Molecular characterization and polymorphisms of the caprine Somatostatin (SST) and SST Receptor 1 (SSTR1) genes that are linked with growth traits

Abstract

Somatostatin (SST) and its receptors (SSTR1-5) appear to be important in central regulation of many metabolic systems that affect growth, adiposity and nutrient absorption. In this study, we investigated polymorphisms within the caprine SST and SSTR1 genes and determined their relationship with growth traits. As there were no sequence information of the caprine SST and SSTR1 genes, we explored their DNA sequence and genomic organizations. The caprine SST gene is organized in two exons and is transcribed into an mRNA containing 351 bp of sequence coding for a protein of 116 amino acids. Its protein sequences showed substantial similarity (97-99%) to its respective orthologs from cattle, human and mouse. We also cloned and sequenced a 1.2 kb DNA fragment which contained the major part of the coding region and 3' UTR of the caprine SSTR1 gene. We then detected the polymorphisms in these determined sequences by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods in 459 goats from four breeds. Four SNPs (GU014693:g.647T>C, GU014693:g.844A>C, GU014693:g.970T>C, GU014693:g.1039T>A), segregating as two haplotypes (T-A-T-T and C-C-C-A), were identified in intron 1 of the caprine SST gene and showed the associations to body length and body height (P < 0.05). Two SNPs (GU014695:g.801 C>T, GU014695:g.948 C>T) were identified in the caprine SSTR1 gene. Significant associations between the three genotypes of GU014695:801 C>T and body length, body height, and chest circumference was observed (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the caprine SST and SSTR1 genes are strong candidate genes that influence growth traits in goat.

Low ambient temperature elevates plasma triiodothyronine concentrations while reducing digesta mean retention time and methane yield in sheep

“…Mean retention time (MRT) of rumen contents positively correlates with the methane yield (MY; g CH 4 /kg DMI) of rumen fermentation (Pinares-Patiño et al, 2003). There is an increasing understanding of the role hormonal and neural systems play in the control of digesta kinetics in ruminants (Guilloteau et al, 2006;Maas et al, 2008;Jin et al, 2011;Onaga et al, 2011;Barnett et al, 2012;Pyarokhil et al, 2012;Nikkhah, 2013;Oh-ishi et al, 2013) with significant correlations observed between plasma concentrations of the endocrine regulator, triiodothyronine (T 3 ), within physiological levels, and the MRT of digesta in ruminants as found in our previous study (Barnett et al, 2012).…”

Identification of ANAPC13 gene polymorphisms associated with body measurement traits in Bos taurus

“…Most SNPs of the bovine gene have been reported to be associated with BMTs in native Chinese cattle breeds by recent studies, including growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) gene, LIM homeobox 4 (LHX4) gene, PR domain containing the 16 (PRDM16) gene, gastrulation defective protein 1 (GAD1) gene, nucleotide binding protein nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) gene, caprine somatostatin (SST), SST receptor 1 (SSTR1) gene, ghrelin precursor (GHRL) gene, and syndecan-1 (SDC1) gene (Mateescu et al, 2005;Liu et al, 2010;Ren et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2010;Li et al, 2010a,b;Jin et al, 2011;Sun et al, 2011).…”

The Application of Genomic Technologies to Investigate the Inheritance of Economically Important Traits in Goats

“…Besides, three haplotypes differing by amino acid substitutions at positions 127 and 172 have been associated with carcass weight and beef marbling score in Japanese cattle [62]. In goats, association studies have revealed the existence of relationships between GH genotype and a wide array of growth parameters such as body length and height [63,64], and birth chest and weaning weight and height [65]. Similarly, the variability of the GH receptor has been associated with body length and height [65], while the growth hormone secretagogue receptor genotype displays significant associations with body length and body length index [66].…”