Differential gene expression related to iron content in Nellore muscle

Abstract

Meat is a major source of bioavailable iron, which is essential to health is involved in a variety of metabolic processes. Imbalances in the homeostasis have been related with metabolic diseases, moreover, it is component of myoglobin, which influences the red color of the meat: an important meat quality trait. Despite advances in genomics field, there are few studies that evaluate the influence of genetic variation in the mineral content of animal's muscle tissue. Therefore, genetic mechanisms which underlie mineral homeostasis remain poorly understood and there is no scientific reports regarding the gene expression profile related to this trait. In order to identify differentially expressed genes using RNA sequencing approach, 10 animals of Nellore breed, with extremes phenotypes for muscle iron content were selected for sequencing. The expression profiles generated in this project will extend the knowledge of the underlying regulatory genetic mechanisms of mineral content of bovine muscle, helping in the development of strategies for prevention of bovine metabolic diseases, and in the developing of beef more nutritionally complete, besides providing the basis for the study of metabolic disorders in other species, including humans. (AU)