Proteomic analysis of adipose tissue revealing differentially abundant proteins in highly efficient mid-lactating dairy cows

Abstract

The improvement of nutrient utilization efficiency in dairy cows represents an important task in view of the current rising demand for animal products and sustainable resource usage. In this perspective, the identification of appropriate markers to identify the most efficient animals for dairy production becomes a crucial factor. Residual feed intake (RFI), which represents the difference between predicted and actual intake, is used to define the efficiency of cows. In this study, subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) was collected from five high efficient (HEF) and five low efficient (LEF) mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows, that represented subgroups of the 20% lowest RFI values (HEF) and highest 20% RFI values (LEF), out of a cohort of 155 cows that were examined for feed efficiency at the individual dairy barn at Volcani Institute, Israel. Adipose samples were examined for proteomic analysis by nano-LC/MS–MS and gene expression by RT-PCR. A total of 101 differential proteins (P ≤ 0.05 and fold change ± 1.5) and two protein networks related to feed efficiency were found between HEF and LEF cows. Among the enriched top canonical pathways, FAT10 signaling, EIF2 signaling, Sirtuin signaling, Acute phase response signaling, Protein ubiquitination and mTOR signaling pathways were related to feed efficiency in AT. Furthermore, abundance of transferrin (TF; FC = 78.35, P = 0.02) enriched pathways, including mTOR signaling, LXR/RXR and FXR/RXR activation was found in AT of HEF cows. Relative mRNA expression of RBM39, which is involved in energy metabolism, was decreased in AT of HEF versus LEF. The relationship found between the AT proteins and/or metabolic pathways and the feed efficiency demonstrates that AT may reflect metabolic adaptations to high efficiency, and suggests that these proteins together with their metabolic mechanisms are suitable candidates as biomarkers to identify efficient cows for dairy production.

Unveiling the Genetic Landscape of Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows: Insights into Heritability, Genetic Markers, and Pathways via Meta-Analysis

“…Adipose tissue, as the main energy reserve of mammals, plays a crucial role in milk production in dairy cows. Ben Meir et al (2022) found that transferrin is a differentially expressed protein in mid-lactation cows through proteomics, which is upregulated in eight Fe-related pathways and can be used as a candidate biomarker. Three SNPs of transferrin were detected in a recent study ( Ali et al, 2022 ).…”

Unraveling genomic diversity and positive selection signatures of Qaidam cattle through whole‐genome re‐sequencing

“…These genes might affect the meat quality traits of Qaidam cattle by affecting adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. In terms of lactation function, there are differences in protein expression of RBM39 in inefficient and efficient lactating cows, which is proved to be related to lactation function (Ben Meir et al., 2022). TONSL is found to be related to milk production, which affects the percentage of fatty acids and milk fat and was selected in the genome‐wide association analysis of Chinese Holstein cattle and Canadian Holstein cattle (Ibeagha‐Awemu et al., 2016; Peters et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2022).…”

Genome-wide scan for runs of homozygosity in South American Camelids

“…In llama, most of the selection signatures encompasses loci involved in the regulation of reproduction and maternal traits: some are involved in the lipid metabolism during lactation, as ARFGEF2 and FZD9 which are known for their role in fatty acid transport [ 36 ] adipocytes differentiation [ 37 ] and quantity of milk produced [ 38 ]. Similarly, the PHF20 gene is involved in milk production [ 39 ] and lactating efficiency [ 40 ], while RCOR1 is a candidate gene implicated in lactose synthesis and milk yield [ 41 ]. Moreover, signatures of selections in llama suggested selection for efficient reproductive performances in harsh environments.…”