Large-scale proteomic analysis of Japanese Black cattle : Part III. Identification of protein biomarker candidates for assessment of carcass traits and meat quality characteristics

Abstract

Early assessment of carcass traits and meat quality characteristics during fattening is expected to improve the efficiency of beef cattle production. Yet, there have been few reports on developing an assessment index for feeding condition of Japanese Black cattle. In this study, to identify protein biomarkers for predicting carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of Japanese Black cattle by proteomics, we first compared protein expression profiles of perirenal white adipose tissue between low and high merit steers in five carcass traits (carcass weight, rib eye area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, and beef marbling standard [BMS] number). We then investigated the involvement of the lower- or higher-expressed proteins in metabolic pathways and evaluated the expression of vimentin proteins by western blot analysis in individual steers. We identified 45 proteins which were significantly expressed in low or high merit groups of five carcass traits. Coordinate involvement of some identified proteins in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and citrate cycle pathways was found in high merit groups of carcass weight, subcutaneous fat thickness and BMS number. The expression of vimentin protein, which was significantly expressed in the high BMS number group, was confirmed in individual steers. Taken together, these results suggest the possibility of these identified proteins as protein biomarker candidates for predicting carcass traits and meat quality characteristics during fattening of Japanese Black cattle.