RNA-seq of adipose tissue from pigs divergent in feed efficiency reveals variations in adipose growth, extracellular matrix formation, lipid metabolism and immune response

Feed efficiency (FE) is an indicator of efficiency in converting energy, attained from macronutrient ingestion, into tissue. Adipose tissue, besides being a master regulator of systemic lipid storage, is also an active endocrine organ that communicates with skeletal muscle, liver and brain to influence appetite, lipid & glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. Adipose tissue is hypothesised to play a vital part in regulation of FE. The objective of the present study was to sequence the subcutaneous adipose tissue transcriptome in FE-divergent pigs (n=16) and identify relevant biological processes underpinning observed differences in FE.