Fatty Acid Composition; Skeletal Muscle Expression of DGAT1, FABP4, and IGF1; and Protein-Protein Interaction Networks in Merino, Akkaraman, and Kivircik Sheep Breeds
JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, cilt.2026, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 2026 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1155/jfq/7962018
- Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals, Business Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Sheep production is a major component of the global livestock sector, and understanding breed-related differences in muscle fatty acid composition and nutritional lipid value is important for modern production systems. This study investigated the relationship between the fatty acid composition of m. gluteus medius and the expression of key lipid and growth-related genes (DGAT1, FABP4, and IGF1) in three sheep breeds representing different tail morphologies. Eighteen male lambs (n = 6 per breed) from Merino (short, thin-tailed), Akkaraman (fat-tailed), and Kivircik (long, thin-tailed) breeds were raised under identical management conditions. Fatty acid composition was analyzed by GC-MS, while gene and protein expression levels were quantified by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was also constructed to elucidate the underlying molecular context. Kivircik lambs were characterized by high oleic acid content and a low atherogenic index, whereas Akkaraman lambs showed elevated alpha-linolenic acid levels. DGAT1 and IGF1 mRNA levels were highest in Kivircik lambs, but protein abundance showed a contrasting pattern. Merino lambs exhibited the highest DGAT1 and IGF1 protein levels, while Kivircik lambs had the lowest DGAT1 protein levels and markedly reduced FABP4 protein abundance compared with Akkaraman, despite no significant difference in FABP4 mRNA levels. These discrepancies point to strong breed-specific post-transcriptional regulation. PPI and enrichment analyses further indicated that DGAT1, FABP4, and IGF1 act within broader regulatory modules involving PPARG, FASN, SCD, and related nodes, coordinating energy homeostasis through PPAR- and insulin-related signaling pathways. These findings show that differences among the studied breeds are reflected in both muscle fatty acid profiles and the expression patterns of lipid-related genes and their interaction networks. DGAT1, FABP4, and IGF1, together with the lipid-centered PPI modules identified, may serve as promising molecular candidates for breed-specific selection strategies aimed at improving fatty acid composition and its nutritional lipid value.