Characteristics of genes and their expression associated with the growth rates of broiler chickens under the influence of various feed additives (review)

Highly productive crosses are necessary for the production of poultry meat, therefore, the identification and degree of manifestation of the genes involved in the formation of productive traits of broiler chickens is an important step towards increasing meat yield and improving its quality. The study of the genes responsible for growth indicators will increase the bird precocity and reduce feed and maintenance costs. This review searches for and studies a number of genes involved in the formation of muscle and fat tissue, as well as genes regulating nutrient transport in broiler chickens, which, in turn, is an important component for the production of sufficient quantities of poultry meat. During the study of literature data, it was found out that such genes as GH, MYOG, MYOD, MSTN, IGF-1, FGF2 are responsible for muscle tissue formation, these are the main genes that directly affect growth performance in broiler chickens. For the formation of adipose tissue, such genes as LEP, AdipoQ, FABP2, ACACA, PPARA, FASN are responsible. A number of genes such as SLC2A1, SLC2A2, SLC2A2, SLC2A3, SLC7A1, SLC7A2, SLC7A5, SLC7A6, SLC7A7, and SLC38A2 are responsible for the transport of nutrients required for normal growth of tissues and the body as a whole. Literature data analysis has shown that the use of feed additives with the addition of phytobiotics, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, affects the activity of genes. This contributes to the formation of muscle mass, lets support the physiological state of the bird, prevent the development of diseases, accelerate the growth rate and increase the productivity of broilers.

1. Andreyev V. P. Gene: structural and functional organization of genetic information units. Zhurnal Grodnenskogo gosudarstvennogo meditsinskogo universiteta = Journal of the Grodno State Medical University. 2007;4(20):143–152. (In Belarus). URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=19091988

2. Travers A., Muskhelishvili G. DNA structure and function. The FEBS journal. 2015;282(12):2279–2295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.13307

3. Maslakova A. A., Dolgikh V. A., Zemlyanskaya E. V. Regulation of gene expression, or what enables genes to operate. Priroda. 2023;(10(1298)):13–18. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7868/S0032874X23100022

4. Yildirim E. A., Grozina A. A., Vertiprakhov V. G., Ilyina L. A., Filippova V. A., Laptev G. Yu. et al. Effect of t-2 toxin on expression of genes associated with immunity in tissues of the blind processes of the intestinal and pancreas of broilers (Gallus Gallus L.). Selskokhozyaystvennaya biologiya = Agricultural Biology. 2021;56(4):664–681. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2021.4.664rus

5. Titov V. Yu., Dolgorukova A. M., Kochish I. I., Myasnikova O. V., Nikonov I. N. Features of nitric oxide metabolism in embryos of different bird species as genetically determined sign associated with meat productivity. Selskokhozyaystvennaya biologiya = Agricultural Biology. 2022;57(2):343–355. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2022.2.343rus

6. Gonzalez-Rivas P. A., Chauhan S. S., Ha M., Fegan N., Dunshea F. R, Warner R. D. Effects of heat stress on animal physiology, metabolism, and meat quality: A review. Meat Science. 2020;162:108025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.108025

7. Laptev G. Yu., Yildirim E. A., Ilyina L. A., Filippova V. A., Kalitkina K. A., Ponomareva E. S. et al. Expression of genes of immune response and adaptation and cecal microbiome composition in males and females of chickens (Gallus Gallus L.) in CM5 and CM9 preparental lines of Smena 9 cross. Selskokhozyaystvennaya biologiya = Agricultural Biology. 2023;58(2):313–332. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2023.2.313rus

8. Bogolyubova N. V., Nekrasov R. V., Nikanova D. A., Zelenchenkova A. A., Kolesnik N. S., Rikov R. A. et al. Biochemical and molecular genetic indicators of antioxidant protection and immunity in male chicks ( gallus gallus domesticus) of different genotypes. Selskokhozyaystvennaya biologiya = Agricultural Biology. 2023;58(4):669–684. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2023.4.669rus

9. Larkina T. A., Dementeva N. V. Influence of genes on skeletal muscle formation in chickens. Mezhdunarodny nauchno-issledovatelsky zhurnal = International Research Journal. 2023;11(137):19. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.23670/IRJ.2023.137.38

10. Shi X., Garry D. J. Muscle stem cells in development, regeneration, and disease. Genes&Development. 2006;20:1692–1708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.1419406

11. Meadows E., Cho J. H., Flynn J. M., Klein W. H. Myogenin regulates a distinct genetic program in adult muscle stem cells. Developmental Biology. 2008;322(2): 406–414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.07.024

12. Bulgakova S. V., Treneva E. V., Zakharova N. O., Gorelik S. G. Aging and growth hormone: assumptions and facts (literature review). Klinicheskaya laboratornaya diagnostika = Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics. 2019;64(12):708–715. (In Russ.). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18821/0869-2084-2019-64-12-708-715

13. Mohammadabadi M., Bordbar F., Jensen J., Du M., Guo W. Key Genes Regulating Skeletal Muscle Development and Growth in Farm Animals. Animals. 2021;11(3):835. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030835

14. Xiao Y., Wu C., Li K., Gui G., Zhang G., Yang H. Association of growth rate with hormone levels and myogenic gene expression profile in broilers. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology. 2017;8:43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-017-0170-8

15. Tyurina D. G., Laptev G. Yu., Yildirim E. A., Ilyina L. A., Filippova V. A., Brazhnik E. A. et al. Influence of antibiotics, glyphosate and a Bacillus sp. strain on productivity performance and gene expression in cross Ross 308 broiler chickens (Gallus Gallus L.). Selskokhozyaystvennaya biologiya = Agricultural Biology. 2022;57(6):1147–1165. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2022.6.1147rus

16. Esposito P., Picciotto D., Battaglia Y., Costigliolo F., Viazzi F., Verzola D. Myostatin: Basic biology to clinical application. Advances in Clinical Chemistry. 2022;106:181–234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.acc.2021.09.006

17. Kukes V. G., Gazdanova A. A., Furalev V. A., Marinin V. F., Perkov A. V., Lenkova N. I. et al. Modern conception of myostatin biological role and clinical significance as the main regulator of muscle growth and differentiation. Meditsinsky vestnik Severnogo Kavkaza = Medical News of the North Caucasus. 2021;16(3):327–332. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.14300/mnnc.2021.16079

18. Zhiliang G., Dahai Z., Ning L., Hui L., Xuemei D., Changxin W. The single nucleotide polymorphisms of the chicken myostatin gene are associated with skeletal muscle and adipose growth. Science in China. Series C, Life sciences. 2004;47(1):25–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/02yc0201

19. Bhattacharya T. K., Reddy B. R., Chatterjee R. N., Ashwini R. Myostatin (GDF8) gene and its intriguing role in regulating growth in poultry. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 2022;92(10):1141–1148. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v92i10.124368

20. Sizova E. A., Lutkovskaya Ya. V. Expression of genes associated with economically useful traits in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) under the influence of various paratypical factors (review). Selskokhozyaystvennaya biologiya = Agricultural Biology. 2023;58(4):581–597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2023.4.581rus

21. Kareem K. Y., Loh T. C., Foo H. L., Akit H., Samsudin A. A. Effects of dietary postbiotic and inulin on growth performance, IGF1 and GHR mRNA expression, faecal microbiota and volatile fatty acids in broilers. BMC Veterinary Research. 2016;12(1):163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0790-9

22. Lei M., Peng X., Zhou M., Luo C., Nie Q., Zhang X. Polymorphisms of the IGF1R gene and their genetic effects on chicken early growth and carcass traits. BMC Genetics. 2008;9:70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2156-9-70

23. Amills M., Jiménez N., Villalba D., Tor M., Molina E., Cubiló D. et al. Identification of three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the chicken insulin-like growth factor 1 and 2 genes and their associations with growth and feeding traits. Poultry Science. 2003;82(10):1485–1493. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/82.10.1485

24. Nugent M. A., Iozzo R. V. Fibroblast growth factor-2. The International Journal of Biochemistry Cell Biology. 2000;32(2):115–120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1357-2725(99)00123-5

25. Buckingham M., Relaix F. PAX3 and PAX7 as upstream regulators of myogenesis. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. 2015;44:115–125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.09.017

26. Wang H. B., Li H., Wang Q. G., Zhang X. Y., Wang S. Z., Wang Y. X., Wang X. P. Profiling of chicken adipose tissue gene expression by genome array. BMC Genomics. 2007;8:193. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-8-193

27. Kersten S. Mechanisms of nutritional and hormonal regulation of lipogenesis. The EMBO Reports. 2001;2(4):282–286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/embo-reports/kve071

28. Ohkubo T., Nishio M., Tsurudome M., Ito M., Ito Y. Existence of leptin receptor protein in chicken tissues: isolation of a monoclonal antibody against chicken leptin receptor. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 2007;151(3):269–273. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2007.01.021

29. Hu Y., Zhang R., Zhang Y., Li J., Grossmann R., Zhao R. In ovo leptin administration affects hepatic lipid metabolism and microRNA expression in newly hatched broiler chickens. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology. 2012;3(1):16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-1891-3-16

30. Yan J., Gan L., Qi R., Sun C. Adiponectin decreases lipids deposition by p38 MAPK/ATF2 signaling pathway in muscle of broilers. Molecular Biology Reports. 2013;40(12):7017–7025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-013-2821-y

31. Larkina T. A., Sazanova A. L., Fomichev K. A., Barkova O. Y., Malewski T., Jaszczak K., Sazanov A. A. HMG1A and PPARG are differently expressed in the liver of fat and lean broilers. Journal of Applied Genetics. 2011;52(2):225–228. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-010-0023-z

32. Hu G., Wang S., Tian J., Chu L., Li H. Epistatic effect between ACACA and FABP2 gene on abdominal fat traits in broilers. Journal of Genetics and Genomics. 2010;37(8):505–512. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1673-8527(09)60070-9

33. Wang H. B., Li H., Wang Q. G., Zhang X. Y., Wang S. Z., Wang Y. X., Wang X. P. Profiling of chicken adipose tissue gene expression by genome array. BMC Genomics. 2007;8:193. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-8-193

34. Cui H. X., Zheng M. Q., Liu R. R., Zhao G. P., Chen J. L., Wen J. Liver dominant expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene in two chicken breeds during intramuscular-fat development. Molecular Biology Reports. 2012;39(4):3479–3484. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-1120-8

35. Kishawy A. T. Y., Al-Khalaifah H. S., Nada H. S., Roushdy E. M., Zaglool A. W., Ahmed Ismail T. et al. Black Pepper or Radish Seed Oils in a New Combination of Essential Oils Modulated Broiler Chickens' Performance and Expression of Digestive Enzymes, Lipogenesis, Immunity, and Autophagy-Related Genes. Veterinary Sciences. 2022;9(2):43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9020043

36. Bigot K., Mignon-Grasteau S., Picard M., Tesseraud S. Effects of delayed feed intake on body, intestine, and muscle development in neonate broilers. Poultry Science. 2003;82(5):781–788. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/82.5.781

37. Wang Y., Li Y., Willems E., Willemsen H., Franssens L., Koppenol A. et al. Spread of hatch and delayed feed access affect post hatch performance of female broiler chicks up to day 5. Animal. 2014;8(4):610 –617. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S175173111400007X

38. Kheravii S. K., Swick R. A., Choct M., Wu S. B. Upregulation of genes encoding digestive enzymes and nutrient transporters in the digestive system of broiler chickens by dietary supplementation of fiber and inclusion of coarse particle size corn. BMC Genomics. 2018;19(1):208. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-018-4592-2

39. Byers M. S., Howard C., Wang X. Avian and Mammalian Facilitative Glucose Transporters. Microarrays (Basel, Switzerland). 2017;6(2):7. DOI: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3905/6/2/7

40. Zhang W., Sumners L. H., Siegel P. B., Cline M. A., Gilbert E. R. Quantity of glucose transporter and appetite-associated factor mRNA in various tissues after insulin injection in chickens selected for low or high body weight. Physiological Genomics. 2013;45(22):1084–1094. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00102.2013

41. Seki Y., Sato K., Kono T., Abe H., Akiba Y. Broiler chickens (Ross strain) lack insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 and have GLUT8 cDNA. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 2003;133(1):80–87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-6480(03)00145-x

42. Zhao J. P., Bao J., Wang X. J., Jiao H. C., Song Z. G., Lin H. Altered gene and protein expression of glucose transporter1 underlies dexamethasone inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in chicken muscles. Journal of Animal Science. 2012;90(12):4337–4345. URL: https://www.sci-hub.ru/10.2527/jas.2012-5100

43. Ji J., Tao Y., Zhang X., Pan J., Zhu X., Wang H. et al. Dynamic changes of blood glucose, serum biochemical parameters and gene expression in response to exogenous insulin in Arbor Acres broilers and Silky fowls. Scientific Reports. 2020;10(1):6697. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63549-9

44. Al-Khalaifah H. S., Shahin S. E., Omar A. E., Mohammed H. A., Mahmoud H. I., Ibrahim D. Effects of graded levels of microbial fermented or enzymatically treated dried brewer's grains on growth, digestive and nutrient transporter genes expression and cost effectiveness in broiler chickens. BMC Veterinary Research. 2020;16(1):424. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02603-0

45. Khwatenge C. N., Kimathi B. M., Nahashon S. N. Transcriptome analysis and expression of selected cationic amino acid transporters in the liver of broiler chicken fed diets with varying concentrations of lysine. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(16):5594. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21165594

46. Taylor P. M. Role of amino acid transporters in amino acid sensing. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2014;99(1):223S–230S. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.070086

47. Payne J. A., Proszkowiec-Weglarz M., Ellestad L. E. Delayed access to feed alters expression of genes associated with carbohydrate and amino acid utilization in newly hatched broiler chicks. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology. 2019;317(6):864–878. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00117.2019

48. Alagawany M., Elnesr S. S., Farag M. R., Tiwari R., Yatoo M. I., Karthik K. et al. Nutritional significance of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as nutraceuticals in poultry production and health – a comprehensive review. The veterinary quarterly. 2020;41(1):1–29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2020.1857887

49. Patterson J. A., Burkholder K. M. Application of prebiotics and probiotics in poultry production. Poultry Science. 2003;82(4):627–631. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/82.4.627

50. Yang Y, Iji P. A, Choct M. Dietary modulation of gut microflora in broiler chickens: a review of the role of six kinds of alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. World's Poultry Science Journal. 2009;65(1):97–114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933909000008

51. Selionova M. I., Trukhachev V. I., Zagarin A. Yu., Belyaeva N. P., Kulikov E. I. Expression of genes associated with antioxidant defence in broiler chickens under the influence of bioactive compounds of plant origin. Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK = Achievements of Science and Technology of AICis. 2024;38(12):41–46. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.53859/02352451_2024_38_12_41

52. Shatskikh E. V., Latypova E. N. Blood parameters and productivity of chickens when using phytobiotic preparations in the diet. Agrarny vestnik Urala = Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2023;23(8):78–88. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2023-237-08-78-88

53. Zaikina A. S., Buryakov N. P., Buryakova M. A., Zagarin A. Y., Razhev A. A., Aleshin D. E. Impact of Supplementing Phytobiotics as a Substitute for Antibiotics in Broiler Chicken Feed on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Biochemical Parameters. Veterinary Sciences. 2022;9(12):672. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9120672

54. Rabelo-Ruiz M., Ariza-Romero J. J., Zurita-González M. J., Martín-Platero A. M., Baños A., Maqueda M. et al. Allium-Based Phytobiotic Enhances Egg Production in Laying Hens through Microbial Composition Changes in Ileum and Cecum. Animals. 2021;11(2):448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020448

55. Ibrahim D., Moustafa A., Metwally A. S., Nassan M. A., Abdallah K., Eldemery F. et al. Potential Application of Cornelian Cherry Extract on Broiler Chickens: Growth, Expression of Antioxidant Biomarker and Glucose Transport Genes, and Oxidative Stability of Frozen Meat. Animals. 2021;11(4):1038. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041038

56. Kaloev B. S. On the economic efficiency of integrated use of biologically active substances in broiler raising. Mezhdunarodny nauchno-issledovatelsky zhurnal = International Research Journal. 2021;(5-1(107)):156–159. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.23670/IRJ.2021.107.5.026

57. Ardatskaya M. D. Probiotics, prebiotics and metabiotics in the management of microecological bowel disorders. Meditsinsky sovet = Medical Council. 2015;(13):94–99. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.21518/2079-701X-2015-13-94-99