Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences

This study aimed to investigate the flavor formation and meat quality differences among different beef cuts in Chinese Wagyu cattle. The metabolites and gene expression profiles of chuck, neck, rump, tenderloin, and longissimus lumborum cuts were analyzed. The results revealed that a total of 240 vo...

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Main Authors: Tianliu Zhang, Tingting Wang, Yanhao Gao, Jiashun Sheng, Hossam E. Rushdi, Wentao Li, Yu Sun, Tong Fu, Feng Lin, Tengyun Gao, Shenhe Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/716
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author Tianliu Zhang
Tingting Wang
Yanhao Gao
Jiashun Sheng
Hossam E. Rushdi
Wentao Li
Yu Sun
Tong Fu
Feng Lin
Tengyun Gao
Shenhe Liu
author_facet Tianliu Zhang
Tingting Wang
Yanhao Gao
Jiashun Sheng
Hossam E. Rushdi
Wentao Li
Yu Sun
Tong Fu
Feng Lin
Tengyun Gao
Shenhe Liu
author_sort Tianliu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to investigate the flavor formation and meat quality differences among different beef cuts in Chinese Wagyu cattle. The metabolites and gene expression profiles of chuck, neck, rump, tenderloin, and longissimus lumborum cuts were analyzed. The results revealed that a total of 240 volatile organic compounds and 779 lipid molecules were detected among the beef cuts, with hydrocarbons (accounting for 29.71%) and triglycerides (representing 41.21%) emerging as the most prominent compounds, respectively. The sensory-directed analysis highlighted the significance of sweet and fruity aroma compounds, which contributed to the distinct aroma profiles among different beef cuts. Additionally, a total of 60 key lipid molecular markers, including FA(18:1), PC(40:5), TG(18:0_16:1_18:1), and TG(36:0_18:1), etc., were identified as playing crucial roles in the generation of essential lipid compounds across five different beef cuts. Integrative analysis of multi-omics data pinpointed a cluster of differentially expressed genes (e.g., <i>DLD</i>, <i>ACADM</i>, <i>PCCA</i>, <i>SCD</i>), which were involved in the regulation of valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation pathways and lipid metabolism. Taken together, this study has identified key metabolites and candidate genes influencing meat quality across different beef cuts, providing a valuable resource for the molecular breeding of high-quality traits in beef cattle.
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spelling doaj-art-c681b4218a1c46e98ee54c8cc44ef5bc2025-08-20T02:59:00ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-02-0114571610.3390/foods14050716Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality DifferencesTianliu Zhang0Tingting Wang1Yanhao Gao2Jiashun Sheng3Hossam E. Rushdi4Wentao Li5Yu Sun6Tong Fu7Feng Lin8Tengyun Gao9Shenhe Liu10College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaDepartment of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, ChinaThis study aimed to investigate the flavor formation and meat quality differences among different beef cuts in Chinese Wagyu cattle. The metabolites and gene expression profiles of chuck, neck, rump, tenderloin, and longissimus lumborum cuts were analyzed. The results revealed that a total of 240 volatile organic compounds and 779 lipid molecules were detected among the beef cuts, with hydrocarbons (accounting for 29.71%) and triglycerides (representing 41.21%) emerging as the most prominent compounds, respectively. The sensory-directed analysis highlighted the significance of sweet and fruity aroma compounds, which contributed to the distinct aroma profiles among different beef cuts. Additionally, a total of 60 key lipid molecular markers, including FA(18:1), PC(40:5), TG(18:0_16:1_18:1), and TG(36:0_18:1), etc., were identified as playing crucial roles in the generation of essential lipid compounds across five different beef cuts. Integrative analysis of multi-omics data pinpointed a cluster of differentially expressed genes (e.g., <i>DLD</i>, <i>ACADM</i>, <i>PCCA</i>, <i>SCD</i>), which were involved in the regulation of valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation pathways and lipid metabolism. Taken together, this study has identified key metabolites and candidate genes influencing meat quality across different beef cuts, providing a valuable resource for the molecular breeding of high-quality traits in beef cattle.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/716Chinese Wagyu cattlebeef cutsmetabolitesgene expressionlipid
spellingShingle Tianliu Zhang
Tingting Wang
Yanhao Gao
Jiashun Sheng
Hossam E. Rushdi
Wentao Li
Yu Sun
Tong Fu
Feng Lin
Tengyun Gao
Shenhe Liu
Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences
Foods
Chinese Wagyu cattle
beef cuts
metabolites
gene expression
lipid
title Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences
title_full Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences
title_fullStr Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences
title_full_unstemmed Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences
title_short Flavor, Lipid, and Transcriptomic Profiles of Chinese Wagyu Beef Cuts: Insights into Meat Quality Differences
title_sort flavor lipid and transcriptomic profiles of chinese wagyu beef cuts insights into meat quality differences
topic Chinese Wagyu cattle
beef cuts
metabolites
gene expression
lipid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/5/716
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