CircRNA8220 Sponges MiR-8516 to Regulate Cell Viability and Milk Synthesis via Ras/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathways in Goat Mammary Epithelial Cells

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Yield and quality of goat milk are important indexes for screening dairy goat breeds. Therefore, it is necessary for us to improve the yield and quality of goat milk. In this study, we demonstrated that circRNA8220/miR-8516/STC2 could promote the synthesis of β-casein and triglyceride through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In addition, we found that circRNA8220/miR-8516/STC2 also promote proliferation via Ras/MEK/ERK pathway in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). These findings contribute to a better understanding of circRNA-controlled breast development and lactation mechanisms and provide new potential insights into the regulation of breast development and milk composition in dairy goats. ABSTRACT: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are considered a large class of endogenous noncoding RNAs, function as regulators in various biological procedures. In this study, the function and molecular mechanisms of circRNA8220 in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) were explored. CircRNA8220 could spong miR-8516 and block the function of miR-8516 by binding to the target site of miR-8516 a negative feedback relationship existed between circRNA8220 and miR-8516. Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) was a target gene of miR-8516. circRNA8220 could up-regulate the expression of STC2 by sponging miR-8516 in GMECs. circRNA8220/miR-8516/STC2 could promote proliferation and enhance the synthesis of β-casein and triglycerides (TG) via Ras/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, respectively.