CircCSDE1 Regulates Proliferation and Differentiation of C2C12 Myoblasts by Sponging miR-21-3p

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Animal Science

Background:

• Skeletal muscle growth and development are complex processes influenced by numerous factors.
• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in various biological processes, including muscle development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize novel circRNAs involved in porcine skeletal muscle growth and development.
• To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of a specific circRNA, circCSDE1, in myoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a porcine skeletal muscle injury model.
• Whole-transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis to identify candidate circRNAs.
• In vitro functional studies using C2C12 myoblast cell line.
• Dual-luciferase reporter assays to confirm direct targeting interactions.
• Rescue experiments to validate the functional interplay between circCSDE1 and miR-21-3p.

Main Results:

• A novel circRNA, circCSDE1, was identified and found to be highly expressed in porcine skeletal muscle.
• CircCSDE1 significantly promotes C2C12 myoblast proliferation and inhibits differentiation.
• CircCSDE1 directly targets miR-21-3p, and miR-21-3p exhibits opposing effects on myoblast proliferation and differentiation.
• Rescue experiments confirmed that circCSDE1 and miR-21-3p cooperatively regulate myoblast behaviors.

Conclusions:

• CircCSDE1 plays a crucial role in regulating porcine skeletal muscle cell proliferation and differentiation.
• The circCSDE1/miR-21-3p axis is a key regulatory pathway in skeletal muscle development.
• This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding circRNA-mediated regulation in skeletal muscle biology.