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Identification and characterization of microRNAs in the liver of yak (Bos grunniens) involved in energy deficiency at high-altitude |
Shuru Cheng1,* 
, Fangping Shi2
, Zhixiong Tang1
, Feifei Yang1
, Quanlu Meng3
, Ting Liu1
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1Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
2Helan County People's Hospital, Lanzhou, China
3Baoji Vocational & Technical College, Baoji, China |
Correspondence:
Shuru Cheng, Tel: +86-931-763-2509, Fax: +86-931-763-2509, Email: chengsr@gsau.edu.cn
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Received: 30 October 2024 • Revised: 10 January 2025 • Accepted: 3 March 2025 |
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| Abstract |
Abstract
Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs found to regulate several biological processes including in systemic metabolism and energy homeostasis. Understanding hepatic functional adaptations is critical for yak (Bos grunniens) cattle as the herds generally suffer from malnutrition for almost the winter grazing seasons.
Methods
In order to further understand the role of miRNA mediated post-transcriptional regulation in energy deficiency of yak, the miRNA transcriptomes of liver were profiled using deep sequencing methods.
Results
A total of 17,562,643 clean reads were obtained from a liver library, and 369 known and 41 novel miRNA candidates were identified. The top 10 miRNAs accounted for greater than 92% (9,854,350 counts) of the miRNAome, which were predicted to target 2,333 genes. Of the highly expressed miRNAs, miR-122 constitutes 57% followed by bta-let-7f and bta-let-7a-5p. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses using DAVID bioinformatics resources indicated that the identified miRNAs targeted genes enriched in transcription and metabolism processes, and 11 of the top 20 miRNAs were predicted to be involved in the regulation of lipid as well as glucose homeostasis via the PI3K-Akt interaction network.
Conclusion
This is the first liver miRNA-seq profiling study of moderate yak cows exposed to the combined effects of cold and nutrition stress at high altitude. Tissue specific miR-122 and liver enriched bta-let-7f are two of the most abundant miRNAs in yak cow liver. These findings contribute to our understanding of the functional involvement of hepatic miRNAs in energy deficiency of yak in winter grazing seasons at high altitude.
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| Keywords:
Yak; miRNA; Liver; High altitude; Winter grazing |
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