Integrated metabolome and transcriptome revealed the metabolite characteristics and potential gene regulation mechanism in muscle of different ages male Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis)

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a medicine-food homology aquatic product and has a long growth cycle. In this paper, the compound features and its accumulation mechanisms in male P. sinensis muscle from 3 to 6 years of age (M3 to M6) were clarified based on metabolomic and transcriptomic. 261 metabolites identified are meat matrices in P. sinensis. In M3, IMP and GMP were most abundant. Free amino acid, monosaccharides, and highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) accumulation are respectively dominant between sequential ever two groups from M3 to M6 by collagen synthesis genes down-regulated, glycogen synthesis inhibited, and fatty acid highly desaturated enhancement. col1a1, col1a2, and col6a2 were identified as arachidic acid-related genes. Overall, nutrients and antioxidants were utmost in oldest ones of 6 years of age, though flavoring substances abundant in M3 and M4, which was inextricably associated with diverse gene regulation in different ages P. sinensis.