Abstract
To clarify the relationship between beef genetic selection for growth and precocity with muscle metabolism and metabolites, we performed metabolomic analysis using Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from Nellore cattle with divergent selection for these traits (high growth, HG; low growth, LG; high precocity, HP; low precocity, LP). Genetic potential for growth affected muscle protein and energetic metabolism. HG animals had a high concentration of arginine, carnosine, and leucine compared to LG animals. HP animals presented a high concentration of glutamine, betaine, creatinine, isoleucine, carnitine, acetyl carnitine, and lower levels of glucose compared to LP animals, affecting protein and fatty acid metabolism. Intensity of selection (high or low) was correlated with changes in protein metabolism, and the type of selection (growth or precocity) affected fat metabolism. In conclusion, both HG and HP appear to be correlated with a high concentration of protein metabolites and changes in protein metabolic pathways, while selection for precocity is more correlated with changes in fat metabolism compared to animals selected for growth.
Highlights
Growth is one of the most important selection traits in livestock production
Separation was found between the high precocity (HP) and low precocity (LP) animals, according to the Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) score plot, indicating that their metabolite profiles were different
Arginine plays an important role in growth metabolism, improving protein synthesis and muscle mass deposition by two biochemical mechanisms: first, by stimulating the activation of the mTOR cell signaling pathway in skeletal muscle [12]; and second, by stimulating the synthesis of a potent vasodilator, nitrogen oxide, which promotes an increase in the blood flow and subsequently the nutrient supply in peripheral tissues [13], improving the substrates for protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy
Summary
Growth is one of the most important selection traits in livestock production. Growth measurements taken at different ages (i.e., birth, weaning, yearling) as well as sexual maturity, lean meat yield, and meat quality traits have been used as a basis for the selection and improvement of beef cattle worldwide through the expected progeny differences (EPDs) tools. Selection based on weight and growth rates often leads to late-maturing cattle with high maintenance requirements due to correlated responses [2], which are highly undesirable traits in pasture productions systems. Sexual maturity or precocity traits are often used for selection purposes in beef cattle [3]. Improvements in average daily gains, body weight, muscle mass, fat deposition, and carcass traits have been reported using genetic merit for growth and precocity as criteria [4,5,6,7].
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