miR-152 targets pyruvate kinase to regulate the glycolytic activity of pig skeletal muscles and affects pork quality

Linyuan Shen; Mailin Gan; Lei Chen; Ye Zhao; Lili Niu; Guoqing Tang; Yanzhi Jiang; Tinghuan Zhang; Shunhua Zhang; Li Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108707

miR-152 targets pyruvate kinase to regulate the glycolytic activity of pig skeletal muscles and affects pork quality

Meat Sci. 2022 Mar:185:108707. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108707. Epub 2021 Nov 12.

Authors

Linyuan Shen¹, Mailin Gan¹, Lei Chen¹, Ye Zhao¹, Lili Niu¹, Guoqing Tang¹, Yanzhi Jiang², Tinghuan Zhang³, Shunhua Zhang⁴, Li Zhu⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
² College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, China.
³ Chongqing Academy of Animal Science, Rongchang County, Chongqing 402460, China.
⁴ College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China. Electronic address: 14081@sicau.edu.cn.
⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China. Electronic address: zhuli@sicau.edu.cn.

PMID: 35032684
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108707

Abstract

As a type of non-coding RNA, microRNAs are widely involved in the biological processes of animals. In the present study, the expression of miR-152 in glycolytic muscle fibers (Longissimus thoracis, LT) was lower than that of oxidative muscle fibers (Psoas major, PM). Using dual luciferase assay, miR-152 was shown to target muscle pyruvate kinase (PKM) to perform biological functions. Moreover, overexpression of miR-152 in primary porcine cells inhibited PKM gene expression and reduced lactic acid production in cells, whereas inhibition of miR-152 expression promoted PKM gene expression and increased lactic acid production. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of miR-152 was significantly positively correlated with the ultimate pH of LT after slaughter, while the expression of the PKM gene was significantly negatively correlated with the final pH of LT. In vivo and in vitro experiments discussed herein suggest that miR-152 may affect muscle pH by targeting the expression of the PKM gene. Our findings enrich the understanding of the genetic regulatory network that influences pork quality.

Keywords: Meat quality; PKM; Pig; miR-152; pH.

MeSH terms

Animals
Gene Regulatory Networks
MicroRNAs* / genetics
Muscle, Skeletal
Pork Meat*
Pyruvate Kinase / genetics
Red Meat*
Swine / genetics

Substances

MicroRNAs
Pyruvate Kinase