title: Biological role of microRNA-103 based on expression profile and target genes analysis in pigs.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed RNAs consisting of 20-24 nucleotides. These molecules are thought to repress protein translation by binding to target mRNAs. However, biological functions have not been assigned to most of the 175 porcine miRNAs registered in miRBase (release 15.0). In an effort to uncover miR-103 important in pigs, we examined the integrative tissue expression profile and gene ontology (GO) term enrichment of predicted target genes to determine the global biological functions of miR-103. Our results demonstrated that miR-103 is involved in various biological processes including brain development, lipid metabolism, adipocyte differentiation, hematopoiesis, and immunity. Moreover, we also experimentally verified effects of miR-103 in porcine preadipocytes. miR-103 levels increased in differentiating adipocytes, and inhibition of miR-103 effectively inhibited preadipocyte differentiation. In addition, mRNA levels of the putative miR-103 target RAI14 were higher in miR-103 inhibitor-treated adipocytes. These results demonstrate that miR-103 is involved in porcine preadipocyte differentiation and may act through the putative target gene RAI14. In a word, our data provide new insights into the global biological role of miR-103.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition and Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, 22 Xinong Road, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guoxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zongsong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xinjian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gongshe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016372:RNA, Antisense