Differential expression of mRNA-miRNAs related to intramuscular fat content in the longissimus dorsi in Xinjiang brown cattle

Abstract

In this study, we examined the role of mRNAs and miRNAs in variations in intramuscular fat content in the longissimus dorsi muscle in Xinjiang brown cattle. Two groups of Xinjiang brown cattle with extremely different intramuscular fat content in the longissimus dorsi were selected for combined of miRNA and mRNA analysis using an RNA-Seq. In total, 296 mRNAs and 362 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed, including 155 newly predicted miRNAs, 275 significantly upregulated genes, 252 significantly upregulated miRNAs, 21 significantly downregulated genes and 110 significantly downregulated miRNAs. The combined miRNA and mRNA analysis identified 96 differentially expressed miRNAs and 27 differentially expressed mRNAs. In all, 47 upregulated miRNAs had a regulatory effect on 14 differentially downregulated target genes, and 49 downregulated miRNAs had a regulatory effect on 13 upregulated target genes. To verify the sequencing results, 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 10 differentially expressed miRNAs were selected for qRT-PCR. The qRT-PCR results confirmed the sequencing results. The results of this study shed light on the molecular regulation of bovine adipose tissue, which might help with the development of new strategies for improving meat quality and animal productivity in beef cattle to provide healthier meat products for consumers.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of long noncoding RNAs in longissimus muscle tissue from Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle

“…These milk and meat type cattle were selected by this hybridization to resist cold and rough handling and to exhibit flexibility and adaptability to livestock farming [ 6 ]. Li et al [ 7 ] constructed a network of differentially expressed mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) based on their expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Xinjiang brown cattle. Our previous research have found 46 differentially expressed circular RNAs and 346 differentially expressed miRNAs in longissimus dorsi samples from Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Combined transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal differences in the longissimus dorsi muscle between Kazakh cattle and Xinjiang brown cattle

“…Xinjiang Brown Cattle is an excellent new breed of grass-fed livestock that has independent intellectual property rights and is bred in China. Xinjiang brown cattle breeding and improvement, meat type breeding and other traditional cross-breeding programs have done much work and played an important role in the cattle industry [7][8][9]. However, the taste and flavor of Xinjiang brown beef severelyseriously restrict the development of the Xinjiang brown cattle industry [10].…”

Functional Analysis of Haplotypes in Bovine PSAP Gene and Their Relationship with Beef Cattle Production Traits

“…Besides, all the variants in mRNA can affect stability due to the mRNA secondary structure and free energy [ 30 , 31 ]. However, the functional mechanisms underlying the associations are largely unknown [ 32 , 33 , 34 ]. To more clearly and comprehensively reveal the complex connections between the four haplotypes and miR-184, luciferase assay was performed to investigate the influence of the functional SNP loci.…”