Genome-wide identification and comparison of differentially expressed profiles of miRNAs and lncRNAs with associated ceRNA networks in the gonads of Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis
Abstract Abstract Background: Gonad is the major factor affecting the animal reproduction. The regulation mechanism of protein coding genes expression involved reproduction is still remains to be elucidated. Increasing evidence has shown that ncRNAs play key regulatory roles in gene expression in many life processes. The roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in reproduction had been investigated in some species. However, the regulation patterns of miRNA and lncRNA in sex biased expression of protein coding genes remains to be elucidated. In this study, we performed an integrated analysis of miRNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), and lncRNA expression profiles to explore their regulatory patterns in the female ovary and male testis of the soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. Results: We identified 10 796 mature miRNAs, 44 678 mRNAs, and 58 923 lncRNAs in the testis and ovary. A total of 16 817 target genes were identified for miRNAs. Of these, 11 319 mRNAs, 10 495 lncRNAs, and 633 miRNAs were expressed differently. The predicted target genes of these differential expression (DE) miRNAs and lncRNAs included genes related to reproduction regulation. Furthermore, we found that 5 408 DElncRNAs and 186 DE miRNAs showed sex-specific expression. Of these, 3 miRNAs and 917 lncRNAs were testis specific and 186 DEmiRNAs and 4 491 DElncRNAs were ovary specific. We constructed compete endogenous lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks using bioinformatics, including 273 DEmRNAs, 5 730 DEmiRNAs, and 2 945 DElncRNAs. The target genes for the different expressed of miRNAs and lncRNAs included Wt1, Creb3l2, Gata4, Wnt2, Nr5a1, Hsd17, Igf2r, H2afz, Lin52, Trim71, Zar1, and Jazf1, etc. Conclusions: In animals, miRNA and lncRNA regulate the reproduction process, including the regulation of oocyte maturation and spermatogenesis. Considering their importance, the identified miRNAs, lncRNAs, and their targets in P. sinensis might be useful for genome editing to produce higher quality aquaculture animals. A thorough understanding of ncRNA-based cellular regulatory networks will aid in the improvement of P. sinensis reproduction traits for aquaculture.