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Published on: September 8, 2023
Identification and characterization of microRNAs expressed in chicken skeletal muscle
A P D Andreote1, M F Rosario1, M C Ledur2
1Departamento de Zootecnia, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) encompass a class of small non-coding RNAs that often negatively regulate gene expression. miRNAs play an essential role in skeletal muscle, determining the proper development and maintenance of this tissue. In comparison to other organs and tissues, the full set of muscle miRNAs and its expression patterns are still poorly understood. In this report, a chicken skeletal muscle miRNA library was constructed, and the expression of selected miRNAs was further characterized during muscle development in chicken lines with distinct muscling phenotypes. Clone library sequence analysis revealed 40 small RNAs with similarities to previously described chicken miRNAs, seven miRNAs that were never identified before in chicken, and some sequence clusters representing other possible novel miRNAs. Temporal expression profiles of three miRNAs associated with cell proliferation and differentiation (miR-125b, miR-221, and miR-206) in two chicken lines (broiler and layer) revealed the differential steady-state levels of these miRs during skeletal muscle growth and suggests that miR-206 is involved in the muscling phenotype that is observed in growth-selected chicken lines.
Insights
This study identified novel chicken muscle microRNAs (miRNAs) and found miR-206 is linked to the muscling phenotype in growth-selected chicken lines, advancing skeletal muscle development research.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Animal Science
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs crucial for gene regulation.
- Skeletal muscle development and maintenance rely on miRNAs, but muscle-specific miRNA profiles are not fully understood.
- Chicken skeletal muscle miRNA expression patterns are particularly understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct a chicken skeletal muscle miRNA library.
- To characterize the expression of selected miRNAs during muscle development in different chicken lines.
- To investigate the role of specific miRNAs in distinct muscling phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a chicken skeletal muscle miRNA library.
- Sequence analysis of cloned small RNAs.
- Quantitative analysis of selected miRNA expression during muscle development in broiler and layer chickens.
Main Results:
- Identification of 40 known chicken miRNAs, seven novel chicken miRNAs, and potential novel miRNA clusters.
- Differential expression patterns of miR-125b, miR-221, and miR-206 were observed during skeletal muscle growth.
- miR-206 expression is suggested to be involved in the muscling phenotype of growth-selected chicken lines.
Conclusions:
- The study expands the known repertoire of chicken muscle miRNAs.
- Specific miRNAs, notably miR-206, show differential expression correlating with muscle development and phenotype.
- This research provides insights into miRNA-mediated regulation of skeletal muscle growth in chickens.
