Multi-Omics Integration Unravels Key Regulators of Lactation Performance in Xinjiang Brown Cattle and Chinese Holstein Cattle
This study employed a multi-omics integrative analysis strategy to systematically elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying lactation performance by correlating blood transcriptomic and milk/plasma metabolomic data across the four seasons for Xinjiang Brown cattle (XJBC) and Chinese Holstein cattle (CHC). Seven XJBC and seven CHC individuals were used as research subjects for seasonal blood transcriptome and milk/plasma metabolome analysis. Transcriptome analysis revealed 124, 877, 169, and 81 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across the four seasons, respectively, primarily enriched in biological pathways such as immune response, signal transduction, and metabolic processes. Metabolome analysis indicated that 78, 97, 80, and 50 differential expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in milk, while 80, 173, 48, and 54 DEMs were found in plasma across the respective seasons. Integrated analysis demonstrated that DEGs and DEMs associated with the blood-milk metabolic axis were significantly enriched in signaling pathways, including Galactose metabolism, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and Purine/Pyrimidine metabolism. Those based on the blood-plasma metabolic axis were significantly enriched in pathways such as ABC transporters and ECM-receptor interaction. This study systematically delineates the regulatory modules of lactation performance in Xinjiang Brown cattle and Chinese Holstein cattle. The identified DEGs and DEMs provide critical targets and a theoretical foundation for deciphering their molecular mechanisms and advancing molecular breeding.