An interplay between gene expression, mineral concentration, and beef quality traits in Bos indicus muscle has been reported previously under a network approach. However, growing evidence suggested that miRNAs not only modulate gene expression but are also involved with mineral homeostasis. To our knowledge, understanding of the miRNA-gene expression-mineral concentration relationship in mammals is still minimal. Therefore, we carried out a miRNA co-expression and multi-level miRNA-mRNA integration analyses to predict the putative drivers (miRNAs and genes) associated with muscle mineral concentration in Nelore steers. In this study, we identified calcium and iron to be the pivotal minerals associated with miRNAs and gene targets. Furthermore, we identified the miR-29 family (miR-29a, -29b, -29c, -29d-3p, and -29e) as the putative key regulators modulating mineral homeostasis. The miR-29 family targets genes involved with AMPK, insulin, mTOR, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Finally, we reported an interplay between miRNAs and minerals acting cooperatively to modulate co-expressed genes and signaling pathways both involved with mineral and energy homeostasis in Nelore muscle. Although we provided some evidence to understand this complex relationship, future work should determine the functional implications of minerals for miRNA levels and their feedback regulation system.\\An interplay between gene expression, mineral concentration, and beef quality traits in Bos indicus muscle has been reported previously under a network approach. However, growing evidence suggested that miRNAs not only modulate gene expression but are also involved with mineral homeostasis. To our knowledge, understanding of the miRNA-gene expression-mineral concentration relationship in mammals is still minimal. Therefore, we carried out a miRNA co-expression and multi-level miRNA-mRNA integration analyses to predict the putative drivers (miRNAs and genes) associated with muscle mineral concentration in Nelore steers. In this study, we identified calcium and iron to be the pivotal minerals associated with miRNAs and gene targets. Furthermore, we identified the miR-29 family (miR-29a, -29b, -29c, -29d-3p, and -29e) as the putative key regulators modulating mineral homeostasis. The miR-29 family targets genes involved with AMPK, insulin, mTOR, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways. Finally, we reported an interplay between miRNAs and minerals acting cooperatively to modulate co-expressed genes and signaling pathways both involved with mineral and energy homeostasis in Nelore muscle. Although we provided some evidence to understand this complex relationship, future work should determine the functional implications of minerals for miRNA levels and their feedback regulation system.

中文翻译：

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Bos indicus肌肉中miR-29家族，矿物质代谢和基因调控之间的相互作用。

以前已通过网络方法报道了印度s肌肉中基因表达，矿物质浓度和牛肉品质性状之间的相互作用。但是，越来越多的证据表明，miRNA不仅可以调节基因表达，而且还与矿物质稳态有关。据我们所知，对哺乳动物中miRNA基因表达与矿物质浓度之间关系的了解仍然很少。因此，我们进行了miRNA共表达和多级miRNA-mRNA整合分析，以预测与Nelore牛中肌肉矿物质浓度相关的推定驱动因素（miRNA和基因）。在这项研究中，我们确定了钙和铁是与miRNA和基因靶标相关的关键矿物质。此外，我们确定了miR-29家族（miR-29a，-29b​​，-29c，-29d-3p，和-29e）作为调节矿物质稳态的假定关键调节剂。miR-29家族靶向与AMPK，胰岛素，mTOR和甲状腺激素信号通路有关的基因。最后，我们报道了miRNA与矿物质之间的相互作用，这些矿物质协同作用以调节共表达的基因和信号通路，这些基因和信号通路均涉及Nelore肌肉中的矿物质和能量稳态。尽管我们提供了一些证据来理解这种复杂的关系，但未来的工作应该确定矿物质对miRNA水平及其反馈调控系统的功能意义。\\在印度s牛的基因表达，矿物质浓度和牛肉品质性状之间存在相互作用以前是通过网络方法进行报告的。然而，越来越多的证据表明，miRNA不仅可以调节基因表达，而且还与矿物质稳态有关。据我们所知，对哺乳动物中miRNA基因表达与矿物质浓度之间关系的了解仍然很少。因此，我们进行了miRNA共表达和多级miRNA-mRNA整合分析，以预测与Nelore牛中肌肉矿物质浓度相关的推定驱动因素（miRNA和基因）。在这项研究中，我们确定了钙和铁是与miRNA和基因靶标相关的关键矿物质。此外，我们确定了miR-29家族（miR-29a，-29b​​，-29c，-29d-3p和-29e）是调节矿物质稳态的假定关键调节剂。miR-29家族靶向与AMPK，胰岛素，mTOR和甲状腺激素信号通路有关的基因。最后，我们报道了miRNA与矿物质之间的相互作用，这些矿物质协同作用以调节共表达的基因和信号通路，这些基因和信号通路均涉及Nelore肌肉的矿物质和能量稳态。尽管我们提供了一些证据来理解这种复杂的关系，但未来的工作应该确定矿物对miRNA水平及其反馈调控系统的功能含义。