转录组分析揭示了类固醇激素合成途径影响肉鸡腹脂沉积

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2023.04.015

摘要/Abstract

摘要：

肉鸡的腹部脂肪过度沉积会造成很多不良后果，例如降低肉鸡的饲料效率、影响肉鸡健康、增加生产成本等。因此，培育低腹脂系的肉鸡品种具有重要意义。鸡的腹脂沉积是一个由遗传因素主导的多因素共同调控的复杂生理过程，其分子基础难以捉摸。在本研究中，我们通过转录组分析比较了腹部脂肪沉积不同阶段的差异基因，以鉴定影响腹部脂肪沉积的关键基因和途径。我们发现腹脂重（AFW）从第35天（D35）到第91天（D91）逐渐增加，然后在第119天下降。我们比较D35 vs D63、D35 vs D91的基因表达水平，鉴定差异表达基因（DEGs），并通过加权基因共表达网络分析（WGCNA）识别与脂肪沉积相关的基因模块。然后，对鉴定到的DEGs与WGCNA基因模块进行交叉分析，在D35 vs D63、D35 vs D91分别鉴定出394个和435个交叉基因。对这些交叉基因进行功能富集分析，基因本体论（GO）和京都基因与基因组百科（KEGG）通路富集分析结果表明，类固醇激素生物合成途径和胰岛素信号通路在所有交叉基因中被共同富集，已有研究表明类固醇激素生物合成能途径调控胰岛素信号通路，表明类固醇激素生物合成途径在肉鸡腹部脂肪发育过程中发挥重要作用。接着采用CytoHubba的15种算法对这些交叉基因进行筛选，最终鉴定到6个与腹部脂肪沉积相关的hub基因（ACTB, SOX9, RHOBTB2, PDLIM3, NEDD9和DOCK4）。SOX9已被证明与类固醇激素受体结合所需的蛋白质结合，而RHOBTB2通过cyclin因子间接调控类固醇激素的生物合成，并最终影响脂肪沉积。同时，PPI蛋白互作预测分析发现这6个hub基因的蛋白水平存在互作关系。综上所述，我们分析表明RHOBTB2和SOX9基因可以通过调节类固醇激素生物合成途径在肉仔鸡脂肪沉积中发挥重要作用。本研究的结果为进一步研究鸡脂肪沉积机制提供了新的方向和思路。

Abstract:

Excessive abdominal fat deposition reduces the feed efficiency and increase the cost of production in broilers. Therefore, it is an important task for poultry breeders to breed broilers with low abdominal fat. Abdominal fat deposition is a highly complex biological process, and its molecular basis remains elusive. In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis to compare gene expression profiles at different stages of abdominal fat deposition to identify the key genes and pathways involved in abdominal fat accumulation. We found that abdominal fat weight (AFW) increased gradually from day 35 (D35) to 91 (D91), and then decreased at day 119 (D119). Accordingly, after detecting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing gene expression profiles at D35 vs. D63 and D35 vs. D91, and identifying gene modules associated with fat deposition by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we performed intersection analysis of the detected DEGs and WGCNA gene modules and identified 394 and 435 intersecting genes, respectively. The results of the Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses showed that the steroid hormone biosynthesis and insulin signaling pathways were co-enriched in all intersecting genes, steroid hormones have been shown that regulated insulin signaling pathway, indicating the importance of the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway in the development of broiler abdominal fat. We then identified 6 hub genes (ACTB, SOX9, RHOBTB2, PDLIM3, NEDD9, and DOCK4) related to abdominal fat deposition. Further analysis also revealed that there were direct interactions between 6 hub genes. SOX9 has been shown to bind to proteins required for steroid hormone receptor binding, and RHOBTB2 indirectly regulates the steroid hormones biosynthesis through cyclin factor, and ultimately affect fat deposition. Our results suggest that the genes RHOBTB2 and SOX9 play an important role in fat deposition in broilers, by regulating steroid hormone synthesis. These findings provide new targets and directions for further studies on the mechanisms of fat deposition in chicken.

Key words: broilers , abdominal fat deposition , transcriptome analysis , Hub genes , steroid hormones biosynthesis pathway

Yuting Zhu, Yongli Wang, Yidong Wang, Guiping Zhao, Jie Wen, Huanxian Cui. 转录组分析揭示了类固醇激素合成途径影响肉鸡腹脂沉积[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(9): 3118-3128.

Yuting Zhu, Yongli Wang, Yidong Wang, Guiping Zhao, Jie Wen, Huanxian Cui. Transcriptome analysis reveals steroid hormones biosynthesis pathway involved in abdominal fat deposition in broilers[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2024, 23(9): 3118-3128.

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