中国农业科学 ›› 2026, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (13): 2975-2992.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2026.13.017

• 畜牧·兽医 • 上一篇    

基于加权基因共表达网络分析挖掘影响静原鸡肉品质相关候选基因

赵薇1(), 田进理1, 陈丝雨1, 杨丽娟1, 马丽娜1, 张国俊2, 张虎2, 胡伟龙3, 余海荣3, 张海波3, 张娟1()   

  1. 1 宁夏大学动物科技学院, 银川 750021
    2 彭阳县动物疾病预防控制中心, 宁夏固原 756500
    3 宁夏九三零生态农牧有限公司, 银川 750200
  • 收稿日期:2025-12-05 接受日期:2026-03-24 出版日期:2026-07-01 发布日期:2026-07-01
  • 通信作者:
    张娟,Tel:17795194299;E-mail:
  • 联系方式: 赵薇,Tel:15709616397;E-mail:z1729921403w@163.com。
  • 基金资助:
    青年拔尖人才项目; 禽蛋产业首席专家团队项目

Exploration of Candidate Genes Affecting Meat Quality of Jingyuan Chicken Based on Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis

ZHAO Wei1(), TIAN JinLi1, CHEN SiYu1, YANG LiJuan1, MA LiNa1, ZHANG GuoJun2, ZHANG Hu2, HU WeiLong3, YU HaiRong3, ZHANG HaiBo3, ZHANG Juan1()   

  1. 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021
    2 Pengyang County Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Guyuan 756500, Ningxia
    3 Ningxia 930 Ecological Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd., Yinchuan 750200
  • Received:2025-12-05 Accepted:2026-03-24 Published:2026-07-01 Online:2026-07-01

摘要: 【背景】静原鸡作为宁夏地方鸡品种,具有肉质鲜美、风味独特等优势,但存在生长速度慢、肌内脂肪(intramuscular fat,IMF)沉积不均等问题。前期研究发现,日粮中添加0.6%鲜食玉米萃取物(fresh corn extract, FCE)可显著改善静原鸡肉品质,但FCE影响静原鸡肉品质的关键候选基因尚不清晰。【目的】深入挖掘FCE影响静原鸡肉品质的关键候选基因,为改善静原鸡肉品质、优化肉鸡饲养策略提供科学依据。【方法】前期研究选取了相同饲养水平的135日龄(1.5±0.2) kg的静原鸡120只,将其分为4个组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组分别在基础日粮中添加0.3%、0.6%和0.9%的FCE。经过45 d的饲喂后到达180日龄,采集胸肌测定了肉品质,筛选出了最适宜添加量0.6% FCE。基于前期研究结果,将对照组和0.6%FCE组静原鸡血清和胸肌进行脂质因子的测定,并利用加权共表达网络分析(weighted gene co-expression network analysis, WGCNA)对胸肌转录组测序数据进行深入分析,挖掘与肉品质显著相关的关键候选基因。【结果】0.6% FCE组血清中的TG和VLDL的含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);0.6% FCE组胸肌组织中的TG、TC和HDL的含量显著升高(P<0.05)。通过WGCNA分析共得到19个共表达模块,共筛选出与肉品质显著相关的6个目标模块,包括purple、midnightblue、lightgreen、cyan、grey60和salmon(|R 2|≥0.5,P<0.5)。对6个目标模块内的枢纽基因进行KEGG通路富集分析和GO功能富集分析发现,purple模块枢纽基因极显著富集在胰岛素信号传导通路、线粒体自噬-动物等途径;midnightblue模块枢纽基因富集在嘧啶代谢、嘌呤代谢等途径;lightgreen 模块枢纽基因富集在内质网中的蛋白质加工、MAPK信号传导通路等途径;cyan模块枢纽基因主要富集在细胞黏附分子、吞噬体等途径;grey60模块枢纽基因通路有血管平滑肌收缩、肌动蛋白细胞骨架调控等途径;salmon模块枢纽基因富集在MAPK信号传导通路、p53信号传导通路等途径。通过枢纽基因与差异表达基因(differently expressed genes, DEGs)比较分析,筛选出10个重叠基因。通过蛋白互作分析和功能富集分析鉴定出CLDN18NKX2-1TRIB1是影响肉品质的关键候选基因。【结论】研究最终筛选出CLDN18NKX2-1TRIB1等影响肉品质的关键候选基因。为解析FCE调控肉品质的分子机制提供了参考,并为地方鸡种肉品质改良提供了新视角。

关键词: 静原鸡, 鲜食玉米萃取物, 肉品质, 加权基因共表达网络分析, 转录组

Abstract:

【Background】The Jingyuan chicken, a local chicken breed in Ningxia, boasts advantages such as delicious meat quality and unique flavor. However, it faces challenges including slow growth rates and uneven intramuscular fat deposition. Previous studies have shown that adding 0.6% fresh corn extract (FCE) to the diet could significantly improve the meat quality of Jingyuan chickens, but the key candidate genes through which FCE affected meat quality remained unclear. 【Objective】This research aimed to delve deeper into the key candidate genes influenced by FCE affecting meat quality in Jingyuan chickens, thereby providing a scientific basis for improving meat quality and optimizing meat chicken feeding strategies.Method】 In earlier studies, 120 Jingyuan chickens at 135 days old (1.5±0.2 kg), raised under the same conditions, were divided into four groups. The control group was fed a basic diet, while the experimental groups received diets supplemented with 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% FCE, respectively. After 45 days of feeding, the chickens reached 180 days old, at which point breast muscle was collected to assess meat quality, determining that the optimal addition amount was 0.6% FCE. Based on the outcomes of previous research, serum and breast muscle lipid factors were measured for the control and 0.6% FCE groups. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to conduct an in-depth analysis of the transcriptome sequencing data of breast muscle, uncovering key candidate genes significantly associated with meat quality.Result】 The serum levels of triglycerides (TG) and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) in the 0.6% FCE group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The TG, total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the breast muscle tissue of the 0.6% FCE group were also found to be significantly elevated (P<0.05). Through WGCNA analysis, a total of 19 co-expression modules were identified, with six target modules significantly associated with meat quality being selected: purple, midnight blue, light green, cyan, grey60, and salmon (|R2| ≥ 0.5, P<0.5). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis of the hub genes within these modules revealed significant enrichment of the hub genes in the purple module in pathways, such as insulin signaling and mitochondrial autophagy; the midnight blue module hub genes were enriched in pyrimidine and purine metabolism; the light green module hub genes were associated with protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and MAPK signaling pathway; the cyan module hub genes mainly enriched pathways related to cell adhesion molecules and phagosome processes; the grey60 module hub genes were linked to vascular smooth muscle contraction and actin cytoskeleton regulation; and the salmon module hub genes enriched in MAPK signaling and p53 signaling pathways. Through comparative analyses of hub genes and differently expressed genes (DEGs), ten overlapping genes were identified. Protein interaction and functional enrichment analyses identified CLDN18, NKX2-1, and TRIB1 as key candidate genes influencing meat quality. Conclusion】 This study ultimately identified key candidate genes affecting meat quality, namely CLDN18, NKX2-1, and TRIB1. The findings provided a reference for understanding the molecular mechanisms by which FCE regulates meat quality and offered a new perspective for the improvement of meat quality in local chicken breeds.

Key words: Jingyuan chicken, fresh corn extract, meat quality, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, transcriptome