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Long noncoding RNA ZFP36L2-AS functions as a metabolic modulator to regulate muscle development
Bolin Cai1,2, Manting Ma1,2, Jing Zhang1,2
1Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture & State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, China.
Cell Death & Disease
|April 22, 2022
Summary
Long non-coding RNA ZFP36L2-AS regulates muscle metabolism by affecting myoblast differentiation and fat deposition. This lncRNA impacts muscle atrophy and phenotype, offering insights into metabolic homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Muscle physiology and metabolism
- Molecular biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Skeletal muscle is a key metabolic organ crucial for energy balance.
- Metabolic inflexibility in muscle contributes to metabolic disorders and hinders muscle development.
- Long non-coding RNA ZFP36L2-AS (ZFP36L2-AS) is identified as specifically enriched in skeletal muscle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA ZFP36L2-AS in skeletal muscle metabolism and differentiation.
- To elucidate the regulatory functions of ZFP36L2-AS in myogenesis, fat deposition, and muscle phenotype.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies using myoblasts to assess proliferation and differentiation.
- In vivo experiments to evaluate effects on intramuscular fat deposition, muscle phenotype, and atrophy.
- Mechanistic studies involving protein-RNA interactions (ACACA, PC) and enzymatic activity modulation.
Main Results:
- ZFP36L2-AS is upregulated during myogenic differentiation and highly expressed in specific muscle tissues.
- In vitro, ZFP36L2-AS inhibits myoblast proliferation but promotes differentiation.
- In vivo, ZFP36L2-AS promotes intramuscular fat deposition, activates fast-twitch muscle phenotype, and induces muscle atrophy.
- Mechanistically, ZFP36L2-AS interacts with ACACA and PC, affecting their activity and stability to modulate muscle metabolism.
Conclusions:
- lncRNA ZFP36L2-AS plays a significant role in regulating skeletal muscle metabolism and differentiation.
- ZFP36L2-AS influences key metabolic pathways by interacting with ACACA and PC.
- This study establishes a novel regulatory model of lncRNA in muscle metabolism, with implications for metabolic disorders.
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