Frequency distribution of T > C polymorphisms in the seed region of the chicken mir-1644 gene

MicroRNAs constitute a growing class of non-coding RNAs that are thought to regulate gene expression via translational repression in animal. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA may modify various biological processes by influencing the processing and/or target selection of microRNAs. Therefore, genetic background differences in distribution of micoRNA gene polymorphisms may be an important factor in determining phenotypic variation. In the present study, we investigated a T to C polymorphism in the seed region of mature mir-1644 sequence with forced PCR-RFLP using HpaII nuclease in six chicken populations: 102 individuals from Jiningbairi, Langya, Siyuwugu, Wenshangluhua, Beijingyou and Leghorn Chicken breeds. The results showed that genotype frequencies of the mir-1644 T>C did not differ significantly from those expected under the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and Wenshangluhua chicken have significant differences in the frequency and other chicken breeds. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that mir-1644 T>C polymorphism may alter target selection and secondary structure.Thus exert profound biological effects in the formation of some special phenotype of Wenshangluhua chicken.