Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (7): 2951-2962.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2024.07.015

• Animal Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparative Analysis of Blood Transcriptome in Yili Horses Bred for Meat Performance

Wanqing LI1(), Yaqi ZENG1,2, Xinkui YAO1,2, Jianwen WANG1,2, Xinxin YUAN1, Chen MENG1, Yuanfang SUN1, Xuan PENG1, Jun MENG1,2,*()   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
    2. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Sports Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China
  • Received:2023-12-25 Online:2024-07-23 Published:2024-07-24
  • Contact: Jun MENG E-mail:1085037205@qq.com;junm86@qq.com

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to screen and analyze the differentially expressed genes by studying the blood transcriptome of different meat performance of Yili horses, so as to provide molecular basis for subsequent research on meat performance of Yili horses. The 12 healthy Yili mares aged 4-5 were selected from the core group of 112 meat type Yili horses. The horses with the backfat thickness higher than 4.4 mm and eye muscle area higher than 31.5 cm2 were from the (HW group) with better meat performance, with an average weight of 528.67 kg; The horses with the backfat thickness lower than 2.2 mm, eye muscle area lower than 19.5 cm2 were from the common group (LW group) with an average weight of 327.00 kg, with 6 horses in each group. Blood samples were collected for transcriptome sequencing. The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that a total of 370 differentially expressed genes were screened (P<0.05), including 158 upregulated genes and 212 downregulated genes. GO functional enrichment analysis showed that the meat performance of Yili horses might be related to the G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway process, extracellular regions, and transmembrane signal receptor activity. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the meat performance of Yili horses might be related to pathways such as protein digestion and absorption, thyroid hormone synthesis, and cortisol synthesis and secretion. CTSH, SSTR1, APOA1, and ITM2A could be candidate genes for meat performance of Yili horse breeds, and the research results are intended to provide reference for a better understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanism of growth and development of meat-producing Yili horses.

Key words: Yili horses, meat performance, blood, transcriptome, signal pathway

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