# Dynamic transcriptomic landscape of myogenesis in Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata): integrative analysis of hub genes post-hatching

## TL;DR

This study identifies key genes involved in muscle development in Muscovy ducks after hatching, offering insights for improving meat production.

## Contribution

The study presents the first integrative transcriptomic analysis of post-hatching myogenesis in Muscovy ducks, identifying ten hub genes.

## Key findings

- 1,683 differentially expressed genes were identified between 1-day-old and 80-day-old Muscovy duck muscles.
- Ten hub genes, including CD3E, ITK, COL4A6, and IVD, were prioritized as key regulators of myogenesis.
- Functional analysis linked these genes to metabolic processes like L-leucine catabolism and fatty acid β-oxidation.

## Abstract

Post-hatching myogenesis is a critical determinant of meat yield and quality, with potential regulatory roles of specific genes remaining underexplored in Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata). This study aimed to identify hub genes governing post-hatching myogenesis through transcriptomic profiling.

Three white-feathered male Muscovy ducks at 1-day-old (1D) and 80-day-old (80D) were selected, respectively. Following humane euthanasia, the left leg muscles were collected for subsequent RNA extraction, library construction, genome alignment, and transcriptome sequencing. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using DESeq2 (ver. 1.16.1), with significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) selected under the thresholds of |log2FC|>1 and p-value<0.05. Subsequent functional characterization included enrichment analyses (Gene Ontology, KEGG, and PANTHER pathways) implemented through DAVID and KOBAS, followed by protein-protein interaction network modeling via STRING. Topological analysis with CytoHubba further pinpointed hub genes functionally linked to myogenesis.

Totally 1,683 DEGs were identified between 80D and 1D muscles, including 865 upregulated and 818 downregulated genes. Totally ten hub genes, such as CD3E, ITK, COL4A6, and IVD, were prioritized as key regulators of myogenesis. Functional analysis revealed their enrichment in L-leucine catabolic processes and fatty acid β-oxidation. Pathway mapping further associated these genes with glycine/serine/threonine metabolism, and branched-chain amino acid degradation.

This study delineates a molecular framework for post-hatching myogenesis in Muscovy ducks, highlighting ten hub genes that orchestrate myogenesis through metabolic reprogramming. These findings advance genetic strategies for improving poultry meat production and quality.