ABSTRACT
Intramuscular fat (IMF) or intramuscular triglycerides are interspersed throughout the skeletal muscles. The IMF, also called marbling, imparts meat with flavor and juiciness and is one of the core criteria for judging carcass value. The quantity of IMF is influenced entirely by genetics. Recently, understanding the underlying genetic bases of IMF has been a focus particularly in the beef industry. In this study, with the deep insights of ameliorating the beef quality by genetic means, the role of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) gene was investigated by over-expressing C/EBPα in bovine muscle stem cells (MSCs) to initiate the adipogenic program. Prior to this, bovine MSCs were isolated and induced to differentiate into adipocytes from cells that were exposed to dexamethasone isobutylmethylxanthine and indomethacin; the presence of insulin and fetal bovine serum was examined. Either ectopic expression of C/EBPα or treatment with dexamethasone and insulin induced the accumulation of fat droplets and the expression of adipogenic induction genes (LPL, PPARγ, C/EBPß, and C/EBPδ). The expression levels of myoblast-related genes (MyoD, Myf5, and Pax7) were also measured to assess the accuracy of the differentiation process. This study provides evidence that the C/EBPα gene is essential for cattle adipose tissue growth and development. Hence, this finding can contribute to improving beef carcass quality.
Subject(s)
CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-alpha/genetics , Food Quality , Genetic Markers , Red Meat/standards , Adipocytes/metabolism , Adipogenesis/genetics , Animals , Cattle , Cell Differentiation , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media , Gene Expression , Gene Expression Profiling , Myoblasts, Skeletal/cytology , Myoblasts, Skeletal/metabolism , TranscriptomeABSTRACT
Here, we detected 2 SNPs, A85C and T335C, that were located on the 3rd exon and the 3 untranslated regions of the bovine Osteocrin gene, respectively, using 413 Qinchuan cattle DNA samples. PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods were specifically used. Three genotypes (AA, AC, and CC) were found at A85C; yet, only 2 genotypes (TC and CC) were found at T335C. Association analysis showed that both loci were associated with certain meat quality traits, including back fat thickness and loin muscle area. At the A85C locus, individuals with the CC genotype had greater back fat thickness. In comparison, at the T335C locus, individuals with the TC genotype had greater back fat thickness and a larger loin muscle area. Therefore, these 2 SNPs could be used as genetic markers to enhance Qinchuan cattle breeding programs.
