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OLFML3 expression is decreased during prenatal muscle development and regulated by microRNA-155 in pigs

Shuanping Zhao1, Jing Zhang, Xinhua Hou

  • 1State Key Laboratory for Animal Nutrition, Beijing, P R China.

International Journal of Biological Sciences
|March 16, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) gene impacts pig skeletal muscle development and is regulated by microRNA-155 (miR-155). This study details OLFML3 expression patterns and its interaction with miR-155.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Animal Science

Background:

  • The Olfactomedin-like 3 (OLFML3) gene plays a role in embryonic development.
  • MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is a noncoding RNA involved in regulating myogenesis.
  • Previous LongSAGE analysis suggested differential OLFML3 expression during pig muscle development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clone the porcine OLFML3 gene and analyze its tissue distribution in adult Tongcheng pigs.
  • To investigate the dynamic expression patterns of OLFML3 in skeletal muscle during prenatal and postnatal development in Landrace and Tongcheng pigs.
  • To elucidate the regulatory interaction between OLFML3 and miR-155.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cloning and tissue distribution analysis in adult pigs.
  • Quantitative analysis of OLFML3 gene expression in skeletal muscle across different developmental stages (prenatal and postnatal) in two pig breeds.
  • Dual luciferase assay and real-time PCR to confirm the regulatory relationship between OLFML3 and miR-155.

Main Results:

  • OLFML3 showed abundant expression in liver and pancreas, moderate in lung, small intestine, and placenta, and weak in other tissues and postnatal muscle.
  • Distinct dynamic expression patterns of OLFML3 were observed in prenatal skeletal muscle development between Landrace and Tongcheng pigs, with differential expression levels noted during specific prenatal periods.
  • Dual luciferase assay and real-time PCR confirmed that miR-155 directly regulates OLFML3 expression at the mRNA level.

Conclusions:

  • The OLFML3 gene is expressed in various tissues and exhibits dynamic expression patterns during prenatal skeletal muscle development in pigs.
  • OLFML3 plays a potential role in prenatal skeletal muscle development.
  • MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) acts as a regulator of OLFML3 gene expression in mammals.
Keywords:
OLFML3development.microRNA-155pigskeletal muscle

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