A transcriptomic analysis of skeletal muscle tissues reveals promising candidate genes and pathways accountable for different daily weight gain in Hanwoo Cattle

Cattle traits like average daily weight gain (ADG) greatly impact profitability. Selecting based on ADG considering genetic variability can lead to economic and genetic advancements in cattle breeding. This study aimed to unravel genetic influences on ADG variation in Hanwoo cattle at the skeletal muscle transcriptomic level. RNA sequencing was conducted on longissimus dorsi (LD), semimembranosus (SB), and psoas major (PM) muscles of 14 steers assigned to same feed, grouped by low (≤ 0.78 kg) and high (≥ 0.88 kg) ADG. At P ≤ 0.05 and log2fold > 1.5, distinct gene expression patterns were identified with 200, 172, and 210 differentially expressed genes in LD, SB, and PM muscles, respectively. Tissue-specific responses to ADG variation were evident, with myogenesis and differentiation associated JAK-STAT signaling pathway and prolactin signaling pathways enriched in LD and SB muscles, while adipogenesis-related PPAR signaling pathways were enriched in PM muscle. Key hub genes ( AXIN2 , CDKN1A , MYC , PTGS2 , FZD5 , SPP1 ) were upregulated and functionally significant in muscle growth and differentiation. Notably, DPP6 , CDKN1A , and FZD5 emerged as potential candidate genes linked to ADG variation. These findings enhance our understanding of genetic factors behind ADG variation in Hanwoo cattle, illuminating skeletal muscle mechanisms influencing ADG.