Abstract
BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that serve as important post-transcriptional gene expression regulators by targeting messenger RNAs for post-transcriptional endonucleolytic cleavage or translational inhibition. miRNAs play important roles in many biological processes. Extensive high-throughput sequencing studies of miRNAs have been performed in several animal models. However, little is known about the diversity of these regulatory RNAs in goat (Capra hircus), which is one of the most important agricultural animals and the oldest domesticated species raised worldwide. Goats have long been used for their milk, meat, hair (including cashmere), and skins throughout much of the world.ResultsIn this study, two small RNA libraries were constructed based on dry period and peak lactation dairy goat mammary gland tissues and sequenced using the Illumina-Solexa high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 346 conserved and 95 novel miRNAs were identified in the dairy goat. miRNAs expression was confirmed by qRT-PCR in nine tissues and in the mammary gland during different stages of lactation. In addition, several candidate miRNAs that may be involved in mammary gland development and lactation were found by comparing the miRNA expression profiles in different tissues and developmental stages of the mammary gland.ConclusionsThis study reveals the first miRNAs profile related to the biology of the mammary gland in the dairy goat. The characterization of these miRNAs could contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lactation physiology and mammary gland development in the dairy goat.
Highlights
MicroRNAs are a class of endogenous, small singlestranded (approximately 18–25 nucleotides), non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by promoting the translational repression and/or degradation of target mRNAs by binding to their 39 untranslated regions (39 UTRs) [1,2,3,4]
Mammary gland samples were collected from 2.5-year-old Xinong Saanen Chinese domestic dairy goats
The samples were collected from three animals during the dry period (320 days after lambing, hereafter referred to as the dry period library or D) and peak lactation (75 days after lambing, hereafter referred to as the peak lactation library or P)
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, small singlestranded (approximately 18–25 nucleotides (nt)), non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by promoting the translational repression and/or degradation of target mRNAs by binding to their 39 untranslated regions (39 UTRs) [1,2,3,4]. Profiling studies in livestock animals have revealed that many miRNAs play important roles in essential biological processes, such as muscle and organ development, immune response, and metabolism. Studies of miRNA expression in chicken suggest that a large and diverse group of miRNAs may be essential to the growth and development of skeletal muscle [25,26], adipose [26,27], and embryonic [28,29,30] tissues. Extensive studies of bovine miRNAs have been performed, including analyses of the immune system [31], embryonic [32] and adipose [33] tissues, the mammary gland [34], and testicular and ovarian tissues [35,36,37]. Goats have long been used for their milk, meat, hair (including cashmere), and skins throughout much of the world
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