Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (10): 4889-4902.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2025.10.011

• Animal Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification of Candidate Genes and Key Pathways Associated with Body Weight at 16 Weeks of Age in Kangle Yellow Chickens Based on Omics Data

MA Jing'e1,2(), WAN Shuxing1,2, LEI Wenjing1,2, ZHANG Yingzhi1,2, YU Zixuan1,2, LIU Zige1,2, XU Jiguo1,2,*()   

  1. 1. Institution of Biological Technology, Nanchang Normal University, Nanchang 330032, China
    2. Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Poultry Genetic Improvement, Nanchang 330032, China
  • Received:2025-03-05 Online:2025-10-23 Published:2025-11-01
  • Contact: XU Jiguo E-mail:382646281@qq.com;3425614@qq.com

Abstract:

This study aimed to identify functional genes and key signaling pathways related to body weight at 16 weeks of age in Kangle yellow chickens based on omics data, in order to provide a basis for the selection and breeding of local chicken breeds for market weight traits. To detect SNPs significantly associated with body weight at 16-week in 434 Kangle yellow chickens, genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using the "Jingxin No. 1" 55K SNP chip. A total of 13 potential SNPs significantly associated with target traits were detected, located on chromosome 3 (81 641 565 bp), chromosome 4 (1 860 041 bp, 33 409 710 bp, 33 716 131 bp, 33 925 946 bp), chromosome 6 (23 563 123 bp, 35 324 210 bp), chromosome 11 (15 294 113 bp, 15 346 007 bp), chromosome 12 (2 503 065 bp, 2 504 749 bp) and chromosome 18 (1 994 686 bp, 2 307 607 bp). The 825 candidate genes near SNP sites were screened. Gene function annotation analysis showed the most significant enrichment of biological processes was motor activity. The significant enrichment of 17 KEGG pathways were found, including tight junction, glycosaminoglycan degradation and metabolic pathways (P < 0.05). Combined with previous transcriptomic sequencing data, and published literature, KCNQ5, P2RY10, ITM2A, RBPMS, PGAM1, CYP17A1, BNIP3, ATMIN, BCO1, TNNC1, GNAI2, MYH1F, MYH1A, MYH10, and PIK3R5 were preliminarily identified as important candidate genes for body weight traits at 16 weeks of age in Kangle yellow chickens. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, metabolic pathway, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes and tight junction were key pathways. In this study, 13 SNPs, 15 key candidate genes and 4 key pathways were preliminarily identified related to the body weight at 16-week of Kangle yellow chicken. These results provided theoretical basis and technical support for molecular marker-assisted breeding of growth traits in Kangle yellow chickens.

Key words: Kangle yellow chicken, SNP, GWAS, body weight traits, candidate gene, gene pathway

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