Developmental and Degenerative Characterization of Porcine Parthenogenetic Fetuses during Early Pregnancy.

The difference between early pregnancy and delivery rate is quite large in assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs), including animal cloning. However, it is not clear why the implanted fetuses aborted after the early pregnancy stage. In the present study, we tried to evaluate the developmental and morphological characteristics of porcine parthenogenetically activated (PA) embryos or fetuses by electric stimulation during the early pregnancy period.

Immune molecular profiling of whole blood drawn from a non-human primate cardiac xenograft model treated with anti-CD154 monoclonal antibodies.

Most studies of xenografts have been carried out with complex immunosuppressive regimens to prevent immune rejection; however, such treatments may be fatal owing to unknown causes. Here, we performed immune molecular profiling following anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment in heterotopic abdominal cardiac xenografts from α-1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout pigs into cynomolgus monkeys to elucidate the mechanisms mediating the undesirable fatal side effects of immunosuppressive agents. Blood samples were collected from healthy monkeys as control and then at 2 days after xenograft transplantation and just before humane euthanasia; 94 genes related to the immune system were analyzed.

Artificial selection increased body weight but induced increase of runs of homozygosity in Hanwoo cattle.

Artificial selection has been demonstrated to have a rapid and significant effect on the phenotype and genome of an organism. However, most previous studies on artificial selection have focused solely on genomic sequences modified by artificial selection or genomic sequences associated with a specific trait. In this study, we generated whole genome sequencing data of 126 cattle under artificial selection, and 24,973,862 single nucleotide variants to investigate the relationship among artificial selection, genomic sequences and trait.

Genome-wide analysis of the diversity and ancestry of Korean dogs.

There are various hypotheses on dog domestication based on archeological and genetic studies. Although many studies have been conducted on the origin of dogs, the existing literature about the ancestry, diversity, and population structure of Korean dogs is sparse. Therefore, this study is focused on the origin, diversity and population structure of Korean dogs.

Production of transgenic pig as an Alzheimer's disease model using a multi-cistronic vector system.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with memory loss and cognitive impairments. An AD transgenic (Tg) pig model would be useful for preclinical testing of therapeutic agents. We generated an AD Tg pig by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using a multi-cistronic vector that harbored three AD-related genes with a total of six well-characterized mutations: hAPP (K670N/M671L, I716V, and V717I), hTau (P301L), and hPS1 (M146V and L286P).

Molecular immunology profiles of monkeys following xenografting with the islets and heart of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout pigs.

Effective immunosuppression strategies and genetically modified animals have been used to prevent hyperacute and acute xenograft rejection; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the expression of a comprehensive set of immune system-related genes (89 genes, including five housekeeping genes) in the blood of cynomolgus monkeys (~5 yr old) used as graft recipients, before and after the xenografting of the islets and heart from single and double α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GalT) knockout (KO) pigs (<6 weeks old). The immunosuppressive regimen included administration of cobra venom factor, anti-thymocyte globulin, rituximab, and anti-CD154 monoclonal antibodies to recipients before and after grafting.

The miR-302 cluster transcriptionally regulated by POUV, SOX and STAT5B controls the undifferentiated state through the post-transcriptional repression of PBX3 and E2F7 in early chick development.

Early chick development is a systematic process governed by the concerted action of multiple mechanisms that regulate transcription and post-transcriptional processes. Post-transcriptional microRNA-mediated regulation, with regard to lineage specification and differentiation in early chick development, requires further investigation. Here, we characterize the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms in undifferentiated chick blastodermal cells.

Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution.

For 10,000 years pigs and humans have shared a close and complex relationship. From domestication to modern breeding practices, humans have shaped the genomes of domestic pigs. Here we present the assembly and analysis of the genome sequence of a female domestic Duroc pig (Sus scrofa) and a comparison with the genomes of wild and domestic pigs from Europe and Asia.

QTL and gene expression analyses identify genes affecting carcass weight and marbling on BTA14 in Hanwoo (Korean Cattle).

Causal mutations affecting quantitative trait variation can be good targets for marker-assisted selection for carcass traits in beef cattle. In this study, linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis (LDLA) for four carcass traits was undertaken using 19 markers on bovine chromosome 14. The LDLA analysis detected quantitative trait loci (QTL) for carcass weight (CWT) and eye muscle area (EMA) at the same position at around 50 cM and surrounded by the markers FABP4SNP2774C>G and FABP4_μsat3237.

Heat shock protein B1 and its regulator genes are negatively correlated with intramuscular fat content in the longissimus thoracis muscle of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) steers.

In previous proteomic studies, heat shock protein β 1 (HSPB1) was detected as a candidate protein related to meat quality in cattle. This study sought to determine if its gene expression was associated with intramuscular fat content in the longissimus thoracis muscle of Korean cattle (Hanwoo). Tissue from two groups of 10 steers each, low-marbling (mean intramuscular fat content, 7.

Neuronal genes for subcutaneous fat thickness in human and pig are identified by local genomic sequencing and combined SNP association study.

Obesity represents a major global public health problem that increases the risk for cardiovascular or metabolic disease. The pigs represent an exceptional biomedical model related to energy metabolism and obesity in humans. To pinpoint causal genetic factors for a common form of obesity, we conducted local genomic de novo sequencing, 18.

Use of a bovine genome array to identify new biological pathways for beef marbling in Hanwoo (Korean Cattle).

Background: Marbling (intramuscular fat) is a valuable trait that impacts on meat quality and an important factor determining price of beef in the Korean beef market. Animals that are destined for this high marbling market are fed a high concentrate ration for approximately 30 months in the Korean finishing farms. However, this feeding strategy leads to inefficiencies and excessive fat production.

Analysis of the molecular and regulatory properties of active porcine endogenous retrovirus gamma-1 long terminal repeats in kidney tissues of the NIH-Miniature pig.

The pig genome contains the gamma 1 family of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs), which are a major obstacle to the development of successful xenotransplantation from pig to human. Long terminal repeats (LTRs) found in PERVs are known to be essential elements for the control of the transcriptional activity of single virus by different transcription factors (TFs). To identify transcribed PERV LTR elements, RT-PCR and DNA sequencing analyses were performed.

Effects of cloned-cattle meat diet on reproductive parameters in pregnant rabbits.

In this paper, we report on the effects of a diet containing cloned-cattle meat on the reproductive parameters in pregnant rabbits. The artificially inseminated rabbits (gestation day 0) were fed a diet containing 5% or 10% of normal or cloned-cattle meat during the gestation period. Rabbits fed commercial pellet (no additional supplementations) were used as the control.

Gene expression profiling of metabolism-related genes between top round and loin muscle of Korean cattle (Hanwoo).

Using differential display reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we detected 11 differentially expressed genes between top round and loin muscle in Korean cattle (Hanwoo). In the loin muscle, the lightness (L*) value (P<0.01) and marbling fat content (P<0.

Proteome analysis of the m. longissimus dorsi between fattening stages in Hanwoo steer.

The objective of this study was to identify proteins in the m. longissimus dorsi between early (12 months of age) and late (27 months of age) fattening stages of Hanwoo (Korean cattle) steers. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, 8 proteins of 11 differentially expressed spots between the 12 and 27 month age groups were identified in the loin muscle.

Characterization of the replication-competent porcine endogenous retrovirus class B molecular clone originated from Korean domestic pig.

Xenotransplantation from pigs offers an opportunity to resolve the shortage of human organs. The porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) cannot be eliminated because of its presence in the germline DNA. Three subgroups of the replication-competent PERV (PERV-A, PERV-B, and PERV-C) have been identified in pigs.

Gonadotropin regulation of genes differentially expressed in response to PKCzeta inhibitor during ovulation in the rat.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to characterize genes regulated by protein kinase C PKCzeta inhibitor in the preovulatory granulosa cells following LH stimulation in the rat ovary.

Main Methods: Annealing control primer (ACP)-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to identify differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles cultured in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and myristoylated PKCzeta pseudosubstrate peptide or a similarly sized control peptide.

Key Findings: Among the 16 genes identified, five (testin, glypican-4, retrovirus SC1, aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 and serum-inducible kinase) experienced rapid and transient stimulation of gene expression upon exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the ovary of immature rats primed with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG).

Expression of ectodermal neural cortex 1 and its association with actin during the ovulatory process in the rat.

Ectodermal neural cortex (ENC) 1, a member of the kelch family of genes, is an actin-binding protein and plays a pivotal role in neuronal and adipocyte differentiation. The present study was designed to examine the gonadotropin regulation and action of ENC1 during the ovulatory process in immature rats. The levels of ENC1 mRNA and protein were stimulated by LH/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) within 3 h both in vivo and in vitro.

Identification of marbling-related candidate genes in M. longissimus dorsi of high- and low marbled Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle) steers.

This study was conducted to identify marbling-related candidate genes in M. longissimus dorsi of high- and low-marbled Hanwoo. The longissimus dorsi muscles were selected for gene expression from eight Hanwoo steer carcasses based on crude fat content.

The Pig Genome Database (PiGenome): an integrated database for pig genome research.

We established the Pig Genome Database (PiGenome) for pig genome research. The PiGenome integrates and analyzes all publicly available genome-wide data on pigs, including UniGenes, sequence tagged sites (STS) markers, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) data, and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contigs. In addition, we produced 69,545 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the full-length enriched cDNA libraries of six tissues and 182 BAC contig sequences, which are also included in the database.

Proteins in longissimus muscle of Korean native cattle and their relationship to meat quality.

Proteomic profiling by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry of longissimus dorsi muscle tissue from Korean native cattle identified seven proteins that are differentially expressed in animals producing low and high quality grade beef. The expression level of alpha actin is increased in high quality grade beef and the expression levels of T-complex protein 1 (TCP-1), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP27), and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type1 (IP3R1), a new protein to be associated with meat quality, are increased in low quality grade beef. In particular, the quantitation of HSP27 and IP3R1 by both silver staining and immunoblotting correlated well with intramuscular fat content, meat tenderness, and free calcium levels.

Minimizing a QTL region for intramuscular fat content by characterizing the porcine Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene.

Three isoforms of pig PDE4B were cloned and classified as two forms: PDE4B1 and PDE4B3, which contain UCR1 and UCR2; and PDE4B2, which contains only UCR2. The amino acid sequences of each isoform showed good conservation in human and rat. PDE4B2 is expressed in a wide range of tissues, but PDE4B1 and PDE4B3 are not.

Characterization of beef transcripts correlated with tenderness and moisture.

To identify transcriptional markers for beef traits related to meat tenderness and moisture, we measured the transcriptome of the Longissimus dorsi skeletal muscle in 10 Korean native cattle (KNC). We analyzed the correlation between the beef transcriptome and measurements of four different beef traits, shear force (SF), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking loss (CL), and loin eye area (LEA). We obtained non-overlapping and unique panels of genes showing strong correlations (|r|>0.

An accurate method for quantifying and analyzing copy number variation in porcine KIT by an oligonucleotide ligation assay.

Background: Aside from single nucleotide polymorphisms, copy number variations (CNVs) are the most important factors in susceptibility to genetic disorders because they affect expression levels of genes. In previous studies, pyrosequencing, mini-sequencing, real-time PCR, invader assays and other techniques have been used to detect CNVs. However, the higher the copy number in a genome, the more difficult it is to resolve the copies, so a more accurate method for measuring CNVs and assigning genotype is needed.