Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals diverse cell populations and transcriptional differences during skeletal muscle development in Megalobrama amblycephala

ABSTRACT: Fish skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in various physiological functions, and providing an important source of meat for human consumption. Therefore, understanding the molecular genetic regulation of muscle development and growth can benefit in enhancing the efficacy of aquaculture. Morphological and skeletal muscle histological analysis of Megalobrama amblycephala at 14 development stages ranging from 5-240 days post-hatching (d) revealed that 30 d and 45 d are the crucial stages for postembryonic muscle fibers hyperplasia and hypertrophy in M. amblycephala, respectively. Then we utilized single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the regulation mechanism of postembryonic muscle development in M. amblycephala skeletal muscle at 30 d and 45 d. Here, scRNA-seq obtained 45,572 cells and identified a total of 13 distinct cell types in the skeletal muscle tissue. We reconstructed the cell differentiation events using all the cell clusters by single cell pseudo time trajectories, and the differentiation trajectory indicates that skeletal muscle cells derive from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Furthermore, we analyzed the cell-specificity of skeletal muscle-related cells and their differences at different developmental stages, and identified a total of 51 crucial genes for muscle development, including 9 genes from muscle progenitors, 35 genes from myoblasts, and 7 genes from skeletal myocytes. Cell-cell communication analysis indicated that IGF, VEGF, and SEMA3 signaling pathways serve as important incoming signaling pathways for MSCs at 30 d. Skeletal myocytes (SMs) and tendon cells etc., might influence the differentiation of MSCs into myogenic lineages via Igf2b - Igf1ra and Igf1 - Igf1ra ligand - receptor interaction. This study revealed a list of new genes involved in M. amblycephala postembryonic myogenesis, and will provide the information for the molecular breeding of muscle mass trait in M. amblycephala.

ORGANISM(S): Megalobrama amblycephala

PROVIDER: GSE264043 | GEO | 2024/04/25

REPOSITORIES: GEO