The association between polymorphism of PKM2 gene and glycolytic potential and pork meat quality

Metabolomic comparison of meat quality and metabolites of geese breast muscle at different ages

The purpose of this study was to distinguish the effect of age on the meat quality and chemical composition of Yangzhou goose breast meat. Nontargeted metabolomics analysis (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to distinguish the metabolic composition of goose meat at different ages, and Pearson's correlations between differential metabolites and key meat parameters were assessed. Compared with goslings, adult geese had lighter, redder and chewier meat (p < 0.05). Metabolite analysis revealed significant differences in nucleosides, organic acids, amino acids and sugars. Levels of IMP, xanthosine, pretyrosine and l-threonine were significantly higher in older meat (p < 0.05) and positively correlated with meat freshness indicators. However, pyruvic acid, l-cysteine and glucose 6-phosphate were up-regulated in gosling meat (p < 0.05), which were important flavor compounds. These results facilitate the further investigation of changes in goose meat composition and provide biomarkers for determining goose meat quality at different ages.

miR-340-5p inhibits sheep adipocyte differentiation by targeting ATF7

Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to play roles in adipocyte differentiation. However, little is known about their involvement in the differentiation of ovine intramuscular adipocytes. Here, the role of one such miRNA, miR-340-5p, in ovine adipocyte differentiation was investigated. Stromal vascular (SV) cells were isolated from skeletal muscle tissues of 1-month-old lambs and induced to differentiate into mature adipocytes. miRNA mimics and inhibitors were used for miR-340-5p overexpression and knockdown assays. For overexpression and knockdown of activating transcription factor 7 (ATF7), lentivirus infection was performed. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the relationship between miR-340-5p and ATF7. The expression of adipogenesis marker genes, PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4, ADIPOQ, and ACC, and formation of lipid droplets were detected after the overexpression and inhibition of miR-340-5p, or upon overexpression or knockdown of ATF7. miR-340-5p inhibited the expression of the marker genes and the formation of lipid droplets. ATF7 positively regulated the expression of the marker genes and the formation of lipids. Thus, ATF7 is the target of miR-340-5p in sheep. Overall, these findings indicate that miR-340-5p acts as an inhibitor of the differentiation of intramuscular adipocytes by targeting ATF7. Our study provides a new theoretical basis for improving sheep meat quality.

The effect of inulin supply to high-fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids on pork quality and profile of sarcoplasmic protein in meat exudate

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of inulin supply to high-fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA) on pork quality and profile of sarcoplasmic protein in drip loss. At 50 days of age, twenty cross-bred pigs (gilts) were randomly allotted to four groups: the control (C) group fed a standard diet, and three experimental (D1, D2 and D3) groups fed a high-fat diet rich in SFA. Moreover, pigs from the groups D2 and D3 consumed an extra inulin supply (7% of daily feed intake) from 85 to 120 days of age (for 5 weeks) and from 50 to 120 days of age (for 10 weeks) respectively. The addition of inulin to the diet reduced meaty odour and flavour significantly, improved tenderness and overall sensory quality of pork and additionally influenced ultimate pH, L* colour parameter, lactate level and protein content in meat. The diets also affected the profile of sarcoplasmic proteins. Significant effects were observed for the following enzymes-PK/PGI (pyruvate kinase/phosphoglucose isomerase) and ALD (aldolase), which are related to the intensity of post-mortem glycolysis. Presented data indicate that long-term inulin supply to high-fat diet has a positive effect on technological and sensory quality as well as protein profile of pork.

The physicochemical properties of offal from Puławska gilts in relation to carcass meatiness

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the meatiness of the Puławska pig carcass and selected physical and chemical parameters of pork offal. The study was conducted on a group of 50 porkers of the native Puławska breed, whose carcasses were classified into five classes: E, U, R, O, and P, covering 10 specimens each. Samples were collected from the tongue, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, and the pH (pH45, pH24), percentage of free water and chemical composition (ash, fat, protein) were determined. To summarise the obtained results, it can be concluded that the increase of the meat content in carcass significantly and primarily affects the reduction of the offal’s weight and then the reduction of the pH45 as well as the increase of the free water content primarily in the kidney and the lungs. In the case of chemical composition an increase of the meatiness in the carcass affected the reduction of fat content in the kidneys, lungs, heart and liver. The liver and the heart were the offal with the greatest susceptibility to the effects of the carcass meatiness. In this offal the increase of the carcass meatiness significantly decreased the fat content and energy value, and also increased the ash and protein content. Offal from the studied meatiness classes of the pigs’ carcasses was characterised by adequate quality and suitability for processing.

Correlation between three glycometabolic-related hormones and muscle glycolysis, as well as meat quality, in three pig breeds

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to evaluate the correlations among muscle concentrations of three glycometabolic-related hormones (insulin, epinephrine and glucagon), muscle glycolysis and meat quality in representative muscles of either glycolytic or oxidative types. Moreover, the relative glycometabolic-related gene expression was measured. One Western crossbreed DLY (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)), one crossbreed with half-Chinese native-pig origin DL (Duroc × LiangShan) and one pure Chinese native pig TP (Tibetan pig) were used in the present study.

RESULTS

Among the three breeds, DLY had the greatest glucagon and epinephrine (P < 0.01). Compared with DLY, TP and DL had lower lactic acid concentrations, showing lower glycolytic potentials (GP), greater ultimate pH values (P < 0.01) and lower relative expression levels of glycometabolic-related genes (GYS1, PRKAG3 and PKM2). Compared with the glycolytic muscle (musculus longissimus dorsi), oxidative muscle PM (musculus psoas major) had lower glucagon and epinephrine contents, lower GP and better meat quality. The concentration of glycometabolic-related hormones in the muscle had significant correlations with muscle glycolysis, meat pH and lightness.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained in the present study imply that glucagon and epinephrine levels could be used to indicate early glycolytic metabolism during postmortem. These findings may be helpful in identifying pork with undesirable quality traits. 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of energy metabolism and meat quality among three pig breeds

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of muscle-fibre types and hormones on glycolytic potential and meat quality traits and their association with glycolytic-related gene expression in three different altitude pig breeds. The pig breeds studied were the Tibetan pig (TP, high altitude), the Liang-Shan pig (LSP, middle altitude) and the Duroc×(Landrace×Yorkshire) cross (DLY, flatland). The results indicated that TP and LSP had better meat quality than DLY (P<0.01). The glycolytic potential (GP) increased in the order of TP Collapse

Key Words

• glycolytic potential
• hormone
• meat quality
• muscle-fiber type
• pig

Collapse

MESH Headings

• Animals
• Breeding
• Carrier Proteins/genetics
• Carrier Proteins/physiology
• Energy Metabolism/genetics
• Epinephrine/analysis
• Food Quality
• Gene Expression
• Genotype
• Glucagon/analysis
• Glycolysis/genetics
• Meat/analysis
• Membrane Proteins/genetics
• Membrane Proteins/physiology
• Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
• Myosin Heavy Chains
• Swine/genetics
• Thyroid Hormones/genetics
• Thyroid Hormones/physiology
• Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins

Collapse

Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Linyuan Shen College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China
Huaigang Lei
Shunhua Zhang
Xuewei Li
Mingzhou Li
Xiaobing Jiang
Kangping Zhu
Li Zhu

Collapse

Effect of quantum therapy on pork quality

In this study the impact of quantum therapy on meat quality of slaughtered pigs was investigated. For this purpose the pigs were treated with different doses of magnet-infrared-laser (MIL) radiation. Animals were divided into four groups according to radiation doses (4096, 512, and 64 Hz, and control without application), which were applied in the lumbar area of musculus longissimus dorsi (loin) at various time intervals prior to the slaughter (14 d, 24 h, and 1 h). Animals were slaughtered and the meat quality was evaluated by determining of pH value (1, 3, and 24 h post slaughter), drip loss, colour, and lactic acid and phosphoric acid amounts. MIL therapy can be used in various fields of veterinary medicine as are surgery and orthopaedics, internal medicine, dentistry, pulmonology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, urology, nephrology, and dermatology. The results achieved showed that MIL radiation used in a short period before slaughter (1 h) can cause a change in the meat quality, as reflected by the non-standard development of pH values, increases in drip loss, and changes of meat colour.

Identification of four SNPs and association analysis with meat quality traits in the porcine Pitx2c gene

The association of the porcine Pitx2c gene with meat quality traits was investigated in the present study. A total of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found. Allele frequencies of four SNPs were further detected in four commercial breeds and eight Chinese indigenous breeds. Single SNP and meat quality associations were analyzed in a Yorkshire×Meishan F(2) population. The SNPs c.474C>T (P<0.01) and c.636C>T (P<0.05) showed a significant association with meat color (MCV1). The SNPs c.*37G>A and c.*47G>A were significantly associated with drip loss rate (DLR), water holding capacity (WHC) and meat color value (MCV1) consistently (P<0.05). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed that the adjacent SNPs were in LD. Two major haplotypes were identified, and association analysis between haplotype combinations and meat quality indicated that the presence of two copies of haplotype 1 -CCGG- may improve meat quality.