Lv Xueze, Shi Bozhi, Ren Haiyuan, Yang Weifang, Qu Lujiang, Obianwuna Uchechukwu Edna, Lyu Xueqi
College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Product Testing Department, Beijing General Animal Husbandry Station, Beijing 100107, China.
Genes (Basel). 2024 Nov 29;15(12):1553. doi: 10.3390/genes15121553.
Sebum deposition is a vital trait influencing meat quality and production efficiency in Pekin ducks. Providing insights into the genetic basis of fat deposition could help improve breeding strategies aimed at producing high-quality meat ducks. This study aimed to identify the genetic mechanisms and lipid metabolism pathways regulating subcutaneous and intramuscular fat deposition in two Pekin duck strains: Nankou No. 1 and Jingdian.
A total of 72 male ducks, Nankou No. 1 (n = 36) and Jingdian (n = 36), were raised under controlled conditions for 42 days. On days 28, 35, and 42, ducks from each group were selected and slaughtered, and their subcutaneous and liver tissues were collected to analyze lipid enzyme activities. On day 42, additional ducks from each strain were slaughtered and evaluated for carcass performance, as well as intramuscular and sebum yield. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was conducted in the Nankou No. 1 strain.
Our results showed statistically significant differences in intramuscular and subcutaneous fat yield between the two strains, with Nankou No. 1 exhibiting a higher yield than Jingdian ( < 0.05). The GWAS results identified 96 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associated with sebum deposition. Functional annotation identified as a key candidate gene involved in lipid metabolism and fat storage regulation in Pekin ducks, Nankou No. 1 strain. Enzyme activity assays in liver and subcutaneous tissues revealed breed-specific differences in lipid metabolism, aligning with genetic findings. The activities of the lipid enzymes changed over time, suggesting changes in the developmental stages. The results on fat yield and enzymatic activities further align with molecular findings from the GWAS, which identified variations in lipid metabolism pathways. These results highlight genetic markers and biochemical pathways related to fat deposition in Pekin ducks, offering new insights for selective breeding programs aimed at optimizing fat content in meat production. Further research is needed to clarify the specific role of in lipid metabolism and its potential to enhance fat deposition traits in poultry.
皮脂沉积是影响北京鸭肉质和生产效率的一个重要性状。深入了解脂肪沉积的遗传基础有助于改进旨在培育高品质肉鸭的育种策略。本研究旨在确定调控两个北京鸭品系（南口1号和荆店）皮下和肌内脂肪沉积的遗传机制及脂质代谢途径。
将72只雄性鸭，即南口1号（n = 36）和荆店（n = 36），在可控条件下饲养42天。在第28天、35天和42天，从每组中挑选鸭子进行屠宰，并采集其皮下和肝脏组织以分析脂质酶活性。在第42天，宰杀每个品系的另外一些鸭子，并对胴体性能以及肌内和皮脂产量进行评估。对南口1号品系进行全基因组关联分析（GWAS）。
我们的结果显示，两个品系之间的肌内和皮下脂肪产量存在统计学上的显著差异，南口1号的产量高于荆店（< 0.05）。GWAS结果确定了96个与皮脂沉积相关的显著单核苷酸多态性（SNP）。功能注释确定[基因名称未给出]是参与北京鸭（南口1号品系）脂质代谢和脂肪储存调控的关键候选基因。肝脏和皮下组织中的酶活性测定揭示了脂质代谢中品系特异性差异，与遗传研究结果一致。脂质酶的活性随时间变化，表明发育阶段存在变化。脂肪产量和酶活性的结果进一步与GWAS的分子研究结果一致，后者确定了脂质代谢途径中的变异。这些结果突出了与北京鸭脂肪沉积相关的遗传标记和生化途径，为旨在优化肉类生产中脂肪含量的选择性育种计划提供了新的见解。需要进一步研究以阐明[基因名称未给出]在脂质代谢中的具体作用及其增强家禽脂肪沉积性状的潜力。
