Characterization of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) Rbm24 and Rbm38 genes and their expression profiles in myoblast and skeletal muscle tissues

RNA-binding motif proteins 24 (Rbm24) and 38 (Rbm38) are known to regulate genes expression in a post-transcriptional way. However, it remains unclear about the similarities and differences between Rbm24 and Rbm38 in terms of their sequence characteristics and expression profiles during myoblast differentiation and skeletal muscle development. In this study, we found that the coding domain sequences (CDSs) of duck Rbm24 and Rbm38 consisted of 678 and 648 nucleotides, respectively. Both of them contain a conserved RNA-recognition motif (RRM). Phylogenetic analysis showed that duck Rbm24 and Rbm38 were clustered with other Aves, nevertheless, avian Rbm24 was clustered with mammalian and reptilian Rbm24; avian Rbm38 was clustered with amphibian and reptilian Rbm38. Real-time PCR results exhibited that during embryonic stage, Rbm24 and Rbm38 in leg and breast muscle increased to their peak (P < 0.01) at same time. During postnatal stage, the peak of Rbm24 and Rbm38 in leg were found at W5, while the peak of them in breast was found at W6 (P < 0.01). Moreover, a relative high value of Rbm24 and Rbm38 in leg was found at W1 and W3, respectively. Additionally, both Rbm24 and Rbm38 expressed at each stage of duck myoblast differentiation, however, Rbm24 shared similar expression profiles with MEF2C, and Rbm38 shared similar expression profiles with MyoG and MEF2A. Furthermore, hierarchical clustering results were consistent with the preceding findings. These results serve as a foundation for further investigations about similar and different effects of Rbm24 and Rbm38 on myoblast differentiation and skeletal muscle development.