Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and microRNAs (miRNA) are new found classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that are not translated into proteins but regulate various cellular and biological processes. In this study, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of ncRNA and mRNA expression in Aohan fine wool sheep (AFWS) at different growth stages (embryonic day 90, embryonic day 120, and the day of birth), and explored their relationship with wool follicle growth. In total, 461 lncRNAs, 106 miRNAs, and 1,009 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed during the three stages of wool follicle development. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to clarify the roles of the differentially expressed lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA in the different stages of wool follicle development. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the results of RNA-seq analysis. lncRNA (MSTRG.223165) was found to act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and may participate in wool follicle development by acting as an miR-21 sponge. Network prediction implicated the MSTRG.223165-miR-21-SOX6 axis in the wool follicle development. The targeting relationships of miR-21 with SOX6 and MSTRG.223165 were validated in dual-luciferase assays. This is the first report indicating the association of the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA network with wool follicle development in AFWS. This study provides new insights into the regulation of the wool follicle growth and represents a solid foundation for wool sheep breeding programs.
Highlights
The quality and yield of mammalian hair is determined by the characteristics and structure of hair follicles (HF) (Mann, 1968; Nixon et al, 1996)
We found that some Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have more than 50 target genes; such as MSTRG.421324, which predominantly target genes in the KRT family, according to previous reports, the KRT family is closely related to goat hair follicle growth (Gao et al, 2016), and dysregulation of KRT can cause hair disorders (Donet et al, 2008)
In accordance with a previous report, we found that FZD4, FZD9, DKK1, and BAMBI were differentially expressed during hair follicle development in fine wool sheep (Chen, 2018). miR-143 was detected in our study and has been reported in association with the HF growth of HU sheep (Huttenhofer et al, 2005)
Summary
The quality and yield of mammalian hair is determined by the characteristics and structure of hair follicles (HF) (Mann, 1968; Nixon et al, 1996). The Aohan fine wool sheep (AFWS) is an ancient representative of this breed-type that originated in Northeast of China. This breed is characterized by stable genetic performance, strong adaptability, and is suitable for breeding in arid areas. The. Transcriptomic Regulation of Wool-Follicle wool has good textile technology performance, with a wool fineness of approximately 22 μm, and a hair length exceeding 9 cm (Wang et al, 1996). Transcriptomic Regulation of Wool-Follicle wool has good textile technology performance, with a wool fineness of approximately 22 μm, and a hair length exceeding 9 cm (Wang et al, 1996) It is an excellent raw material for manufacturing fine textiles and has high economic value. SFs determine fine wool production and have an important effect on fiber diameter
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