Genetic background of coat colour in sheep

The coat colour of animals is an extremely important trait that affects their behaviour and is decisive for survival in the natural environment. In farm animal breeding, as a result of the selection of a certain coat colour type, animals are characterized by a much greater variety of coat types. This makes them an appropriate model in research in this field. A very important aspect of the coat colour types of farm animals is distinguishing between breeds and varieties based on this trait. Furthermore, for the sheep breeds which are kept for skins and wool, coat/skin colour is an important economic trait. Until now the study of coat colour inheritance in sheep proved the dominance of white colour over pigmented/black coat or skin and of black over brown. Due to the current knowledge of the molecular basis of ovine coat colour inheritance, there is no molecular test to distinguish coat colour types in sheep although some are available for other species, such as cattle, dogs, and horses. Understanding the genetic background of variation in one of the most important phenotypic traits in livestock would help to identify new genes which have a great effect on the coat colour type. Considering that coat colour variation is a crucial trait for discriminating between breeds (including sheep), it is important to broaden our knowledge of the genetic background of pigmentation. The results may be used in the future to determine the genetic pattern of a breed. Until now, identified candidate genes that have a significant impact on colour type in mammals mainly code for factors located in melanocytes. The proposed candidate genes code for the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), agouti signaling protein (ASIP), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor MITF, and v-kit Hardy–Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KIT). However, there is still no conclusive evidence of established polymorphisms for specific coat colour types in sheep

The expression of the SCD1 gene and its correlation with fattening and carcass traits in sheep

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and is involved in several signaling pathways related to lipid metabolism. The objective of the present study was to estimate the expression of the SCD1 gene in three different ovine tissues strongly associated with lipid homeostasis. The SCD1 gene expression measurement was performed on three tissues (liver, subcutaneous fat, perirenal fat) originated from 15 old-type Polish Merino sheep. The SCD1 transcript abundance was evaluated based on the two most stable endogenous controls (RPS2 &ndash; ribosomal protein S2; ATP5G2 &ndash; H(+)-transporting ATP synthase). The highest expression of the SCD1 gene was observed in ovine subcutaneous fat compared to perirenal fat and liver. Furthermore, the present research indicated the significant correlation between ovine SCD1 transcript abundance and several important production traits. The expression of the SCD1 gene in liver and perirenal fat highly positively correlated with the feed : gain ratio, test of daily gain and age of the animals at slaughter. Moreover, in both tissues, the SCD1mRNA level positively correlated with weight and content of perirenal fat and subcutaneous fat (<i>R</i> =  0.64, 0.8, 0.6, respectively) and negatively with assessment of external fat content with the use of the EUROP scale (<i>R</i> = &minus;0.64). The SCD1 expression in subcutaneous fat also corresponds with back fat of blade chop and thickness of longissimus dorsi muscles evaluated using USG (ultrasonography) (<i>R</i> =  &minus;0.6 and 0.62, respectively). The significant correlation between SCD1 transcript abundance and fattening and slaughtering traits indicate the ability to improve important production traits in sheep via modification of expression of the SCD1 gene

Nutritional modification of <i>SCD</i>, <i>ACACA</i> and <i>LPL</i> gene expressions in different ovine tissues

Fatty acid composition is one of the main factors affecting health benefits of food. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD), acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) have been considered as the rate-limiting enzymes in the biosynthesis of different fatty acids critical in lipid metabolism. The aim of our study was the analysis of differences in expression profiles of three ovine genes related to lipid metabolism (LPL, ACACA, SCD) depending on feeding system and tissue type. The gene expression measurement was performed using a real-time PCR method on 60 old-type Polish Merino Sheep, which were divided into three feeding groups (I – complete pellet mixture, n =  12; II – complete mixture with addition of fresh grass, n =  24; III – complete mixture with addition of fresh red clover, n =  24). From all lambs, tissue samples – subcutaneous fat, perirenal fat and liver – were collected immediately after slaughter and LPL, ACACA and SCD expression was estimated based on two endogenous controls (RPS2 – ribosomal protein S2; ATP5G2 – H(+)-transporting ATP synthase). Our research indicated that supplementation of diet with an addition of fresh grass or red clover significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased the expression of SCD, ACACA and LPL genes in fat tissue compared to standard complete pelleted mixture. On the other hand, the highest expression of ACACA was detected in liver tissue collected from sheep fed a diet with an addition of fresh red clover (P &lt; 0.05). In turn, the highest expression of the SCD gene was detected in animals fed with grass supplementation (P &lt; 0.05). Regardless of diet supplementation, the highest SCD transcript abundance was detected in perirenal fat, while LPL and ACACA expression was the highest in both perirenal and subcutaneous fat. The ability of nutrigenomic regulation of transcription of analyzed genes confirmed that these genes play a critical role in regulation of lipid metabolism processes in sheep and could be associated with fatty acid profiles in milk and meat

Molecular characterization of the apoptosis-related SH3RF1 and SH3RF2 genes and their association with exercise performance in Arabian horses

Abstract Background Apoptosis plays an important role in the regulation of healthy tissue growth and development as well as in controlling the maintenance of homeostasis in exercising muscles. During an intensive physical effort, the regulation of cell death by apoptosis results in the replacement of unaccustomed muscle cells by new cells that are better suited to exercise. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of two genes (SH3FR1 and SH3RF2) that control apoptosis in muscle tissues during training periods characterized by different intensities. The gene expression levels were estimated using real-time PCR method in skeletal muscle biopsies collected from 15 Arabian horses (untrained, after an intense gallop phase, and at the end of the racing season). An association study was performed on 250 Arabian horses to assess the effect of the SH3RF2:c.796 T > C (p.Ser266Pro) variant on race performance traits in flat gallop-racing. Results A gene expression analysis confirmed a significant decrease (p  C missense variant was associated with selected racing performance traits, which is important information during the evaluation of horses’ exercise predisposition. The association results and frequencies of the CT and TT genotypes suggest the possibility of using SH3RF2 variant in selection to improve the racing performance of Arabian horses

Wpływ różnych czynników na poziom alfa1-antytrypsyny u żrebiąt pełnej krwi angielskiej

Acute phase proteins (APP) are an integral part of the acute phase response. Alpha 1 antitrypsin is considered to be one of the most important acute-phase protein activated by trauma, stress, or inflammatory processes. The objective of the present study was to estimate the impact of various factors (sex, month of life and sire effect) on concentration of alpha 1 antitrypsin in serum of Thoroughbred foals. A total of 624 samples, collected from 39 foals were obtained in monthly intervals from first to 16 month of life and measured by STIC method (specific trypsin inhibitory captivity). The obtained results indicated the significant impact of analyzed age periods on the AAT level. Furthermore, the variation in AAT level in analyzed periods corresponded to significant changes in foals diet and maintaining. Alpha 1 antitrypsin concentration was also affected by sire effects and sex of foals. In the most investigated age periods, the impact of sire on alpha 1 antitrypsin content in serum of his progeny has been shown. The obtained results might be useful in explanation of differences in serum AAT concentration in foals during early ontogenesis which probably is a critical period that has an influence on racing performance of young horses.Wpływ różnych czynników na poziom alfa-1-antytrypsyny u źrebiąt pełnej krwi angielskiej. Białka ostrej fazy (APP) są integralną częścią tzw.: odpowiedzi ostrej fazy na stan zapalny. Alfa-1-antytrypsyna (ATT) jest uważana za jedno najważniejszych białek ostrej fazy aktywowane przez uraz, stres lub procesy zapalne. W związku z tym celem niniejszego badania była ocena wpływu różnych czynników (płeć, miesiąc życia i ojciec) na stężenia ATT w surowicy krwi źrebiąt pełnej krwi angielskiej. Materiał do badań stanowiło 624 próbek kri, zebranych od 39 źrebiąt będących potomstwem czterech ogierów, uzyskanych w odstępach miesięcznych od pierwszego do 16 miesiąca życia. Stężenie ATT oznaczono metodą STIC. Uzyskane wyniki wskazały na znaczący wpływ wieku źrebiąt na poziom AAT. Co więcej, różnice w poziomie AAT w analizowanych okresach przypadały w okresach znaczących zmian u źrebiąt. Ponadto w większości badanych okresów, wykazano wpływ ojca na stężenie ATT u potomstwa. Uzyskane wyniki mogą być przydatne w celu wyjaśnienia różnic w koncentracji AAT w surowicy krwi u źrebiąt w okresie wczesnej ontogenezy która jest krytycznym okresem, mającym wpływ na wyniki użytkowe młodych koni

Transcriptome analysis of equine sarcoids

Equine sarcoids are the most commonly detected skin tumours in Equidae. In the present research, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed which aimed at looking inside a tumour biology and identification of the expression profile as a potential source of cancer specific genes useful as biomarkers. We have used Horse Gene Expression Microarray data from matched equine sarcoids and tumour-distant skin samples. In total, 901 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between lesional and healthy skin samples have been identified (fold change ≥ 2; P < 0.05). The large subset of DEGs, with decreased expression, was associated with a suppression of malignant transformation, whereas several overexpressed genes were involved in the processes associated with growth and progression of a tumour or immune system activity. Our results, as a first to date, showed comprehensive transcriptome analysis of skin tumour in horses and pinpointed significant pathways and genes related with oncogenesis processes