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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2026; 16(4); 662; doi: 10.3390/ani16040662

Combined Analysis of the Transcriptome and Metabolome at Different Tissue Glycogen Levels in Yili Horses.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between genes and metabolites involved in glycogen metabolism across different tissues of Yili mares using joint transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Glycogen content was measured in various tissues (pincer, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, gluteus medius, semitendinosus, external abdominal obliques, liver, and heart) from seven Yili mares. The liver, as the visceral tissue with the highest glycogen content, and the gluteus medius, as the muscle with the highest glycogen content, were selected for transcriptomic sequencing and metabolomic analysis. KEGG pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes and metabolites in the liver and the gluteus medius revealed several key pathways associated with glycogen metabolism, including pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, the TCA cycle, fructose and mannose metabolism, and the pentose phosphate pathway. The gluteus medius tissue exhibited differential expression of 1485 metabolites and 7366 genes compared to the liver, with correlation coefficients between some genes and metabolites in the aforementioned pathways exceeding 0.8. This study highlights the regulatory differences in glycogen synthesis between liver and muscle tissues in Yili horses from multiple perspectives. Notably, genes such as ACO1, ACLY, PCK2, and FBP1, along with metabolites like leucine, tyrosine, and valine, play significant roles in regulating glycogen synthesis in the liver. It is hypothesized that these genes and metabolites contribute to the observed differences in energy metabolism between liver and muscle tissues in Yili horses; however, further in vivo and in vitro experiments are needed to validate this hypothesis.
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Publication Date: 2026-02-19 PubMed ID: 41751123PubMed Central: PMC12937391DOI: 10.3390/ani16040662Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study explored how genes and metabolites interact to regulate glycogen metabolism in different tissues of Yili horses, focusing on variations between liver and muscle tissues using combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.

Background and Aim

  • Glycogen is an important carbohydrate storage molecule, serving as a critical energy reserve in animals.
  • The Yili horse breed was studied to understand tissue-specific differences in glycogen metabolism.
  • The research aimed to identify genes and metabolites involved in glycogen metabolism across multiple tissues, particularly comparing liver and muscle tissues.

Materials and Methods

  • Samples were collected from seven Yili mares across various tissues: pincer, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, gluteus medius, semitendinosus, external abdominal obliques, liver, and heart.
  • Glycogen content was measured across these tissues to identify those with highest levels.
  • The liver (highest glycogen in visceral tissue) and gluteus medius muscle (highest glycogen in muscle tissues) were selected for deeper analyses.
  • Transcriptomic sequencing was performed to analyze gene expression profiles in these tissues.
  • Metabolomic analysis was conducted to identify metabolites that vary between the liver and muscle.
  • KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analysis was used to highlight biochemical pathways involved in glycogen metabolism.

Key Findings

  • The liver and gluteus medius muscle showed significant differences in glycogen content, gene expression, and metabolite profiles.
  • A total of 7,366 genes and 1,485 metabolites were found to be differentially expressed/metabolized in the gluteus medius compared to the liver.
  • Correlation analysis revealed strong associations (correlation coefficients > 0.8) between specific genes and metabolites involved in key metabolic pathways.
  • Important metabolic pathways identified include:
    • Pentose and glucuronic acid interconversion
    • Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis
    • TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle
    • Fructose and mannose metabolism
    • Pentose phosphate pathway
  • Several genes were highlighted as potentially critical regulators of liver glycogen metabolism, including ACO1, ACLY, PCK2, and FBP1.
  • Metabolites such as leucine, tyrosine, and valine also appear to play significant roles in regulating liver glycogen synthesis.

Interpretation and Significance

  • The study provides insight into tissue-specific regulation of glycogen synthesis, emphasizing the different roles liver and muscle tissues play in energy metabolism in Yili horses.
  • Gene-metabolite correlations suggest complex regulatory networks that control glycogen metabolism at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels.
  • The identified genes and metabolites may explain the observed differences in energy metabolism between liver and muscle, potentially informing future breeding, nutrition, or health management strategies in horses.
  • The authors note that confirmation of the roles of these genes and metabolites requires further experimental validation, including in vivo and in vitro studies.

Conclusion

  • This integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic study reveals critical genes and metabolites that contribute to differential glycogen metabolism between liver and muscle tissues in Yili horses.
  • The findings provide a foundation for better understanding energy regulation in horses, with implications for physiology, performance, and metabolic health.
  • Future experiments are recommended to validate these regulatory mechanisms and explore potential applications.

Cite This Article

APA
Li X, Qian S, Yang L, Yang X, Chang X, Zeng Y, Meng J. (2026). Combined Analysis of the Transcriptome and Metabolome at Different Tissue Glycogen Levels in Yili Horses. Animals (Basel), 16(4), 662. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040662

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 4
PII: 662

Researcher Affiliations

Li, Xueyan
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
Qian, Shuman
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
Yang, Liping
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
Yang, Xixi
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
Chang, Xiaokang
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
Zeng, Yaqi
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Meng, Jun
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urmuqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.

Grant Funding

  • 2022A02013-1 / Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's Major Science and Technology Project
  • ZYYD2023C02 / the Central Guided Local Science and Technology Development Special Funds Project
  • XJMFY202401 / partial research achievements of Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology,grant number
  • XJ2024G106 / graduate Research Innovation Project in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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