Transcriptomic profiling in muscle and adipose tissue identifies genes related to growth and lipid deposition

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 6;12(9):e0184120. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184120. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Growth performance and meat quality are important traits for the pig industry and consumers. Adipose tissue is the main site at which fat storage and fatty acid synthesis occur. Therefore, we combined high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing in adipose and muscle tissues with the quantification of corresponding phenotypic features using seven Chinese indigenous pig breeds and one Western commercial breed (Yorkshire). We obtained data on 101 phenotypic traits, from which principal component analysis distinguished two groups: one associated with the Chinese breeds and one with Yorkshire. The numbers of differentially expressed genes between all Chinese breeds and Yorkshire were shown to be 673 and 1056 in adipose and muscle tissues, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are associated with biological functions and canonical pathways related to oxidoreductase activity, immune response, and metabolic process. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis found more coexpression modules significantly correlated with the measured phenotypic traits in adipose than in muscle, indicating that adipose regulates meat and carcass quality. Using the combination of differential expression, QTL information, gene significance, and module hub genes, we identified a large number of candidate genes potentially related to economically important traits in pig, which should help us improve meat production and quality.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / growth & development
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genes / genetics
  • Genes / physiology
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Lipid Metabolism / physiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / growth & development
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable
  • Swine / genetics
  • Swine / metabolism
  • Transcriptome / genetics
  • Transcriptome / physiology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Sichuan Youth Science & Technology Foundation (2016JQ0041, 2017JQ0011) to Y.R.G., the Science & Technology Support Program of Sichuan (2016NYZ0042, 2016NZ0108) to X.B.L., the Program for Pig Industry Technology System Innovation Team of Sichuan Province (SCCXTD-001, SCCXTD-005) to X.B.L., the National Swine Industry Technology System Program (CARS-36) to X.B.L., the Special Finance of Sichuan (SASA2014CZYX001) to X.B.L., the Key Projects in the National Science & Technology Pillar Program (2015BAD03B02-10) to X.B.L and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31301942), the Open Fund of Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics (SASA2015A01, 2016YSKY0138) to Y.R.G.