title: Characterization of genes for beef marbling based on applying gene coexpression network.
abstract: Marbling is an important trait in characterization beef quality and a major factor for determining the price of beef in the Korean beef market. In particular, marbling is a complex trait and needs a system-level approach for identifying candidate genes related to the trait. To find the candidate gene associated with marbling, we used a weighted gene coexpression network analysis from the expression value of bovine genes. Hub genes were identified; they were topologically centered with large degree and BC values in the global network. We performed gene expression analysis to detect candidate genes in M. longissimus with divergent marbling phenotype (marbling scores 2 to 7) using qRT-PCR. The results demonstrate that transmembrane protein 60 (TMEM60) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) are associated with increasing marbling fat. We suggest that the network-based approach in livestock may be an important method for analyzing the complex effects of candidate genes associated with complex traits like marbling or tenderness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dajeong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS), Seoul 150-804, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Kuk
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon 441-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Ha
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heebal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim