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Poultry is a source of meat that is in great demand in the world. The quality of meat is an imperative point for shoppers. To explore the genes controlling meat quality characteristics, the growth and meat quality traits and muscle transcriptome of two indigenous Yunnan chicken breeds, Wuding chickens (WDs) and Daweishan mini chickens (MCs), were compared with Cobb broilers (CBs). The growth and meat quality characteristics of these two indigenous breeds were found to differ from CB. In particular, the crude fat (CF), inosine monophosphate content, amino acid (AA), and total fatty acid (TFA) content of WDs were significantly higher than those of CBs and MCs. In addition, it was found that MC pectoralis had 420 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relative to CBs, and WDs had 217 DEGs relative to CBs. Among them, 105 DEGs were shared. The results of 10 selected genes were also confirmed by qPCR. The differentially expressed genes were six enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) biological pathways including lysosomes, phagosomes, PPAR signaling pathways, cell adhesion molecules, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and phagosome sphingolipid metabolism. Interestingly, four genes (LPL, GK, SCD, and FABP7) in the PPAR signal pathway related to fatty acid (FA) metabolism were elevated in WD muscles, which may account for higher CF, inosine monophosphate content, and AA and FA contents, key factors affecting meat quality. This work laid the foundation for improving the meat quality of Yunnan indigenous chickens, especially WD. In future molecular breeding, the genes in this study can be used as molecular screening markers and applied to the molecular breeding of chicken quality characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible fungus polysaccharide (EFP) is mainly extracted from the fruiting body, mycelium and fermentation broth of fungi. As one of the main bioactive components, EFP has potential health promoting effects. Its extracted polysaccharide has biological activities such as enhancing immunity, anti-tumor, anti-radiation, delaying aging and antioxidation. It has been widely used in food, health products, medicine and other industries. The biological activity of EFP is related to its radical group. The isolation, purification and structure identification are the premise of the bioactivity research and application of EFP. At present, the research on polysaccharides and their structures is helpful to guide and develop their pharmacological effects, biological activities and products. This paper reviews the research status of extraction, purification and structure determination of EFP, such as NMR, methylation analysis and some other methods used in carbohydrate chemical characterization. In addition, the research progress of EFP functional activity and its application in other fields were described, so as to provide basis and reference for the further study of EFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]