title: Alpaca fiber growth is mediated by microRNA let-7b via down-regulation of target gene FGF5.
abstract: MicroRNAs are very small endogenous RNA molecules that play a crucial role in an array of biological processes, including regulation of skin morphogenesis. The microRNA let-7b is thought to modulate animal hair growth, by binding target genes that encode growth factors. Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) has been previously reported to be involved in the initiation of the catagen phase of hair growth. In this study, we combined previous reports with bioinformatic analysis techniques to identify and validate FGF5 and, using lucerifase assay, confirmed targeted binding of let-7b to FGF5. To investigate the interaction between let-7b and FGF5, alpaca skin fibroblasts were transfected with let-7b over-expression vectors, and then mRNA and protein expression levels of FGF5 and the gene encoding its receptor, FGFR1, were evaluated. Levels of FGF5 mRNA and protein were remarkably lower in transfected groups, as compared to controls. In summary, this study confirmed that let-7b acts as a regulator of skin morphogenesis, by directly targeting FGF5 and down-regulating its expression. It provides the evidence of hair growth regulated by miRNAs in animals and may have important applications in wool production.
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: X J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Alpaca Bioengineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, China sxndhxy@163.com.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation; D051521:Fibroblast Growth Factor 5 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D021381:Protein Transport; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014935:Wool / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051521:Fibroblast Growth Factor 5