Expression of microRNAs is not related to increased expression of ZDHHC9 in hind leg muscles of splay leg piglets

ZDHHC9 (zinc finger, DHHC-type containing 9) is a protein acyl transferase involved in palmitoylation of basic signaling molecules. We found ZDHHC9 expression increased in hind leg muscles of newborn splay leg piglets. In order to elucidate the background of this increased expression we determined the structure of the porcine gene, including sequence variation, and analyzed the structure and expression of microRNAs potentially targeting the gene. We confirmed the expression results by RT Real-time PCR. The porcine ZDHHC9 gene has a similar structure to the human gene with two transcripts resulting in an identical protein. None of the 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in the porcine gene affects the protein or putative microRNA binding sites, respectively. Two microRNAs (93 [minor] and 106b) were assayed in the muscles. Their expression variation proved to be independent from ZDHHC9 expression thus eliminating them as causally related to congenital splay leg.