Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose

Fu, Jing; Lan, Yezhi; Liang, Yuwen; Yang, Xiaoguang; Tang, Ruize; Wang, Yuchuan; Luo, Yabiao; Liu, Chunpeng

doi:10.3390/ijms27010407

This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.

Open AccessArticle

Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose

by

Jing Fu

^1,†,

Yezhi Lan

^2,3,†,

Yuwen Liang

¹,

Xiaoguang Yang

^1,4

,

Ruize Tang

¹,

Yuchuan Wang

¹,

Yabiao Luo

^3,* and

Chunpeng Liu

^1,*

¹

College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China

²

Sanya Institute, China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China

³

State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

⁴

College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010407 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 20 November 2025 / Revised: 25 December 2025 / Accepted: 28 December 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)

Download Versions Notes

Abstract

Lion-head goose is a large-sized breed native to Guangdong Province, China, exhibits remarkable capacity for fatty liver production under overfeeding conditions and is highly valued by local farmers and consumers. However, the molecular mechanisms driving fatty liver development in this breed are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated liver weight differences between normally fed and overfed Lion-head geese and further examined sex-specific differences following overfeeding. Overfeeding significantly increased liver weight more than 340%, and males possess a stronger capacity for lipid deposition under the same feeding regimen compared with females. RNA-Seq analysis identified 1476 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by both sexes, which were mainly enriched in lipid and energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial pathways. In addition, 627 male-specific and 420 female-specific DEGs revealed sex-dependent differences, with males showing stronger transcriptional regulation and females exhibiting enhanced antioxidant and detoxification responses. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed 320 co-hub genes enriched in lipid and energy metabolism in overfeeding-induced fatty liver, along with 9 co-hub genes related to sex differences. Alternative splicing (AS) analysis detected 131 differentially spliced genes (DSGs). Integration of both approaches identified 7 overlapping genes, HYCC2 (Hyccin PI4KA lipid kinase complex subunit 2), AGL (Amylo-Alpha-1,6-Glucosidase and 4-Alpha-Glucanotransferase), CCDC62 (Coiled-coil domain containing 62), IGSF5 (Immunoglobulin superfamily member 5), MGARP (Mitochondria-localized glutamic acid-rich protein), CD80 (Cluster of Differentiation 80), and FPGS (Folylpolyglutamate synthase), as potential key regulators. These findings provide new insights into transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of overfeeding-induced fatty liver in geese.

Keywords: Lion-head goose; fatty liver; overfeeding; WGCNA; alternative splicing

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Fu, J.; Lan, Y.; Liang, Y.; Yang, X.; Tang, R.; Wang, Y.; Luo, Y.; Liu, C. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010407

AMA Style

Fu J, Lan Y, Liang Y, Yang X, Tang R, Wang Y, Luo Y, Liu C. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(1):407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010407

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fu, Jing, Yezhi Lan, Yuwen Liang, Xiaoguang Yang, Ruize Tang, Yuchuan Wang, Yabiao Luo, and Chunpeng Liu. 2026. "Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 1: 407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010407

APA Style

Fu, J., Lan, Y., Liang, Y., Yang, X., Tang, R., Wang, Y., Luo, Y., & Liu, C. (2026). Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(1), 407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010407

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.

Article Menu

Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and Alternative Splicing Analysis Reveal Key Genes Regulating Overfeeding-Induced Fatty Liver in Lion-Head Goose

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI