Dataset Information

Analysis of conserved miRNAs in cynomolgus macaque genome using small RNA sequencing and homology searching.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators that fine-tune diverse cellular activities. Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are used extensively in biomedical and pharmaceutical research; however, substantially fewer miRNAs have been identified in this species than in humans. Consequently, we investigated conserved miRNA profiles in cynomolgus macaques by homology searching and small RNA sequencing. In total, 1,455 high-confidence miRNA gene loci were identified, 408 of which were also confirmed by RNA sequencing, including 73 new miRNA loci reported in cynomolgus macaques for the first time. Comparing miRNA expression with age, we found a positive correlation between sequence conservation and expression levels during miRNA evolution. Additionally, we found that the miRNA gene locations in cynomolgus macaque genome were very flexible. Most were embedded in intergenic spaces or introns and clustered together. Several miRNAs were found in certain gene locations, including 64 exon-resident miRNAs, six splice-site-overlapping miRNAs (SO-miRNAs), and two pairs of distinct mirror miRNAs. We also identified 78 miRNA clusters, 68 of which were conserved in the human genome, including 10 large miRNA clusters predicted to regulate diverse developmental and cellular processes in cynomolgus macaque. Thus, this study not only expands the number of identified miRNAs in cynomolgus macaques but also provides clues for future research on the differences in miRNA repertoire between macaques and humans.

SUBMITTER: Huang X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7357559 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Analysis of conserved miRNAs in cynomolgus macaque genome using small RNA sequencing and homology searching.

Huang Xia X Li Shijia S Liu Xiaoming X Huang Shuting S Li Shuang S Zhuo Min M

PeerJ 20200710

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators that fine-tune diverse cellular activities. Cynomolgus macaques (<i>Macaca fascicularis</i>) are used extensively in biomedical and pharmaceutical research; however, substantially fewer miRNAs have been identified in this species than in humans. Consequently, we investigated conserved miRNA profiles in cynomolgus macaques by homology searching and small RNA sequencing. In total, 1,455 high-confidence miRNA gene loci were identified, 408 of which were a ...[more]

PMID: 32728489

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Project description:The cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is an extensively utilised nonhuman primate model for biomedical research due to its biological, behavioural, and genetic similarities to humans. Genomic information of cynomolgus macaque is vital for research in various fields; however, there is presently a shortage of genomic information on the Malaysian cynomolgus macaque. This study aimed to sequence, assemble, annotate, and profile the Peninsular Malaysian cynomolgus macaque transcriptome derived from three tissues (lymph node, spleen, and thymus) using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology. A total of 174,208,078 paired end 70 base pair sequencing reads were obtained from the Illumina Hi-Seq 2500 sequencer. The overall mapping percentage of the sequencing reads to the M. fascicularis reference genome ranged from 53-63%. Categorisation of expressed genes to Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway categories revealed that GO terms with the highest number of associated expressed genes include Cellular process, Catalytic activity, and Cell part, while for pathway categorisation, the majority of expressed genes in lymph node, spleen, and thymus fall under the Global overview and maps pathway category, while 266, 221, and 138 genes from lymph node, spleen, and thymus were respectively enriched in the Immune system category. Enriched Immune system pathways include Platelet activation pathway, Antigen processing and presentation, B cell receptor signalling pathway, and Intestinal immune network for IgA production. Differential gene expression analysis among the three tissues revealed 574 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between lymph and spleen, 5402 DEGs between lymph and thymus, and 7008 DEGs between spleen and thymus. Venn diagram analysis of expressed genes revealed a total of 2,630, 253, and 279 tissue-specific genes respectively for lymph node, spleen, and thymus tissues. This is the first time the lymph node, spleen, and thymus transcriptome of the Peninsular Malaysian cynomolgus macaque have been sequenced via RNA-Seq. Novel transcriptomic data will further enrich the present M. fascicularis genomic database and provide future research potentials, including novel transcript discovery, comparative studies, and molecular markers development.

Dataset Information

Analysis of conserved miRNAs in cynomolgus macaque genome using small RNA sequencing and homology searching.

Publications

Analysis of conserved miRNAs in cynomolgus macaque genome using small RNA sequencing and homology searching.

Similar Datasets

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