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Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to E J Squires; Email: jsquires{at}uoguelph.ca)

Hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (SULT2A1) is a key enzyme in the testicular and hepatic metabolism of 5-androstenone, which is a major component of the off-odor and off-flavor in pork known as boar taint. The goals of this study were to determine the role of testicular and hepatic SULT2A1 activity on plasma 5-androstenone sulfate levels, the accumulation of 5-androstenone in adipose tissue, and to gain insight into the regulatory control of SULT2A1. Testicular SULT2A1 activity was negatively correlated (r= –0.57; P<0.01) with 5-androstenone concentrations in fat. The differences observed in SULT2A1 activity warranted investigation into potential genetic variation within porcine SULT2A1. The cDNA sequence of porcine Sult2A1 was determined to be >82% homologous to the human, mouse, and rat Sult2A1 genes. A single nucleotide polymorphism was detected within the coding region of the Sult2A1 from individual testes and liver samples; however, this did not affect the amino acid sequence of the enzyme. Western blot analysis determined that animals with high concentrations of 5-androstenone in fat and low SULT2A1 activity had corresponding low levels of SULT2A1 protein compared with animals with low levels of 5-androstenone in fat. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that Sult2A1 mRNA was increased 2.8-fold in animals with high levels of the protein relative to animals with low levels of the protein. Furthermore, we demonstrated the positive role of the nuclear receptors constitutive androstane receptor and pregnane X receptor, as well as the possible role of farnesoid X receptor in the regulation of testicular SULT2A1 activity. Together, the results of this study suggest that differences in SULT2A1 expression can influence 5-androstenone accumulation in fat.

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				M. Moe, E. Grindflek, and O. Doran Expression of 3{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450-c17, and sulfotransferase 2B1 proteins in liver and testis of pigs of two breeds: Relationship with adipose tissue androstenone concentration J Anim Sci, November 1, 2007; 85(11): 2924 - 2931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]