鸡生长激素受体基因环状RNA调控肌肉发育的作用机制研究

动物成肌细胞增殖分化是影响肌肉发育和产肉量的重要因素。从多角度阐明成肌细胞增殖分化机制有助于解决我国地方品种鸡生长慢、产肉率低等问题。生长激素受体基因（GHR）是调控成肌细胞增殖分化的关键基因之一。前期研究发现：鸡GHR基因具有环状转录本（circGHR），在肌肉发育的重要时期高表达。环状RNA是具有重要调控功能的分子，参与多种生物学过程。然而，circGHR在鸡肌肉发育中的功能和调控机制尚不清楚。本项目拟以我国地方品种怀乡鸡为研究对象，重点分析circGHR在肌肉发育中的表达规律和特征；通过CHIRP等技术分析 circGHR调控的目标基因、作用位点以及参与该过程的蛋白质，阐明circGHR调控成肌细胞增殖分化的机制；利用肌管萎缩模型和活体动物模型验证circGHR在肌肉发育中的功能。研究成果将阐明肌肉发育的新机制，拓展对GHR基因及其涉及的调控网络认识，为家禽肌肉发育调控提供理论依据。

Proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts is one of the most important factors for muscle development and meat production. Uncovering the mechanism of myoblasts proliferation and differentiation will be of benefit to the growth speed and meat production rate of Chinese local chicken. Growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene is the key molecular in muscle develpoment. In our previous study, we found that chicken GHR gene can transcribe the circular RNA and we named it as circGHR. Chicken circGHR was highly expressed during the muscle fibers formation, while its function in regulating muscle development was still unknown. CircRNAs play important roles in the regulation of various biological processes. Hence, in this project we firstly analyze the correlations between the circGHR abundance and meat production of China local chicken breed (Huaixiang chicken) to clarify its effects on muscle development. Furthermore, we explore its target genes, the exact positions and the proteins involved in the regulatory progress mainly by the CHIRP technology. Finally, the functions of circGHR in muscle atrophy and in vivo will be verified by using the animal model. This study will illuminate the regulation mechanisms of circGHR on chicken muscle development and expand our knowledge about the GHR gene and the relative network. Also, this work will provide theoretical foundation for improving and breeding excellent broiler breed.