Identification of Circular RNAs of Testis and Caput Epididymis and Prediction of Their Potential Functional Roles in Donkeys

Yan Sun; Yonghui Wang; Yuhua Li; Faheem Akhtar; Changfa Wang; Qin Zhang

doi:10.3390/genes14010066

Identification of Circular RNAs of Testis and Caput Epididymis and Prediction of Their Potential Functional Roles in Donkeys

Genes (Basel). 2022 Dec 25;14(1):66. doi: 10.3390/genes14010066.

Authors

Yan Sun¹, Yonghui Wang², Yuhua Li², Faheem Akhtar², Changfa Wang², Qin Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China.
² Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop. Studies have demonstrated that circRNA can function as microRNA (miRNA) sponges or competing endogenous RNAs. Although circRNA has been explored in some species and tissues, the genetic basis of testis development and spermatogenesis in donkeys remain unknown. We performed RNA-seq to detect circRNA expression profiles of adult donkey testes. Length distribution and other characteristics were shown a total of 1971 circRNAs were differentially expressed and 12,648 and 6261 circRNAs were detected from the testis and caput epididymis, respectively. Among these circRNAs, 1472 circRNAs were downregulated and 499 circRNAs were upregulated in the testis. Moreover, KEGG pathway analyses and Gene Ontology were performed for host genes of circRNAs. A total of 39 upregulated circRNA host genes were annotated in spermatogenesis terms, including PIWIL2, CATSPERD, CATSPERB, SPATA6, and SYCP1. Other host genes were annotated in the focal adhesion, Rap1 signaling pathway. Downregulated expressed circRNA host genes participated in the TGF-β signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. Our discoveries provide a solid foundation for identifying and characterizing critical circRNAs involved in testis development or spermatogenesis.

Keywords: caput epididymis; circRNAs; donkey; testis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Epididymis / metabolism
Male
MicroRNAs* / genetics
MicroRNAs* / metabolism
RNA, Circular* / genetics
RNA, Circular* / metabolism
RNA, Messenger / genetics
Testis / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Circular
RNA, Messenger
MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Shandong Province Natural Fund Project (Grant Number ZR2020MC168), the Shandong Province Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System Project (Grant number SDAIT-27), the Construction of Molecular ID Card for Donkey and Camel Species, Livestock and Poultry Seed Industry Project of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair (Grant Number 19211162), and the Key R&D Project of Shandong Province: Innovation and Demonstration of Key Technologies for the Integrated Development of Donga Black Donkey Industry (Grant Number 2021TZXD012).