Myung-Jick Kim

Comparisons of longissimus muscle metabolic enzymes and muscle fiber types in Korean and western pig breeds

We compared differentially expressed genes and muscle fiber types in the longissimus muscles of Korean native pigs (KNP) and the western meat-producing breeds Landrace and Yorkshire. The KNP breed exhibited a higher muscle fat content and more red meat color as determined by the a(∗) (redness) value (P<0.01) and b(∗) (yellowness) value (P<0.05) compared to the western breeds. Using differential display RT-PCR, we detected two genes that were differentially expressed in skeletal muscle among the pig breeds. These genes were identified as NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 and ATPase subunit 6 by cloning and sequencing analysis. Both of these genes are involved oxidative phosphorylation and therefore energy metabolism. The genes were more highly expressed in the KNP breed than in the other breeds, indicating that KNPs exhibit more oxidative metabolism than do the western breeds. We also analyzed the mRNA levels of myosin heavy-chain isoforms such as type I (oxidative), type IIb (glycolytic), and types IIa and IIx (intermediate) fibers using real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of oxidative and intermediate fibers were elevated in the KNP breed, whereas the glycolytic fibers were more highly expressed in the Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. These results suggest that the elevated expression of the oxidation-related metabolism genes NADH dehydrogenase and ATPase is related to meat quality as indicated by a higher content of oxidative fibers and muscle fat, as well as redder meat color.

A genome-wide scan for signatures of directional selection in domesticated pigs

BackgroundAnimal domestication involved drastic phenotypic changes driven by strong artificial selection and also resulted in new populations of breeds, established by humans. This study aims to identify genes that show evidence of recent artificial selection during pig domestication.ResultsWhole-genome resequencing of 30 individual pigs from domesticated breeds, Landrace and Yorkshire, and 10 Asian wild boars at ~16-fold coverage was performed resulting in over 4.3 million SNPs for 19,990 genes. We constructed a comprehensive genome map of directional selection by detecting selective sweeps using an FST-based approach that detects directional selection in lineages leading to the domesticated breeds and using a haplotype-based test that detects ongoing selective sweeps within the breeds. We show that candidate genes under selection are significantly enriched for loci implicated in quantitative traits important to pig reproduction and production. The candidate gene with the strongest signals of directional selection belongs to group III of the metabolomics glutamate receptors, known to affect brain functions associated with eating behavior, suggesting that loci under strong selection include loci involved in behaviorial traits in domesticated pigs including tameness.ConclusionsWe show that a significant proportion of selection signatures coincide with loci that were previously inferred to affect phenotypic variation in pigs. We further identify functional enrichment related to behavior, such as signal transduction and neuronal activities, for those targets of selection during domestication in pigs.

mtDNA Diversity and Phylogenetic State of Korean Cattle Breed, Chikso.

In order to analyze the genetic diversity and phylogenetic status of the Korean Chikso breed, we determined sequences of mtDNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and performed phylogenetic analysis using 239 individuals from 5 Chikso populations. Five non-synonymous mutations of a total of 15 polymorphic sites were identified among 239 cyt b coding sequences. Thirteen haplotypes were defined, and haplotype diversity was 0.4709 ranging from 0.2577 to 0.6114. Thirty-five haplotypes (C1–C35) were classified among 9 Asia and 3 European breeds. C2 was a major haplotype that contained 206 sequences (64.6%) from all breeds used. C3–C13 haplotypes were Chikso-specific haplotypes. C1 and C2 haplotypes contained 80.5% of cyt b sequences of Hanwoo, Yanbian, Zaosheng and JB breeds. In phylogenetic analyses, the Chikso breed was contained into B. taurus lineage and was genetically more closely related to two Chinese breeds than to Korean brown cattle, Hanwoo. These results suggest that Chikso and Hanwoo have a genetic difference based on the mtDNA cyt b gene as well as their coat color, sufficient for classification as a separate breed.

Effects of Pre-slaughter Fasting and Chiller Ageing on Objective Meat Quality in Longissimus Dorsi, Biceps Femoris, and Triceps Brachii Muscles of Korean Native Black Pigs

Korean native black pig comprises approx-imately 0.74% of a total of 9.19 million pigs inKorea(Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forest,2003). However, Korean native pork(KNP) is oneof the most in demand meats, because it has aparticular high redness and chewiness comparedwith commercial landrace(Jin et al., 2001). Thebiological basis for these characteristics has yetto be known, but Kim et al. (2001a) reportedthat genetic component could be a factor.Interaction between declines in pH andtemperature during the onset of rigor is a centraldeterminant of pork quality, as it has a directinfluence on protein denaturation and myofibrillar

Phylogenetic Analysis of Korean Black Cattle Based on the Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene

The purpose of this study was to identify genetic polymorphisms of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (mtDNA cyt b) gene in Korean black (KB) cattle breed and to analyze the genetic relationship between the KB and other breeds. We determined the complete sequence of the mtDNA cyt b gene in 38 KB cattle. We also analyzed their genetic diversity, and phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparison with Korean cattle (KC, called Hanwoo) and breeds from China and Japan. A nucleotide substitution was detected in the KB cattle, and two haplotypes were defined. In the neighbor-joining (NJ) tree, the haplotypes of KB were located in Bos taurus lineage with those of KC, Japanese black (JB), Yanbian and Zaosheng breeds. However, the haplotypes of Chinese breeds, excluding Yanbian and Zaosheng, were separated into B. taurus and B. indicus lineages. In the NJ tree of breeds based on Dxy genetic distances, Chinese breeds mixed with B. taurus and B. indicus lineages were located between B. indicus and B. taurus lineages. KB was contained within B. taurus lineage and was determined to be genetically more closely related to two Chinese (Yanbian and Zaosheng) breeds than to KC and JB. The haplotype distribution and the results of the phylogenetic analysis suggest that KB and KC have genetic differences in their mtDNA cyt b gene sequences.

Comparison of Growth Performance between Korean Native Layer Chickens and Imported Layer Chickens at Early Rearing Stage

Department of Animal Science, Chonnam National UniversityABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the growth performance between Korean native layer chickens and imported layer chickens at early rearing stage. Total number of chicks analyzed in this study was 276 and feeding period was conducted from July 24, 2012 for 10 weeks. Five strains including 2 Korean native strains: A=Korean Native Black (Chung-cheongbuk-do) and B=Korean Native Yellowish Brown (Gyeongsangbuk-do) and 3 imported layer strains: C=White Leghorn (Gyeongsangnam-do), D=White Leghorn (Seoul), and E=Ameraucanas (Gyeongsangbuk-do) were used to analyze the following traits such as fertility, hatchability, body weight at a different growing stage, average body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. The fertilities and hatchabilities of strains were 93.88% and 95.65% in strain A, 81.75% and 86.24% in strain B, 82.25% and 88.15% in strain C, 79.25% and 90.85% in strain D, and 71.50% and 88.11% in strain E, respectively. A viability was excellent in strains A and E to be more than 98% and was low in strain D to be 86.67% at a whole week. The strain A had greater body weight during growing stages (p<0.05) than the other strains. The shank length of strain D of 56.69±3.27 mm was the highest value at 10 weeks of age among strains (p<0.05). The phenotypic correlation coefficients of strains A and D between an average body weight gain and a shank length were 0.63 and 0.73 during 02 wk, 0.70 and 0.55 during 24 wk, 0.55 and 0.54 during 46 wk, 0.50 and 0.24 during 68 wk, and 0.46 and 0.29 during 810 wk, respectively. The Korean native hens may have potential abilities to be used as an excellent seed stock for poultry industry.(Key words : Korean native chickens, imported layer chickens, early rearing stage, body weight, shank length)

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Economic Traits in Yorkshire

This study was conducted to estimate the heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations among average daily gain, age at 90kg and backfat thickness in Yorkshire pigs. The data were obtained from 2,111 heads of Yorkshire tested at National Livestock Research Institute from May, 1994 to April, 2000. Genetic parameters were estimated with a multiple trait animal model by using DF-REML (Deri- vative-Free REstricted Maximum Likelihood). The results obtained are summarized as follows ; The means of traits studied were 0.8710.124 kg for average daily gain, 145.39711.718 days for age at 90kg and 1.4760.241 cm for backfat thickness. The estimated heritabilities were 0.55 for average daily gain, 0.56 for age at 90kg and 0.55 for backfat thickness. The genetic correlation of average daily gain with age at 90kg and backfat thickness were －0.82, 0.10, respectively. The genetic correlation of age at 90kg with backfat thickness was －0.25. The phenotypic correlations of average daily gain(ADG) with age at 90kg and backfat thickness and age at 90kg with backfat thickness were －0.77, 0.02 and －0.05 respectively. Though phenotypic correlation of ADG and age at 90kg was low, breeding project should be carefully considered by high genetic correlation. High heritabilities on all economic traits were obtained. Therefore, it is considered that suitable selection and management is needed successful improvement.

Quality Characteristics and Composition of the Longissimus Muscle from Entire and Castrate Elk in Korea.

The objective of the research was to determine the chemical composition as well as the physicochemical properties of the longissimus muscle from Korean entire and castrate elk. Twelve elk stags were raised and fed on concentrate with ad libitum hay. All animals were equally divided into castrated and non-castrated (entire) males, and slaughtered at 5 year of age. It was found that entire elk, in comparison with castrate elk, had higher content of moisture and lower content of fat (p<0.05). Compared with entire males, the castrates had lower pH and shear force values (p<0.05). However, castrates had higher L*, a*, and b* values compared with entires (p<0.05). An analysis of the fatty acid profile revealed that the muscles of entire and castrate elk had the most abundant concentrations of the following fatty acids: palmitic acid (C16:0) of the saturated fatty acid, and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) of the unsaturated fatty acid. The entire elk contains higher proportions of linoleic acid (C18:3n6), eicosenoic acid (C20:1n9), and arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) (p<0.05). Cholesterol content in elk was not affected by castration. The predominant free amino acid was glutamic acid related to umami taste. It is apparent that the castrate animals carried higher content of histidine, isoleucine, and leucine than those of the entire group (p<0.05). In this study, it was concluded that venison quality of elk is affected by castration and these results can provide fundamental information for venison production.

Detection of a distinct variation site for geographical classification of mitochondrial DNA haplogroup A in the domestic goat (Capra hircus)

Domestic goats (Capra hircus) are classified into six different mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups (A, B, C, D, F, and G), of which haplogroup A shows worldwide distribution. However, there is currently no key for genetic and geographic classification of haplogroup A. In this study, we determined the complete sequences of the mtDNA control region from Korean native goat breeds. In addition, we compared these sequences with those of other domestic goat breeds/populations globally. A distinct variation site was found at position 717. Of two types (C and T) from this variation, C type sequences were found only in haplogroup A, and were specific to Eastern Asia. On the other hand, T type sequences were distributed in all haplogroups. Phylogenetic analysis divided the two types according to different phylogenetic locations. These results suggest that a variation in position 717 is a key for geographical classification of mtDNA haplogroup A. Moreover, these distribution patterns might provide for identification of the maternal origin of goat genetic resources, including Korean native goat breeds.

Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Relationships of Korean Native Goat Populations by Microsatellite Markers

본 연구는 30개의 MS 마커를 이용하여 한국재래염소 3개 집단(당진, 장수, 통영)과 1개 농가집단을 대상으로 집단 내 및 집단간의 유전적 다양성, 계통유전학적 유연관계 분석 및 한국재래염소 3개 집단간의 유전적 균일성을 검증하여 우리 고유유전자원으로서의 가치를 구명하고자 실시하였다. 대립유전자형 분석 결과, 총...