Calving traits of crossbred Brahman cows are associated with Heat Shock Protein 70 genetic polymorphisms.

Stress proteins and their genetic polymorphisms have been associated with decreased male and female fertility. Objectives were to: (1) identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located in the promoter region of the bovine heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) gene, and (2) evaluate associations between Hsp70 SNP, Julian calving date, and calving rates of crossbred Brahman cows. Specific primers were designed for PCR amplification of a 539 base segment of the bovine Hsp70 promoter (GenBank accession number M98823).

Lipid metabolism related gene-expression profiling in liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in crossbred Duroc and Pietrain Pigs.

Body-weight differences in animals may be ascribed to genetic and environmental factors. Here we utilized two divergent porcine genotypes, the highly muscled, leaner PietrianxYorkshire pigs and less muscled, fatter DurocxYorkshire growing pigs (75-110 kg), to examine the role of genetic background on expression of genes associated with anabolic (Fatty acid synthase, FAS; glucose transporter 4, GLUT-4; stearoyl CoA desaturase, SCD; Sterol regulatory binding protein-1, SREBP-1; leptin) and catabolic lipid metabolism (Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1B, CPT-1B; acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, ACDH) in adipose tissue (AT), liver (L) and skeletal muscle (SKM). Pietrain pigs had lower mRNA abundance for FAS, SREBP-1, SCD and leptin in AT and L, but higher mRNA abundance for L ACDH and SKM ACDH and CPT-1B than Durocs.