Loss of Myostatin leads to low production of CH4 by altering rumen microbiota and metabolome in cattle

Chao Hai; Linfeng Wang; Di Wu; Dongchao Pei; Yuqing Yang; Xuefei Liu; Yuefang Zhao; Chunling Bai; Guanghua Su; Zhihua Bao; Lei Yang; Guangpeng Li

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139533

Loss of Myostatin leads to low production of CH₄ by altering rumen microbiota and metabolome in cattle

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan 4:294:139533. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139533. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chao Hai¹, Linfeng Wang¹, Di Wu¹, Dongchao Pei¹, Yuqing Yang¹, Xuefei Liu¹, Yuefang Zhao¹, Chunling Bai¹, Guanghua Su¹, Zhihua Bao², Lei Yang³, Guangpeng Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010000, China.
² Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Use of the Mongolian Plateau & Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecology, College of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010000, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39761884
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139533

Abstract

Myostatin (MSTN) is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating skeletal muscle development. Despite the known benefits of MSTN mutant cattle for increasing beef production, their potential impact on CH₄ emissions has not been quantified. The study comparing wild-type (WT) cattle to MSTN-knockout (MSTN-KO) cattle revealed that CH₄ production was lower. Macrogenomic analysis revealed a significant decrease in rumen archaea, with reduced Richness indices (P = 0.036). The MSTN-KO cattle also showed altered archaea distribution and composition at different taxonomic levels. LEfSe results showed changes in 21 methanogenic archaea clades, with obligately hydrogen (H₂)-dependent methylotrophs Candidatus Methanoplasma termitum species belonging to Methanomassiliicoccales order demonstrating the most significant decrease. Rumen metabolites revealed a decrease in the ratio of acetate to propionate, indicating a shift in rumen fermentation pattern towards propionate fermentation. Additionally, the changing trend of methanogenic archaea is consistent with the evolution of methanogens, and this is correlated with the higher levels of linoleic acid in the rumen of MSTN-KO cattle. Linoleic acid affects the utilization of H₂ by methanogenic archaea, leading to a reduction in obligately H₂-dependent methylotrophs. Our study suggests that MSTN-KO cattle have potential as an economically and ecologically benign breed for reducing methane emissions.