Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique A mixed research team between INRA, INPT-ENSAT and Toulouse Veterinary Faculty of Science X. Fernandez (director)

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique

A mixed research team between

INRA, INPT-ENSAT and Toulouse Veterinary Faculty of Science

X. Fernandez (director)T. Gidenne (associated director)

‘Tissus Animaux, Nutrition, Digestion, Ecosystèmes et Métabolisme’

(‘TANDEM’)

Animal tissues, nutrition, digestion, ecosystems and metabolism

Biological characteristicsof edible tissues

Controlling factorsunder studies

Genetics

Breeding strategies

Slaughter stress

ProteomicsProtein expression,

biomarkers

MetabolomicsMetabolic profiles

Tissue structure & biochemistry

Collaborations for

gene expression

The control of technological and sensory qualities of products from waterfowlsApplied goals of research

Research Group ‘Promété’ (Head : C. Molette)

Proteomes, Metabolism and Quality

Researches in the Promété group

Our main project

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Our main project

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Liver weight (g)

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CV = 54 %

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Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the variability in te quality of french « Foie Gras »

Scientific approach

A combined approach to characterize hepatic tissue…

Proteomics

2-D electrophoresisShot gun

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PM (

kDa)

pI

4 74 7

PM (

kDa)

pI

1 23 4

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Structural characterization

Structural histologyElectron microscopy

Metabolic profiling

Triglycerides profilesMetabolomics

Structure colorationfrom « cryo-fixated » samples

An exemple of structural characterization of fatty liver

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High cooking yield Low cooking yield

Ma

trix

rat

e

a a

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a a

b

a a

b

a a

b

20 min post mortem

After chilling

After cooking

Network extraction Computerized calculation of « matrix rate »

20 µm 20 µm 20 µm

20 min post mortem After chilling After cooking

Small and spherical lipid droplets Big and non spherical lipid droplets

Another exemple of structural characterization of fatty liver

Resine inclusions

The use of proteomics for the search of quality biomarkers

Proteins from fatty liver

Small proteins, soluble at low ionic strength

2-D electrophoresis and image analysis

coupled with identification through mass spectrometry

Heavier proteins, non soluble at low

ionic strength

Shot-gun strategy

The use of proteomics for the search of quality biomarkers

pH Gradient : 5-8

Mole

cula

r w

eig

ht

Identification of spots showing differential expression according to

liver quality

Protein/peptides identification using mass spectrometry is currently

running

2-D gel electrophoresis

The use of proteomics for the search of quality biomarkers

Shot Gun

Identification and semiquantification

of proteins and peptides in different

« strips »by mass spectrometry

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Low cooking

yield

High cooking

yield

The use of metabolomics for the search of quality biomarkers

What can happen…

What could apparently happen…

The one who make it happening…

What really happened …

The use of metabolomics for the search of quality biomarkers

Metabolic profiling through NMR spectroscopy

Other projetcs

Tissue and cellular targets ?

Differential expression of quality biomarkers according to various pre-

slaughter treatments

Impact of reactivity to aversive stimulations ?

Comparisons of different genotypes obtained from divergent selection on HPA response to

restraint and suspension

Pre-slaughterhandling

Stress responses

Liver quality

Effect of slaughter on product quality