Nutritional Genomics

Information from the dog and cat genome mapping projects is being used in veterinary and human medicine to detect genes associated with disease. These mapping projects continually generate information that can be applied to companion animal nutrition as well. Our laboratory has recently become interested in functional genomics, which may be defined as the "analysis of gene products and the activities and functions of proteins." More specifically, we are interested in how nutrition and age affect gene expression (nutritional genomics). Although nutritional genomics and proteomics (analysis of the proteins produced by the body) have not yet been applied to companion animal research, these areas of research will soon aid in our understanding of metabolic pathways and assist in optimizing nutritional and health status.

Certain dietary constituents (e.g., vitamins A and D, zinc, fatty acids) are able to influence gene expression directly, whereas others (e.g., dietary fiber) can have an indirect effect through changes in hormonal signaling, mechanical stimuli, or metabolites produced from gut microflora (R.J. Cousins, 1999. Am. J. Med. 196:20S-23S). By utilizing the powerful molecular biological techniques now available, scientists can measure the effects of a single nutrient on the gene expression profile of a cell or tissue. These techniques will not only aid in the determination of nutrient requirements in dogs and cats of various life stages and activity levels, but be used to test functional ingredients and detect biomarkers for disease. Our laboratory is currently conducting an experiment using old and young canines to test the effects of age and diet on gene expression profiles. For more information, please contact Kelly Swanson.

Some Genomic Terms:

Allele - one of several forms that a gene for a trait can take.

Complementary DNA (cDNA) - synthetic form of DNA made from messenger RNA from expressed genes.

Functional Genomics - analysis of gene products (e.g., mRNA, proteins) and the activities and functions of proteins.

Gene - basic unit of genetic information carried by chromosomes.

Genome - total gene complement found in an organism.

Genomics - study of all genes encoded by the DNA of an organism.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) - derived from transcription of expressed genes in DNA.

Microarray technology - experimental method used to monitor the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously.

Polymorphism - an allelic variation in sequence of DNA.