Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal Age-Dependent Development of Meat Quality Traits in Jingyuan Chicken

In this study, we investigated the dynamic changes in muscle lipid content (MLC) deposition in the breast muscle of Jingyuan chickens at different stages (42-, 126-, and 180- days old) using metabolomics. The pH_45min, a*, and L* were significantly increased in the breast muscle of 126-day-old chickens, and MLC and b* were significantly increased in the breast muscle of 180-day-old chickens. A total of 4643 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified, of which 10 decreased and 29 increased with age. Key pathways associated with meat quality traits included oxidative phosphorylation, β-alanine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Combined transcriptomic and phenotypic correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations of MLC, pH_45min, a*, and L* with LysoPC 20:4, CD3E, TARP, IL7R, ENSGALG00010025331, and RASSF5. In the 42- and 180-day-old chickens, MLC, pH_45min, a*, and L* were significantly and positively correlated with L-Anserine, Dihydroxyacetone phosphate, ENSGALG00010006904, and HSPB7. MLC, pH_45min, a*, and L* were significantly and positively correlated with beta-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in the 126- and 180-day-old chickens. This study deepens our understanding of the differences in MLC deposition at different stages of Jingyuan chickens and its relationship with meat quality traits.