Identification of ORF sequences and exercise-induced expression change in thoroughbred horse OXCT1 gene

In the mitochondrial matrix, the OXCT1 gene catalyzes the reversible transfer of coenzyme A from succinyl-CoA to acetoacetate in a reaction related to energy production from ketone bodies. Here, horse OXCT1 gene containing coenzyme A transferase domain was identified in the transcriptome analysis of cDNAs derived from skeletal muscles. Horse OXCT1 gene consisted of 1761 nucleotide sequences with an open reading frame of 1560 nucleotides encoding a protein of 520 putative amino acid residues. The number of non-synonymous substitutions was lower than the number of synonymous substitutions in the OXCT1 genes of other species, indicating that purifying selection occurred in the OXCT1 genes during evolutionary radiation. Quantitative real-time RT-RCR analysis showed a dominant expression pattern of horse OXCT1 gene in the cerebrum, heart, and skeletal muscle. Different expression levels of horse OXCT1 transcripts between before- and after-exercise samples were also measured in the skeletal muscles of six horses. These data could be of great use for further investigation of the relationship between energy products and horse OXCT1 gene.

► Horse OXCT1 gene containing coenzyme A transferase domain was identified in the transcriptome analysis of cDNAs derived from skeletal muscles. ► Horse OXCT1 gene consisted of 1741 nucleotide sequences with an open reading frame of 1560 nucleotides encoding a protein of 520 putative amino acid residues. ► The number of non-synonymous substitutions was lower than the number of synonymous substitutions in the OXCT1 genes of other species, indicating that purifying selection occurred in the OXCT1 genes during evolutionary radiation. ► Quantitative real-time RT-RCR analysis showed a dominant expression pattern of horse OXCT1 gene in the cerebrum, heart, and skeletal muscle. ► Different expression levels of horse OXCT1 transcripts between before- and after-exercise samples were also measured in the skeletal muscles of six horses.