Long non-coding RNA FPFSC promotes immature porcine Sertoli cell growth through modulating the miR-326/EHMT2 axis

Sertoli cells are indispensable for guaranteeing normal spermatogenesis and male fertility.Although a huge number of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)are identified from developing porcine testicular tissues and have been predicted with crucial regulatory roles in spermatogenesis,their functions and regulatory mechanisms are still in infancy.Herein,we mainly explored the regulatory and functional roles of lncFPFSC in proliferation and apoptosis of immature porcine Sertoli cells.The results demonstrated that lncFPFSC was predominantly located in the cytoplasm of immature porcine Sertoli cells.lncFPFSC overexpression promoted cell cycle progression and cell proliferation,as well as inhibited cell apoptosis,whereas siRNA-induced lncFPFSC knockdown resulted in the opposite effects.Mechanistically,lncFPFSC acted as a sponge for miR-326.Overexpression of miR-326 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis,which further abolished the effects of lncFPFSC overexpression.The euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2(EHMT2)gene was directly targeted by miR-326,and its mRNA and protein expressions were both negatively regulated by miR-326 in immature porcine Sertoli cells.Then,siRNA-induced EHMT2 knockdown resulted a similar effect of miR-326 inhibition.Collectively,lncFPFSC promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in immature porcine Sertoli cells through modulating the miR-326/EHMT2 axis.This study expanded our understanding of non-coding RNAs in participating porcine spermatogenesis through deciding the fate of Sertoli cells,and the competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA)network,and provided new molecular markers to treat Sertoli cell disorder inducing male infertility.

miR-362靶向ZNF644基因调控猪未成熟支持细胞的增殖和凋亡

睾丸组织中未成熟支持细胞的增殖能力决定成熟支持细胞的数量,进而制约成年雄性动物的精子生成能力。研究表明microRNA(miRNA)参与调控猪未成熟支持细胞的增殖和凋亡,但大部分鉴定出的miRNA功能仍不明确。本文基于前期RNA-seq数据筛选结果,研究了miR-362对猪未成熟支持细胞增殖和凋亡的调控作用。首先利用生物信息学方法预测miR-362的靶基因,通过qRT-PCR技术检测miR-362和ZNF644基因在不同发育阶段的猪睾丸组织中的表达水平以及在猪未成熟支持细胞中过表达或抑制表达miR-362后ZNF644基因的表达水平,采用双荧光素酶报告基因系统验证miR-362与ZNF644基因之间的靶向关系。结果显示,miR-362与ZNF644基因3′UTR具有一个潜在的结合位点,miR-362和ZNF644基因在猪睾丸组织中的mRNA表达水平显著负相关(r=-0.723,P<0.01),miR-362和psi CHECK2-ZNF644-WT 3′UTR共转染组的双荧光活性显著降低,且miR-362显著调节ZNF644基因的表达水平,表明miR-362靶向ZNF644基因并抑制其表达水平。为进一步检测过表达miR-362或抑制表达ZNF644基因对猪未成熟支持细胞增殖和凋亡的影响,通过流式细胞术检测细胞周期,CCK8和EdU试剂盒检测细胞增殖情况,Annexin V-FITC/PI方法和qRT-PCR技术检测细胞凋亡情况及凋亡相关基因的表达水平。结果表明,过表达miR-362后,猪未成熟支持细胞周期被阻滞在G_1期,抑制表达ZNF644基因后,猪未成熟支持细胞被阻滞在G2期,细胞增殖能力显著减弱,细胞凋亡率显著提高,细胞凋亡相关基因呈促进凋亡的差异表达。本研究结果证实miR-362靶向ZNF644基因抑制猪未成熟支持细胞的增殖而促进其凋亡,为深入研究miR-362在猪精子生成过程中的生物学功能提供了理论基础。

基因组选择在猪杂交育种中的应用

基因组选择是指在全基因组范围内通过基因组中大量的标记信息估计出个体全基因组范围的育种值,可进一步提升育种效率和准确性,目前在猪纯繁育种中得到广泛应用。但有研究表明,现有的基因组选择方法在猪杂交育种上的应用效果并不理想,在跨群体条件下预测准确性极低。杂交作为养猪业中最为广泛的育种手段之一,通过结合基因组选择理论进一步提升猪的生产性能,具有重要的经济和研究价值。本文综述了基因组选择的发展及其在猪育种中的应用现状,并结合国内外猪杂交育种的方式,分析了目前基因组选择方法在猪杂交育种应用方面的不足,旨在为未来基因组选择在猪杂交育种中的合理应用提供参考。