The expression pattern of proteolytic enzymes of cathepsin family in two important porcine skeletal muscles

The cathepsins, that belong to protease enzymes are present in lysosomes of various type of cells. They are considered to play an important role in many metabolic processes. In turn, polymorphisms of CTSD, CTSF and CTSZ genes (A70G, G22C, A37G, respectively) are associated with economically important pig traits. Therefore, the aim of our study was to estimate the expression patterns of CTS genes in two important porcine muscles: ham and loin. Our study was performed on 166 sows of four Polish pigs breeds differing in muscle-mass: Landrace, Large White, Pietrain and Puławska. As an internal control: OAZ1, RPS29 and RPL27 genes were used. In both muscles of interest the highest level of expression was established for CSTB inh gene and the lowest for CTSF gene (P<0.001). In the loin the highest transcript level for all investigated cathepsin genes was detected for Puławska breed (P<0.01), which is used to produce dry-cured ham. Therefore, cathepsin activity should be under control during dry-cured ham production this process. The wide spectrum of cathepsin enzymes make them important in proteolysis, therefore the studies aiming to find genetic markers in these proteins should be further carried out.