Functional identification of an exon 1 substitution in the myostatin gene and its expression in breast and leg muscle of the Bian chicken

Abstract

1. The objective of this study was to verify the functional effects of the c.234G>A substitution in the myostatin (MSTN) gene and ascertain the mechanism by which the variant affects growth traits in the Bian chicken.2. The c.234G>A substitution was detected by PCR-RFLP analysis in the 7th-generation Bian chickens and three genotypes (AA, AG and GG) were identified. Results showed that the substitution was significantly associated with all studied growth traits, except first-d-weight, in female Bian chickens.3. Based on these results, the substitution was used in gene-assisted selection for growth traits and thus fast-growth (AA genotype) and slow-growth (GG genotype) lines were successfully established. Significant differences in growth traits were detected between the fast-growth and slow-growth lines from 6 to 16 weeks of age. Furthermore, all slaughter traits, except leg muscle rate, were significantly different between the fast-growth and slow-growth lines.4. Expression analysis showed that the relative expression level of MSTN in chickens with GG and AG genotypes were significantly higher than that in chickens with an AA genotype, both in breast and leg muscle. Chickens in the slow-growth line had significantly higher relative expression level of MSTN compared to chickens in the fast-growth line, both in breast and leg muscle.5. The results suggest that the c.234G>A substitution in the myostatin (MSTN) gene negatively regulates the expression of MSTN in the Bian chicken and that it may be used in marker-assisted selection to accelerate the chicken breeding process.