Small RNA and mRNA expression profiling during Polypterus senegalus (bichir) pectoral fin regeneration. Polypterus senegalus

Previous studies of vertebrate appendage regeneration have shown that multiple genetic programs are moduled through regulatory factors. MicroRNAs are short highly conserved non-coding genes that suppress expression of target genes and thereby control multiple genetic programs. Given their important regulatory roles and evolutionary conservation, we hypothesize that microRNAs define a conserved genetic regulatory circuit important for appendage regeneration. We characterized microRNA expression during Polypterus senegalus (bichir) pectoral fin regeneration using small RNA sequencing. The same samples were assayed for mRNA expression using mRNA sequencing. Overall design: Small RNA and mRNA gene expression profiling during 0, 3, 7 and 14 days post amputation.

既往脊椎动物附肢再生领域的研究表明，多种遗传程序可通过调控因子实现调节。微小RNA（microRNAs）是一类高度保守的短链非编码基因，可通过抑制靶基因的表达进而调控多种遗传程序。鉴于其重要的调控功能与进化保守性，本研究提出假设：微小RNA构成了一套对附肢再生至关重要的保守遗传调控回路。本研究采用小RNA测序技术，对塞内加尔多鳍鱼（Polypterus senegalus，bichir）胸鳍再生过程中的微小RNA表达谱进行了表征；同时利用mRNA测序技术，对同一批样本的mRNA表达水平开展了检测。实验整体设计：在截肢后0、3、7和14天四个时间点，分别进行小RNA与mRNA的基因表达谱分析。