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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (6): 227-235.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2023258

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Identification and analysis of miRNAs in subcutaneous fat tissue of yaks

Wei-qin DING1,2(), Yong-gang SUN1,2(), Yin-cang HAN1,2, Ya-qian LIU1,2, Sheng-wei JIN1,2   

  1. 1.Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Qinghai University,Xining 810016,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Plateau Livestock Genetic Resources Protection and Innovative Utilization of Qinghai Provincial,Xining 810016,China
  • Received:2023-07-24 Revised:2023-10-08 Online:2024-06-20 Published:2024-03-20
  • Contact: Yong-gang SUN

Abstract:

The aim of this work was to determine how different types of feeding affect fat deposition in yaks. Specifically, we aimed to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in subcutaneous fat tissues of yaks raised under different feeding methods. High-throughput sequencing data were analyzed to identify the miRNAs present in the subcutaneous adipose tissues of yaks fed using different methods, and DESeq was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs among the different feeding methods. The target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted using online tools. The treatment groups were F24, G18, and G24. G18 were naturally grazed 18-month-old yaks, G24 were naturally grazed 24-month-old yaks, and F24 were yaks that had been fattened for 6 months since G18. A total of 1158 miRNAs were identified in the subcutaneous fat tissue of nine yaks, including 731 known miRNAs and 427 newly identified miRNAs. There were 43 differentially expressed miRNAs (with 2436 predicted target genes) in the G18 vs F24 comparison; 68 differentially expressed miRNAs (with 3559 predicted target genes) in the G18 vsG24 comparison; and 31 differentially expressed miRNAs (with 1456 predicted target genes) in the F24 vsG24 comparison. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that the predicted target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in fatty acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid biooxidation, unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, and regulation of adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, supplemental feeding of yaks during the dry grass period leads to subcutaneous fat tissue deposition.

Key words: yak, subcutaneous fat, miRNA, target genes