Transcriptome and targeted metabolome analysis of lipid profiles, nutrients compositions and volatile compounds in longissimus dorsi of different pig breeds

Objective Improving meat quality is important for commercial production and breeding. The molecular mechanism of intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition and meat characteristics require further study. Methods This study aimed to study the mechanism of IMF deposition and meat characteristics including redox potential, nutrients compositions and volatile compounds in longissimus dorsi (LD) by comparing with different pig breeds including Shanghai white (SW), Duroc×(Landrace Yorkshire) (DLY) and Laiwu (LW) pigs. Results Results showed that the contents of IMF, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and redox potential parameters were lower, while the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were higher in LD of SW pigs compared with LW pigs (p<0.05). No differences were observed about these parameters between SW and DLY pigs. Also, the contents of medium-long chain fatty acids and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were higher, while Asp was lower in LD of SW pigs compared with LW pigs (p<0.05). Volatile compounds results showed that 6 ketones, 4 alkenes, 11 alkanes, 2 aldehydes, 1 alcohol were increased, and cholesterol was decreased in SW pigs compared with LW pigs. Transcriptome results showed that differential expressed genes involved in lipid synthesis, metabolism and transport in LD between SW and LW pigs, which were further verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Spearman correlation showed that HSL and Nedd4 were positively related to contents of TG and IMF, while negatively related to volatile compounds and fatty acids (p<0.05). Plin3 and Mgll were negatively related to contents of TG, IMF and cholesterol, while positively related to MDA, LDH, and volatile compounds (p<0.05). PPARA was negatively related to contents of TC and IMF, and activity of superoxide dismutase, while positively related to volatile compounds (p<0.05). Conclusion Our study provided new insights into potential mechanisms of IMF deposition, nutrients composition and volatile compounds of muscular tissues of different pig breeds.