Wang Jiqing, Hao Zhiyun, Hu Jiang, Liu Xiu, Li Shaobin, Wang Jianqing, Shen Jiyuan, Song Yize, Ke Na, Luo Yuzhu
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Genomics. 2021 Jan;113(1 Pt 2):637-646. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.09.060. Epub 2020 Sep 29.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are involved in mammary gland development and lactation in livestock. Little is known about the roles of miRNAs in ovine mammary gland development, hence in this study the expression profiles of miRNAs of the mammary gland tissues of ewes at peak-lactation and during the non-lactating period were investigated using RNA sequencing. A total of 147 mature miRNAs were expressed in the two periods. Compared with peak-lactation, eight miRNAs in the non-lactating ewe mammary gland were significantly up-regulated, whereas fifteen miRNAs were down-regulated. A KEGG analysis revealed that the target genes of the up-regulated miRNAs were significantly enriched in lysosome, Wnt and MAPK signaling pathways, while the target genes of down-regulated miRNAs were significantly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and axon guidance. These results suggest that further study of the differentially expressed miRNAs could provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of mammary development and lactation in sheep.
微小RNA（miRNA）是一类小的非编码RNA，参与家畜乳腺发育和泌乳过程。关于miRNA在绵羊乳腺发育中的作用知之甚少，因此在本研究中，利用RNA测序技术研究了处于泌乳高峰期和非泌乳期的母羊乳腺组织中miRNA的表达谱。在这两个时期共表达了147种成熟miRNA。与泌乳高峰期相比，非泌乳期母羊乳腺中有8种miRNA显著上调，而15种miRNA下调。KEGG分析表明，上调miRNA的靶基因在溶酶体、Wnt和MAPK信号通路中显著富集，而下调miRNA的靶基因在PI3K-Akt信号通路、内质网中的蛋白质加工和轴突导向中显著富集。这些结果表明，进一步研究差异表达的miRNA有助于更好地理解绵羊乳腺发育和泌乳的分子机制。
