Identification and co-expression analysis of long noncoding RNAs and mRNAs involved in the deposition of intramuscular fat in Aohan fine-wool sheep

Abstract Background Intramuscular fat (IMF) content has become one of the most important indicators for measuring meat quality, and levels IMF are affected by various genes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) widely expressed that play an regulatory role in a variety biological processes; however, research on lncRNAs involved sheep deposition is still its infancy. Aohan fine-wool (AFWS), China’s meat-hair, dual-purpose breed, provides great model studying regulation deposition. We identified RNA sequencing Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) samples at two ages: 2 months (Mth-2) 12 (Mth-12). Results total 26,247 genes 6935 novel LTL sheep. Among these, 199 mRNAs 61 were differentially expressed. then compared structural characteristics mRNAs. obtained target (DELs) performed enrichment analyses using Gene Ontology (GO) Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes Genomes (KEGG). found enriched metabolic processes developmental pathways. One pathway was significantly enriched, namely tight junction. Based analysis critical genes, we seven candidate potentially regulated lipid constructed lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network included MSTRG.4051.3- FZD4 , MSTRG.16157.3- ULK1, MSTRG.21053.3- PAQR3 MSTRG.19941.2- TPI1, MSTRG.12864.1- FHL1 MSTRG.2469.2 -EXOC6 MSTRG.21381.1- NCOA1 . speculated these might regulating expression randomly selected five to verify accuracy data qRT-PCR. Conclusions Our study during intramuscular The work may widen knowledge about annotation genome provide working basis investigating