Potential regulation of lncRNA in lipid metabolism of the muscle and liver of pigs fed different levels and oil sources

Abstract

Lipids act as signaling molecules, participate in several processes and play an important role in all types of cells. The liver and skeletal muscle represent two of the main tissues responsible for lipid metabolism, a complex and dynamic process that involves various transcriptional regulators. lncRNA are important regulators of metabolism, play a key role in relation to lipids and have been widely studied in animal models such as pigs. With this aim is to identify lncRNA, pathways and networks associated with lipid metabolism and to verify the potential for regulation in the muscle and liver of pigs fed different levels and oil sources. For this project, data from 72 male pigs from a 98-day experimental study will be used. The experimental treatments consisted of corn and soybean meal diets containing 1.5% soybean oil (SOY1.5), or 3.0% soybean oil (SOY3.0), or 3.0% canola oil (CO), or 3.0% fish oil (FO). From the RNA-seq data (n = 72), the lncRNA will be identified and quantified, and differential expression analysis will be performed using the DESeq2 statistical package. Co-expression analysis and association with phenotypes of interest (fatty acid profile, animal performance and efficiency) will be performed using the R WGCNA package. Functional enrichment analysis and network analysis will be carried out using DAVID and Cytoscape software. The expected results of this study have a technological and innovative profile, as they may provide a better understanding of the processes linking lncRNA to lipid metabolism, using pigs as a relevant animal model.