What does this research mean for the field?

In Mongolian cattle skeletal muscle, HSPA1A interacts with IGFBP3 to promote fibro-adipogenic progenitor (FAP) adipogenic differentiation and collagen production, contributing to fat deposition and collagen fiber synthesis. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To characterize the cellular heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms regulating meat quality and locomotor capacity in Mongolian cattle skeletal muscles.

August 22, 2026BMC Genomics0 citationsOpen Access

SnRNA-seq of skeletal muscles reveals the cellular and molecular landscapes for meat quality and locomotor of Mongolian cattle

HRHongrui Ren HYHaoyu Yang LWLi Wang

Key Points

To characterize the cellular heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms regulating meat quality and locomotor capacity in Mongolian cattle skeletal muscles.
Performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) on triceps brachii and longissimus dorsi skeletal muscle tissues from Mongolian cattle.
Isolated fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) from mouse skeletal muscles and transfected them with HSPA1A to evaluate functional effects on differentiation.
Identified 20 distinct cell types and subtypes across triceps brachii and longissimus dorsi muscles, including muscle fibers, adipocytes, endothelial cells, and FAPs.
Mapped cell differentiation trajectories indicating that satellite and myocyte populations branch into type I/IIX and type IIA muscle fibers.
Observed elevated HSPA1A expression in longissimus dorsi muscle, which interacted with IGFBP3 to stimulate FAP adipogenic differentiation and collagen production.

Abstract

Mongolian cattle is recognized as one of the key outstanding breeds in north of China, with skeletal muscle traits linked to good meat quality and strong labor capacity, but their cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this research, single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing (snRNA-seq) was used to analyze cell populations and gene expression in skeletal muscles (triceps brachii muscles and longissimus dorsi muscles as representatives), and then fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) was isolated from mice skeletal muscles to transfect HSPA1A to explore the functions. The results showed there were a total of 20 cell types or subtypes in triceps brachii muscles and longissimus dorsi muscles, including muscle fibers, adipocytes, FAPs, and endothelial cells. Cell trajectories revealed that satellite/myocytes cells differentiated into type I/IIX and IIA fiber branches. HSPA1A was expressed higher in longissimus dorsi muscle by interacting with IGFBP3 to promote FAPs adipogenic differentiation and collagen production. All findings supplied the evidence of heterogeneous skeletal muscles, especially the roles of FAPs in fat deposition and collagen fiber synthesis which was promoted by HSPA1A.

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