Crosstalk among lncRNAs, microRNAs and mRNAs in the muscle 'degradome' of rainbow trout

Sci Rep. 2018 May 30;8(1):8416. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26753-2.

Abstract

In fish, protein-coding and noncoding genes involved in muscle atrophy are not fully characterized. In this study, we characterized coding and noncoding genes involved in gonadogenesis-associated muscle atrophy, and investigated the potential functional interplay between these genes. Using RNA-Seq, we compared expression pattern of mRNAs, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs of atrophying skeletal muscle from gravid females and control skeletal muscle from age-matched sterile individuals. A total of 852 mRNAs, 1,160 lncRNAs and 28 microRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) between the two groups. Muscle atrophy appears to be mediated by many genes encoding ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy related proteases, lysosomal proteases and transcription factors. Transcripts encoding atrogin-1 and mir-29 showed exceptional high expression in atrophying muscle, suggesting an important role in bulk muscle proteolysis. DE genes were co-localized in the genome with strong expression correlation, and they exhibited extensive 'lncRNA-mRNA', 'lncRNA-microRNA', 'mRNA-microRNA' and 'lncRNA-protein' physical interactions. DE genes exhibiting potential functional interactions comprised the highly correlated 'lncRNA-mRNA-microRNA' gene network described as 'degradome'. This study pinpoints extensive coding and noncoding RNA interactions during muscle atrophy in fish, and provides valuable resources for future mechanistic studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Genomics
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscular Atrophy / genetics
  • Oncorhynchus mykiss / genetics*
  • Organ Specificity
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger