BackgroundLactate, a glycolytic metabolite mainly produced in muscles, has been suggested to regulate myoblast differentiation, although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Recently, lactateâmediated histone lactylation is identified as a novel epigenetic modification that promotes gene transcription.MethodsWe used mouse C2C12 cell line and 2âmonthâold male mice as in vitro and in vivo models, respectively. These models were treated with lactate to explore the biological function and latent mechanism of lactateâderived histone lactylation on myogenic differentiation by quantitative realâtime PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, chromatin immunoprecipitation, cleavage under targets and tagmentation assay and RNA sequencing.ResultsUsing immunofluorescence staining and western blotting, we proposed that lactylation might occur in the histones. Inhibition of lactate production or intake both impaired myoblast differentiation, accompanied by diminished lactylation in the histones. Using lactylation siteâspecific antibodies, we demonstrated that lactate preferentially increased H3K9 lactylation (H3K9la) during myoblast differentiation (CT VS 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mM lactate treatment, P = 0.0012, P = 0.0007, and the rest of all P < 0.0001). Notably, inhibiting H3K9la using P300 antagonist could block lactateâinduced myogenesis. Through combined omics analysis using cleavage under targets and tagmentation assay and RNA sequencing, we further identified Neu2 as a potential target gene of H3K9la. IGV software analysis (P = 0.0013) and chromatin immunoprecipitationâqPCR assay (H3K9la %Input, LA group = 9.0076, control group = 2.7184, IgG = 0.3209) confirmed that H3K9la is enriched in the promoter region of Neu2. Moreover, siRNAs or inhibitors against Neu2 both abrogated myoblast differentiation despite lactate treatment, suggesting that Neu2 is required for lactateâmediated myoblast differentiation.ConclusionsOur findings provide novel understanding of histone lysine lactylation, suggesting its role in myogenesis, and as potential therapeutic targets for muscle diseases.