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Functional analysis of differentially expressed circular RNAs in sheep subcutaneous fat
Tian-Yi Liu1, Hui Feng1, Salsabeel Yousuf1
1State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100193, China.
BMC Genomics
|October 5, 2023
Summary
This study identified 141 differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) in sheep fat, highlighting key circRNAs involved in lipid metabolism regulation via signaling pathways like MAPK and AMPK. These findings offer new insights into sheep fat deposition mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with diverse biological roles.
- The precise molecular mechanisms governing fat accumulation remain incompletely understood.
- This study investigates circRNA expression in sheep subcutaneous fat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile circRNA expression in Duolang and Small Tail Han sheep subcutaneous fat.
- To identify differentially expressed circRNAs related to fat deposition.
- To elucidate the regulatory roles of circRNAs in sheep lipid metabolism.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing for circRNA expression profiling.
- Bioinformatic analysis to identify differentially expressed circRNAs.
- miRNA-circRNA target gene prediction and ceRNA network construction.
Main Results:
- 141 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified (61 up-regulated, 80 down-regulated).
- Host genes were enriched in MAPK and AMPK signaling pathways, crucial for fat deposition.
- circRNA812, circRNA91, and circRNA388 were identified as key regulators, potentially through ceRNA networks involving PI3K-Akt and AMPK pathways.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a comprehensive analysis of circRNA profiles in sheep subcutaneous fat.
- The findings offer a novel foundation for understanding circRNA functions in sheep fat metabolism and deposition.
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