Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in multiple candidate genes and body weight in rabbits

Aim: In this study, we examined parts of six growth genes (growth hormone [GH], melanocortin 4 receptor [MC4R], growth hormone receptor [GHR], phosphorglycerate mutase [PGAM], myostatin [MSTN], and fibroblast growth factor [FGF]) as specific primers for two rabbit lines (V-line, Alexandria) using nucleotide sequence analysis, to investigate association between detecting single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of these genes and body weight (BW) at market. Materials and Methods: Each line kits were grouped into high and low weight rabbits to identify DNA markers useful for association studies with high BW. DNA from blood samples of each group was extracted to amplify the six growth genes. SNP technique was used to study the associate polymorphism in the six growth genes and marketing BW (at 63 days) in the two rabbit lines. The purified polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced in those had the highest and lowest BW in each line. Results: Alignment of sequence data from each group revealed the following SNPs: At nucleotide 23 (A-C) and nucleotide 35 (T-G) in MC4R gene (sense mutation) of Alexandria and V-line high BW. Furthermore, we detected the following SNPs variation between the two lines: A SNP (T-C) at nucleotide 27 was identified by MC4R gene (sense mutation) and another one (A-C) at nucleotide 14 was identified by GHR gene (nonsense mutation) of Alexandria line. The results of individual BW at market (63 days) indicated that Alexandria rabbits had significantly higher BW compared with V-line rabbits. MC4R polymorphism showed significant association with high BW in rabbits. Conclusion: The results of polymorphism demonstrate the possibility to detect an association between BW in rabbits and the efficiency of the used primers to predict through the genetic specificity using the SNP of MC4R

Molecular genetic evaluation of Cichorium endivia L. as an anticancer agent against colorectal cancer

Medicinal plants confer protective effects against a wide range of cancers including colon cancer. Cichorium endivia L. has many biological activities and functions, such as anti-inflammation and hepatoprotective effects. This activity is mainly due to its high levels of antioxidant compounds. The effect of cichorium extract and fluorouracil (5-FU) against colorectal cancer (CRC) induced by 1, 2- Dimethyl hydrazine (DMH) was examined in male albino mice. Where, different doses of cichorium extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight) were investigated to determine the significant effective dose against colorectal cancer using differential display-PCR (DD-PCR), DNA sequencing, histopathological and cytological techniques. The results showed that the cichorium extract dose 200 mg/kg body weight was the best one compared to the others (400 and 600 mg/kg body weight). This finding could be a powerful therapeutic against colorectal cancer.