The transcriptome-wide study revealed m6A regulation in myoblast proliferation of embryonic pectoral muscle in Dingan goose (Anser cygnoides orientalis)

Accumulating evidences have demonstrated that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and miRNAs play important roles in cell proliferation. However, studies on their roles in myoblast proliferation of embryonic pectoral muscle development in geese are lacking. Therefore, we selected pectoral muscle at the embryonic day 15 (E15) and E30 of the Dingan goose, and performed MeRIP-seq to profile m6A modifications at a transcriptome-wide scale in myoblast proliferation of pectoral muscle. We identified 5,429 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 6,465 differentially methylated genes (DMGs). After overlapping DEGs with DMGs, we obtained 3,962 differentially expressed methylated genes (DEMGs). Subsequently, we performed miRNA-seq and obtained 175 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). By overlapping the target genes of DEMs with DEMGs, we obtain 2,837 shared genes (m6A-mRNA-miRNA genes). GO and KEGG analysis showed that DEMGs were enriched in MAPK pathway, which was related to myoblast proliferation. Besides, we selected IGF2BP1 for IGV visualization and found significant differences in m6A abundance of IGF2BP1 between E15 and E30. Taken together, we inferred that miRNA combined with m6A modification played key roles in myoblast proliferation of embryonic pectoral muscle development. The findings provided a theoretical basis for exploring the mechanism of m6A in myoblast proliferation and muscle development in Dingan goose.