Fan Yongliang, Arbab Abdelaziz Adam Idriss, Zhang Huimin, Yang Yi, Nazar Mudasir, Han Ziyin, Yang Zhangping
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
Animals (Basel). 2021 Jan 27;11(2):314. doi: 10.3390/ani11020314.
Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) is a novel approach that can quickly analyze the relationships between genes and traits. In this study, the milk yield, lactose, fat, and protein of Holstein dairy cows were detected in a lactation cycle. Meanwhile, a total of 18 gene expression profiles were detected using mammary glands from six lactation stages (day 7 to calving, -7 d; day 30 post-calving, 30 d; day 90 post-calving, 90 d; day 180 post-calving, 180 d; day 270 post-calving, 270 d; day 315 post-calving, 315 d). On the basis of the 18 profiles, WGCNA identified for the first time 10 significant modules that may be related to lactation stage, milk yield, and the main milk composition content. Genes in the 10 significant modules were examined with gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The results revealed that the galactose metabolism pathway was a potential candidate for milk yield and milk lactose synthesis. In -7 d, ion transportation was more frequent and cell proliferation related terms became active. In late lactation, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 () might play a role in apoptosis. The sphingolipid signaling pathway was a potential candidate for milk fat synthesis. Dairy cows at 315 d were in a period of cell proliferation. Another notable phenomenon was that nonlactating dairy cows had a more regular circadian rhythm after a cycle of lactation. The results provide an important theoretical basis for the further molecular breeding of dairy cows.
加权基因共表达网络分析（WGCNA）是一种能够快速分析基因与性状之间关系的新方法。在本研究中，对荷斯坦奶牛在一个泌乳周期内的产奶量、乳糖、脂肪和蛋白质进行了检测。同时，使用来自六个泌乳阶段（产犊前7天，-7天；产后30天，30天；产后90天，90天；产后180天，180天；产后270天，270天；产后315天，315天）的乳腺组织检测了总共18个基因表达谱。基于这18个表达谱，WGCNA首次鉴定出10个可能与泌乳阶段、产奶量和主要乳成分含量相关的显著模块。对这10个显著模块中的基因进行了基因本体论（GO）注释和京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）通路分析。结果表明，半乳糖代谢途径是产奶量和乳乳糖合成的潜在候选途径。在-7天时，离子运输更为频繁，与细胞增殖相关的术语变得活跃。在泌乳后期，细胞因子信号传导抑制因子3（）可能在细胞凋亡中发挥作用。鞘脂信号通路是乳脂肪合成的潜在候选途径。处于315天的奶牛处于细胞增殖期。另一个值得注意的现象是，非泌乳奶牛在一个泌乳周期后昼夜节律更规律。这些结果为奶牛的进一步分子育种提供了重要的理论依据。
