RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Hub Genes Involved in Chicken Intramuscular Fat and Abdominal Fat Deposition During Development

Abstract

Fat traits are important in the chicken industry where there is a desire for high intramuscular fat (IMF) and low abdominal fat. However, there is limited knowledge on the relationship between the dynamic status of gene expression and the body fat deposition in chicken. Transcriptome data were obtained from breast muscle and abdominal fat of female chickens from nine developmental stages (from embryonic day 12 to hatched day 180). In total, 8,545 genes in breast muscle and 6,824 genes in abdominal fat were identified as developmentally dynamic genes. Weighted correlation network analysis was used to identify gene modules and the hub genes. Twenty-one hub genes were identified, e.g., <i>ENSGALG00000041996</i>, which represents a candidate for high IMF, and <i>CREB3L1</i>, which relates to low abdominal fat weight. The transcript factor <i>L3MBTL1</i> and the transcript factor cofactors <i>TNIP1</i>, <i>HAT1</i>, and <i>BEND6</i> related to both high breast muscle IMF and low abdominal fat weight. Our results provide a resource of developmental transcriptome profiles in chicken breast muscle and abdominal fat. The candidate genes can be used in the selection for increased IMF content and/or a decrease in abdominal fat weight which would contribute to the improvement of these traits.