Key result
Feed consumption level explained the majority of gene expression variation, particularly for cell cycle genes, which were positively correlated with dry matter intake, ruminal short chain fatty acid concentrations, and methane production.
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Feed intake must be controlled in rumen transcriptomics studies; leaves open causal roles for cell cycle genes in methane production.
Ruminants obtain nutrients from microbial fermentation of plant material, primarily in their rumen, a multilayered forestomach. How the different layers of the rumen wall respond to diet and influence microbial fermentation, and how these process are regulated, is not well understood. Gene expression correlation networks were constructed from full thickness rumen wall transcriptomes of 24 sheep fed two different amounts and qualities of a forage and measured for methane production. The network contained two major negatively correlated gene sub-networks predominantly representing the epithelial and muscle layers of the rumen wall. Within the epithelium sub-network gene clusters representing lipid/oxo-acid metabolism, general metabolism and proliferating and differentiating cells were identified. The expression of cell cycle and metabolic genes was positively correlated with dry matter intake, ruminal short chain fatty acid concentrations and methane production. A weak correlation between lipid/oxo-acid metabolism genes and methane yield was observed. Feed consumption level explained the majority of gene expression variation, particularly for the cell cycle genes. Many known stratified epithelium transcription factors had significantly enriched targets in the epithelial gene clusters. The expression patterns of the transcription factors and their targets in proliferating and differentiating skin is mirrored in the rumen, suggesting conservation of regulatory systems.
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Xiang et al. (2016) studied Methane production and rumen epithelial gene expression (n=24). Dietary treatments (different amounts and qualities of forage) vs. Different dietary groups was evaluated on Gene expression correlation networks and methane production. Feed consumption level explained the majority of gene expression variation, particularly for cell cycle genes, which were positively correlated with dry matter intake, ruminal short chain fatty acid concentrations, and methane production.
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