Abstract
Mongolian horses are renowned for their remarkable endurance and ability to adapt to harsh environments. To delve deeper into the molecular mechanisms that underlie these traits, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic changes in Mongolian horses at three distinct time points: before, immediately after, and 24 h following a 20 km run. The transcriptomic analysis uncovered significant variations in gene expression patterns across these time points. Specifically, 291 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified when comparing pre-exercise to post-exercise conditions, 832 DEGs in the comparison between post-exercise and 24 h post-exercise, and 127 DEGs in the comparison of pre-exercise to 24 h post-exercise. Notably, key genes involved in metabolic activities and cellular proliferation, such as PI3K and LDHA, exhibited significant upregulation immediately after exercise but demonstrated a downward trend 24 h post-exercise. Concurrently, the proteomic analysis revealed 49 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the pre-exercise versus post-exercise comparison, 61 DEPs in the post-exercise versus 24 h post-exercise comparison, and 101 DEPs in the pre-exercise versus 24 h post-exercise comparison. Some proteins, like PDK4 and GLUL, remained upregulated at 24 h post-exercise, whereas others, such as PFKM and LDHA, showed signs of recovery or downregulation. By integrating the transcriptomic and proteomic data, we were able to pinpoint overlapping DEGs/DEPs and implicate crucial signaling pathways, including the HIF-1 signaling pathway and glycolysis, in the molecular response of Mongolian horses to exercise. These findings offer insights into the endurance adaptation mechanisms of the Mongolian horse.