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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411198
Research Project: Assessment of Quality Attributes of Poultry Products, Grain, Seed, Nuts, and Feed

Location: Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit

Title: Reduced ribonucleotide reductase RRM2 subunit expression increases DNA damage and mitochondria dysfunction in woody breast chickens

Author
item SHAKERI, MAJID - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item CHOI, JANGHAN - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item HARRIS, CAITLIN - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff
item Kong, Byungwhi
item Zhuang, Hong
item Bowker, Brian

Submitted to: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2024
Publication Date: 2/12/2024
Citation: Shakeri, M., Choi, J., Harris, C., Buhr, R.J., Kong, B.C., Zhuang, H., Bowker, B.C. 2024. Reduced ribonucleotide reductase RRM2 subunit expression increases DNA damage and mitochondria dysfunction in woody breast chickens. American Journal of Veterinary Research. 85(4):1-7. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.12.0283.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.12.0283

Interpretive Summary: The woody breast myopathy negatively impacts the quality of chicken breast meat resulting in economic losses to the industry. The cause of this myopathy is unknown. Ribonucleotide reductase is an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis, cellular energy production, and mitochondria function. Data from this study suggested for the first time that this enzyme potentially plays a role in the woody breast myopathy by impairing several important pathways related to mitochondria function and energy production.

Technical Abstract: The woody breast myopathy is a meat quality defect in fast growing broiler chickens that results in abnormal breast meat texture that is caused by increased oxidative distress and deposition of connective tissue in the muscle. The exact etiology of this myopathy is unknown. The issue is believed to be caused by mitochondria dysfunction and altered energy production. Ribonucleotide reductase is an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis, energy production, and mitochondria function. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of RRM2 (subunit of ribonucleotide reductase) in severe woody breast and normal breast muscles. Broiler breast muscle samples were collected <15min post-mortem. Quantitative-PCR was performed to determine gene expression, and commercial ELISA/assay kits were used to obtain several enzymatic activities. The data were analyzed using t-test. Results showed that RRM2 activity (P=0.0002), RRM2 (P=0.05) and Hydroxymethylbilane synthase expression (impaired oxygen transport and metabolism, P=0.002) were reduced in woody breast, while Caveolin-3 (defected membrane integrity, P=0.09), Endoglin (increased fibrosis, P=0.06) and Secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine (metabolic dysregulation, P=0.09) expression tended to increase in woody breast. Woody breast tended to have increased levels of Homocysteine (P=0.06), Aspartate-aminotransferase-mitochondria (P=0.02), Pyruvate Kinase (P=0.04), DNA damage (P=0.06), Creatine Kinase (P=0.05) and Triglyceride (P=0.002) but decreased ATPase activity (P=0.01), all indicating mitochondria dysfunction and tissue damage. In conclusion, in this study, differences in various enzyme activities and increased DNA damage suggest that RRM2 mediated mitochondrial abnormalities may play a role in the woody breast myopathy.