ABSTRACT
Background: MiRNAs, short non-coding, nucleotides that regulate gene
expression through translation repression or degradation of target
mRNAs. Dietary protein has major influence on growth performance and
carcass characteristics. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate effect of
dietary protein with miRNA on broiler performance and muscle
development. Material and methods: twenty hundred - one day old Ross
chicks are equally allotted into five groups. The first was positive
control; the second was negative control; the 3rd group fed on reduced
protein diet plus leucine (5 gm /kg diet); the 4th fed on reduced protein
diet plus Lysine (1 gm /kg diet) and the 5th fed on reduced protein diet
plus Lysine (1 gm /kg diet) + Leucine (5 gm /kg diet) for 42 days.
Chicken were sacrificed and serum were separated for biochemical
analysis. Muscle tissues were collected for molecular determination.
Results: Chicken fed reduced protein diet plus leucine and lysine showed
highest value of body weight and gain than other. No changes in liver
and kidney functions between groups. Gene expression of miRNA- 449
and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) genes up-regulated in
group fed diet with leucine and lysine followed by group fed leucine.
MiRNA-206 and myostatin down- regulated in group fed diet with
leucine and lysine followed with other groups. Conclusion: MicroRNA
and their target genes have a great influence in muscle development and
growth in chicken fed diet with amino acid leucine and lysine than other
groups.