title: Role of microRNA508-3p in melanogenesis by targeting microphthalmia transcription factor in melanocytes of alpaca.
abstract: It has been demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the control of melanogenesis and hair color in mammals. By comparing miRNA expression profiles between brown and white alpaca skin, we previously identified miR508-3p as a differentially expressed miRNA suggesting its potential role in melanogenesis and hair color formation. The present study was conducted to determine the role of miR508-3p in melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes. In situ hybridization showed that miR508-3p is abundantly present in the cytoplasma of alpaca melanocytes. miR508-3p was predicted to target the gene encoding microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) and a luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR508-3p regulates MITF expression by directly targeting its 3'UTR. Overexpression of miR508-3p in alpaca melanocytes down-regulated MITF expression both at the messenger RNA and protein level and resulted in decreased expression of key melanogenic genes including tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 2. Overexpression of miR508-3p in melanocytes also resulted in decreased melanin production including total alkali-soluble melanogenesis, eumelanogenesis and pheomelanogenesis. Results support a functional role of miR508-3p in regulating melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes by directly targeting MITF.
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 2College of Life Science,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 3Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences,West Virginia University,Morgantown, WV26506,USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: 1College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801,China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008543:Melanins; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D010858:Pigmentation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
keywords: MITF; alpaca; melanin; melanocytes; miR508-3p