Effects of Copy Number Variations in the Plectin (PLEC) Gene on the Growth Traits and Meat Quality of Leizhou Black Goats

Abstract

The plectin (PLEC) gene is crucial in regulating muscle development and maintaining the cytoskeleton. An abnormal expression of PLEC can lead to muscle atrophy and muscular dystrophy. In a previous study, we found that Leizhou black goats exhibit abundant structural variations in the PLEC gene. However, the genetic effects of these variations on growth traits and meat quality in goats are not fully understood. In this study, three PLEC copy number variations (CNVs) were identified in a population of 417 Leizhou black goats, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology. Population distribution analysis revealed a high abundance of various types of these three CNVs. PLEC mRNA was found to be highly expressed in muscle tissue and remained consistently high from 1 month to 24 months after birth. Specifically, the gain type of CNV-1 (chr14: 81056401-81064800) showed a significant association with PLEC mRNA expression in muscle tissue (p < 0.01). The sequence of CNV-1 in PLEC shares similarities with three domain superfamilies associated with muscle development and skin disease. Furthermore, there were significant differences in chest circumference, body weight, carcass weight, the cross-sectional area of the longissimus dorsi lumbar muscle, and shear stress between different types of CNV-1 (p < 0.05). Notably, goats with the CNV-1 gain type demonstrated better phenotypic values compared to those with loss and normal types. These findings suggest that PLEC CNV-1 could play a crucial role in the growth and muscle development of Leizhou black goats, making it a potential marker for assisted selection in goat breeding.

Keywords: PLEC; copy number variation; goats; growth traits; meat quality.

Figure 1

Biological evolution and the conserved domains of the PLEC gene. (A) Multiple sequence alignment of PLEC for 10 species. (B) Motif structural analysis for PLEC among 10 species. (C) Phylogenetic tree analysis for the PLEC gene among 10 species.

Figure 2

The location of the PLEC-CNV1 and the schematic diagram overlaps between CNV-1-related protein region and conserved domains in the PLEC protein sequence.

Figure 3

Distribution of CNV-1 (A), CNV-2 (B), and CNV-3 (C) of the PLEC gene in the LZBGs. Loss, Normal and Gain were defined as copy number <2, =2, or ≥3, respectively.

Figure 4

Comparison analysis of the PLEC expression levels. (A) The PLEC mRNA expression profile in 10 tissues of the 12 adult female LZBGs. (B) Comparison of the PLEC mRNA levels among different times in the longissimus dorsi muscle of 12 LZBGs. (C–E), Comparison of the PLEC expression levels among different CNVs and different genotypes in longissimus dorsi muscle and gluteofemoral triceps in the LZBGs. Different letters (a–e) represent significant differences (a–e: p < 0.05; A, B: p < 0.01).