CircRNA Expression in Chicken Granulosa Cells Illuminated with Red Light

Abstract

Background Our previous work revealed that red light (RL) can improve egg production by Jinghai Yellow hens. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel non-coding RNAs, but the molecular mechanism underpinning their functions during follicular development of hens under monochromatic light remains unknown. Results We compared expression profiles of granulosa cells (GCs) of small yellow follicles (SYFs) from hens under RL and white light (WL). A total of 2,468 circRNAs were identified, of which 22 were differentially expressed (DE) between RL and WL groups. Host genes of DE circRNAs were enriched in ovarian steroidogenesis, and MAPK signalling and PI3K-Akt signalling pathways. Furthermore, DE circRNA_0320 and circRNA_0185 interact with miR-143-3p targeting FSHR, which is essential for GC differentiation and follicle development. Conclusions These findings will facilitate further analysis of the molecular mechanism of circRNAs in GCs of SYFs, and expand our understanding of follicle development, which could lead to increased egg production.

A genome-wide circular RNA transcriptome in rat

“…(reported identified exonuclease-treated transcripts >25 000) [ 3 , 4 ] and Salzman et al (identified circRNA from different human cell types) [ 5 ] showed the abundance of circRNAs and established it as emerging class of noncoding RNAs. Till now, circ are identified in a number of organisms including model organisms like humans [ 3 , 6–9 ], worms [ 10 ], Drosophila [ 10 , 11 ], mouse [ 12–14 ], chicken [ 15 , 16 ], and pig [ 17–19 ]. Circs are known to exist as cell-line specific and tissue-specific isoforms [ 20 , 21 ] and are also known to have conserved splice sites.…”