Genetic and metabolic factors influencing skin yellowness in yellow-feathered broilers

Rongqin Huang; Xianqi Deng; Jingwen Wu; Wen Luo

doi:10.1016/j.psj.2024.104534

Genetic and metabolic factors influencing skin yellowness in yellow-feathered broilers

Poult Sci. 2024 Nov 8;104(1):104534. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104534. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Rongqin Huang¹, Xianqi Deng¹, Jingwen Wu¹, Wen Luo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, and Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, and Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: luowen729@scau.edu.cn.

PMID: 39561557
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104534

Abstract

The degree of yellowness of the skin is an important factor affecting the market popularity and sales price of yellow-feathered broilers. Despite its commercial importance, the specific pigments and genetic mechanisms involved remain unclear. This study identified lutein as the primary carotenoid in the skin and established serum lutein concentration as a molecular marker for predicting skin yellowness in carcasses. Through RNA sequencing of broilers with varying yellowness, we identified key genes like CYP26A1, CYP1B1, CYP2C18, CYP2W1, HSD17B2, AOX1, KMO, PLIN1, and RET, which may regulate carotenoid absorption and deposition. Additionally, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the CYP1A1 gene was significantly associated with skin yellowness in Ma-Huang chickens. Overall, this study examined the primary pigment types that influence the skin yellowness of yellow-feathered broilers, emphasizing that lutein can serve as a molecular marker for skin yellowness and providing insights into the regulatory factors that regulate skin yellowness. These findings provide essential theoretical support for the breeding of skin color traits in yellow-feathered broilers.

Keywords: CYP1A1; Lutein; Skin yellowness; Yellow-feathered broilers; molecular markers.