Genetic variation (protein markers and microsatellites) in endangered Catalonian donkeys

Genetic variation of the endangered Catalonian donkey breed (Equus asinus) has been analysed at 19 loci including seven protein loci and 12 microsatellite loci isolated from the domestic horse, in 98 individuals of both sexes. Only four protein markers and three microsatellites were polymorphic. Allele frequencies of the analysed loci showed close agreement with Hardy–Weinberg proportions, with the exception of the MPZ002 locus (P<0.01). The within-population inbreeding estimate was not significantly different from zero (as measured by F_IS-statistic). The cumulative-exclusion probability for all polymorphic loci was 82.9%, this value still being very low so that these markers could efficiently be utilised for verification of parentage.     

罗伯逊易位群体遗传结构的DNA指纹分析

用微卫星探针（GGAT）4得到了罗伯逊易位猪群体内共9个家猪品种的DNA指纹图。1－9品种依次为：13／17罗伯逊易位纯合子猪群体、13／17罗伯逊易位杂合子猪群体、13／17罗伯逊易位杂合子猪互交所得到的正常核型猪群体（杂交0号）、丹系长白猪群体、加系双肌臂杜洛克猪群体、加系双肌臀大约克猪群体、加系双肌臀长白猪群体、丹系长白猪与13／17易位杂合子猪产生的杂交后备猪群体（杂交1号）、杜洛克猪与13／17易位杂合子猪产生的杂交后备猪群体（杂交2号）。根据指纹带型计算了每个群体的相似系数（F）、平均等位基因频率（Q）、最底平均杂合率（H）和遗传距离指数（D）。9个品种的相似系数介于0．546－0．931,根据各品种之间的遗传距离指数作出矩阵图,并据此绘制出品种间亲缘关系树状聚类图。     

Genetic variation and relationships of eighteen Chinese indigenous pig breeds

Chinese indigenous pig breeds are recognized as an invaluable component of the world''s pig genetic resources and are divided traditionally into six types. Twenty-six microsatellite markers recommended by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and ISAG (International Society of Animal Genetics) were employed to analyze the genetic diversity of 18 Chinese indigenous pig breeds with 1001 individuals representing five types, and three commercial breeds with 184 individuals. The observed heterozygosity, unbiased expected heterozygosity and the observed and effective number of alleles were used to estimate the genetic variation of each indigenous breed. The unbiased expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.700 (Mashen) and 0.876 (Guanling), which implies that there is an abundant genetic variation stored in Chinese indigenous pig breeds. Breed differentiation was shown by fixation indices (F_IT, F_IS, and F_ST). The F_ST per locus varied from 0.019 (S0090) to 0.170 (SW951), and the average F_ST of all loci was 0.077, which means that most of the genetic variation was kept within breeds and only a little of the genetic variation exists between populations. The Neighbor-Joining tree was constructed based on the Nei D_A (1978) distances and one large cluster with all local breeds but the Mashen breed, was obtained. Four smaller sub-clusters were also found, which included two to four breeds each. These results, however, did not completely agree with the traditional type of classification. A Neighbor-Joining dendrogram of individuals was established from the distance of – ln(proportions of shared alleles); 92.14% of the individuals were clustered with their own breeds, which implies that this method is useful for breed demarcation. This extensive research on pig genetic diversity in China indicates that these 18 Chinese indigenous breeds may have one common ancestor, helps us to better understand the relative distinctiveness of pig genetic resources, and will assist in developing a national plan for the conservation and utilization of Chinese indigenous pig breeds.     

Genetic Structure of an Endangered Portuguese Semiferal Pony Breed, the Garrano

The present study intends to survey the genetic variability of an endangered semiferal Portuguese native pony breed, the Garrano. Thirteen microsatellite markers were examined in 277 animals born in 1998, belonging to eight subpopulations corresponding to eight northern Portuguese geographic regions. Mean heterozygosity (H_o) in the Garrano breed was 0.732, ranging from 0.531 to 0.857 across subpopulations. Allelic frequencies and diversity differed significantly between regions, suggesting the existence of genetic differentiation within the breed confirmed by the population differentiation estimator F_ST. Allele sharing genetic distance (Dps) was used to determine the relationship between the analyzed subpopulations, some of which are diverging significantly from the others. Relationships among six Iberian horse breeds (including the Garrano) were assessed through the restricted maximum likelihood method, which clusters the Garrano with another Celtic pony, the Spanish Asturcon, traditionally bred in geographical continuity with the Garrano. Results reveal a statistically significant deficit of heterozygotes within the Garrano breed (F_IT = 0.031, p < 0.05). Regular monitoring should therefore be implemented so that the effect of genetic drift within subpopulations, enhanced by inbreeding, may be successfully minimized.     

Analysis of genetic correlations between beef traits in young bulls and primiparous cows belonging to the dual-purpose Rendena breed

Selection for beef traits in Italian dual-purpose breeds is often carried out using growth and in vivo conformation recorded on young, performance tested bulls and muscularity traits scored during routinely linear type evaluation on primiparous cows. In this context, the knowledge of the genetic structure of traits obtained in different sexes and at different times is necessary for a proper selection plan. This study aimed to estimate, in the local dual-purpose Rendena breed, the genetic relationships between muscularity linear type traits from primiparous cows, the same traits scored on candidate young bulls, and the performance test traits recorded in candidate young bulls. Type traits included: front (chest and shoulder), back (loins and rump); thigh, buttocks side and rear views (two traits). Performance test traits were: average daily gain; EUROP fleshiness evaluation; and dressing percentage. Muscularity linear type traits were recorded on 11 992 first parity cows, and the muscularity type traits were scored on 957 candidate young bulls. Heritability estimates obtained for muscularity traits were moderate in young bulls (on average 0.326), about 16% higher than in primiparous cows. The average heritability for performance test traits in young bulls resulted 0.342. Moderate to strong genetic correlations were found between performance test and muscularity type traits collected in young bulls (from 0.500 between front (chest and shoulder) and average daily gain to 0.955 between thigh, buttocks side view and in vivo dressing percentage). The genetic relationships obtained between muscularity linear type traits of primiparous cows and performance traits of young bulls were variable (from a null correlation between front (chest and shoulder) and average daily gain to 0.822 between thigh, buttocks rear view and dressing percentage), with an average genetic correlation of 0.532. Generally, the traits measured during performance testing in young bulls were favourably correlated with muscularity traits evaluated on primiparous cows, indicating a common selection pathway.     

利用微卫星技术分析中国部分地方鸡种的遗传结构

利用7个微卫星标记对鹿苑鸡、固始鸡、藏鸡、白耳鸡、仙居鸡、茶花鸡、大骨鸡、北京油鸡、狼山鸡、河南斗鸡、泰和乌骨鸡和萧山鸡等12个中国地方鸡种的等位基因频率、基因杂合度、平均基因杂合度、多态信息含量以及群体间的亲缘关系进行分析。研究结果表明,12个地方鸡种在7个微卫星座位上的基因频率存在一定的差异;鹿苑鸡的平均基因杂合度最高,为0．5929;茶花鸡的平均遗传杂合度最低,为0．3514。平均多态信息含量也出现了类似的结果,说明鹿苑鸡的遗传多样性最丰富。模糊聚类分析结果表明,12个地方鸡种间,泰和乌骨鸡与河南斗鸡的亲缘关系相对较近,而固始鸡与其他11个地方鸡种的亲缘关系相对较远。12个地方鸡种可以聚为3类：泰和乌骨鸡、河南斗鸡、狼山鸡、大骨鸡、萧山鸡、北京油鸡、鹿苑鸡聚为第1个类群;茶花鸡、藏鸡、仙居鸡、白耳鸡聚为第2类群;固始鸡为第3类群。     

Actinobacillus succinogenes抗氟乙酸突变株的选育及其代谢流量分析

琥珀酸是一种用于合成树脂、可降解塑料及许多化学中间体的重要绿色化工原料。为了提高琥珀酸的发酵产率, 基于Actinobacillus succinogenes的代谢流量分布情况对其育种机制进行了研究。以Actinobacillus succinogenes CGMCC1593为原始菌株进行NTG诱变, 挑选在含有50~100 mmol/L氟乙酸平板生长较快的菌落, 经过初筛和复筛, 发现SF-9菌株产生更多琥珀酸且积累乙酸较少。以50 g/L的葡萄糖为碳源, 在5 L发酵罐上进行分批发酵, 该菌株发酵32 h时琥珀酸产量(34.8 g/L)提高了23.4%, 琥珀酸/乙酸比率为9:1, 副产物乙酸量比原始菌株降低了约50%。代谢流量分析(MFA)结果表明, PEP是影响琥珀酸合成的关键节点, PYR是影响乙酸等杂酸生成比例的关键节点, 并且这两个节点均非刚性节点。通过氟乙酸抗性诱变, 成功地筛选出了流向乙酸、甲酸和乳酸等杂酸的流量相对减少, 而流向琥珀酸的流量明显增强的突变菌株SF-9。     

树鼩实验室繁殖及育幼的探讨

探讨实验室内树鼩的人工繁殖和育幼情况。结果显示在16个月的观察期内,35只雌性、2 0只雄性成年树共产仔14 7窝4 0 4只,平均每只母树年产仔3 2窝、8 7只,平均每次妊娠的合笼天数为6 8±32天。在非繁殖高峰期给雄、雌性树鼩用激素可使合笼时间缩短至6 1±14天,用药有效率为6 1. 5 %。仔树出生后经被动母乳联合人工配方乳喂养的成活率达92. 2 %。表明在实验室条件下,非繁殖期使用激素类药物能提高成年树鼩的受孕率;被动母乳联合人工配方乳喂养仔树的方法简单易行。     

Genetic variation in eight Chinese cattle breeds based on the analysis of microsatellite markers

Genetic variability and genetic relationships were investigated among eight Chinese cattle breeds using 12 microsatellite markers. Three hundred and fifty-two alleles were detected and the average number of alleles per locus ranged from 8.33 ± 1.67 in the Jiaxian breed to 21.33 ± 5.60 in the Qinchuan breed with a mean value of 13.91. The total number of alleles per microsatellite ranged from 21 (INRA005, HEL1) to 40 (HEL13), with a mean of 29.33 per locus. The fixation indices at the 12 loci in the eight breeds were very low with a mean of 0.006. A principal components analysis and the construction of a neighborjoining tree showed that these eight Chinese cattle breeds cluster into three groups i.e. the Yanbian andChineseHolstein, theNanyang and Jiaxian, and the four remaining breeds.This clustering agrees with the origin and geographical distributions of these Chinese breeds.     

Breed difference and regulation of the porcine adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone sensitive lipase by TNFα

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) are major novel triglyceride lipases in animals. The aim of this study was to determine if there are differences in the porcine ATGL ( pATGL ) and HSL genes between Jinhua pigs (a fatty breed) and Landrace pigs (a leaner breed). In addition, the effect of TNFα and pATGL-specific siRNA ( pATGL-siRNA ) on the expression of pATGL and HSL in porcine adipocytes was also examined. Compared with Landrace pigs, the body weight ( BW ) of Jinhua pigs was lower ( P <  0.01), while intramuscular fat content (in the longissimus dorsi muscle), as well as the back fat thickness and body fat content were higher ( P <  0.01). The expression of pATGL and HSL mRNA in Jinhua pigs was lower ( P <  0.01) in subcutaneous adipose tissue, and greater ( P <  0.01) in longissimus dorsi muscle compared with Landrace pigs. In vitro treatment of porcine adipocytes with TNFα decreased ( P <  0.01) the glycerol release and the gene expression of pATGL , HSL and PPARγ in porcine adipocytes. Furthermore, transfection with pATGL-siRNA significantly decreased ( P <  0.01) the expression of pATGL , while it had no effect on the expression of HSL . Treatment with 25 ng/ml TNFα in conjunction with pATGL-siRNA significantly decreased ( P <  0.01) the expression of pATGL and HSL in cultured porcine adipocytes. These results provide useful information to further the understanding of the function of pATGL and HSL in porcine lipid metabolism, which should be applicable to the regulation of fat deposition and improvement of meat quality.