Abstract
ObjectiveThis study was performed to reveal the molecular structure and expression patterns of horse glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM) genes whose products form glutamate cysteine ligase, which were identified as differentially expressed genes in the previous study.MethodsWe performed bioinformatics analyses, and gene expression assay with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for horse GCLC and GCLM genes in muscle and blood leukocytes of Thoroughbred horsesResultsExpression of GCLC showed the same pattern in both blood and muscle tissues after exercise. Expression of GCLC increased in the muscle and blood of Thoroughbreds, suggesting a tissue-specific regulatory mechanism for the expression of GCLC. In addition, expression of the GCLM gene increased after exercise in both the blood and muscle of Thoroughbreds.ConclusionWe established the expression patterns of GCLC and GCLM in the skeletal muscle and blood of Thoroughbred horses in response to exercise. Further study is now warranted to uncover the functional importance of these genes in exercise and recovery in racehorses.
Highlights
The aerobic respiration of muscle tissue is an important process in mammals
Horse glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM) are encoded by different genes which are located in chromosome 20 and 16 respectively
The GCLC gene consists of 16 exons, and the GCLM gene is composed of 6 exons
Summary
In steady-state muscle tissue, as part of the ATP generation mechanism during aerobic respiration, cytochrome c, an essential component of the electron transport system, stabilizes cells that are reacting with oxygen [1]. An oversupply of oxygen in the blood reacts with electrons that are generated from the electron transport system and forms reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2]. These ROS, which indicate oxidative stress, destroy DNA through muscle fatigue, damage, and apoptosis [3]. In the case of GCLM, the expression pattern increased during strenuous exercise [6], again owing to oxidative stress [8].
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