Long non-coding RNA variability in porcine skeletal muscle

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulatory molecules, but their inter-individual variability remains poorly understood across different tissues.
• Previous research has explored lncRNAs in various tissues, yet a comprehensive characterization of their variability in livestock, specifically pigs, is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the inter-individual variability of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in pigs, focusing on their number, length, and expression levels.
• To investigate potential patterns of lncRNA variability among half-brother pigs and compare it with messenger RNA (mRNA) expression patterns.
• To identify the biological processes associated with commonly expressed lncRNAs in porcine muscle tissue.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatic analysis for lncRNA identification and functional annotation using transcriptomic data from six Polish Landrace boars.
• Statistical methods to assess the variability in lncRNA number, length, and expression across individuals.
• Enrichment analysis of common lncRNA target genes to determine associated biological pathways.

Main Results:

• The number of identified lncRNAs per animal ranged from 1289 to 3500, with only 232 common lncRNAs found across all boars.
• Significant inter-individual variation was observed in lncRNA number, length, and expression, with no clear pattern among half-brothers.
• Inter-individual differences in lncRNA expression showed a concordant pattern with mRNA expression variability.
• Enrichment analysis revealed that common lncRNAs target genes involved in homeostasis, synthesis, and nucleoprotein complex dynamics.

Conclusions:

• This study reveals substantial inter-individual variability in the lncRNA landscape within the porcine genome.
• Differences in lncRNA number, length, and expression contribute to a deeper understanding of lncRNA complexity and function in pigs.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering individual variability when studying lncRNA roles in biological processes and potential applications in livestock improvement.