Transriptomics Investigates the Effect of Non-Coding RNA on Differently Colored Ventral Fat in Kazakh Horses

Kazakh horses are an important local breed in Xinjiang, China. Their fat deposition and color characteristics significantly influence meat quality and livestock product value. The color variation in adipose tissue is closely related to adipocyte differentiation, metabolism, and mitochondrial function. However, research on the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying differently colored adipose tissues in Kazakh horses remains limited.this study, we performed whole-transcriptome sequencing on white (W group) and yellow (Y group) abdominal adipose tissues from adult male Kazakh horses. We identified 205 differentially expressed LncRNAs (24 upregulated, 181 downregulated), 559 differentially expressed circRNAs (237 upregulated, 322 downregulated), and 52 differentially expressed miRNAs (18 upregulated, 34 downregulated).Subsequent Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed LncRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs revealed that the associated genes were primarily involved in signaling pathways related to Vitamin B6 metabolism, Ras signaling pathway, Cellular senescence, and MAPK signaling pathway. Analysis suggested that genes such as AOX1, PRKACA, MAPK1, and PLPP3 may influence the adipose tissue color phenotype by regulating adipocyte differentiation, heme synthesis, and energy metabolism.This study elucidates the differentially expressed non-coding RNAs and their participating signaling pathways in differently colored adipose tissues of Kazakh horses. The findings provide a theoretical foundation and valuable data reference for further exploration into the mechanisms regulating fat deposition and color determination in equine species.