Effects of new polymorphisms in the bovine myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) gene on the expression rates of the longissimus dorsi muscle.
Myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D), a product of the MEF2D gene, belongs to the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) protein family which is involved in vertebrate skeletal muscle development and differentiation during myogenesis. The aim of the present study was to search for polymorphisms in the bovine MEF2D gene and to analyze their effect on MEF2D mRNA and on protein expression levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle. Overall, three novel variations, namely, insertion/deletion g.-818_-814AGCCG and g.-211C<A transversion in the promoter region as well as g.7C<T transition in the 5'untranslated region (5'UTR), were identified by DNA sequencing. A total, 375 unrelated bulls belonging to six different cattle breeds were genotyped, and three combined genotypes (Ins-C-C/Ins-C-C, Del-A-T/Del-A-T and Ins-C-C/Del-A-T) were determined. The frequency of the combined genotype Ins-C-C/Ins-C-C and Del-A-T/Del-A-T was varied between the breeds and the average frequency was 0.521 and 0.037, respectively. Expression analysis showed that the MEF2D variants were highly correlated with MEF2D mRNA and protein levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls carrying the three different combined genotypes. The highest MEF2D mRNA and protein levels were estimated in the muscle of bulls with the Ins-C-C/Ins-C-C homozygous genotype as compared to the Del-A-T/Del-A-T homozygotes (P < 0.01) and Ins-C-C/Del-A-T heterozygotes (P < 0.05). A preliminary association study showed no significant differences in the carcass quality traits between bulls with various MEF2D combined genotypes in the investigated population of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle.
Department of Molecular Cytogenetics, Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland. e.kubiak@ighz.pl
E
E
Juszczuk-Kubiak
R R
RR
Starzyński
T
T
Sakowski
K
K
Wicińska
K
K
Flisikowski
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors