Prune homolog 2 with BCH domain (PRUNE2) gene expression is associated with feed efficiency-related traits in Nelore steers

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Lima, Andressa Oliveira ; Malheiros, Jessica Moraes ; Afonso, Juliana ; Petrini, Juliana ; Coutinho, Luiz Lehmann ; Jarles da Silva Diniz, Wellison ; Bressani, Flavia Aline ; Tizioto, Polyana Cristine ; Neubern de Oliveira, Priscila Silva ; Silva Ribeiro, Janssen Ayna ; de Oliveira, Karina Santos ; Pereira Rocha, Marina Ibelli ; Nascimento Andrade, Bruno Gabriel ; Fukumasu, Heidge ; Beiki, Hamid ; Reecy, James Mark ; Zerlotini, Adhemar ; Mourao, Gerson Barreto ; de Almeida Regitano, Luciana Correia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Mammalian Genome; v. 33, n. 4, p. 13-pg., 2022-07-16.

Abstract

Animal feeding is a critical factor in increasing producer profitability. Improving feed efficiency can help reduce feeding costs and reduce the environmental impact of beef production. Candidate genes previously identified for this trait in differential gene expression studies (e.g., case-control studies) have not examined continuous gene-phenotype variation, which is a limitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the expression of five candidate genes in the liver, measured by quantitative real-time PCR and feed-related traits. We adopted a linear mixed model to associate liver gene expression from 52 Nelore steers with the following production traits: average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), Kleiber index (KI), metabolic body weight (MBW), residual feed intake (RFI), and relative growth ratio (RGR). The total expression of the prune homolog 2 (PRUNE2) gene was significantly associated with DMI, FCR, FE, and RFI (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we have identified a new transcript of PRUNE2 (TCONS_00027692, GenBank MZ041267) that was inversely correlated with FCR and FE (P < 0.05), in contrast to the originally identified PRUNE2 transcript. The cytochrome P450 subfamily 2B (CYP2B6), early growth response protein 1 (EGR1), collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) genes were not associated with any feed efficiency-related traits (P > 0.05). The findings reported herein suggest that PRUNE2 expression levels affects feed efficiency-related traits variation in Nelore steers. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/04089-2 - The Nelore hologenome: implications in beef quality and feed efficiency
• Grantee: Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - eScience and Data Science Program - Thematic Grants
• 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