RNA N

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Intramuscular fat (IMF) is crucial for meat quality, influenced by complex gene networks.
• N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification is implicated in adipogenesis, but its role in poultry IMF metabolism is unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of m6A modification in regulating IMF deposition in Jingyuan chickens.
• To construct a transcriptome-wide m6A profile and identify key regulatory genes and pathways involved in IMF metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of breast muscle IMF content across different chicken ages (42, 126, 180 days).
• Transcriptome-wide m6A profiling using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).
• Bioinformatic analyses including differential methylation analysis and functional enrichment of differentially methylated genes (DMGs).

Main Results:

• IMF content significantly increased with chicken growth (P < 0.05).
• m6A peaks were enriched in coding sequences (CDS) and 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) with a consensus RRACH motif.
• Identified 129, 103, and 162 DMGs across age groups, enriched in muscle fat anabolism pathways.
• The m6A-induced ferroptosis pathway was identified as a novel regulator of IMF metabolism.
• LMOD2 and its m6A-regulated DMGs were implicated as potential regulators of differential IMF deposition.

Conclusions:

• m6A modification plays a significant role in regulating IMF deposition and metabolism in chicken breast muscle.
• The ferroptosis pathway represents a new therapeutic target for modulating chicken fat deposition.
• This study provides a foundation for understanding m6A's role in poultry fat metabolism and meat quality improvement.