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MiRNA Profiling in Pectoral Muscle Throughout Pre- to Post-Natal Stages of Chicken Development
Min Chen1,2,3, Shaolan Zhang2, Zhongxian Xu1
1Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricltural University, Wenjiang, China.
Abstract:
MicroRNA (miRNA) is known to be an important regulator of muscle growth and development. The regulation of microRNA on the skeletal muscle phenotype of animals is mainly achieved by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. In this study, we sequenced a total of 60 samples from 15 developing stages of the pectoral muscle and five other tissues at 300 days of Tibetan chicken. We characterized the expression patterns of miRNAs across muscle developmental stages, and found that the chicken growth and development stage was divided into early-embryonic and late-embryonic as well as postnatal stages. We identified 81 and 21 DE-miRNAs by comparing the miRNA profiles of pectoral muscle of three broad periods and different tissues, respectively; and 271 miRNAs showed time-course patterns. Their potential targets were predicted and used for functional enrichment to understand their regulatory functions. Significantly, GgmiRNA-454 is a time-dependent and tissue-differential expression miRNA. In order to elucidate the role of gga-miRNA-454 in the differentiation of myoblasts, we cultured chicken myoblasts in vitro. The results show that although gga-miRNA-454-3p initiates increase and thereafter decrease during the chicken myoblasts differentiation, it had no effect on primary myoblasts proliferation. Furthermore, we confirm that gga-miRNA-454 inhibits myoblast differentiation by targeting the myotube-associated protein SBF2.
Insights
MicroRNAs regulate skeletal muscle development by controlling myoblast proliferation and differentiation. This study identified specific microRNAs, including gga-miRNA-454, that inhibit myoblast differentiation in Tibetan chickens by targeting SBF2.
Area of Science:
- Animal genetics
- Molecular biology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of muscle growth and development.
- miRNA regulation of skeletal muscle phenotype involves myoblast proliferation and differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize miRNA expression patterns during Tibetan chicken pectoral muscle development.
- To identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) across developmental stages and tissues.
- To elucidate the role of gga-miRNA-454 in myoblast differentiation.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing of 60 samples from 15 developmental stages of pectoral muscle and five other tissues.
- Differential expression analysis of miRNAs.
- In vitro culture of chicken myoblasts.
- Bioinformatic prediction of miRNA targets and functional enrichment analysis.
Main Results:
- Chicken development stages were categorized into early-embryonic, late-embryonic, and postnatal.
- 81 DE-miRNAs were identified between developmental periods and 21 between tissues.
- 271 miRNAs exhibited time-course expression patterns.
- GgmiRNA-454 showed time-dependent and tissue-differential expression.
- Gga-miRNA-454-3p did not affect primary myoblast proliferation but inhibited differentiation.
- Gga-miRNA-454 targets myotube-associated protein SBF2, inhibiting myoblast differentiation.
Conclusions:
- MiRNAs play a significant role in Tibetan chicken muscle development.
- Gga-miRNA-454 is identified as an inhibitor of myoblast differentiation, targeting SBF2.
- This finding provides insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle development in poultry.
