Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Previously several studies revealed that genotypes of chicken IGF1 c.-366A > C were significantly associated with abdominal fat weight and body weight in chickens. But the underlying mechanism is still unknown. To investigate the mechanism underlying the association, herein, we performed IGF1 gene mRNA expression profiling, a dual-luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that IGF1 gene was widely expressed in 14 tissues. The mRNA expression levels of IGF1 gene in both abdominal fat and jejunum were significantly higher in fat broilers than in lean broilers. However, the opposite results were observed in the pancreas. The reporter gene assay showed that the promoter luciferase activity of allele A was significantly higher than that of allele C (P < 0.05). In addition, the luciferase activity of allele A promoted by the transcription factor AP1 and OCT1 was higher than that of allele C (P < 0.05). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay result showed that allele A binding to the transcription factor AP1 and OCT1 was stronger than that of allele C. All in all, our data indicated that the IGF1 gene c.-366A > C is a functional SNP responsible for chicken adipose deposition.

胰岛素样生长因子 1 ( IGF1 ) 在细胞生长、增殖、分化和凋亡的调节中起重要作用。此前的几项研究表明，鸡IGF1 c.-366A > C 的基因型与鸡的腹部脂肪重量和体重显着相关。但其潜在机制仍然未知。为了研究这种关联的机制，我们在此进行了IGF1基因 mRNA 表达谱分析、双荧光素酶报告基因分析和电泳迁移率变动分析 (EMSA)。定量实时PCR结果显示IGF1基因在14个组织中广泛表达。IGF1的mRNA表达水平脂肪肉鸡腹部脂肪和空肠中的基因显着高于瘦肉鸡。然而，在胰腺中观察到相反的结果。报告基因检测显示等位基因A的启动子荧光素酶活性显着高于等位基因C（P < 0.05）。此外，转录因子AP1和OCT1促进的等位基因A的荧光素酶活性高于等位基因C（P < 0.05）。电泳迁移率变动分析结果显示等位基因A与转录因子AP1和OCT1的结合比等位基因C强。总而言之，我们的数据表明IGF1基因c.-366A>C是负责鸡脂肪的功能性SNP沉积。