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Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of a prolonged photoperiod on the growth performance and lipid metabolism of weaned piglets. Methods: Twenty-four piglets weaned at 28 days of age were randomly dichotomized into two groups that were alternatively subjected to either long photoperiod (LP) group (16 L:8 D) or short photoperiod (SP) group (10 L:14 D) for 42days. Four replicates of three animals per replicates were used per experimental treatment. Results: Our results demonstrated that prolonged photoperiod increased piglet body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), backfat index during the nursery period, and increased ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and decreased the F/G of piglets during the experiment days 29 to 42. Meanwhile, we observed LP piglets' plasma melatonin, growth hormone and serotonin levels were decreased at 14 d and 42 d compared to SP piglets. Moreover, up-regulated mRNA or protein expression of PPARγ and CEBPα, and lower mRNA or protein expression of MTR1, ATGL, HSL, PPARα, and CPT1α, were observed in back subcutaneous fat of LP group compared with that of SP group. Significant increases were observed in the mRNA or protein contents of lipogenic genes, including C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, ACCα, and FAS, in the liver of LP piglets, whereas CPT1α and ACOX1 mRNA levels and PPARα and MTR1 protein expression were significantly down regulated in LP group compared to SP group. Extended photoperiod also increased lipid content in longissimus dorsi muscle that was associated with higher mRNA or protein levels of SREBP-1c, ACCα, FAS, Pref1, and LPL, decreased mRNA or protein contents of LeptinR, MTR1, HSL, and ACOX1. Conclusion: Together, these findings suggest that there is an advantage, in terms of growth performance and fat deposition, in imposing a prolonged light program (16-h light/d) on nursery piglets to alleviate the negative aspects of weaning stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) offer immense opportunities to deliver drugs and biomolecules to targeted tissues. However, it's unclear to their effects on fat metabolism. Here, it is demonstrated that nitrogen‐doped carboxylate‐functionalized MWCNTs (N‐MWCNTs) inhibit fat deposition both in vivo and in vitro. N‐MWCNTs <0.5 µg mL−1 do not affect the viability of HEK293 cells and adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs). Intramuscular administration of N‐MWCNTs does not affect the body weight gain and feed intake of mice, but reduces the fat mass. In in vitro‐cultured adipocytes, N‐MWCNTs suppress fat accumulation, accompanied by decreased and increased expression of adipogenic and lipolysis genes, respectively. Transcriptome analysis further certifies the N‐MWCNT alteration of fat metabolism‐related genes. Interestingly, the internalization of N‐MWCNTs by macrophage‐like cells via Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging is observed. The mRNA sequencing data also shows remarkable variation of the genes involved in the Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) pathway, exhibiting down‐ or up‐regulation of inflammatory factors, of which TNF‐α, IL‐1, IL‐7, IL‐10, and IL‐12 are decreased, whereas IL‐6 and IL‐11 are increased. In conclusion, N‐MWCNTs trigger immune responses and reduction of fat deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are gaining attention in the context of pork production due to their role in regulating fat deposition, a crucial economic trait. This study focused on profiling LncRNAs in back fat deposition in Saba and Yorkshire pigs, which exhibit significant differences in fat accumulation. Using transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics, we identified 704 differentially expressed mRNAs and 50 LncRNAs. We employed cis-regulatory analysis to explore the function of LncRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment revealed pathways and enzyme activity-related terms, indicating that LncRNAs may modulate gene expression to influence biological processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed enrichment in fat deposition pathways, underscoring the critical role of LncRNAs in this process. Further analysis and construction of LncRNA-mRNA interaction networks revealed 5 potential regulatory networks. Combining the data of differentially expressed LncRNAs and mRNAs, we identified candidate LncRNAs that regulate the expression of ACACA and FASN, which are functionally important genes affecting fat deposition. In summary, this study provides a theoretical foundation and valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying LncRNA-mediated regulation of fat deposition in pigs. These findings are essential for advancing our understanding of porcine fat deposition and enhancing pork production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiome is crucial for lipid metabolism in humans and animals. However, how specific gut microbiota and their associated metabolites impact fat deposition remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the colonic microbiome of lean and obese pigs differentially contributes to fat deposition, as evidenced by colonic microbiota transplantation experiments. Notably, the higher abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum was significantly associated with lower backfat thickness in lean pigs. Microbial‐derived lithocholic acid (LCA) species were also significantly enriched in lean pigs and positively correlated with the abundance of B. pseudocatenulatum. In a high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed mice model, administration of live B. pseudocatenulatum decreased fat deposition and enhances colonic secondary bile acid biosynthesis. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of the bile salt hydrolase (BSH), which mediates secondary bile acid biosynthesis, impaired the anti‐fat deposition effect of B. pseudocatenulatum in antibiotic‐pretreated, HFD‐fed mice. Furthermore, dietary LCA also decreased fat deposition in HFD‐fed rats and obese pig models. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the anti‐fat deposition role of B. pseudocatenulatum and identify BSH as a potential target for preventing excessive fat deposition in humans and animals. Highlights: The gut microbiota composition and function differ significantly between lean and obese pigs, and breed‐specific microbiomes regulate fat deposition.Gut Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum protects against fat deposition by enhancing secondary bile acid biosynthesis.Dietary supplementation with lithocholic acid also helps prevent fat deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Obesity in humans can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, subcutaneous fat (SCF) in pigs affects feed utilization, and excessive SCF can reduce the feed efficiency of pigs. Therefore, identifying factors that suppress fat deposition is particularly important. Numerous studies have implicated the gut microbiome in pigs’ fat deposition, but research into its suppression remains scarce. The Lulai black pig (LL) is a hybrid breed derived from the Laiwu pig (LW) and the Yorkshire pig, with lower levels of SCF compared to the LW. In this study, we focused on these breeds to identify microbiota that regulate fat deposition. The key questions were: Which microbial populations reduce fat in LL pigs compared to LW pigs, and what is the underlying regulatory mechanism? Results In this study, we identified four different microbial strains, Eubacterium siraeum, Treponema bryantii, Clostridium sp. CAG:413, and Jeotgalibaca dankookensis, prevalent in both LW and LL pigs. Blood metabolome analysis revealed 49 differential metabolites, including tanshinone IIA and royal jelly acid, known for their anti-adipogenic properties. E. siraeum was strongly correlated with these metabolites, and its genes and metabolites were enriched in pathways linked to fatty acid degradation, glycerophospholipid, and glycerolipid metabolism. In vivo mouse experiments confirmed that E. siraeum metabolites curb weight gain, reduce SCF adipocyte size, increase the number of brown adipocytes, and regulate leptin, IL-6, and insulin secretion. Finally, we found that one important pathway through which E. siraeum inhibits fat deposition is by suppressing the phosphorylation of key proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through the reduction of tyrosine. Conclusions We compared LW and LL pigs using fecal metagenomics, metabolomics, and blood metabolomics, identifying E. siraeum as a strain linked to fat deposition. Oral administration experiments in mice demonstrated that E. siraeum effectively inhibits fat accumulation, primarily through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, a critical regulator of lipid metabolism. These findings provide a valuable theoretical basis for improving pork quality and offer insights relevant to the study of human obesity and related chronic metabolic diseases. Video Abstract

Simple Summary: Chicken is an important part of the human diet, and it is considered a nutritious and healthy food. Excessive abdominal fat deposition in broiler chickens presents a significant hurdle for both poultry producers and the food industry. This study compared the gut microbiome composition and host whole-genome profiles between fat-line and lean-line broiler chickens that had been selectively bred for divergent abdominal fat levels over 15 generations. Our findings suggest that the two chicken lines exhibited significant differences in their gut microbiota and the selective breeding process also led to genomic variations in the lean broilers, with single nucleotide polymorphisms predominantly observed in genes related to energy and lipid metabolism. This study offers new insights into the intricate gut-genome interactions in chicken fat metabolism, paving the way for more effective breeding and microbiome-based strategies to manage adiposity in poultry. Optimizing fat deposition is crucial for improving chicken production and meat quality. This study investigated the interactive roles of host genetics and gut microbiome in regulating abdominal fat deposition in selectively bred broiler chicken lines. We compared the gut microbiome composition and host whole-genome profiles between fat-line and lean-line broiler chickens that had been selectively bred for divergent abdominal fat levels over 15 generations. Despite identical dietary and environmental conditions, the two chicken lines exhibited significant differences in their gut microbiota. Lean-line broiler chickens exhibited an increased abundance of intestinal Lactobacillus and a decreased presence of potentially pathogenic species, such as Campylobacter coli, Corynebacterium casei, and Enterococcus faecalis. These microbial alterations were accompanied by shifts in the functional metagenome, with enrichment in pathways involved in energy metabolism and nutrient utilization in the lean-line chickens. Notably, the selective breeding process also led to genomic variations in the lean broilers, with single nucleotide polymorphisms predominantly observed in genes related to energy and lipid metabolism. Our findings suggest that the host–microbiome interactions play a key role in the divergent abdominal fat deposition phenotypes observed in these selectively bred chicken lines. The co-evolution of the gut microbiome and host genetics highlights the importance of considering both factors to optimize poultry production efficiency and meat quality. This study offers new insights into the intricate gut–genome interactions in chicken fat metabolism, paving the way for more effective breeding and microbiome-based strategies to manage adiposity in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a crucial economic trait, fat deposition is directly related to carcass quality and feed efficiency in sheep. The purpose of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms of the FGB gene related to fat deposition and detect the expression features of the FGB gene in different adipose tissues of sheep by using Sanger sequencing, MassARRAY® SNP technique, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results showed that in the intron region of the FGB gene, a SNP g. 3378953 A > T has been identified, and significant association was found between perirenal fat weight, perirenal fat relative weight, mesenteric fat weight, and mesenteric fat relative weight (P < 0.05). Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis showed that FGB was expressed in all three adipose tissues, and FGB gene expression level in the AA genotype was significantly lower than that in the AT or TT genotypes (P < 0.05). Therefore, the FGB gene can be used as a candidate gene to reduce fat deposition in Hu sheep breeding, and the selection of the AA genotype in Hu sheep in production practice is more conducive to improving production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity, a global disease, can lead to different chronic diseases and a series of social health problems. Lifestyle changes, especially dietary changes, are the most effective way to treat obesity. Euglena, a novel food, has attracted much attention. Previous studies have shown that Euglena is an important modulator of the host immune response. In this study, the effects of Euglena as a nutritional intervention in high-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice were investigated regarding adipose tissue accumulation and lipid and glucose metabolism by gavage at the dose of 100 mg/kg bodyweight for 9 weeks. This study is one of the few to investigate, in detail, the preventive effects of dietary Euglena on obesity. Methods: Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. An obesity model was created by feeding the high-fat diet for a period of 10 weeks. Obese mice were randomized into 2 groups with the same mean body weight, and no significant differences were observed between the groups: (1) the mice in the HEG group were maintained on a high-fat diet and daily gavaged with Euglena (100 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in saline (n = 7); and (2) the mice in the HFD group were maintained on a high-fat diet and daily gavaged with saline with the same volume (n = 7). The experiment finished after a nine-week period. Results: The results showed that Euglena could reduce the accumulation of white body fat, including subcutaneous fat and visceral fat, and mainly targeted subcutaneous fat. Euglena also reduced adipocyte particle size expansion, promoted lipolysis in adipose (adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase) and liver tissue (reduced non-esterified fatty acid content), and improved obesity-induced ectopic fat deposition and glucose tolerance. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Euglena, as a nutritional intervention in HFDs, efficiently reduces body weight and white adipose tissue deposition. The mechanism of Euglena is mainly though enhancing lipolysis. It is worth noting that Euglena β-glucan recovers the hyperglycemia and accumulation of ectopic fat within the liver induced by HFD. Our study is one of the few studies to report in detail the preventive effects of dietary Euglena on obesity in vivo. This study revealed that Euglena also has an important ameliorative effect on obesity and metabolic disorders, which laid a theoretical foundation for its future application in functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Obesity in humans can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, subcutaneous fat (SCF) in pigs affects feed utilization, and excessive SCF can reduce the feed efficiency of pigs. Therefore, identifying factors that suppress fat deposition is particularly important. Numerous studies have implicated the gut microbiome in pigs' fat deposition, but research into its suppression remains scarce. The Lulai black pig (LL) is a hybrid breed derived from the Laiwu pig (LW) and the Yorkshire pig, with lower levels of SCF compared to the LW. In this study, we focused on these breeds to identify microbiota that regulate fat deposition. The key questions were: Which microbial populations reduce fat in LL pigs compared to LW pigs, and what is the underlying regulatory mechanism? Results: In this study, we identified four different microbial strains, Eubacterium siraeum, Treponema bryantii, Clostridium sp. CAG:413, and Jeotgalibaca dankookensis, prevalent in both LW and LL pigs. Blood metabolome analysis revealed 49 differential metabolites, including tanshinone IIA and royal jelly acid, known for their anti-adipogenic properties. E. siraeum was strongly correlated with these metabolites, and its genes and metabolites were enriched in pathways linked to fatty acid degradation, glycerophospholipid, and glycerolipid metabolism. In vivo mouse experiments confirmed that E. siraeum metabolites curb weight gain, reduce SCF adipocyte size, increase the number of brown adipocytes, and regulate leptin, IL-6, and insulin secretion. Finally, we found that one important pathway through which E. siraeum inhibits fat deposition is by suppressing the phosphorylation of key proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through the reduction of tyrosine. Conclusions: We compared LW and LL pigs using fecal metagenomics, metabolomics, and blood metabolomics, identifying E. siraeum as a strain linked to fat deposition. Oral administration experiments in mice demonstrated that E. siraeum effectively inhibits fat accumulation, primarily through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, a critical regulator of lipid metabolism. These findings provide a valuable theoretical basis for improving pork quality and offer insights relevant to the study of human obesity and related chronic metabolic diseases. A8f-W15s7ymTLwKonxAA6E Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genetic background behind fat-tail development in sheep can be useful to develop breeding programs for genetic improvement, while the genetic basis of fat-tail formation is still not well understood. Here, to identify genomic regions influencing fat-tail size in sheep, a comprehensive selection signature identification analysis was performed through comparison of fat- and thin-tailed sheep breeds. Furthermore, to gain the first insights into the potential use of RNA-Seq for selection signature identification analysis, SNP calling was performed using RNA-Seq datasets. In total, 45 RNA-Seq samples from seven cohort studies were analyzed, and the FST method was used to detect selection signatures. Our findings indicated that RNA-Seq could be of potential utility for selection signature identification analysis. In total, 877 SNPs related to 103 genes were found to be under selection in 92 genomic regions. Functional annotation analysis reinforced the hypothesis that genes involved in fatty acid oxidation May modulate fat accumulation in the tail of sheep and highlighted the potential regulatory role of angiogenesis process in the fat deposition. In agreement with most previous studies, our results re-emphasize that the BMP2 gene is targeted by selection during sheep evolution. Further gene annotation analysis of the regions targeted by the sheep evolution process revealed that a large number of genes included in these regions are directly associated with fat metabolism, including those previously reported as candidates involved in sheep fat-tail morphology, such as NID2, IKBKG, RGMA, IGFBP7, UBR5, VEGFD and WLS. Moreover, a number of genes, including BDH2, ECHS1, AUH, ERBIN and CYP4V2 were of particular interest because they are well-known fat metabolism-associated genes and are considered novel candidates involved in fat-tail size. Consistent with the selection signature identification analysis, principal component analysis clustered the samples into two completely separate groups according to fat- and thin-tailed breeds. Our results provide novel insights into the genomic basis of phenotypic diversity related to the fat-tail of sheep breeds and can be used to determine directions for improving breeding strategies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of modified rice bran tempeh on performance, carcass quality, organoleptic properties, fat deposition, and nutritional meat composition in broiler. This research used a completely randomized design. Two hundred broilers (a male to female ratio of 1:1) were divided into 4 treatment groups with 5 replications for each treatment, as follows: P1 = Feed without modified rice bran tempeh; P2 = Feed with 20% rice bran tempeh; P3 = Feed with 20% modified rice bran tempeh; and; P4 = Feed with 25% modified rice bran tempeh. The experimental results showed that all treatment groups had similar performance. The treatments significantly reduced (P<0.05) abdominal fat and total fat deposition. In addition, the treatments also significantly reduced meat fat and ash content (P<0.01), but it significantly increased (P<0.01) moisture contents. It was concluded that feeding 20% or 25% modified rice bran tempeh reduced meat fat content and fat deposition without reducing broiler performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fat deposition leads to obesity and cardiovascular diseases with abnormal metabolism. Pantothenic acid (PA) is a major B vitamin required for energy metabolism. However, the effect of PA on lipid metabolism and obesity has not been explored. We investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of PA on fat accumulation as well as the influence of adipogenic marker genes in both adult male mice and primary adipocytes. First, we demonstrated that PA attenuates weight gain in mice fed high-fat diet (HFD). Besides, PA supplementation substantially improved glucose tolerance and lipid metabolic disorder in obese mice. Furthermore, PA significantly inhibited white adipose tissue (WAT) deposition as well as fat droplets visualized by magnification in both chow and HFD group. More importantly, PA obviously suppressed the mRNA levels of CD36, IL-6, and TNF-α to alleviate inflammation and reduced the levels of PPARγ, aP2, and C/EBPα genes that are related to lipid metabolism in inguinal white adipose tissue (ing-WAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (ei-WAT). In vitro, PA supplementation showed a lower lipid droplet aggregation as well as reduced expression levels of adipogentic genes. Finally, we identified that PA inhibits the phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK in murine primary adipocytes. Collectively, our data demonstrated for the first time that PA attenuates lipid metabolic disorder as well as fat deposition by JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) offer immense opportunities to deliver drugs and biomolecules to targeted tissues. However, it's unclear to their effects on fat metabolism. Here, it is demonstrated that nitrogen‐doped carboxylate‐functionalized MWCNTs (N‐MWCNTs) inhibit fat deposition both in vivo and in vitro. N‐MWCNTs

Lipids play crucial roles in signal transduction. Lipid metabolism is associated with several transcriptional regulators, including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. In recent years, increasing evidence has suggested that members of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family play key roles in lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms by which each member of this family regulates lipid metabolism remain unclear. This review discusses the latest research on the roles played by HDACs in fat metabolism. The role of HDACs in obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis has also been discussed. In addition, the interaction of HDACs with the gut microbiome and circadian rhythm has been reviewed, and the future development trend in HDACs has been predicted, which may potentiate therapeutic application of targeted HDACs in related metabolic diseases.

Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is a microbiota-derived metabolite, and numerous studies have shown that it could regulate fat metabolism in humans and mice. However, few studies have focused on the effects of TMAO on fat deposition in growing-finishing pigs. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TMAO on fat deposition and intestinal microbiota in growing-finishing pigs. Sixteen growing pigs were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed with a basal diet with 0 or 1 g/kg TMAO for 149 d. The intestinal microbial profiles, fat deposition indexes, and fatty acid profiles were measured. These results showed that TMAO supplementation had a tendency to decrease lean body mass (P

Plastic pollution has become a major environmental concern, and various plastic polymers are used daily. A study was conducted to examine the toxic effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics (NPLs) on Drosophila melanogaster. We have successfully synthesized PET NPLs and characterized using DLS, Zeta potential, TEM, HRTEM, SAED, XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy to gain crucial insights into the structure and properties. We fed PET NPLs to Drosophila to assess toxicity. ROS was quantified using DCFH-DA and NBT, and the nuclear degradation was checked by DAPI staining. Quantification of protein and activity of antioxidant enzymes like SOD, catalase depicted the adverse consequences of PET NPLs exposure. The dorsal side of the abdomens, eyes, and wings were also defective when phenotypically analyzed. These results substantiate the genotoxic and cytotoxic impact of nanoplastics. Notably, behavioral observations encompassing larval crawling and climbing of adults exhibit normal patterns, excluding the presence of neurotoxicity. Adult Drosophila showed decreased survivability, and fat accumulation enhanced body weight. These findings contribute to unraveling the intricate mechanisms underlying nanoplastic toxicity and emphasize its potential repercussions for organismal health and ecological equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: In poultry industry, the strategies for elevating of protein accretion with minimizing fat deposition have been applied, and seaweed algae has been focused one of the potential candidates. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of algae (Ascophllum Nodosum) extract (AE) on the growth performance and body composition of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were allotted to 4 dietary treatment groups and fed experimental diets containing different concentrations of AE for 35 d as follows: 0 mg/kg (control, CON), 1,250 mg/kg (LAE), 2,500 mg/kg (MAE), or 5,000 mg/kg (HAE). At the end of the experiment, 40 chickens were sacrificed and samples of their blood, breast muscle, liver, and abdominal fat were collected and analyzed. Growth performance was improved in the LAE group compared to that in the CON (P < 0.05). The weight of abdominal fat was lower in the HAE group than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Serum triglyceride levels were also decreased in the HAE group compared to those in the CON and LAE groups (P < 0.05). Adipocytes were smaller in the HAE group than in all other treatments, and their size distribution was shifted more towards smaller adipocytes compared to those in the LAE group (P < 0.05). Relative mRNA levels in abdominal adipose tissue of fatty acid synthase and stearyl-CoA desaturase, which are involved in fatty acid synthesis, were all downregulated by supplementation with AE (P < 0.05). In addition, the protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma were decreased and the ratio of phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase to total ACC was increased, both of which indicate that lipogenesis was suppressed (P < 0.05). Hepatic transcript levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein and its downstream enzymes fatty acid synthase and sterol-CoA desaturase were also lower in all AE treatments compared to those in the CON group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the seaweed algae (Ascophllum Nodosum) extract reduces fat accumulation in both adipose tissue and the liver by modulating lipogenesis.

Significant efforts have been made to understand how fat deposition in sheep tail is regulated in genetic, transcriptomic, physiologic, biochemical, and metabolic levels in order to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying the energy storage, lipid metabolism in adipose tissue, adaptability to harsh environments, and evolutionary domestication. Through RNA-seq data analysis, we are able to compare the gene expression of fat-tailed sheep versus thin-tailed sheep breeds in an acceptable resolution at transcriptome level. The purpose of this study was to compare the transcriptomes of Ghezel (fat-tailed) and Zel (thin-tailed) sheep. Total RNA from subcutaneous and tail tissue samples from healthy lambs was sequenced (150b PE) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two mentioned tissues and between the Ghezel and Zel sheep breeds. Further downstream pathway and network analyses were conducted afterwards. The results uncovered the association of the most important DEGs such as CAV1, ALB, and SOCS3 with cellular signaling pathways of lipids metabolism. It seems that the SOCS3 gene plays an important role in the differential deposition of lipid in the tails of two phenotypically different sheep breeds. Although the detail of gene expression in the tail and subcutaneous tissues of two morphologically different breeds was decoded here, to fully understand how differential expression of the SOCS3 gene affects the fat synthesis, further studies are needed.

Understanding the genetic background behind fat-tail development in sheep can be useful to develop breeding programs for genetic improvement, while the genetic basis of fat-tail formation is still not well understood. Here, to identify genomic regions influencing fat-tail size in sheep, a comprehensive selection signature identification analysis was performed through comparison of fat- and thin-tailed sheep breeds. Furthermore, to gain the first insights into the potential use of RNA-Seq for selection signature identification analysis, SNP calling was performed using RNA-Seq datasets. In total, 45 RNA-Seq samples from seven cohort studies were analyzed, and the FST method was used to detect selection signatures. Our findings indicated that RNA-Seq could be of potential utility for selection signature identification analysis. In total, 877 SNPs related to 103 genes were found to be under selection in 92 genomic regions. Functional annotation analysis reinforced the hypothesis that genes involved in fatty acid oxidation May modulate fat accumulation in the tail of sheep and highlighted the potential regulatory role of angiogenesis process in the fat deposition. In agreement with most previous studies, our results re-emphasize that the BMP2 gene is targeted by selection during sheep evolution. Further gene annotation analysis of the regions targeted by the sheep evolution process revealed that a large number of genes included in these regions are directly associated with fat metabolism, including those previously reported as candidates involved in sheep fat-tail morphology, such as NID2, IKBKG, RGMA, IGFBP7, UBR5, VEGFD and WLS. Moreover, a number of genes, including BDH2, ECHS1, AUH, ERBIN and CYP4V2 were of particular interest because they are well-known fat metabolism-associated genes and are considered novel candidates involved in fat-tail size. Consistent with the selection signature identification analysis, principal component analysis clustered the samples into two completely separate groups according to fat- and thin-tailed breeds. Our results provide novel insights into the genomic basis of phenotypic diversity related to the fat-tail of sheep breeds and can be used to determine directions for improving breeding strategies in the future.

Abstract Background Hox gene family is an important transcription factor that regulates cell process, and plays a role in the process of adipocytes differentiation and fat deposition. Previous transcriptome sequencing studies have indicated that the Homeobox A9 gene (HOXA9) is a candidate gene for regulating the process of bovine lipid metabolism, but the function and specific mechanism of action remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of HOXA9 in the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of bovine preadipocytes through gain-of-function and lose-of-function. Result It found HOXA9 highly expressed in bovine adipose tissue, and its expression level changed significantly during adipocytes differentiation process. It gave a hint that HOXA9 may be involved in the process of bovine lipid metabolism. The results of HOXA9 gain-of-function experiments indicated that HOXA9 appeared to act as a negative regulator not only in the differentiation but also in the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes, which is mainly reflected that overexpression of HOXA9 down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression level of PPARγ, CEBPα and FABP4 (P

Introduction: Acetyl-Coenzyme A Acyltransferase-1 (ACAA1) is a peroxisomal acyltransferase involved in fatty acid metabolism. Current evidence does not precisely reveal the effect of the ACAA1 gene on pig growth performance. Methods: The present study assessed the mRNA expression levels of the ACAA1 gene in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney of 6-month-old Xiangsu pigs and in the longissimus dorsi muscle at different growth stages (newborn, 6 months and 12 months of age) using RT-qPCR. The relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACAA1 gene and growth traits in 6-month-old and 12-month-old Xiangsu pigs was investigated on 184 healthy Xiangsu pigs using Sanger sequencing. Results: The ACAA1 gene was expressed in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and longissimus dorsi muscle of 6-month-old pigs, with the highest level of expression in the liver. ACAA1 gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle decreased with age (p < 0.01). In addition, four SNPs were identified in the ACAA1 gene, including exon g.48810 A>G (rs343060194), intron g.51546 T>C (rs319197012), exon g.55035 T>C (rs333279910), and exon g.55088 C>T (rs322138947). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05) was found for the four SNPs, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed a strong LD between g.55035 T>C (rs333279910) and g.55088 C>T (rs322138947) (r2 = 1.000). Association analysis showed that g.48810 A>G (rs343060194), g.51546 T>C (rs319197012), g.55035 T>C (rs333279910), and g.55088 C>T (rs322138947) varied in body weight, body length, body height, abdominal circumference, leg and hip circumference and living backfat thickness between 6-month-old and 12-month-old Xiangsu pigs. Conclusion: These findings strongly demonstrate that the ACAA1 gene can be exploited for marker-assisted selection to improve growth-related phenotypes in Xiangsu pigs and present new candidate genes for molecular pig breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative splicing is a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism in gene expression that allows a single gene to generate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Adipocyte development is regulated by many processes, and recent studies have found that splicing factors also play an important role in adipogenic development. In the present study, we further investigated the differences in selective shearing during different periods of adipocyte differentiation. We identified five alternative splicing types including skipped exon, mutually exclusive exon, Alternative 5′ splice site, Alternative 3′ splice site, and Retained intron, with skipped exons being the most abundant type of selective shearing. In total, 641 differentially expressed selective shearing genes were obtained, enriched in 279 pathways, from which we selected and verified the accuracy of the sequencing results. Overall, RNA-seq revealed changes in the splicing and expression levels of these new candidate genes between precursor adipocytes and adipocytes, suggesting that they may be involved in adipocyte generation and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to explore the important factors affecting the characteristics of different parts of pork. Methods: Lipidomics and proteomics methods were used to analyze DAL (differential lipids) and DAPs (differential proteins) in five different parts (longissimus dorsi, belly meat, loin, forelegs and buttocks) of Duhua pig (Duroc × Guangdong small spotted pig), to identify potential pathways affecting meat quality, investigating fat deposition in pork and its lipid-protein interactions. Results: The results show that TG (triglyceride) is the lipid subclass with the highest proportion in muscle, and the pathway with the most significantly enriched lipids is GP. DAP clustered on several GO terms closely related to lipid metabolism and lipogenesis (lipid binding, lipid metabolism, lipid transport, and lipid regulation). In KEGG analysis, there are two main DAP aggregation pathways related to lipid metabolism, namely Fatty acid degradation and oxidative phosphorylation. In PPI analysis, we screened out 31 core proteins, among which NDUFA6, NDUFA9 and ACO2 are the most critical. Discussion: PC (phosphatidylcholine) is regulated by SNX5, THBS1, ANXA7, TPP1, CAVIN2, and VDAC2 in the phospholipid binding pathway. TG is regulated by AUH/HADH/ACADM/ACADL/HADHA in the lipid oxidation and lipid modification pathways. Potential biomarkers are rich in SFA, MUFA and PUFA respectively, the amounts of SFA, MUFA and PUFA in the lipid measurement results are consistent with the up- and down-regulation of potential biomarker lipids. This study clarified the differences in protein and lipid compositions in different parts of Duhua pigs and provided data support for revealing the interactions between pork lipids and proteins. These findings provide contributions to the study of intramuscular fat deposition in pork from a genetic and nutritional perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hox gene family is an important transcription factor that regulates cell process, and plays a role in the process of adipocytes differentiation and fat deposition. Previous transcriptome sequencing studies have indicated that the Homeobox A9 gene (HOXA9) is a candidate gene for regulating the process of bovine lipid metabolism, but the function and specific mechanism of action remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of HOXA9 in the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of bovine preadipocytes through gain-of-function and lose-of-function. Result: It found HOXA9 highly expressed in bovine adipose tissue, and its expression level changed significantly during adipocytes differentiation process. It gave a hint that HOXA9 may be involved in the process of bovine lipid metabolism. The results of HOXA9 gain-of-function experiments indicated that HOXA9 appeared to act as a negative regulator not only in the differentiation but also in the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes, which is mainly reflected that overexpression of HOXA9 down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression level of PPARγ, CEBPα and FABP4 (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression level of CDK1, CDK2, PCNA, CCNA2, CCNB1, CCND1 and CCNE2, as well as the protein expression of CDK2 also significantly decreased. The decrease of lipid droplets content was the main characteristic of the phenotype (P < 0.01), which further supported the evidence that HOXA9 was a negative regulator of preadipocytes differentiation. The decrease of cell proliferation rate and EdU positive rate, as well as the limitation of transition of preadipocytes from G0/G1 phase to S phase also provided evidence for the inhibition of proliferation. Apart from this above, we noted an interesting phenomenon that overexpression of HOXA9 showed in a significant upregulation of both mRNA and protein level of apoptosis markers, accompanied by a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate. These data led us not to refute the fact that HOXA9 played an active regulatory role in apoptosis. HOXA9 loss-of-function experiments, however, yielded the opposite results. Considering that HOXA9 acts as a transcription factor, we predicted its target genes. Dual luciferase reporter assay system indicated that overexpression of HOXA9 inhibits activity of PCNA promoter. Conclusion: Taken together, we demonstrated for the first time that HOXA9 played a role as a negative regulatory factor in the differentiation and proliferation of preadipocytes, but played a positive regulatory role in apoptosis, and it may play a regulatory role by targeting PCNA. This study provides basic data for further exploring the regulatory network of intramuscular fat deposition in bovine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) belongs to the lncRNA molecules, which are involved in transcriptional and epigenetic regulation and the control of gene expression, including the mechanism of chromatin remodeling. MALAT1 was first discovered during carcinogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma, hence its name. In humans, 66 of its isoforms have been identified, and in pigs, only 2 are predicted, for which information is available in Ensembl databases (Ensembl Release 111). MALAT1 is expressed in numerous tissues, including adipose, adrenal gland, heart, kidney, liver, ovary, pancreas, sigmoid colon, small intestine, spleen, and testis. MALAT1, as an lncRNA, shows a wide range of functions. It is involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, where it has pro-proliferative effects and high cellular levels during the G1/S and mitotic (M) phases. Moreover, it is involved in invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, and it has a crucial function in alternative splicing during carcinogenesis. In addition, MALAT1 plays a significant role in the processes of fat deposition and adipogenesis. The human adipose tissue stem cells, during differentiation into adipocytes, secrete MALAT1 as one the most abundant lncRNAs in the exosomes. MALAT1 expression in fat tissue is positively correlated with adipogenic FABP4 and LPL. This lncRNA is involved in the regulation of PPARγ at the transcription stage, fatty acid metabolism, and insulin signaling. The wide range of MALAT1 functions makes it an interesting target in studies searching for drugs to prevent obesity development in humans. In turn, in farm animals, it can be a source of selection markers to control the fat tissue content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In order to gain insight into the molecular mechanism of porcine fat deposition, this study reported, for the first time, miRNA editing in the adipose tissue of Ningxiang pigs. We performed bioinformatics analyses, such as developmental stage-specific site screening, target gene prediction, and functional enrichment analysis, to obtain the functional miRNA editing sites associated with fat deposition; we found that miR-497 editing might inhibit fat deposition in pigs through retargeting genes. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the functional roles and mechanisms of miRNA editing in adipose development but also hold significant importance for improving the lean meat percentage of Ningxiang pigs and promoting their industrial development. This study aimed to identify active miRNA editing sites during adipose development in Ningxiang pigs and analyze their characteristics and functions. Based on small RNA-seq data from the subcutaneous adipose tissues of Ningxiang pigs at four stages—30 days (piglet), 90 days (nursery), 150 days (early fattening), and 210 days (late fattening)—we constructed a developmental map of miRNA editing in the adipose tissues of Ningxiang pigs. A total of 505 miRNA editing sites were identified using the revised pipeline, with C-to-U editing types being the most prevalent, followed by U-to-C, A-to-G, and G-to-U. Importantly, these four types of miRNA editing exhibited base preferences. The number of editing sites showed obvious differences among age groups, with the highest occurrence of miRNA editing events observed at 90 days of age and the lowest at 150 days of age. A total of nine miRNA editing sites were identified in the miRNA seed region, with significant differences in editing levels (p < 0.05) located in ssc-miR-23a, ssc-miR-27a, ssc-miR-30b-5p, ssc-miR-15a, ssc-miR-497, ssc-miR-15b, and ssc-miR-425-5p, respectively. Target gene prediction and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that the editing of miR-497 might potentially regulate fat deposition by inhibiting adipose synthesis via influencing target binding. These results provide new insights into the regulatory mechanism of pig fat deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol has been evaluated as a safe and promising animal feed. It can replace traditional energy foods and reduce competition with major animal husbandry systems. In this study, 40 fattening Kazakh ewes (18 months of age) were selected to investigate the dynamic response of growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, fat deposition, carcass traits and meat quality to different levels of glycerol (0, 1%, 7%, and 12% DM). The results showed that glycerol could improve sheep growth performance, increase fat deposition, increase carcass dressing percentage and improve meat quality. Among them, the Gly7% group had significant positive effects (P<0.05) on FBW, ADG, GLU, TP, ALB, TG, HDL-C, fat deposition, HCW, CCW, HCD and EE; and significant negative effects (P<0.05) on FCR, ADFI, TC, LDL-C, a*, b* and SF. In conclusion, the recommended supplementation of glycerol in the diet of Kazakh ewes is 7% DM for optimal fattening performance without compromising health. This study may provide a theoretical basis for the rational utilization of food-grade glycerol in sheep diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the performance, intake, digestibility, ruminal parameters, carcass traits, and the yield of commercial cuts of Santa Ines (SI) and Rabo Largo (RL) breeds fed diets with high or low roughage-to-concentrate ratio (R:C) under a tropical climate. Twenty lambs from each breed were individually housed in covered pens and fed the experimental diets for 58 days. The diets were formulated to meet the growth requirements of lambs with a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 70:30 and 30:70. Significant interactions of breed × diet for nutrient intake were observed (P < 0.05), with SI lambs fed low R:C diet showing higher intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and total carbohydrates compared to RL lambs fed the same diet. SI lambs fed high R:C diet had higher intake of neutral detergent fiber than RL lambs (P < 0.05). SI lambs displayed better average daily gain and feed efficiency, regardless of diet (P < 0.05). Carcass traits and gastrointestinal components were influenced by breed and diet (P < 0.05). SI lambs fed low R:C diet showed higher subcutaneous fat thickness and better carcass finishing compared to RL lambs (P < 0.05). SI breed lambs exhibited better growth performance, carcass traits, and gastrointestinal characteristics, even when fed diets with a high roughage-to-concentrate ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Previously, we reported that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analog liraglutide could inhibit fat de novo synthesis in the liver and reduce abdominal fat accumulation in broiler chickens. Nevertheless, the impact of GLP-1 on adipocyte fat deposition remains enigmatic. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GLP-1, via its analog liraglutide, on chicken chicken adipocytes in vitro. Chemical assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blot were employed to assess the proliferation, differentiation, and fat deposition of chicken adipocytes. Our findings indicated that liraglutide significantly suppressed cell proliferation and promoted preadipocyte differentiation in comparison to the control group. This was evidenced by elevated triglyceride (TG) content and upregulated mRNA expression of lipogenesis-related enzymes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), as well as regulators including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (CEBPα). In mature adipocytes, liraglutide attenuated fat deposition by inhibiting fat de novo synthesis, evidenced by decreased mRNA expression of ACC, FAS, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1, and concurrent upregulation of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) and phosphorylated ACC (p-ACC). This resulted in reduced accumulation of lipid droplets and TG content in mature adipocytes. Collectively, our findings indicate that liraglutide suppresses the proliferation of preadipocytes, enhances their differentiation, and concurrently inhibits de novo lipogenesis in mature adipocytes. This observation offers profound insights into the mechanisms that underlie liraglutide's anti-adipogenic effects, which could have significant implications for the treatment of obesity in broiler chickens.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary concentrate: forage (C: F) ratio on fat deposition, fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and mRNA expression levels of sirtuins genes associated with adipose tissue metabolism of subcutaneous fat in Black Tibetan sheep. Three diets with different C: F (HC: 70:30, IC:50:50 and LC: 30:70) were fed to fifteen weaned male lambs (2-month-old, 10.05 ± 0.96 Kg). The experiment lasted for 120 d. Five lambs from each group were randomly selected and slaughtered at the end of the experiment. The subcutaneous fat thicknesses increased with increasing concentrate level (P

Background: The accumulation of ectopic fats is related to metabolic syndromes with insulin resistance, which is considered as the first hit in obesity-related diseases. However, systematic understanding of the occurrence of ectopic fats is limited, since organisms are capable of orchestrating complicated intracellular signaling pathways to ensure that the correct nutritional components reach the tissues where they are needed. Interestingly, tissue-specific mechanisms lead to different consequences of fat metabolism with different insulin sensitivities. Aim of Review: To summarize the mechanisms of fat deposition in different tissues including adipose tissue, subcutis, liver, muscle and intestines, in an attempt to elucidate interactive mechanisms involving insulin actions and establish a potential reference for the rational uptake of fat. Key Scientific Concepts of Review: Tissue-specific fat metabolism serves as a trigger for developing abnormal fat metabolism or as a compensatory agent for regulating normal fat metabolism. Outcomes of de novo lipogenesis and adipogenesis differ in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), liver and muscle, with the participation of insulin actions. Overload of lipid metabolic capability results in SAT fat expansion, and ectopic fat accumulation implicates impaired lipo-/adipogenesis in SAT. Regulating insulin actions may be a key measure on fat deposition and metabolism in individuals.

Abstract Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as important non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are involved in many biological activities. However, the exact chemical mechanism behind fat accumulation is unknown. In this paper, we obtained the expression profiles of circRNAs using high-throughput sequencing and investigated their differential expression in subcutaneous fat tissue of Duolang and Small Tail Han sheep. Results From the transcriptomic analysis, 141 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified, comprising 61 up-regulated circRNAs and 80 down-regulated circRNAs. These host genes were primarily enriched in the MAPK and AMPK signaling pathways which is closely associated with fat deposition regulation. We identified circRNA812, circRNA91, and circRNA388 as vital genes in fat deposition by miRNA-circRNA target gene prediction. The functional annotation results of target genes of key circRNAs showed that the signaling pathways mainly included PI3K-Akt and AMPK. We constructed the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network to study the role of circRNAs in sheep lipid deposition, and circRNA812, circRNA91, and circRNA388 can adsorb more miRNAs. NC_040253.1_5757, as the source of miRNA response element (MRE) among the three, may play an important role during the process of sheep fat deposition. Conclusions Our study gives a systematic examination of the circRNA profiles expressed in sheep subcutaneous fat. These results from this study provide some new basis for understanding circRNA function and sheep fat metabolism.

Medium-chain monoglycerides (MG) have been reported to affect the productive performance, gut microbiota and health of broiler chickens reared in ideal experimental conditions at home and abroad. However, the effects of MG on performance, intestinal development and gut microbiota of chickens in large-scale farms during different feed stages remain unknown. The present study was conducted on a modern farm with a total of 12,000 yellow feathered broiler chicks that were randomly allotted to 2 groups (1000 chicks/replicate, 6 replicates/group) for a 70-day trial. The control group (CON group) received a basal diet, and the treated group (MG group) was fed a basal diet containing 300 mg/kg mixed MG. The results revealed that dietary MG significantly (P

Exogenous supplementation of guanidinoacetic acid can mechanistically regulate the energy distribution in muscle cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of guanidinoacetic acid supplementation on liver and breast muscle fat deposition, lipid levels, and lipid metabolism-related gene expression in ducks. We randomly divided 480 42 days-old female Jiaji ducks into four groups with six replicates and 20 ducks for each replicate. The control group was fed the basal diet, and the experimental groups were fed the basal diet with 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg (GA400, GA600, and GA800) guanidinoacetic acid, respectively. Compared with the control group, (1) the total cholesterol (p = 0.0262), triglycerides (p = 0.0357), malondialdehyde (p = 0.0452) contents were lower in GA400, GA600 and GA800 in the liver; (2) the total cholesterol (p = 0.0365), triglycerides (p = 0.0459), and malondialdehyde (p = 0.0326) contents in breast muscle were decreased in GA400, GA600 and GA800; (3) the high density lipoprotein (p = 0.0356) and apolipoprotein-A1 (p = 0.0125) contents were increased in GA600 in the liver; (4) the apolipoprotein-A1 contents (p = 0.0489) in breast muscle were higher in GA600 and GA800; (5) the lipoprotein lipase contents (p = 0.0325) in the liver were higher in GA600 and GA800; (6) the malate dehydrogenase contents (p = 0.0269) in breast muscle were lower in GA400, GA600, and GA800; (7) the insulin induced gene 1 (p = 0.0326), fatty acid transport protein 1 (p = 0.0412), and lipoprotein lipase (p = 0.0235) relative expression were higher in GA400, GA600, and GA800 in the liver; (8) the insulin induced gene 1 (p = 0.0269), fatty acid transport protein 1 (p = 0.0234), and lipoprotein lipase (p = 0.0425) relative expression were increased in GA400, GA600, and GA800 in breast muscle. In this study, the optimum dosage of 600 mg/kg guanidinoacetic acid improved the liver and breast muscle fat deposition, lipid levels, and lipid metabolism-related gene expression in ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the growth, carcass properties, fatty acid profile, lipid-producing enzyme activity, and expression pattern of genes involved in fat metabolism in Nanyang and Landrace pigs. In the study, 32 Nanyang (22.16 ± 0.59 kg) and 32 Landrace barrows (21.37 ± 0.57 kg) were selected and divided into two groups, each with eight pens and four pigs per pen. The trial period lasted 90 days. The findings showed that the Nanyang pigs had lower average daily weight gain and lean percentage and higher average backfat thickness and lipogenic enzyme activities, including for acetyl-CoA carboxylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and fatty acid synthase, than the Landrace pigs. A total of 14 long-chain fatty acids were detected using HPLC-MS, in which it was found that the levels of C14:0, C18:1n-9, C20:1n-9, C20:4n-6, and MUFA were up-regulated and C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, PUFA n6, n3/n6, and total PUFA were down-regulated in the Nanyang pigs. Moreover, the mRNA levels for genes involved in fat metabolism, ME1, FAS, and LPL, were higher and the expression of SREBP1 mRNA was lower in the Nanyang pigs. Our results suggest genetic differences between the pig breeds in terms of growth, carcass traits, lipogenic enzyme activities, fatty acid profile, and the mRNA expression of genes involved in fat metabolism in subcutaneous fat tissue, which may provide a basis for high-quality pork production. Further studies are needed to investigate the regulation of lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fat deposition affects the quality of meat ducks and their feed conversion efficiency. In this study, we analyzed the correlations between abdominal fat and other growth traits, and performed RNA-seq of the abdominal fat tissue of ducks with high and low abdominal fat ratio, exploring the key regulatory genes and circRNAs related to abdominal fat deposition. We investigated the functions of both source and target genes of these circRNAs and constructed a competing endogenous RNA network. The findings revealed several circRNAs and their relationships with microRNAs and messenger RNAs that are pivotal in duck abdominal fat deposition. The results of this study establish a groundwork for understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate abdominal fat deposition in ducks, offering a theoretical reference for the selective breeding of high-quality meat-producing ducks. Fat deposition is an important factor affecting meat quality and feed conversion efficiency in meat ducks. This study aims to identify key circRNAs and genes affecting abdominal fat deposition. The correlations between abdominal fat and other growth performances were analyzed in 304 F2 generation of Cherry Valley duck Runzhou Crested White ducks, and an RNA-seq analysis of abdominal fat tissues from ducks with high and low rates of abdominal fat was performed. Growth performance results showed that Abdominal fat ratio and Intramuscular fat were significantly higher in the high rates of abdominal fat (HF)group than in the low rates of abdominal fat (LF) group for ducks. RNA-seq analysis of abdominal fat tissue unveiled 85 upregulated and 72 downregulated circRNAs among the differentially expressed ones. Notably, 74 circRNAs displayed more than four-fold differential expression, constituting 47.13% of the differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed circRNA source and target genes indicated that 17 circRNAs might partake in regulating duck abdominal fat production by influencing pathways like PPAR signaling, lipid droplets, and triglyceride metabolism. Lastly, multiple circRNA-microRNA-messenger RNA interaction networks were constructed. The results of this study establish the groundwork for understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate abdominal fat deposition in ducks, offering a theoretical reference for the selective breeding of high-quality meat-producing ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of obese people is increasing dramatically worldwide, and one of the major causes of obesity is excess energy due to high-fat diets. Several studies have shown that reducing food and energy intake represents a key intervention or treatment to combat overweight/obesity. Here, we conducted a 12-week energy-restricted dietary intervention for high-fat diet-induced obese mice (C57BL/6J) to investigate the effectiveness of diet change in improving obesity. The results revealed that the diet change from HFD to NFD significantly reduced weight gain and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight in high-fat diet-induced obese mice, providing scientific evidence for the effectiveness of diet change in improving body weight and fat deposition in obese individuals. Regarding the potential explanations for these observations, weight reduction may be attributed to the excessive enlargement of adipocytes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice that were inhibited. Diet change significantly promoted lipolysis in the adipose tissue (eWAT: Adrb3, Plin1, HSL, and CPTA1a; ingWAT: CPT1a) and liver (reduced content of nonesterified fatty acids), and reduced lipogenesis in ingWAT (Dgat2). Moreover, the proportion of proliferative stem cells in vWAT and sWAT changed dramatically with diet change. Overall, our study reveals the phenotypic, structural, and metabolic diversity of multiple tissues (vWAT and sWAT) in response to diet change and identifies a role for adipocyte stem cells in the tissue specificity of diet change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims The study objective is to investigate the ultrasound features that allow suspecting the presence of submucosal fat deposition, called the fat halo sign (FHS), in the intestinal wall of patients with Crohn’s disease. Methods Computed tomography (CT) examinations over a period of 10 years were reviewed for the presence of the FHS in the bowel wall. A measurement of less than –10 Hounsfield units was regarded as indicative of fat. We included only patients who had undergone ultrasound examinations 3 months before or after CT. The study cohort group comprised 68 patients. Wall and submucosal thickness were measured on longitudinal ultrasound sections. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to determine the best cutoff of ultrasound submucosal wall thickness value for predicting FHS in the bowel wall determined on CT. Results The FHS was present in 22 patients (31%) on CT. There were significant differences between submucosal thickness of patients with FHS and patients without FHS (4.19 mm vs. 2.41 mm). From the receiver operating characteristic curve, a threshold value of 3.1 mm of submucosal thickness had the best sensitivity and specificity to suspect FHS (95.5% and 89.1%, respectively; area under the curve, 0.962), with an odds ratio of 172. All of 16 patients with a submucosal thickness >3.9 mm had FHS. Conclusions FHS in patients with Crohn’s disease can be suspected on ultrasound in cases with marked thickening of the submucosa layer. In these cases, the activity of the disease should be measured by other parameters such as the color Doppler.

The fat deposition of different adipose tissues is widely recognized as correlated, with distinct effects on meat quality traits and reproductive performance in poultry. In this study, we utilized lipidomics and transcriptomics analyses to investigate the heterogeneity and regulators of intramuscular fat (IMF), abdominal fat (AF), and subcutaneous fat (SF) in geese. Lipidomic profiling revealed 165, 129, and 77 differential lipid molecules (DLMs) between AF vs. IMF, SF vs. IMF, and SF vs. AF, respectively, with 47 common DLMs identified between AF vs. IMF and SF vs. IMF. Transcriptomic analysis identified 3369, 5758, and 131 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AF vs. IMF, SF vs. IMF, and SF vs. AF, respectively, with 2510 common DEGs identified between AF vs. IMF and SF vs. IMF. The KEGG results indicate that DLMs were predominantly enriched in glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism pathways, while DEGs were primarily enriched in metabolic pathways. Pearson correlation analysis identified FABP4, LPL, PLCB1, DSE, and PDE5A as potential factors influencing fat deposition. This study elucidates the heterogeneity and regulatory factors of different adipose tissues in geese, offering new insights for targeted improvements in goose meat quality and production efficiency.

ABSTRACT: The deposition of high levels of fat in broiler breeder hens can have a profound impact on follicular development and laying performance. This study was formulated with the goal of comparing egg production and follicular development characteristics at different laying stages in the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF). The egg production was analyzed using the birds from the 19th to 24th generations of NEAUHLF; the follicular development characteristics were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using the birds from the 24th generation of NEAUHLF. The results showed that the age at first egg of lean hens was significantly earlier than that of fat hens in this study. While no significant differences in total egg output from the first egg to 50 wk of age were noted when comparing these 2 chicken lines, lean hens laid more eggs from the first egg to 35 wk of age relative to fat hens, whereas fat hens laid more eggs from wk 36 to 42 and 43 to 50 relative to their lean counterparts. No differences in ovarian morphology and small yellow follicle (SYF) histological characteristics were noted when comparing these 2 chicken lines at 27 wk of age. At 35 and 52 wk of age, however, lean hens exhibited significantly lower ovarian weight, ovarian proportion values, numbers of hierarchical follicles, hierarchical follicle weight, and SYF granulosa layer thickness as compared to fat hens, together with a significant increase in the number of prehierarchical follicles relative to those in fat hens. Gene expression analyses suggested that follicle selection was impaired in the fat hens in the early laying stage, whereas both follicle selection and maturation were impaired in the lean hens in the middle and late laying stages. Overall, these data highlight that fat deposition in broiler hens can have a range of effects on follicular development and egg production that are laying stage-dependent.

Simple Summary: For this paper, we investigated the differences in adipose tissue deposition between sheep breeds with fat and thin tails, relying on advanced techniques like meta-analyses and machine learning to analyze gene expression data. Our findings revealed key genes associated with fat metabolism, shedding light on the genetic factors influencing tail fat in sheep. Notably, three specific genes (POSTN, K35, and SETD4) were identified as significant biosignatures related to fat deposition. This innovative approach (combining data analysis and machine learning) enhances our understanding of how to optimize fat deposition in sheep breeds, which holds potential for more efficient animal breeding strategies and carcass fat reduction. It has been shown that tail fat content varies significantly among sheep breeds and plays a significant role in meat quality. Recently, significant efforts have been made to understand the physiological, biochemical, and genomic regulation of fat deposition in sheep tails in order to unravel the mechanisms underlying energy storage and adipose tissue lipid metabolism. RNA-seq has enabled us to provide a high-resolution snapshot of differential gene expression between fat- and thin-tailed sheep breeds. Therefore, three RNA-seq datasets were meta-analyzed for the current work to elucidate the transcriptome profile differences between them. Specifically, we identified hub genes, performed gene ontology (GO) analysis, carried out enrichment analyses of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, and validated hub genes using machine learning algorithms. This approach revealed a total of 136 meta-genes, 39 of which were not significant in any of the individual studies, indicating the higher statistical power of the meta-analysis. Furthermore, the results derived from the use of machine learning revealed POSTN, K35, SETD4, USP29, ANKRD37, RTN2, PRG4, and LRRC4C as substantial genes that were assigned a higher weight (0.7) than other meta-genes. Among the decision tree models, the Random Forest ones surpassed the others in adipose tissue predictive power fat deposition in fat- and thin-tailed breeds (accuracy > 0.85%). In this regard, combining meta-analyses and machine learning approaches allowed for the identification of three important genes (POSTN, K35, SETD4) related to lipid metabolism, and our findings could help animal breeding strategies optimize fat-tailed breeds' tail sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AKT, serine/threonine protein kinase; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; CD36, cluster of differentiation 36; CPT1, carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1; GLUTs, glucose transporters; GLUT4, glucose transporter 4; PGC-1α, PPARγ coactivator-1α; PTPN1 , protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 1. [Display omitted] • Tissue-specific fat metabolism serves as a trigger for developing abnormal fat metabolism. • Tissue-specific fat metabolism is a compensatory agent for regulating normal fat metabolism. • Outcomes of de novo lipogenesis and adipogenesis differ in different tissues. • Insulin signaling pathways regulate lipo-/adipogenesis. • Regulating insulin actions may be a key measure on fat deposition and metabolism. The accumulation of ectopic fats is related to metabolic syndromes with insulin resistance, which is considered as the first hit in obesity-related diseases. However, systematic understanding of the occurrence of ectopic fats is limited, since organisms are capable of orchestrating complicated intracellular signaling pathways to ensure that the correct nutritional components reach the tissues where they are needed. Interestingly, tissue-specific mechanisms lead to different consequences of fat metabolism with different insulin sensitivities. To summarize the mechanisms of fat deposition in different tissues including adipose tissue, subcutis, liver, muscle and intestines, in an attempt to elucidate interactive mechanisms involving insulin actions and establish a potential reference for the rational uptake of fat. Tissue-specific fat metabolism serves as a trigger for developing abnormal fat metabolism or as a compensatory agent for regulating normal fat metabolism. Outcomes of de novo lipogenesis and adipogenesis differ in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), liver and muscle, with the participation of insulin actions. Overload of lipid metabolic capability results in SAT fat expansion, and ectopic fat accumulation implicates impaired lipo-/adipogenesis in SAT. Regulating insulin actions may be a key measure on fat deposition and metabolism in individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fat deposition is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes in pigs. Using transcriptome sequencing, we previously reported that AACS is differentially expressed in the subcutaneous fat tissue of Dingyuan pigs with divergent backfat thickness. Therefore, with the aim of further characterizing this gene and its protein, we cloned the entire 3286-bp mRNA sequence of the porcine AACS, and the encoded AACS protein is a hydrophilic protein without a signal peptide or transmembrane sequence. Our findings suggested that among various tissues and pig breeds, AACS was highly expressed in subcutaneous fat. We have identified three completely linked SNP loci in the AACS gene: A-1759C, C-1683T, and A-1664G. The double luciferase activity test in the 5′ flanking region indicated that the flanking region of AACS contained several active regulatory elements. The three linked SNPs that were identified in one of the critical active elements, and might serve as important molecular markers regulating backfat thickness. Finally, we observed that AACS overexpression inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of subcutaneous preadipocytes. Collectively, our results suggest that AACS inhibits subcutaneous fat deposition in pigs. This study provides a new molecular marker for understanding the mechanism of porcine fat deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as important non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are involved in many biological activities. However, the exact chemical mechanism behind fat accumulation is unknown. In this paper, we obtained the expression profiles of circRNAs using high-throughput sequencing and investigated their differential expression in subcutaneous fat tissue of Duolang and Small Tail Han sheep. Results: From the transcriptomic analysis, 141 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified, comprising 61 up-regulated circRNAs and 80 down-regulated circRNAs. These host genes were primarily enriched in the MAPK and AMPK signaling pathways which is closely associated with fat deposition regulation. We identified circRNA812, circRNA91, and circRNA388 as vital genes in fat deposition by miRNA-circRNA target gene prediction. The functional annotation results of target genes of key circRNAs showed that the signaling pathways mainly included PI3K-Akt and AMPK. We constructed the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network to study the role of circRNAs in sheep lipid deposition, and circRNA812, circRNA91, and circRNA388 can adsorb more miRNAs. NC_040253.1_5757, as the source of miRNA response element (MRE) among the three, may play an important role during the process of sheep fat deposition. Conclusions: Our study gives a systematic examination of the circRNA profiles expressed in sheep subcutaneous fat. These results from this study provide some new basis for understanding circRNA function and sheep fat metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrotransposons, a type of DNA fragment that can mobilize itself on genome, can generate genetic variations and develop for molecular markers based on the insertion polymorphism. Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) are among the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic animals, and their functions are extraordinarily diverse and particularly important in gene regulation. In the current study, bioinformatic prediction was performed to screen for retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms (RIPs) in six ZNF genes (ZNF2, ZNF3, ZNF7, ZNF8, ZNF10 and ZNF12). Six RIPs in these ZNFs, including one short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) RIP in intron 1 and one long interspersed nuclear element 1 (L1) RIP in intron 3 of ZNF2, one SINE RIP in 5′ flanking region and one SINE RIP in intron 2 of ZNF3, one SINE RIP in 3′ UTR of ZNF7 and one L1 RIP in intron 2 of ZNF12, were discovered and their presence was confirmed by PCR. The impact of the SINE RIP in the first intron of ZNF2, which is close to the core promoter of ZNF2, on the gene activity was investigated by dual-luciferase assay in three cell lines. Our results showed that the SINE insertion in the intron 1 of ZNF2 repressed the core promoter activity extremely significantly (P