Genome-wide differential expression of genes and small RNAs in testis of two different porcine breeds and at two different ages.

Yao Li,Yuanzhu Xiong,Chengchi Fang,Jiajian Tan,Changchun Li,Bin Fan Bin Fan,Jialian Li,Liang Shi

doi:10.1038/srep26852

Abstract

Some documented evidences proved small RNAs (sRNA) and targeted genes are involved in mammalian testicular development and spermatogenesis. However, the detailed molecular regulation mechanisms of them remain largely unknown so far. In this study, we obtained a total of 10,716 mRNAs, 67 miRNAs and 16,953 piRNAs which were differentially expressed between LC and LW pig breeds or between the two sexual maturity stages. Of which, we identified 16 miRNAs and 28 targeted genes possibly related to spermatogenesis; 14 miRNA and 18 targeted genes probably associated with cell adhesion related testis development. We also annotated 579 piRNAs which could potentially regulate cell death, nucleosome organization and other basic biology process, which implied that those piRNAs might be involved in sexual maturation difference. The integrated network analysis results suggested that some differentially expressed genes were involved in spermatogenesis through the ECM–receptor interaction, focal adhesion, Wnt and PI3K–Akt signaling pathways, some particular miRNAs have the negative regulation roles and some special piRNAs have the positive and negative regulation roles in testicular development. Our data provide novel insights into the molecular expression and regulation similarities and diversities of spermatogenesis and testicular development in different pig breeds at different stages of sexual maturity.

Highlights

Recent studies have indicated that sRNAs including miRNA12–14 and piRNA15,16 play important roles in the regulation of gene expression related to spermatogenesis or/and testicular development
Illumina GAIIx sequencing technology was employed to profile miRNAs, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and mRNAs in the testes of Lu Chuan (LC) and Large White (LW) boars at sexual immaturity and maturity to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs, piRNAs and genes related to spermatogenesis and testicular development
The reads from immature testis were located primarily in the intergenic and intron regions, whereas the reads from mature testis were widely distributed in the CDS region (~90% increase compared with the read number from the immature group), intron region, and intergenic region (~50% significantly reduced compared with the immature group; Supplementary Figure S1)

Summary

Introduction

Recent studies have indicated that sRNAs including miRNA12–14 and piRNA15,16 play important roles in the regulation of gene expression related to spermatogenesis or/and testicular development. Process of cell differentiation is controlled by many factors and fundamentally orchestrated through the expression of thousands of protein-encoding genes, which are developmentally regulated during spermatogenesis and play pivotal roles during specific phases of germ cell development. Illumina GAIIx sequencing technology was employed to profile miRNAs, piRNAs and mRNAs in the testes of LC and LW boars at sexual immaturity and maturity to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs, piRNAs and genes related to spermatogenesis and testicular development. The results of this study indicate that specific sRNAs and genes play important regulatory roles in testicular maturation, and contribute to sexual maturation differences between pig breeds

Results

Discussion

Conclusion