UHPLC‐QTOF/MS‐based comparative metabolomics in pectoralis major of fast‐ and slow‐growing chickens at market ages

The molecular regulatory mechanism underlying meat quality between different chicken genotypes remains elusive. This study aimed to identify the differences in metabolites and pathways in pectoralis major (breast muscle) between a commercial fast‐growing chicken genotype (Cobb500) and a slow‐growing Chinese native chicken genotype (Beijing‐You chickens, BYC) at market ages respectively based on ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐QTOF/MS). Eighteen metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers between BYC and Cobb500 at market ages. Among them, L‐cysteine exhibited a higher relative intensity in BYC compared with Cobb500 and was enriched into 10 potential flavor‐associated KEGG pathways. In addition, the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was found to be associated with chicken meat flavor and the accumulation of sn‐glycerol 3‐phosphate and acetylcholine was more predominant in BYC than that in Cobb500, which were catalyzed by glycerophosphocholine phosphodiesterase (GPCPD1, EC:3.1.4.2), choline O‐acetyltransferase (CHAT, EC:2.3.1.6), and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE, EC:3.1.1.7). Overall, the present study provided some metabolites and pathways for further investigating the roles of the differences in meat flavor quality in breast muscle between Cobb500 and BYC at market ages. The glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway was associated with chicken meat flavor. GPCPD1, CHAT, and ACHE were more active in BYC than in Cobb500. L‐cysteine and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathways provide a different meat flavor.