A polymorphism in porcine miR-22 is associated with pork color

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are posttranscriptional regulators that play key roles in meat color regulation. Changes in miRNA expression affect their target mRNAs, leading to multifunctional effects on biological processes and phenotypes. In this study, a G > A mutation site located upstream of the precursor miR-22 sequence in Suhuai pigs was significantly correlated with the meat color parameter a*(redness) of the porcine longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. AA genotype individuals had the highest average meat color a* value and the lowest miR-22 level. When G > A mutation was performed in the miR-22 overexpression vector, miR-22 expression significantly decreased. Considering that Ca2+ homeostasis is closely related to pig meat color, our results further demonstrated that ELOVL6 is a direct target of miR-22 in pigs. The effects of miR-22 on skeletal muscle intracellular Ca2+ were partially caused by the suppression of ELOVL6 expression.

miR-423 sponged by lncRNA NORHA inhibits granulosa cell apoptosis

“…In domestic animals, some miRNA variants are associated with economically important traits. For example, g.17104G > A of miR-208b is associated with the proportions of type I and IIb fibre numbers and drip loss in Berkshire, Landrace, and Yorkshire pigs [ 51 ], a G > A variant of miR-22 is related to meat colour parameters in Suhuai pigs [ 52 ], g.–113C > A of miR-9 is related to litter size in Markhoz goats [ 53 ], and g.–13G > A and g.–24T > G of miR-27a-3p are associated with litter size in Hu sheep [ 54 ]. In the present study, we identified a novel variant (g.–703indelT) of miR-423, an inhibitor of sow GC apoptosis, that is markedly associated with the NSB trait.…”