Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Genes (Basel). 2024 Feb 16;15(2):248. doi: 10.3390/genes15020248.
Keratin (K) is a major protein component of hair and is involved in hair growth and development. In this study, we analysed the expression, localization, and polymorphism of the K84 gene () in Gansu Alpine Fine-wool sheep using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and PARMS (penta-primer amplification refractory mutation system). Haplotypes of were also constructed and their relationship with wool traits analysed. It was revealed that was highly expressed in hair follicles, including the inner root sheath, outer root sheath, and hair medulla and at all six lamb ages investigated from 1 to 270 days of age. Three SNPs were detected in exon 1, and they formed three haplotypes (named , and ) and six genotypes. Analyses revealed an association between haplotype combinations (diplotypes) and the mean fibre curvature, mean staple length, mean staple strength, mean fibre diameter, the coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, and comfort factor for these sheep. These results suggest that is of importance in determining several key traits in Gansu Alpine Fine-wool sheep and that the gene could possibly be used as a genetic marker for wool trait selection in these sheep.
角蛋白（K）是头发的主要蛋白质成分，参与头发生长和发育。本研究采用免疫荧光、RT-qPCR 和 PARMS（五引物扩增受阻突变系统）分析了甘肃高山细毛羊 K84 基因的表达、定位和多态性。还构建了 的单倍型，并分析了它们与羊毛性状的关系。结果表明， 在毛囊中高度表达，包括内根鞘、外根鞘和毛髓质，在从 1 天到 270 天的 6 个羔羊年龄均有表达。在 外显子 1 中检测到 3 个 SNP，它们形成了 3 种单倍型（命名为 、 和 ）和 6 种基因型。分析表明，单倍型组合（二倍型）与这些绵羊的平均纤维曲率、平均纤维长度、平均纤维强度、平均纤维直径、纤维直径变异系数和舒适度因子之间存在关联。这些结果表明， 在决定甘肃高山细毛羊的几个关键性状方面具有重要意义，该基因可能可作为这些绵羊羊毛性状选择的遗传标记。
