Gene expression of Thyroglobulin polymorphism in vitro produced embryos of Senepol cattle

Abstract

In 2023, Brazil's beef cattle agribusiness reached record levels, exporting 2.29 million tons of beef to 157 countries and generating $10.55 billion. Despite having the largest commercial herd in the world—197.2 million heads—the actual utilization rate (24.48%) falls short of the ideal (45%), highlighting the need for improvements in production. Meat quality is influenced by traits such as tenderness, juiciness, and marbling. Taurine breeds like Angus and Senepol demonstrate superior results. Among them, Senepol stands out for its adaptation to tropical climates and superior carcass attributes. Genetic selection assisted by molecular markers, such as the TG (Thyroglobulin) gene, has the potential to identify animals with higher meat quality, optimizing production. Studies have associated the TG5 polymorphism with marbling in taurine breeds, while zebu breeds like Nelore do not exhibit the favorable allele. The use of genomic tools and the selection of desirable traits can drive advancements in efficiency, quality, and competitiveness of Brazilian beef, meeting the demands of more discerning domestic and international markets. The objective of this study was to verify the expression of polymorphism in the TG gene in 15 Senepol cattle embryos using the PCR-RFLP technique. Genomic DNA was extracted from embryo samples. The primer pair used in the PCR reactions was designed according to the GenBank database, and the selected restriction enzyme was XmnI endonuclease. Results were visualized through 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Out of the 15 embryos evaluated, 10 were positive for Thyroglobulin expression, suggesting the validity of the association between this gene and Senepol animals with greater aptitude for marbling.