Genes with expression levels correlating to drip loss prove association of their polymorphism with water holding capacity of pork

Six genes that were known to exhibit expression levels that are correlated to drip loss BVES, SLC3A2, ZDHHC5, CS, COQ9, and EGFR have been for candidate gene analysis. Based on in silico analysis SNPs were detected, confirmed by sequencing, and used for genotyping. The SNPs were genotyped in about 1,800 animals from six pig populations including commercial herds of Pietrain (PI) and German Landrace (DL), different commercial herds of Pietrain × (German Large White × German Landrace) (PIF1(a/b/c)), and one experimental F₂-population Duroc × Pietrain (DUPI). Comparative and genetic mapping established the location of BVES on SSC1, of SLC3A2 and ZDHHC5 on SSC2, of CS on SSC5, of COQ9 on SSC6 and of EGFR on SSC9, respectively, coinciding with QTL regions for carcass and meat quality traits. BVES, SLC3A2, and CS revealed association at least with drip loss and with several other measures of water holding capacity (WHC). Moreover, COQ9 and EGFR were associated with several meat quality traits such as meat color and/or thawing loss. This study reveals statistic evidence in addition to the functional relationship of these genes to WHC previously evidenced by expression analysis. This study reveals positional and genetic statistical evidence for a link of genetic variation at these loci or close to them and promotes those six candidate genes as functional and/or positional candidate genes for meat quality traits.     

Detection of genetic variants affecting cattle behaviour and their impact on milk production: a genome‐wide association study

Behaviour traits of cattle have been reported to affect important production traits, such as meat quality and milk performance as well as reproduction and health. Genetic predisposition is, together with environmental stimuli, undoubtedly involved in the development of behaviour phenotypes. Underlying molecular mechanisms affecting behaviour in general and behaviour and productions traits in particular still have to be studied in detail. Therefore, we performed a genome‐wide association study in an F₂ Charolais × German Holstein cross‐breed population to identify genetic variants that affect behaviour‐related traits assessed in an open‐field and novel‐object test and analysed their putative impact on milk performance. Of 37 201 tested single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), four showed a genome‐wide and 37 a chromosome‐wide significant association with behaviour traits assessed in both tests. Nine of the SNPs that were associated with behaviour traits likewise showed a nominal significant association with milk performance traits. On chromosomes 14 and 29, six SNPs were identified to be associated with exploratory behaviour and inactivity during the novel‐object test as well as with milk yield traits. Least squares means for behaviour and milk performance traits for these SNPs revealed that genotypes associated with higher inactivity and less exploratory behaviour promote higher milk yields. Whether these results are due to molecular mechanisms simultaneously affecting behaviour and milk performance or due to a behaviour predisposition, which causes indirect effects on milk performance by influencing individual reactivity, needs further investigation.     

Expression variation of the porcine ADRB2 has a complex genetic background

Porcine adrenergic receptor beta 2 (ADRB2) gene exhibits differential allelic expression in skeletal muscle, and its genetic variation has been associated with muscle pH. Exploring the molecular–genetic background of expression variation for porcine ADRB2 will provide insight into the mechanisms driving its regulatory divergence and may also contribute to unraveling the genetic basis of muscle-related traits in pigs. In the present study, we therefore examined haplotype effects on the expression of porcine ADRB2 in four tissues: longissimus dorsi muscle, liver, subcutaneous fat, and spleen. The diversity and structure of haplotypes of the proximal gene region segregating in German commercial breeds were characterized. Seven haplotypes falling into three clades were identified. Two clades including five haplotypes most likely originated from introgression of Asian genetics during formation of modern breeds. Expression analyses revealed that the Asian-derived haplotypes increase expression of the porcine ADRB2 compared to the major, wild-type haplotype independently of tissue type. In addition, several tissue-specific differences in the expression of the Asian-derived haplotypes were found. Inspection of haplotype sequences showed that differentially expressed haplotypes exhibit polymorphisms in a polyguanine tract located in the core promoter region. These findings demonstrate that expression variation of the porcine ADRB2 has a complex genetic basis and suggest that the promoter polyguanine tract is causally involved. This study highlights the challenges of finding causal genetic variants underlying complex traits.     

Deoxynivalenol affects the composition of the basement membrane proteins and influences en route the migration of CD16+ cells into the intestinal epithelium

The numerous pores in the basement membrane (BM) of the intestinal villi are essential for the communication of enterocytes with cells in the lamina propria, an important mechanism for the induction of intestinal immune responses. The intestinal epithelial barrier is affected by the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) from both the apical (luminal) and basolateral (serosal) side. The pig is the most susceptible species to the anorectic and immune-modulating effects of DON, which is most prevalent in crops. We analysed in pigs the effect of DON-contaminated feed on the composition and perforation of the BM and the presence of CD16⁺ cells or their dendrites in the epithelium. In addition to in vivo experiments, in vitro studies were carried out. Using microarray analyses, the effects of DON on IPEC-J2 cells were studied with the focus on the BM. Our in vivo results showed in the control pigs: (1) a significant increased pore number (p?≤?0.001) in the jejunum in comparison to ileum, (2) no difference in the pore size, and (3) comparable frequency of intraepithelial CD16⁺ cells/dendrites in the jejunum and ileum. There was a marked trend that DON feeding increases: (1) the pore number in jejunum, and (2) the number of CD16⁺ cells/dendrites in the epithelium (Tukey–Kramer; p?=?0.055 and p?=?0.067, respectively). The in vivo results were extended with microarray analyses of epithelial cell (IPEC-J2 cells). The down-regulation of genes like syndecan, fibulin 6 and BM-40 was observed. These proteins are important factors in the BM composition and in formation of pores. Our results provide evidence that already low basolateral concentrations of DON (50 ng/mL) influence the production of the BM protein laminin by epithelial cells. Thus, DON affects the composition of the BM.     

Biochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of crude and purified sulfated polysaccharides from Gracilaria fisheri

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) from Gracilaria fisheri of Thailand, which were extracted in low-temperature (25 °C) water showed the highest content of phenolic compounds compared with those extracted at high temperature (55 °C). Crude SP antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the DPPH free radical scavenging effect which is directly related to the level of phenolic compounds. The sulfate content, total sugar, and SPs yield were also directly related to the extraction temperature. All extracts contained galactose as a major monosaccharide. High antioxidant activity of crude SP, positively correlated with the phenolic compound contents (R² = 0.996) contributed by the existence of sulfate groups and phenolic compounds. In purified SP, F1 fraction exhibited strong radical scavenging ability, but it was not significantly different compared to crude SP extracted at 25 °C. This indicated that the appropriate density and distribution of sulfate groups in the SP extract showed the best antioxidant activity.