Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 141 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 148 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

<p>Like most Archaea, the hypersaline-adapted organism Halobacterium salinarum exhibits characteristics from all three domains of life, including a eukaryotic histone protein, a universal propensity to genetic rearrangements, and homologs of bacterial cell division proteins. Here we investigate the ancestral function of histone protein in the Archaea. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and phenotypic assays of histone mutants determine that histone regulates gene expression and cell shape but not genome compaction in H. salinarum. We further explore the regulation of gene expression on a genome-wide scale through the study of genomic instability. Genomic deletions and duplications are detected through the meta-analysis of 1154 previously published gene expression arrays and 48 chromatin immunoprecipitation arrays. We discover that a 90 kb duplication event in the megaplasmid pNRC100 directly leads to increased gene expression, and find evidence that the chromosome is far more unstable than previously assumed. These events are all linked with the presence of mobile insertion elements. Finally, in response to questions generated by these experiments, we develop a novel time-lapse protocol for H. salinarum and ask basic questions about single cell dynamics during division. Fluorescent labeling of homologs to bacterial cell division proteins confirms their involvement in cell division but localization dynamics contradict the basic bacterial model. The discovery of unusual facets of morphology during cell division is consistent with these novel protein dynamics and opens up new avenues of inquiry into archaeal cell division.</p> / Dissertation

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:32:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1216352 bytes, checksum: 3e5fbc09a6f684ddf7dbb4442657ce1f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-26 / The main contribution of molecular genetics is the direct use of DNA information to identify genetically superior individuals. Under this approach, genome-wide selection (GWS) can be used with this purpose. GWS consists in analyzing of a large number of SNP markers widely distributed in the genome, and due to the fact that the number of markers is much larger than the number of genotyped individuals (high dimensionality) and also to the fact that such markers are highly correlated (multicollinearity). However, the use of methodologies that address the adversities is fundamental to the success of genome wide selection. In view of, the aim of this dissertation was to propose the application of Independent Component Regression (ICR), Principal Component Regression (PCR), Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Random Regression Best Linear Unbiased Predictor, whereas carcass traits in an F2 population of pigs originated from the cross of two males from the naturalized Brazilian breed Piau with 18 females of a commercial line (Large White × Landrace × Pietrain), developed at the University Federal of Viçosa. The specific objectives were, to estimate Genomic Breeding Value (GBV) for each individual and estimate the effects of SNP markers in order to compare methods. The results showed that ICR method is more efficient, since provided most accurate genomic breeding values estimates for most carcass traits. / A principal contribuição da genética molecular no melhoramento animal é a utilização direta das informações de DNA no processo de identificação de animais geneticamente superiores. Sob esse enfoque, a seleção genômica ampla (Genome Wide Selection GWS), a qual consiste na análise de um grande número de marcadores SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) amplamente distribuídos no genoma, foi idealizada. A utilização dessas informações é um desafio, uma vez que o número de marcadores é muito maior que o número de animais genotipados (alta dimensionalidade) e tais marcadores são altamente correlacionados (multicolinearidade). No entanto, o sucesso da seleção genômica ampla deve-se a escolha de metodologias que contemplem essas adversidades. Diante do exposto, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo propor a aplicação dos métodos de regressão via Componentes Independentes (Independent Component Regression ICR), regressão via componentes principais (Principal Component Regression PCR), regressão via Quadrados Mínimos Parciais (Partial Least Squares PLSR) e RR-BLUP, considerando características de carcaça em uma população F2 de suínos proveniente do cruzamento de dois varrões da raça naturalizada brasileira Piau com 18 fêmeas de linhagem comercial (Landrace × Large White × Pietrain), desenvolvida na Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Os objetivos específicos foram estimar Valores Genéticos Genômicos (Genomic Breeding Values GBV) para cada indivíduo avaliado e estimar efeitos de marcadores SNPs, visando a comparação dos métodos. Os resultados indicaram que o método ICR se mostrou mais eficiente, uma vez que este proporcionou maiores valores de acurácia na estimação do GBV para a maioria das características de carcaça.

Submitted by CARLOS EDUARDO GAMERO AGUILAR (kadugamero@hotmail.com) on 2018-06-10T16:48:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese Final - Corrigida.pdf: 1023064 bytes, checksum: d4d8bbb2e4f336192b04f878d0224be3 (MD5) Tese Final - Corrigida.doc: 3348480 bytes, checksum: bd9bbd6f82d4e2dc607526653a130694 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alexandra Maria Donadon Lusser Segali null (alexmar@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-06-12T17:38:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 aguilar_ceg_dr_jabo.pdf: 1023064 bytes, checksum: d4d8bbb2e4f336192b04f878d0224be3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-12T17:38:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 aguilar_ceg_dr_jabo.pdf: 1023064 bytes, checksum: d4d8bbb2e4f336192b04f878d0224be3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-04 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / As espécies do grupo do Bacillus cereus estão na cadeia produtiva do leite associadas a problemas tecnológicos por produzirem metaloproteínases. O controle deste microrganismo se faz necessário devido aos prejuízos causados por perdas. Com o objetivo de verificar a presença do gene npr (produção de metaloproteínases), Plcr (regulador pleitrópico) e cspa (assinatura psicrotrófica), avaliar fenotipicamente os isolados quanto à capacidade proteolítica e mensurar a atividade deteriorante da mencionada enzima sobre a kappa-caseína, foram isolados da cadeia produtiva de lácteos, identificados e sequenciados genomicamente, microrganismos pertencentes ao grupo do Bacillus cereus que comprovadamente possuiam características proteolíticas e psicrotróficas. De 466 amostras, obteve-se 69 isolados de Bacillus cereus, sendo que o gene npr, fenótipo proteolítico e Plcr estavam presentes em, respectivamente, 97,1%, 92,7% (64) e 88,4% (61) das amostras. O gene cspa foi identificado em 100% das amostras. Entretanto, fenotipicamente apenas um isolado comportou-se como tal, sugerindo a existência de outros fatores para expressão desta característica. A concentração de ácido siálico elevou-se durante o tempo de prateleira do produto, na média, de 3,99 µg/mL para 4,45 µg/mL no primeiro e último dia, respectivamente. Assim, devido a ampla distribuição do Bacillus cereus associada a sua resistência térmica e a elevada frequência de características proteolíticas, faz-se necessário a obtenção higiênica do leite, minimizando contaminações, para que produtos de qualidade possam ser elaborados. / The species included in Bacillus cereus group are widespread in the dairy production chain and are often associated with technological failures in dairy products, due to the production of metalloproteinases. Controlling this microorganism is necessary due to economic losses. In order to assess the presence of npr gene (metalloproteinases production), Plcr (pleiotropic regulator) and cspa (psychotropic signature), proteolytic activity on plates and the spoilage potential of the enzyme on kappa-casein, Bacillus cereus samples which had proteolytic and psychotropic characteristics were isolated from dairy production chain and sequenced. A set of 69 isolates were obtained from 466 samples and the frequency of npr gene, proteolytic activity and Plcr were observed in, respectively, 97.1%, 92,7% and 88,4% of the samples. The cspa gene was present in all samples. However, only one sample demonstrated the psychotropic phenotype, suggesting the existence of other factors involved in the expression of this characteristic. Concentration of free sialic acid during the shelf life of pasteurized milk ranged from 3,99 µg/ml to 4.45 µg/ml in the first and last days of the storage period, respectively. Therefore, due to the wide distribution of Bacillus cereus associated with thermal resistance and high frequency of proteolytic features, hygienic milking practice is critical to decrease contamination and produce milk with higher quality. / FAPESP: 15/20874-0

Orientador: Ana Maria Centola Vidal / Resumo: As espécies do grupo do Bacillus cereus estão na cadeia produtiva do leite associadas a problemas tecnológicos por produzirem metaloproteínases. O controle deste microrganismo se faz necessário devido aos prejuízos causados por perdas. Com o objetivo de verificar a presença do gene npr (produção de metaloproteínases), Plcr (regulador pleitrópico) e cspa (assinatura psicrotrófica), avaliar fenotipicamente os isolados quanto à capacidade proteolítica e mensurar a atividade deteriorante da mencionada enzima sobre a kappa-caseína, foram isolados da cadeia produtiva de lácteos, identificados e sequenciados genomicamente, microrganismos pertencentes ao grupo do Bacillus cereus que comprovadamente possuiam características proteolíticas e psicrotróficas. De 466 amostras, obteve-se 69 isolados de Bacillus cereus, sendo que o gene npr, fenótipo proteolítico e Plcr estavam presentes em, respectivamente, 97,1%, 92,7% (64) e 88,4% (61) das amostras. O gene cspa foi identificado em 100% das amostras. Entretanto, fenotipicamente apenas um isolado comportou-se como tal, sugerindo a existência de outros fatores para expressão desta característica. A concentração de ácido siálico elevou-se durante o tempo de prateleira do produto, na média, de 3,99 µg/mL para 4,45 µg/mL no primeiro e último dia, respectivamente. Assim, devido a ampla distribuição do Bacillus cereus associada a sua resistência térmica e a elevada frequência de características proteolíticas, faz-se necessário a obtenção higiênic... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The species included in Bacillus cereus group are widespread in the dairy production chain and are often associated with technological failures in dairy products, due to the production of metalloproteinases. Controlling this microorganism is necessary due to economic losses. In order to assess the presence of npr gene (metalloproteinases production), Plcr (pleiotropic regulator) and cspa (psychotropic signature), proteolytic activity on plates and the spoilage potential of the enzyme on kappa-casein, Bacillus cereus samples which had proteolytic and psychotropic characteristics were isolated from dairy production chain and sequenced. A set of 69 isolates were obtained from 466 samples and the frequency of npr gene, proteolytic activity and Plcr were observed in, respectively, 97.1%, 92,7% and 88,4% of the samples. The cspa gene was present in all samples. However, only one sample demonstrated the psychotropic phenotype, suggesting the existence of other factors involved in the expression of this characteristic. Concentration of free sialic acid during the shelf life of pasteurized milk ranged from 3,99 µg/ml to 4.45 µg/ml in the first and last days of the storage period, respectively. Therefore, due to the wide distribution of Bacillus cereus associated with thermal resistance and high frequency of proteolytic features, hygienic milking practice is critical to decrease contamination and produce milk with higher quality. / Doutor

A l’échelle du globe, la diminution des ressources en eau est devenue un des principaux facteurs limitants pour les productions agricoles. Jusqu’à présent, les approches génomiques à haut débit conduites chez les espèces modèles ont permis d’identifier des centaines de gènes potentiellement impliqués dans la survie des plantes en conditions de sécheresse,mais très peu ont des effets bénéfiques sur la qualité et le rendement des cultures.Néanmoins, l’application d’un déficit hydrique bien contrôlé peut permettre d’améliorer la qualité des fruits charnus par dilution et/ou accumulation de composés gustatifs majeurs.Dans ce contexte, la première partie du travail de thèse avait pour but de déchiffrer les déterminants génétiques de la réponse au déficit hydrique chez la tomate en explorant les interactions ‘génotype x niveau d’irrigation’ (G x I) et ‘QTL x niveau d’irrigation’ (QTL x I) dans deux populations. La première population consistait en un ensemble de lignées recombinantes (RIL) issues du croisement entre deux accessions cultivées, tandis que la seconde était composée de diverses accessions à petits fruits principalement originaires d'Amérique du Sud. Les plantes ont été phénotypées pour un ensemble de caractères agronomiques (vigueur des plantes et qualité des fruits) et génotypées pour des milliers de SNP. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant les méthodologies de la cartographie de liaison et d'association, permettant l'identification de QTL et gènes candidats putatifs pour la réponse de la tomate au déficit hydrique. La deuxième partie du travail de thèse avait pour objectif d'explorer la régulation des gènes dans les fruits et les feuilles de tomates en condition de déficit hydrique. Dans ce but, des données de séquençage du transcriptome ont été recueillies sur les deux génotypes parentaux de la population RIL et leur hybride F1. Les données ont été analysées pour identifier les gènes et les allèles exprimés de manière différentielle. Puis, l'expression de 200 gènes a été mesurée dans les fruits et les feuilles de l’ensemble des lignées de la population RIL par qPCR micro-fluidique à haut débit. Des eQTL et des interactions ‘eQTL x niveau d’irrigation’ ont été identifiés pour ces gènes par cartographie de liaison. Les colocalisations entre les QTL phénotypiques et les QTL d’expression ont été analysées. Les connaissances produites au cours de cette thèse contribuent à une meilleure compréhension des interactions des plantes de tomate avec leur environnement et fournissent des bases pour l'amélioration de la qualité des fruits en conditions d’irrigation limitée. / Water scarcity will constitute a crucial constraint for agricultural productivity in a nearfuture. High throughput approaches in model species have identified hundreds of genespotentially involved in survival under drought conditions, but very few having beneficialeffects on quality and yield in crops plants. Nonetheless, controlled water deficits mayimprove fleshy fruit quality through weaker dilution and/or accumulation of nutritionalcompounds. In this context, the first part of the PhD was aimed at deciphering the geneticdeterminants of the phenotypic response to water deficit in tomato by exploring thegenotype by watering regime (G x W) and QTL by watering regime (QTL x W) interactions intwo populations. The first population consisted in recombinant inbreed lines (RIL) from across between two cultivated accessions and the second was composed of diverse small fruittomato accessions mostly native from South America. Plants were phenotyped for majorplant and fruit quality traits and genotyped for thousands of SNP. Data were analyzed withinthe linkage and association mapping frameworks allowing the identification of QTLs andputative candidate genes for response to water deficit in tomato. The second part of the PhDhad the objective to explore gene regulation in green fruit and leaves of tomato plantsstressed by water deficit. For this purpose, RNA-Seq data were collected on the two parentalgenotypes of the RIL population and their F1 hybrid. Data were analyzed to identifydifferentially expressed genes and allele specific expression (ASE). Then, the expression of200 genes was measured in leaves and fruits of the whole RIL population by high throughputmicrofluidic qPCR. eQTLs and eQTL by watering regime interactions were mapped for thosegenes using linkage mapping. Colocalisations with the phenotypic QTLs were analyzed. Theknowledge produced during this PhD will contribute to a better understanding of the tomatoplant interaction with their environment and provide bases for improvement of fruit qualityunder limited water supply.

Background Atlantic salmon (Salmo Salar) is a key aquaculture species in several countries. Since its critical role in economic sector and scientific research, this species has been relatively extensively investigated, in comparison with other farmed and wild aquatic species. However, the genetic components associated with growth and fillet-related traits are lack consistency, and the issue of sea louse disease in both wild and famed salmon is still unsolved. Objectives Overall aim of this project was to understand the genetic basis of growth-related traits and host resistance to sea lice using three large commercial farmed salmon populations. Specifically, the method of quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association study (GWAS), and genomic prediction (GS) were utilized to dissect the genetic architectures associated with traits of interest in our experimental populations. Prior to this, linkage mapping was performed to construct a high-density linkage map for Atlantic salmon. Results Linkage map A linkage map was firstly constructed underlying a SNP array containing 132 K validated SNPs. 96,396 SNPs were successfully assigned to 29 chromosomes that correspond to the linkage group number of European Atlantic salmon. 6.5 % of unassigned contigs, which was equal to 1 % of recent whole genome reference assembly (GCA_000233375.4) anchored to exist chromosomes by referring to linkage mapping result. Genetic components associated with growth traits Heritabilities of growth-related traits were about 0.5 to 0.6 in adult and juvenile farmed salmon. The QTL mapping and GWAS suggested the growth-related traits are likely a polygenic genetic architecture with no major QTL segregating. The prediction accuracy estimated by genomic prediction showed that approximately 5,000 SNP markers could achieve the highest accuracy in body weight and length in juvenile salmon within population. Genetic components associated with lice resistance The heritability of lice resistance was 0.22 to 0.33 using pedigree and genetic relationship matrices respectively. GWAS indicated that the host resistance to sea lice was likely polygenic with no individual SNP surpassed the genome-wide significance threshold. Genomic prediction showed that about 5 to 10 K SNPs was able to achieve the asymptote of accuracy in closely related animals, while the greatest advantage of genomic prediction was observed in non-sibling test within population. Conclusions As the growth-related traits and lice resistance are both likely polygenic and population-specific, the genomic prediction is an efficient approach to capture the genetic variances of the traits in selection candidates in experimental population, especially for traits with low heritability such as flesh colour and lice resistance. Family-based selection method is the better choice than mass selection to accumulate the genetic effects in corresponding SNP platform. Given the high cost of genotyping and field data collection, the genotyping-by-sequencing and genotype imputation are likely the way to make significant improvements in relevant research.

Common fragile sites are a set of genomic locations with a propensity to form lesions, breaks and gaps on mitotic chromosomes upon induction of replication stress. While the exact reasons for their fragility are unknown, CFS display instability in a cell-type specific manner, suggesting a substantial contribution from an epigenetic component. CFSs also overlap with sites of increased breakage and deletions in tumour cells, as well as evolutionary breakpoints, implying that their features shape genome stability in vivo. Previously, factors such as delays in replication timing, low origin density and transcription of long genes have been implicated in instability at CFS locations but comprehensive molecular studies are lacking. Chromatin structure, an important factor that fits the profile of cell-type specific contributor, has also not been investigated yet. Throughout their efforts to determine the factors that lead to the appearance of CFS lesions, investigators have focused on a single component at a time, potentially missing out complex interactions between cellular processes that could underlie fragility. Additional difficulties come from the cell-type specificity of CFS breakage: it indicates that only cell type-matched data would be informative, limiting the scope for studies using publicly available data. To perform a comprehensive study defining the role of different factors in determining CFS fragility, I explored replication timing, transcriptional landscapes and chromatin environment across a number of CFSs in two cell types exhibiting differential CFS breakage. Initially, I characterised the patterns of CFS fragility in the two cell types on both the cytogenetic and the molecular level. I then used a FISH-based technique to investigate the process of mitotic compaction at active CFS sites and found that the cytogenetically fragile core of these sites sits within larger regions which display a tendency to mis-fold in mitosis. The aberrant compaction of these regions could be observed on cytogenetically normal metaphase chromosomes, suggesting that finer scale abnormalities in chromosome structure underlie the cytogenetically visible breaks at fragile sites. I also investigated the links between transcription of long genes and CFS fragility using two approaches: I quantified levels of expression across all fragile sites using RNA-seq and modified transcription at a single active CFS using the CRISPR genome engineering methodology. My results indicate a complex interplay between transcription and CFS fragility: no simple linear correlation can be observed, but an increase of transcriptional levels at the active CFS led to a corresponding increase in fragility. To investigate the influence of the cell type specific replication programme and replication stress on CFS instability, I mapped replication timing genome-wide in unperturbed cells and under conditions of replication stress in both cell types. I found that replication stress induces bi-directional changes in replication timing throughout the genome as well as at CFS regions. Surprisingly, the genomic regions showing the most extreme replication timing alterations under replication stress do not overlap with CFS, implying that CFS instability is not fully explained by replication delays as previously suggested. Instead, I observed a range of replication-stress induced timing changes across CFS regions: while some CFSs appear under-replicated, others display switches to both earlier and later replication as well as differential recruitment of both early and late origins, implying that dis-regulation of replication timing and origin firing, rather than simply delays, underlie the sensitivity to CFS regions to replication stress. Finally, I investigated large-scale chromatin states at two active CFSs throughout S phase and into G2, the cell cycle stages most relevant stage for CFS breakage. I found that changes in large-scale chromatin architecture accompany the replication timing shifts triggered by replication stress, raising the possibility that such alterations contribute to instability. In conclusion, I assessed the influence of multiple relevant factors on CFS fragility. I found that bi-directional replication timing changes and alterations in interphase chromatin structure are likely to play a role, converging to promote mitotic folding problems which ultimately result in the well-described cytogenetic lesions on metaphase chromosomes and genomic instability.

Submitted by Samuel Wallace Boer dos Santos (samuel_wallace_eu@hotmail.com) on 2018-10-05T12:41:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação (compacted).pdf: 1033432 bytes, checksum: 72856099afe05132396d596489c6971b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Neli Silvia Pereira null (nelisps@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-10-08T17:47:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_swb_me_jabo.pdf: 1033432 bytes, checksum: 72856099afe05132396d596489c6971b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-08T17:47:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_swb_me_jabo.pdf: 1033432 bytes, checksum: 72856099afe05132396d596489c6971b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-07-31 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Características de eficiência alimentar estão diretamente associadas com a lucratividade e sustentabilidade da bovinocultura de corte. Conversão alimentar, consumo alimentar residual, consumo de matéria seca, eficiência alimentar e ganho em peso, são características importantes para a seleção de animais mais eficientes dentro de um sistema de produção, porém, com exceção do ganho em peso, as demais não vêm sendo consideradas como critérios de seleção devido à dificuldade de obtenção de fenótipos para as mesmas. Com o avanço nas tecnologias de genotipagem e sequenciamento, foram desenvolvidos chips de alta densidade de marcadores do tipo SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) espalhados pelo genoma. Estas informações moleculares vêm sendo utilizadas em estudos de associação genômica ampla (GWAS) e de seleção genômica (SG). Basicamente, o GWAS permite a identificação de variações genéticas de maior efeito sobre a expressão fenotípica de características de interesse, enquanto a SG visa a predição do valor genômico direto dos candidatos à seleção utilizando apenas a informação molecular, o que tem revolucionado o melhoramento genético por proporcionar a diminuição do intervalo de geração e o aumento da acurácia de predição dos valores genéticos dos animais. Assim sendo, os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: 1) encontrar regiões cromossômicas de maior efeito sobre características de eficiência alimentar em animais Nelore provenientes de dois programas de melhoramento (Instituto de Zootecnia - IZ e Nelore Qualitas), visando encontrar possíveis diferenças/semelhanças entre as populações; 2) avaliar a existência de genes candidatos comum às populações; e 3) avaliar a possibilidade e os benefícios de combinar estas duas populações Nelore em estudos de seleção genômica. Foram utilizadas informações fenotípicas e genotípicas de 1.137 animais do IZ e 817 animais do Qualitas. Os animais foram genotipados com painel de alta densidade (Illumina BovineHD chip) ou tiveram seus genótipos imputados para HD através do software FImpute. Após o controle de qualidade dos genótipos, permaneceram para análise 408.161 SNPs para o IZ e 428.621 SNPs para o Qualitas. O GWAS foi realizado para cada população individualmente, considerando a metodologia GBLUP. Modelos unicaracterísticos foram empregados nas análises, incluindo, além dos efeitos aleatórios de animal e resíduo, os efeitos sistemáticos de grupos de contemporâneos (GC), os quais foram definidos como: sexo, ano de nascimento e instalação (IZ) e ano do teste e baia (Qualitas). Para o IZ também foram incluídos, para todas as características, os efeitos fixos de mês de nascimento, e, como covariáveis, idade do animal (linear), idade da mãe (linear e quadrática) e os dois primeiros componentes principais (obtidos a partir da matriz G). O efeito quadrático da idade do animal foi incluído no modelo apenas para o consumo de matéria seca e ganho médio diário. Para o Qualitas, foi considerado, para todas as características, o efeito linear da idade do animal como covariável. No GWAS, foram encontradas algumas regiões cromossômicas de maior efeito para cada característica nas duas populações, porém, não foram encontradas regiões em comum. No estudo de seleção genômica (SG), foram utilizados dez diferentes abordagens e esquemas envolvendo as duas populações para comparar a acurácia de predição. Em geral, a combinação das populações pode gerar benefícios para a seleção genômica, porém, tais benefícios dependem da característica e do esquema de validação. / Feed efficiency traits are directly associated with the profitability and sustainability of beef cattle. Feed conversion rate, residual feed intake, dry matter intake, feed efficiency and average daily gain are important traits for the selection of more efficiency animals within a production system, but, except for weight gain, the others have not been considered as selection criteria due to the difficulty of obtaining phenotypes. With the advance in genotyping and sequencing technologies, high density chips of SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) have been developed. This molecular information has been used in genome-wide association (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS) studies. Basically, GWAS allows the identification of genetic variations with major effects on the phenotypic expression of traits of interest, while SG aims at the prediction of direct genomic value for the selection candidates using only their molecular information, which has revolutionized the animal breeding by providing a decrease in generation interval and increases in the prediction accuracies of breeding values. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to: 1) identify chromosomal regions with major effects on feed efficiency traits in animals from two Nellore breeding programs (Instituto de Zootecnia and Nellore Qualitas), in order to find possible differences/similarities between the populations; 2) evaluate the existence of candidate genes in common to populations; and 3) evaluate the possibility and benefits of combining these two Nellore populations in genomic selection studies. Phenotypic and genotypic information of 1,137 animals from IZ and 817 from Qualitas were used. The animals were genotyped with high density panel (Illumina BovineHD chip) or had their genotypes imputed to HD through the FImpute software. After quality control, remained for analysis 408,161 SNPs for IZ and 428.611 SNPs for Qualitas. The GWAS was performed for each population individually, considering the GBLUP methodology. Single-trait models were implemented in the analyzes, including, in addition to the random effects of animal and residual, the systematic effects of contemporary groups (CG), which were defined as: sex, year of birth and pen for the IZ, and year of test and pen for the Qualitas. For IZ, there were also considered, for all traits, the fixed effects of month of birth and, as covariable, age of animal (linear effect), age of dam (linear and quadratic effects) and the first two principal components (calculated based on the G matrix). For ADG and DMI, the quadratic effect of age of animal, as covariable, was added to the model. For Qualitas, it was also included in the model, for all traits, the linear effect of the animal age as covariable. In GWAS, some chromosomal regions of greater effect were found for each trait in both populations. However, no common regions were found. In GS, ten different approach and schemes involving the two Nellore populations were used to compare the accuracy of genomic prediction. In general, genomic predictions combining both populations are feasible, but, the benefits will depend on the trait and validation scheme. / CNPq: 132884/2016-0 / FAPESP: 2016/24228-9 / FAPESP: 2017/13411-0