Functional analysis of muscle gene expression profiles associated with tenderness and intramuscular fat content in pork.
Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and % intramuscular fat content (IMF) are objective meat quality measurements that are significantly correlated with aspects of palatability such as tenderness, flavour and juiciness. Using cDNA microarrays, Musculus longissimus transcriptomic profiles at slaughter were compared in samples displaying lower or higher IMF (n=8) and WBSF values on day 1 post mortem (n=8). 101 identified genes were differentially expressed in relation to WBSF, while 160 genes were associated with differences in IMF. Reduced expression of protein synthesis genes and enhanced expression of genes involved in protein degradation were associated with lower WBSF values on day 1. Pathways including oxidative phosphorylation and the citrate cycle were significantly associated with higher IMF. Many lipid oxidation and fatty acid metabolism pathway genes were down-regulated in high IMF tissue, suggesting a suppression of fatty acid turnover in muscle with higher fat content. Identified genes provide targets for the discovery of novel genetic variation influential on pork palatability.
Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland. ruth.hamill@teagasc.ie
Ruth M
RM
Hamill
Jean
J
McBryan
Chris
C
McGee
Anne Maria
AM
Mullen
Torres
T
Sweeney
Anita
A
Talbot
Michael T
MT
Cairns
Grace C
GC
Davey
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006019:Glycolysis; D007494:Ireland; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D059748:Proteolysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D033081:Shear Strength; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000378:metabolism*; D059467:Transcriptome
D004041:Dietary Fats; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger