m6A Methylation Analysis Reveals Networks and Key Genes Underlying the Coarse and Fine Wool Traits in a Full-sib Merino Family
Guoying Hua,
Xue Yang,
Yuhao Ma,
Tun Li,
Jiankui Wang,
Xuemei Deng
Affiliations
Guoying Hua
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Xue Yang
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yuhao Ma
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Tun Li
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Jiankui Wang
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Xuemei Deng
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, China & Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
In our study, a set of lambs with coarse wool type all over their bodies were discovered within a full-sib family during an embryo transfer experiment of merino fine wool sheep. The difference between coarse and fine wool traits were studied from the perspective of RNA modification-N6-methyladenosine. A total of 31,153 peaks were collected, including 15,968 peaks in coarse skin samples and 15,185 peaks in fine skin samples. In addition, 7208 genes were differentially m6A methylated, including 4167 upregulated and 3041 downregulated in coarse skin samples. Four key genes (EDAR, FGF5, TCHH, KRT2) were obtained by comprehensive analysis of the MeRIP-seq and RNA sequence, which are closely related to primary wool follicle morphogenesis and development. The PI3K/AKT pathway was enriched through different m6A-related genes. These results provided new insights to understand the role of epigenetics in wool sheep domestication and breeding.
