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Expression of genes related to mitochondrial function in Nellore cattle divergently ranked on residual feed intake

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Abstract

Several measures have been proposed to investigate and improve feed efficiency in cattle. One of the most commonly used measure of feed efficiency is residual feed intake (RFI), which is estimated as the difference between actual feed intake and expected feed intake based on the animal’s average live weight. This measure permits to identify and select the most efficient animals without selecting for higher mature weight. Mitochondrial function has been indicated as a major factor that influences RFI. The analysis of genes involved in mitochondrial function is therefore an alternative to identify molecular markers associated with higher feed efficiency. This study analyzed the expression of PGC1α, TFAM, UCP2 and UCP3 genes by quantitative real-time PCR in liver and muscle tissues of two groups of Nellore cattle divergently ranked on RFI values in order to evaluate the relationship of these genes with RFI. In liver tissue, higher expression of TFAM and UCP2 genes was observed in the negative RFI group. Expression of PGC1α gene did not differ significantly between the two groups, whereas UCP3 gene was not expressed in liver tissue. In muscle tissue, higher expression of TFAM gene was observed in the positive RFI group. Expression of PGC1α, UCP2 and UCP3 genes did not differ significantly between the two groups. These results suggest the use of TFAM and UCP2 as possible candidate gene markers in breeding programs designed to increase the feed efficiency of Nellore cattle.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the state funding agency São Paulo Research Foundation FAPESP (grants 2009/16118-5 and 2010/13502-6). We thank the Instituto de Zootecnia for providing the tissue samples and database used in this study. We are also grateful to Departamento de Tecnologia, Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular and Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias for their cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Campus Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

    Larissa Fernanda Simielli Fonseca, Daniele Fernanda Jovino Gimenez, Fernando Baldi & Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque

  2. Departamento de Tecnologia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Campus Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

    Jesus Aparecido Ferro

  3. Instituto de Zootecnia, Centro de Pesquisa em Pecuária de Corte, Cx.63, Sertãozinho, SP, 14160-000, Brazil

    Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante & Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha

  4. Departamento Zoologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, s/n, Pelotas, RS, 96010-900, Brazil

    Fábio Ricardo Pablos de Souza

  5. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq, SHS QI 1 conjunto B, Lago Sul, DF, 71605-001, Brazil

    Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante, Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha, Jesus Aparecido Ferro, Fernando Baldi & Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque

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  1. Larissa Fernanda Simielli Fonseca
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  2. Daniele Fernanda Jovino Gimenez
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  3. Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante
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  4. Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha
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  6. Fernando Baldi
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  7. Fábio Ricardo Pablos de Souza
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  8. Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque.

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Fonseca, L.F.S., Gimenez, D.F.J., Mercadante, M.E.Z. et al. Expression of genes related to mitochondrial function in Nellore cattle divergently ranked on residual feed intake. Mol Biol Rep 42, 559–565 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3801-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-014-3801-6

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