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Updated: May 11, 2026

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations
Published on: November 3, 2010
EGR1 mRNA expression levels and polymorphisms are associated with slaughter performance in chickens
Mao Ye1, Xiaohuan Chao2, Chutian Ye1
1College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, PR China.
Early Growth Response Protein 1 (EGR1) promotes chicken muscle cell proliferation but inhibits differentiation. EGR1 gene variations are linked to improved broiler slaughter traits, offering a new breeding marker.
Area of Science:
- Animal Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Livestock Breeding
Background:
- The livestock industry prioritizes broiler breeds with superior meat yield and slaughter performance.
- Previous studies identified higher Early Growth Response Protein 1 (EGR1) expression in chicken breast tissue with lower muscle rates, suggesting a role in muscle development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the EGR1 gene in chicken muscle growth and development.
- To analyze the association between EGR1 gene polymorphisms and broiler slaughter traits.
Main Methods:
- Functional validation in chicken primary myoblasts using RT-qPCR, CCK-8, EdU assays, Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence.
- Identification and association analysis of EGR1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with slaughter traits in a specific chicken lineage using mixed linear models.
Main Results:
- EGR1 is highly expressed in low breast muscle content tissues and promotes myoblast proliferation while inhibiting differentiation.
- Four EGR1 SNPs were identified, with two significantly associated with live weight, slaughter weight, semi-eviscerated weight, eviscerated weight, leg weight, wing weight, and breast muscle rate.
Conclusions:
- EGR1 plays a crucial role in regulating chicken muscle growth and development.
- EGR1 polymorphisms are associated with key slaughter performance indicators, presenting a potential marker for broiler breeding programs.
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