Branch of Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Science (JAAS), 186 Dong Xinghua st, Gongzhuling, 136100, China.
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, 4067, Queensland, Australia.
Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 30;7(1):14301. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-14772-4.
We characterised wool traits, and skin gene expression profiles of fine wool Super Merino (SM) and coarse wool Small Tail Han (STH) sheep. SM sheep had a significantly higher total density of wool follicles, heavier fleeces, finer fibre diameter, and increased crimp frequency, staple length and wool grease (lanolin) production. We found 435 genes were expressed at significantly different levels in the skin of the two breeds (127 genes more highly in SM and 308 genes more highly in STH sheep). Classification of the genes more highly expressed in SM sheep revealed numerous lipid metabolic genes as well as genes encoding keratins, keratin-associated proteins, and wool follicle stem cell markers. In contrast, mammalian epidermal development complex genes and other genes associated with skin cornification and muscle function were more highly expressed in STH sheep. Genes identified in this study may be further evaluated for inclusion in breeding programs, or as targets for therapeutic or genetic interventions, aimed at altering wool quality or yield. Expression of the lipid metabolic genes in the skin of sheep may be used as a novel trait with the potential to alter the content or properties of lanolin or the fleece.
我们对细羊毛美丽诺羊(Super Merino,SM)和粗羊毛小尾寒羊(Small Tail Han,STH)的羊毛特性和皮肤基因表达谱进行了研究。SM 羊的毛囊总密度、羊毛重量、纤维直径更细,且卷曲频率、毛长和羊毛油脂(羊毛脂)产量更高。我们发现,这两个品种的皮肤中有 435 个基因的表达水平存在显著差异(SM 中 127 个基因的表达水平更高,而 STH 中 308 个基因的表达水平更高)。对 SM 羊中高表达基因的分类表明,存在大量与脂质代谢相关的基因,以及编码角蛋白、角蛋白相关蛋白和羊毛毛囊干细胞标记物的基因。相比之下,哺乳动物表皮发育复合物基因和其他与皮肤角质化和肌肉功能相关的基因在 STH 羊中表达水平更高。本研究中鉴定的基因可以进一步评估是否纳入到选育计划中,或者作为治疗或遗传干预的靶点,旨在改变羊毛的质量或产量。皮肤中脂质代谢基因的表达可以作为一种新的特征,具有改变羊毛脂或羊毛中油脂含量或性质的潜力。