SNP in pre-miR-1666 decreases mature miRNA expression and is associated with chicken performance

Abstract

Polymorphisms in miRNA genes could potentially alter various biological processes by influencing the processing and (or) target selection of miRNAs. The rs14120863 (C > G) mutation, which we characterized in a Gushi-Anka F2 resource population, resides in the precursor region of miR-1666. Association analysis with chicken carcass and growth traits showed that the SNP was significantly associated with carcass weight, evisceration weight, breast muscle weight, leg muscle weight, and body weight at 8 weeks of age, as well as some body size indexes including shank girth, chest breadth, breast bone length, and body slanting length, in the Gushi-Anka F2 resource population. Quantitative RT-PCR results showed that miR-1666 expression levels in muscle tissues differed within various genotypes. Experiment in DF1 cells further confirmed that the SNP in miR-1666 could significantly alter mature miRNA production. Subsequently, using dual-luciferase report assay, we verified that miR-1666 could perform its function through targeting of the CBFB gene. In conclusion, the SNP in the precursor of miR-1666 could significantly reduce mature miR-1666 production. It may further affect the function of miR-1666 through the target gene CBFB, hence it is associated with chicken growth traits.

X chromosome-wide identification of SNVs in microRNA genes and non-obstructive azoospermia risk in Han Chinese population

“…Several studies have reported that the SNPs in pre-miRNAs could reduce the production of mature miRNAs [16, 17]. Consistent with these related studies, the expression levels of these three miRNAs were all down-regulated with mutant alleles.…”

A conserved SNP variation in the pre-miR396c flanking region in Oryza sativa indica landraces correlates with mature miRNA abundance

“…Mutations that destabilize the region below the terminal loop in Arabidopsis precursor miR172a resulting in an open structure abolishes miR172 expression while mutations that stabilize the structure of the loop do not affect miR172a biogenesis 36 . An SNP in pre- miR1666 decreases mature miRNA expression and is associated with chicken growth traits 37 . Structurally different alleles of Arabidopsis precursor miR824 likely show differential processing of mature miR824 in A. thaliana 30 .…”

Application of the targeted sequencing approach reveals the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) repertoire in microRNA genes in the pig genome

“…In livestock, SNPs in miRNAs and their target genes are also found to be associated with significant production traits, such as growth, fatness, and meat traits 26 – 29 , however, the number of such studies is very scarce. It may stem from i.a.…”