Association analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphism in prolactin and its receptor with productive and body conformation traits in Liaoning cashmere goats

The regulation of prolactin secretion and its targeting function of teleost

Prolactin is involved in regulating various physiological activities of vertebrates and is one of the most momentous pituitary hormones. However, not enough attention is currently paid to prolactin, especially in teleost. This paper aims to gather, organize, and analyze recent studies on the regulation and functions of prolactin. By comparing with other animal groups, it highlights the significant role of prolactin in fish reproduction, immunity, growth, and osmotic pressure regulation, as well as the upstream and downstream factors that may be involved in the regulation of prolactin functions were introduced to provide a theoretical basis for the in-depth study and potential practical application of prolactin.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Milk Composition in Karachai Goats

This study is first to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate the milk quality traits in Karachai goats. The objective of the study was to identify candidate genes associated with milk composition traits based on the identification and subsequent analysis of all possible SNPs, both genome-wide (high-confidence) and suggestive (subthreshold significance). To estimate the milk components, 22 traits were determined, including several types of fatty acids. DNA was extracted from ear tissue or blood samples. A total of 167 Karachai goats were genotyped using an Illumina GoatSNP53K BeadChip panel (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Overall, we identified 167 highly significant and subthreshold SNPs associated with the milk components of Karachai goats. A total of 10 SNPs were located within protein-coding genes and 33 SNPs in close proximity to them (±0.2 Mb). The largest number of genome-wide significant SNPs was found on chromosomes 2 and 8 and some of them were associated with several traits. The greatest number of genome-wide significant SNPs was identified for crude protein and lactose (6), and the smallest number-only 1 SNP-for freezing point depression. No SNPs were identified for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Functional annotation of all 43 SNPs allowed us to identify 66 significant candidate genes on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, and 27. We considered these genes potential DNA markers of the fatty acid composition of Karachai goat milk. Also, we found 12 genes that had a polygenic effect: most of them were simultaneously associated with the dry matter content and fatty acids (METTL, SLC1A 8, PHACTR1, FMO2, ECI1, PGP, ABCA3, AMDHD2). Our results suggest that the genes identified in our study affecting the milk components in Karachai goats differed from those identified in other breeds of dairy goats.

Association between the cashmere production performance, milk production performance, and body size traits and polymorphism of COL6A5 and LOC102181374 genes in Liaoning cashmere goats

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between COL6A5 (collagen type VI alpha 5 chain) and LOC102181374 (alcohol dehydrogenase 1) genes and the production performance of Liaoning cashmere goats by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). We have searched for SNP loci of COL6A5 and LOC102181374 genes through sequence alignment and PCR experiments, and have used SPSS and SHEsis software to analyze production data. We obtained five SNP loci in total, including three SNP loci (G50985A, G51140T, G51175A) in COL6A5 gene and two SNP loci (A10067G, T10108C) in LOC102181374 gene. The genotypes G50985A (AG), G51140T (GT), G51175A (AA), A10067G (AA), and T10108C (CC) of these loci have certain advantages in improving the production performance of Liaoning cashmere goats. The haplotype combinations that can improve production performance in COL6A5 gene were H1H5:AGGGAG, H4H4:GGGGAA, and H4H4:GGGGAA. H3H3:GGCC and H2H4:AGTT were the dominant combinations in LOC102181374 gene. At G51175A and A10067G loci, we found that H1H2:AAAG and H1H3:AGAA have dominant effects. These results may provide some support for the molecular breeding of production traits in Liaoning cashmere goats.

Allele mining in prolactin receptor gene and its association with some economic traits in Egyptian goat breeds

The objectives of the current study were to identify polymorphism in the prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene among three Egyptian goat breeds (Zaraibi, Damascus, and Barki) and to investigate the association between PRLR genotype, parity, season of kidding, and litter size factors with milk yield and reproductive traits of Zaraibi goats. One hundred and ninety blood samples were collected for DNA extraction, with 110 from Zaraibi, 40 from Barki, and 40 from Damascus breeds. Three genotypes, CC, CT and TT, for the prolactin receptor gene were identified in the 190 DNA samples using restriction fragment length polymorphism and were confirmed by direct sequencing technique. Milk yield during suckling and lactation periods in addition to age at first conception, gestation length, and litter size were determined in 110 Zaraibi goats. The Zaraibi goats recorded the highest heterozygosity (0.495) and the effective number of alleles (1.972). The g.62130C > T SNP showed a significant association (p < 0.01) with suckling, lactation, and total milk yield of Zaraibi goats with the highest values recorded at the third parity. Age at the first conception and gestation length traits were significantly influenced by the kidding season (p < 0.05) with younger age in autumn and shorter length in spring seasons. Milk yield during the suckling period was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the case of triplets' litter size. The current study showed that litter size and parity played an important role in the amount of Zaraibi goats' milk yield. The g.62130C > T SNP of the PRLR gene may be a useful marker for assisted selection programs to improve goat milk yield during suckling and lactation periods with the heterozygous genotype CT recording the highest values.

Multi-omics analysis of functional substances and expression verification in cashmere fineness

BACKGROUND

Numerous factors influence the growth and development of cashmere. Existing research on cashmere has predominantly emphasized a single omics level. Integrating multi-omics analyses can offer a more comprehensive understanding by encompassing the entire spectrum. This study more accurately and comprehensively identified the key factors influencing cashmere fineness using multi-omics analysis.

METHODS

This study used skin tissues of coarse cashmere type (CT_LCG) and fine cashmere type Liaoning cashmere goats (FT_LCG) for the analysis. This study employed an integrated approach involving transcriptomics, translatomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to identify substances associated with cashmere fineness. The findings were validated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) techniques.

RESULTS

The GO functional enrichment analysis identified three common terms: multicellular organismal process, immune system process, and extracellular region. Furthermore, the KEGG enrichment analysis uncovered the involvement of the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. Protein expression trends were verified using PRM technology. The expression trends of KRT79, as confirmed by PRM, were consistent with those observed in TMT proteomics and exhibited a positive regulatory effect on cashmere fineness. Metabolite expression trends were confirmed using MRM technology. The expression trends of 9 out of 15 validated metabolites were in agreement with those identified in the non-targeted metabolomics analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study employed multi-omics analysis to identify key regulators of cashmere fineness, including PLA2G12A, KRT79, and prostaglandin B2. The findings of this study offer valuable data and establish a theoretical foundation for conducting comprehensive investigations into the molecular regulatory mechanisms and functional aspects of cashmere fineness.

The conceivable role of prolactin hormone in Parkinson disease: The same goal but with different ways

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease (NDD) of the brain. It has been reported that prolactin (PRL) hormone plays a differential effect in PD, may be increasing, reduced or unaffected. PRL level is dysregulated in different neurodegenerative disorders including PD. Preclinical and clinical studies pointed out that PRL may has a neuroprotective against PD neuropathology . Though, the mechanistic role of PRL in PD is not fully elucidated. Therefore, the objective of the present review was to clarify the potential role and mechanistic pathway of PRL in PD neuropathology. The present review highlighted that PRL appears to have a neuroprotective effect against PD neuropathology by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, antioxidant effects and by inhibiting neuroinflammation. Thus, preclinical and clinical studies are warranted in this regard.

Genome-Wide Association and Pathway Analysis of Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Karachai Young Goats

Goats with diverse economic phenotypic traits play an important role in animal husbandry. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying complex phenotypic traits are unclear in goats. Genomic studies of variations provided a lens to identify functional genes. The work aimed to search for candidate genes related to body measurements and body weight of Karachai goats and develop an experimental PCR-RV test system for genotyping significant SNPs. Comparison of GWAS results for ages 4 and 8 months revealed 58 common SNPs for significant genotypes. 11 common SNPs were identified for body weight, 4 SNPs-for group of traits withers height, rump height, body length, 2 SNPs-for withers height and rump height, 1 SNP-for body length and chest depth. Structural annotation of genomic regions covering a window of ±0.20 Mb showed the presence of 288 genes; 52 of them had the described functions in accordance with gene ontology. The main molecular functions of proteins encoded by these genes are the regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, body growth, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, nervous system development, and spermatogenesis. SNPs common to body weight and localized within a window of ±200 kb from the structural genes CRADD, HMGA2, MSRB3, FUT8, MAX, and RAB15 were selected to create a test system. The study of meat productivity after slaughter and chemical analysis of muscle tissue in Karachai goats at the age of 8 months of different genotypes according to the identified SNPs revealed that rs268269710 is the most promising for further research and use in breeding. The GG genotype is associated with a larger live weight of animals, a larger carcass yield, the content of the boneless part in it, and the ratio of protein and adipose tissue in meat preferred for dietary nutrition. These results will contribute to the genetic improvement of Karachai goats.

Stepwise Method and Factor Scoring in Multiple Regression Analysis of Cashmere Production in Liaoning Cashmere Goats

Liaoning cashmere goat is a well-known local cashmere goat breed in China and even in the world. It is famous for producing cashmere with superior quality and high yield. Cashmere yield, body measurements, and body weight are the primary indicators of cashmere goat breeding, but the correlation between them is not yet clear. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between certain body measurements, body weight, and cashmere yield in Liaoning cashmere goats using stepwise and factor score analyses in a multiple regression analysis. For this purpose, the body measurements (body slanting length (BSL), body height (BH), chest circumference (CC), pipe circumference (PC), chest depth (CD), chest width (CW), hip breadth (HB), body weight (BW) and cashmere yield (CY)) of 200 (2-year-old) Liaoning cashmere goats were collected. Stepwise analysis of the results showed that body weight had the greatest direct effect on cashmere yield, followed by hip breadth, while chest circumference mainly affected cashmere yield indirectly. The results of factor score analysis showed that the independent variable can be represented by two factors, which explained 49.596% and 12.095% of the total variance, respectively. The factor scores used in the regression analysis explained 75.8% of the total variance in Liaoning cashmere yield. The above studies show that the growth traits of Liaoning cashmere goats are closely related to the cashmere yield. Growth traits should be considered important factors in breed selection, germplasm identification, and rearing.