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The Function and Regulation Mechanism of ncRNAs in Adipogenesis

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 4788

Special Issue Editors

College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
Interests: adipogenesis; transcriptional regulation; epigenetics; functional genomics
College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural, Beijing, China
Interests: adipose tissue biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Adipogenesis is a very complicated process, which can be divided into two main phases: commitment (from MSCs to preadipocytes) and terminal differentiation (from preadipocytes to adipocytes). It has been reported that many transcriptional factors, such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, ZFP423, etc., are involved in the regulation of adipogenesis.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) constitute the majority of mammalian transcriptomes. ncRNAs could be divided into classical ncRNA (tRNA and rRNA), microRNA (miRNAs), lncRNA, circRNA, etc. Previously, ncRNAs were considered “junk”. Recently, more and more studies have shown that ncRNAs play an important role in adipogenesis. In particular, lncRNA and circRNA play roles as RNA decoys, microRNA sponges, and RNP components, as well as in the recruitment of chromatin modifiers, translation inhibition, splicing modulation, degradation, etc.

We welcome contributions from authors who focus on ncRNA in adipogenesis. We believe these findings will be helpful in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, and improving meat quality. Some of the highlighted topics are as follows:

  1. Identification of new ncRNAs in adipogenesis;
  2. Exploration of the role of ncRNAs in adipogenesis;
  3. Interaction mechanism of ncRNAs with other regulators in adipogenesis.

Dr. Anning Li
Dr. Bo Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • adipogenesis
  • microRNA
  • lncRNA
  • circRNA

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 17708 KiB  
Article
Long Non-Coding RNA BNIP3 Inhibited the Proliferation of Bovine Intramuscular Preadipocytes via Cell Cycle
by Wenzhen Zhang, Jianfang Wang, Bingzhi Li, Bing Sun, Shengchen Yu, Xiaoyu Wang and Linsen Zan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 4234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24044234 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1632
Abstract
The intramuscular fat (or marbling fat) content is an essential economic trait of beef cattle and improves the flavor and palatability of meat. Several studies have highlighted the correlation between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and intramuscular fat development; however, the precise molecular mechanism [...] Read more.
The intramuscular fat (or marbling fat) content is an essential economic trait of beef cattle and improves the flavor and palatability of meat. Several studies have highlighted the correlation between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and intramuscular fat development; however, the precise molecular mechanism remains unknown. Previously, through a high-throughput sequencing analysis, we found a lncRNA and named it a long non-coding RNA BNIP3 (lncBNIP3). The 5′ RACE and 3′ RACE explored 1945 bp total length of lncBNIP3, including 1621 bp of 5′RACE, and 464 bp of 3′RACE. The nucleoplasmic separation and FISH results explored the nuclear localization of lncBNIP3. Moreover, the tissue expression of lncBNIP3 was higher in the longissimus dorsi muscle, followed by intramuscular fat. Furthermore, down-regulation of lncBNIP3 increased the 5-Ethynyl-2′- deoxyuridine (EdU)-EdU-positive cells. The flow cytometry results showed that the number of cells in the S phase was significantly higher in preadipocytes transfected with si-lncBNIP3 than in the control group (si-NC). Similarly, CCK8 results showed that the number of cells after transfection of si-lncBNIP3 was significantly higher than in the control group. In addition, the mRNA expressions of proliferative marker genes CyclinB1 (CCNB1) and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in the si-lncBNIP3 group were significantly higher than in the control group. The Western Blot (WB) results also showed that the protein expression level of PCNA transfection of si-lncBNIP3 was significantly higher than in the control group. Similarly, the enrichment of lncBNIP3 significantly decreased the EdU-positive cells in the bovine preadipocytes. The results of flow cytometry and CCK8 assay also showed that overexpression of lncBNIP3 inhibited the proliferation of bovine preadipocytes. In addition, the overexpression of lncBNIP3 significantly inhibited the mRNA expressions of CCNB1 and PCNA. The WB results showed that the overexpression of lncBNIP3 significantly inhibited the expression of the CCNB1 protein level. To further explore the mechanism of lncBNIP3 on the proliferation of intramuscular preadipocytes, RNA-seq was performed after interference with si-lncBNIP3, and 660 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, including 417 up-regulated DEGs and 243 down-regulated DEGs. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the cell cycle was the most significant pathway for the functional enrichment of DEGs, followed by the DNA replication pathway. The RT-qPCR quantified the expression of twenty DEGs in the cell cycle. Therefore, we speculated that lncBNIP3 regulated intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation through the cell cycle and DNA replication pathways. To further confirm this hypothesis, the cell cycle inhibitor Ara-C was used to inhibit DNA replication of the S phase in intramuscular preadipocytes. Herein, Ara-C and si-lncBNIP3 were simultaneously added to the preadipocytes, and the CCK8, flow cytometry, and EdU assays were performed. The results showed that the si-lncBNIP3 could rescue the inhibitory effect of Ara-C in the bovine preadipocyte proliferation. In addition, lncBNIP3 could bind to the promoter of cell division control protein 6 (CDC6), and down-regulation of lncBNIP3 promoted the transcription activity and the expression of CDC6. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of lncBNIP3 on cell proliferation might be understood through the cell cycle pathway and CDC6 expression. This study provided a valuable lncRNA with functional roles in intramuscular fat accumulation and revealed new strategies for improving beef quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Function and Regulation Mechanism of ncRNAs in Adipogenesis)
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17 pages, 4573 KiB  
Article
Chi-Circ_0006511 Positively Regulates the Differentiation of Goat Intramuscular Adipocytes via Novel-miR-87/CD36 Axis
by Xin Li, Hao Zhang, Yong Wang, Yanyan Li, Youli Wang, Jiangjiang Zhu and Yaqiu Lin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(20), 12295; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012295 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1360
Abstract
Goats are an important livestock and goat meat is essential to local people. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content has a great influence on the quality of goat meat. The intramuscular preadipocytes differentiation is closely related to the IMF deposition; however, its potential regulatory [...] Read more.
Goats are an important livestock and goat meat is essential to local people. The intramuscular fat (IMF) content has a great influence on the quality of goat meat. The intramuscular preadipocytes differentiation is closely related to the IMF deposition; however, its potential regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. CircRNAs were revealed to be involved in multiple biological progressions. In this study, we took primary goat intramuscular preadipocyte (GIMPA) as the study model to verify the function and mechanism of chi-circ_0006511, which was abundant and up-regulated in mature adipocytes (GIMA). The results showed that the expression level of chi-circ_0006511 gradually increased in the early stage of GIMPA differentiation, and chi-circ_0006511 was confirmed to promote GIMPA lipid droplets aggregation and up-regulate the adipogenic differentiation determinants, further promoting GIMPA differentiation. Mechanistically, chi-circ_0006511 exerts its function by sponging novel-miR-87, thereby regulating the expression of CD36. The results from this study provided novel significant information to better understand the molecular regulatory mechanism of intramuscular preadipocytes differentiation, thereby providing a new reference for the intramuscular fat adipogenesis in goats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Function and Regulation Mechanism of ncRNAs in Adipogenesis)
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Review

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15 pages, 1445 KiB  
Review
Non-Coding RNAs and Adipogenesis
by Wenxiu Ru, Sihuan Zhang, Jianyong Liu, Wujun Liu, Bizhi Huang and Hong Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(12), 9978; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129978 - 10 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1401
Abstract
Adipogenesis is regarded as an intricate network in which multiple transcription factors and signal pathways are involved. Recently, big efforts have focused on understanding the epigenetic mechanisms and their involvement in the regulation of adipocyte development. Multiple studies investigating the regulatory role of [...] Read more.
Adipogenesis is regarded as an intricate network in which multiple transcription factors and signal pathways are involved. Recently, big efforts have focused on understanding the epigenetic mechanisms and their involvement in the regulation of adipocyte development. Multiple studies investigating the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in adipogenesis have been reported so far, especially lncRNA, miRNA, and circRNA. They regulate gene expression at multiple levels through interactions with proteins, DNA, and RNA. Exploring the mechanism of adipogenesis and developments in the field of non-coding RNA may provide a new insight to identify therapeutic targets for obesity and related diseases. Therefore, this article outlines the process of adipogenesis, and discusses updated roles and mechanisms of ncRNAs in the development of adipocytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Function and Regulation Mechanism of ncRNAs in Adipogenesis)
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