Xu Xinlei, Fan Suyu, Ji Wangyang, Qi Shangzong, Liu Linyu, Cao Zhi, Bao Qiang, Zhang Yang, Xu Qi, Chen Guohong
Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Poultry Genetic Resources of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Apr 10;25(8):4166. doi: 10.3390/ijms25084166.
Goose is one of the most economically valuable poultry species and has a distinct appearance due to its possession of a knob. A knob is a hallmark of sexual maturity in goose () and plays crucial roles in artificial selection, health status, social signaling, and body temperature regulation. However, the genetic mechanisms influencing the growth and development of goose knobs remain completely unclear. In this study, histomorphological and transcriptomic analyses of goose knobs in D70, D120, and D300 Yangzhou geese revealed differential changes in tissue morphology during the growth and development of goose knobs and the key core genes that regulate goose knob traits. Observation of tissue sections revealed that as age increased, the thickness of the knob epidermis, cuticle, and spinous cells gradually decreased. Additionally, fat cells in the dermis and subcutaneous connective tissue transitioned from loose to dense. Transcriptome sequencing results, analyzed through differential expression, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and pattern expression analysis methods, showed D70-vs.-D120 (up-regulated: 192; down-regulated: 423), D70-vs.-D300 (up-regulated: 1394; down-regulated: 1893), and D120-vs.-D300 (up-regulated: 1017; down-regulated: 1324). A total of 6243 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, indicating varied expression levels across the three groups in the knob tissues of D70, D120, and D300 Yangzhou geese. These DEGs are significantly enriched in biological processes (BP) such as skin morphogenesis, the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation, and epidermal cell differentiation. Furthermore, they demonstrate enrichment in pathways related to goose knob development, including ECM-receptor interaction, NF-kappa B, and PPAR signaling. Through pattern expression analysis, three gene expression clusters related to goose knob traits were identified. The joint analysis of candidate genes associated with goose knob development and WGCNA led to the identification of key core genes influencing goose knob development. These core genes comprise , , , , , , , , , , and . In summary, this study provides a reference for understanding the molecular mechanisms of goose knob growth and development and provides effective ideas and methods for the genetic improvement of goose knob traits.
鹅是经济价值最高的家禽品种之一，因其头部有肉瘤而外形独特。肉瘤是鹅性成熟的标志，在人工选择、健康状况、社交信号传递和体温调节中发挥着关键作用。然而，影响鹅肉瘤生长发育的遗传机制仍完全不清楚。在本研究中，对70日龄、120日龄和300日龄扬州鹅的肉瘤进行组织形态学和转录组分析，揭示了鹅肉瘤生长发育过程中组织形态的差异变化以及调控鹅肉瘤性状的关键核心基因。组织切片观察显示，随着年龄增长，肉瘤表皮、角质层和棘细胞的厚度逐渐减小。此外，真皮和皮下结缔组织中的脂肪细胞从疏松变为致密。通过差异表达分析、加权基因共表达网络分析（WGCNA）和模式表达分析方法对转录组测序结果进行分析，结果显示70日龄与120日龄相比（上调：192个；下调：423个），70日龄与300日龄相比（上调：1394个；下调：1893个），120日龄与300日龄相比（上调：1017个；下调：1324个）。共鉴定出6243个差异表达基因（DEGs），表明70日龄、120日龄和300日龄扬州鹅肉瘤组织中这三组基因的表达水平各不相同。这些DEGs在皮肤形态发生、角质形成细胞增殖调控和表皮细胞分化等生物学过程（BP）中显著富集。此外，它们还在与鹅肉瘤发育相关的途径中富集，包括细胞外基质-受体相互作用、核因子κB和过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体信号通路。通过模式表达分析，鉴定出三个与鹅肉瘤性状相关的基因表达簇。对与鹅肉瘤发育相关的候选基因和WGCNA进行联合分析，确定了影响鹅肉瘤发育的关键核心基因。这些核心基因包括 ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ， ，和 。总之，本研究为理解鹅肉瘤生长发育的分子机制提供了参考，为鹅肉瘤性状的遗传改良提供了有效的思路和方法。
