Metabolome analysis reveal key regulatory pathways of feed conversion efficiency of oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense

A total of 445 and 247 differently expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the hepatopancreas and muscle. In addition, 11 KEGG pathways, which mainly include lysine biosynthesis, lysine degradation, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and purine metabolism, were significantly enriched in hepatopancreas. Also, 14 KEGG pathways, which mainly include pyrimidine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, nitrogen metabolism and mTOR signaling pathway, were significantly enriched in muscle. The metabonomic analysis revealed that the feed conversion efficiency of M. nipponense was affected considerably by amino acid, lipid and nucleotide metabolism. Hence, different RFI groups of M. nipponense have various metabolic capability processes. The differences in response to immunity, digestion and absorption of nutrients may be the critical elements related to the variation of RFI.