Transcriptome profile in the skeletal muscle of cattle progeny as a function of maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the differentially expressed genes (DEG), their biological functions, and the main predictor genes in skeletal muscle of the offspring resulting from dams supplemented or not with protein during mid-gestation. From 100 to 200 days of gestation, 10 Tabapuã cows pregnant of males were assigned to one of two treatments: Control [(CON) - supply of basal diet achieving 5.5% of crude protein (CP); n = 6]; or Supplemented [(SUP) - basal diet plus a supplement with 40% of CP provided at the level of 3.5 g/kg of body weight; n = 4]. Muscle samples were collected from the progeny at 260d of postnatal age to RNA-seq, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, and Random Forest (RF) analyses. A total of 310 DEG (q-value < 0.05) were identified for the effect of diet, being 187 and 123 genes down-regulated and up-regulated in the SUP diet, respectively. Within the SUP up-regulated genes, were genes related to insulin receptor signaling pathway (LOC107131843) and apoptosis regulation (KRT18, KRT8 and KRT19). While the enriched GOs terms are implicated in mitochondrial metabolism through the overrepresentation of the GO terms microtubule polymerization or depolymerization (GO:0031109, GO:0046785) and positive regulation of cellular component biogenesis (GO:0044089). Moreover, RF analysis revealed predictor genes related to the skeletal muscle development, including genes that participates in the PI3K/Akt pathways (PITPNA), myoblast proliferation (ALKBH1) and differentiation (CDK5R1 and miR-206). In conclusion, maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation positively affected the energy metabolism and favored the hypertrophic processes of the skeletal muscle of the offspring.