China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (11): 4403-4413.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2023.11.009

• Biotechnology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genome-wide Association Study and Transcriptomics Combined to Analyze the Regulatory Mechanisms of Eggshell Color in Jingyuan Chickens

WEI Rong1, DENG Zhanzhao2, CAO Guowei2, ZHU Hongfang3, YU Baojun1, ZHAO Wei1, CHEN Yafei4, ZHANG Tong1, ZHANG Juan1   

  1. 1. College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
    2. Pengyang County Animal Husbandry Technology Popularization Service Center, Guyuan 756599, China;
    3. Pengyang County Animal Health Supervision Institute, Guyuan 756599, China;
    4. Yinchuan City Animal Husbandry Technology Extension Service Center, Yinchuan 750021, China
  • Received:2023-03-22 Online:2023-11-05 Published:2023-10-27

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to screen the candidate genes related to the regulation of eggshell color in Jingyuan chickens by genome-wide association study and transcriptomic analysis, and explore the regulatory mechanism of eggshell color in Jingyuan chickens.【Method】 A total of 50 green shell laying hens and 50 pink shell laying hens at 180 days of age were selected to collect blood and perform simplified genome sequencing.Candidate genes were screened by genome-wide association study.The eggshell gland tissues of green shell hens and pink shell hens at 300 days of age were collected for transcriptome sequencing, differentially expressed genes were screened, and GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed.Through genome-wide and transcriptomic analysis, the genes related to the regulation of eggshell color were screened and the protein interaction network was analyzed.【Result】 The results of simplified genome sequencing showed that 232 465 and 241 008 SNPs were screened from pink shell laying and green shell laying hens, respectively.A total of 54 candidate genes related to eggshell color, including solsolic carrier organic anion transporter family members 1A2 (SLCO1A2), SLCO1C1 and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 2 γ (PIK3C2G) were screened by genome-wide association study.277 differentially expressed genes were identified by transcriptome sequencing, of which 85 genes were up-regulated and 192 genes were down-regulated.GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in related pathways such as linoleic acid metabolism, linolenic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, melanin production, adhesion plaques and calcium signaling.Genome-wide and transcriptomic analysis identified two genes that were significantly associated with eggshell color, which were endothelin-3 (EDN3) and zinc finger protein 831 (ZNF831) genes.【Conclusion】 Through genome-wide association study and transcriptomic analysis, it was found that EDN3 and ZNF831 genes might be candidate genes for regulating eggshell color, which provided a theoretical basis for the study of the regulation mechanism of eggshell color, and provided molecular genetic markers for shell color selection of Jingyuan chickens.

Key words: Jingyuan chickens; eggshell color; genome-wide association study; transcriptome sequencing

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