ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of evolutionarily conserved small noncoding RNAs with regulatory functions. Increasing evidence suggests that polymorphisms in miRNA genes are associated with phenotypic variation by affecting miRNA expression and/or function. Here, we identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the porcine miR-1 locus, both of which were linked and located downstream from the stem-loop miRNA precursor sequence within the primary miR-1 region. An association study on muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality traits was performed with a total of 451 pigs representing three pig breeds (Berkshire, n=153; Landrace, n=125; Yorkshire, n=173). The miR-1 SNPs were significantly associated with type I and type IIa muscle fibers in number and area compositions, respectively, but not with meat quality traits. Notably, these polymorphisms were also significantly associated with altered expression of the primary miR-1 transcript, ultimately leading to comparable changes in the levels of both precursor and mature miR-1. Furthermore, altered miR-1 levels were correlated with the variation in muscle fiber composition. Our data suggest that miR-1 may be a candidate gene associated with muscle fiber type composition.
Subject(s)
MicroRNAs/genetics , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/cytology , Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/metabolism , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Sus scrofa/anatomy & histology , Sus scrofa/genetics , Animals , Base Sequence , Female , Genetic Association Studies , Male , Meat/standards , MicroRNAs/chemistry , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Models, Molecular , Molecular Sequence Data , Nucleic Acid Conformation , Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid , Sus scrofa/metabolismABSTRACT
Small non-coding RNAs regulate gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. In Drosophila, Dicer-2 (Dcr-2) functions in the biogenesis of endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs). We identified 21 distinct proteins that exhibited a ≥ 1.5-fold change as a consequence of loss of dcr-2 function. Most of these were metabolic genes implicated in stress resistance and aging. dcr-2 Mutants had reduced lifespan and were hypersensitive to oxidative, endoplasmic reticulum, starvation, and cold stresses. Furthermore, loss of dcr-2 function led to abnormal lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Our results suggest roles for the endo-siRNA pathway in metabolic regulation and defense against stress and aging in Drosophila.
