Systems Biology Approach to Determine Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Feed Efficiency in Nelore Cattle

• Grant number: 15/22276-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Heidge Fukumasu
• Grantee: Pâmela Almeida Alexandre
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/07566-2 - Genomics applied to ruminant production, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/14707-0 - Multi-tisssue omics analyses to uncover feed efficiency in beef cattle, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Increase productivity, profitability and reduce environmental impact of livestock are among the main selection objectives of beef cattle and can be achieved by identifying animals with high feed efficiency (FE). Because it is a trait influenced by different biological processes, understanding their regulation at molecular level is critical to identify superior animals quickly and at lower cost. We found earlier that low FE animals have greater fat deposition, cholesterol, GGT and have liver transcriptome associated with inflammation and lipid metabolism. The aim of this project is to determine a model of molecular mechanisms associated with feed efficiency in Nellore cattle using a systems biology approach based on the integration of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenômicas analyzes in multiple tissues. For this purpose, 16 animals evaluated as extremes of FE had pituitary, hypothalamus, adrenal and small intestine samples collected. Through gene expression and co-expression analysis, regulatory genes and central biological mechanisms related to FE will be identified. Subsequently, functional polymorphisms associated with FE will be identified and then, epigenetic mechanisms responsible for the results previously obtained will be evaluated by hypermethylated CpG islands and miRNA expression analysis. We believe that the integration of omics data evaluated in multiple tissues will allow us to propose a biological model for systemic understanding of feed efficiency, directing future approaches for selection and handling of animals.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALEXANDRE, PAMELA A.; REVERTER, ANTONIO; BEREZIN, ROBERTA B.; PORTO-NETO, LAERCIO R.; RIBEIRO, GABRIELA; SANTANA, MIGUEL H. A.; FERRAZ, JOSE BENTO S.; FUKUMASU, HEIDGE. Exploring the Regulatory Potential of Long Non-Coding RNA in Feed Efficiency of Indicine Cattle. GENES, v. 11, n. 9, SEP 2020. (17/14707-0, 15/22276-3, 14/07566-2)

ALEXANDRE, PAMELA A.; NAVAL-SANCHEZ, MARINA; PORTO-NETO, LAERCIO R.; FERRAZ, JOSE BENTO S.; REVERTER, ANTONIO; FUKUMASU, HEIDGE. Systems Biology Reveals NR2F6 and TGFB1 as Key Regulators of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle. FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, v. 10, MAR 22 2019. (17/14707-0, 15/22276-3, 14/07566-2, 14/02493-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ALEXANDRE, Pâmela Almeida. Systems biology approach for determination of molecular mechanisms associated with feed efficiency in Nellore cattle. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT) Pirassununga.