Comparative analysis of IGFBP-3 gene sequence in Egyptian sheep, cattle, and buffalo

Comparative Genomic Characterization of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Cattle and Buffalo

The somatotropic axis consists of genes associated with economic traits like muscle growth and carcass traits in livestock. Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are the major proteins that play a vital role in the somatotropic axis. The present study performed a genome-wide characterization of IGFBP genes in cattle. Genomic sequences of the IGFBP gene family for different mammals (cattle, buffalo, goat, and sheep) were recovered from the NCBI database. Sequence analyses were performed to investigate cattle's genomic variations in the IGFBP gene family. Phylogenetic analysis, gene structure, motif patterns, and conserved domain analysis (CDA) of the IGFBP family revealed the evolutionarily conserved nature of the IGFBP genes in cattle and other studied species. Physicochemical properties of IGFBP proteins in cattle revealed that most of these proteins are unstable, hydrophilic, thermostable, and acidic. Comparative amino acid analysis revealed variations in all protein sequences with single indels in IGFBP3 and IGFBP6. Mutation analysis revealed only one nonsynonymous mutation D212 > E in the IGFBP6 protein of cattle. A total of 245 nuclear hormone receptor (NHRs) sites were detected, including 139 direct repeats (DR), 65 everted repeats (ER), and 41 inverted repeats (IR). Out of 133 transcription factors (TFs), 10 TFs (AHR, AHRARNT, AP4, CMYB, E47, EGR2, GATA, SP1, and SRF) had differential distribution (P value < 0.05) of putative transcriptional binding sites (TFBS) in cattle compared to buffalo. Synteny analysis revealed the conserved nature of genes between cattle and buffalo. Two gene pairs (IGFBP1/IGFBP3 and IGFBP2/IGFBP5) showed tandem duplication events in cattle and buffalo. This study highlights the functional importance of genomic variation in IGFBP genes and necessitates further investigations better to understand the role and mechanisms of IGFBPs in bovines.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Promotes Growth in Zebrafish Larvae by Inducing IGF-1 Expression via GABAA and GABAB Receptors

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) primarily increases the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in neurons; moreover, it is responsible for the promotion of longitudinal growth in children and adolescents. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether exogenous GABA supplementation activates IGF-mediated growth performance. Zebrafish larvae treated with GABA at three days post fertilization (dpf) showed a significant increase in the total body length from 6 to 12 dpf through upregulation of growth-stimulating genes, including IGF-1, growth hormone-1 (GH-1), growth hormone receptor-1 (GHR-1), and cholecystokinin A (CCKA). In particular, at 9 dpf, GABA increased total body length from 3.60 ± 0.02 to 3.79 ± 0.03, 3.89 ± 0.02, and 3.92 ± 0.04 mm at concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mM, and the effect of GABA at 25 mM was comparable to 4 mM β-glycerophosphate (GP)-treated larvae (3.98 ± 0.02 mm). Additionally, the highest concentration of GABA (50 mM) -induced death in 50% zebrafish larvae at 12 dpf. GABA also enhanced IGF-1 expression and secretion in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, concomitant with high levels of the IGF-1 receptor gene (IGF-1R). In zebrafish larvae, the GABA-induced growth rate was remarkably decreased in the presence of an IGF-1R inhibitor, picropodophyllin (PPP), which indicates that GABA-induced IGF-1 enhances growth rate via IGF-1R. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of GABA receptors on growth performance along with IGF-1 activation. Inhibitors of GABA_A and GABA_B receptors, namely bicuculline and CGP 46381, respectively, considerably inhibited GABA-induced growth rate in zebrafish larvae accompanied by a marked decrease in the expression of growth-stimulating genes, including IGF-1, GH-1, GHR-1, and CCKA, but not with an inhibitor of GABA_C receptor, TPMPA. Additionally, IGF-1 and IGF-1R expression was impaired in bicuculline and CGP 46381-treated MC3T3-E1 cells, but not in the cells treated with TPMPA. Furthermore, treatment with bicuculline and CGP 46381 significantly downregulated GABA-induced IGF-1 release in MC3T3-E1 cells. These data indicate that GABA stimulates IGF-1 release via GABA_A and GABA_B receptors and leads to growth promotion performance via IGF-1R.

Evaluation of morphological traits and physiological variables of several Chinese goat breeds and their crosses

The current study was undertaken to evaluate some morphological traits of the goat breeds raised in Southwest China. The field experimentation and data collection were from 434 animals presenting seven breeds of the Dazu black goat (DBG; n = 203), Saanen milk goat (SMG; n = 50), Black Boer × Dazu black goat (BXC; n = 28), Hechuan white goat (HWG; n = 49), Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat (IMCG; n = 25), IMCG × DBG (F₁; n = 57) and F₁ × F₁ (F₂; n = 22). All studied animals were adult and selected to be at the same age (36.50 ± 0.75 months). After editing, more than 20 morphological and production traits like body condition score (BCS), testicle measurements, coat colour, fibre traits, skin colour, horn colour, horn shape, horn orientation, wattles, front hair, beard, ear shape, ear size, rump angle, hind leg angulation and physiological variables were analysed. BXC and DBG had dark coat colour, whilst SMG, HWG and IMCG had light colour, whilst F₁ and F₂ ranged from light to dark coat colour. Concerning BCS, the breeds BXC and DBG were characterized as fat goats, whilst SMG, HWG, F₁ and F₂ were average, whilst IMCG was thin. The maximum values for testis measurements were recorded for BXC, SMG and DBG. For fibre traits, IMCG, F₁ and F₂ were the most superior. BXC and DBG males have good fertility parameters. The highest values for rectal temperature, skin temperature and breath rate were recorded for SMG. These findings revealed the presence of a wide range of morphological differences among studied goat breeds. Such diversity in the performance of goat breeds raised in Southwest China is crucial to implement reliable selection strategies for breeding goats in this area.