Identification of circRNAs Associated with Adipogenesis Based on RNA-seq Data in Pigs

Adipocytes or fat cells play a vital role in the storage and release of energy in pigs, and many circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as important regulators in various tissues and cell types in pigs. However, the spatio-temporal expression pattern of circRNAs between different adipose deposition breeds remains elusive. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) produced transcriptome profiles of Western Landrace (lean-type) and Chinese Songliao black pigs (obese-type) with different thicknesses of subcutaneous fat tissues and were used to identify circRNAs involved in the regulation of adipogenesis. Gene expression analysis revealed 883 circRNAs, among which 26 and 11 circRNAs were differentially expressed between Landrace vs. Songliao pigs and high- vs. low-thickness groups, respectively. We also analyzed the interaction between circRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) and constructed their interaction network in adipogenesis; gene ontology classification and pathway analysis revealed two vital circRNAs, with the majority of their target genes enriched in biological functions such as fatty acids biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and Wnt/TGF-β signaling pathways. These candidate circRNAs can be taken as potential targets for further experimental studies. Our results show that circRNAs are dynamically expressed and provide a valuable basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of circRNAs in pig adipose biology.