A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to investigate the genetic markers associated with carcass traits of Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) steer in the Gangwon region of Korea. Hanwoo steer (139) from the Gangwon region were genotyped with Bovine SNP50K BeadChip, and 35,769 SNPs were analyzed for five specific carcass traits after applying several filters. A total of seven quantitative trait loci were detected, of which four, one, and 2 SNPs were detected on various B. taurus autosomal chromosomes (BTA) by the respective model. The four significant SNPs associated with backfat thickness were ARS-BFGL-NGS–41475 on BTA 5, ARS-BFGLNGS- 36359 on BTA 19, ARS-BFGL-NGS-56813 on BTA 22, and Hapmap25048-BTA-138242 on BTA 25. Among the detected SNPs, one and two SNPs were associated with marbling score (ARS-BFGL-NGS-110066 on BTA 23) and meat colour (BTB-01920239 on BTA 15 and ARS-BFGL-NGS-24934 on BTA 18). In this GWAS, we identified three positional candidate genes for carcass traits, backfat thickness (Fibulin-2, FBLN2; Sorting nexin 29, SNX29) and meat colour (WW domain containing oxidoreductase, WWOX). Our results suggest that the candidate SNP markers do affect the genomic selection of associated carcass traits for Hanwoo in the Gangwon region.

The present study was undertaken to find out novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and to analyze the association between SNPs of OCX-32 gene and egg production traits, in the four Korean native chicken breeds (Ogol, black, gray, and white). Twenty-one variations (16 SNPs and 5 INDELs) in the intronic region of the OCX-32 gene were detected, including new 9 variants (1500T>A, 1504A>G, 1658A>G, 1668A>T, 1821A>C, 1234 del A, ins CTT, ins TTC, and 1681 del T) in the chicken population (n=120). Fifteen variations (1346A>G, 1373G>A, 1399T>C, 1446C>G, 1500T>A, 1504A>G, 1522G>A, 1530T>A, 1563G>A, 1668A>T, 1743G>T, 1772T>A, 1821A>C, ins TTC, and ins TCT) showed significant association with egg production ratio, weight and age in the chickens. Conclusively, the result obtained suggested that SNPs and INDELs of the OCX-32 gene might be useful as genetic markers for egg production traits in breeding program of the Korean native chicken.

Background: Gossypol (GP) is a polyphenolic compound in cottonseed. In porcine, GP affects female reproduction and the respiratory system. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes in porcine granulosa cells (GCs) treated with GP (6.25 and 12.5 μM) for 72 h, in vitro . Results: In GP-treated groups (6.25 and 12.5 μM), the expressions of a number of genes were found to be significantly changed. Gene ontology analysis indicated that the identified DEGs were primarily related to the mitotic cell cycle, chromosome, centromeric region and protein binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis of the GP6.25 group revealed that pathways related to the cell cycle, oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation and p53 signaling were the most changed, while that of the GP12.5 group revealed that pathways related to the PI3K-Akt signaling, focal adhesion, HIF-1 signaling, cell cycle and ECM-receptor interaction were the most changed. Genes associated with female reproductive function ( CDK1 , CCNB1 , CPEB1 and MMP3 ), cellular component organization ( BIRC5 , CYP1A1 , TGFβ3 and COL1A2 ) and oxidation-reduction processes ( PRDX6 , MGST1 and SOD3 ) were confirmed to be differently expressed in GP-treated groups. Conclusion: Our findings provide insight regarding changes in GC gene expression in porcine exposed to GP.

Even though the endocrine-disrupting potential of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is well known, the mechanisms underlying its cellular and epigenetic toxicity at the critical stage of hypothalamic development are poorly understood. This is why we studied its effects on the embryonic mouse hypothalamic cell line N46 (mHypoE-N46) with a hope to shed more light on the mechanisms through which PFOA causes embryonic hypothalamic cell damage. To do that, we studied cell viability, global DNA methylation, and gene expression in cells exposed to PFOA. As the PFOA dose increased, cell viability decreased, while global DNA methylation increased. PFOA also significantly altered the expression of genes related to the apoptosis and cell cycle, neurotrophic genes, and the Tet, Dnmt, and Mecp2 genes. Our findings suggest that exposure to PFOA affects cell survival through the reprogramming of embryonic hypothalamic DNA methylation patterns and altering cell homeostasis genes. DNA methylation and changes in the Mecp2 gene expression induced by PFOA also imply wider ramifications, as they alter genes of other major mechanisms of the embryonic hypothalamus. Our study may therefore serve as a good starting point for further research into the mechanisms of PFOA effect of hypothalamic development.