Bovine HSD17B8 gene and its relationship with growth and meat quality traits

Abstract

17 β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 8 (HSD17B8) is an important regulator of lipid and steroid metabolism. In the present study, we aimed to assess the effects of HSD17B8 on growth and meat quality traits in cattle. Transcription profile analysis showed that HSD17B8 was primarily expressed in the salpinx, liver, and testis. Meanwhile, we identified three SNPs (SNP1: intron 1-A91G; SNP2: exon 1-A90G; and SNP3: intron 8-A86G) of the bovine HSD17B8 gene and investigated its haplotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium. The detected SNPs were found associated with growth traits (body weight, body length, height at withers, heart girth, hip width, and average daily gain) in native cattle populations (Nanyang and Jiaxian) as well as the meat quality traits (Warner–Bratzler shear force, rib area, dressing percentage, carcass weight, and backfat thickness) in commercial breeds (Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Luxi, Simmental, and Jinnan). Our results provided evidence that polymorphisms in the HSD17B8 gene were associated with growth traits and meat quality traits. Moreover, our findings might be used for marker-assisted selection in beef cattle breeding program.

摘要

17β-羟类固醇脱氢酶8 (17βeta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 8, HSD17B8) 与脂肪代谢和激素代谢密切相关。本实验旨在研究HSD17B8基因对牛生长发育和肉质性状的影响。首先,本实验以48月龄和3日龄郏县红牛23种不同组织为材料,运用实时荧光定量PCR的方法检测HSD17B8基因在以上组织的表达,结果显示该基因主要在牛输卵管、肝脏和睾丸组织中表达。同时以10个品种牛血样为研究材料,利用DNA测序技术和PCR-RFLP对661头牛HSD17B8基因编码区和启动子区进行SNP检测并分型。结果发现3个SNP位点(Intron 1-A91G,Exon 1-A90G,Intron 8-A86G),并且分析了三个位点的连锁关系、单倍型组成。关联分析结果显示三个位点同173头中国本地黄牛(南阳牛和郏县红牛)的部分生长性状显著关联(体重、体长、体高、胸围、腰角宽及平均日增重),与196头育肥肉牛(安格斯牛、海福特牛、利木赞牛、鲁西牛、西门塔尔牛和晋南牛)的肉质性状(剪切力、眼肌面积、屠宰率、胴体中和背膘厚度)显著相关。研究结果提示,这三个位点可作为潜在的肉牛生长性状和肉质性状选择的分子育种候选标记。