Graduate Program in Evolutionary Genetics and Molecular Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Mol Genet Genomics. 2020 Sep;295(5):1113-1127. doi: 10.1007/s00438-020-01683-9. Epub 2020 May 22.
An interplay between gene expression, mineral concentration, and beef quality traits in Bos indicus muscle has been reported previously under a network approach. However, growing evidence suggested that miRNAs not only modulate gene expression but are also involved with mineral homeostasis. To our knowledge, understanding of the miRNA-gene expression-mineral concentration relationship in mammals is still minimal. Therefore, we carried out a miRNA co-expression and multi-level miRNA-mRNA integration analyses to predict the putative drivers (miRNAs and genes) associated with muscle mineral concentration in Nelore steers. In this study, we identified calcium and iron to be the pivotal minerals associated with miRNAs and gene targets. Furthermore, we identified the miR-29 family (miR-29a, -29b, -29c, -29d-3p, and -29e) as the putative key regulators modulating mineral homeostasis. The miR-29 family targets genes involved with AMPK, insulin, mTOR, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Finally, we reported an interplay between miRNAs and minerals acting cooperatively to modulate co-expressed genes and signaling pathways both involved with mineral and energy homeostasis in Nelore muscle. Although we provided some evidence to understand this complex relationship, future work should determine the functional implications of minerals for miRNA levels and their feedback regulation system.\An interplay between gene expression, mineral concentration, and beef quality traits in Bos indicus muscle has been reported previously under a network approach. However, growing evidence suggested that miRNAs not only modulate gene expression but are also involved with mineral homeostasis. To our knowledge, understanding of the miRNA-gene expression-mineral concentration relationship in mammals is still minimal. Therefore, we carried out a miRNA co-expression and multi-level miRNA-mRNA integration analyses to predict the putative drivers (miRNAs and genes) associated with muscle mineral concentration in Nelore steers. In this study, we identified calcium and iron to be the pivotal minerals associated with miRNAs and gene targets. Furthermore, we identified the miR-29 family (miR-29a, -29b, -29c, -29d-3p, and -29e) as the putative key regulators modulating mineral homeostasis. The miR-29 family targets genes involved with AMPK, insulin, mTOR, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Finally, we reported an interplay between miRNAs and minerals acting cooperatively to modulate co-expressed genes and signaling pathways both involved with mineral and energy homeostasis in Nelore muscle. Although we provided some evidence to understand this complex relationship, future work should determine the functional implications of minerals for miRNA levels and their feedback regulation system.
先前已有研究报道，在网络方法的研究下，牛肌肉中的基因表达、矿物质浓度和牛肉质量性状之间存在相互作用。然而，越来越多的证据表明，miRNA 不仅调节基因表达，而且还参与矿物质稳态。据我们所知，对于哺乳动物中的 miRNA-基因表达-矿物质浓度关系的理解仍然很少。因此，我们进行了 miRNA 共表达和多层次 miRNA-mRNA 整合分析，以预测与 Nelore 牛肌肉矿物质浓度相关的潜在驱动因素（miRNA 和基因）。在这项研究中，我们确定钙和铁是与 miRNA 和基因靶标相关的关键矿物质。此外，我们确定 miR-29 家族（miR-29a、-29b、-29c、-29d-3p 和 -29e）是调节矿物质稳态的潜在关键调节因子。miR-29 家族靶向涉及 AMPK、胰岛素、mTOR 和甲状腺激素信号通路的基因。最后，我们报道了 miRNA 和矿物质之间的相互作用，它们协同调节与矿物质和能量稳态相关的共表达基因和信号通路。尽管我们提供了一些证据来理解这种复杂的关系，但未来的工作应该确定矿物质对 miRNA 水平及其反馈调节系统的功能意义。
