1
|
Denham J, McCluskey M, Denham MM, Sellami M, Davie AJ. Epigenetic control of exercise adaptations in the equine athlete: Current evidence and future directions. Equine Vet J 2020; 53:431-450. [PMID: 32671871 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Horses (Equus ferus caballus) have evolved over the past 300 years in response to man-made selection for particular athletic traits. Some of the selected traits were selected based on the size and horses' muscular power (eg Clydesdales), whereas other breeds were bred for peak running performance (eg Thoroughbred and Arabian). Although the physiological changes and some of the cellular adaptations responsible for athletic potential of horses have been identified, the molecular mechanisms are only just beginning to be comprehensively investigated. The purpose of this review was to outline and discuss the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the athletic performance and cardiorespiratory fitness in athletic breeds of horses. A brief review of the biology of epigenetics is provided, including discussion on DNA methylation, histone modifications and small RNAs, followed by a summary and critical review of the current work on the exercise-induced epigenetic and transcriptional changes in horses. Important unanswered questions and currently unexplored areas that deserve attention are highlighted. Finally, a rationale for the analysis of epigenetic modifications in the context with exercise-related traits and ailments associated with athletic breeds of horses is outlined in order to help guide future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Denham
- RMIT University, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Maha Sellami
- Qatar University, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Sport Science Program (SSP), Doha, Qatar
| | - Allan J Davie
- Australian Equine Racing and Research Centre (AERR), Ballina, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fontanel M, Todd E, Drabbe A, Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Myćka G, Velie BD. Variation in the SLC16A1 and the ACOX1 Genes Is Associated with Gallop Racing Performance in Arabian Horses. J Equine Vet Sci 2020; 93:103202. [PMID: 32972674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Arabian horses are not only one of the most ancient breeds in the world, but they are also one of the most appreciated racehorse breeds today. The breed generates attention for their phenomenal endurance ability and their capability for gallop racing. Consequently, genetic testing to select the best individuals is attracting ever increasing interests from the Arabian industry. As such, the aim of this study was to further investigate associations between performance and variation at candidate genes suspected of having a key role in Arabian gallop racing performance. Generalized linear models were fit to test associations between eight candidate gene variants and a variety of gallop racing performance traits in a sample of Arabian racehorses (n = 287). Two genes, solute carrier family 16 member 1 (SLC16A1) and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), were significantly associated with multiple gallop racing performance traits, whereas another gene, actinin alpha 3 (ACTN3) was associated with best race distance. Previously established associations between these three genes and equine metabolism strongly suggest further investigation of these genes, and their relationship with Arabian horse performance is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Fontanel
- Equine Genetics & Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Agrosup Dijon, Institut national supérieur des sciences agronomiques et de l'alimentation et de l'environnement, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Evelyn Todd
- Equine Genetics & Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alize Drabbe
- Equine Genetics & Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katarzyna Ropka-Molik
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland
| | - Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Kraków, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Myćka
- University of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, Kraków, Poland
| | - Brandon D Velie
- Equine Genetics & Genomics Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
The Genetics of Racing Performance in Arabian Horses. Int J Genomics 2019; 2019:9013239. [PMID: 31565654 PMCID: PMC6745119 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9013239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Arabian horses are commonly believed to be one of the oldest and most influential horse breeds in the world. The high financial benefits obtained from races tend to search for genetic markers strongly correlated with the results achieved. To date, the modern approaches such as transcriptome, miRNAome, and metabolome analyses have been used to investigate the genetic background of racing performance as well as endurance capacity in Arabians. The analysis of polymorphisms at the genome level has also been applied to the detection of genetic variants associated with exercise phenotype in the Arabian breed. The presented review summarizes these findings, with a focus on the genetics underlying flat racing and endurance performance traits in different Arabian horse populations.
Collapse
|
4
|
Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Szmatoła T, Łątka J, Długosz B, Ropka-Molik K. The Blood and Muscle Expression Pattern of the Equine TCAP Gene during the Race Track Training of Arabian Horses. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E574. [PMID: 31426609 PMCID: PMC6720385 DOI: 10.3390/ani9080574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Horse musculature has been shaped through evolution by environmental and human factors, which has resulted in several extraordinary adaptations to physical effort. Skeletal muscle plasticity results from the response to mechanical stimulation causing hypertrophy, where sarcomeres increase the muscle's cross-sectional area under the influence of contractile forces. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of transcript abundance of the telethonin (TCAP) gene, which is a part of the sarcomere macromolecular mechanosensory complex in the gluteus medius muscle, and the whole blood of Arabian horses during flat race training. The analysis, performed by quantitative PCR, showed an increase of TCAP transcripts in skeletal muscle. However, in whole blood, the transcript abundance decreased after the first stage of training and further increased after the second phase. The obtained results indicate a lack of similarity of TCAP gene expression in both tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier
- Department of Animals Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-159 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Szmatoła
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland
- Centre of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Łątka
- Department of Animals Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-159 Kraków, Poland
| | - Bogusława Długosz
- Department of Animals Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-159 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ropka-Molik
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kim SW, Jo A, Im J, Lee HE, Kim HS. Expression analysis of miR-221-3p and its target genes in horses. Genes Genomics 2019; 41:459-465. [PMID: 30604147 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-018-00778-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A microRNA (miRNA) is a small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) approximately 20 nucleotides long and it affects gene expression through mRNA cleavage or translational repression. Horses (Equus caballus) have been domesticated and bred to enhance their speed for racing. It has been studied extensively with genetic diversity, origins and evolution. OBJECTIVES We examined expression patterns of miR-221-3p and its target gene CDKN1C in various horse tissues. METHODS We used bioinformatic tools to examine target gene, seed region and evolutionary conservation of miR-221-3p. The expression patterns of miR-221-3p and its target gene CDKN1C were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS Among eight tissues of horse, miR-221-3p was highly expressed in cerebellum and spleen. On the other hand, only medulla was highly expressed in CDKN1C gene. CONCLUSION Our study provides expression data of miR-221-3p and CDKN1C gene in horse and suggests the fundamental information for future studies in relation to functional importance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- So-Won Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Ara Jo
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer Im
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Eun Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea. .,Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|