Integrating miRNA and full-length transcriptome profiling to elucidate the mechanism of muscle growth in Muscovy ducks reveals key roles for miR-301a-3p/ANKRD1.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of Muscovy ducks is attributed not only to their conformation traits but also to their slightly higher content of breast and leg meat, as well as their stronger-tasting meat compared to that of typical domestic ducks. However, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic research on the development of breast muscle in Muscovy ducks. In addition, since the number of skeletal muscle myofibers is established during the embryonic period, this study conducted a full-length transcriptome sequencing and microRNA sequencing of the breast muscle. Muscovy ducks at four developmental stages, namely Embryonic Day 21 (E21), Embryonic Day 27 (E27), Hatching Day (D0), and Post-hatching Day 7 (D7), were used to isolate total RNA for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 68,161 genes and 472 mature microRNAs were identified. In order to uncover deeper insights into the regulation of mRNA by miRNAs, we conducted an integration of the differentially expressed miRNAs (known as DEMs) with the differentially expressed genes (referred to as DEGs) across various developmental stages. This integration allowed us to make predictions regarding the interactions between miRNAs and mRNA. Through this analysis, we identified a total of 274 DEGs that may serve as potential targets for the 68 DEMs. In the predicted miRNA‒mRNA interaction networks, let-7b, miR-133a-3p, miR-301a-3p, and miR-338-3p were the hub miRNAs. In addition, multiple DEMs also showed predicted target relationships with the DEGs associated with skeletal system development. These identified DEGs and DEMs as well as their predicted interaction networks involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and muscle development were most likely to play critical roles in facilitating the embryo-to-hatchling transition. A candidate miRNA, miR-301a-3p, exhibited increased expression during the differentiation of satellite cells and was downregulated in the breast muscle tissues of Muscovy ducks at E21 compared to E27. A dual-luciferase reporter assay suggested that the ANKRD1 gene, which encodes a transcription factor, is a direct target of miR-301a-3p. CONCLUSIONS: miR-301a-3p suppressed the posttranscriptional activity of ANKRD1, which is an activator of satellite cell proliferation, as determined with gain- and loss-of-function experiments. miR-301a-3p functions as an inducer of myogenesis by targeting the ANKRD1 gene in Muscovy ducks. These results provide novel insights into the early developmental process of black Muscovy breast muscles and will improve understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Expression, Regulation, and Functional Characterization of FST Gene in Porcine Granulosa Cells.

Proliferation, differentiation, and estrogen secretion of granulosa cells are the key factors affecting the estrous after weaning in sows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of Follistatin (FST) in the ovary of Xiushui Hang and Duroc sows at weaning and estrus, the effect of FSH on transcript abundance of FST gene in granulosa cells and the role of FST gene in the weaning to estrus using siRNAs targeted to FST gene. In the present study, expression of the FST mRNA was evaluated by real time PCR. The FST mRNA levels showed a reduction from weaning to the estrus in both Xiushui Hang and Duroc sows, and the mRNA levels in Duroc ovary was higher than in Xiushui Hang sows at the beginning of estrus. Granulosa cells were obtained from the two largest follicles around follicular deviation, FST expression was decreased sharply after treatment with FSH (250 ng/ml). Knockdown of FST by siRNA in porcine granulosa cells significantly increased cell proliferation and estrogen secretion. These results indicate that FST gene is a negative regulator of follicle growth and function during the weaning-estrus interval.

Molecular characterization of the Neuronatin gene in the porcine placenta.

Imprinted genes play important roles in placental and embryonic development. Neuronatin (NNAT), first identified as an imprinted gene in human and mouse brains, played important roles in neuronal differentiation in the brain and in glucose-mediated insulin secretion in pancreatic ß cells. In the pig, NNAT was reported to be imprinted in eleven tissues. Our previous microarray hybridization study showed that NNAT was differentially expressed in Yorkshire and Meishan pig placentas, but the imprinting status and function of NNAT in the placenta have not been investigated. We demonstrated for the first time that NNAT was monoallelically expressed in the placenta. Immunochemistry analysis showed that NNAT was located in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium in placentas. We also confirmed the differential expression of NNAT in Meishan and Yorkshire pig placentas by qPCR. Using IPA software and the published literature, we created a model network of the possible relationships between NNAT and glucose transporter genes. A dual luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that the crucial promoter region of NNAT contained a CANNTG sequence in the +210 to +215 positions, which corresponded to the E-box. Our findings demonstrated important roles of NNAT in placenta function.

Detection of differentially expressed genes between Erhualian and Large White placentas on day 75 and 90 of gestation.

BACKGROUND: Placental efficiency is strongly associated with litter size, fetal weight and prenatal mortality. Together with its rapid growth during late gestation, the Large White pig breed shows a significant increase in placental size and weight, but this does not occur in the highly prolific Chinese pig breeds. To understand the molecular basis of placental development during late gestation in Chinese indigenous and Western breeds with different placental efficiency, female placental samples were collected from six pregnant Erhualian gilts at gestation day 75 (E75) and day 90 (E90) and from six pregnant Large White gilts at gestation day 75 (L75) and day 90 (L90). Two female placentas from one sow were used to extract RNA and then pooled in equal volumes. Twelve pooled samples were hybridized to the porcine Affymetrix GeneChip. RESULTS: A total of 226 and 577 transcripts were detected that were differentially expressed between E75 and L75 and between E90 and L90 (p < 0.01, q < 0.2), respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes belong to the class of genes that participate in angiogenesis and development. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the differential expression of eight selected genes. Significant differential expression of five genes in the VEGF pathway was also detected between the breeds. A search of chromosomal location revealed that 44 differentially expressed genes located to QTL regions related to reproduction. Differential expression of six candidate imprinted genes was also confirmed. Three of the six genes (PLAGL1, DIRAS3, and SLC38A4) showed monoallelic expression in the porcine placenta. CONCLUSION: Our study detected many genes that showed differential expression between placentas of two divergent breed of pigs, and confirmed the imprinting of three genes. These findings help to elucidate the genetic control of placental efficiency and improve the understanding of placental development.

Molecular characterization and association analysis with production traits of the porcine INPP5F gene.

Inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase F (INPP5F) is one of the largest families of phosphoinositide phosphatases, 5-phosphatase. It contains a Sac domain whose amino acids are essential for inositol polyphosphate phosphatase activities. Here, we assigned the porcine INPP5F to SSC14q29 by using SCHP and IMpRH. Sequencing of PCR products from different breeds identified an A/G polymorphism in the last exon. The allele frequencies of this SNP showed that the Yorkshire and Duroc pigs have high G allele frequency, whereas the local pigs have high A allele frequency. Association analysis of the genotypes with growth and carcass traits found that different genotypes of INPP5F have significant differences in average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05) in Yorkshire pigs.

Imprinting analysis of the porcine MEST gene in 75 and 90 day placentas and prenatal tissues.

Imprinted genes play important roles in mammalian growth, development and behavior. Mouse mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST) has been identified as an imprinted gene and mapped to an imprinted region of mouse chromosome 6 (MMU6). It plays essential roles in embryonic and placental growth, and it is required for maternal behavior in adult female mouse. Here, we isolated the porcine MEST gene and detected a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3 -untranslated region. The RsaI polymorphism was used to investigate the allele frequencies in different pig breeds and the imprinting status in prenatal porcine tissues. Allele frequencies were significantly different between the native Chinese and Landrace breeds, except that most of the native Yushan pigs (21/26) are heterozygous at this locus. The results indicate that MEST was imprinted in placentas on days 75 and 90 of gestation as well as in the 75 d fetal heart, muscle, kidney, lung and liver.

Imprinting analyses of the porcine GATM and PEG10 genes in placentas on days 75 and 90 of gestation.

Imprinted genes are expressed monoallelically depending on their parental origin, and escape the Mendel's laws of heredity. They play important roles in the mammalian development, growth, and behavior. Placenta is a key tissue for the normal development and growth of fetus. It is also used to illuminate the evolution of genomic imprinting. In this study, we cloned the porcine GATM and PEG10 genes. Somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) and porcine radiation hybrid (IMpRH) panel were employed to locate GATM and PEG10 genes to SSC1q12-21 and SSC9p13-21, respectively. By sequencing PCR products, we detected several cSNPs in the two genes. The BseLI (GATM) and TaqI (PEG10) polymorphisms were used to investigate the allele frequencies in different pig breeds and the imprinting status in porcine placentas on days 75 and 90 of gestation. The results showed that for the GATM BseLI polymorphism, the Yorkshire and Duroc pigs had higher allele frequencies at the G allele, whereas the local pigs had higher allele frequencies at the A allele. Expression and sequencing analyses showed that both alleles were expressed for the GATM gene, indicating the GATM was not imprinted in the porcine placentas on days 75 and 90 of gestation. The allele frequencies of TaqI polymorphism for PEG10 gene were significantly different in native Chinese Erhualian breed comparing to Yorkshire. PEG10 was monoallelically expressed, showing the PEG10 gene may be imprinted in porcine placentas on days 75 and 90 of gestation.