Carcass grade primarily depends on marbling of intramuscular fat, which is associated with the texture and tenderness of beef. Accordingly, various economical molecular tests for high intramuscular fat in beef have been attempted. Especially, Hanwoo (Korean Cattle) intramuscular fat has higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids than that in the beef of other cattle. Intramuscular fats are associated with levels of lipid metabolic genes in the liver transcriptome. Therefore, hepatic triglyceride synthesis can considerably increase intramuscular fat. To investigate the relationship between hepatic lipogenesis and carcass grade, we analyzed 52 Hanwoo liver samples from domestic farms, and evaluated lipid levels and transcript levels of glucose and lipid metabolism-related genes according to carcass grade. Oil-Red-O staining revealed fatty livers in high carcass grades. Moreover, we found significantly higher levels of mRNA for lipogenesis, glycolysis, and triglyceride synthesis genes in high carcass grade livers. Importantly, progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (Pgrmc1) levels were significantly lower in high carcass grade livers. As Pgrmc1 suppression is correlated with induction of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and glycolysis genes, it has a diagnostic impact for high carcass grades. These results could be used for genetic improvements in carcass grades of cattle. More importantly, as Pgrmc1 can be detected in blood peripheral nucleated cells, it also has value for rapid blood diagnosis.

This study was conducted to estimate the control thresholds (CTs) at different larval densities of Oides decempunctatus Billberg (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Campbell early in the vineyard and investigated life cycle. Each stage of O. decempunctatus was sampled 18 times from May to September in 2010~2012. The seasonal occurrence of O. decempunctatus showed the highest peak in mid-late June and mid-late August. Overwintered O. decempunctatus's eggs were hatched from late May to early June. Larva period was from late May to mid July and adults appeared in mid July. The percentage of leaf damage (Y) of Campbell early inoculated by different densities of O. decempunctatus (X, no. of larvae/fruiting mother branch) for six weeks was estimated by Y= 0.498X+2.041 (R2=0.988) during vegetation period. The decreasing rate of soluble solid (Y) after grape harvest of Campbell early damaged by different densities of O. decempunctatus (X) was estimated by Y= - 0.046X+15.3 (R2=0.8543). Based of the relationships between the densities of O. decempunctatus larvae and the index of reducing soluble solid of Campbell early, the number of larvae (2nd to 3rd instar) which decreased less than 15°Bx loss of soluble solid was determined as the injury level of 7/fruiting mother branch.