genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis in chicken

In chickens, increases in productions are mainly due to the specialised breeds. Nowadays, of increasing importance are the local breeds, which are known for their adaptation ability to the environment and for their products (meat and eggs) . Conventional poultry products contain lower levels of n-3 fatty acids when compared to those obtained from local breeds, therefore the aim of this study is to determine the genes involved in LC-PUFA biosynthesis pathways, and to evaluate the modulation of their expression according to genetic background, diet conditions, and sex. Animals from two local breeds and a commercial line were fed different diets: control and experimental diet (10% linseed supplementation). For each breed and diet group, both males and females were reared. The RNA was extracted from a total of 36 liver samples and were subjected to RNAseq. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from different comparisons between experimental groups. Results showed low impact of diet on DEGs related to fatty acid biosynthesis. Sex proved to be a significant factor on DEGs, particularly in female groups. The genetic background also determined the expression of genes related to LC-PUFA biosynthesis. Specifically, in female of local breeds, significantly more expression in two genes having a role in de novo triglyceride biosynthesis (MTTPL and GPAM), and in two genes involved in de novo FA biosynthesis (ACACA and SCD) was detected. In conclusion, sex and local genetic background appear to have significant influence on expression of genes related to LC-PUFA.