Differential chromatin accessibility and Gene Expression Associated with Backfat Deposition in pigs

Area of Science:

• Animal Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Excessive backfat in pigs negatively impacts growth, farming efficiency, and pork quality.
• Understanding the molecular basis of backfat deposition is crucial for improving swine production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the molecular mechanisms of porcine backfat deposition.
• To integrate ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data for a comprehensive analysis.

Main Methods:

• Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) to identify accessible genomic regions.
• RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs).
• Integration of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data to correlate gene expression with chromatin accessibility.

Main Results:

• Identified 568 differentially accessible regions and 978 DEGs enriched in adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, and energy metabolism pathways.
• Highlighted the roles of Wnt signaling, Jak-STAT signaling, and fatty acid degradation pathways.
• Identified candidate genes (e.g., LEP, TCF7L2) and transcription factors (e.g., FOS, STAT3) involved in backfat deposition.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to apply ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to investigate porcine backfat deposition.
• Provides novel insights into the molecular regulation of fat deposition in pigs.
• Offers valuable resources for enhancing pig breeding programs for improved meat quality and production efficiency.