Abstract
Heat stress affects muscle development and meat quality in food animals; however, little is known regarding its regulatory mechanisms at the epigenetic level, such as via DNA methylation. In this study, we aimed to compare the DNA methylation profiles between control and heat-stressed pigs to identify candidate genes for skeletal muscle development and meat quality. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was used to investigate the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in the longissimus dorsi muscles of the pigs. Both groups showed similar proportions of methylation at CpG sites but exhibited different proportions at non-CpG sites. A total of 57,147 differentially methylated regions were identified between the two groups, which corresponded to 1,422 differentially methylated genes. Gene ontogeny and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that these were mainly involved in energy and lipid metabolism, cellular defense and stress responses, and calcium signaling pathways. This study revealed the global DNA methylation pattern of pig muscle between normal and heat stress conditions. The result of this study might contribute to a better understanding of epigenetic regulation in pig muscle development and meat quality.
Highlights
Performed an association analysis between DNA methylation levels and differentially expressed genes of the Longissimus dorsi muscle tissues
We found that some of these differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were involved in biological processes important for skeletal muscle development: energy metabolism, transcription factors, Ca2+ homeostasis, protein kinases, and repair and stabilization of stressed proteins
We identified some differentially methylated genes, e.g. carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and leptin receptor (LEPR), which were associated with muscle lipid metabolism
Summary
We aimed to compare the DNA methylation profiles between control and heat-stressed pigs to identify candidate genes for skeletal muscle development and meat quality. The objectives of the present study were to profile genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in pig muscle and to identify methylated genes that were involved in pig muscle growth during conditions of constant heat stress. The DNA methylation status of promoter and gene body regions can affect gene expression via changes in chromatin structure or transcription efficiency; we aimed to compare the genome-wide methylation patterns between heat-exposed and normal pigs to identify differentially methylated genes that may affect the quality of meat exposed to heat stress
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
