Hepatic transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses reveal the responding mechanism of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) adapting to artificial feed in the early domestication periods

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic adaptation in mandarin fish during early domestication by integrating transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses. Fish were fed either live prey (C) or artificial diets (F), and liver samples were collected on days 7 and 20 of the feeding trial to assess dynamic transcriptional and metabolic responses. No significant differences in body weight were observed between groups. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 861 differentially expressed genes on day 7 and 2922 on day 20, while lipidomic profiling identified 218 and 421 differentially abundant metabolites, respectively. Integrated multi-omics analysis revealed that steroid biosynthesis (particularly cholesterol synthesis), glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid signaling pathway were central to hepatic adaptation during domestication. Moreover, immune-related pathways, particularly the IL-17 signaling pathway and its downstream effectors ( nfκb , tnfα, il-1β ), were increasingly activated over time. In general, this study reveals continuous transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming in the liver during early domestication, providing insights into the molecular basis of dietary adaptation in mandarin fish. These findings lay a foundation for developing nutritionally optimized formulated feeds that support sustainable commercial production of mandarin fish. • No significant growth differences between live prey and artificial diet groups. • Steroid, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism underlie early hepatic adaptation. • IL-17 signaling pathway and its downstream effectors were progressively activated during domestication. • Targeting cholesterol biosynthesis and IL-17/NF-κB pathway may improve domestication success.