miR-34a regulates adipogenesis in porcine intramuscular adipocytes by targeting ACSL4

BMC Genetics

Ning Ding¹  Xiuxiu Li¹  Qin Zhang¹  Shen Zhang¹  Jun Teng¹  Hui Tang¹  Wenwen Wang¹ 

[1] Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University;

关键词: IMF;    miR-34a;    ACSL4;    Pig;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12863-020-0836-7

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is an important factor in porcine meat quality. Previously, we showed that miR-34a was less abundant in liver tissue from pigs with higher backfat thickness, compared to pigs with lower backfat thickness. The purpose of this present study was to explore the role of miR-34a in adipogenesis. Result Bioinformatics analysis identified Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) as a putative target of miR-34a. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we verified that miR-34a binds the ACSL4 mRNA at the 3’UTR. To examine the role of the miR-34a-ACSL4 interaction in IMF deposition in the pig, mRNA and protein expression of the ACSL4 gene was measured in primary intramuscular preadipocytes transfected with miR-34a mimic and inhibitor. Our results showed that ACSL4 is expressed throughout the entire differentiation process in pig preadipocytes, similar to the lipogenesis-associated genes PPARγ and aP2. Transfection with miR-34a mimic reduced lipid droplet formation during adipogenesis, while miR-34a inhibitor increased lipid droplet accumulation. Transfection with miR-34a mimic also reduced the mRNA and protein expression of ACSL4 and lipogenesis genes, including PPARγ, aP2, and SREBP-1C, but increased the expression of steatolysis genes such as ATGL and Sirt1. In contrast, the miR-34a inhibitor had the opposite effect on gene expression. Further, knockdown of ACSL4 decreased lipid droplet accumulation. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that miR-34a regulates intramuscular fat deposition in porcine adipocytes by targeting ACSL4.

【 授权许可】

Unknown