Analysis of transcriptome differences between subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue of Ningxiang pigs.

To compare and analyze the molecular mechanisms of adipose deposition in subcutaneous fat (SAF)and intramuscular fat (IMF) tissues in Ningxiang pigs, differential gene expression profiles in SAF and IMF tissues of Ningxiang pigs were identified and analysed using RNA-seq technology. Six healthy 250-day-old male Ningxiang pigs with similar body weights (approximately 85 kg) of intraspecific individuals were selected as experimental material and samples of SAF and IMF tissues were collected. Differential genes associated with fat deposition and lipid metabolism were obtained by sequencing two adipose tissue transcriptomes and performing GO (Gene Ontology) functional annotation and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis. To verify the reliability of the sequencing results, six differential genes were randomly selected to validate using qRT-PCR. The results showed that we identified 2406 DEGs, with 1422 up-regulated and 984 down-regulated genes in two tissues. GO functional annotation analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in lipid metabolism related pathways, such as steroid biosynthesis, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism and autophagy pathway. KEGG pathway enrichment showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the biological processes related to lipid binding, fatty acid metabolism, glycol ester metabolism, lipid biosynthesis and other biological processes related to lipid metabolism. Genes related to lipid metabolism, such as TCAP, NR4A1, ACACA, LPL, ELOVL6, DGAT1, PRKAA1, ATG101, TP53INP2, FDFT1, ACOX1 and SCD were identified by bioinformatic analyses and verified by qRT-PCR. Our results indicated that these genes may play important roles in the regulation of fat deposition and metabolism in the SAF and IMF tissue, providing the further mechanistic investigation of fat deposition in Ningxiang pigs.

Integrated hepatic transcriptional and serum metabolic studies on circulating nutrient metabolism in diurnal laying hens.

The aim of the study was to see the diurnal variation of nutrients metabolism and their regulation under the management of large-scaled production. The hepatic transcriptional and serum metabolic studies on circulating nutrient metabolism were investigated in diurnal laying hens. Liver and blood were collected from 36 hens that were slaughtered at 3:30, 7:30, 11:30, 15:30, 19:30, and 23:30 (n = 6), respectively. The serum amino acid, fatty acid and glucose levels, as well as the hepatic transcriptome were analyzed. The results revealed that the circadian clock genes such as Bmal1, Clock, Per1, and Cry2 displayed circadian rhythms in hen livers. The genes related to circulating nutrient transportation, lipogenesis, lipid catabolism, sterol metabolism, and oxidative/anti-oxidative systems also oscillated. However, the nadir of glucose was observed at 7:30 and peaked at 11:30 in the day. Amino acid levels peaked mainly at night, and most amino acids exhibited circadian rhythms based on CircWave analysis. With the exception of undecanoic acid (C11:0), myristoleic acid (C14:1), cis-11, 14-eicosenoic acid (C20:2), and (cis-4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19-docosahexaenoic acid) C20:3N6 fatty acids, others peaked at 7:30 and 15:30. The results indicated that the hens required more glucose in the early morning. More proteins should be ingested late in the day, since protein catabolism occurred mostly at night. To remove the redundant fats and lipids, fewer should be ingested, especially during the night. All these results would help to design a more accurate nutrition schedule for improving the performance of laying hens in the future.