In this study, we evaluated the fermentation quality, digestibility and rumen fermentation of total mixed ration silage (TMRS) prepared with varying proportions of apple pomace, using four wethers in a 4 × 4 Latin square study design. A control diet was prepared using corn, wheat bran, timothy hay, alfalfa hay and a vitamin–mineral supplement. In the experimental treatments, apple pomace supplemented with soybean meal was used to replace corn and wheat bran at levels of 5%, 10% and 20% on a dry matter (DM) basis; treatment levels are indicated by these replacement levels. The moisture content of all diets was adjusted to 550 g/kg and the diets were then ensiled for 60 days. All diets were well fermented, with low pH and ammonia nitrogen (N) content. In treatments including apple pomace, lactic acid content decreased as acetic acid increased compared with the control (p < .05). Ethanol was generated in the 5%, 10% and 20% treatments. Following the addition of apple pomace, ammonia N content increased, and was highest in the 5% treatment (p < .05). N retention and digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract decreased significantly (p < .05) in the 10% and 20% treatments. The rumen molar proportion of acetic acid increased, but those of propionic acid and ammonia N content decreased as the proportion of apple pomace in the diets increased (p < .05). The results of this study suggest that the proportion of apple pomace in TMRS should not exceed that of the 5% TMRS treatment, which was 44 g/kg of diet DM.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs ~21 to ~23 nucleotides in length and have become a popular research topic in recent years due to their regulation of gene expression and many physiological processes, including fat metabolism; however, the precise functional mechanisms underlying their regulation of fat metabolism are not fully understood. Here, we identified miR-381, which specifically targets the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of potassium channel tetramerization-domain-containing 15 (KCTD15) , and verified the mechanism regulating its expression and participation in adipogenesis. We used a dual luciferase-reporter assay and transfection-mediated miR-381 overexpression and inhibition in Yanbian yellow cattle preadipocytes to investigate the role of miR-381 in adipogenesis. The results showed that miR-381 directly targets the 3′ UTR of KCTD15 and downregulates its expression. Additionally, miR-381 overexpression using an miRNA mimic promoted triglyceride accumulation and upregulated adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) at both the protein and mRNA levels, whereas miR-381 inhibition produced the opposite effect. These results indicated that miR-381 regulates the differentiation of Yanbian yellow cattle preadipocytes by inhibiting KCTD15 expression, thereby highlighting the importance of miRNA-mediated regulation of adipogenesis. Furthermore, our findings suggested that miR-381 and its target gene(s) might represent new targets for investigating intramuscular fat deposits in cattle and treating human obesity.
FABP4 is a candidate gene for carcass and meat quality traits in livestock and poultry. However, the effects of FABP4 have not been examined in the Yanbian yellow cattle, an economically important local cattle breed in China. In this study, we characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FABP4 in this cattle breed and their associations with meat quality traits. Six SNPs (referred to as SNP1-6) were identified in FABP4 by direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The six SNPs were significantly correlated with meat quality traits. In particular, the GG and GA genotypes of SNP1 were significantly associated with water and fat contents and GG and AA genotypes of SNP1 were significantly associated with protein contents (P < 0.05). The fat content and marbling in heterozygous individuals at SNP2-6 were significantly higher than those in wild-type or mutant individuals (P < 0.05), while protein content was significantly higher in wild-type and mutant individuals than in heterozygous individuals (P < 0.05). A gene expression analysis indicated that the lipid metabolism-related genes FABP4, PPARγ, ANGPTL4, and LPL show similar expression patterns with respect to FABP4 genotypes, with the highest levels in wild-type individuals and the lowest levels in mutants. In conclusion, FABP4 SNPs can be used for marker-assisted selection in Yanbian yellow cattle breeding.
Summary Fat deposition is an important economic trait in farm animals. However, it is difficult to genetically improve intramuscular fat deposition via trait‐based cattle breeding. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the factors about beef flavor, and to detect functional microRNA (miRNA, miR) associated with intramuscular fat deposition in Yanbian cattle. Longissimus dorsi samples from six steers were separated into high‐ and low‐fat groups (n = 3 each) based on the marbling score, and transcriptomic analysis was performed using miRNA sequencing. A total of 33 miRNAs and 38 genes were found to be differentially expressed in the high‐ and low‐fat groups. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the sequencing results. Integrated miRNA–mRNA analysis revealed that miRNA‐associated target genes were primarily associated with skeletal muscle development. However, some of the miRNAs (miR‐424 etc.) and genes (ATF3 etc.) were also associated with fat metabolism. A targeted relationship between miR‐22‐3p and the WFIKKN2 gene and its involvement in adipocyte differentiation were confirmed experimentally. The study findings may provide potential candidate molecular targets for the selection of cattle with improved meat quality.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in improving meat quality by binding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs). We performed an integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiling between bulls and steers based on the differences in meat quality traits. Fat and fatty acids are the major phenotypic indices of meat quality traits to estimate between-group variance. In the present study, 90 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) and 18 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified. Eighty-three potential DEG targets and 18 DEMs were used to structure a negative interaction network, and 75 matching target genes were shown in this network. Twenty-six target genes were designated as intersection genes, screened from 18 DEMs, and overlapped with the DEGs. Seventeen of these genes enriched to 19 terms involved in lipid metabolism. Subsequently, 13 DEGs and nine DEMs were validated using quantitative real-time PCR, and seven critical genes were selected to explore the influence of fat and fatty acids through hub genes and predict functional association. A dual-luciferase reporter and Western blot assays confirmed a predicted miRNA target (bta-miR-409a and PLIN5). These findings provide substantial evidence for molecular genetic controls and interaction among genes in cattle.
BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that cannot be translated into proteins. The length of a mature miRNA is approximately 20-25 nt. Neural regulation, inflammatory response, cell proliferation and apoptosis, fat metabolism, and cell differentiation, among others, have become research hotspots in recent years. In this experiment, dual-luciferase reporter gene detection, qRT-PCR, oil red O staining, western blotting, and other methods were used to select the differentially expressed miR-15a and its target gene, the 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (ABAT) gene, in the longissimus muscle tissues of cattle bulls and steers. By transfecting Yanbian yellow cattle precursor adipocytes with equal amounts of artificially synthesised miR-15a mimics, mimics NC, miR-15a inhibitor, and inhibitor NC and inducing differentiation, the total RNA and total protein of cells during the induced differentiation process were extracted.The effect of miR-15a on the mRNA and protein expression of adipogenesis-related genes was analysed. ResultsThe results showed that the lipid droplet content and lipid droplet size of the miR-15a mimic group were significantly lower than those of the mimics NC group, and the mRNA levels of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) genes in the miR-15a mimics group were significantly lower than those in the mimics NC group. At the same time, the protein expression of miR-15a mimic group cells was also significantly lower than that of the NC group cells. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of the PPARγ and C/EBPα genes of miR-15a inhibitor group cells were significantly higher than those of the NC group cells, and the protein expression levels were also significantly higher than those of the NC group cells. The luciferase reporter results showed that miR-15a mimics significantly inhibited the activity of the ABAT-3'UTR dual luciferase reporter gene vector, indicating that the miR-15a and ABAT genes have a targeting effect, and that overexpressed miR-15a significantly reduced the expression of the ABAT gene in the cell, inhibited the expression of miR-15a, and significantly increased the expression of the ABAT.ConclusionsIn summary, miR-15a may target the ABAT gene to regulate the differentiation of Yanbian yellow cattle precursor adipocytes.
In this study, the effects of vitamin A and its metabolite, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), on the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes and the intestinal microbiome in Yanbian yellow cattle were investigated. Preadipocytes collected from Yanbian yellow cattle treated with different concentrations of ATRA remained in the G1/G0 phase, as determined by flow cytometry. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of key adipogenic factors, peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), decreased. ATRA was found to regulate the mTOR signaling pathway, which is involved in lipid metabolism, by inhibiting the expression of AKT2 and the adipogenic transcription factors SREBP1, ACC, and FAS; the protein and mRNA expression levels showed consistent trends. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that a low concentration of vitamin A promoted the growth of intestinal microflora beneficial to lipid metabolism and maintained intestinal health. The results indicated that ATRA inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes from Yanbian yellow cattle through the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and that low concentrations of vitamin A may help maintain the intestinal microbes involved in lipid metabolism in cattle.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.