Transcriptome analysis of adipose tissue and muscle of Laiwu and Duroc pigs

Abstract

Fat content is an important trait in pig production. Adipose tissue and muscle are important sites for fat deposition and affect production efficiency and quality. To regulate the fat content in these tissues, we need to understand the mechanisms behind fat deposition. Laiwu pigs, a Chinese indigenous breed, have significantly higher fat content in both adipose tissue and muscle than commercial breeds such as Duroc. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomes in adipose tissue and muscle of 21-d-old Laiwu and Duroc piglets. Results showed that there were 828 and 671 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), respectively. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were enriched in metabolic pathways, especially carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Additionally, in the longissimus muscle (LM) and psoas muscle (PM), 312 and 335 DEGs were identified, demonstrating enrichment in the cell cycle and metabolic pathways. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of these DEGs were analyzed and potential hub genes were identified, such as FBP1 and SCD in adipose tissues and RRM2 and GADL1 in muscles. Meanwhile, results showed that there were common DEGs between adipose tissue and muscle, such as LDHB, THRSP, and DGAT2. These findings showed that there are significant differences in the transcriptomes of the adipose tissue and muscle between Laiwu and Duroc piglets (P < 0.05), especially in metabolic patterns. This insight serves to advance our comprehensive understanding of metabolic regulation in these tissues and provide targets for fat content regulation.