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A comprehensive expression profile of microRNAs in porcine developing thyroid
MicroRNAs are mandatory to fine-tune the expression of thyroid specific genes and to maintain thyroid tissue homeostasis, but little is known about their role in thyroid development. In this study, 803 unique miRNAs (including 356 conserved miRNAs and 281 predicted new porcine miRNAs) were identified by deep sequencing. These candidate miRNAs were included in the custom-designed microarray and used to analyze the miRNA expression profile in the porcine thyroid gland of embryonic day 60 (E60), E80 and E105. Microarray analysis revealed 116 transcripts that were differentially expressed in the three stages. Bioinformatic analysis identified 30 key miRNAs that might play key roles in thyroid development. With the verification and evaluation of the data, we have established a comprehensive miRNA expression profile of the porcine thyroid for the first time, which provides fundamental information on miRNA regulation and functions in the porcine thyroid.
Keywords:
Yorkshire pig
microRNA
thyroid
