RNA-Seq Analysis Identifies Differentially Expressed Genes Insubcutaneous Adipose Tissuein Qaidamford Cattle, Cattle-Yak, and Angus Cattle

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 12
• Main Authors: Song, Chengchuang, Huang, Yongzhen, Yang, Zhaoxin, Ma, Yulin, Chaogetu, Buren, Zhuoma, Zhaxi, Chen, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 03.12.2019
• Subjects: meat quality; transcriptome analysis; subcutaneous fat; cattle-yak
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani9121077

In the beef industry, fat tissue is closely related to meat quality. In this study, high-throughput RNA sequencing was utilized for adipose tissue transcriptome analysis between cattle-yak, Qaidamford cattle, and Angus cattle. The screening and identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different breeds of cattle would facilitate cattle breeding. Compared to Angus cattle adipose tissue, a total of 4167 DEGs were identified in cattle-yak adipose tissue and 3269 DEGs were identified in Qaidamford cattle adipose tissue. Considering cattle-yak as a control group, 154 DEGs were identified in Qaidamford cattle adipose tissue. GO analysis indicatedthe significant enrichment of some DEGs related to lipid metabolism. The KEGG pathway database was also used to map DEGs and revealed that most annotated genes were involved in ECM-receptor interaction and the PI3K-Akt signal pathway, which are closely related to cell metabolism. Eight selected DEGs related to adipose tissue development or metabolism were verified by RT-qPCR, indicating the reliability of the RNA-seq data. The results of this comparative transcriptome analysis of adipose tissue and screening DEGs suggest several candidates for further investigations of meat quality in different cattle breeds.