Adipose gene expression profiles of four cattle breeds highlight selective pressures and tissue functions.

Abstract

Less functional genomic characterization of cattle breeds has been applied in studies focusing on population genomics, adaptation genomics and cattle genetic resources. Adipose tissues are crucial in regulating metabolism and energy balance with their ability to re-structure based on external changes. We have sequenced RNA samples extracted from metacarpal, perirenal, tailhead and prescapular adipose tissues of 81 individuals of Yakutian cattle (Sakha Republic), Northern Finncattle (Finland), Mirandesa (Portugal), and the commercial Holstein breed, and compared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tissues, breeds, and sexes. In total, 20,714 genes were expressed in our data, and we found the highest number of tissue-specific expressed genes in the metacarpal adipose tissue (672). The gene with the highest mean abundance in the metacarpal adipose tissue was HOXD13 associated with adipogenesis. Moreover, the principal component analysis of normalized expression profiles showed a separation of the metacarpal adipose tissue from the others. In breed comparisons, some upregulated genes in Yakutian cattle are associated with energy metabolism and response to cold temperatures (NR4A3, TEKT3, and FGGY). In the Mirandesa