Development of a Genomic Resource and Identification of Nucleotide Diversity of Yellow Perch by RAD Sequencing

Comparing the diversity of the casein genes in the Asian mouflon and domestic sheep

We aimed to determine whether casein variants that are currently segregating in ovine populations existed before the domestication of sheep or, to the contrary, if their emergence is much more recent. To this end, we have retrieved whole-genome sequences from Iranian and domestic sheep from Africa, Europe, South and East Asia and West Asia. Population structure analysis based on 55,352,935 SNPs revealed a clear separation between Iranian mouflons and domestic sheep. Moreover, we also observed a strong genetic differentiation between Iranian mouflons sampled in geographic areas close to Tehran and Tabriz. Based on sequence data, hundreds of SNPs mapping to the casein α_S1 (CSN1S1, 248 SNPs), casein α_S2 (CSN1S2, 268 SNPs), casein ß (CSN2, 146 SNPs) and casein κ (CSN3, 112 SNPs) genes were identified. Approximately 25-63.02% of the casein variation was shared between Iranian mouflons and domestic sheep, and the four domestic sheep populations also shared 44.2-57.4% of the casein polymorphic sites. These findings suggest that an important fraction of the casein variation present in domestic sheep was already segregating in the mouflon prior to its domestication. Genomic studies performed in horses and dogs are consistent with this view, suggesting that much of the diversity that we currently detect in domestic animals comes from standing variation already segregating in their wild ancestors.

The Influence of Diet Containing Wheat Gluten Supplemented with Dipeptides or Amino Acids on the Morphology of White Muscle of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

Nutrition affects the metabolism of muscle cells and myogenic progenitor cells which play a crucial role in the growth and development of the muscle tissue. Because of the fact that the development process of yellow perch muscle tissue is not well known, the study aimed to analyze the influence of diets containing wheat gluten and supplemented with Lys and Gly in dipeptides or free form. Fish were allocated into 12 tanks and divided into four groups. Two of the experimental diets were supplemented Lys-Gly in the dipeptide form (DP group) or free amino acids (FAA group). The third was not supplemented with lysine (LF group). The fourth group of fish was fed commercial starter Bio-Oregon (C group). Histological or histomorphometric analyses were conducted: white muscle area, the total number of muscle fibers, the total number of white muscle nuclei, muscle fiber area, number of proliferating myonuclei. Fish fed LF diet showed the lowest number of nuclei and satellite cells proliferation. Results in DP and FAA groups were similar to that observed in fish fed C diet. Summarizing, wheat gluten-based diets supplemented with Lys-Gly dipeptide or free Lys and Gly amino acids exert beneficial effects on the morphology of yellow perch white muscle.