MicroRNA expression profiles of the cuttlefish (Sepiella japonica) during embryonic development

The Japanese spineless cuttlefish (Sepiella japonica) is an important economic species and model animal. Many studies suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important regulatory role in the embryonic development of this species. However, comparative miRNA profiles during embryogenesis of cuttlefish have not been reported before. Therefore, in this study, miRNA profiles were obtained from embryos of S. japonica from eye primordium formation to larval growing stage by miRNA sequencing. A total of 1528 known miRNAs and 203 novel miRNAs were identified during different development stages. Among which, 62 differentially expressed miRNAs among different development stages were identified. GO analysis indicated that the potential target genes for these differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in many GO terms including intracellular membrane-bounded organelle, cell morphogenesis, regulation of developmental process, etc. In addition, miRNA-mRNA network analysis indicated that many of target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in integral component of membrane. In conclusion, our work provided a global view of miRNA expression profiles during embryonic development of S. japonica.