Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, Babil, Iraq.
Mol Biol Rep. 2022 Aug;49(8):7807-7813. doi: 10.1007/s11033-022-07606-8. Epub 2022 Jun 2.
Genetic factors affect the variability of fatty acid composition in ruminant products. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between the variations of the SCD gene and fatty acid composition in Awassi sheep.
A total of 100 Awassi rams between the ages of one and two and a half years old were used in this study. Blood samples were taken at abattoirs in Babylon, and from each animal, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle samples were taken to measure the fatty acid composition. DNA samples were isolated from each blood sample, then PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) experiments were conducted for genotyping followed by sequencing reactions. The study identified two genotypes (TT and TA) of the SCD gene (exon 3). Several novel variants were discovered in the amplified fragments of the SCD gene.
The TA genotype resulted in increased intramuscular fat and monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the TT genotype. Breeding for the TA genotype could be used for producing meat containing less saturated fatty acids and more monounsaturated fatty acids, making meat more favorable for human consumption.
遗传因素影响反刍动物产品中脂肪酸组成的可变性。因此，本研究旨在探讨 SCD 基因的变异与 Awassi 绵羊脂肪酸组成之间的关系。
本研究共使用了 100 只 1 至 2.5 岁的 Awassi 公羊。在巴比伦的屠宰场采集血液样本，从每只动物的背最长肌中采集肌肉样本以测量脂肪酸组成。从每个血液样本中分离出 DNA 样本，然后进行 PCR-单链构象多态性（PCR-SSCP）实验进行基因分型，随后进行测序反应。研究发现 SCD 基因（exon 3）有两种基因型（TT 和 TA）。在 SCD 基因扩增片段中发现了几个新的变体。
与 TT 基因型相比，TA 基因型导致肌肉内脂肪和单不饱和脂肪酸增加。对 TA 基因型的选育可用于生产含有较少饱和脂肪酸和更多单不饱和脂肪酸的肉类，使肉类更适合人类食用。
