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S M Kappes

Publications and source records attributed to S M Kappes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Bovine CAPN1 maps to a region of BTA29 containing a quantitative trait locus for meat tenderness.

Micromolar calcium activated neural protease (CAPN1) was investigated as a potential candidate gene for a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on BTA29 affecting meat tenderness. A 2,948-bp bovine cDNA containing the entire coding region of the gene was obtained, showing 91% identity to human CAPN1. The 716 AA protein predicted from this sequence shows 97% similarity (95% identity) to the 714 AA human protein. Analysis of the gene structure revealed that CAPN1 mRNA is encoded by at least 19 exons, and 11,055 bp of the gene were sequenced, including 17 introns. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were detected in intron 12 and were used to map bovine CAPN1 to the telomeric end of the BTA29 linkage group. This approximately coincides with the position of the QTL, demonstrating that CAPN1 protease is a positional candidate gene potentially affecting variation in meat tenderness in a bovine resource mapping population.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Initial results of genomic scans for ovulation rate in a cattle population selected for increased twinning rate.

Genomic scans were conducted with 273 markers on 181 sires from a cattle population selected for increased twinning rate to identify chromosomal regions containing genes that influence ovulation rate. Criteria used for selecting markers were number of alleles, ease of scoring, and relative position within linkage group. Markers were multiplexed or multiple-loaded on the gels to reduce the costs and labor required to obtain genotypic data. This approach reduced the number of gels by 45% when compared with running each marker independently. Male animals selected for the genomic scan sired the majority of the population. A modified interval analysis was used in a granddaughter design to compare effects of each allele within sire for 10 different sire families. The midparent deviation of the son's estimated breeding value for ovulation rate was used as the phenotype. Forty-one potential peaks were identified with a nominal significance level < or = 0.05. The 10 peaks with the highest significance levels (P < 0.02) were selected for further analysis. Markers were genotyped across daughters of the sire where nominal significance was found for each of the 10 peaks. One peak (BTA5, relative position 40 cM) was found to be nominally significant in the daughters. The nominal significance levels were P = 0.01 for the sons (n = 32) and P = 0.02 for the daughters (n = 94) of sire 784403. A combined genomewide significance value (P = 0.07) was calculated that accounted for the 10 analyses with sons and the 10 analyses with daughters. These results strongly suggest that this region contains a gene(s) that is involved in the follicular recruitment and development process.

Animals↗

Quantitative trait loci affecting growth and carcass composition of cattle segregating alternate forms of myostatin.

The effects of the bovine myostatin gene on chromosome 2 on birth and carcass traits have been previously assessed. The objective of this study was to identify additional quantitative trait loci (QTL) for economically important traits in two families segregating an inactive copy of myostatin. Two half-sib families were developed from Belgian Blue x MARC III (n = 246) and Piedmontese x Angus (n = 209) sires. Traits analyzed were birth (kg) and yearling weight (kg); hot carcass weight (kg); fat depth (cm); marbling score; longissimus muscle area (cm2); estimated kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (%); USDA yield grade; retail product yield (%); fat yield (%); and wholesale rib-fat yield (%). Meat tenderness was measured as Warner-Bratzler shear force at 3 and 14 d postmortem. The effect of myostatin on these traits was removed by using phase information obtained from the previous study with six microsatellite markers flanking the locus. Selective genotyping was done on 92 animals from both families to identify genomic regions potentially associated with retail product yield and fat depth, using a total of 150 informative markers in each family. Regions in which selective genotyping indicated the presence of QTL were evaluated further by genotyping the entire population and additional markers. For the family with Belgian Blue inheritance (n = 246), a significant QTL for birth and yearling weight was identified on chromosome 6. Suggestive QTL were identified for longissimus muscle area and hot carcass weight on chromosome 6 and for marbling on chromosomes 17 and 27. For the family with Piedmontese inheritance (n = 209), suggestive QTL on chromosome 5 were identified for fat depth, retail product yield, and USDA yield grade and on chromosome 29 for Warner-Bratzler shear force at 3 and 14 d postmortem. Interactions suggesting the presence of QTL were observed between myostatin and chromosome 5 for Warner-Bratzler shear force at 14 d postmortem and between myostatin and chromosome 14 for fat depth. Thus, in families segregating an inactive copy of myostatin in cattle, other loci influencing quantitative traits can be detected. These results are the initial effort to identify and characterize QTL affecting carcass and growth traits in families segregating myostatin.

Alleles↗

Utilization of gene mapping information in livestock animals.

A number of recent advances in genomic research will change and improve livestock production in the near future. Genetic linkage maps have been developed for a number of livestock species including cattle, sheep, and pigs. These maps allow scientists to identify chromosomal regions that influence traits of economic importance. This information will lead to improved genetic selection practices by identifying animals with superior copies of the chromosomal regions that affect the selected trait. This mapping information will also be used to identify the genes controlling the trait. A number of genomic regions or loci have already been reported that affect production, carcass or disease traits, and in a few cases, a specific gene has been identified. Production of transgenic animals with sequence changes in these genes may be beneficial for evaluating the effect of the gene upon the selected trait and more specifically the effect of certain polymorphisms (mutations) within the gene.

Animals↗

Identification and genetic mapping of bovine chemokine genes expressed in epithelial cells.

RNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily primed (RAP)-PCR was used to identify two bovine genes that were differentially expressed in epithelial cells during an inflammatory response. RNA fingerprints revealed two differentially amplified transcripts when monolayers of Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells were stimulated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in combination with cycloheximide (CX). Sequence analysis showed that both transcripts encoded members of the alpha C-X-C chemokine family; one was interleukin 8 (IL-8), and the other was a protein closely related to bovine growth-regulated protein (GRO)-gamma (89% identical). The latter putative epithelial cell inflammatory protein was designated ECIP-1. IL-8 and ECIP-1 genes were placed on the cattle genetic map with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers amplified from genomic DNA. Multi-point linkage analysis indicated that the gene locations were indistinguishable from those of serum albumin (ALB) and vitamin D-binding protein (GC) on bovine Chromosome (BTA) 6. In humans, ALB and GC are located near IL-8, GRO-gamma, and seven other alpha chemokines on Chr 4 (HSA 4q11-4q13), suggesting that this gene cluster has been conserved on BTA6. These results provide a starting point for characterizing allelic variation in chemokine genes and their role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections in cattle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and linkage mapping of bovine cytokine genes.

Polymorphic markers at bovine gene loci facilitate the integration of cattle genetic maps with those of humans and mice. To this end, 31 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were developed for seven bovine chemokine genes. Loci were amplified from bovine genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction, and candidate amplicons were sequenced to determine their identity. Amplified loci from 24 founding parents and select progeny from a beef cattle reference population were sequenced and analyzed for SNPs. SNP haplotype alleles were determined by examining segregation patterns and used to establish the locus position on the bovine linkage map. Loci for growth-related proteins (GRO3, GRO1, and GROX) were clustered with the related CXC chemokine genes, interleukin (IL) 8, and epithelial cell inflammatory protein 1, at 84 cM from the centromeric end of the bovine chromosome (BTA) 6 linkage group. Bovine loci for a cluster of IL8 receptors, a stromal cell-derived factor 1, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were mapped at 90, 55, 59, and 34 cM, respectively, from the centromeric ends of the BTA 2, 28, 5, and 23 linkage groups. The positions of these bovine loci were compared with those of orthologous loci on the human map to refine the boundaries of conserved synteny. These seven loci provide examples of SNP development in which the efficiency was largely dependent on the availability of bovine genomic or cDNA sequence. The polymorphic nature of these SNP haplotype markers suggests that they will be useful for mapping complex traits in cattle, such as resistance to infectious disease.

Animals↗

Bovine chromosome 4 workshop: consensus and comprehensive linkage maps.

The report of the bovine chromosome 4 (BTA4) workshop is presented. Six laboratories contributed a total of 30,168 informative meioses from 62 loci. Twenty-two loci were typed by at least two independent laboratories and were used to construct a consensus linkage map of BTA4. The remaining 40 loci were subsequently incorporated into a comprehensive map. The sex-averaged consensus map covered 131.4 cM. The female map was 124.3 cM in length, while the male map was 134.3 cM. The comprehensive sex-averaged map spanned 141.6 cM. The length of the female and male comprehensive maps were 123.1 cM and 156.4 cM, respectively. Average genetic distance between loci was 6 and 2.3 cM for the consensus and comprehensive linkage maps, respectively.

Animals↗

A region on bovine chromosome 15 influences beef longissimus tenderness in steers.

A genome scan was conducted using 196 microsatellite DNA markers spanning 29 autosomal bovine chromosomes and Warner-Bratzler shear force collected at d 2 and 14 postmortem on steaks from the longissimus muscle of 294 progeny from one Brahman x Hereford bull mated to Bos taurus cows to identify QTL for beef tenderness. One QTL was identified and located 28 cM (95% confidence interval is 17 to 40 cM) from the most centromeric marker on BTA15. The QTL interacted significantly with slaughter group. The difference in shear force of steaks aged 14 d postmortem between progeny with the Brahman paternally inherited allele vs those with Hereford was 1.19 phenotypic standard deviations (explained 26% of phenotypic variance) for one slaughter group and was not significant for three other slaughter groups. Apparently, unknown environmental factors present for three of the four slaughter groups were capable of masking the effect of this QTL. The sensitivity of the QTL effect to environmental factors may complicate utilization of markers for genetic improvement. Future research to elucidate the cause of the QTL x slaughter group interaction may lead to improved strategies for controlling variation in meat tenderness via marker-assisted selection, postmortem processing, or live animal management.

Animals↗

A primary screen of the bovine genome for quantitative trait loci affecting carcass and growth traits.

A primary genomic screen for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting carcass and growth traits was performed by genotyping 238 microsatellite markers on 185 out of 300 total progeny from a Bos indicus x Bos taurus sire mated to Bos taurus cows. The following traits were analyzed for QTL effects: birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage (DP), fat thickness (FT), marbling score (MAR), longissimus muscle area (LMA), rib bone (RibB), rib fat (RibF), and rib muscle (RibM), and the predicted whole carcass traits, retail product yield (RPYD), fat trim yield (FATYD), bone yield (BOYD), retail product weight (RPWT), fat weight (FATWT), and bone weight (BOWT). Data were analyzed by generating an F-statistic profile computed at 1-cM intervals for each chromosome by the regression of phenotype on the conditional probability of receiving the Brahman allele from the sire. There was compelling evidence for a QTL allele of Brahman origin affecting an increase in RibB and a decrease in DP on chromosome 5 (BTA5). Putative QTL at or just below the threshold for genome-wide significance were as follows: an increase in RPYD and component traits on BTA2 and BTA13, an increase in LMA on BTA14, and an increase in BWT on BTA1. Results provided represent a portion of our efforts to identify and characterize QTL affecting carcass and growth traits.

Animals↗

Microsatellite evolution: testing the ascertainment bias hypothesis.

Previous studies suggest the median allele length of microsatellites is longest in the species from which the markers were derived, suggesting that an ascertainment bias was operating. We have examined whether the size distribution of microsatellite alleles between sheep and cattle is source dependent using a set of 472 microsatellites that can be amplified in both species. For those markers that were polymorphic in both species we report a significantly greater number of markers (P < 0.001) with longer median allele sizes in sheep, regardless of microsatellite origin. This finding suggests that any ascertainment bias operating during microsatellite selection is only a minor contributor to the variation observed.

Animals↗