Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) gene polymorphisms in Turkish native cattle breeds

The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of 4 native Turkish cattle breeds, based on the growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) genes. In order to study the polymorphisms in these genes, the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was performed. A 329-bp fragment and a 223-bp fragment of GH, a 156-bp fragment of PRL, and a 411-bp fragment of DGAT1, thus 4 loci of 3 genes, were amplified via PCR. These fragments were then restricted with the enzymes MspI, Alu1, RsaI, and CfrI, respectively. In this study, 2 types of alleles, (+) and (-) for the GH-MspI, L and V for the GH-Alu1, A and B for the PRL, and K and A for the DGAT1 loci, were observed. The results of the present study will contribute to the polymorphism data on the world's cattle breeds. Furthermore, the above-mentioned allele frequencies of Turkish native breeds are evaluated in relation to their genetic relatedness, and to infer their milk production properties on the basis of the available literature. In turn, these results can be utilized for future breeding programs of dairy cattle in Turkey

Beta-kazein, kappa-kazein ve beta-laktoglobulin genotiplerinin belirlenmesi ve bkm-7'nin periferik kan tek çekirdekli insan hücrelerinde tanımlanmasına yönelik çalışmalar.

The main aim of this study is to determine genetic diversity of milk protein genes associated with milk traits, namely beta-casein, kappa-casein and betalactoglobulin, in native Turkish cattle breeds (Turkish Grey, Eastern Anatolian Red, Anatolian Black, and Southern Anatolian Red) and Turkish Holstein. Only 11% deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and insignificant Fis values for the populations were observed, indicating that samples are free of inbreeding. B alleles of these genes, which are positively related with cheese yield and quality, seem to be relatively high in native Turkish breeds. Therefore, the results suggest that milk of Turkish native breeds is advantageous for producing high-quality and -yield cheese. A1 allele of beta-casein, which releases a bioactive peptide called BCM-7 after successive gastrointestinal proteolytic digestions, has been claimed to have adverse health effects on humans. Another aim of this study is to develop a protocol and assess the potential detrimental effects of BCM-7 on human peripheral blood cells. Despite the fact that the results are inconclusive, the optimized experimental protocol will guide further researchers while judging the effect of BCM-7 on human health. Even though A1 beta-casein, which has a low frequency in native Turkish breeds, and hence BCM-7 have no adverse health effects on humans, this probability should be enough to keep its frequency low in native cattle breeds. Bulls must be screened for A1 allele of beta-casein as well as E allele of kappa-casein, which is absent in native breeds and known to have detrimental effects on cheese quality.Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

Anadolu Türkleri'nde alu ara-ilave polimorfizimleri

In the present study; ten autosomal human-specific Alu insertion polymorphisms; ACE, APO, A25, B65, D1, FXIIIB, HS4.32, HS4.69, PV92 and TPA25 were analyzed in approximately 100 unrelated individuals from Anatolia. Alu insertion polymorphisms offer several advantages over other nuclear DNA polymorphisms for human evolution studies. The frequencies of the ten biallelic Alu insertions in Anatolians were calculated and all systems were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05). By combining the results of this study with results of previous studies done on worldwide populations, the genetic distance (Nei̕s DA) between each pair of populations was calculated and neighbor joining trees were constructed. In general, geographically closer populations were found to be also genetically similar. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed and Anatolia was found to be in the European cluster. As a result of PCA; it was concluded that FXIIIB, PV92 and ACE were the variables contributing the most to the explanation of the variation between the populations. Additionally; canonical variates analysis (CVA) concluded that the most discriminative markers for the groups of populations were PV92, D1, ACE and HS4.32. Pair-wise Fst values were also calculated between Anatolians and some of the populations for which the data was available. It was concluded that, Anatolians have non-significant pair-wise Fst values with Swiss and French Acadian populations. Lastly, heterozygosity vs. distance from centroid graph was constructed and it was found that Anatolians and India-Hindu had exactly the expected heterozygosity value predicted by the model of Harpending and Ward (1982).Bu çalışmada on otozomal Alu ara-ilave polimorfizimleri (ACE, APO, A25, B65, Dİ, FXHIB, HS4.32, HS4.69, PV92 and TPA25) Anadolu'dan birbiri ile akraba olmayan yaklaşık 100 bireyde incelenmiştir. Alu ara-ilave polimorfizimlerinin insan evrimi çalışmalarında, diğer nükleer DNA polimorfizimlerine kıyasla birçok avantajı vardır. On Alu ilavelerinin Anadolu'daki frekansları hesaplanmış ve hepsi de Hardy- Weinberg (H-W) dengesinde bulunmuştur (p>0.05). Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarını daha önce dünya çapında yapılan çalışmaların sonuçlan ile birleştirerek, her populasyon çifti arasındaki genetik uzaklık (Nei'nin Da) hesaplanmış ve komşu birleştirme ağaçları çizilmiştir. Genel olarak, coğrafi olarak yakın populasyonlann genetik olarak da benzer olduğu görülmüştür. Temel öğeler analizi uygulandığında Anadolu'nun Avrupa grubunda olduğu bulunmuştur. Bu analiz sonucunda, FXIIIB, PV92 ve ACE değişkenlerinin populasyonlar arası varyasyonu açıklamada en çok katkısı olan değişkenler oldukları sonucu ortaya çıkmıştır. Ek olarak, ayrışım fonksiyonu analizi sonucunda ise, populasyon grupları için en ayırt edici genetik işaretlerin PV92, Dİ, ACE ve HS4.32 oldukları görülmüştür. Anadolu ve verisi mevcut olan bazı populasyonlar arasında ikili Fst değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, isviçre ve Fransız Akadyan populasyonları ve Anadolu arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamsız değerler elde edilmiştir. Son olarak, heterozigotluk ve merkezden uzaklık grafiği çizildiğinde, Anadolu ve Hindistan-Hindu populasyonlarının heterozigotluk değerlerinin Harpending ve Ward (1982) modeline göre beklenen değerler oldukları gözlenmiştir.M.S. - Master of Scienc

Beta-casein A1/A2, kappa-casein and beta-lactoglobulin polymorphisms in Turkish cattle breeds

In this study, the genetic diversity of three milk protein genes namely beta-casein, kappacasein and beta-lactoglobulin was estimated in Turkish cattle breeds. Based on these genes, breeds in Turkey have been grouped as: 1) Eastern Anatolian Red, Anatolian Black and Southern Anatolian Red and 2) Turkish Grey, Turkish Holstein and Holstein Candidate Bulls. B alleles of the three studied genes, which were reported to be positively related with cheese yield and quality, seemed to be low-intermediate for beta-casein and kappa-casein but relatively high for beta-lactoglobulin in the first group of Turkish breeds compared to other breeds of the world. The kappa-casein E allele, which has a negative effect on cheese quality, is absent in Turkish cattle breeds, except in Holstein Candidate Bulls. Therefore, the results suggest that milk of Turkish native breeds is suitable for cheese making. Based on observations of the Turkish breeds, some suggestions were made regarding breeding practices in Turkey.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TOVAG 104V137]We thank Prof. Dr. Ihsan Soysal for his help in the collection of the samples. This work was supported by grant TOVAG 104V137 from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)

Electrospun Polyvinyl borate/Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PVB/PMMA) Blend Nanofibers

The aim of this study was to prepare polyvinyl borate (PVB)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend nanofibers by electrospinning process. Polyvinyl borate was synthesized by the condensation reaction of polyvinyl alcohol and boric acid. FTIR analyses showed that boron atoms were found to be integrated into the polymer network. Blending PMMA with PVB decreased the fiber diameter and enhanced the surface roughness of PVB/PMMA blend nanofiber mats. The water wetting property of the nanofiber mats was influenced by the surface roughness. The blend composition with the highest polyvinyl borate content was found to be suitable for thermally stable nanofiber formation