MicroRNA-27b Regulates Mitochondria Biogenesis in Myocytes

Linyuan Shen; Lei Chen; Shunhua Zhang; Jingjing Du; Lin Bai; Yi Zhang; Yanzhi Jiang; Xuewei Li; Jinyong Wang; Li Zhu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148532

MicroRNA-27b Regulates Mitochondria Biogenesis in Myocytes

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 5;11(2):e0148532. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148532. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Linyuan Shen¹, Lei Chen², Shunhua Zhang¹, Jingjing Du¹, Lin Bai¹, Yi Zhang³, Yanzhi Jiang⁴, Xuewei Li¹, Jinyong Wang², Li Zhu¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
² Chongqing Academy of Animal Science, Rongchang, 402460, Chongqing, China.
³ Department of Animal Science, Xichang College, Xichang, 615000, Sichuan, China.
⁴ Department of Biology, College of Life and Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that affect the post-transcriptional regulation of various biological pathways. To date, it is not fully understood how miRNAs regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. This study aimed at the identification of the role of miRNA-27b in mitochondria biogenesis. The mitochondria content in C2C12 cells was significantly increased during myogenic differentiation and accompanied by a marked decrease of miRNA-27b expression. Furthermore, the expression of the predicted target gene of miRNA-27b, forkhead box j3 (Foxj3), was also increased during myogenic differentiation. Luciferase activity assays confirmed that miRNA-27b directly targets the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of Foxj3. Overexpression of miRNA-27b provoked a decrease of mitochondria content and diminished expression of related mitochondrial genes and Foxj3 both at mRNA and protein levels. The expression levels of downstream genes of Foxj3, such as Mef2c, PGC1α, NRF1 and mtTFA, were also decreased in C2C12 cells upon overexpression of miRNA-27b. These results suggested that miRNA-27b may affect mitochondria biogenesis by down-regulation of Foxj3 during myocyte differentiation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Differentiation / genetics
Cells, Cultured
DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
Forkhead Transcription Factors
Gene Expression Regulation
MEF2 Transcription Factors / genetics
Mice
MicroRNAs / genetics
MicroRNAs / metabolism*
Mitochondria* / genetics
Mitochondria* / metabolism
Muscle Cells / cytology
Muscle Cells / physiology*
Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 / genetics
Organelle Biogenesis*
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
Transcription Factors / genetics
Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

DNA-Binding Proteins
Forkhead Transcription Factors
FoxJ3 protein, mouse
MEF2 Transcription Factors
Mef2c protein, mouse
MicroRNAs
Mirn27 microRNA, mouse
Nrf1 protein, mouse
Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
Ppargc1a protein, mouse
Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

The study was supported by the Sichuan Sci & Tech Support Program (No. 2013NZ0041 and 2013NZ0056), the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System (No. CARS-36-05B), and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (No. IRT13083). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.