Abstract
Simple SummaryThe Chinese native cattle breeds are economically important, and these breeds are used extensively for beef production. However, their reproductive efficiency and the local elite genetic breeding populations, which is an important consideration in livestock production systems, have not been fully established yet. The literature recommends the application of molecular strategies that improve the production of good-quality sperm and increase the availability of elite genetics for improving local breed production. Therefore, this study comprehensively analyzed the mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs expression profiling, based on total RNA-Seq, of the testis samples of bulls of two distinct age groups. The findings of this study have strong implications, as they provide a suitable framework for understanding the mechanism of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in the development of testes and spermatogenesis.The mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs axes are playing a vital role in the regulating of post-transcriptional gene expression. Thereby, elucidating the expression pattern of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs underlying testis development is crucial. In this study, mRNA and long non-coding RNAs expression profiles were investigated in 3-month-old calves and 3-year-old mature bulls’ testes by total RNA sequencing. Additionally, during the gene level analysis, 21,250 mRNAs and 20,533 long non-coding RNAs were identified. As a result, 7908 long non-coding RNAs (p-adjust < 0.05) and 5122 mRNAs (p-adjust < 0.05) were significantly differentially expressed between the distinct age groups. In addition, gene ontology and biological pathway analyses revealed that the predicted target genes are enriched in the lysine degradation, cell cycle, propanoate metabolism, adherens junction and cell adhesion molecules pathways. Correspondingly, the RT-qPCR validation results showed a strong consistency with the sequencing data. The source genes for the mRNAs (CCDC83, DMRTC2, HSPA2, IQCG, PACRG, SPO11, EHHADH, SPP1, NSD2 and ACTN4) and the long non-coding RNAs (COX7A2, COX6B2, TRIM37, PRM2, INHBA, ERBB4, SDHA, ATP6VOA2, FGF9 and TCF21) were found to be actively associated with bull sexual maturity and spermatogenesis. This study provided a comprehensive catalog of long non-coding RNAs in the bovine testes and also offered useful resources for understanding the differences in sexual development caused by the changes in the mRNA and long non-coding RNA interaction expressions between the immature and mature stages.
Highlights
Improvement in the reproductive efficiency of local cattle bull via genetic selection is crucial, as individual bulls can breed multiple numbers of cows [1]
We examined the chromosomal localization of the testicular long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs and identified the loci that expressed these transcripts
We discovered that the mRNAs and lncRNAs had identical chromosomal distributions at the autosomes and the X-chromosome, suggesting that the lncRNAs interacted closely with the mRNAs
Summary
Improvement in the reproductive efficiency of local cattle bull via genetic selection is crucial, as individual bulls can breed multiple numbers of cows [1]. Advances in livestock genomics, such as transcriptomics, proteomics and single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes studies, are predicted the direct increasing rate of genetic gain in a generation [2,3]. It demands an extensive use of molecular tools to improve the reproductive traits of Chinese native cattle. The process of spermatogenesis is more curious and involves several transcriptional factors that regulate by the testis-specific genes at the transcriptional and post transcriptional levels [5,6]. The interactive network of lncRNAs and mRNAs is thought to be involved in mammalian reproduction system regulation and sperm quality parameters [7]
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