ARS | Publication request: Adipose and muscle tissue expression of two genes (NCAPG and LCORL) located in a chromosomal region associated with cattle feed intake and gain

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 8, 2012
Publication Date: July 1, 2012
Citation: Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Sexten, A.K., Kuehn, L.A., Rempel, L.A., Miles, J.R., Cushman, R.A., Freetly, H.C. 2012. Adipose and muscle tissue expression of two genes (NCAPG and LCORL) located in a chromosomal region associated with cattle feed intake and gain [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 90(Suppl. 3):453.

Technical Abstract: A region on bovine chromosome 6 has been implicated in cattle birth weight, growth, and length. Non-SMC conodensin I complex subunit G (NCAPG) and ligand dependent nuclear receptor corepressor-like protein (LCORL) are positional candidate genes within this region. We previously identified genetic markers in both genes that were associated with average daily gain and feed intake in a crossbred population of beef steers. Two markers within LCORL were validated in a second, unrelated population of steers. We also detected associations between these markers and hot carcass weight, adjusted fat thickness and ribeye area suggesting that one or both of these genes play a role in lean muscle growth and reduced fat deposition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the transcript abundance of either of these genes in adipose and muscle tissues was associated with variation in beef cattle feed intake, residual feed intake and average daily gain phenotypes. Transcript abundance for NCAPG and LCORL in adipose and muscle tissue was measured by quantitative PCR from heifers (adipose only, n=88), cows (n=85 muscle, n=18 adipose) and steers (n=12). Phenotypic correlations among expression levels and measures of growth, feed intake, and efficiency were derived and tested for significance. The levels of NCAPG and LCORL gene expression in adipose tissue were not correlated to gain, feed intake or residual feed intake in steers, heifers or cows. However, transcript abundance of NCAPG in the muscle tissue of cows was correlated to BW gain (r=0.31; P=0.004) while muscle gene expression levels of LCORL were correlated with dry matter intake in steers (r=-0.57; P=0.03). These data corroborate the genetic associations with gain and feed intake within this region and represent biological activity of these genes in the muscle tissue of cattle. The data also suggests that sex, age and/or nutrition-specific interactions may affect the expression of NCAPG and LCORL in beef cattle.