The purpose of this research was to determine whether genetic variation existed within <i>Bos taurus</i> Pro-melanin-concentrating hormone (PMCH), and whether this variation would affect carcass traits. PMCH had previously been shown to affect appetite and metabolism in rodent species, thus it was desirable to determine whether the gene had a similar effect in cattle, which could be interpreted based on carcass measurements of weight gain and fat production. Cattle PMCH was sequenced and an adenosine-to-thymine (A>T) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was detected 134 bp upstream of the translational start site. The SNP alleles were determined to significantly affect carcass traits including average fat and grade fat in two populations of cattle, and shear force measurements in one population. The adenosine homozygotes were found to have the highest fat levels and the thymine homozygotes the least, while the heterozygous animals had intermediate fat levels. Shear force values in the one available population indicated that cuts of meat from the adenosine homozygotes were most tender, while cuts from the thymine homozygotes were least tender. <p>The SNP was also found to significantly affect tenderness and palatability of meat, as evaluated by a consumer taste panel. The meat from adenosine homozygotes was found to be most tender and palatable. These results could not be validated as this data was unavailable in additional populations. <p>The location of the SNP suggested that it may affect PMCH transcription rates. In silico examination of the different alleles indicated that the thymine allele introduces a novel transcriptional repressor binding site for Adenovirus E4 Promoter Binding protein (E4BP4). Thus, it is believed that the SNP may affect transcriptional levels of the gene by reducing transcription rates in the presence of the thymine allele. <p>Cattle producers are expected to produce cattle with consistent amounts of lean meat and fat. Genetic testing of alleles found to affect fat production and meat tenderness traits are currently available to producers. A DNA test to select breeding stock based on PMCH alleles could be used in conjunction with other tests currently available to further improve carcass quality by selecting for animals with beneficial alleles at numerous genetic loci. Additionally, producers could make use of these findings to genetically sort cattle upon feedlot entry, maximizing the consistency of the finished beef product.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-10252007-134410 |
| Date | 26 October 2007 |
| Creators | Helgeson, Sarah Caroline |
| Contributors | Schmutz, Sheila M., Roesler, William J., Plante, Yves, Buchanan, Fiona C., Van Kessel, Andrew G. |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-10252007-134410/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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