RNA-seq of liver samples after tryptophan supplementation in low birthweight piglet model

Low birthweight (LBW) has been associated with higher rate of mortality and morbidity and the development of metabolic complications, leaving burdens on livestock production and human health care. The feasibility of LBW metabolic restoration via postnatal nutrition compensation has been verified and the role of one of essential amino acids, L-tryptophan (Trp), on rescuing lipid metabolism in LBW was determined, while the underlying molecular mechanism and key gene regulation is little known. Our study was conducted to identify the unique molecular mechanisms between LBW and normal birthweight (NBW), and to identify the metabolic restoration related genes and biological processes (BP) after dietary Trp supplementation in LBW piglet model. We found that differentially expressed genes (DEG) between LBW and NBW were related to fatty acid response based on gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and LBW piglets supplemented with Trp showed lower postprandial plasma triglycerides (TG) level as NBW, with similar expression feature of lipid metabolism related genes.