Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 325-337.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0646

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A Comparative Study of Metabolomics-based Screening of Differential Metabolites for Fat Deposition in Wuzhishan and DLY Pigs

WANG Ya-nan1,2(), WEI Li-min1,2, WANG Feng2, CHAO Zhe2, REN Yu-wei2, LIU Hai-long2, HUANG Li-li2, SUN Rui-ping1,2()   

  1. 1.College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830000
    2.Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal Breeding and Disease Research, Hainan Province, Haikou 571100
  • Received:2025-06-19 Online:2026-02-26 Published:2026-03-17
  • Contact: SUN Rui-ping E-mail:wyn001011@163.com;ruiping937@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the characteristics of differential metabolites in serum and subcutaneous fat between Wuzhishan pigs and DLY commercial pigs, and to screen for biomarkers associated with fat deposition. Method Twelve pigs of different breeds that were healthy and met market requirements were selected from commercial pig farms, including 6 Wuzhishan pigs (W) and 6 Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire (DLY) pigs (C). After slaughter, serum and subcutaneous fat samples were collected. Non-targeted metabolomics technology was used to detect metabolic profiles, and KEGG database was combined for enrichment analysis of differential metabolites and related pathways. Result 1) The contents of LDL-C, BUN, and CREA in the serum of Wuzhishan pigs were extremely significantly lower than those in DLY pigs (P<0.01), and the LDH significantly reduced (P<0.05). 2) The results of fat HE staining showed that the area and diameter of adipocytes in Wuzhishan pigs were significantly larger than those in DLY pigs (P<0.05), but the adipocyte density and the number of cells per unit area were significantly lower than those in DLY pigs (P<0.05). 3) Serum metabolomics screening identified 107 up-regulated and 120 down-regulated differential metabolites. A total of 227 differential metabolites were imported into the KEGG database for functional enrichment analysis, and 26 metabolic pathways were enriched. The pathway most significantly associated with growth metabolism and having the highest enrichment score is glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis. 4) In sebum metabolomics, 45 up-regulated and 110 down-regulated differential metabolites were screened, and 29 metabolic pathways were enriched in total. The significantly enriched pathways are PPAR signaling pathway and insulin resistance. Conclusion These results indicate that Wuzhishan pigs have weaker lipid deposition capacity. Metabolites such as PA, PC and PE in serum, as well as DL-homocysteine and oleic acid in subcutaneous fat, may serve as potential biomarkers for lipid deposition. Key pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, GPI anchor biosynthesis, and PPAR signaling, likely regulate the differences in fat metabolism between the two pig breeds. The synergistic and differential regulation of serum and sebum metabolites in fat deposition provides an important theoretical basis for lipid metabolism breeding and meat quality improvement in pigs.

Key words: serum biochemical indicators, off-target metabolomics, lipid metabolic pathway