Abstract
BACKGROUND: The intramuscular fat content and the level of unsaturated fatty acids influence meat quality and nutritional value. microRNAs can participate in lipid metabolic processes. Understanding how novel miRNAs regulate lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism is key to enhancing buffalo meat quality and nutritional value. RESULTS: In this study, miRNA sequencing was conducted on 36 adipose tissues from six anatomical sites in river buffaloes (Murrah). A total of 1,682 miRNAs were identified in 36 adipose tissues, of which 987 were novel and 695 were known miRNAs. Weighted gene co-expression networks analysis (WGCNA) revealed that bta-novel-miR-25336 was highly expressed in sternum subcutaneous adipose tissue (SSAT) and had a high correlation with unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). Functional studies showed that bta-novel-miR-25336 was positively correlated with the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of both buffalo preadipocytes and intramuscular adipocytes. Additionally, we used bioinformatics analysis and a 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) luciferase reporter assay to validate acyl-CoA dehydrogenase short chain (ACADS) as a target gene of bta-novel-miR-25336. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, bta-novel-miR-25336 may regulate biological processes associated with cell proliferation, lipid differentiation and unsaturated fatty acid synthesis through ACADS. This study provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating the regulation of lipid metabolism by novel miRNAs in farm animals.