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

Kadmiyum ve kurşuna dirençli çevresel türlerde moleküler adaptasyonlar.

Environmental pollution caused by heavy metal exposure has detrimental effects on human health. For the reclamation of polluted areas, bacteria have been used in remediation. For those bioremediation attempts, finding the appropriate bacterial strains is an important issue. In their environment, bacteria may exist close to the source of heavy metals. Sudden exposure to high concentrations of the heavy metal may trigger quick response mechanisms to ensure survival. On the other hand, bacteria may live at a distance to the source and thus, experience the gradual increase in the heavy metal concentrations. The gradual increase in the concentration of the heavy metal may cause changes accumulating in time to ensure survival as well. In both, acute or gradual exposure situations, bacteria resist heavy metals by using several resistance mechanisms. In our study, we investigated whether there are differences between molecular profiles of the cells that are acclimated to heavy metals upon either acute or gradual exposure. We measured the changes in molecular profile by using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and unsupervised chemometric analysis methods (PCA, HCA). We chose cadmium and lead as heavy metals, and we have studied the molecular profiles of Brevundimonas, Gordonia, and Microbacterium bacterial genera isolated from a freshwater source. In a laboratory environment, after extended exposure bacteria can be acclimated to live and grow in the existence of heavy metals. We allow the bacteria to mimic the situation of being close or away from the source of heavy metal by using two different acclimation procedures (acute vs. gradual). We acclimated bacterial strains to grow at 2 to 4 times higher concentrations than their corresponding minimum inhibitory concentrations. We then measured the molecular alterations caused by the nature of acclimation upon acute or gradual exposure. Results of the IR spectral analysis indicated substantial changes in structure and composition of bacterial macromolecules. Changes in the membrane exhibited itself in decreases of fatty acids amounts and as well as protein to lipid ratios in acclimated groups. The decrease in total protein concentrations that we measured perhaps hints inhibition of several anabolic pathways in all acclimated groups. Furthermore, total protein concentrations in acutely acclimated bacteria were significantly lower than that of gradually acclimated ones. A remarkable increase in exopolymer production was detected in both acutely and gradually heavy metal exposed groups. Exopolymer production, being one of the heavy metal resistance mechanisms in bacteria, appeared to play a central role in survival upon supra lethal exposures. Moreover, bacteria under acute cadmium exposure cadmium produced significantly higher exopolysaccharide than under gradual. On the contrary, gradually acclimated strains produced significantly higher exopolysaccharide than those of acutely acclimated ones under lead exposure. Results of PCA and HCA analyzes showed clearcut discriminations between acclimated bacterial strains as acute vs. gradual exposure and control for both of the metals. This work contributes novel insights into the potential role of IR spectroscopy in the molecular characterization of bacteria acclimated to different stress conditions. Furthermore, our study showed that we may use information about the exopolymer production and amount as background information to find appropriate bacterial strains in bioremediation studies.Ph.D. - Doctoral Progra

PRL (Prolactin), DGAT1 (Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1) ve SLC35A3 (Bovine Solute Carrier Family 35 Member 3) genlerinin polimorfiziminin yerli sığır ırklarında incelenmesi ve Türk sığır ırklarının ıslahında uygulamaları.

In the present study samples from four native Turkish Cattle Breeds; South Anatolian Red (n= 48), East Anatolian Red (n= 34), Anatolian Black (n= 42) and Turkish Grey (n=46) and elite bulls of Holstein (n=21) were genotyped with respect to two milk production enhancer genes, Prolactin (PRL) and Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1), and one disease (Complex Vertebral Malformation) causing gene (SLC35A3). A allele frequency for PRL gene, believed to be positively associated with the milk yield in cattle, ranged between 0.5645 (Anatolian Black) - 0.7558 (South Anatolian Red). K allele frequency which is thought to be related with the milk fat content in cattle varied between 0.7794 (East Anatolian Red) - 0.9250 (Anatolian Black). Complex Vertebral Malformation gene was not observed in any of the examined individuals (n= 164), hence, SLC35A3 locus was monomorphic. Pairwise Fst values based on the two polymorphic loci revealed that breeds are not significantly different from each other with respect to these two genes. Correlations, but weak, between the PRL A allele frequency and milk yield and similarly DGAT1 K allele and milk fat content was observed, Principle Component Analysis generated two compound axis based on the two polymorphic loci. Positions of the breeds on the first axis were correlated with the milk fat content of the breeds, perfectly. Again, positions of the breeds on the second axis were correlated with the milk yield of the breeds. Furthermore, PCA revealed that both A of PRL and K of DGAT1 genes seemed to have contributions in milk yield Results are believed to be useful for the management efforts of Turkish native cattle breeds.M.S. - Master of Scienc

BREVUNDIMONAS , KOCURIA , MICROBACTERIUM,GORDONIA VE PSEUDOMONAS BAKTERİLERİNDE KURŞUN VE CİVA DİRENCİNİN ARAŞTIRILMASI

BREVUNDIMONAS , KOCURIA , MICROBACTERIUM,GORDONIA VE PSEUDOMONAS BAKTERİLERİNDE KURŞUN VE CİVA DİRENCİNİN ARAŞTIRILMAS

Kurşun ve Kadmiyum Ağır Metallerinin Yüksek Derişimlerine alıştırılmış Çevresel Bakterilerde Maruziyet Altındaki Fizyolojik Uyumlamanın Moleküler Kökenleri

Kurşun (Pb) ve Kadmiyum (Cd) çevre kirliliği ve insan sağlığı açısından tehlikeli ağır metallerden ikisidir. Bu metallerin yüksek derişimlerine maruz kalan ortamlarda bulunan bakteriler metalin varlığında yaşayabilmek ve büyüyebilmek için çeşitli moleküler uyumlamalar yaparlar. Bu uyumlama mekanizmaları metal kirliliği altındaki çevrelerin temizlenmesinde (biyoremediasyon) uygulanabilir ve örnekleri vardır. Çevre kirliliği yaratan agır metallerin ortamdan uzaklaştırılmasında kimyasal çöktürme, oksidasyon-redüksiyon, iyon değiştirme, filitrasyon, ters osmoz gibi pahalı klasikleşmiş kimyasal yöntemler uygulanır. Çevre dostu ekonomik alternatif olarak bakterilerin çötürme, ve detoksifikasyon süreçleri kullanılabilir. Bu projenin amacı doğal sucul ortamlardan izole ettiğimiz bakterileri Kurşun (Pb) ve Kadmiyumum (Cd) yüksek derişimlerinde yaşayabilir ve büyüyebilir hale getirecek fizyolojik uyumlamalara ulaşmak, bu uyumlanmaları ortaya çıkaran moleküler değişimleri tespit etmek ve bu şekilde uyumlandırılan bakterilerin çevre temizliğinde (biyoremediasyon) kullanım potansiyelini araştırmaktır