Circular RNA profiling reveals an abundant circFUT10 that promotes adipocytes proliferation and inhibits adipocytes differentiation via sponging let-7 family members

Abstract Adipose development is regulated by a series of complex processes, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including circular RNA (circRNA) play important roles in regulating proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes. In this study we profiled circRNA expression in cattle fat tissue during calf and adult developmental stages and detected 14,274 circRNA candidates. Some circRNAs are differentially expressed between two developmental stages. We characterized circFUT10, named for its host gene FUT10, a highly expressed and abundant circRNA. Luciferase screening, RIP assay, quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting assays, indicated that circFUT10 directly binds let-7c/e and PPARGC1B is identified as a target of let-7c. Flow cytometry, EdU incorporation, CCK-8 assay, Oil red O stain, and western blotting assays demonstrate that circFUT10 promotes adipocytes proliferation and inhibits cell differentiation by sponging let-7c. The results demonstrate that circFUT10 binding of let-7c promotes cell proliferation and inhibits cell differentiation by targeting PPARGC1B in cattle adipocytes.