biostudies-literatureShen YShandong Provincial Natural Science FoundationNational Key R & D Program of China456https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12063299biostudies-literatureUnknown26(1)<h4>Background</h4>Asian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the Yangtze River Basin of China are the important meat provider for local residents because of its outstanding body size. Several previous studies have highlighted their genetic basis of growth characteristics, but the crucial genes regulating growth traits via multi-layer omics are still rarely investigated.<h4>Results</h4>We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics analysis integrating blood and muscle transcriptome, plasma metabolome, rumen fluid metagenome, and genome of Haizi water buffaloes. Of note, ribosomal protein L26 (RPL26) located in the evolutionary selection regions associated with body sizes is the top differentially expressed gene (DEG) in both blood and muscle tissues. Further metabolomics and metagenomics identiBMC genomicsIntegrated multi-omics analysis and functional validation uncovers RPL26 roles in regulating growth traits of Asian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).PMC12063299ZR2023QC2522021YFD1200404Li JChen KHuang JXia SDing QWang HLi YGao LAn ZGu MCao SWang XShen YZhong JfalseIntegrated multi-omics analysis and functional validation uncovers RPL26 roles in regulating growth traits of Asian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).<h4>Background</h4>Asian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the Yangtze River Basin of China are the important meat provider for local residents because of its outstanding body size. Several previous studies have highlighted their genetic basis of growth characteristics, but the crucial genes regulating growth traits via multi-layer omics are still rarely investigated.<h4>Results</h4>We conducted a comprehensive multi-omics analysis integrating blood and muscle transcriptome, plasma metabolome, rumen fluid metagenome, and genome of Haizi water buffaloes. Of note, ribosomal protein L26 (RPL26) located in the evolutionary selection regions associated with body sizes is the top differentially expressed gene (DEG) in both blood and muscle tissues. Further metabolomics and metagenomics identi2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2026-06-02T21:03:18.13Z2026-04-20T03:14:27.451ZS-EPMC120632994034082310.1186/s12864-025-11618-6