Interplay among miR-29 family, mineral metabolism, and gene regulation in Bos indicus muscle

• Published in: Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG Vol. 295; no. 5; pp. 1113 - 1127
• Main Authors: da Silva Diniz, Wellison Jarles, Banerjee, Priyanka, Mazzoni, Gianluca, Coutinho, Luiz Lehmann, Cesar, Aline Silva Mello, Afonso, Juliana, Gromboni, Caio Fernando, Nogueira, Ana Rita Araújo, Kadarmideen, Haja N., de Almeida Regitano, Luciana Correia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Beef; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bos taurus indicus; Calcium; Energy balance; Feedback; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Homeostasis; Human Genetics; Insulin; Integration; Iron; Life Sciences; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Minerals; miRNA; Original Article; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Signal transduction; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; TOR protein; Co-expression; Mineral homeostasis; Iron; Calcium; Systems biology; Regulatory network
• ISSN: 1617-4615; 1617-4623
• DOI: 10.1007/s00438-020-01683-9

An interplay between gene expression, mineral concentration, and beef quality traits in Bos indicus muscle has been reported previously under a network approach. However, growing evidence suggested that miRNAs not only modulate gene expression but are also involved with mineral homeostasis. To our knowledge, understanding of the miRNA–gene expression-mineral concentration relationship in mammals is still minimal. Therefore, we carried out a miRNA co-expression and multi-level miRNA–mRNA integration analyses to predict the putative drivers (miRNAs and genes) associated with muscle mineral concentration in Nelore steers. In this study, we identified calcium and iron to be the pivotal minerals associated with miRNAs and gene targets. Furthermore, we identified the miR-29 family (miR-29a, -29b, -29c, -29d-3p, and -29e) as the putative key regulators modulating mineral homeostasis. The miR-29 family targets genes involved with AMPK, insulin, mTOR, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Finally, we reported an interplay between miRNAs and minerals acting cooperatively to modulate co-expressed genes and signaling pathways both involved with mineral and energy homeostasis in Nelore muscle. Although we provided some evidence to understand this complex relationship, future work should determine the functional implications of minerals for miRNA levels and their feedback regulation system.\\An interplay between gene expression, mineral concentration, and beef quality traits in Bos indicus muscle has been reported previously under a network approach. However, growing evidence suggested that miRNAs not only modulate gene expression but are also involved with mineral homeostasis. To our knowledge, understanding of the miRNA–gene expression-mineral concentration relationship in mammals is still minimal. Therefore, we carried out a miRNA co-expression and multi-level miRNA–mRNA integration analyses to predict the putative drivers (miRNAs and genes) associated with muscle mineral concentration in Nelore steers. In this study, we identified calcium and iron to be the pivotal minerals associated with miRNAs and gene targets. Furthermore, we identified the miR-29 family (miR-29a, -29b, -29c, -29d-3p, and -29e) as the putative key regulators modulating mineral homeostasis. The miR-29 family targets genes involved with AMPK, insulin, mTOR, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Finally, we reported an interplay between miRNAs and minerals acting cooperatively to modulate co-expressed genes and signaling pathways both involved with mineral and energy homeostasis in Nelore muscle. Although we provided some evidence to understand this complex relationship, future work should determine the functional implications of minerals for miRNA levels and their feedback regulation system.