Cloning of OLR1 Gene in Pig Adipose Tissue and Preliminary Study on Its Lipid-accumulating Effect

In this study we cloned and characterized a novel lipid-accumulating gene, the oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1), which is associated with lipogenesis. We analyzed the gene structure and detected the mRNA transcriptional expression levels in pig adipose tissues at different months of age (MA) and in different economic types (lean type and obese type) using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. OLR1 expression profile in different tissues of pig was analyzed. Finally, we studied the correlation between OLR1 and lipid metabolism related genes including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPAR gamma 2). fatty acid synthetase (FAS), triacylglycerol hydrolase (TGH), CAAT/enhancer binding protein cc (C/EBP alpha) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). Results indicated that the OLR1 gene of the pig exhibited the highest homology with the-cattle (84%), and the lowest with the mouse (27%). The signal peptide located from amino acid 38 to 60 and the domain from amino acid 144 to 256 were shared by the C-type lectin family. The expression level of OLR1 in pig lung was exceedingly higher than other tested tissues (p<0.01). In pig adipose tissue, the expression level of OLR1 mRNA increased significantly with growth (p<0.01). The expression level of OLR1 mRNA in obese-type pigs was significantly higher than that of lean-type pigs of the same monthly age (p<0.05). In adipose tissue, the expression of OLR1 correlated with PPAR gamma 2, FAS and SREBP-1c, but not TGH or CIEBP alpha. In conclusion, OLR1 was highly associated with fat deposition and its transcription., as suggested by high correlations, was possibly regulated by PPAR gamma 2 and SREBP-1c.