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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419963
Research Project: Improving Dairy Cow Feed Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability Using Genomics and Novel Technologies to Identify Physiological Contributions and Adaptations

Location: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory

Title: Transcriptomic profiling of gastrointestinal tracts in dairy cattle during lactation reveals molecular adaptations for milk synthesis

Author
item GAO, YAHUI - University Of Maryland
item Liu, Ge
item FANG, LINGZHAO - Aarhus University
item Li, Congjun
item Baldwin, Ransom

Submitted to: Gordon Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lactation in dairy cattle is a critical period that demands significant adjustments in the rumen and digestive system to meet the increased nutrient requirements for milk production. This is coupled with a diverse nutrient requirement for milk synthesis. Therefore, milk production is a typical dynamic process that varies with time, during which the epithelial cells of the rumen and digestive tract must respond to metabolic reprogramming in a coordinated manner. Understanding the biological functions of the epithelia of the rumen and digestive tract tissues is crucial for improving milk-related traits. Important information related to the dynamics of the transcriptomic activities across the entire lactation period must be included. We utilized next-generation sequencing and transcriptomic profiling to investigate the molecular basis of adaptation in the gastrointestinal tracts (epithelia of the colon, duodenum, and rumen) of dairy cattle during dry and entire lactation periods. By capturing gene expression patterns at multiple time points, we facilitated direct comparisons within and among tissues during different lactation stages, including early and peak lactation. Our computational analyses encompassed global transcriptome profiling at different lactation stages, identification of stage-specific genes, time series clustering of RNA-seq data, co-expression gene network analysis, tissue-specific expression patterns, functional enrichment, and cell type deconvolution. Through this comprehensive approach, we gained profound insights into cattle lactation, unveiling tissue-specific characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract and shedding light on the intricate molecular adaptations for milk synthesis occurring during lactation.