Integrated Multiomic Analysis Provides New Insights into the Adipogenic Differentiation of Porcine Adipocytes and Reveals the Regulatory Role of ACACA in Adipogenesis

In this study, the potential regulatory mechanism underlying
lipogenesis
during porcine preadipocyte differentiation was investigated by integrating
multiomic analysis, including transcriptomic, proteomic, and untargeted
metabolomic analyses. First, the lipid content in adipocytes on days
0, 4, and 8 of differentiation was detected using Oil Red O staining.
Subsequently, the multiomics sequencing of adipocytes at three differentiation
stages (D0, D4, and D8) was performed, and the regulatory role of
ACACA in adipogenesis was investigated. A total of 5806 differentially
expressed genes (DEGs), 875 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs),
and 242 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) were identified
across the three differentiation stages. The DEGs and DAPs identified
were involved in PI3K–AKT, PPAR, ECM–receptor interactions,
regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, and focal adhesion pathways,
while the DAMs were mainly related to lipolysis in adipocytes and
were annotated to pathways related to amino acid metabolism. A total
of 273 genes (proteins) were shared between DEGs and DAPs in the D0
vs D4 group, while 274 and 36 genes (proteins) were, respectively,
shared between DEGs and DAPs in the D0 vs D8 groups and D4 vs D8 groups.
These shared DAPs (DEGs) were mainly enriched in ferroptosis pathway
and lipid metabolism-related pathways. Finally, the integration analysis
of the three omics indicated that DAPs (DEGs) regulated lipogenesis
and porcine preadipocyte differentiation by interacting with DAMs
involved in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. Based on the integrative
multiomics analysis results, a crucial DEG (DAP), ACACA, was confirmed
to affect adipocyte differentiation and proliferation by regulating
fatty acid metabolism. This study provides the opportunity to improve
the meat production performance in pigs.