Identification and comparison of long non-conding RNA in Jinhua and Landrace pigs

Abstract

The regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various biological functions has been demonstrated. However, their role in fat deposition and lipid metabolism in pigs remains less understood. To explore the expression profile of lncRNAs in Jinhua and Landrace pigs, we investigated the expression levels of lncRNAs in intramuscular adipose tissues obtained from these pigs. Results showed that the expression levels of lncRNAs in these pig breeds significantly (Fold Change ≥ 2.0, FDR < 0.05) differed. A total of 4910 lncRNAs were identified, and 119 of these lncRNAs were differentially expressed. Of these differentially expressed lncRNAs, 60 and 59 were up- and down-regulated, respectively. The differentially expressed lncRNAs are involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, PI3k-Akt signaling pathway. We then compared these differentially expressed lncRNAs with mRNAs and found that six of the co-expressed lncRNAs were implicated in pathways related to fat deposition and lipid metabolism. Overall, our results revealed a remarkable difference in fat metabolism in intramuscular adipose tissues of pigs, and provide a basis for subsequent research on fat deposition.