Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42526861›Full record

ArticleAnimal bioscience2026

Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal that glutamine promotes chicken primordial germ cell‑like cell specification potentially through α-ketoglutarate.

Qingqing Geng, Lei Zhang, Zhe Wang, Kunyu Liang, Fufu Cheng, Jing Chen, Yifan Xi, Xinyue Jiao, Junqiang Hou, Farooq Mazhar and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Animal bioscience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Qingqing GengCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Lei ZhangCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, China.
Zhe WangKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Kunyu LiangKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Fufu ChengKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Jing ChenKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Yifan XiKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Xinyue JiaoKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Junqiang HouKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Farooq MazharKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Sheng CuiCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China. cuisheng@yzu.edu.cn.
Yani ZhangKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China. ynzhang@yzu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China 2021YFD1200305National Natural Science Foundation of China 32272857
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivePrimordial germ cells (PGCs) are essential for germline transmission and preservation of genetic resources in poultry. Despite identification of several genes and signaling pathways involved in PGC specification, the upstream regulatory mechanisms, including metabolic regulation and epigenetic modification, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the metabolic landscape underlying chicken PGC development and to identify key metabolic regulators involved in BMP4-induced specification of primordial germ cell‑like cells (PGCLCs) in vitro.

methodsUntargeted metabolomics and transcriptomics were performed to examine metabolic profiles and gene expression patterns between chicken embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and PGCs. Differential metabolites and metabolism-related genes were identified through integrated multi-omics analysis. Functional experiments, including glutamine deprivation and metabolite supplementation, were conducted to verify the role of glutamine metabolism in PGCLC specification.

resultsA total of 194 differentially expressed metabolites were identified, mainly enriched in amino acid, nucleotide, energy metabolism, and antioxidant pathways. Compared with ESC, PGC contained elevated levels of amino acids, peptides, and benzoic acid derivatives, while carbohydrates were more abundant in ESC. Transcriptomic analysis of 14,405 annotated genes revealed similar metabolic gene expression patterns in male and female samples. Integrated analysis indicated that amino acid metabolism, particularly glutamine metabolism, is crucial in PGC formation. Glutamine deprivation significantly inhibited PGCLC specification, disrupted the balance between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, and altered H3K4me2 epigenetic modification. Supplementation with the glutamine-derived tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolite α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) markedly restored the reduced efficiency of PGCLC specification caused by glutamine depletion.

conclusionGlutamine promotes the specification of chicken PGCLC and correlates with alterations in cellular metabolism and increased H3K4me2 levels during differentiation. These findings suggest a potential association between glutamine metabolism, α-KG, and epigenetic regulation in germ cell development, providing new insights into the metabolic basis of PGC formation and a foundation for improving PGC culture and expansion in poultry.

Indexed as

Amino AcidsGlutamine MetabolismPrimordial Germ CellPrimordial Germ Cell‑like Cellα-ketoglutarate

Identifiers

PMID42526861
PMCPMC13547754

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