RNA-Seq Reveals miRNA and mRNA Co-regulate Muscle Differentiation in Fetal Leizhou Goats

Junning Ye; Xiuhui Zhao; Huiwen Xue; Xian Zou; Guangbin Liu; Ming Deng; Baoli Sun; Yongqing Guo; Dewu Liu; Yaokun Li

doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.829769

RNA-Seq Reveals miRNA and mRNA Co-regulate Muscle Differentiation in Fetal Leizhou Goats

Front Vet Sci. 2022 Mar 25:9:829769. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.829769. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Junning Ye^{1

2

3}, Xiuhui Zhao^{1

2

3}, Huiwen Xue¹, Xian Zou², Guangbin Liu^{1

3}, Ming Deng^{1

3}, Baoli Sun^{1

3}, Yongqing Guo^{1

3}, Dewu Liu^{1

3}, Yaokun Li¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
³ National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

Muscle differentiation is an essential link in animal growth and development, and microRNA and mRNA are indispensable in skeletal muscle differentiation. To improve the meat quality and production of the Leizhou goat, it is vital to understand the molecular mechanism by which its skeletal muscle differentiates. By RNA sequencing (RNA-SEQ), we established miRNA-mRNA profiles of Leizhou goats at three stages: fetal day 70, 90, and 120. There were 991 differently expressed mRNAs and 39 differentially expressed miRNAs found, with the differentially expressed mRNAs mainly enriched in calcium ion binding, ECM-receptor interaction, and Focal adhesion. CKM and MYH3, two muscle differentiation markers, were significantly differentially expressed during this period. In addition, we found that chi-miR-129-5p, chi-miR-433, and chi-miR-24-3p co-regulate muscle differentiation with their target genes. Finally, we can confirm that muscle differentiation occurred in Leizhou goat between 90 and 120 days of the fetus. This study is helpful to better explore the molecular mechanism of goat muscle differentiation.

Keywords: Leizhou goat; enrichment; mRNA; miRNA; muscle differentiation.