Exploring Gene Expression and Alternative Splicing in Duck Embryonic Myoblasts via Full-Length Transcriptome...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The duck industry is crucial for global protein supply.
• Skeletal muscle development is key to meat and egg production efficiency.
• Understanding duck myoblast development is essential for agricultural advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the full-length transcriptome of duck myoblasts during proliferation and differentiation.
• To identify novel transcripts, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and differentially expressed genes.
• To elucidate molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks in duck skeletal muscle development.

Main Methods:

• Full-length transcriptome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) on duck embryonic leg myoblasts (E13).
• Analysis of proliferative (GM) and differentiation (DM) phases.
• Identification of novel transcripts, lncRNAs, differentially expressed genes, and alternative splicing events.
• Construction of a protein-protein interaction network.

Main Results:

• Identified 5797 novel transcripts and 2332 lncRNAs.
• Detected 3653 differentially expressed genes and 2246 alternative splicing events.
• Highlighted key genes (MYOM3, MYL2, MYL1, TNNI2, ACTN2) and pathways (ECM-receptor interaction, Notch signaling) involved in myoblast proliferation and differentiation.
• Revealed significant gene expression changes linked to muscle development.

Conclusions:

• ONT sequencing effectively uncovers complex regulatory networks in avian skeletal muscle.
• The study provides critical molecular insights into duck myogenesis.
• Findings support enhanced breeding strategies for improved duck production efficiency and animal husbandry.