LU-CAEHS Research Seminar
"Use of molecular tools for identifying genes and biological processes involved in monogastric digestion, an approach in rats."
In ruminant species such as sheep, more research regarding ruminal metabolism has historically been performed, leaving partially aside the crucial role of the intestine in additional nutrient fermentation, nutrient absorption, and overall health-productive status and systemic metabolism. A potent molecular tool able to shed light on critical genomic players involved in nutrient breakdown, fermentation, absorption, and general metabolism in farm animals is now available; this tool is named Genome-Wide Association Analyses or GWA. More research regarding the role of the intestine in animal nutritional status has been performed in monogastric species, including human and animal models, given that fermentation is more limited. Several genomic regions (loci) explaining intrapopulation variability regarding intestinal metabolite content in monogastric have been identified. These loci harbored several genes encoding nutrient transporters and enzymes involved in metabolism such as ABCs (member of the ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily), SLCs (members of the Solute Carrier Family), LSS (Lanosterol Synthase), CYPs (members of the Cytochrome P450 Family), and UGTs (members of the UDP Glucuronosyltransferase Family). Another critical piece of information regarding intestinal metabolism in ruminants, requiring more research, involves the analysis of intestinal metabolome and its relationship with circulatory compounds. The circulatory metabolome is not only complementary to the intestinal metabolome but also an indication of an individual's broad metabolic and productive state.
Presented by Dr. Joel D. Leal-Gutierrez, Animal Scientist and Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Genomic Dissection at Lincoln University of Missouri.
Dr. Joel D. Leal-Gutierrez earned his doctoral degree at the University of Florida Animal Science Department, where he finished his research titled “Functional genomics and genetical genomics approaches reveal associated genes, gene networks, and biological pathways affecting meat quality in beef cattle” in 2019. He was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California San Diego for four years, where he worked on animal models. His research included association analysis for unilateral kidney agenesis and cecum metabolome abundance in outbred rat populations, an analysis of gene mapping approach based on Genomic Structural Equation Modeling, and a meta-analysis for psychostimulant addiction and cecum metabolome in the same experimental rat population. He plans to focus his future research on understanding the genetic basis of complex phenotypes by using sheep as an animal model and similar biotechnology tools. Additionally, his research will aim to use expression and metabolome as potential mediators for phenotypic associations to identify a clear biological reasoning linking causative polymorphisms and phenotypic variability associated with traits of economic relevance in farm animals.
Dr. Joel D. Leal-Gutierrez