Which Genes Regulate Metabolism?

The combination of genomics and metabolomics has led to the identification of hundreds of genes that regulate metabolism, opening up new perspectives in basic physiology and nutrigenetics. This is the result of a study carried out on pigs, coordinated by Prof. Luca Fontanesi of the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL) at the University of Bologna and involving the Animal and Food Genomics Group and researchers from several university departments: the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), the Department of Statistical Sciences (STAT), and the Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT).

The research involved the pig production system at a national level, thanks to the collaboration with the Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Suini (ANAS), which provided pigs of different breeds. The pig is also an important model species and an animal of interest for livestock production. The study lays the foundation for a comparative understanding of the relationship between genetics and metabolism in mammals and for the sustainability of animal production.

Researchers at the University of Bologna characterised the pig metabolome for the first time and linked it to genetic variability. This approach made it possible to use the levels of metabolites in the blood as molecular phenotypes and to use this information to identify genes that influence metabolism. The study, "Merging metabolomics and genomics provides a catalogue of genetic factors that influence molecular phenotypes in pigs, linking relevant metabolic pathways", was published in the journal Genetics Selection Evolution.

"This study has provided new molecular phenotypes that allow us to dissect the basic biological processes that determine important production traits in pigs, such as growth rate, feed utilisation efficiency, fat deposition in tissues and animal behaviour. These are very important traits for improving the sustainability of pig production. In fact, they represent the objectives of genetic improvement in pig breeding, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of farming and improve animal welfare," - says Prof. Fontanesi. - "In addition, the study opens up new ways of combining genetics and nutrition: by linking different genes with the levels of many metabolites that are also important nutrients, we have laid the foundations for concrete applications in the field of nutrigenetics, with the possibility of providing customised diets based on the genetic background of animals," continues Prof. Fontanesi. "As the pig is also an important animal model that is very similar to humans in many ways, the results will allow us to better understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to metabolic diseases and obesity".

"The research has produced big data for genomic and metabolomic studies. We have created the first catalogue of genetic variants that control metabolism in pigs, opening up new avenues for basic, applied and translational research". - comments DISTAL researcher Samuele Bovo, first author of this study. - "New methods of processing this information have also been applied, allowing the reconstruction of previously unknown metabolic pathways, opening up new avenues for a better understanding of the genetic differences between pig breeds.

The research was made possible thanks to a multidisciplinary approach that allowed the integration of different skills and facilities provided by researchers from different disciplines at the University of Bologna. The study was carried out as part of the Horizon Europe Re-Livestock, PigPhenomics, FEEDTHEPIG, HamCapture, PSRN SUIS.2 and Agritech Spoke 1 projects.

Participants from the University of Bologna included Samuele Bovo, Anisa Ribani, Flaminia Fanelli, Giuliano Galimberti, Pier Luigi Martelli, Paolo Trevisi, Francesca Bertolini, Matteo Bolner, Rita Casadio, Stefania Dall'Olio, Maurizio Gallo, Diana Luise, Gianluca Mazzoni, Giuseppina Schiavo, Valeria Taurisano, Paolo Zambonelli, Paolo Bosi, Uberto Pagotto and Luca Fontanesi. Maurizio Gallo contributed on behalf of ANAS.