Project description:The transcriptome of 189 samples across four tissues from 48 beef steers with varied feed efficiency were generated using Illumina HiSeq4000
Project description:Puberty is a complex physiological event measured by various indicator traits in genetic improvement programs of beef cattle; thus, developing a more complete understanding of the genes and regulatory pathways and networks involved in puberty will provide knowledge to help improve genetic selection strategies. Herein, we characterized the transcriptome of five reproductive tissues (i.e. hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovary, uterus, and endometrium) as well as tissues known to be relevant to growth and metabolism needed for cattle to achieve puberty (i.e., longissimus dorsi muscle, fat, and liver). These tissues were collected from pre (PRE)- and post (POST)-pubertal Brangus (3/8 Brahman; Bos indicus x 5/8 Angus; Bos taurus) heifers derived from a population of cattle used to identify QTL associated with fertility traits. In order to exploit the power of complementary omics analyses, PRE and POST puberty co-expression gene networks were constructed by combining the results from RNA-Seq, GWAS, and bovine transcription factors. RNA-Seq of 8 tissues among PRE and POST Brangus heifers revealed 1515 differentiallyexpressed and 943 tissue-specific genes within the 17,832 genes confirmed by metrics of RNA-Seq analysis. Combining the results from RNA-Seq and GWAS indentified a total of 25 QTL associated to heifer fertility. The hypothalamus experienced the most notable up-regulation of genes via puberty. Complementary omics procedures revealed 2,450 co-expressed genes across the 8 tissues relative to puberty. The PRE network had 372,861 connections whereas the POST network had 328,357 connections. A sub-network from this process revealed key transcriptional regulators (i.e., PITX2, FOXA1, TSG1D1, DACH2, LHX4, PROP1 and SIX6). Results from multiples sources of omics data will facilitate the design of breeding strategies to improve fertility in Bos indicus-influenced composite cattle. Sixty-one samples from PRE and POST pubertal composite beef heifers were analyzed with RNA-Seq. The transcriptome of five reproductive tissues (i.e. hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovary, uterus, and endometrium) as well as tissues known to be relevant to metabolism andbody morphometrics needed for cattle to achieve puberty (i.e.,) was characterized. These tissues were collected from pre (PRE)- and post (POST)-pubertal Brangus (3/8 Brahman x 5/8 Angus) heifers derived from a population of cattle used to identify QTL associated with fertility. Total RNA was purified using a Trizol protocol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Sequencing libraries were made using TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation kit of Illumina (San Diego, CA).
Project description:Puberty is a complex physiological event measured by various indicator traits in genetic improvement programs of beef cattle; thus, developing a more complete understanding of the genes and regulatory pathways and networks involved in puberty will provide knowledge to help improve genetic selection strategies. Herein, we characterized the transcriptome of five reproductive tissues (i.e. hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovary, uterus, and endometrium) as well as tissues known to be relevant to growth and metabolism needed for cattle to achieve puberty (i.e., longissimus dorsi muscle, fat, and liver). These tissues were collected from pre (PRE)- and post (POST)-pubertal Brangus (3/8 Brahman; Bos indicus x 5/8 Angus; Bos taurus) heifers derived from a population of cattle used to identify QTL associated with fertility traits. In order to exploit the power of complementary omics analyses, PRE and POST puberty co-expression gene networks were constructed by combining the results from RNA-Seq, GWAS, and bovine transcription factors. RNA-Seq of 8 tissues among PRE and POST Brangus heifers revealed 1515 differentiallyexpressed and 943 tissue-specific genes within the 17,832 genes confirmed by metrics of RNA-Seq analysis. Combining the results from RNA-Seq and GWAS indentified a total of 25 QTL associated to heifer fertility. The hypothalamus experienced the most notable up-regulation of genes via puberty. Complementary omics procedures revealed 2,450 co-expressed genes across the 8 tissues relative to puberty. The PRE network had 372,861 connections whereas the POST network had 328,357 connections. A sub-network from this process revealed key transcriptional regulators (i.e., PITX2, FOXA1, TSG1D1, DACH2, LHX4, PROP1 and SIX6). Results from multiples sources of omics data will facilitate the design of breeding strategies to improve fertility in Bos indicus-influenced composite cattle.
Project description:This study examined tolerance to hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in yearling beef cattle raised at high elevation (7120 ft/2170m).
Project description:The biological mechanisms associated with the residual feed intake in ruminants have been harnessed immensely via transcriptome analysis of liver and ruminal epithelium, however, this concept has not been fully explored using whole blood. We applied whole blood transcriptome analysis and gene set enrichment analysis to identify key pathways associated with divergent selection for low or high RFI in beef cattle. A group of 56 crossbred beef steers (average BW = 261.3 ± 18.5 kg) were adapted to a high-forage total mixed ration in a confinement dry lot equipped with GrowSafe intake nodes for period of 49 d to determine their residual feed intake (RFI). After RFI determination, weekly whole blood samples were collected three times from beef steers with the lowest RFI (most efficient; low-RFI; n = 8) and highest RFI (least efficient; high-RFI; n = 8). Prior to RNA extraction, whole blood samples collected were composited for each steer. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq2000 equipped with a P3 flow. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyze differentially expressed gene sets and pathways between the two groups of steers. Results of GSEA revealed pathways associated with metabolism of proteins, cellular responses to external stimuli, stress, and heat stress were differentially inhibited (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05) in high-RFI compared to low-RFI beef cattle, while pathways associated with binding and uptake of ligands by scavenger receptors, scavenging of heme from plasma, and erythrocytes release/take up oxygen were differentially enriched (FDR < 0.05) in high-RFI, relative to low-RFI beef cattle. Taken together, our results revealed that beef steers divergently selected for low or high RFI revealed differential expressions of genes related to protein metabolism and stress responsiveness.
Project description:The intramuscular fat (IMF) content of different beef cattle breeds varies greatly, which plays an important role in taste and nutritional value. However, the molecular mechanism of fat metabolism and deposition in beef cattle is still not very clear. In this study, the meat quality traits of Angus cattle and Chinese Simmental cattle were compared, the transcriptome of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) between Angus cattle and Chinese Simmental cattle was then analyzed to identify key genes related to fat metabolism and adipogenesis by high-throughput RNA-seq technology. In the current study conducted a comprehensive analysis on the transcriptome of the longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) of Angus and Simmental cattle, and identified differentially expressed genes related to lipid metabolism,which may have a great impact on on the formation of IMF.
Project description:It has been proved that intramuscular fat (IMF) or marbling in beef improves palatability. Recently, consumers have considered not only the degree of marbling but also the size and distribution of marbling flecks for their health and appetizing looking of beef. Computer image analysis (CIA) systems have been developed to assess various characteristics of marbling particles (MPs) such as the number, size, and distribution (fineness or coarseness) objectively. Some CIA indexes about MPs indicating how MPs are distributed evenly had significant positive relationship with price which represents consumers’ interest. RNA-seq research about formation of fine MPs in the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle tissue of cattle have not yet been tried in transcriptome level. This study was conducted to reveal the DEGs between groups which have high or low number of fine MPs in the Longissimus thoracis muscle of Korean beef cattle and to understand molecular events associated with marbling fineness.
Project description:Creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) is a new multifunctional nutrient that can provide both pyruvate and creatine. It has been shown to relieve the heat stress of beef cattle by improving antioxidant activity and rumen microbial protein synthesis, but the mechanism of CrPyr influencing rumen fermentation remains unclear. This study aimed to use metaproteomics technologies to investigate the bacterial protein function in rumen fluid samples taken from heat-stressed beef cattle treated with or without 60 g/d CrPyr.
Project description:Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most common and costly infectious disease affecting the well-being and productivity of beef cattle in North America. BRD is a complex disease whose development is dependent on environmental factors and host genetics. Due to the polymicrobial nature of BRD, our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the disease is still limited. This knowledge would augment the development of better genetic/genomic selection strategies and more accurate diagnostic tools to reduce BRD prevalence. Therefore, this study utilized multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics) analyses to study the associations between genome, transcriptome, metabolome, and BRD phenotype of feedlot crossbred cattle. The findings may be useful for the development of genomic selection strategies for BRD susceptibility, and for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools.