Accuracy of Genomic Predictions Cross Populations with Different Linkage Disequilibrium Patterns.

Background/objectives: There is a considerable global population of beef cattle, with numerous small-scale groups. Establishing separate reference groups for each breed in breeding practices is challenging, severely limiting the genome selection (GS) application. Combining data from multiple populations becomes particularly attractive and practical for small-scale populations, offering increased reference population size, operational ease, and data sharing.

Estimation of Linkage Disequilibrium, Effective Population Size, and Genetic Parameters of Phenotypic Traits in Dabieshan Cattle.

Dabieshan cattle (DBSC) are a valuable genetic resource for indigenous cattle breeds in China. It is a small to medium-sized breed with slower growth, but with good meat quality and fat deposition. Genetic markers could be used for the estimation of population genetic structure and genetic parameters.

Genetic Diversity and Selective Signature in Dabieshan Cattle Revealed by Whole-Genome Resequencing.

Dabieshan cattle are a typical breed of southern Chinese cattle that have the characteristics of muscularity, excellent meat quality and tolerance to temperature and humidity. Based on 148 whole-genome data, our analysis disclosed the ancestry components of Dabieshan cattle with Chinese indicine (0.857) and East Asian taurine (0.

Polymorphisms of the Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Receptor Gene Affect Body Conformation Traits in Chinese Dabieshan Cattle.

This study was performed to expose the polymorphisms of the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor gene in Chinese Dabieshan cattle, evaluate its effect on body conformation traits, and find potential molecular markers in Chinese cattle. The GHRHR structure and the phylogenetic tree were analyzed using bioinformatics software. The polymorphism of the GHRHR gene in 486 female cattle was genotyped by PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing, and the association between SNPs and body conformation traits of Chinese Dabieshan cattle was analyzed by one-way ANOVA in SPSS software.

Genetic variants of the growth differentiation factor 8 affect body conformation traits in Chinese Dabieshan cattle.

Objective: The growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8) gene plays a key role in bone formation, resorption, and skeletal muscle development in mammals. Here, we studied the genetic variants of GDF8 and their contribution to body conformation traits in Chinese Dabieshan cattle.

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the bovine GDF8 gene by DNA sequencing.

Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA paired expression profiling of prenatal skeletal muscle development in three genotype pigs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in muscle development by binding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Based on prenatal skeletal muscle at 33, 65 and 90 days post-coitus (dpc) from Landrace, Tongcheng and Wuzhishan pigs, we carried out integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiling. We identified 33, 18 and 67 differentially expressed miRNAs and 290, 91 and 502 mRNA targets in Landrace, Tongcheng and Wuzhishan pigs, respectively.

CNN3 is regulated by microRNA-1 during muscle development in pigs.

The calponin 3 (CNN3) gene has important functions involved in skeletal muscle development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical role in myogenesis by influencing the mRNA stability or protein translation of target gene. Based on paired microRNA and mRNA profiling in the prenatal skeletal muscle of pigs, our previous study suggested that CNN3 was differentially expressed and a potential target for miR-1.

OLFML3 expression is decreased during prenatal muscle development and regulated by microRNA-155 in pigs.

The Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) gene has matrix-related function involved in embryonic development. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155), 21- to 23-nucleotides (nt) noncoding RNA, regulated myogenesis by target mRNA. Our LongSAGE analysis suggested that OLFML3 gene was differently expressed during muscle development in pig.

Molecular characterization of porcine MMP19 and MMP23B genes and its association with immune traits.

MMP19 and MMP23B belong to the Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) family, which are zinc-binding endopeptidases that are capable of degrading various components of the extracellular matrix. They are thought to play important roles in embryonic development, reproduction and tissue remodeling, as well as in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis and host defense. However, they are poorly understood in pigs.

Molecular characterization, expression pattern, polymorphism and association analysis of bovine ADAMTSL3 gene.

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease domain with thrombospondin type I motifs-like 3 (ADAMTSL3) is an important candidate gene for body measurement traits through marker-assisted selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to analyze SNP of bovine ADAMTSL3 gene and its specific expression in tissues to explore its possible correlation with body measurement traits in Bos taurus. Our genomic structural analysis showed that bovine ADAMTSL3 shares much similarity with human ADAMTSL3.

Identification of extracellular matrix and cell adhesion molecule genes associated with muscle development in pigs.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion molecule (CAM) genes are involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle development; however, their roles in skeletal muscle development in pigs are still poorly understood. 65 days postcopulation (dpc) is a critical time point in pig development. Therefore, we analyzed expression of ECM and CAM genes in the longissimus dorsi muscles at 65 dpc from Landrace (lean-type: L65), Tongcheng (obese-type: T65), and Wuzhishan pigs (miniature-type: W65) using microarray technology.

Characterization of the porcine p65 subunit of NF-κB and its association with virus antibody levels.

NF-κB p65 subunit plays important roles in controlling both innate and adaptive immunity. Here we report the characterization of porcine NF-κB p65 subunit (pp65). pp65 shows high similarity to other mammalian counterparts.

Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of bovine UQCC and its association with body measurement traits.

Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex chaperone (UQCC) involved in the development and maintenance of bone and cartilage is an important candidate gene for body measurement traits selection through marker-assisted selection (MAS). The expression of UQCC is upregulated in many human and animal models of height as well as other stature indexes. We have cloned the cDNA sequence coding UQCC gene in bovine.

Molecular characterization, polymorphism of bovine ZBTB38 gene and association with body measurement traits in native Chinese cattle breeds.

Zinc finger and BTB domain containing 38 (ZBTB38), binding to and repressing methylated DNA, is an important candidate gene for selection of body measurement traits through marker-assisted selection (MAS). The expression of ZBTB38 is regulated in human and animal height as well as other stature indexes. Genomic structural analysis shows that bovine ZBTB38 shares much similarity with human ZBTB38.