金皮F₂代猪肌纤维组织学特性和屠宰性状的影响。结果表明: BBDDFF基因型个体的肌纤维横截面积和眼肌面积显著地高于ABCDEF基因型个体的肌纤维横截面积和眼肌面积(P < 0.05)。     

Association between polymorphism in the insulin receptor-related receptor gene and growth traits in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

Insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR) is an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase of the insulin receptor family, and involved in the growth and reproduction processes of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Polymorphisms of the IRR gene were evaluated for associations with growth performance of 336 individuals in five families, and further confirmed in 206 individuals from three selectively bred strains for fast growth. Two of the six identified synonymous mutations (C.1996G > A and C.2110C > T) were significantly associated with growth performance in the families and strains. Five diplotypes were constructed based on the two growth-related SNPs, and diplotypes analysis revealed that D₃ (GGTT) might be the most advantageous diplotype for growth traits. The results suggest that two SNPs (C.1996G > A and C.2110C > T) in IRR gene are potentially associated with growth performance of C. gigas, and could serve as genetic markers for fast growth in oyster breeding.     

Association between polymorphism in bovine PRKAG3 gene and milk production traits

The aim of the conducted study was to evaluate correlation between genotypes and PRKAG3 compound genotypes and milk production traits (yield of milk, milk fat and milk protein, and protein and fat content in milk). The study covered a herd of 180 Jersey cows. PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping. The frequencies of alleles that occur mostly and combined genotypes were as follows: T1526G G - 0.57, G 1609A G - 0.92 and for T1526G/G1609A TG/GG - 0.54. The results obtained in the study demonstrated the correlation between analyzed genotypes and selected milk production traits; however they are not statistically significant.     

Growth,blood, carcass and meat quality traits from local pig breeds and their crosses

Contrary to intensive pig production, local pig breeds and their production systems are able to respond to the high criteria and expectations of modern society in regard to some environmental aspects, animal welfare, food quality and healthiness. This study proposes the recovery, study and use of a cross between two local breeds, contributing to animal biodiversity conservation and to the income of local pig producers. This work studied the growth performance and blood, carcass and meat quality traits of Alentejano (AL), Bísaro (BI) and Ribatejano (RI) (AL × BI, BI × AL) castrated male pigs. Raised outdoors, pigs were fed commercial diets ad libitum and killed at ~65 kg (trial 1, n = 10 from each genotype) and ~150 kg BW (trial 2, n = 9 from each genotype). In trial 1, AL and AL × BI attained slaughter weight later than BI and BI × AL pigs, with AL presenting lower average daily gains than the other genotypes (P < 0.001). Alentejano and RI pigs presented higher (P < 0.01) levels of plasma total protein than BI. Overall, carcass traits were affected by genotype, with length (P < 0.01), yield (P = 0.07) and lean cut proportions (P < 0.01) lower in AL than BI, and intermediate values for crossed pigs. Conversely, AL pigs presented higher fat cut proportion (P < 0.01), average backfat thickness (P < 0.001) and ‘zwei punkte’ fat depth (P < 0.01) than BI and RI pigs. Alentejano pigs also presented higher Longissimus lumborum (LL) intramuscular fat (P < 0.05), myoglobin content and ultimate pH (P < 0.01), but lower total collagen (P < 0.05), drip (P < 0.001) and cooking losses (P < 0.01), and shear force (P < 0.001) than all other genotypes. Finally, LL showed a more intense red colour in AL than in BI pigs. In trial 2, AL pigs confirmed to be a slow-growing obese breed with lower bone and lean cut proportions than BI, and higher LL intramuscular fat, richer colour, lower water loss and higher tenderness. In both trials, RI pigs grew faster, with higher lean and lower fat cut proportions and backfat thickness, and with overall LL characteristics comparable to those observed in AL pigs. This work demonstrates some clear differences between AL and BI breeds while showing that their crosses present intermediate characteristics in most studied traits. These data on RI pigs can be useful to breeders’ associations and farmers in order to consider the use of these crosses as an option or complement to pure line breeding.     

MUC1 gene polymorphism in three Nelore lines selected for growth and its association with growth and carcass traits

The objective of this study was to describe the VNTR polymorphism of the mucin 1 gene (MUC1) in three Nelore lines selected for yearling weight to determine whether allele and genotype frequencies of this polymorphism were affected by selection for growth. In addition, the effects of the polymorphism on growth and carcass traits were evaluated. Birth, weaning and yearling weights, rump height, Longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness, and rump fat thickness, were analyzed. A total of 295 Nelore heifers from the Beef Cattle Research Center, Instituto de Zootecnia de Sert?ozinho, were used, including 41 of the control line, 102 of the selection line and 152 of the traditional. The selection and traditional lines comprise animals selected for higher yearling weight, whereas control line animals are selected for yearling weight close to the average. Five alleles were identified, with allele 1 being the most frequent in the three lines, especially in the lines selected for higher means for yearling weight. Heterozygosity was significantly higher in the control line. Association analyses showed significant effects of allele 1 on birth weight and weaning weight while the allele 3 exert significant effects on yearling weight and back fat thickness. Despite these findings, application of this marker to marker-assisted selection requires more consistent results based on the genotyping of a larger number of animals in order to increase the accuracy of the statistical analyses.     

Association between leptin gene polymorphisms and growth traits in Limousin cattle

A total of 129 Limousin calves were used to investigate how leptin gene polymorphisms affect growth traits, such as body weight, average daily gain, wither height, sacrum height and chest girth in beef cattle. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped, including the Sau3AI polymorphism in intron 2 and the A59V polymorphism in exon 3. The genotype and allele frequencies for each SNP and the haplotype frequencies for both SNPs were estimated in the studied herd. Statistical analysis revealed that the A59V polymorphism significantly affected the body weight at 210 days of age (P ≤ 0.01) and the average daily gain between 3 and 210 days of age (P ≤ 0.05) with T as a desirable allele. No associations were observed between the Sau3AI polymorphism and the growth traits mentioned above. However, the average daily gain between 3 and 210 days of age was significantly higher in the CT/CT haplotype animals compared with the CC/CC and CC/CT individuals. These results indicated that selection for the A59V TT animals might contribute to an improved body weight in Limousin cattle. The article is published in the original.     

Crossbreeding effects on pig growth and carcass traits from two Iberian strains

An experiment of a 2×2 full diallelic cross between two contemporary Iberian pig strains (Retinto: RR, and Torbiscal: TT) was conducted to estimate the crossbreeding effects for growth and carcass traits. Phenotypic records were obtained under intensive management and consisted of two different data sets. The first set comprised growth traits until weaning and was collected at two different farms (6236 and 1208 records, respectively). Specific data included individual piglet weight at birth and at weaning at 28 days and average daily gain from birth to weaning at 28 days (ADG28) for both RR and TT and their reciprocal crosses. The second set comprised growth data from birth to slaughter (~340 days and ~160 kg) and carcass traits from 349 individuals (randomly) sampled at weaning from the first dataset. Data were analyzed through a Bayesian analysis by using a reparameterization of Dickerson’s model that allowed estimation of the posterior distributions of the following crossbreeding effects: average maternal breed effect (gM), average paternal breed effect (gP) and individual heterosis (hI). Results showed that the relative magnitude of crossbreeding effects depends on the trait analyzed. Crosses where Torbiscal strain was used as mother (RT and TT) achieved the greatest performance for all growth traits at weaning, leading to remarkable gM effects. The most outstanding example is the case of ADG28 where the probability of relevance was one. In contrast, TR cross showed the greatest differences from RR cross for all growth at slaughter and carcass traits. These differences were mainly due to hI and gP crossbreeding parameters. In particular, the posterior mean of hI was more noticeable for live weight at slaughter, average daily gain at slaughter and carcass length, while gP was more relevant for hams (kg) and loins (kg) representing from 3% to10% of average performance of traits. Hence, growth traits at weaning did not reveal any notable advantage of the crossbreeding scheme because of the superiority of the Torbiscal strain with respect to its mothering ability and the small hI. However, results from growth and carcass traits at slaughter would support the implementation of a TR crossbred system. It would allow exploitation of both the gP of the Torbiscal strain and the hI between these two Iberian pig strains. Additionally, gP estimates and phenotypic differences between reciprocal crosses might suggest signs of the presence of paternal genetic imprinting in primal cuts traits.     

北极狐GHR基因单核苷酸多态性及其与生长性状的相关性分析

文章采用单链构象多态性(PCR-SSCP)和DNA测序的方法检测了北极狐生长激素受体(Growth hormne receptor, GHR)基因的单核苷酸多态性(SNPs), 并针对该群体的特点建立合适的统计分析模型, 对GHR基因多态性与生长性状的相关性进行了分析。结果表明, 在北极狐GHR基因的外显子1和外显子5上发现了4个多态位点, 分别为5′UTR上的G3A和外显子1上的C99T突变, 外显子5上的T59C和G65A突变; GHR基因G3A和C99T多态性与母狐的体重性状显著相关(P<0.05), T59C和G65A多态性与公狐的体重性状显著相关(P<0.05), 与母狐的皮张长度性状极显著相关(P<0.01)。因此, 可以利用以上点突变对北极狐的体重及皮张长度性状进行标记辅助选择研究, 以达到快速选育出快大、优质的北极狐的目的。     

A-FABP基因多态性与肉鸡生长和体组成性状的关联

为探讨A-FABP基因多态性对肉鸡生长和体组成性状的影响,文章选用肉鸡高、低脂双向选择品系第十世代肉仔鸡为实验材料,采用测序、PCR-RFLP、PCR-LP、DHPLC方法进行基因多态性检测和个体基因型分析,通过对8个SNPs进行连锁不平衡分析并选择5个标签SNPs构建单倍型,进而利用单位点和单倍型分别与鸡生长和体组成性状进行关联分析。结果表明,7个SNPs(除SNP 5以外)及单倍型同时对鸡肌胃重、肌胃率有显著影响(P<0.05),而对生长和其他体组成性状无显著影响(P>0.05)。鉴于不同物种A-FABP基因现有的功能研究均没有发现其对消化系统有重要作用,因此该基因是否为影响肉鸡肌胃重和肌胃率的主效基因还有待于进一步研究。     

Association among growth, food consumption-related traits and amylase gene polymorphism in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

To examine further a previously reported association between amylase gene polymorphism and growth in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, ecophysiological parameters and biochemical and molecular expression levels of alpha-amylase were studied in Pacific oysters of different amylase genotypes. Genotypes that previously displayed significantly different growth were found to be significantly different for ingestion and absorption efficiency. These estimated parameters, used in a dynamic energy budget model, showed that observed ingestion rates (unlike absorption efficiencies) allowed an accurate prediction of growth potential in these genotypes. The observed association between growth and amylase gene polymorphism is therefore more likely to be related to ingestion than to absorption efficiency. Additionally, relative mRNA levels of the two amylase cDNAs were also strongly associated with amylase gene polymorphism, possibly reflecting variation in an undefined regulatory region, although no corresponding variation was observed in specific amylase activity. Amylase gene sequences were determined for each genotype, showing the existence of only synonymous or functionally equivalent non-synonymous polymorphisms. The observed associations among growth, food consumption-related traits and amylase gene polymorphism are therefore more likely to be related to variation in the level of amylase gene expression than to functional enzymatic variants.     

High diversity of the chicken growth hormone gene and effects on growth and carcass traits

The chicken growth hormone (cGH) gene plays a crucial role in controlling growth and metabolism, leading to potential correlations between cGH polymorphisms and economic traits. In this study, DNA from four divergent chicken breeds were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cGH gene using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and sequencing. A total of 46 SNPs were identified, of which 4 were in the 5' untranslated region, 1 in the 3' untranslated region, 5 in exons (two of which are nonsynonymous), with the remaining 36 in introns. The nucleotide diversity in the cGH gene ( theta = 2.7 x 10(-3)) was higher than that reported for other chicken genes, even within the same breeds. The associations of five of these SNPs and their haplotypes with chicken growth and carcass traits were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in a F2 resource population cross of two of the four chicken breeds (White Recessive Rock and Xinghua). This analysis shows that, among other correlations, G+1705A was significantly associated with body weight at all ages measured, shank length at three of four ages measured, and average daily gain within weeks 0 to 4. Thus, this cGH polymorphism, or another polymorphism that is in linkage disequilibrium with G+1705A, appears to correspond to a significant growth-related quantitative trait locus difference between the two breeds used to construct the resource population.     

钙蛋白酶Ⅰ(CAPN1)基因多态性与鸡肉嫩度和屠体性状的相关研究

为了探讨CAPN1基因作为影响鸡肌肉嫩度候选基因的可能性, 寻找与鸡嫩度性状相关的分子标记, 对钙蛋白酶Ⅰ(CAPN1)基因的CDS区进行SNPs 检测, 分析不同基因型在5个优质肉鸡纯品系和3个配套系间分布规律。利用测序和单链构象多态(SSCP)的方法进行SNPs 检测和基因型的分析, 计算等位基因频率、各位点多态信息含量。结果发现2546位(位点A) 处发生点突变由C→T和3535位(位点B)处发生点突变由G→A。各位点的3 种基因型与肉鸡生产性状的最小二乘分析结果表明,各位点的各种基因型个体在肌纤维密度和部分屠体性状指标存在显著差异(P< 0.05)。初步推断CAPN1基因可能是影响鸡嫩度性状潜在的主效基因或与主效基因连锁, 并且这些位点具有成为分子标记的潜在可能。     

丙酸通路基因多态性与猪肉质及胴体性状的关联分析

为了挖掘新的猪肉品质及胴体性状的候选基因,揭示猪肉质及胴体性状的遗传机制,文章将丙酸代谢通路作为候选通路,将通路内基因与猪肉质及胴体性状进行关联分析。实验采用37头三元杂交商品猪作为研究对象,首次针对丙酸通路中7个基因的36个SNP位点利用SNaPshot方法进行基因分型,分别用最小二乘模型及MB-MDR模型与肉质及胴体性状进行关联分析。结果发现,基因PCCB、MUT、MCEE及ACSS2上的4个SNP位点分别与肌内脂肪含量、背膘厚等性状显著相关(P<0.05),ACSS2与猪脂肪含量显著相关;MCEE及MUT与猪的背膘厚显著相关;PCCB基因与脂重显著相关。通过MB-MDR方法检测到多个SNP位点具有互作效应,并与背膘厚、水分含量、脂肪含量显著相关(P<0.05)。另外,丙酸代谢通路中的基因间的互作效应对猪肉品质有显著影响。