PXD067020-1

PXD067020 is an original dataset announced via ProteomeXchange.

Title	Proteomic profiling reveals age-dependent remodeling of backfat and key regulatory proteins linked to carcass traits in ningxiang pigs
Description	Adipose tissue plays a critical role in growth, energy metabolism, and carcass composition in pigs. However, the age-dependent molecular mechanisms underlying backfat development remain poorly characterized, particularly in native breeds such as the Ningxiang pig, which exhibits high fat deposition and distinct growth patterns. This study aimed to characterize the dynamic proteomic changes in backfat tissue across postnatal development and identify molecular pathways and candidate proteins associated with economically important carcass traits. We performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis of backfat tissue collected from Ningxiang pigs across seven postnatal developmental stages (day 60 to 360). Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we quantified dynamic changes in protein abundance and explored their functional relevance through gene ontology (GO) enrichment and network-based analyses. Principal component analysis revealed clear age-related separation in proteomic profiles, particularly between early (day 60–120) and later developmental stages. GO enrichment analysis of differentially abundant proteins indicated significant overrepresentation of biological processes related to energy metabolism, translation, immune response, and mitochondrial function in older age groups. Further curation of lipid metabolism pathways identified hundreds of proteins involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis, many of which displayed distinct age-dependent expression patterns. To link protein expression to economically important traits, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), identifying four protein modules significantly associated with carcass characteristics such as lean meat percentage, fat content, and carcass weight. From these modules, we identified four key hub proteins— ALDH18A1, FABP4, FBP1, and HADHB—with known roles in lipid transport, gluconeogenesis, amino acid metabolism, and fatty acid oxidation, respectively. This study provides novel insights into the proteomic remodeling of backfat during postnatal development and highlights potential molecular targets for improving carcass quality in pigs. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of adipose tissue biology and offer a valuable resource for future genetic and breeding strategies.This study provides the first in-depth proteomic characterization of backfat development across seven postnatal stages in Ningxiang pigs, a native Chinese breed known for high fat deposition. By integrating high-resolution mass spectrometry with gene ontology and co-expression network analyses, we uncovered dynamic, age-dependent changes in protein abundance linked to key biological processes, including energy metabolism, immune function, and mitochondrial activity. Notably, we identified four protein modules significantly associated with carcass traits such as lean meat percentage and fat content, and highlighted four hub proteins (ALDH18A1, FABP4, FBP1, and HADHB) as potential molecular markers for selective breeding. These findings advance our understanding of adipose tissue biology and provide actionable molecular targets for improving carcass composition in pigs. The work also offers a valuable reference dataset for future functional genomics and precision breeding efforts in indigenous and commercial pig populations.
HostingRepository	PRIDE
AnnounceDate	2026-06-08
AnnouncementXML	Submission_2026-06-07_16:43:22.109.xml
DigitalObjectIdentifier
ReviewLevel	Peer-reviewed dataset
DatasetOrigin	Original dataset
RepositorySupport	Unsupported dataset by repository
PrimarySubmitter	lihua cao
SpeciesList	scientific name: Sus scrofa domesticus (domestic pig); NCBI TaxID: NEWT:9825;
ModificationList	TMT6plex-126 reporter+balance reagent acylated residue
Instrument	Q Exactive; Q Exactive Plus

Revision	Datetime	Status	ChangeLog Entry
0	2025-08-06 19:53:11	ID requested
⏵ 1	2026-06-07 16:43:22	announced

Cao L, Chen Y, Cui Q, Deng Y, Zhu J, Ren H, Hu X, Qiu M, Zhang X, Sun R, Tang Z, Wang H, Peng Y, Chen C, Age-Driven Proteomic Networks in Ningxiang Pig Backfat Identify Candidate Regulators of Carcass Traits. Animals (Basel), 16(9):(2026) [pubmed]

10.3390/ani16091309;

submitter keyword: Backfat development, Carcass traits, Adipose tissue, Lipid metabolism., Proteomics

Chen Chen
contact affiliation	Hunan Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science
contact email	2004chch@hunaas.cn
lab head
lihua cao
contact affiliation	Hunan Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science
contact email	caolihua@hunaas.cn
dataset submitter

Dataset FTP location NOTE: Most web browsers have now discontinued native support for FTP access within the browser window. But you can usually install another FTP app (we recommend FileZilla) and configure your browser to launch the external application when you click on this FTP link. Or otherwise, launch an app that supports FTP (like FileZilla) and use this address: ftp://ftp.pride.ebi.ac.uk/pride/data/archive/2026/06/PXD067020

PRIDE project URI

• PRIDE
  1. PXD067020
     1. Label: PRIDE project
     2. Name: Proteomic profiling reveals age-dependent remodeling of backfat and key regulatory proteins linked to carcass traits in ningxiang pigs