Expression Profiling of Circular RNAs in Early Pregnant Jianghuai Buffaloes
Qiuchen Liu,
Mengya Zhang,
Tenglong Guo,
Sucheng Wu,
Yanfeng Zong,
Changzhi Xu,
Zhihua Zhu,
Yunhai Zhang,
Zubing Cao
Affiliations
Qiuchen Liu
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Mengya Zhang
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Tenglong Guo
Department of Animal Engineering, Huaian Bioengineering Vocational College, Huaian 223001, China
Sucheng Wu
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Yanfeng Zong
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Changzhi Xu
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Zhihua Zhu
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Yunhai Zhang
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Zubing Cao
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry, Genetical Resource Conservation and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Circular RNA (circRNA) is expressed in cells and tissues of several species. However, the expression of circRNAs in the blood of Jianghuai buffaloes during early pregnancy has not been reported. In this study, we identified the DECs in the blood of Jianghuai buffaloes and annotated the functions of these DECs. The results showed that there were 890 DECs between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups, of which more than 80% were exon-derived circRNAs, including 323 up-regulated circRNAs and 567 down-regulated circRNAs. Enrichment analysis revealed that DECs were mainly enriched in the epidermal growth factor receptor-signaling pathway important for embryonic development and pregnancy maintenance. In addition, most DECs have multiple miRNA targets, suggesting that these DECs have the potential to function as miRNA sponges. In conclusion, several DECs are present between pregnant and non-pregnant Jianghuai buffaloes, and these DECs are associated with embryo implantation and pregnancy establishment.
