Transcriptome profile analysis of mammary gland tissue from two breeds of lactating sheep
Hao, Zhiyun; Zhou, Huitong; Hickford, Jonathan G. H.; Gong, Hua; Wang, J.; Hu, Jiang; Liu, Xiu; Li, Shaobin; Zhao, Mengli; Luo, Yuzhu
Abstract
The mammary gland is a crucial tissue for milk synthesis and plays a critical role in the feeding and growth of mammalian offspring. The aim of this study was to use RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology to provide a transcriptome profile of the ovine mammary gland at the peak of lactation. Small-Tailed Han (STH) sheep (n = 9) and Gansu Alpine Merino (GAM) sheep (n = 9), breeds with phenotypic differences in milk production traits, were selected for the RNA-Seq analysis. This revealed 74 genes that were more highly expressed in the STHs than in the GAMs. Similarly, 143 genes that were expressed at lower levels in the STHs than in the GAMs, were identified. Gene ontogeny (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with binding and catalytic activities, hematopoietic cell lineages, oxytocin signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. This is the first study of the transcriptome profile of the ovine mammary gland in these Chinese breeds at peak lactation. The results provide for a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in ovine lactation.... [Show full abstract]
Keywords
RNA-Seq; mammary gland; differentially expressed gene; sheep; Mammary Glands, Animal; Animals; Gene Expression Profiling; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Breeding; Lactation; Phenotype; Female; TranscriptomeFields of Research
0702 Animal Production; 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology; 070202 Animal Growth and Development; 0604 GeneticsDate
2019-10-08Type
Journal ArticleCollections
© 2019 by the authors.