Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41594492›Full record

ArticleAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI2026

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis of Performance Variation in the 5000-m Speed Race of Yili Horses.

Dehaxi Shan, Xinkui Yao, Wanlu Ren, Qiuping Huang, Yi Su, Zexu Li, Luling Li, Ran Wang, Shikun Ma, Jianwen Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Dehaxi ShanCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.ORCID 0009-0004-2432-236X
Xinkui YaoCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Wanlu RenCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Qiuping HuangCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Yi SuCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.ORCID 0009-0009-8046-9442
Zexu LiCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Luling LiCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Ran WangCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Shikun MaCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Jianwen WangCollege of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.ORCID 0000-0001-7148-4557

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was employed in this article to map blood DNA methylation profiles at single-base resolution in Yili horses before a 5000 m speed race, with comparative analysis of epigenetic differences between the 'elite group' and 'ordinary group' across six four-year-old stallions. The overall methylation level in the elite group was generally higher than that in the ordinary groups, with a minority of regions showing hypomethylation. For instance, the promoter regions of key metabolic and neuro-related genes exhibited significant hypomethylation. The article identified over 10,000 CG differential methylation regions (DMRs), predominantly enriched in promoter and CpG island regions, anchoring 7221 differentially methylated genes (DMGs). These DMGs were significantly enriched in key biological processes including oxidative phosphorylation, protein binding, axon guidance, glutamatergic synapses, and the Hedgehog signalling pathway. Among these, six genes-ACTN3, MSTN, FOXO1, PPARGC1A, ND1, and ND2-were selected as core candidate genes closely associated with muscle strength, energy metabolism, and stress adaptation. The study confirms that the differences in athletic ability among Yili horses have a significant epigenetic basis, with DNA methylation participating in the epigenetic regulation of athletic traits by modulating the expression of genes related to energy metabolism and neuroplasticity. The constructed "promoter hypomethylated DMR panel" holds promise for translation into non-invasive blood-based epigenetic markers for early performance evaluation and targeted breeding in racehorses. This provides a theoretical basis and molecular targets for improving equine athletic phenotypes and optimising training strategies.

Indexed as

differentially methylated regionsdifferentially methylated sitesDNA methylationgenome-wide bisulfite sequencingYili horse

Identifiers

PMID41594492
PMCPMC12838019

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.