Molecular markers for a delicate balance between protein and lipid metabolism in subcutaneous fat tissue of beef cow

摘要

Various types of stresses may account for the decreased weaning rates of beef cattle herds in Israel. Among these stresses, reduced protein levels in the diet, especially during the hot and dry seasons may be of a high probability to occur. Low-protein intake limits the utilisation of high roughage diet as a source of energy, due to low supply of nitrogen to the rumen microbes. Under protein deficient diets, dry matter intake and digestibility in turn fall below requirements for maintenance, leadingto detrimental effects on energy balance, performance, milk production and weight gains. Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a subset of molecular chaperones that are involved in 'house keeping' functions in the cell (protein folding, protein assembly and translocation between compartments). In addition, they work in accordance with the proteasome machinery to degrade misfolded or aggregated proteins. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABP; PI5) are small, abundantly expressed, cytoplasmic proteins, which among other roles mediate lipolysis and regulate the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue. Since no indications are available for the continuous decrease in weaning rate, the present study was an attempt to develop specific molecular markers for low-protein intake, a highly probable challenge of free grazing cattle.