Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits
Understanding the genetic regulation of gene expression and splicing in muscle tissues is critical for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of meat quality traits. In this study, we integrated large-scale whole-genome sequencing and strand-specific RNA-seq data from 582 F2 hybrid pigs (White Duroc ×...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Meng Zhou Chenjin Ling Hui Xiao Zhiyan Zhang |
| author_facet | Meng Zhou Chenjin Ling Hui Xiao Zhiyan Zhang |
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| description | Understanding the genetic regulation of gene expression and splicing in muscle tissues is critical for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of meat quality traits. In this study, we integrated large-scale whole-genome sequencing and strand-specific RNA-seq data from 582 F2 hybrid pigs (White Duroc × Erhualian) to characterize the expression and splicing quantitative trait loci (eQTLs/sQTL) in <i>longissimus dorsi</i> muscle. We identified 11,058 cis-eQTL-associated genes (eGenes) and 5139 cis-sQTL-associated genes (sGenes), of which 29% of eGenes and 80% of sGenes were previously unreported in the PigGTEx database. Functional analyses revealed distinct genomic features: eQTLs were enriched near transcription start sites (TSSs) and associated with active TSS-proximal transcribed regions and enhancers, whereas sQTLs clustered at splice junctions, underscoring their distinct roles in gene expression and splicing regulation. Colocalization analysis of e/sQTLs with GWAS signals prioritized <i>PHKG1</i> as a key candidate gene (PPH4 > 0.9) for glycogen metabolism. Notably, we confirmed that an sQTL-driven alternative splicing event in exon 10 of <i>PHKG1</i> was significantly correlated with phenotypic variation (<i>R</i> = −0.39, <i>p</i> = 9.5 × 10<sup>−21</sup>). Collectively, this study provides novel insights into the genetic regulation of gene expression and alternative splicing in porcine muscle tissue, advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying economically important meat quality traits. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-54adb1da07c84fbda846b419baa8d0562025-08-20T02:30:45ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01159120910.3390/ani15091209Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality TraitsMeng Zhou0Chenjin Ling1Hui Xiao2Zhiyan Zhang3National Key Laboratory for Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, ChinaUnderstanding the genetic regulation of gene expression and splicing in muscle tissues is critical for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of meat quality traits. In this study, we integrated large-scale whole-genome sequencing and strand-specific RNA-seq data from 582 F2 hybrid pigs (White Duroc × Erhualian) to characterize the expression and splicing quantitative trait loci (eQTLs/sQTL) in <i>longissimus dorsi</i> muscle. We identified 11,058 cis-eQTL-associated genes (eGenes) and 5139 cis-sQTL-associated genes (sGenes), of which 29% of eGenes and 80% of sGenes were previously unreported in the PigGTEx database. Functional analyses revealed distinct genomic features: eQTLs were enriched near transcription start sites (TSSs) and associated with active TSS-proximal transcribed regions and enhancers, whereas sQTLs clustered at splice junctions, underscoring their distinct roles in gene expression and splicing regulation. Colocalization analysis of e/sQTLs with GWAS signals prioritized <i>PHKG1</i> as a key candidate gene (PPH4 > 0.9) for glycogen metabolism. Notably, we confirmed that an sQTL-driven alternative splicing event in exon 10 of <i>PHKG1</i> was significantly correlated with phenotypic variation (<i>R</i> = −0.39, <i>p</i> = 9.5 × 10<sup>−21</sup>). Collectively, this study provides novel insights into the genetic regulation of gene expression and alternative splicing in porcine muscle tissue, advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying economically important meat quality traits.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1209pigmeat qualityeQTLsQTL<i>longissimus dorsi</i> muscleRNA-seq |
| spellingShingle | Meng Zhou Chenjin Ling Hui Xiao Zhiyan Zhang Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits Animals pig meat quality eQTL sQTL <i>longissimus dorsi</i> muscle RNA-seq |
| title | Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits |
| title_full | Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits |
| title_fullStr | Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits |
| title_short | Identification of Gene Expression and Splicing QTLs in Porcine Muscle Associated with Meat Quality Traits |
| title_sort | identification of gene expression and splicing qtls in porcine muscle associated with meat quality traits |
| topic | pig meat quality eQTL sQTL <i>longissimus dorsi</i> muscle RNA-seq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1209 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mengzhou identificationofgeneexpressionandsplicingqtlsinporcinemuscleassociatedwithmeatqualitytraits AT chenjinling identificationofgeneexpressionandsplicingqtlsinporcinemuscleassociatedwithmeatqualitytraits AT huixiao identificationofgeneexpressionandsplicingqtlsinporcinemuscleassociatedwithmeatqualitytraits AT zhiyanzhang identificationofgeneexpressionandsplicingqtlsinporcinemuscleassociatedwithmeatqualitytraits |