Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal Age-Dependent Development of Meat Quality Traits in Jingyuan Chicken
2025
Jiahuan Hu | Wei Zhao | Jinyan Zhao | Jinli Tian | Lijuan Yang | Hua Wang | Siyu Chen | Ruimin Ma | Yaling Gu | Dawei Wei | Juan Zhang
In this study, we investigated the dynamic changes in muscle lipid content (MLC) deposition in the breast muscle of Jingyuan chickens at different stages (42-, 126-, and 180- days old) using metabolomics. The pH<sub>45min,</sub> a*, and L* were significantly increased in the breast muscle of 126-day-old chickens, and MLC and b* were significantly increased in the breast muscle of 180-day-old chickens. A total of 4643 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified, of which 10 decreased and 29 increased with age. Key pathways associated with meat quality traits included oxidative phosphorylation, β-alanine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Combined transcriptomic and phenotypic correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations of MLC, pH<sub>45min</sub>, a*, and L* with LysoPC 20:4, <i>CD3E</i>, <i>TARP</i>, <i>IL7R</i>, <i>ENSGALG00010025331</i>, and <i>RASSF5</i>. In the 42- and 180-day-old chickens, MLC, pH<sub>45min</sub>, a*, and L* were significantly and positively correlated with L-Anserine, Dihydroxyacetone phosphate, <i>ENSGALG00010006904</i>, and <i>HSPB7</i>. MLC, pH<sub>45min</sub>, a*, and L* were significantly and positively correlated with beta-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in the 126- and 180-day-old chickens. This study deepens our understanding of the differences in MLC deposition at different stages of Jingyuan chickens and its relationship with meat quality traits.
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