ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2016, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1): 25-33.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2016.01.004

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Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes for Myofiber Characteristics in Soleus Muscles between Qingyuan Partridge Chickens and Cobb Broilers

SHU Jing-ting#,ZHANG Ming#,SONG Chi,SHAN Yan-ju,XU Wen-juan,SONG Wei-tao,LI Hui-fang*   

  1. (Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science,Yangzhou 225125,China)
  • Received:2015-01-22 Online:2016-01-23 Published:2016-01-23

Abstract:

In the modern chicken industry,fast-growing broilers have undergone strong artificial selection for muscle growth,which has led to remarkable phenotypic variations compared with slow-growing chickens.The present study was designed to explore the molecular mechanism underlying these phenotypes differences.Agilent cDNA microarray analyses were conducted to determine gene expression profiles of soleus muscle sampled at sexual maturity age of Qingyuan Partridge chickens (QY,112 d,a slow-growing Chinese breed with high meat quality) and Cobb broilers (CB,42 d,a commercial fast-growing broiler line).A systematic identification of candidate genes and new pathways related to myofiber development and composition in soleus muscles between the 2 breeds were analyzed.1 318 genes with at least 2-fold differences were identified in soleus muscles of QY and CB chickens.When slow-growing QY chickens were compared with fast-growing CB chickens,the expression of 501 genes were up-regulated,and 817 genes were down-regulated.These genes mainly were related to muscle development,energy metabolism or lipid metabolism processes.In addition,based on KEGG pathway analysis,it was found that in addition to pathways affecting myofiber development and differentiation (pathways for Hedgehog & Calcium signaling),energy metabolism signaling pathways (Wnt signaling pathway,mTOR signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,ErbB signaling pathway and JAK-STAT signaling pathway) were also enriched.Our data indicates that energy and muscle metabolism pathways might form a network,which influence the development of myofibers,20 genes were potentially related to myofiber development and composition.However,large scale analyses are still required to validate the role of the genes identified and ultimately to find molecular markers that can be used for selection or to optimize rearing practices.

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