2. Academic Validation
  3. Erucic acid promotes intramuscular fat deposition through the PPARγ-FABP4/CD36 pathway

Erucic acid promotes intramuscular fat deposition through the PPARγ-FABP4/CD36 pathway

  • Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Apr:298:140121. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140121.
Hengwei Yu 1,  Juntao Guo 2,  Bingzhi Li 3,  Jing Ma 4,  Belete Kuraz Abebe 5,  Chugang Mei 6,  Sayed Haidar Abbas Raza 7,  Gong Cheng 8,  Linsen Zan 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: yuhengwei@nwafu.edu.cn.
  • 2 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: juntao@nwafu.edu.cn.
  • 3 Key Laboratory for Efficient Ruminant Breeding Technology of Higher Education Institutions in Shaanxi Provinc, Yangling vocational & technical college, Yangling 712100, China.
  • 4 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: 505034251@nwafu.edu.cn.
  • 5 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
  • 6 College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Yangling 712100, China.
  • 7 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety / Nation-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Machining and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: haiderraza110@nwafu.edu.cn.
  • 8 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: chenggong@nwafu.edu.cn.
  • 9 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Yangling 712100, China. Electronic address: zanlinsen@163.com.
PMID: 39837435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140121
Abstract

The regulation of intramuscular fat (IMF) accumulation plays a crucial role in determining meat quality in the beef industry. In humans, fat deposition in skeletal muscle is closely associated with Insulin resistance and obesity. However, its underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. We previously identified erucic acid (EA) as a key metabolite that may affect IMF deposition of beef using omics strategies. By utilizing bovine intramuscular preadipocytes in vitro, the study demonstrates a dose-dependent increase in lipid storage induced by EA, along with mRNA expression levels of transporters FABP4 and CD36. At a mechanistic level, EA triggers ERK1/2 phosphorylation and enhances the expression of PPARγ, FABP4, and CD36, thereby facilitating the formation of lipid droplets within preadipocytes. In vivo experiments conducted in mice support these findings, indicating that EA stimulates fat accumulation in skeletal muscles and enhances the levels of FABP4 and CD36 proteins. These outcomes not only enhance our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms governing IMF deposition but also provide insights into potential strategies for enhancing meat quality and addressing metabolic disorders linked to fat accumulation in skeletal muscles. The findings of the study contribute to existing scholarly knowledge and lay the groundwork for future research endeavors aimed at improving meat quality and metabolic well-being.

Keywords

Cattle; Erucic acid; IMF.

Figures
Products