Table_6_Dynamic Transcriptomic Analysis of Breast Muscle Development From the Embryonic to Post-hatching Periods in Chickens.xlsx

Skeletal muscle development and growth are closely associated with efficiency of poultry meat production and its quality. We performed whole transcriptome profiling based on RNA sequencing of breast muscle tissue obtained from Shouguang chickens at embryonic days (E) 12 and 17 to post-hatching days (D) 1, 14, 56, and 98. A total of 9,447 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered (Q < 0.01, fold change > 2). Time series expression profile clustering analysis identified five significantly different expression profiles that were divided into three clusters. DEGs from cluster I with downregulated pattern were significantly enriched in cell proliferation processes such as cell cycle, mitotic nuclear division, and DNA replication. DEGs from cluster II with upregulated pattern were significantly enriched in metabolic processes such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, insulin signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and biosynthesis of amino acids. DEGs from cluster III, with a pattern that increased from E17 to D1 and then decreased from D1 to D14, mainly contributed to lipid metabolism. Therefore, this study may help us explain the mechanisms underlying the phenotype that myofiber hyperplasia occurs predominantly during embryogenesis and hypertrophy occurs mainly after birth at the transcriptional level. Moreover, lipid metabolism may contribute to the early muscle development and growth. These findings add to our knowledge of muscle development in chickens.

骨骼肌发育与生长与家禽肉生产效率及肉品品质密切相关。本研究以寿光鸡为研究对象，采集其胚胎期12日龄（E12）、17日龄以及出壳后1日龄、14日龄、56日龄和98日龄的胸肌组织，基于RNA测序（RNA sequencing）开展全转录组分析。最终筛选得到9447个差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes, DEGs）（校正后Q值<0.01，折叠变化（fold change）>2）。通过时间序列表达谱聚类分析，共鉴定出5种显著差异的表达模式，并将其划分为3个聚类簇。聚类簇I中的差异表达基因呈现下调表达模式，其显著富集于细胞增殖相关生物学过程，包括细胞周期、有丝分裂核分裂以及DNA复制。聚类簇II中的差异表达基因呈现上调表达模式，其显著富集于各类代谢过程，包括糖酵解/糖异生、胰岛素信号通路、钙信号通路以及氨基酸生物合成。聚类簇III中的差异表达基因呈现先从胚胎17日龄升至出壳后1日龄，随后从出壳后1日龄降至14日龄的表达趋势，其主要参与脂代谢过程。因此，本研究有助于从转录水平解释肌纤维增生主要发生于胚胎期、肌纤维肥大主要发生于出生后这一表型的潜在机制。此外，脂代谢可能参与肌肉早期发育与生长过程。本研究结果进一步丰富了我们对鸡骨骼肌发育机制的认知。