Genome-wide analysis reveals the differential regulations of mRNAs and miRNAs in Dorset and Small Tail Han sheep muscles

• Muscle differences between 2 groups of sheep were examined at the genomic level by RNA-Seq.
• mRNA and miRNA profiles are presented for 2 groups of sheep.
• The differentially expressed mRNA and miRNAs uniquely define each group of sheep.
• Quantitative real-time PCR verified the reliability of the RNA-Seq data.
• These data may lead to the identification of novel regulators of sheep muscle.

Sheep are highly diverse species raised for meat and other agricultural products. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic regulators that could control muscle growth and development in different sheep breeds. The study showed that the differentially expressed genes are involved in various cellular activities, such as metabolic cascades, catalytic function and signaling pathway. Many signaling molecules are also found to be differentially expressed, suggesting important roles of signaling pathways contributing to genetic diversity and sheep development. Analysis of miRNAs suggested important roles of miRNAs in controlling muscle differences. This study provided a genome-wide resolution of mRNA and miRNA regulations in muscles from Dorset and Han sheep.