miR-144 regulates bovine skeletal muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation by targeting the NACC1 gene

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs encoded by eukaryotic genomes that exhibit tissue-specific and temporal expression patterns. They play multifaceted roles in regulating gene expression across various tissues and developmental stages through several regulatory pathways. miR-144 has been implicated in cellular development in multiple species. However, its specific role in bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells (BSMSCs) remains unclear. The study aimed to elucidate the function of miR-144 in BSMSC development. The findings indicate that miR-144 inhibits BSMSC proliferation while promoting its differentiation. miR-144 overexpression led to the identification of 476 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), which were primarily involved in adrenergic, MAPK, and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. Dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed that NACC1 is a target of bta-miR-144. Further analysis revealed that NACC1 promotes BSMSC proliferation and suppresses its differentiation. Collectively, these results suggest that miR-144 modulates BSMSC development by negatively regulating the NACC1 gene.