Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Reveals Differential Gene and Protein Expression and Signaling Pathways During a 20 Km Endurance Exercise and Recovery in Mongolian Horses.
Abstract: Mongolian horses are renowned for their remarkable endurance and ability to adapt to harsh environments. To delve deeper into the molecular mechanisms that underlie these traits, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic changes in Mongolian horses at three distinct time points: before, immediately after, and 24 h following a 20 km run. The transcriptomic analysis uncovered significant variations in gene expression patterns across these time points. Specifically, 291 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified when comparing pre-exercise to post-exercise conditions, 832 DEGs in the comparison between post-exercise and 24 h post-exercise, and 127 DEGs in the comparison of pre-exercise to 24 h post-exercise. Notably, key genes involved in metabolic activities and cellular proliferation, such as and , exhibited significant upregulation immediately after exercise but demonstrated a downward trend 24 h post-exercise. Concurrently, the proteomic analysis revealed 49 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the pre-exercise versus post-exercise comparison, 61 DEPs in the post-exercise versus 24 h post-exercise comparison, and 101 DEPs in the pre-exercise versus 24 h post-exercise comparison. Some proteins, like PDK4 and GLUL, remained upregulated at 24 h post-exercise, whereas others, such as PFKM and LDHA, showed signs of recovery or downregulation. By integrating the transcriptomic and proteomic data, we were able to pinpoint overlapping DEGs/DEPs and implicate crucial signaling pathways, including the HIF-1 signaling pathway and glycolysis, in the molecular response of Mongolian horses to exercise. These findings offer insights into the endurance adaptation mechanisms of the Mongolian horse.
Publication Date: 2025-07-05 PubMed ID: 40646880PubMed Central: PMC12248615DOI: 10.3390/ani15131981Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research studies how gene and protein expression in Mongolian horses change after a 20 km run and subsequent recovery. Specifically, scientists detected shifts in the expression of genes and proteins associated with metabolic activities and cellular proliferation.
Objective of the Research
- This research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the endurance and adaptation abilities of the Mongolian horses. The horses have a remarkable ability to survive tough environments and possess endurance. The researchers delved into the changes in gene and protein expression during different stages of a 20 km endurance ride and during recovery.
Experimental procedure
- The researchers conducted detailed analysis of transcriptomic (the study of RNA molecules) and proteomic (study of proteins) changes in the horses before, immediately after and 24 hours after running 20 km.
- This was done at three distinct time points in order to deeply understand the variations in gene activity during different stages.
Key Findings
- The transcriptomic analysis – understanding the gene expressions, found significant variations across the three time points. A total of 291 genes, 832 genes and 127 genes were differentially expressed when comparing pre-exercise to post-exercise, post-exercise to 24-hour post-exercise, and pre-exercise to 24-hour post-exercise respectively. Crucially, some of these genes regulate metabolic activities and cellular proliferation. These were significantly upregulated immediately after exercise but demonstrated a downward trend 24 hours post-exercise.
- The Proteomic analysis – understanding the proteins – revealed 49, 61, and 101 differentially expressed proteins in the pre-exercise versus post-exercise comparison, the post-exercise versus 24 hours post-exercise comparison, and the pre-exercise versus 24 hours post-exercise comparison respectively.
- Some proteins, like PDK4 and GLUL, were upregulated even 24 hours after the exercise, whereas others, such as PFKM and LDHA, showed signs of recovery or downregulation.
Importance of Integrated Analysis
- By integrating and correlating the transcriptomic and proteomic data, the researchers could overlap differentially expressed genes/proteins and identify crucial signalling pathways like the HIF-1 signalling pathway and glycolysis in the molecular response of Mongolian horses to exercise.
- This comprehensive analysis helps understand endurance adaptation mechanisms in the Mongolian horse. Also, this integrated approach provides deeper and more meaningful insights than studying only gene or protein expression separately.
Cite This Article
APA
Zhang X, Liu Y, Ma W, Li L, Bai D, Dugarjaviin M.
(2025).
Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Reveals Differential Gene and Protein Expression and Signaling Pathways During a 20 Km Endurance Exercise and Recovery in Mongolian Horses.
Animals (Basel), 15(13), 1981.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15131981 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China.
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China.
Grant Funding
- BR230405 / Outstanding Youth Science Fund Training Project of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
- 2023YFDZ0002 / Key R&D Project of Inner Mongolia
- 2021MS03016 / Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia
- 31902188 / National Natural Science Foundation of China
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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