miRNA主要通过与靶基因mRNA的3'-UTR区结合来实现转录后调控。鸡肝脏是脂类代谢的重要场所，脂类代谢过程涉及了许多基因，也受到miRNA的调控。miR-122是肝脏表达量最高的miRNA，本研究用RACE的方法，获得鸡pri-miR-122的全长序列，并结合生物信息学和报告基因的方法手段、ChIP和EMSA技术，弄清鸡miR-122基因的启动子结构和表达调控机制；同时利用转染Anti-miRNA的方法，使鸡肝脏细胞中miR-122的量下降，然后通过RNA-Seq技术检测细胞中基因表达的改变情况，结合表达上调的基因和生物信息学方法预测的miR-122靶基因来确定鸡miR-122的候选靶基因，再利用体外双荧光素酶报告系统和Western Blotting等验证其中的部分靶基因，结合靶基因的功能来分析miR-122在鸡脂肪代谢中的作用，从另一角度探讨鸡脂类代谢和脂肪沉积的调控机理。

microRNAs(miRNAs) are a class of ～22 nt small noncoding RNAs, post-transcriptionally regulating genes by binding to specific sites in the 3′-UTR of mRNAs. Liver is an important organelle for lipid metabolism in chicken. Many genes including miRNAs are involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism.miR-122 is the most abundant microRNA in the liver. In this study, the RACE method will be used to obtain full length sequence of pri-miR-122, and the bioinformatics,reporter gene assay，chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) will be combined to make clear of the structure of miR-122 promoter and the regulatory mechanism of miR-122 gene. Using anti-miR-122 to knockdown the level of miR-122 in chicken hepatocytes, and using RNA-Seq method, the changed expression of genes in hepatocytes will be detected. Combining upregulated genes and predicted target genes of miR-122 in silico, the potential target genes will be screened. Several potential target genes will be chosen to be validated using dual luciferase reporter system and Western Blotting, and the function of miR-122 in lipid metabolism of chicken will be analyzed, considering the functions of target genes. The regulatory mechanism of lipid metabolism and fat deposition of chicken will be explored from another angle in this study.