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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2023, Vol. 22 Issue (12): 3744-3754    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.02.019
Animal Science · Veterinary Medicine Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Transcriptome-based analysis of key genes and pathways affecting the linoleic acid content in chickens
ZHAO Wen-juan1, 2, YUAN Xiao-ya2, XIANG Hai1, MA Zheng1, CUI Huan-xian2, LI Hua1#, ZHAO Gui-ping1, 2#

1 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, P.R.China

2 Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China

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摘要  

亚油酸是一种必需的多不饱和脂肪酸,不能由人类或动物自身合成,只能从外部获得。亚油酸的含量对肉的质量和风味有影响,并间接影响消费者的偏好。然而,影响亚油酸在生物体内沉积的分子机制并不清楚。因为对于亚油酸沉积的分子机制尚不明晰,为了研究影响亚油酸含量的主要效应基因,本研究旨在通过转录组测序(RNA-Seq)和加权基因共表达网络分析(WGCNA)来筛选慢型型黄羽鸡的关键基因。我们为了筛选与慢型黄羽肉鸡中亚油酸含量相关的候选基因,126天上市日龄时宰杀了399只天农麻鸡,测量了胸肌中的脂肪酸含量,并收集胸肌组织进行转录组测序。通过将转录组测序结果与WGCNA的表型相结合,来筛选候选基因。并对在相关度最高的模块中显著相关的基因进行了KEGG富集分析。在对399个胸肌组织进行基于RNA-Seq的质量控制后,共获得13,310个基因。使用这些基因进行了WGCNA,共得到26个模块,其中8个与亚油酸含量高度相关的模块。根据|GS|>0.2和|MM|>0.8的标准进行筛选,得到四个关键基因,即MDH2ATP5BRPL7APDGFRA。KEGG富集后结果显示,目标模块内的基因主要富集在代谢途径中。本研究通过大样本量的转录组分析,发现代谢途径在天农麻鸡亚油酸含量的调控中起着重要作用,并筛选出MDH2ATP5BRPL7APDGFRA作为影响亚油酸含量的重要候选基因。本研究结果为选择分子标记和全面了解影响肌肉中亚油酸含量的分子机制提供了理论依据,为慢速型黄羽肉鸡的育种提供了重要参考。



Abstract  

Linoleic acid is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by humans or animals themselves and can only be obtained externally.  The amount of linoleic acid present has an impact on the quality and flavour of meat and indirectly affects consumer preference.  However, the molecular mechanisms influencing the deposition of linoleic acid in organisms are not clear.  As the molecular mechanisms of linoleic acid deposition are not well understood, to investigate the main effector genes affecting the linoleic acid content, this study aimed to screen for hub genes in slow-type yellow-feathered chickens by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA).  We screened for candidate genes associated with the linoleic acid content in slow-type yellow-feathered broilers.  A total of 399 Tiannong partridge chickens were slaughtered at 126 days of age, fatty acid levels were measured in pectoral muscle, and pectoral muscle tissue was collected for transcriptome sequencing.  Transcriptome sequencing results were combined with phenotypes for WGCNA to screen for candidate genes.  KEGG enrichment analysis was also performed on the genes that were significantly enriched in the modules with the highest correlation.  A total of 13 310 genes were identified after quality control of transcriptomic data from 399 pectoral muscle tissues.  WGCNA was performed, and a total of 26 modules were obtained, eight of which were highly correlated with the linoleic acid content.  Four key genes, namely, MDH2, ATP5B, RPL7A and PDGFRA, were screened according to the criteria |GS|>0.2 and |MM|>0.8.  The functional enrichment results showed that the genes within the target modules were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways.  In this study, a large-sample-size transcriptome analysis revealed that metabolic pathways play an important role in the regulation of the linoleic acid content in Tiannong partridge chickens, and MDH2, ATP5B, RPL7A and PDGFRA were screened as important candidate genes affecting the linoleic acid content.  The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for selecting molecular markers and comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanism affecting the linoleic acid content in muscle, providing an important reference for the breeding of slow-type yellow-feathered broiler chickens.

Keywords:  chicken        linoleic acid        transcriptome sequencing        weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA)        metabolic pathways  
Received: 27 September 2022   Accepted: 29 December 2022
Fund: This study was supported by the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-41), the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province, China (2020B020222002), the Foshan University High-level Talent Program, China (CGZ07243), the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, China (2019B030301010), the Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, China (2019KSYS011), and the Foshan Institute of Science and Technology Postgraduate Free Exploration Fund, China (2021ZYTS36).
About author:  ZHAO Wen-juan, E-mail: zhaowj0508@163.com; #Correspondence ZHAO Gui-ping, E-mail: zhaoguiping@caas.cn; LI Hua, E-mail: okhuali@aliyun.com

Cite this article: 

ZHAO Wen-juan, YUAN Xiao-ya, XIANG Hai, MA Zheng, CUI Huan-xian, LI Hua, ZHAO Gui-ping. 2023. Transcriptome-based analysis of key genes and pathways affecting the linoleic acid content in chickens. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 22(12): 3744-3754.

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