AUTHOR=Liu JiQian , Han Lijuan , Hou Shengzhen , Gui Linsheng , Yuan Zhenzhen , Sun Shengnan , Wang Zhiyou , Yang Baochun 

TITLE=Integrated metabolome and microbiome analysis reveals the effect of rumen-protected sulfur-containing amino acids on the meat quality of Tibetan sheep meat

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1345388

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1345388

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>This study investigated the effects of rumen-protected sulfur-containing amino acids (RPSAA) on the rumen and jejunal microbiota as well as on the metabolites and meat quality of the <italic>longissimus lumborum</italic> (LL) in Tibetan sheep.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>By combining 16S rDNA sequencing with UHPLC-Q-TOF MS and Pearson correlation analysis, the relationship between gastrointestinal microbiota, muscle metabolites and meat quality was identified.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The results showed that feeding RPSAA can increase the carcass weight, abdominal fat thickness (AP-2 group), and back fat thickness (AP-2 and AP-3 group) of Tibetan sheep. The water holding capacity (WHC), texture, and shear force (SF) of LL in the two groups also increased although the fatty acids content and brightness (L*) value significantly decreased in the AP-2 group. Metabolomics and correlation analysis further showed that RPSAA could significantly influence the metabolites in purine metabolism, thereby affecting L* and SF. In addition, RPSAA was beneficial for the fermentation of the rumen and jejunum. In both groups, the abundance of <italic>Prevotella 1</italic>, <italic>Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group</italic>, <italic>Prevotella UCG-003</italic>, <italic>Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group</italic> in the rumen as well as the abundance of <italic>Eubacterium nodatum group</italic> and <italic>Mogibacterium group</italic> in the jejunum increased. In contrast, that of <italic>Turicibacter</italic> pathogens in the jejunum was reduced. The above microorganisms could regulate meat quality by regulating the metabolites (inosine, hypoxanthine, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, etc.) in purine and fatty acids metabolism.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Overall, reducing the levels of crude proteins in the diet and feeding RPSAA is likely to improve the carcass quality of Tibetan sheep, with the addition of RPMET (AP-2) yielding the best edible quality, possibly due to its ability to influence the gastrointestinal microbiota to subsequently regulate muscle metabolites.</p></sec>