Regulation of the FoxO transcriptional activity and the affection to meat quality

FoxO is a subfamily of the Fox ( Forkhead Box) family of transcription factors, which is a key signal molecule in INS / IGF- 1 pathway. The main members of FoxO subfamily are FoxO1, FoxO3 and FoxO4, which regulate skeletal muscle development through various pathways. FoxO is a crucial regulatory factor during target gene expression, process of cell cycle and apoptosis, so FoxO plays an important role in myoblast proliferation and differentiation, the transformation of muscle fiber type, and fat deposition. In this paper, latest advances in correlation of skeletal muscle development and FoxO transcriptional activity were reviewed. The interrelation between FoxO and genes related to meat quality was highlighted, with the purpose of offering theoretic reference for improvement of meat quality.