Characterization of Gut Microbiota Compositions along the Intestinal Tract in CD163/pAPN Double Knockout Piglets and Their Potential Roles in Iron Absorption.

The gut microbiota is known to play a role in regulating host metabolism, yet the mechanisms underlying this regulation are not well elucidated. Our study aimed to characterize the differences in gut microbiota compositions and their roles in iron absorption between wild-type (WT) and CD163/pAPN double-gene-knockout (DKO) weaned piglets. A total of 58 samples along the entire digestive tract were analyzed for microbial community using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The colonic microbiota and their metabolites were determined by metagenomic sequencing and untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. Our results showed that no alterations in microbial community structure and composition were observed between DKO and WT weaned piglets, with the exception of colonic microbiota. Interestingly, the DKO piglets had selectively increased the relative abundance of the Leeia genus belonging to the Neisseriaceae family and decreased the Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 genus abundance. Functional capacity analysis showed that organic acid metabolism was enriched in the colon in DKO piglets. In addition, the DKO piglets showed increased iron levels in important tissues compared with WT piglets without any pathological changes. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated that the specific bacteria such as Leeia and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 genus played a key role in host iron absorption. Moreover, the iron levels had significantly (P < 0.05) positive correlation with microbial metabolites, particularly carboxylic acids and their derivatives, which might increase iron absorption by preventing iron precipitation. Overall, this study reveals an interaction between colonic microbiota and host metabolism and has potential significance for alleviating piglet iron deficiency. IMPORTANCE Iron deficiency is a major risk factor for iron deficiency anemia, which is among the most common nutritional disorders in piglets. However, it remains unclear how the gut microbiota interacts with host iron absorption. The current report provides the first insight into iron absorption-microbiome connection in CD163/pAPN double knockout piglets. The present results showed that carboxylic acids and their derivatives contributed to the absorption of nonheme iron by preventing ferric iron precipitation.

Kinetic Acceleration of Lithium Polysulfide Conversion via a Copper-Iridium Alloying Catalytic Strategy in Li-S Batteries.

To solve the shuttle effect of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), a porous N-doped carbon-supported copper-iridium alloy catalyst composite (CuIr/NC) has been synthesized and served as a modified cathode sulfur host for lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). The metal-organic framework-derived calcined carbon frameworks build efficient conductive channels for fast ion/electron transport. Furthermore, alloying noble metals Ir with thiophilic metal Cu provides abundant active sites to effectively capture LiPSs and accelerate the catalytic conversion process, originating from modulating the surface electronic structure of the metal Cu by introducing Ir atoms to affect the 3d-orbital distribution. All of the above are strongly supported by a range of characterization studies and density functional theory calculations. Benefiting from the above advantages, the LSBs generally show satisfactory cycling performance. Apart from exhibiting a terrific initial specific capacity of 1288 mA h g-1 at 0.2 C, they can also keep long-term cycling stability under a high current density up to 5 C together with a slow specific capacity decay ratio (0.033%) per cycle after 1000 cycles. In addition, it is worth mentioning that a high areal capacity (4.7 mA h cm-2) with a low E/S ratio (6.2 µL mg-1) could still be accomplished at higher sulfur loading (4.3 mg cm-2).

Correction: Adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over CuZnFeAl-LDH modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D2RA03968K.].

Adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over CuZnFeAl-LDH modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have received extensive attention due to being highly toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic organic pollutants. As a result, a series of adsorbents have been designed and developed to solve the problem. In this paper, CuZnFeAl-S has been explored as a highly efficient adsorbent for PAHs. First, CuZnFeAl-LDH was prepared using a coprecipitation method and then calcined at 500 °C to obtain CuZnFeAlO. Finally, CuZnFeAl-S was prepared by modifying CuZnFeAlO with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The physical and chemical properties of the adsorbents were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, ICP, FT-IR, TG-DSC, and IGC; subsequently their adsorption performance was investigated. The results show that the surface properties of CuZnFeAl-S changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic after SDS modification, which enhanced the adsorption of PAHs obviously. The removal of naphthalene and phenanthrene on CuZnFeAl-S reached 97.3% and 90.3%, respectively. And the adsorption process of naphthalene and phenanthrene conforms to Langmuir adsorption and Freundlich adsorption, respectively. Besides, the adsorption thermodynamics indicate that the adsorption of PAHs was a spontaneous exothermic reaction. The highly efficient PAH adsorption performance of CuZnFeAl-S is the synergistic result of various molecule interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, and electrostatic attraction.

Genomic analyses of wild argali, domestic sheep, and their hybrids provide insights into chromosome evolution, phenotypic variation, and germplasm innovation.

Understanding the genetic mechanisms of phenotypic variation in hybrids between domestic animals and their wild relatives may aid germplasm innovation. Here, we report the high-quality genome assemblies of a male Pamir argali (O ammon polii, 2n = 56), a female Tibetan sheep (O aries, 2n = 54), and a male hybrid of Pamir argali and domestic sheep, and the high-throughput sequencing of 425 ovine animals, including the hybrids of argali and domestic sheep. We detected genomic synteny between Chromosome 2 of sheep and two acrocentric chromosomes of argali. We revealed consistent satellite repeats around the chromosome breakpoints, which could have resulted in chromosome fusion. We observed many more hybrids with karyotype 2n = 54 than with 2n = 55, which could be explained by the selfish centromeres, the possible decreased rate of normal/balanced sperm, and the increased incidence of early pregnancy loss in the aneuploid ewes or rams. We identified genes and variants associated with important morphological and production traits (e.g., body weight, cannon circumference, hip height, and tail length) that show significant variations. We revealed a strong selective signature at the mutation (c.334C > A, p.G112W) in TBXT and confirmed its association with tail length among sheep populations of wide geographic and genetic origins. We produced an intercross population of 110 F2 offspring with varied number of vertebrae and validated the causal mutation by whole-genome association analysis. We verified its function using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. Our results provide insights into chromosomal speciation and phenotypic evolution and a foundation of genetic variants for the breeding of sheep and other animals.

Changes in the Mucosa-Associated Microbiome and Transcriptome across Gut Segments Are Associated with Obesity in a Metabolic Syndrome Porcine Model.

Several studies have suggested a role for gut mucosa-associated microbiota in the development of obesity, but the mechanisms involved are poorly defined. Here, the impact of the gut mucosa-associated microbiota on obesity and related metabolic disorders was evaluated in a metabolic syndrome (MetS) porcine model. Body composition was determined among male Wuzhishan minipigs consuming a high-energy diet (HED) and compared to that of those consuming a normal diet (ND), and gut segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum) were sampled for paired analysis of mucosa-associated microbiota and transcriptome signatures with 16S rRNA gene and RNA sequencing, respectively. Our data indicated that long-term HED feeding significantly increased body weight and visceral fat deposition and aggravated metabolic disorders. Specially, HED feeding induced mucosa-associated microbiota dysbiosis and selectively increased the abundance of the families Enterobacteriaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Lachnospiraceae in the upper intestine. The association analysis indicated that specific bacteria play key roles in adiposity, e.g., Lactobacillus johnsonii in the duodenum, Actinobacillus indolicus in the jejunum, Acinetobacter johnsonii in the ileum, Clostridium butyricum in the cecum, Haemophilus parasuis in the colon, and bacterium NLAEzlP808, Halomonas taeheungii, and Shewanella sp. JNUH029 in the rectum. Transcriptome data further revealed intestinal lipid metabolism and immune dysfunction in the MetS individuals, which may be associated with obesity and related metabolic disorders. Our results indicated that gut mucosa-associated microbiota dysbiosis has the potential to exacerbate obesity, partially through modulating systemic inflammatory responses. IMPORTANCE Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome, which is the most common cause of death worldwide, especially in developed countries. The link between obesity and gut mucosa-associated microbiota is unclear due to challenges associated with the collection of intestinal samples from humans. The current report provides the first insight into obesity-microbiome-gut immunity connections in a metabolic syndrome (MetS) porcine model. The present results show that dysbiosis of mucosal microbiota along the entire digestive tract play a critical role in the proinflammatory response in the host-microbial metabolism axis, resulting in obesity and related metabolic disorders in the MetS model.

Multi-Omic Analysis in a Metabolic Syndrome Porcine Model Implicates Arachidonic Acid Metabolism Disorder as a Risk Factor for Atherosclerosis.

Background: The diet-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis has been suggested as a major risk factor for atherothrombosis, however, the detailed mechanism linking these conditions is yet to be fully understood. Methods: We established a long-term excessive-energy diet-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) inbred Wuzhishan minipig model, which is characterized by its genetic stability, small size, and human-like physiology. The metabolic parameters, atherosclerotic lesions, gut microbiome, and host transcriptome were analyzed. Metabolomics profiling revealed a linkage between gut microbiota and atherothrombosis. Results: We showed that white atheromatous plaque was clearly visible on abdominal aorta in the MetS model. Furthermore, using metagenome and metatranscriptome sequencing, we discovered that the long-term excessive energy intake altered the local intestinal microbiota composition and transcriptional profile, which was most dramatically illustrated by the reduced abundance of SCFAs-producing bacteria including Bacteroides, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae in the MetS model. Liver and abdominal aorta transcriptomes in the MetS model indicate that the diet-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis activated host chronic inflammatory responses and significantly upregulated the expression of genes related to arachidonic acid-dependent signaling pathways. Notably, metabolomics profiling further revealed an intimate linkage between arachidonic acid metabolism and atherothrombosis in the host-gut microbial metabolism axis. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into the relationship between atherothrombosis and regulation of gut microbiota via host metabolomes and will be of potential value for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in MetS.

Wood-Derived, Vertically Aligned, and Densely Interconnected 3D SiC Frameworks for Anisotropically Highly Thermoconductive Polymer Composites.

Construction of a vertically aligned and densely interconnected ordered 3D filler framework in a polymer matrix is a challenge to attain significant thermal conductivity (TC) enhancement efficiency. Fortunately, many biomaterials with unique microstructures can be found in nature. With inspiration from wood, artificial composites can be rationally designed to achieve desired properties. Herein, the authors report a facile and effective approach to fabricate anisotropic polymer composites by biotemplate ceramization technology and subsequent vacuum impregnation of epoxy resin. The hierarchical microstructure of wood is perfectly replicated in the cellular biomass derived SiC (bioSiC) framework by carbothermal reduction. Owing to the anisotropic architecture of bioSiC, the epoxy composite with vertically aligned dense SiC microchannels shows interesting properties, including a high TC (10.27 W m-1 K-1 ), a significant enhancement efficiency (259 per 1 vol% loading), an outstanding anisotropic TC ratio (5.77), an extremely low coefficient of linear thermal expansion (12.23 ppm K-1 ), a high flexural strength (222 MPa), and an excellent flame resistance. These results demonstrate that this approach is expected to open a new avenue for design and preparation of high performance thermal management materials to address the heat dissipation of modern electronics.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the 6 wt% Mn-Doped Martensitic Steel Strengthened by Cu/NiAl Nanoparticles.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of 6 wt.% Mn-doped martensitic steel have been investigated through a combination of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The 6 wt.% Mn-doped steel exhibits a yield strength of ~1.83 GPa and an elongation-to-failure of ~7% under peak aging, and the ~853 MPa of precipitation strengthening is much higher than that observed in the 1.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% Mn-doped steels. The steel is composed of α'-martensite and slightly equiaxed α-ferrite together with a high proportion (~62.3%) of low-angle grain boundaries, and 6 wt.% Mn doping and the aging treatment have an effect on the matrix's microstructure. However, 6 wt.% Mn doping can obviously increase the mean size of the Cu/NiAl nanoparticles by enhancing the chemical driving force of the Mn partitioning on the NiAl nanoparticles, which differs from the refining effect on the nanoparticles in 3 wt.% Mn-doped steels. Furthermore, larger Cu/NiAl nanoparticles can significantly improve the yield strength of martensitic steel through precipitation-strengthening mechanisms.

Whole-Genome Selective Scans Detect Genes Associated With Important Phenotypic Traits in Sheep (Ovis aries).

Sheep (Ovis aries) is one of the important livestock with diverse phenotypic traits. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of diverse phenotypic traits in domestic sheep. Using the genome-wide high-density SNP data (600K) in 253 samples from 13 populations, we conducted the tests of selective sweeps (i.e., pairwise F ST and XP-CLR) associated with several important phenotypic traits (e.g., tail types, horn morphology, prolificacy, coat pigmentation, ear size, milk production, meat production, body size and wool fineness). We identified strong selective signatures in previously reported (e.g., T, RXFP2, BMPR1B, TYRP1, MSRB3, TF, CEBPA, GPR21 and HOXC8) and novel genes associated with the traits, such as CERS6, BTG1, RYR3, SLC6A4, NNAT and OGT for fat deposition in the tails, FOXO4 for fertility, PTCH1 and EMX2 for ear size, and RMI1 and SCD5 for body size. Further gene annotation analysis showed that these genes were identified to be the most probable genes accounting for the diverse phenotypic traits. Our results provide novel insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the traits and also new genetic markers for genetic improvement in sheep and other livestock.

Genome-Wide Detection of Copy Number Variations and Their Association With Distinct Phenotypes in the World's Sheep.

Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major source of structural variation in mammalian genomes. Here, we characterized the genome-wide CNV in 2059 sheep from 67 populations all over the world using the Ovine Infinium HD (600K) SNP BeadChip. We tested their associations with distinct phenotypic traits by conducting multiple independent genome-wide tests. In total, we detected 7547 unique CNVs and 18,152 CNV events in 1217 non-redundant CNV regions (CNVRs), covering 245 Mb (∼10%) of the whole sheep genome. We identified seven CNVRs with frequencies correlating to geographical origins and 107 CNVRs overlapping 53 known quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses of CNV-overlapping genes revealed their common involvement in energy metabolism, endocrine regulation, nervous system development, cell proliferation, immune, and reproduction. For the phenotypic traits, we detected significantly associated (adjusted P < 0.05) CNVRs harboring functional candidate genes, such as SBNO2 for polycerate; PPP1R11 and GABBR1 for tail weight; AKT1 for supernumerary nipple; CSRP1, WNT7B, HMX1, and FGFR3 for ear size; and NOS3 and FILIP1 in Wadi sheep; SNRPD3, KHDRBS2, and SDCCAG3 in Hu sheep; NOS3, BMP1, and SLC19A1 in Icelandic; CDK2 in Finnsheep; MICA in Romanov; and REEP4 in Texel sheep for litter size. These CNVs and associated genes are important markers for molecular breeding of sheep and other livestock species.

Genome-Wide Association Study-Based Identification of SNPs and Haplotypes Associated With Goose Reproductive Performance and Egg Quality.

Geese are one of the most economically important waterfowl. However, the low reproductive performance and egg quality of geese hinder the development of the goose industry. The identification and application of genetic markers may improve the accuracy of beneficial trait selection. To identify the genetic markers associated with goose reproductive performance and egg quality traits, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for body weight at birth (BBW), the number of eggs at 48 weeks of age (EN48), the number of eggs at 60 weeks of age (EN60) and egg yolk color (EYC). The GWAS acquired 2.896 Tb of raw sequencing data with an average depth of 12.44× and identified 9,279,339 SNPs. The results of GWAS showed that 26 SNPs were significantly associated with BBW, EN48, EN60, and EYC. Moreover, five of these SNPs significantly associated with EN48 and EN60 were in a haplotype block on chromosome 35 from 4,512,855 to 4,541,709 bp, oriented to TMEM161A and another five SNPs significantly correlated to EYC were constructed in haplotype block on chromosome 5 from 21,069,009 to 21,363,580, which annotated by TMEM161A, CALCR, TFPI2, and GLP1R. Those genes were enriched in epidermal growth factor-activated receptor activity, regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway. The SNPs, haplotype markers, and candidate genes identified in this study can be used to improve the accuracy of marker-assisted selection for the reproductive performance and egg quality traits of geese. In addition, the candidate genes significantly associated with these traits may provide a foundation for better understanding the mechanisms underlying reproduction and egg quality in geese.

Historical Introgression from Wild Relatives Enhanced Climatic Adaptation and Resistance to Pneumonia in Sheep.

How animals, particularly livestock, adapt to various climates and environments over short evolutionary time is of fundamental biological interest. Further, understanding the genetic mechanisms of adaptation in indigenous livestock populations is important for designing appropriate breeding programs to cope with the impacts of changing climate. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of diversity, interspecies introgression, and climate-mediated selective signatures in a global sample of sheep and their wild relatives. By examining 600K and 50K genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data from 3,447 samples representing 111 domestic sheep populations and 403 samples from all their seven wild relatives (argali, Asiatic mouflon, European mouflon, urial, snow sheep, bighorn, and thinhorn sheep), coupled with 88 whole-genome sequences, we detected clear signals of common introgression from wild relatives into sympatric domestic populations, thereby increasing their genomic diversities. The introgressions provided beneficial genetic variants in native populations, which were significantly associated with local climatic adaptation. We observed common introgression signals of alleles in olfactory-related genes (e.g., ADCY3 and TRPV1) and the PADI gene family including in particular PADI2, which is associated with antibacterial innate immunity. Further analyses of whole-genome sequences showed that the introgressed alleles in a specific region of PADI2 (chr2: 248,302,667-248,306,614) correlate with resistance to pneumonia. We conclude that wild introgression enhanced climatic adaptation and resistance to pneumonia in sheep. This has enabled them to adapt to varying climatic and environmental conditions after domestication.

Whole-genome resequencing of wild and domestic sheep identifies genes associated with morphological and agronomic traits.

Understanding the genetic changes underlying phenotypic variation in sheep (Ovis aries) may facilitate our efforts towards further improvement. Here, we report the deep resequencing of 248 sheep including the wild ancestor (O. orientalis), landraces, and improved breeds. We explored the sheep variome and selection signatures. We detected genomic regions harboring genes associated with distinct morphological and agronomic traits, which may be past and potential future targets of domestication, breeding, and selection. Furthermore, we found non-synonymous mutations in a set of plausible candidate genes and significant differences in their allele frequency distributions across breeds. We identified PDGFD as a likely causal gene for fat deposition in the tails of sheep through transcriptome, RT-PCR, qPCR, and Western blot analyses. Our results provide insights into the demographic history of sheep and a valuable genomic resource for future genetic studies and improved genome-assisted breeding of sheep and other domestic animals.

Comparative mRNA and miRNA expression in European mouflon (Ovis musimon) and sheep (Ovis aries) provides novel insights into the genetic mechanisms for female reproductive success.

Prolific breeds of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are important genetic resources due to their reproductive performance, which is characterized by multiple lambs per birth and out-of-season breeding. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the important reproductive traits, particularly from the evolutionary genomics perspective, has impeded the efficient advancement of sheep breeding. Here, for the first time, by performing RNA-sequencing we built a de novo transcriptome assembly of ovarian and endometrial tissues in European mouflon (Ovis musimon) and performed an mRNA-miRNA integrated expression profiling analysis of the wild species and a highly prolific domestic sheep breed, the Finnsheep. We identified several novel genes with differentially expressed mRNAs (e.g., EREG, INHBA, SPP1, AMH, TDRD5, and ZP2) between the wild and domestic sheep, which are functionally involved in oocyte and follicle development and fertilization, and are significantly (adjusted P-value < 0.05) enriched in the Gene Ontology (GO) terms of various reproductive process, including the regulation of fertilization, oogenesis, ovarian follicle development, and sperm-egg recognition. Additionally, we characterized 58 differentially expressed miRNAs and 210 associated target genes that are essential for the regulation of female reproduction cycles through specific regulatory networks [e.g., (miR-136, miR-374a, miR-9-5p)-(EREG, INHBA)]. Furthermore, our integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profiling analysis elucidated novel direct and indirect miRNA/mRNA causal regulatory relationships related to the reproductive traits of the Ovis species. This study provides in-depth insights into the genomic evolution underlying the reproductive traits of the Ovis species and valuable resources for ovine genomics.

Genome-Wide Association Analyses Highlight the Potential for Different Genetic Mechanisms for Litter Size Among Sheep Breeds.

Reproduction is an important trait in sheep breeding as well as in other livestock. However, despite its importance the genetic mechanisms of litter size in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are still poorly understood. To explore genetic mechanisms underlying the variation in litter size, we conducted multiple independent genome-wide association studies in five sheep breeds of high prolificacy (Wadi, Hu, Icelandic, Finnsheep, and Romanov) and one low prolificacy (Texel) using the Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip, respectively. We identified different sets of candidate genes associated with litter size in different breeds: BMPR1B, FBN1, and MMP2 in Wadi; GRIA2, SMAD1, and CTNNB1 in Hu; NCOA1 in Icelandic; INHBB, NF1, FLT1, PTGS2, and PLCB3 in Finnsheep; ESR2 in Romanov and ESR1, GHR, ETS1, MMP15, FLI1, and SPP1 in Texel. Further annotation of genes and bioinformatics analyses revealed that different biological pathways could be involved in the variation in litter size of females: hormone secretion (FSH and LH) in Wadi and Hu, placenta and embryonic lethality in Icelandic, folliculogenesis and LH signaling in Finnsheep, ovulation and preovulatory follicle maturation in Romanov, and estrogen and follicular growth in Texel. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the prolificacy trait in sheep and other mammals, suggesting targets for selection where the aim is to increase prolificacy in breeding projects.

Differential expression of six genes and correlation with fatness traits in a unique broiler population.

Previous results from genome wide association studies (GWASs) in chickens divergently selected for abdominal fat content of Northeast Agricultural University (NEAUHLF) showed that many single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants were associated with abdominal fat content. Of them, six top significant SNPs at the genome level were located within SRD5A3, SGCZ, DLC1, GBE1, GALNT9 and DNAJB6 genes. Here, expression levels of these six candidate genes were investigated in abdominal fat and liver tissue between fat and lean broilers from the 14th generation population of NEAUHLF. The results showed that expression levels of SRD5A3, SGCZ and DNAJB6 in the abdominal fat and SRD5A3, DLC1, GALNT9, DNAJB6 and GBE1 in the liver tissue differed significantly between the fat and lean birds, and were correlated with abdominal fat traits. The findings will provide important references for further function investigation of the six candidate genes involved in abdominal fat deposition in chickens.

Polymorphisms of FST gene and their association with wool quality traits in Chinese Merino sheep.

Follistatin (FST) is involved in hair follicle morphogenesis. However, its effects on hair traits are not clear. This study was designed to investigate the effects of FST gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on wool quality traits in Chinese Merino sheep (Junken Type). We performed gene expression analysis, SNP detection, and association analysis of FST gene with sheep wool quality traits. The real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that FST gene was differentially expressed in adult skin between Chinese Merino sheep (Junken Type) and Suffolk sheep. Immunostaining showed that FST was localized in inner root sheath (IRS) and matrix of hair follicle (HF) in both SF and Suffolk sheep. Sequencing analysis identified a total of seven SNPs (termed SNPs 1-7) in the FST gene in Chinese Merino sheep (Junken Type). Association analysis showed that SNP2 (Chr 16. 25,633,662 G>A) was significantly associated with average wool fiber diameter, wool fineness SD, and wool crimp (P < 0.05). SNP4 (Chr 16. 25,633,569 C>T) was significantly associated with wool fineness SD and CV of fiber diameter (P < 0.05). Similarly, the haplotypes derived from these seven identified SNPs were also significantly associated with average wool fiber diameter, wool fineness SD, CV of fiber diameter, and wool crimp (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that FST influences wool quality traits and its SNPs 2 and 4 might be useful markers for marker-assisted selection and sheep breeding.

Cocktail supplement with rosiglitazone: a novel inducer for chicken preadipocyte differentiation in vitro.

The preadipocyte differentiation biological process involves a cascade of transcriptional events that culminates in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ. The differentiation cocktail [insulin (INS), dexamethasone (DEX) and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX)] can induce preadipocyte differentiation in mammals, but it is insufficient for chicken (Gallus gallus) adipogenesis. Oleate can induce chicken preadipocyte differentiation, but these differentiated preadipocytes may not be fully functional. The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether chicken preadipocytes can be induced to mature adipocytes by a novel induction method using differentiation cocktail supplemented with PPARγ agonist(s). Chicken preadipocytes cultured in cocktail supplemented with rosiglitazone or troglitazone resulted in a marked increase in lipid droplet accumulation (P<0.05), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity (P<0.05), mRNA expression level of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2; P<0.05), G0/G1 switch gene 2 (G0S2; P<0.05) and lipolysis (P<0.05). In addition, supplementation of the cocktail with rosiglitazone promoted PPARγ mRNA expression (P<0.05). In conclusion, our data indicated that chicken preadipocytes can be induced to mature adipocytes using differentiation cocktail supplemented with rosiglitazone. The results of the present study provide a novel induction method for in vitro chicken preadipocyte differentiation.

Differential expression of six chicken genes associated with fatness traits in a divergently selected broiler population.

A genome-wide association study has shown a number of chicken (Gallus gallus) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to be significantly associated with abdominal fat content in Northeast Agricultural University (NEAU) broiler lines selected divergently for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF). The six significant SNPs are located in the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), tumor suppressor candidate 3 (TUSC3), phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase (PPAT), exocyst complex component 1 (EXOC1), v-myb myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (avian)-like 2 (MYBL2) and KIAA1211 (undefined) genes. In this study, the expression levels of these genes were investigated in both abdominal fat and liver tissues using 32 14th generation chickens from the NEAUHLF. The levels of expression of KDR in abdominal fat and KDR and TUSC3 in liver differed significantly between the two lines. The expression level of KDR in the abdominal fat was significantly correlated with the abdominal fat weight (AFW) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP). The expression levels of KDR, TUSC3 and PPAT in liver were significantly correlated with AFW and AFP, indicating that the six genes, especially KDR and TUSC3, could be associated with fat traits in domestic chickens. This study could provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the formation of abdominal fat in chickens.