Integrated microRNA–mRNA analysis reveals the roles of microRNAs in the muscle fat metabolism of Yanbian cattle

Summary Fat deposition is an important economic trait in farm animals. However, it is difficult to genetically improve intramuscular fat deposition via trait‐based cattle breeding. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the factors about beef flavor, and to detect functional microRNA (miR...

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Published inAnimal genetics Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 598 - 607
Main Authors Zhang, J. S., Xu, H. Y., Fang, J. C., Yin, B. Z., Wang, B. B., Pang, Z., Xia, G. J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2021
Subjects
Activating transcription factor 3
Animal husbandry
Beef cattle
biomarker
Cattle
Chromosome 3
Deposition
fat deposition
Fat metabolism
Flavor
Gene sequencing
Genes
Meat
Metabolism
MicroRNAs
microRNA‐Seq
miRNA
Muscles
Physical growth
Polymerase chain reaction
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
RNA‐Seq
Skeletal muscle
Yanbian cattle
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Summary:Summary Fat deposition is an important economic trait in farm animals. However, it is difficult to genetically improve intramuscular fat deposition via trait‐based cattle breeding. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the factors about beef flavor, and to detect functional microRNA (miRNA, miR) associated with intramuscular fat deposition in Yanbian cattle. Longissimus dorsi samples from six steers were separated into high‐ and low‐fat groups (n = 3 each) based on the marbling score, and transcriptomic analysis was performed using miRNA sequencing. A total of 33 miRNAs and 38 genes were found to be differentially expressed in the high‐ and low‐fat groups. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the sequencing results. Integrated miRNA–mRNA analysis revealed that miRNA‐associated target genes were primarily associated with skeletal muscle development. However, some of the miRNAs (miR‐424 etc.) and genes (ATF3 etc.) were also associated with fat metabolism. A targeted relationship between miR‐22‐3p and the WFIKKN2 gene and its involvement in adipocyte differentiation were confirmed experimentally. The study findings may provide potential candidate molecular targets for the selection of cattle with improved meat quality.
Bibliography:Hongyan Xu and Jiasu Zhang equally contributed this work.
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0268-9146
1365-2052
DOI:10.1111/age.13126