Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an economically important aquatic species, with its growth influenced by genetic factors, environmental conditions, nutritional status, and intestinal microbiota. Despite its slow growth rate, typically taking 2–3 years to reach market size, u...

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Main Authors: Tong Zhou, Guobin Chen, Lihuan Cao, Jizeng Cao, Huizi Ji, Guiwei Zou, Hongwei Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Aquaculture Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002005
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author Tong Zhou
Guobin Chen
Lihuan Cao
Jizeng Cao
Huizi Ji
Guiwei Zou
Hongwei Liang
author_facet Tong Zhou
Guobin Chen
Lihuan Cao
Jizeng Cao
Huizi Ji
Guiwei Zou
Hongwei Liang
author_sort Tong Zhou
collection DOAJ
description The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an economically important aquatic species, with its growth influenced by genetic factors, environmental conditions, nutritional status, and intestinal microbiota. Despite its slow growth rate, typically taking 2–3 years to reach market size, understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate its growth is critical for optimizing breeding conditions and improving aquaculture sustainability. In this study, we carried out a multi-omics analysis in individuals of P. sinensis aged 2, 5, and 8 months to systematically disclose the biological mechanisms and explore how these mechanisms affect its growth and adaptive ability. We found significant changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria, with Fusobacteriota and Proteobacteria dominating at the phylum level and displaying increasingly intimate interactions as growth processed. Notable enrichments were observed in pathways related to arginine biosynthesis and glycine and serine metabolism in differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as steroid biosynthesis and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways in differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Furthermore, fatty acid synthesis and the urea cycle were identified as key metabolic pathways essential for the breeding of Chinese soft-shelled turtles. This research provides insights that can be utilized to optimize feed formulations, enhance breeding efficiency, and promote the healthy growth of P. sinensis in aquaculture.
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publisher Elsevier
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series Aquaculture Reports
spelling doaj-art-2da226b792824b98b8a877cf57a7d2032025-08-20T02:31:12ZengElsevierAquaculture Reports2352-51342025-07-014210281410.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102814Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtleTong Zhou0Guobin Chen1Lihuan Cao2Jizeng Cao3Huizi Ji4Guiwei Zou5Hongwei Liang6Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuhan 430223, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuhan 430223, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science & College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China; College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, ChinaLeshan normal University, Leshan 614000, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuhan 430223, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuhan 430223, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuhan 430223, ChinaYangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science, Wuhan 430223, China; Corresponding author.The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an economically important aquatic species, with its growth influenced by genetic factors, environmental conditions, nutritional status, and intestinal microbiota. Despite its slow growth rate, typically taking 2–3 years to reach market size, understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate its growth is critical for optimizing breeding conditions and improving aquaculture sustainability. In this study, we carried out a multi-omics analysis in individuals of P. sinensis aged 2, 5, and 8 months to systematically disclose the biological mechanisms and explore how these mechanisms affect its growth and adaptive ability. We found significant changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria, with Fusobacteriota and Proteobacteria dominating at the phylum level and displaying increasingly intimate interactions as growth processed. Notable enrichments were observed in pathways related to arginine biosynthesis and glycine and serine metabolism in differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as steroid biosynthesis and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways in differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Furthermore, fatty acid synthesis and the urea cycle were identified as key metabolic pathways essential for the breeding of Chinese soft-shelled turtles. This research provides insights that can be utilized to optimize feed formulations, enhance breeding efficiency, and promote the healthy growth of P. sinensis in aquaculture.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002005GrowthPelodiscus sinensisGrowth and DevelopmentMulti-omics analysisIntestine microbiota
spellingShingle Tong Zhou
Guobin Chen
Lihuan Cao
Jizeng Cao
Huizi Ji
Guiwei Zou
Hongwei Liang
Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle
Aquaculture Reports
Growth
Pelodiscus sinensis
Growth and Development
Multi-omics analysis
Intestine microbiota
title Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle
title_full Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle
title_fullStr Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle
title_full_unstemmed Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle
title_short Global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft-shelled turtle
title_sort global analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics revealed that fatty acid synthesis and urea cycle process regulate the growth of chinese soft shelled turtle
topic Growth
Pelodiscus sinensis
Growth and Development
Multi-omics analysis
Intestine microbiota
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352513425002005
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