Associations between Gene Polymorphisms, Breeding Values, and Glucose Tolerance Test Parameters in German Holstein Sires
CZECH JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
Authors: Citek, Jindrich; Hanusova, Lenka; Brzakova, Michaela; Vecerek, Libor; Panicke, Lothar; Liskovcova, Lucie
Abstract
The association between several gene polymorphisms, the estimated breeding values for milk performance traits, and glucose metabolism measured by the glucose tolerance test (GTT) in German Holstein sires were evaluated. Polymorphisms in DGAT1, GH1, GHR, FASN, and OLR1 genes were not associated with the GTT. A significant relationship was obtained for the DGAT1 AA/GC polymorphism and estimated breeding values for milk performance (milk yield, fat and protein yield, fat and protein percentage). The polymorphism in GHR was significantly associated with estimated breeding values for fat yield, and the polymorphism in OLR1 with estimated breeding value for protein yield. It shows the importance of the polymorphisms and makes their use in the breeding possible. GTT may be helpful in metabolic analyses, but the gene polymorphisms assessed in our study were not associated with GTT traits and further studies should examine other gene polymorphisms to support the role of GTT for potential breeding purposes.
An efficient gene disruption method for the woody plant pathogen Botryosphaeria dothidea
BMC BIOTECHNOLOGY
Authors: Dong, Bao-Zhu; Guo, Li-Yun
Abstract
Background Botryosphaeria dothidea causes apple white rot and infects many tree plants. Genome data for B. dothidea are available and many pathogenesis-related genes have been predicted. However, a gene manipulation method is needed to study the pathogenic mechanism of B. dothidea. Results We established a gene disruption (GD) method based on gene homologous recombination (GHR) for B. dothidea using polyethylene glycol-mediated protoplast transformation. The results showed that a GHR cassette gave much higher GD efficiency than a GHR plasmid. A high GD efficiency (1.3 +/- 0.14 per 10(6) protopasts) and low frequency of random insertions were achieved with a DNA cassette quantity of 15 mu g per 10(6) protoplasts. Moreover, we successfully disrupted genes in two strains. Bdo_05381-disrupted transformants produced less melanin, whereas the Bdo_02540-disrupted transformant showed a slower growth rate and a stronger resistance to Congo red. Conclusion The established GD method is efficient and convenient and has potential for studying gene functions and the pathogenic mechanisms of B. dothidea and other coenocytic fungi.