Transcriptome analysis identified long non-coding RNAs involved in the adaption of yak to high-altitude environments

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying yak adaptation to high-altitude environments have been investigated using various methods, but no report has focused on long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). In the present study, lncRNAs were screened from the gluteus transcriptomes of yak and their transcriptional levels were compared with those in Sanjiang cattle, Holstein cattle and Tibetan cattle. The potential target genes of the differentially expressed lncRNAs between species/strains were predicted using cis and trans models. Based on cis -regulated target genes, no KEGG pathway was significantly enriched. Based on trans -regulated target genes, 11 KEGG pathways in relation to energy metabolism and three KEGG pathways associated with muscle contraction were significantly enriched. Compared with cattle strains, transcriptional levels of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, acyl-CoA-binding protein, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase were relatively higher and those of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, pyruvate kinase and lactate/malate dehydrogenase were relatively lower in yak, suggesting that yaks activated fatty acid oxidation but inhibited glucose oxidation and glycolysis. Besides, NADH dehydrogenase and ATP synthase showed lower transcriptional levels in yak than in cattle, which might protect muscle tissues from deterioration caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Compared with cattle strains, the higher transcriptional level of glyoxalase in yak might contribute to dicarbonyl stress resistance. Voltage-dependent calcium channel/calcium release channel showed a lower level in yak than in cattle strains, which could reduce the Ca 2+ influx and subsequently decrease the risk of hypertension. However, levels of EF-hand and myosin were higher in yak than in cattle strains, which might enhance the negative effects of reduced Ca 2+ on muscle contraction. Overall, the present study identified lncRNAs and proposed their potential regulatory functions in yak.

Comprehensive Analysis of Long Non-coding RNA and mRNA Transcriptomes Related to Hypoxia Adaptation in Tibetan Sheep

“…Studies have shown that high-altitude hypoxic environments have an important impact on energy metabolism in animals ( 15 , 20 , 21 ). Similarly, we found many differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways related to glucose and lipid metabolism.…”

Single‐cell transcriptomic survey of cell diversity and functional changes in yak hearts at different altitude

“…This not only increases the complexity of the cardiometabolic network, but it may also promote aerobic respiration in cardiomyocytes and their differentiation [36–38]. At high altitude and in a hypoxic environment, the yak needs a higher metabolism to maintain body temperature, which may explain why the metabolic rate of yak is higher than in cattle living in low altitude areas [17, 39].…”

Exposomes to Exosomes: Exosomes as Tools to Study Epigenetic Adaptive Mechanisms in High-Altitude Humans

“…The transcription of tropomyosin might be regulated by lncRNAs MSTRG.1770.1 and MSTRG.24686 and transcription of titin by lncRNA MSTRG.11409.1. Tropomyosin and titin levels were downregulated in yak compared with the three cattle strains, which might facilitate the muscle contraction, since tropomyosin and titin plays an opposite role during the process of muscle contraction [91]. Whole-transcriptome analysis of yak and cattle heart tissues predicted several miRNAs/lncRNAs that are significantly enriched in high-altitude adaptation targeting T cell receptor signaling, VEGF signaling, and cAMP signaling [92] In Tibetan chickens, several key candidate Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) (DE lncRNAs-DE miRNAs-DE genes), which may play high-priority roles in the hypoxic adaptation of Tibetan chickens by regulating angiogenesis and energy metabolism, were identified [93].…”