Transcriptomic insights into myogenic differentiation using muscle-derived cell lines with distinct myogenic potentials from black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii).

Skeletal muscle growth is a primary determinant of aquaculture productivity, yet the molecular mechanisms governing myogenesis in black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) remain poorly characterized due to the lack of precise in vitro models. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis using two validated muscle-derived cell lines with distinct myogenic potentials, including one capable of forming myotubes (myogenic) and the other incapable of differentiation (non-myogenic), to isolate the core transcriptional signature of differentiation. Using a subtractive screening strategy, we identified 391 upregulated and 275 downregulated genes specifically driving the myogenic program. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that differentiation is orchestrated by a synchronized dual program: the vigorous activation of 'ECM-receptor interaction', 'focal adhesion', and 'sarcomere organization', coupled with the strategic suppression of 'metabolic pathways' and 'growth factor binding'. Specifically, Col1a1, Comp, and Thbs2a were identified as Representative Overlap Genes (ROGs), highlighting the critical role of matrix remodeling and cell-matrix interactions in supporting myoblast fusion. In parallel, the downregulation of the IGF signaling axis and autophagy-related genes indicated a metabolic shift from proliferation-driven biomass accumulation to energy-efficient tissue remodeling. The reliability of these transcriptomic profiles was confirmed by the high concordance of qRT-PCR validation for key structural (Col4a1, Itga6a, Mylpfb, Thbs2a) and metabolic (Acss2l, Pfkfb3) regulators. This study provides the first comprehensive transcriptomic framework for black sea bream myogenesis, offering robust molecular markers and foundational data for advancing aquaculture biotechnology and cellular agriculture applications.