Environmental adaptation and genetic insights: Cloning, bioinformatics, and tissue expression analysis of the LCORL gene in Guangxi Partridge Chicken.

To investigate the structure of the ligand-dependent nuclear receptor corepressor-like (LCORL) gene-encoded protein and its gene expression in tissues, the Guangxi partridge chicken was utilized as experimental material for cloning the LCORL gene, followed by bioinformatics and tissue expression profile analyses. The results revealed that the coding region of the LCORL gene was 1557 bp, comprising 518 amino acids. Sequence comparison with the reference sequence (entry number: NM_001031160.3) indicated the presence of three non-synonymous mutations and one synonymous mutation. Interspecies homology analysis demonstrated that the relationship between the LCORL gene of the Guangxi partridge chicken and Chicken (Gallus gallus) was the highest, which was 99.7%. Examination of the phylogenetic tree indicated that a clear genetic gap in the LCORL gene between birds and between birds and mammals. The isoelectric point (pI) of the LCORL protein was 8.55, categorizing it as a basic protein. Hydrophilic analysis revealed an average hydrophilic acid sequence of -0.712, indicating that it is a hydrophilic protein. The results of functional domain prediction demonstrated that the protein contains only the HTH domain and does not belong to transmembrane or secreted proteins. The LCORL protein is classified as an irregularly folded protein without ligands. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (QRT-PCR) revealed that the expression of the LCORL gene was most prominent in the testis, suggesting a connection to the development and growth of rooster testis tissue, thus influencing its growth. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further research on the biological function of the chicken LCORL gene. This study not only advances our understanding of the role of LCORL gene in environmental adaptive function, but also supports its potential application in poultry genetic improvement and sustainable farming.