Detection of Co-expressed Pathway Modules Associated With Mineral Concentration and Meat Quality in Nelore Cattle

Author(s):Show less -

Diniz, Wellison J. S. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Mazzoni, Gianluca ^[4] ; Coutinho, Luiz L. ^[5] ; Banerjee, Priyanka ^[3] ; Geistlinger, Ludwig ^{[2, 6]} ; Cesar, Aline S. M. ^[5] ; Bertolini, Francesca ^[7] ; Afonso, Juliana ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Priscila S. N. ^[2] ; Tizioto, Polyana C. ^[5] ; Kadarmideen, Haja N. ^[3] ; Regitano, Luciana C. A. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Genet & Evolut, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Empress Brasileira Pesquisa Agr, Embrapa Pecuaria Sudeste, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Tech Univ Denmark, Dept Appl Math & Comp Sci, Lyngby - Denmark

^[4] Tech Univ Denmark, Dept Hlth Technol, Lyngby - Denmark

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Anim Sci, Piracicaba - Brazil

^[6] CUNY, Grad Sch Publ Hlth & Hlth Policy, New York, NY 10021 - USA

^[7] Tech Univ Denmark, Dept Aquaculture, Lyngby - Denmark

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN GENETICS; v. 10, MAR 13 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Meat quality is a complex trait that is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, which includes mineral concentration. However, the association between mineral concentration and meat quality, and the specific molecular pathways underlying this association, are not well explored. We therefore analyzed gene expression as measured with RNA-seq in Longissimus thoracis muscle of 194 Nelore steers for association with three meat quality traits (intramuscular fat, meat pH, and tenderness) and the concentration of 13 minerals (Ca, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Se, and Zn). We identified seven sets of co-expressed genes (modules) associated with at least two traits, which indicates that common pathways influence these traits. From pathway analysis of module hub genes, we further found an over-representation for energy and protein metabolism (AMPK and mTOR signaling pathways) in addition to muscle growth, and protein turnover pathways. Among the identified hub genes FASN, ELOV5, and PDE3B are involved with lipid metabolism and were affected by previously identified eQTLs associated to fat deposition. The reported hub genes and over-represented pathways provide evidence of interplay among gene expression, mineral concentration, and meat quality traits. Future studies investigating the effect of different levels of mineral supplementation in the gene expression and meat quality traits could help us to elucidate the regulatory mechanism by which the genes/pathways are affected. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/23638-8 - Molecular basis of meat quality in Nelore beef cattle
• Grantee: Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/09158-1 - Identification of coexpression gene networks and regulatory mechanisms related to mineral composition and meat quality in bovine
• Grantee: Wellison Jarles da Silva Diniz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/20761-7 - Integrative genetic and regulatory network analysis to detect genes associated with muscle iron content and beef quality related phenotypes in Nelore
• Grantee: Wellison Jarles da Silva Diniz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate