Comparative Analysis of Meat Quality and Muscle Transcriptome between Landrace and Jeju Native Pig

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Genomics
• Meat Science

Background:

• Jeju native pig (JNP) is a Korean indigenous breed known for superior meat quality.
• Commercial breeds like Landrace are widely raised but may lack the quality traits of JNP.
• Understanding genetic and phenotypic differences is crucial for breed improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare meat quality traits between JNP and Landrace pigs.
• To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of both breeds.
• To elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying meat quality and growth differences.

Main Methods:

• Phenotypic analysis of meat quality parameters (cooking loss, fat, moisture, color, texture, pH).
• RNA sequencing of Longissimus dorsi muscle from JNP and Landrace pigs.
• Differential gene expression analysis and pathway enrichment (GO, KEGG).

Main Results:

• JNP exhibited significantly higher intramuscular fat and CIE a* values, indicating better meat quality.
• Significant differences were observed in cooking loss, moisture, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness.
• 427 DEGs were upregulated in JNP and 821 in Landrace, with key genes identified (e.g., MYH2, IGF1).
• Enrichment analysis linked DEGs to cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and growth factor binding.

Conclusions:

• JNP possess superior meat quality traits compared to Landrace pigs.
• Transcriptome differences highlight genetic variations influencing economic traits.
• Findings provide a basis for genetic improvement strategies for both JNP and Landrace breeds.