MiR-27a regulates WNT3A and KITLG expression in Cashmere goats with different coat colors

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) regulate and control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by base pairing with its target gene 3'UTR, resulting in degradation of the target mRNA or inhibition of its translation. The previous high-throughput sequencing results indicated that miR-27a was involved in coat color regulation. However, the mechanism of action is not still illuminated. In this research, using western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), the expression of miR-27a, WNT3A and KITLG were examined in the skin of Cashmere goats with white and brown, and human embryonic kidney 293 T cells (HEK-293T cells) which over-express miR-27a. Targeting relationship between miR-27a and WNT3A or KITLG was examined by the luciferase reporter gene system. The qRT-PCR detection showed that miR-27a was more highly expressed in white Cashmere goats skin than that in brown Cashmere goats skin. Furthermore, WNT3A and KITLG mRNA and protein expression were down-regulated by miR-27a in vitro and in vivo. A dual-luciferase reporter gene indicated that miR-27a negatively correlates with WNT3A or KITLG. In a word, our research demonstrated that the expression of miR-27a was evidently differential in the white and brown Cashmere goats skin and WNT3A or KITLG was negatively regulated by miR-27a.