Hanjiang black pig is an ancient local porcine breed of Shaanxi Province. They are categorized into two types, small-eared Hanjiang black pig and big-eared Hanjiang black pig, according to the size of their ears ( Supplementary Fig. S1). Big-eared Hanjiang black pig is regarded as the fat type, whereas small-eared Hanjiang black pig is the lean type [1]. There was no study on the meat quality of these two types of Hanjiang black pig. In the pig industry, intramuscular fat (IMF) content affects multiple meat quality characteristics, such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor level [2]. The underlying mechanisms of IMF deposition could be elucidated by comparing pig models that were significantly different in IMF content. Lipid metabolism could theoretically contribute to the variation in fat deposition content [3,4]. The extent of fat deposition in muscle depends on the balance of synthesis and degradation of triglyceride (TAG), including TAG synthesis, fat mobilization, and fatty acid oxidation [5]. Previous studies confirmed that not only lipogenesis, but also lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation are involved in IMF deposition. Thus, we hypothesized that higher IMF deposition may be resulted from diminished fat catabolism and/or increased endogenous fatty acid synthesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis, lipolysis, and fatty acid transport in the muscle, to compare the expression pattern of lipid metabolism-related genes in pigs which varies in fat deposition capacity, and then to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of IMF deposition in two types of Hanjiang black pigs.A total of 32 pigs were used in the study, and 4 sires of each type were used. When the piglets weighed around 20 kg, they were individually fed and given free access to water from nipple drinkers and fed ad libitum with the same diet (Supplementary Table SI) suited to the nutritive needs. The numbers of pigs for each type of sire were 16 (female). Pigs were sacrificed at the age of 10 months (live weight 83 kg) according to European Community Requirement, electrical stunning using 1.25-1.30 A maintained for at least 3 s, and the voltage applied to achieve this current must be at least 240 V [6]. Then, pigs were exsanguinated and placed in a dehairer at 658C for 5 min. After being slaughtered, pH 45min was measured using a pH meter, and meat color was assessed with pork quality standards (American NPPC Shade Guide, 1994 edition) at 45 min post-slaughter; Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) was measured using a C-LM3 digital display tenderness instrument equipped with a shearing device (XIELI Sci. Co., Harbin, China) [7]. After chilling of the carcasses for 24 h, longissimus lumborum muscles were isolated to evaluate the drip loss using the method described previously [8] with some modifications: muscle samples standardized for surface area (5 Â 3 Â 2.5 cm 3 ) were suspended in an inflated plastic bag for 24 h at 48C [9]. IMF content was evaluated using the Soxhlet petroleum-ether ext...