Deep sequencing of chicken microRNAs.
BACKGROUND
The use of new, deep sequencing technologies has greatly accelerated microRNA discovery. We have applied this approach to the identification of chicken microRNAs and to the comparison of microRNAs in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with Marek's disease virus (MDV) to those present in uninfected CEF.


RESULTS
We obtained 125,463 high quality reads that showed an exact match to the chicken genome. The majority of the reads corresponded to previously annotated chicken microRNAs; however, the sequences of many potential novel microsRNAs were obtained. A comparison of the reads obtained in MDV-infected and uninfected CEF indicates that infection does not significantly perturb the expression profile of microRNAs. Frequently sequenced microRNAs include miR-221/222, which are thought to play a role in growth and proliferation. A number of microRNAs (e.g., let-7, miR-199a-1, 26a) are expressed at lower levels in MDV-induced tumors, highlighting the potential importance of this class of molecules in tumorigenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Deep sequencing technology is highly suited for small RNA discovery. This approach is independent of comparative sequence analysis, which has been the primary method used to identify chicken microRNAs. Our results have confirmed the expression of many microRNAs identified by sequence similarity and identified a pool of candidate novel microRNAs.
Burnside
Joan
J
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711, USA. joan@udel.edu
Ouyang
Ming
M
Anderson
Amy
A
Bernberg
Erin
E
Lu
Cheng
C
Meyers
Blake C
BC
Green
Pamela J
PJ
Markis
Milos
M
Isaacs
Grace
G
Huang
Emily
E
Morgan
Robin W
RW
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000235:genetics; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics
D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral