Study on genes related to meat quality traits of Jingyuan chicken based on transcriptome sequencing

LUO Yan; GAO Bo; LIU Shengnan; SHI Fuyue; GUO Hailong; YANG Yongqiang; HOU Lulu

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.12.020

Abstract：The experiment aimed to explore the candidate genes and signal pathways related to meat quality traits in different groups of Jingyuan chickens through transcriptome sequencing analysis of their pectoral muscle tissues.Five healthy hens of 180-day-old Jingyuan chickens from four groups were selected,and the pectoral muscle tissue was collected.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between different groups were screened using transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq)technology,and gene ontology(GO)functional analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis were performed.Nine DEGs were randomly selected for real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)verification.The results showed that a total of 123 DEGs were obtained,including 40 up-regulated genes and 83 down-regulated genes.There were 64 significantly enriched GO functional entries,and the DEGs were mainly involved in muscle organ development,striated muscle tissue development,muscle tissue development,striated muscle cell proliferation and lipid modification,etc.There were 11 significantly enriched KEGG signaling pathways,and the DEGs were mainly enriched in signaling pathways such as tyrosine metabolism,oxidative phosphorylation,glycerophospholipid metabolism,and arachidonic acid metabolism.The RT-qPCR results of nine DEGs were consistent with the RNA-seq results.The study shows that prostaglandin D synthase,glycerol phosphocholine phosphodiesterase 1,tyrosinase-associated protein 1,myostatin and actin alpha myocardial 1 were important candidate genes affecting the meat quality traits of Jingyuan chicken.Glycerophospholipid metabolism,tyrosine metabolism,and arachidonic acid metabolism signal pathways may be involved in the regulation of meat quality traits in Jingyuan chicken.