Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
10:36
Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans
Published on: May 21, 2020
Muscle-specific gene expression is underscored by differential stressor responses and coexpression changes
Natalia Moreno-Sánchez1, Julia Rueda, Antonio Reverter
1Departamento de Mejora Genética Animal, INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria), Ctra. de A Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain. natalia@inia.es
Functional & Integrative Genomics
|September 2, 2011
Summary
Skeletal muscle transcriptomes vary by type, impacting gene function and biological processes. Gene expression and network connectivity reveal muscle-specific attributes, highlighting skeletal muscle
Area of Science:
- Animal Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Transcriptome variations between skeletal muscle types are not well understood.
- Gene coexpression networks are crucial for identifying gene functions and biological processes.
- Understanding muscle-specific transcription is key to deciphering muscle attributes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differential gene expression between two distinct cattle skeletal muscles: M. flexor digitorum (FD) and M. psoas major (PM).
- To analyze changes in gene coexpression network connectivity in relation to muscle-specific transcription patterns.
- To explore the biological functions and pathways associated with differentially expressed genes.
Main Methods:
- Microarray analysis was employed to compare gene expression profiles of FD and PM muscles.
- Differential gene expression analysis identified genes with significant expression changes between the two muscle types.
- Systems biology approaches were used to explore pathways, biological functions, and predict gene interactomes.
Main Results:
- A total of 206 differentially expressed genes were identified, with 94 upregulated in PM and 112 in FD.
- Key gene categories involved in muscle-specific patterns included fast/slow twitch, extracellular matrix, ribosomal proteins, heat shock proteins, and fatty acid uptake.
- Genes related to repair mechanisms (ribosomal and heat shock proteins) indicated differential responses to stress, particularly in slow-twitch muscles.
- Changes in gene connectivity explained 24% of significant correlations among differentially expressed genes.
Conclusions:
- Skeletal muscle attributes are influenced by both fiber composition and differential gene expression/connectivity.
- Genes involved in repair mechanisms show differential activity, suggesting distinct stress responses between muscle types.
- Skeletal muscle exhibits significant flexibility, with genes adapting their behavior based on specific functional demands.
Related Concept Videos
02:23Master Transcription Regulators
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
01:30General Transcription Factors
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
01:42What is Gene Expression?
Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
01:36What is Gene Expression?
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then processed and...