Browsing by Subject "bovine"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Characterization and Analysis of the Bovine Epigenome during Preimplantation Embryo Development In Vitro(2012-10-19) Williamson, Gayle LingerDuring early mammalian embryogenesis, the embryonic genome undergoes critical reprogramming events that include changes in both DNA methylation and histone modifications necessary to control chromatin structure and thus, gene expression. Improper reprogramming of the epigenome during this window of development can lead to a vast number of imprinting anomalies, which are increased in children and livestock conceived in vitro. In the bovine, which closely resembles human preimplantation development, epigenetic changes occur from fertilization through the blastocyst stages. In particular, and concurrent with embryonic genome activation (EGA), de novo DNA methylation begins at the 8-cell stage. In order to explore the roles of histone-modifying enzymes during this crucial period of development, we characterized the transcript expression of several enzymes key enzymes across in vitro bovine preimplantation development using quantitative real-time PCR. Two of the 7 genes analyzed (Suz12 and Lsh) exhibited notable increases at the 8-16 cell stages, with basal levels observed both before and after this. These increases coincided with both EGA and de novo DNA methylation. We further explored their roles in bovine preimplantation embryos by knocking down expression via the use of gene-specific targeting siRNAs. Independent suppression of either Suz12 or Lsh via cytoplasmic microinjection of targeting siRNAs resulted in lower development rates (p < 0.0001), and poorer embryo quality of the morulas and blastocysts that survived. In addition, Suz12 suppression led to reductions in both H3K27 (p < 0.0001) and H3K9 (p = 0.07) trimethylation, and an increase in DNA methylation levels (p < 0.0001), as compared to the null-injected controls. Lsh suppression did not change H3K27, but led to a reduction in H3K9 trimethylation (p = 0.006) and an increase in DNA methylation (p < 0.0001). Clearly our data demonstrate that these epigenetic modifiers play a critical role in formation of the embryonic epigenome, but further research would be necessary in order to fully characterize gene activities during this developmental window.Item Developing a web accessible integrated database and visualization tool for bovine quantitative trait loci(Texas A&M University, 2005-08-29) Polineni, PavanaA quantitative trait locus (QTL) is the location of a gene that affects a trait that is measured on a quantitative (linear) scale. Many important agricultural traits such as weight gain, milk fat content and intramuscular fat in cattle are quantitative traits. There is a need to integrate genomic sequence data with QTL data and to develop an analytical tool to visualize the data. Without integration, application of this data to agricultural enterprise productivity will be slow and inefficient. My thesis presents a web-accessible tool called the Bovine QTL Viewer developed to solve this problem. It consists of an integrated database of bovine QTL and the QTL viewer to view the QTL and their relative chromosomal position. This tool generates dynamic and interactive images and supports research in the field of genomics. For this tool, the data is modeled and the QTL viewer is developed based on the requirements and feedback of experts in the field of bovine genomics.Item Effects of Fatty Acids on Gene Expression and Lipid Metabolism in Bovine Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues(2012-10-19) Silvey, David TyronePasture feeding depresses adipose tissue development in beef cattle whereas grain feeding, enhances adipogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that specific fatty acids would differentially affect lipogenesis in explants of bovine subcutaneous (SC) and intramuscular (IM) adipose tissues. Angus steers were harvested at 12, 14, and 16 mo of age, and IM and SC adipose tissue explants from the 8-11th thoracic rib region were dissected and cultured in media. Media contained no supplemental fatty acids or 40 microM of five fatty acids, stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1 n-9), trans-11 vaccenic acid (18:1 trans-11), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, 18:2 trans-10, cis-12), or alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3). After 48 h of culture, lipogenesis using [U-14C]glucose and [1-14C]acetate was measured. Lipogenesis from glucose decreased between 12 and 16 mo of age in SC adipose tissue (from 8.9 to 4.0 nmol per 2 h per 100 mg; P = 0.001) and IM adipose tissue (from 4.4 to 2.7 nmol per 2 h 100 mg ; P = 0.08). Lipogenesis from acetate did not change over time in SC adipose (approximately 56 nmol per 2 h per 100 mg; P = 0.23), but increased over time in IM adipose tissue (from from 11.3 to 17.1 nmol per 2 h 100 mg; P = 0.02). Oleic acid increased lipid synthesis from glucose 125 percent (P = 0.04) in IM adipose tissue, whereas stearic acid and trans-vaccenic acid increased lipogenesis from glucose in SC adipose tissue by approximately 50 percent (P = 0.04). In SC adipose tissue only, trans-vaccenic and increased, lipogenesis from glucose (P < 0.02). Lipogenesis from acetate was depressed by CLA nearly 50 percent in SC adipose tissue. PPAR? gene expression increased between 14 and 16 mo of age in control IM and SC adipocytes. The increase in activity was also observed in AMPK gene expression. C/EBP? and SCD gene expression did not increase in control samples until 16 mo of age. SC adipose tissue responded to stearic acid by increased GPR43 and AMPK gene expression at 12 mo of age. We conclude that fatty acids differentially affect lipid synthesis in IM and SC adipose tissues, which may account for the effects of pasture and grain feeding on adiposity.Item Evaluation of a Bovine Temperament Model for Endophenotypes Associated with Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction(2012-07-16) Curley, KevinDynamic interactions of behavior-related traits and the physiological stress response bear upon the beef industry by impacting animal welfare, health, and productivity. The specific mechanisms of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction as related to cattle temperament remain unclear. To further characterize endophenotypes associated with the complex interaction of environment and genotype, the following experiments focused on stimulation and regulation of the pituitary gland in cattle of differing genetic background and temperament. Using serial blood sampling, via jugular cannula, the pituitary and subsequent adrenal response to exogenous vasopressin (VP) was characterized for steers of an excitable or calm temperament. Exit velocity (EV) measured at weaning was used to determine steer temperament. Endocrine parameters were measured for 6 h before and 6 h after the VP administration to quantify the stress response to both the handling associated with the experimental procedures and pharmacological challenge. Elevated concentrations of cortisol in excitable steers during the pre-challenge period reflected an increased initial adrenal reactivity to interactions with humans. Subsequent acclimation to the experimental surroundings yielded greater baseline cortisol concentrations in the cattle with an excitable temperament. Pituitary stimulation with VP resulted in a greater adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) output from the excitable compared to the calm animals. A separate experiment employed the same 12-h blood sampling protocol with a different pituitary secretagogue, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), in order to evaluate pituitary-adrenal responsiveness in cattle with differing temperaments and genetic backgrounds. Measures of EV at weaning identified the calmest and most excitable steers from two separate calf crops; one Angus and the other Brahman. Within breed, adrenal medullary response to initial handling was influenced by temperament as concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were higher in the excitable steers of both breedtypes. Additionally, concentrations of cortisol also differed by temperament in the Angus steers at this time point. An effect of temperament on pituitary responsiveness to exogenous CRH was observed in the Angus but not the Brahman steers. Unlike what was observed with the previously described VP challenge, the pituitary responsiveness to CRH was blunted in the excitable steers. The specific endophenotypes which have been identified or reinforced through these experiments suggest that there are aspects of HPA dysfunction associated with bovine temperament.Item Genetic analyses of bovine CARD15, a putative disease resistance gene(Texas A&M University, 2004-09-30) Taylor, Kristen HawkinsThrough a binding partner the CARD15 gene activates NF-kB, a molecule with a role in the initiation of the inflammatory immune response. The gene is highly conserved in both structure and function in human and mouse and has recently been implicated as a disease resistance gene in Crohn's disease and Blau Syndrome in human. The gene's relationship to disease and its conservation between species suggests that it may also have a conserved role in bovine disease resistance. To elucidate the potential role of bovine CARD15 in disease resistance, the gene was characterized in cattle. Bovine CARD15 is located 4.2 cR5000 telomeric to ADCY7 on chromosome 18. It spans ~30 kb and is comprised of 12 exons, 11 of which are coding. Bovine CARD15 is expressed in many tissues, but is most abundant in peripheral blood leukocytes. An extensive comparative analysis between the bovine, mouse and human CARD15 genes revealed high levels of inter-species conservation in sequence, genomic structure and protein domains. Conserved putative regulatory motifs were identified in the three species comparison of the 5'UTR, 3'UTR and the intronic sequences flanking exons. Additionally, diverse regulatory motifs were identified in each of the species indicating an evolutionary divergence in the mechanisms of regulation of gene expression. To assess the extent of genetic diversity within bovine CARD15, 41 individuals from nine breeds representing two subspecies were sequenced and screened for polymorphisms. Thirty-six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified including 26 within the gene transcript. Haplotypes were estimated for each individual and parsimonious SNP sets were identified with which the multi-locus Bos taurus and Bos indicus haplotypes may be reconstructed. There was a significantly higher rate of substitutions within Bos indicus than in Bos taurus. A significantly higher rate of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions was found in Bos taurus indicating that positive Darwinian selection is acting on the gene within this subspecies. Association analyses were performed between these SNP loci and haplotypes with Johne's disease. No overwhelming evidence for a simple causal relationship was detected. Assays are provided to screen populations of cattle for variation in the CARD15 gene.Item Organization of the class I region of the bovine major histocompatibility complex (BoLA) and the characterization of a class I frameshift deletion (BoLA-Adel) prevalent in feral bovids(Texas A&M University, 2006-04-12) Ramlachan, NicoleThe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a genomic region containing genes of immunomodulatory importance. MHC class I genes encode cell-surface glycoproteins that present peptides to circulating T cells, playing a key role in recognition of self and non-self. Studies of MHC loci in vertebrates have examined levels of polymorphism and molecular evolutionary processes generating diversity. The bovine MHC (BoLA) has been associated with disease susceptibility, resistance and progression. To delineate mechanisms by which MHC class I genes evolved to function optimally in a species like cattle, it is necessary to study genomic organization of BoLA to define gene content, and investigate characteristics of expressed class I molecules. This study describes development of a physical map of BoLA class I region derived from screening two BAC libraries, isolating positive clones and confirming gene content, order and chromosomal location through PCR, novel BAC end sequencing techniques, and selected BAC shotgun cloning and/or sequencing and FISH analysis. To date, this is the most complete ordered BAC array encompassing the BoLA class I region from the class III boundary to the extended class I region. Characterization of a frameshift allele exhibiting trans-species polymorphism in Bos and Bison by flow cytometry, real-time RT-PCR, 1D and 2D gel analysis is also described. This frameshift allele encodes an early termination signal within the antigen recognition site (ARS) of exon 3 of the BoLA BSA-Adel class I gene predicting a truncated class I protein that is soluble. An ability to assess MHC diversity in populations and provision of animals with defined MHC haplotypes and genetic content for experimental research is necessary in developing a basis upon which to build functional studies to elucidate associations between haplotype and disease in bovids. The BoLA class I region is immunologically important for disease association studies in an economically important species. This study provides knowledge of gene content and organization within the class I MHC region in cattle, providing a template for more detailed analysis and elucidation of complex disease associations through functional genomics and comparative analysis, as well as evolution of the MHC in bovids to optimize a population??s immune response.Item Postmortem regulation of glycolysis by 6-phosphofructokinase in bovine muscle(Texas A&M University, 2004-11-15) Rhoades, Ryan D.This study was conducted to assess the regulation of glycolysis by 6phosphofructokinase (PFK) during the postmortem metabolism of beef muscle. In the first experiment, M. sternocephalicus pars mandibularis samples were excised from six randomly-selected steers. Two samples were obtained from each steer immediately postmortem; one sample was quickly immersed in liquid nitrogen and the other was stored at 4oC for 4 d. Glycogen concentrations decreased 45% from d 0 to d 4, and 39.6 ?mol/g of glycogen was still present in the tissue at d 4. Concentrations of free glucose increased (P < 0.001) from 0.84 ?mol/g at d 0 to 6.54 ?mol/g at d 4. Fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) increased (P < 0.001) from d 0 to d 4 (2.8-fold and 4.7-fold, respectively). Lactate began accumulating immediately (3.33 ?mol/g) and was elevated to 45.9 ?mol/g by d 4. Glycolytic potential was 34.4 ?mol/g higher (P < 0.05) when measured at d 0 than at d 4. The greatest activity of PFK was measured in fresh muscle extracts, between pH 7.4-7.8; by reducing the pH to 7.0, PFK activity was depressed by nearly 50% at 1 mM F6P. In a second experiment, M. longissimus lumborum samples were excised at the 13th thoracic rib location from six randomly-selected steers. Samples were obtained at intervals ranging from 40 min to 24 h postmortem. Glycogen concentrations decreased 45% between 40 and 100 min, and tended (P ≤ 0.10) to decrease between 100 min and 24 h (from 47 to 32 ?mol/g). Concentrations of free glucose increased (P ≤ 0.009) from 1.0 ?mol/g at 40 min to 5.0 ?mol/g at 24 h. Concentrations of F6P and G6P increased dramatically after 100 min (muscle pH ≤ 6.5), whereas glycogen depletion appeared to halt by 100 min. Lactate began accumulating almost immediately and tripled in concentration by 24 h. The elevation of G6P and F6P, coupled with the pH sensitivity of PFK, indicate that the postmortem decline in pH ultimately inactivates PFK prior to glycogen depletion.Item Production and Functional Analysis of Recombinant Bovine Morphogenic Protein 15(2013-11-21) Burns, Gregory WillisAfter 40 years of research, in vitro systems for mammalian embryo production produce lower quality embryos than those derived from in vivo sources. Recent reports have demonstrated that in vitro bovine oocyte maturation systems benefit from the addition of oocyte secreted factors, specifically Bone Morphogenic Protein 15 (BMP15) from heterologous sources. However, known amino acid sequence variation and species-specific patterns of post-translational glycosylation lead us to hypothesize that utilization of bovine-specific oocyte secreted factors would be more beneficial than the observed effects of heterologous factors. To test this hypothesis, wild type, bovine BMP15 was cloned using reverse transcriptase PCR from RNA obtained from bovine ovarian tissue. For improved detection and purification of the biologically active recombinant protein, a FLAG tag peptide sequence (Asp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys) was incorporated into the wild type BMP15 gene by PCR. This modified protein was cloned into the pCDNA 3 mammalian expression vector. HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney 293) and FBK (fetal bovine kidney) cell lines were transfected via electroporation and then selected to homogeneity. Collection and purification of rbFL-BMP15 from conditioned medium was accomplished by incubation with anti-FLAG affinity gel and the use of 3X FLAG peptide for elution. Peptides of 15.4 kDa and 17 kDa were noted from the human HEK-293 transfected cell line, while in contrast, bovine FBK cells produced a single 17 kDa protein. Bioactivity and BMP receptor signaling specificity were ascertained using in vitro treatment of HeLa cells and Western blotting for the BMP signaling molecule phosphorylated-SMAD 1/5. Inhibition of this signaling cascade using dorsomorphin, a selective bone morphogenic protein receptor I inhibitor, demonstrated the purified proteins served as BMP15-like agonists. To examine the impact of our purified, bovine-specific peptides on oocyte maturation, cumulus oocyte complexes were in vitro matured for 24 hours in the presence of 100 ng/ml recombinant human BMP15 or rbFL-BMP15 from human or bovine cell lines. Real time quantitative PCR analysis of BMP15 stimulated genes, PTGS2 and TSG6, revealed statistically significant increases in transcript level for treatment with human BMP15 by a Dunnett?s test (p<0.05). In this report, however, we failed to detect a significant affect of rbFL-BMP15 on the gene expression of in vitro mature cumulus oocyte complexes at 24 hours with 100 ng/ml rbFL-BMP15. Future studies including differing time points and concentrations, along with the addition of GDF9 to form a possible heterodimer should be investigated for the possibility of improving bovine oocyte in vitro maturation.Item Recovery and evaluation of somatic cells from ovine and bovine semen for use in nuclear transfer(2009-05-15) Liu, JieSomatic cells in semen are a potential source of nuclei for cloning animals bysomatic cell nuclear transfer. Culture of the cells from frozen semen, if possible, wouldbe extremely valuable for preservation or restoration of endangered, exotic, and extinctanimals when other ways of obtaining somatic cells are unavailable. In the present study,somatic cells isolated from ovine and bovine semen samples were characterized, culturesystems were evaluated for attachment and proliferation of these cells, and usefulness ofthese cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer was determined.Semen samples were collected from eight rams representing three breeds:Dorper, Suffolk, and Hampshire and nine bulls representing three breeds: Charolais,Brahman, and a crossbred Brahman. Somatic cells were isolated immediately postcollection by centrifuging through percoll columns and the epithelial cells wereidentified by immunofluorescence analysis. Culture systems were evaluated for theirability to support attachment and proliferation of the cells. A supplemented mediumcomposed of DMEM/F12, 10% fetal bovine serum, 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 30 g/ml bovine pituitary extract, 5 g/ml insulin, 10 ng/ml cholera toxin, and 50 g/mlgentamicin significantly improved cell proliferation over sheep fetal fibroblastconditionedmedium, 3T3 cell-conditioned medium, and basic medium (p<0.05). Cellproliferation and attachment were further improved when Matrigel-coated culturesurfaces were used (p<0.05). However, the system was not adequate for obtaining cellgrowth from frozen semen.To check the chromosome anomalies, metaphase chromosomal complements ofthe cells cultured from 4 rams were evaluated. The predominant chromosome number ofcells from three of the rams (Dorper 18-month-old; Suffolk 17-month-old; Suffolk 18-month-old) was 2n = 54, which is the normal modal number for sheep. However, thenumbers of chromosomes of cells cultured from the fourth ram (Hampshire, 18-monthold)were near-triploid. These results indicate the need for chromosome analysis of cellsbefore using them for cloning experiments. In our attempts to clone animals, blastocyststage embryos were successfully produced using epithelial cells cultured from semen ofthree different bulls. However, no compact morulae or blastocysts were obtained whensomatic cells isolated from frozen semen but not cultured were used as donor cells.Item The development of a bovine interspecies model for the analysis of genomic imprinting in normal and nuclear transfer derived fetuses(Texas A&M University, 2004-11-15) Dindot, Scott VictorThe advent of somatic cell nuclear transfer in cattle has provided the opportunity for researchers to generate genetically identical animals as well as animals that possess precise genetic modifications for agriculture and biomedical purposes. However, in spite of the revolutionary impact this technology presents, problems remain which hinder the production of healthy animals on a consistent basis. Research on cloned mice implicates improper reprogramming of epigenetic modifications and genomic imprinting for the low pregnancy rates and high incidence of abnormalities that are manifested in cloned animals; however, a systematic and comprehensive analysis of nuclear reprogramming in cloned cattle remains undone. The purpose of this research is to assess and characterize the patterns of genomic imprinting in normal and nuclear transfer derived bovine fetuses. To facilitate the identification of imprinted genes in the bovine, a Bos gaurus/Bos taurus interspecies model has been incorporated to maximize the genetic heterozygosity that exists between the alleles of putative imprinted genes for allelic discrimination and parental inheritance. The sequence of twenty-six genes, previously reported as imprinted in mice and humans, was analyzed in Bos gaurus (Gaur) and Bos taurus (Angus) cattle for the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). SNPs were detected in the Gene trap locus 2 (GTL2), Insulin like growth factor 2 (IGF2), Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) and the X chromosome inactivation specific transcript (XIST). Allelic expression analysis in interspecies hybrids indicated maternal genomic imprinting at the IGF2 and XIST loci, paternal genomic imprinting at the GTL2 locus and no imprinting at the WT1 locus. Analysis in cloned hybrids indicated fidelity of allelic expression at the IGF2 and GTL2 loci, however disruption of imprinting was observed at the XIST locus in the placenta of clones. These results are the largest identification of imprinted genes in the bovine and the first identification of the disruption of an imprinted gene in an animal derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer.