Circular RNA circAtxn10 regulates skeletal muscle cell differentiation by targeting miR-143-3p and Chrna1 in C2C12 cells
Skeletal muscle differentiation is a complex process regulated by a network of genes and transcription factors. Recent studies have revealed the roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in modulating gene expression during myogenesis. We investigated the interaction between circAtxn10, miR-143, and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 1 (Chrna1) in skeletal muscle differentiation using the C2C12 cell line. Our results demonstrate that circAtxn10 expression increases during myogenic differentiation and acts as a sponge for miR-143-3p through direct binding. We identified Chrna1 as a direct target of miR-143-3p through three binding sites in its 3'-UTR and showed that both miR-143-3p mimic and Chrna1 knockdown significantly impair myogenesis. Notably, Chrna1 overexpression dramatically enhanced myogenic marker expression and myotube formation. Our findings establish a regulatory axis involving circAtxn10, miR-143, and Chrna1 that plays a critical role in modulating skeletal muscle differentiation, providing new insights into the complex molecular mechanisms regulating myogenesis. Overall design: To investigate the role of circular RNAs in skeletal muscle differentiation, we performed RNA-seq analysis on human myocytes at three differentiating stages, including satellite cells, myoblasts, and adult muscle tubes.