Genome-wide analysis of circular RNAs in prenatal and postnatal pituitary glands of sheep

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of animal non-coding RNAs and play an impor-tant role in animal growth and development. However, the expression and function of circRNAs in the pituitary gland of sheep are unclear. Transcriptome profiling of circRNAs in the pituitary gland of sheep may enable us to understand their biological functions. In the present study, we identified 10,226 circRNAs from RNA-seq data in the pituitary gland of prenatal and postnatal sheep. Reverse transcription PCR and DNA sequencing analysis confirmed the presence of several circRNAs. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that sheep circRNAs are resistant to RNase R digestion and are expressed in prenatal and postnatal pituitary glands. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that host genes of differentially expressed circRNAs are involved in the regulation of hormone secretion as well as in several pathways related to these processes. We determined that numerous circRNAs interact with pituitary-specific miRNAs that are involved in the biologic functions of the pituitary gland. Moreover, several circRNAs contain at least one IRES element and open reading frame, indicating their potential to encode proteins. Our study provides comprehensive expression profiles of circRNAs in the pituitary gland, thereby offering a valuable resource for circRNA biology in sheep.

Comprehensive analysis of circRNAs from cashmere goat skin by next generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)

“…The expression of circRNAs has been appropriately correlated with an abundance of host genes in different animal tissues [52][53][54][55] , such as oar_circ_0003451 and TTN, and oar_circ_0005250 and MYH7 may play important roles in muscle development and growth 22 ; circRNA8077 and CRIM1, as well as circRNA3314 and TMEM159 play vital roles in the development of the receptive endometrium 56 . The host genes of circRNAs are involved in regulating hair traits, and these circRNAs may be considered as a possible factor regulating cashmere fineness.…”

“…More recently, many studies have demonstrated that circRNAs contribute to the generation of cancer 18,19 , regulate gene expression in many biological processes, and participate in the occurrence and development of various diseases 20 . In a study by Li et al identified 6,113 circRNAs from muscles of sheep by RNA-seq 21 , and a total of 10,226 circRNAs were detected from pituitary glands of sheep by RNA-seq 22 . Zheng et al revealed that circRNAs can act as a microRNA sponge to isolate microRNA by competing with targeted mRNA 23 .…”

An exploration of non-coding RNA in exosomes delivered by swine anterior pituitary

“…The signal of a two-circRNA was found could predict tumor recurrence in clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma [123]. Another study determined that thousands of sheep genes could express circRNAs in the pituitary gland [124]. Regarding circRNA, we determined that numerous circRNAs interact with highly expressed miRNAs both in exosomes and pituitary that are involved in the biologic functions of the pituitary gland.…”

Genome-Wide Analysis and Function Prediction of Long Noncoding RNAs in Sheep Pituitary Gland Associated with Sexual Maturation

“…The pituitary gland is essential for mammalian reproduction and growth development owing to its function of GH, FSH, LH, and PRL hormone secretion. Micro RNA [50], circular RNA [51] and lncRNA [31] were performed in different stages of sheep pituitary, however, little research of lncRNA on immature and mature stage of male sheep pituitary have been explored. In our study, three-month-old and nine-month-old male sheep were considered to be immature and mature stages for further lncRNA identification in the pituitary, and our study provided the systematic description and differential expression profiles of lncRNA and mRNA in sheep pituitary.…”