title: Maternal Betaine Supplementation during Gestation Enhances Expression of mtDNA-Encoded Genes through D-Loop DNA Hypomethylation in the Skeletal Muscle of Newborn Piglets.
abstract: Betaine has been widely used in animal and human nutrition to promote muscle growth and performance, yet it remains unknown whether maternal betaine supplementation during gestation affects the metabolic characteristics of neonatal skeletal muscles. In the present study, feeding sows with betaine-supplemented diets throughout gestation significantly upregulated the expression of mtDNA-encoded OXPHOS genes (p < 0.05), including COX1, COX2, and ND5, in the muscle of newborn piglets, which was associated with enhanced mitochondrial COX enzyme activity (p < 0.05). Concurrently, maternal betaine supplementation increased the plasma betaine concentration and muscle expression of methyl transfer enzymes (p < 0.05), BHMT and GNMT, in offspring piglets. Nevertheless, Dnmt3a was downregulated at the level of both mRNA and protein, which was associated with a hypomethylated mtDNA D-loop region (p < 0.05). These results suggest that maternal betaine supplementation during gestation enhances expression of mtDNA-encoded genes through D-loop DNA hypomethylation in the skeletal muscle of newborn piglets.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haogang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guichao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Demin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruqian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001622:Betaine
keywords: betaine; hypomethylation; mtDNA-encoded gene; piglets; skeletal muscle