MiR-27a regulates WNT3A and KITLG expression in Cashmere goats with different coat colors

• Published in: Animal biotechnology Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 205 - 212
• Main Authors: Wu, Sufang, Li, Jianyu, Ma, Tao, Li, Jianping, Li, Yumei, Jiang, Huaizhi, Zhang, Qiaoling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.04.2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 3' Untranslated regions; Cashmere; Cashmere goats; Coat color; Gene expression; Goats; Kinases; KITLG; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; MiR-27a; miRNA; Next-generation sequencing; Polymerase chain reaction; Post-transcription; Reporter gene; Skin; Western blotting; WNT3A; MiR-27a; Coat color; KITLG; WNT3A; Cashmere goats
• ISSN: 1049-5398; 1532-2378
• DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2019.1675683

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) regulate and control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by base pairing with its target gene 3'UTR, resulting in degradation of the target mRNA or inhibition of its translation. The previous high-throughput sequencing results indicated that miR-27a was involved in coat color regulation. However, the mechanism of action is not still illuminated. In this research, using western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), the expression of miR-27a, WNT3A and KITLG were examined in the skin of Cashmere goats with white and brown, and human embryonic kidney 293 T cells (HEK-293T cells) which over-express miR-27a. Targeting relationship between miR-27a and WNT3A or KITLG was examined by the luciferase reporter gene system. The qRT-PCR detection showed that miR-27a was more highly expressed in white Cashmere goats skin than that in brown Cashmere goats skin. Furthermore, WNT3A and KITLG mRNA and protein expression were down-regulated by miR-27a in vitro and in vivo. A dual-luciferase reporter gene indicated that miR-27a negatively correlates with WNT3A or KITLG. In a word, our research demonstrated that the expression of miR-27a was evidently differential in the white and brown Cashmere goats skin and WNT3A or KITLG was negatively regulated by miR-27a.